May 21, 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… 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...

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...

Franzen finds freedom in music

October 4, 2019

October 4, 2019

Dakota Franzen is an inspiration. Marching Band Director Chuck Hess said Franzen’s efforts to be the best he can be...

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...

Going the Distance: Smetzer excels at Western

October 17, 2019

October 17, 2019

Ross Smetzer has goals. The 2016 St. Joseph-Ogden High School graduate runs cross country and track for Western Illinois University...

10 things you don’t know about me… Jason Retz

November 7, 2019

November 7, 2019

In honor of SJO Cross Country going to state this week we asked head coach Jason Retz to tell us...

Love of the game: Two St. Joseph residents umpire at state softball tournament

June 3, 2019

June 3, 2019

Slipping on wet grass actually helped Karl Black’s first experience working as an umpire at the high school softball state...

Remembering Ross Booker: ‘We are missing something special now that he’s gone’

March 8, 2022

March 8, 2022

Before responding to an accident that would ultimately claim his life, Ross Booker made a point to roll down the...

Kids say

October 22, 2019

October 22, 2019

Every week we ask area students questions about being a farmer. This week we spoke to kids at PVO South....

Rides available to fish fry

August 8, 2019

August 8, 2019

The mayor and some local residents are hoping more seniors can attend the St. Joseph Community Festival held Thursday, Friday...

10 things you don’t know about me… Dina Fox

June 5, 2019

June 5, 2019

My husband, Kerry, and I met when I was 18 years old in the middle of a snow storm.  We’ve...

A familiar face to lead PVO

February 25, 2019

February 25, 2019

Jeffrey Isenhower will start a new job on July 1, 2020. He will take over the Prairieview-Ogden superintendent for Vic...

How I get it done …. with Jennifer Huls Wayland

October 14, 2022

October 14, 2022

We asked local business owners to describe their leadership style and how they make decisions. This week we talked to...

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...

Marching Spartans to perform at U of I

October 25, 2019

October 25, 2019

After last marching band season band director Chuck Hess began searching for a new a show. He wanted a show...

Comments
Leave a Reply