By Jason Klaiber
Staff Writer
Shining Stars Daycare Inc. celebrated 25 years of business with an open house at its Manlius center on Sept. 28.
The day care company started up in July 1994 in a leased-out space at the Medical Center East on North Burdick Street in East Syracuse.
The business built the Manlius establishment at 4581 Enders Road in 2001, moved its East Syracuse location to Bowman Road in 2006 and opened a third location on Metropolitan Park Drive in Liverpool in 2009.
In 2017, the Manlius center was demolished and rebuilt at 4595 Enders Road with the expansion of a gymnasium, which local volleyball and baseball teams rent out for practices.
“It is kind of nice to see the business get larger over the years,” John Penizotto, who co-owns Shining Stars Daycare with his wife Stella, said. “We pretty much used our life savings to open the doors 25 years ago.”
The open house, which took place in the gymnasium, featured face painting stations, a “birthday” cake for the business, games of basketball and balloon twisting.
Stella Penizotto, who oversees the daily operations of the day care centers, said the Saturday open house allowed for an opportunity to become better acquainted with the working parents who drop their children off at the centers.
Stella Penizotto said the “family atmosphere” at the centers owes to the business’ low turnover rate for employees over the years.
“It feels homey,” she said. “It’s not institutional-like.”
The three buildings owned by the business consist of rooms designated for newborns, toddlers and pre-schoolers as well as kitchens, lending libraries and connected outdoor playgrounds.
John Penizotto said the teachers at the centers teach social skills and follow curriculums that include art projects, singing, reading, math and writing.
Each Shining Stars Daycare location brings in over one hundred children ages six weeks to twelve years Monday through Friday, according to Stella Penizotto.
“We’re very grateful to the communities we serve,” she said. “It’s been an amazing 25 years.”
Jason Klaiber
