Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, AUGUST 26, 2022 ~ The Advocate Asks ~ Shining Stars Learning Center owner Tricia Murphy discusses her move to Cliftondale Center Editor’s Note: For this week’s interview, we sat down with Tricia Murphy, owner of Shining Stars Learning Center. We asked her about how she got involved in early childhood education and her plans to relocate this fall from the old Edwards School Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 Dan 1972 R.Y.O. TOBACCO ---------TUBES CIGAR SMOKERS DELIGHT! 15 Handmade Cigars - Long Leaf - individually wrapped plus a $19. Surprise $43.95 at 20 East Denver St. Murphy grew up in Sturbridge, Mass. She is a 1991 graduate of Southbridge High School. In 1996 she graduated from Salem State College with a Bachelor of Arts in art education. She decided to go back to college to take more classes in early childhood education and got certified through North Shore Community College. Her husband, Michael, is a lieutenant in the Revere Fire Department, where he has worked for 16 years. They have been married for 22 years and have three children: Abagail, 21, a senior at Coastal Carolina University; Molly, 19, a sophomore at the University of Tampa; Michael, 15, who will be a sophomore at Lynnfield High School this fall. Murphy and her family lived in Saugus for 15 years while Shining Stars was just starting out. She was very active in the town’s PTO. Murphy and her family currently reside in Lynnfield. Some highlights of this week’s interview follow. Q: When did you first dream about opening up a day care center? A: I was in school for art hisOur 50th Anniversary Chris 2022 We Sell Cigars & Accessories Buy Cigars by the Box & SAVE! Competitive prices on all Brands, Great Selection Take an Additional 10% OFF All Boxes and Humidors during the Month of August! * Travel Humidors * Desk Top Humidors * Many Types of Lighters * Ash Trays * Juuls * Vapes * Glass Pipes * Rewards Program * CBD Infused Products * GIFTS UNDER $30 - GIFT CERTIFICATES A.B.C. CIGAR 170 REVERE ST., REVERE (781) 289-4959 STORE HOURS: Monday - Saturday: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sunday & Holidays: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Liam Jaynes, a former Shining Stars Learning Center student who died in a June 9, 2014, car accident in Saugus, has become the inspiration of annual “random acts of kindness day,” which is observed every year by the center. Shining Stars plans to name a new playground/play station after him. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) tory, and one of the courses was elementary art. My mom was an art teacher. I thought that would be a great career. I got a job at a preschool in Marblehead and fell in love with teaching preschool. I started in Marblehead in 1997 and left in 2001, right before I had my first daughter. Q: How did you wind up in Saugus? A: We bought my husband’s aunt’s (Grace) house in Saugus on Pearson Street. His uncle, Joe Rapone, was a butcher at the Hilltop for several years. I was on the PTO for the Veterans School for several years. Besides being active with the PTO, I’ve written a few grants for the town. One of the grants was community partnerships for children – collaborating between the private preschool and the public preschool. I worked on a grant for Saugus Coordinated Family Community, making sure that every child had access to early childhood programs. We ran free play groups at the library. I was the coordinator of that for nine years and recently stepped down. I was a wellness committee member under Superintendent David DeRuosi, advocating for early childhood programs. Q: What’s the origin of the name Shining Stars? A: I was just trying to come up with a fun name for the school. I brainstormed with my mother and mother-in-law. I always loved the shape of ASKS | SEE PAGE 5 Tricia Murphy stands in front of the early stages of a wall mural that will help make the new home for Shining Stars Learning Center a cheery place. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate)
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