THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 5, 1994 TAG: 9410040111
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
To help meet the needs of Isle of Wight County's youngest citizens, two new businesses have opened in this rural town.
Two state-licensed day-care centers began operating this year: Cookie's Corner Christian Child Care Center and Libby's Landing.
Smithfield native Rosa Turner opened Cookie's Corner at 1812 S. Church St. last May. It's open from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
In July, Maria Castleberry, also of Smithfield, opened the community's second new day-care business, at 936 S. Church Street. Libby's Landing, named in honor of Castleberry's sister, operates from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
After a slow start this summer, business at Cookie's Corner picked up this fall when school started, Turner said. Only about 10 enrollment vacancies remain, she said.
Cookie's Corner will take children between infancy and 12 years. For each age group, Turner and her staff have designed educational programs that even include optional field trips.
``We have a full, fun curriculum,'' said Turner.
According to Castleberry, the same is true at Libby's Landing, where children range in age from infancy to 5 years. To date, Castleberry's center has enrolled about half the maximum number of children permitted to attend.
Castleberry, a former nurse, said she and her staff strive to make Libby's Landing a safe, enjoyable place for youngsters.
``This is a place where parents can leave their children all day and know they will be well cared for,'' Castleberry said.
Although less than a mile separates the two businesses, neither Turner nor Castleberry see themselves as competitors.
``There is no need for us to be in competition,'' Turner said. ``We communicate . . . and both of us have made customer referrals to the other.''
The two have even discussed starting an organization for Isle of Wight day-care providers to meet monthly to talk about day-care related issues and needs.
Weekly rates at both Cookie's Corner and Libby's Landing range from $55 to $85 per child. Specific prices are determined by the child's age and the number of children the family has enrolled. MEMO: Call Cookie's Corner Christian Child Care Center, 357-4925, or Libby's
Landing, 357-4545, for additional information on their respective
programs.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Rosa Turner welcomes Tiffany Godwin.
Maria Castleberry, left, with Tommy Holden and Tammie Wyatt with
Sabrina Carter at Libby's Landing, one of two new day-care centers
to open in Smithfield.
by CNB