September 11, 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

‘St. Joseph is better because of Dixie Hackler’

January 20, 2020

January 20, 2020

Dixie Hackler always had a smile on her face. Always made time for others. And always made sure others knew...

Spartan Spotlight… Kendall Ayers

April 8, 2020

April 8, 2020

Kendall Ayers has plans to travel after graduating from high school. The St. Joseph-Ogden senior plans to take a vacation...

‘ B.J. was one who absolutely stood out’

September 10, 2021

September 10, 2021

We asked Matt Davidson, the former Legislative Director for the Illinois Municipal League for his thoughts on B.J. Hackler. Here...

Kids say… what does a farmer do all day?

January 15, 2020

January 15, 2020

We asked students to tell us what they think a farmer does all day. Here are their answers. Bailey: I...

Project honoring service members to be continued

March 4, 2019

March 4, 2019

The SJO Service Member Project is being reinstated thanks to two local women. Mindy Reynolds and Lee Janusch want to...

Kids Say….

April 5, 2019

April 5, 2019

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

Talk of the Town with Superintendent Tom Davis

May 1, 2019

May 1, 2019

Every week the St. Joseph Record is reaching out to a village official, school superintendent, school board member or village...

10 things you don’t know about me… Tonya Yeazel

September 5, 2019

September 5, 2019

Every week we ask a St. Joseph area resident to tell us 10 things we don’t know about them. This...

10 things you don’t know about me…Leonard Winchester

July 15, 2020

July 15, 2020

1. What is your favorite childhood memory? I don’t have one favorite childhood memory, there were so many experiences. I...

The Importance of Sunscreen

July 8, 2021

July 8, 2021

By: Will Miller, PA-C, Christie Clinic Department of Dermatology Summer has come and everyone is out and enjoying the sun....

‘Her heart was golden’ — Short loses battle with cancer

June 10, 2019

June 10, 2019

Nine years ago, Sarah Logan Loomis raised her hand at a meeting of parents. The meeting was for her daughter,...

10 things you don’t know about me… Jeff Van Buskirk

October 7, 2020

October 7, 2020

What is your favorite childhood memory?I took guitar lessons when I was in 4th or 5th grade and did not...

5 things you don’t know about me… McKenzie Keller

August 7, 2019

August 7, 2019

McKenzie is in the running for the title of Little Princess! She is six years old. We asked her to...

10 things you don’t know about me Staci Potter

August 12, 2021

August 12, 2021

We asked St. Joseph-Ogden’s new district bookkeeper to tell us 10 interesting facts about herself. Meet Staci Potter. 1. My...

‘Having a trip on the books gives us something to look forward to’

June 4, 2020

June 4, 2020

It’s a crazy time in the travel industry, that’s for sure. While some news tends to lean towards the doom...

Comments
Leave a Reply