The Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism did not have far to go to conduct its ribbon-cutting ceremony for Connections Child Care & Learning Center at 125 Mall Road in Covington.
The Chamber’s headquarters is only a stone’s throw away across the parking lot from Connections Child Care & Learning Center, the new Christian-based business opened by Mindy Gardzinsky and her husband John.
Kathleen All, the president-elect of the Chamber, led the ribbon-cutting celebration by congratulating Mindy before calling on the City of Covington’s Mayor Tom Sibold who welcomed the business owners and noted that child care is needed in the area.
Mayor Jeff Irvine of the Town of Clifton Forge welcomed Mindy and congratulated the couple for the work that they have set out to do in the 6,000 sq. ft. facility adjacent to the Virginia DMV office.
Terri McClung, office manager of the Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Corporation, praised the business as a needed one for the Alleghany Highlands.
Mindy then welcomed the large gathering of family and friends along with the dignitaries and members of the press to join her in front of the building for the ceremonial ribbon cutting.
After being led by Pam Warren of the Chamber to cut the ribbon outside in order to reveal the business’ new sign in the background, members of the press and well-wishers were driven back inside by a sudden rain before the ribbon cutting could get underway.
Once the group reassembled for the ribbon cutting, it was held inside the facility which features three classrooms, a clinic area, an after-school area and a kitchen. The facility’s playground remains under construction outside on the southern end of the building where there is an open grassy space with playground equipment situated next to a covered concrete patio area.
Mindy remarked, “We can provide individual tutoring for high school and middle school students, and we can match teachers to areas of learning in order to meet their needs.”
“We also have a full kitchen in back and will be preparing food for our students,” she concluded.
Connections Child Care & Learning Center has an electronic security system in place along with video cameras to assure the safety of its students and younger children. Parents may enroll their children, six-weeks-old to 12-years-of-age, by calling (540) 962-0051.
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