Richland to open new childcare center on Dec. 9

RICHLAND – Richland will open its new childcare center on Monday, Dec. 9.

The event is being billed as a “soft” opening, though there will be a ceremony at 9 a.m. to dedicate a flagpole courtesy of the Richland American Legion Post 504, and a brick cornerstone from the old Richland School courtesy of the Richland Community Club. There will also be a new bench and a time capsule carried over from the old school, with some additional items inside. The new childcare center was built on the land previously occupied by the school, which opened nearly a century ago in 1925.

The childcare center’s director, Tabitha Unternahrer, said the center has three employees, including herself. She said the center is planning to generate interest and sign-ups for the center at a couple of upcoming events. Representatives of the center will be at the “Santa and Mrs. Claus” event at Country Junction Restaurant in Richland on Saturday, Dec. 7. That event will run from 8:30-10:30 a.m. with hot chocolate and donuts, sponsored by the Richland Community Club.

The childcare center will host an open house from 3-7 p.m. on Dec. 20. Unternahrer said this will not just give the community a chance to tour the facility, but will also provide a number of kids’ activities where they’ll be given a train ticket, and can get their ticket “stamped” at various stations in the building.

The childcare center serves children from birth through school-age, and has four rooms separated by age. It has the capacity to serve 65 children.

“There’s never been a center in Richland before, and it’s exciting that we have a licensed teacher,” said Unternahrer. “This is not just babysitting. Kids will be getting a school experience.”

Unternahrer lives in Wayland and has extensive experience in both teaching and childcare, which includes running her own childcare.

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Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com