Melanie Tompkins, director of the Aroostook County Childcare Resource Center, talked about the center’s work at the Mapleton Lions Club’s last meeting of 2025.
She said it is difficult for young families to find care for their children. These difficulties led to creating the resource center under the umbrella of the United Way of Aroostook. The center’s mission focuses on bolstering current child care providers, recruiting new providers, supporting parents and businesses while raising public awareness about the importance of quality early childhood education.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
A survey of Aroostook County indicated a shortage of more than 300 childcare openings, she said. The shortages, along with the unexpected closure of some County providers, spurred a group of child care stakeholders to create the resource center.
Tompkins was hired as director in January. Since then, the center has hosted provider information sessions and helped with the opening of a new provider in Caribou. They have connected with 60 existing providers and assisted 23 of them with filling vacancies, hiring staff, accessing grants, technical issues and creating helpful business connections.
The center’s website contains links to connect parents with resources and to connect childcare providers to funding and licensing resources. There are links for parents and providers to the Child Care Affordability Program, which can help with financial support for child care services.
Planned efforts and activities aim to help move Aroostook County to a more stable and robust system of child care services. As the Center moves into its second year, the focus will be on increasing the stability of services by helping improve recruitment and retention of staff and connections with state funding and resources.
The Lions Club voted to donate to the center.
For more information about the Aroostook County Childcare Resource Center, visit aroostookccrc.org, check out their Facebook page or contact Tompkins at 207-227-6588.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
Holiday lights directory
The Mapleton Lions Club thanks all who stepped up and sponsored a light to decorate the town.
They have completed the Mapleton Holiday Lights Directory Board, which has individual plaques with the dedication and sponsor of each light. The directory details the type of lights and the utility pole numbers on which the designated lights hang.
The board is now attached to the front of the Mapleton Lions Hall. The dedications and sponsors are listed in the order as they hang on the utility poles. The lights will be up until either Jan. 11 or 18, depending on the weather conditions.
Terry Sandusky is the Star-Herald correspondent for Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill and can be reached at 764-4916 or at starherald.Tsandusky@gmail.com.
