March 2, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Bright Beginnings to hold open house

A long-time dream is finally coming to fruition.

Bright Beginnings Learning Center located at 501 Peters Drive in St. Joseph, plans to open in October.
“We run it like a family,” co-owner Nicole Uher said. “It’s family-owned, safe and we have lots of experience.”

The three owners, Carolyn Miller, Uher, and Lori Fisher have all run home daycares for more than 15 years.

Miller stressed that they offer a fun, loving environment for children to feel like they are at home while learning and engaging with other children.

The center offers a curriculum-based program and meals and snacks will be provided.

The Learning Center will host an open house today from 1-3 p.m.

Miller said she hoped people would come and take a look at the building that has gone extensive renovations since previously being an Abbeyfield Senior Living Center.

The Center will house children from six months to 12 years of age and the children will be broken down by age group. Younger children will have all-day care while school-age children will have after-school care.

The journey to opening started two years ago as the three women started looking for building to host their childcare center.

“We looked at buildings all over the area,” Miller said, “We finally found this property and knew it was the one.”

The Covid pandemic and the fact that the former owners were based in England made negotiating tedious.

Then came the remodels.

And the drainage situation that needed addressed.

“The village was very helpful,” Uher said. “They really wanted us here.”

The only things remaining from the original Abbeyfield building are the walls, Miller said.

“It’s basically a brand new building,” Uher said.

The building has room for the center to expand and has a multi-purpose room for play when the weather is too cold to go outside.

“The building also is big enough for us to grow,” Miller said. “It’s also right across from the schools. This makes it easier for parents to pick up and drop off.”

The center will employ 13 teachers to start.

For more information visit the center’s Facebook page or email bblcstjoe@gmail.com.

in Life, People
Banner
Related Posts

Kids’ recycling project leads to three new benches at local parks

September 11, 2019

September 11, 2019

The residents of St. Joseph will have three new benches to sit on. The village has bought three benches for...

Giving back: PVO helps out Abernathy family with fundraiser

October 15, 2019

October 15, 2019

The Prairieview-Ogden community knows how to come together. And tonight is no exception. Corey Abernathy, who was an assistant coach...

KIDS SAY…

April 16, 2019

April 16, 2019

Every week we ask five students from a local school to answer a question on a worksheet. This week the...

For Poulter, entertaining people is a calling

July 17, 2024

July 17, 2024

Jonny Poulter just wants to entertain people. The 2022 St. Joseph-Ogden High School graduate was inspired to play music after...

Senior spotlight Eric Poe

February 7, 2020

February 7, 2020

Every week we ask a St. Joseph-Ogden senior five questions. This week we talked to Eric Poe. Thank you to...

Wheelhouse steps up to help community

August 19, 2020

August 19, 2020

Abbie Layden-Rogiers and her husband Ryan Rogiers have always wanted to help the community. The owners of The Wheelhouse in...

Homer resident digs his passion of paleontology

March 15, 2019

March 15, 2019

Earlier this year, Homer resident and Augustana College sophomore Quinn Powers gave a Youth TED talk. A TED talk is...

Get to know Holly Clingan

March 25, 2025

March 25, 2025

Can you please provide some biographical information? I am Holly Clingan, and I’ve been a homeowner in St. Joseph for...

10 Things You Don’t Know About Me… Kent Brown

February 7, 2019

February 7, 2019

Every week we ask a community member to share 10 facts about themselves. This week it is St. Joseph resident...

Wagners give back in a variety of ways

May 29, 2020

May 29, 2020

Jim and Jen Wagner like to help people. They have helped people through the pandemic at their business, Wagner Signs...

SJO could return to full in-person instruction

March 3, 2021

March 3, 2021

St. Joseph-Ogden High School is starting to plan for the future. Superintendent Brian Brooks said the school is looking into...

Emmert expresses himself via artwork

May 1, 2019

May 1, 2019

St. Joseph-Ogden senior Nathan Emmert loves creating art work. “I have always enjoyed making different kinds of art,” he said....

10 things you don’t know about me… Leslie Landreth

September 17, 2019

September 17, 2019

Leslie Landreth owner of Little Bloomers Child Care tells us 10 things we don’t know about her! This post is...

‘Girl Scouts is not all arts and crafts’

January 19, 2023

January 19, 2023

” Hannah Fox wanted to help feed her community. And for her Girl Scout Gold Award she attempted to do...

Former SJO teacher Williams making a difference

December 23, 2019

December 23, 2019

Larry Williams wants to help people live a healthy life. Eight years ago, Williams and his partner participated in Christie...

Comments
Leave a Reply