Hurrah for early childhood education

To the editor:
    What a joy to see Houlton Police Chief Butch Asselin and Sheriff James Madore reading to young children at the Head Start Program on Bird Street in Houlton (Houlton Pioneer Times 3/13/11). They are so right that quality early childhood education is vital and pays off!
    There are also others to thank. The building on Bird Street now occupied by the Aroostook County Action Program’s (ACAP) Head Start operation was formerly the home of Bootstrap Day Care Center headed by Tina McNinch. The late (and great) Charles Upton procured a Community Development Block Grant, authorized by Houlton Town Council, to erect a new building on Region II (SAVE) property that was especially designed for young children. Dale Estey was the Clerk of Works.
    ACAP and all its staff must be commended for providing loving, quality child care (starting at 3 months), Early Head Start and after school programs for young children at their North Street location in Houlton as well as their Head Start program on Bird Street. Maliseet Head Start on Foxcroft Road is also an important resource in our community.
    Kudos also to Principal Candace Crane, teachers and children of Houlton Elementary School for their major success with the Reading First Program. Candace’s sister, Dannette Ellis, who is Director of The “Other Maine” Project of Aid for Kids is also contributing to raising literacy rates and the horizons of many children in northern Maine including the Houlton/Hodgdon area. She has distributed over $150,000 worth of new, quality books (for toddlers through teens) and teaching aids via K-12 schools, Head Starts and food pantries as well as arranging for the nationally-known “Bess the Book Bus” to come to Houlton last summer. It will be back again this summer to bring free books to many.
    Our children are so important. They are our future. Quality day care providers, Head Start staff and K-12 teachers should be honored and paid appropriately for the crucial work they are doing. As former volunteers at several of the places mentioned above, we have witnessed their dedication. Thank you one and all, and hurray for Butch Asselin and James Madore.
Harrison and Marilyn Roper
Houlton