Very Early Childhood Education Center finds new home

May 16—Monday was a highly anticipated day for Connie Marler, though she was careful not to hype up her granddaughter ahead of time.

She didn't want Maizee White, 3, to get excited only to be disappointed. Maizee had been waiting patiently, sometimes not, for the Very Early Childhood Education Center to reopen. They used to be regulars, attending two to three times a week.

"This gap of seven months was killing Maizee and me," Marler said.

Stacie Gollner, director of the center, invited the Marlers to check out the new location during a two-week soft opening. Still, Marler's husband swung by Monday morning, ahead of their scheduled time, just to be sure.

Later that afternoon, Maizee wore a green apron as she rung up Gollner's pretend groceries in one of the play rooms at Faith Presbyterian Church, 1608 Kirk Row.

"It's cozy," Marler said as she sat off to the side. "But it's more open."

After seven months without a location, Gollner hopes she's found a forever home for the Very Early Childhood Education Center.

The new space features two play rooms where a child's imagination can run wild. They're filled with toys and hands-on activities.

In one room, stuffed animals and books sit on a shelf near the ceiling. There's a small stage and curtain, too.

Across the hall, there's a model train that click-clacks around the room. The track is fastened to the upper part of the wall — thanks to Gollner's husband — and kids can push a button to make it go. It was a popular feature at the center's previous location.

Gollner moved the center out of the former United Way building downtown in November after it was purchased by Drew and Erin Larison. The two bought the building to grow their advertising and marketing companies.

The Very Early Childhood Education Center went into storage over the winter and early spring as Gollner sought a new space.

"I think I talked to about everybody in town," she said.

Operations didn't cease entirely. Totes for Tots, a monthly program that delivers a package of activities, crafts and books for children to age 5, continued. The monthly program serves about 500 families in Howard County and the surrounding area.

The center serves 30 other counties through its programming and play areas.

It was a friend who helped Gollner connect with Faith Presbyterian Church, off of Albright Road.

After a few conversations, the church signed off on the center moving into its former nursery.

"This space has been available for 10 years, that I know of," said George Bechtel, church facility chairman. "We like to help the community. We felt like it was a good way to go, to help a lot of people."

Staples of the Very Early Childhood Education Center remain, including the safety village where kids can pretend be a police officer, firefighter or postal worker.

Every child gets a book and snack to take home after every visit.

Science classes, kinder music and parenting classes (through a partnership with the Family Service Association of Howard County) will pick back up in the coming months.

The center is completely grant-funded and aims to prepare children for kindergarten. Gollner works with kindergarten teachers to tailor the center's programming for what kids need to make the transition to school.

And it's all free.

There is no charge to bring one's child to the Very Early Childhood Education Center. Every book is free, too.

Maizee has her own bookshelf at home. She's quite the avid reader. Marler reads with her daily. She reads on her own, too.

"We read literally 20 to 30 books a day, not kidding, and most of them came from here," Marler said.

The center has some new features, too. There are windows in both rooms that look outside. It's an improvement from downtown where there weren't any. Kids can see the squirrels and birds that hang out in the trees.

The church is within walking distance of two City Line Trolley stops: Lincolnwood Apartments and the Baymont by Wyndham hotel.

It's a little quieter at the church, too, as it butts up against a neighborhood. There's also ample outdoor space. The church let Gollner put out a picnic table. It's under a tree, a good spot for a family picnic.

The center will officially reopen the week of May 20.

"I've missed the giggles," Gollner said. "I've missed the smiles."

Spencer Durham can be reached at 765-454-8598, by email at spencer.durham@kokomotribune.com or on Twitter at @Durham_KT.