Dear Editor:

My two children, Raegan 5 and Harper 1, have attended Lighthouse Learning Center for over a year. I have never once questioned their safety while they have attended daycare. I feel fortunate that they are in the care of consistent caregivers who they look forward to seeing daily. Raegan was very fortunate to be offered an abundance of activities in the summer and several in the fall as well. I am very appreciative that, although I work full-time, my children are still able to do things, especially outside, almost daily in the summer. There is a routine and structure in their day as well  a curriculum that encourages things like learning colors, letters, writing and words.

In the age of the pandemic you consistently hear of people who have been put out of work but no one discusses the group of people who were not able to self quarantine and continued to work, and in my case more than pre-pandemic. As a healthcare worker (nurse) and my husband who is self employed neither of us were able to stay home with our children. I was very grateful that Lighthouse Learning Center was able to keep their doors open during the entire pandemic and we were both able to continue working. I never felt as though they were not appropriately dealing with the pandemic and never once felt as though my children were at any risk while at the center. Many other day care centers in the area did close.

In such a small community there are very few options for childcare. I feel as though displacing 40 children from the area, interrupting their routine, and possibly separating siblings will do nothing but hurt not only the community but have detrimental effect on all the children who do attend Lighthouse Learning Center. I work in Bath and called every daycare listed on CSP website from Boothbay Harbor to Bath and none of them had any availability for either of my children to attend.

I hope the state reconsiders their choice to close Lighthouse Learning Center because in my opinion they have done nothing but enrich my children’s life.

Adeline Beal

East Boothbay