March 16, 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

10 things you don’t know about me… Joe Hackney

September 27, 2024

September 27, 2024

1. What is a tv or movie you could watch over and over and why? Lately, I’m really looking forward to...

Dukeman shines in classroom and in athletics

March 7, 2019

March 7, 2019

School comes easy for St. Joseph-Ogden High School junior Hannah Dukeman. Dukeman, who plays softball for SJO in addition to...

10 things you don’t know about me… Toni Barnes

December 12, 2019

December 12, 2019

We recently asked St. Joseph-Ogden Assistant Volleyball coach Toni Barnes to reflect on the season and tell us 10 things...

Kids Say…

June 24, 2019

June 24, 2019

Every week we ask five students to tell us what they think a farmer does. This week it is second...

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....

Treatment for the common cold

December 23, 2021

December 23, 2021

By Jeanelle Murphy, DO The common cold is caused by a virus. There are over 200 common cold viruses but...

We the People holding one final fundraiser

April 2, 2019

April 2, 2019

There is one final chance to help the St. Joseph-Ogden We the People Civics Team fund their trip to Nationals...

10 things you don’t know about me… Allison Wakefield

August 18, 2022

August 18, 2022

What is your favorite place to travel to? Pennsylvania What is a TV show/movie you can watch over and over?...

Family hoping for a miracle

January 22, 2019

January 22, 2019

Angelique and Cole Rosnett have been faced with an unimaginable choice. To save their daughter Ivy they may have to...

‘I have absolutely loved portraying her’

April 3, 2022

April 3, 2022

Sophia McDade loves everything about the Addams Family production. The senior, who is acting in her second show with the...

Welcome home: Parade set to honor Randall

October 2, 2021

October 2, 2021

Lyndsey Leemon is proud of her brother. So proud in fact, she wants to honor him with a parade to...

‘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...

‘I will always have memories that I won’t forget’ by Kenly Taylor

June 16, 2020

June 16, 2020

Hello! I’d like to take a few minutes to welcome each and every one of you to the St. Joseph-Ogden...

‘They want to show their support of the law enforcement and their family’

June 2, 2021

June 2, 2021

Jim and Jen Wagner support their community, so when a friend came in to their store, Wagner signs and Graphics,...

10 Things You Don’t Know about me Nikki Setterdahl

December 8, 2020

December 8, 2020

For years, Nikki Setterdahl and her daughter Whitney have been bringing joy to teens at Barnes-Jewish Hospital through their project...

Comments
Leave a Reply