Time to bring closure to another year! I can’t believe the Holidays are here already. This has been a year of changes and adjustments for the Council. Our Board of Directors has lost a few valuable members and is replacing them with two great new people. Lori Bomke, Harriett Jenesky and Rich England made contributions during the time they were with us and we appreciate them for their volunteering. Billie Kaye Gavin and Michelle Clemann will join us starting this fall and we look forward to working with them and gaining knowledge from their experience and skills. Our Deputy Director, Stacy Patton, was on maternity leave and is now coming back part-time with Baby Hannah. We thank Hannah for sharing her mom with us! Our Senior Account Clerk Liz Houchin left us temporarily but is back and we are glad. Arturo Gomez has joined us for full time translation and CCIP duties. Our most recent change is at the front desk. After two years with us Stephanie Starets-Foote has decided to stay home and care for her family. We will miss her voice on the phone and calm at the desk but know that this Holiday will be very warm for her as she spends time with her kids. Kasey Velez will be the new Administrative Assistant. She comes to us from a background of medical service and working with families in Sacramento. We welcome her to the Council family!

This year was a year of significant elections – both locally and national. Family literacy and the opportunity to seek out and find information in our own library have been seriously challenged. Measure A did not make the percentage of votes necessary to pass a sales tax despite major efforts. My thanks to everyone who contributed – from funding to the musical talents of local musicians to yard signs. A library is critical to the well-being of a rurally isolated, economically challenged community. I hope we will be able to re-visit this vote again. On a larger scale, all eyes of the world will be on our re-elected President and new legislators. The Council receives Federal and State funding for child care subsidies so that America can work while children are cared for in safe and healthy environments. We will be tracking legislation and networking with colleagues to be prepared for changes that impact working families in Del Norte County. There are new regulations for family child care providers (see article in another part of this newsletter) to be aware of. There will be a workshop in January presented by the Alternative Payment staff – keep an eye out for the announcement. We will be hosting our annual Holiday Open House on December 14th. Santa will be there as well as free crafts for children. Join us between 4:00 and 6:00 PM for some holiday fun!

Most of all, I think this is a time to consider all the wonderful things in our lives: our freedoms, our opportunities and our relationships. The Child Care Council is very thankful for the donations we have received, the volunteers that have made Jammin’ a memorable experience, the community support that brought us the Child & Family Fun Day and the incredible staff that keeps the Council and its child care centers strong and viable. We appreciate our partnerships with the County of Del Norte, the First 5 Del Norte, Northcoast Childrens Services, College of the Redwoods, Local Planning Council and the Del Norte Unified School District. The words "Thank you" are two small but very powerful words. We can’t say them often enough.