Steve Steiner

Staff Writer

kamartin@elkintribune.com

A tradition believed to have started at the end of 1993 has now come to an end.

It was then that children enrolled for the first time at Pleasant Hill Day Care, 595 Austin Traphill Road, put their handprints on the walls of the facilily. Since then, approximately 400 - 500 handprints have gone up, according to Phyllis Reed, who has been the daycare director the past 15 years. However, Reed is not sure whether that figure is accurate.

“I’ve never counted,” she said.

Now, those hands will be painted over.

It is because of new regulations handed down by the state environmental agency, said Reed.

“About five years ago, they told us we had to have coat hooks separated 12 inches apart, and we did that,” said Reed. “A few months ago, they came and said that even though the hooks are 12 inches apart, the coats could still touch, and they had to be separated.”

As a result, open-faced lockers will be installed where the hooks once were — as well as where the handprints are.

Many people are in disbelief, Reed said. They argue that the children play and touch each other all the time, regardless of season, so how will using separate lockers have any affect, they ask.

Regardless the reason, this is what is now required.

“We have to abide by what they tell us we have to do.”

The older children know what will be taking place. Most learned from their parents, said Reed, who were informed what has to be done in order for the day care center to remain open.

“They (the parents) understand, but they still don't like it,” said Reed.

She added that many of the people with the regulatory agency are not happy either. Seeing the hundreds of handprints made them smile whenever they came to the daycare.

Reed said there will be an informal ceremony and the children will stand before the walls and have their pictures taken.

Also, for parents whose children once attended, Reed is currently taking pictures for those parents who would like a copy of their child's hand.

She is not sure whether to continue the tradition in a different format, such as doing a mural each year and then finding a place to display it.

“It would be still nice to still do the handprints,” she said.

A wistful look crossed her face as she sat behind her office desk.

“I guess it will be the end of an era, I guess,” she said.

About Pleasant Hill Day Care

Because it is run by Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, it is categorized a GS 110 — a religious-sponsored facility, which makes it exempt from the state rating system. However, it is still inspected.

“We like to consider ourselves a five-star facility,” said Reed.

There may be validity to Reed's statement.

Admission is difficult to achieve and Reed said there currently are 170 names on the waiting list.

“Not many days go by someone doesn't call to put their name on the list,” she said. “We’ve had people who are trying to conceive call to make arrangements.”

It is licensed for 75 children. There are seven classrooms, with admission from six-weeks-old to the start of kindergarten. The daycare “graduates” approximately 20 children per year.

The baby room has two adults. The other classrooms have one adult, and there is one “floater” who assists where and when needed.