I keep hearing these old axioms: ONE THING IS CERTAIN; THERE WILL ALWAYS BE CHANGE and CHANGE IS GOOD. The Child Care Council has seen seasons of change this year. I am still trying to work through some of them.

Beverly Teruel, our Food Program Coordinator, relocated out of the area to take care of her parents and Rosalie Leaberry changed from a former Board Member to employee by replacing her. Noemi Hernandez resigned to have more time with her very active boys and wound up working at the Healthy Haven in Smith River. It opened our doors to our newest bilingual staff members Eliana Hillebrand and Azalia Reeve. Our Centers have experienced monumental change with the closure of Glenn Street Hollow in January. On top of that, several of our staff members have embarked on weight reduction programs and are slimmer and healthier for the effort. Teri Keevil resigned from the Board in Spring of 2003. Our Board has added new members Harriett Jenesky and Stephanie Disrude. Karen Brohmer, a seven year veteran of the Board, will be resigning and Rich England will be replacing her. Change is good.

Change can be scary, too. Our agency has had its child care subsidies reduced by the State Budget cuts. We spent the last six months on reduced staff hours to assure fiscal stability and continuity of staff. Eligibility requirements for families have tightened up eliminating older children and some families entirely. Some families will "time-out" as they have utilized all of the TANF opportunities. The Regional Market Rates for providers has been reduced by 15% and documentation has also tightened up. Licensing fees have gone up. And we have a new Governor. A Governor who has never held a public office or participated in government before. Never had to worry about child care. Never had to deal with a major budget deficit before. In January he will issue a new State Budget based on the recommendations of his new Finance Director and a new Secretary of Education will design our child care contracts. Change is good we keep telling ourselves.

Hopefully, our community stored up lots of sunshine in our hearts from a summer that was not smoky and ashy. Our children played on beaches, lawns and playgrounds in air that was clean and fresh. Jammin' at Jed was a 10 year old celebration of our community's children: painted faces, funny hats, hacky sacks, hand-decorated tiles, food and music. We live in a beautiful place-one that is good for kids. Now it will change a bit growing cooler, damper and darker. I hope the glow of summer will be remembered and reflected in our holiday spirit. There are basket drives for the less fortunate, Tree Lightings and chorale presentations and events to bring that glow out in us. It will help us prepare support for our community as we face 2004 and the major challenges it will bring. Change is good.

Please keep the glow in your hearts and the faith that change is good this Holiday Season. Our children will flourish by it.