'Pop-Pop Would Be So Proud'

For Sarah Beth Hall, owning a business was not in her life plan. But the 1999 Central High graduate is opening her second business in less than a year, right here in Williamsburg.

Hall's great-grandfather, Jack Bolger, who she lovingly refers to as "Pop-Pop," opened a funeral business many years ago in Williamsburg. Hall believes that he "would be so proud to know that the same street for which he opened his business, I am opening my business."

Hall is from Roaring Spring and graduated from Central High School and then the Allegheny College of Maryland. Following college, she went to work at Wee Care Day Care in Duncansville.

"I loved being a preschool teacher at Wee Care. Children are so innocent and fun. I think it's awesome that we get to have our little piece in them growing up," Hall said about her time at Wee Care.

Following that position, Hall went to work at the Mattern House, Williamsburg. She credits the Mattern House for "gaining a lot of experience," and through that job, she got to fall in love with the town of Williamsburg.

One day, she found out that the former Abby's location in Woodbury was for sale.

"I called my husband, and I said, 'let's buy a daycare' and he said okay," Hall said. Her husband Michael is a contractor in the Cove and surrounding areas.

Following the federal government shutdown earlier this year, "The Owl's Nest Daycare and Preschool" officially opened for business on Feb. 2, 2019.

Soon, Hall was looking for other locations that needed a daycare facility. She scoured locations in both Bedford and Blair counties. Through the grapevine, Hall learned that the Appalachia IU-8 was leaving its Williamsburg location at the Williamsburg Public Library basement.

"We scheduled an appointment the next day and got it," she said.

Hall said that since then, there has been "an excitement in the air in town (Williamsburg) and everyone seems real excited about the opening of a child care facility."

Hall praised the library board of directors and Roane Lytle and Tim Tate for being "supportive in this process."

She also said that in regard to the residents of the Williamsburg, "they're all so supportive, friendly and willing to help."

The Owl's Nest Daycare and Preschool 2 held its open house this past Saturday from for open enrollment hiring purposes. Hall said that, following state inspections, she plans to be licensed for about 40 children, ages 6 weeks to 12 years.

The Owl's Nest plans to have its opening day on Monday, Sept. 23, and be open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Hall said that it's "important to have a good rapport with the parents – always tell them hello."

"You get what you put into it," she said. "I was a daycare mom – and I want the children of Williamsburg to enjoy coming here. My overall goal for this business is to have a place kids love coming to, parents want to bring their children here and that the town is proud to have a daycare. I want to earn the parents' trust that this place is a safe place for the kids to grow up."