Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

'Daycare' gets new name and location

Were just relocating.

Those are the words of Janet Martindale, director

of the former Presbyterian Daycare and the

new South Side Child Development Center.

The facility, which includes the state ABC

services, has been housed at Presbyterian Church

for about 30 years. Martindale said that after three

decades of providing that community service, it

was simply time for someone else to take on the

task.

As Martindale, her family and friends and staff

began to look around for an alternative, one group

from the Nevada County Leadership 2008

stepped forward to lend a hand. Martindale said

this group promised to help, not only to move but

to help prepare for the move. The first step was a

building and Martindale said she really had trouble

coming to terms with the idea that there isnt

a building available locally that would serve as a

daycare without some serious renovations. They

finally decided on the South Side Church building,

which is currently home to two church

groups.

Then the real work began. Martindale said

there were plumbing changes required in order to

remain an approved daycare. The old carpet is

being removed in favor of flooring that can be

more easily cleaned. There has to be a fence for a

play area and new playground equipment secured

and installed. Martindale said they also need a

washing machine.

The move is going to require the communitys

help, even with the help of the Leadership group,

Martindale said. She said the service provided is

vital.

There wasnt anywhere else that could absorb us, she said, citing

the 80 families that use the service and 11 staff members who

needed a job.

The face of daycare is changing and Martindale said its an

exciting challenge to simply stay caught up. She said that no longer

are daycare facilities meant to be babysitters. Instead, theyre to

teach basic skills that are necessary for academic learning. For

example, children who have highly developed large motor skills 

who can ride a tricycle, for example  have a head start toward

reading and writing. Toward that end, Martindale hopes to create a

tricycle track at South Side.

The new facility will be located at 316 Nevada 259, just off

Rosston Road and just outside the city limits. For more information

or to make a donation, contact Martindale at 887-3168.