WESTBROOK – As quickly as Lollipop Lane Educare in Westbrook announced it was closing, a local businesswoman declared she would be taking it over.

In a turn of events that even surprised AnneMarie Hebert, the center’s former owner, Norma Wolf, who runs a telecommunications company with her husband, announced over the weekend she would be stepping in to continue operations of the day care that served more than 200 children.

That was good news for Lollipop Lane’s 40 staff members and the families of children who would otherwise have to seek out alternative services. However, uncertainty hangs around the business, as not much is known besides its name: The Wolf’s Den. It is not clear when Wolf intends to open, where it would be located or how she put together a plan to operate so quickly.

Hebert, owner of Lollipop Lane for 18 years, said she was shocked on Saturday when she saw Wolf on television, waving around a temporary license to operate a day care center. Hebert was sick Saturday and unable to attend the scheduled gathering between parents and other day care providers. She said she could not believe what she saw on the news that night.

“I was like, ‘What is going on here?’” she said. “I just don’t know what happened.”

Hebert said she has known Wolf for years through Lollipop Lane. She described her as friendly and intelligent, but Hebert was not pleased she was not made aware of Wolf’s plans.

Wolf’s announcement equally surprised other day care providers, who Hebert said were “drooling” to take on some of her clients because “their programs are having the same problems” as hers.

Some have even publicly questioned why the state was so willing to issue Wolf a temporary license within a day of her application. Hebert said the state might have erred in granting it so quickly.

Natasha Asali-Hurtubise, owner of Toddle Inn Child Care in Westbrook, said it was surprising because day care operators typically go through a lengthy process to receive a license.

“I did not receive my license overnight,” she said. “I just hope it’s a quality child care.”

Catherine Cobb, the director the Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services, said the state did the normal background checks on Wolf and found no reason to deny a license.

“She’s proposing to leave the center running status quo,” Cobb said, adding that Wolf would keep the same program director from Lollipop Lane.

However, Hebert was unsure about that. She was the owner and executive director of Lollipop Lane, and the director under her was Jamie Paige, who gave her notice about two weeks before the closure announcement, Hebert said.

“As far as I know, she’s sticking close to home,” she said.

Hebert said she also does not know how many of her employees would be joining Wolf. She noted that some have already taken jobs elsewhere, including two who got work at the Little Red School House in Westbrook.

Wolf did not return multiple calls seeking comment.

According to Cobb, each license applicant’s situation is unique. In this case, she said, the shift is more about the ownership than operations and Wolf would have the same staff in place to make for a smooth transition.

“It is not unusual for an owner to own a day care center and not actually work in the center,” she said. “We felt it appropriate to give her a 30-day startup.”

Cobb said the state would monitor Wolf’s facility during the 30 days and if things go well, she would be granted a full license.

Rapid approval of the license was important in this case because it minimizes disruption for parents and children, she said.

Cobb said her understanding is Wolf intends to open the business within the next week. A longer period of closure would have made it difficult for Wolf to recover Lollipop Lane’s clients, she said.

Many parents, including Mark Dufour of Westbrook, simply could not wait. He said he and his wife considered Wolf’s offer, but needed something more immediate.

The Dufours had to leave their jobs early on Friday to rush out to three interviews at day care facilities, he said. He said their 3-year-old son Mason is now enrolled at Little Stars Preschool in Westbrook, after they took off an additional day of work Monday.

“It was an unfortunate turn of events, but we’re happy with the result,” he said.

Families were left scrambling after Hebert told them on Feb. 10 that Lollipop Lane would be closing the next day. The short notice frustrated many who needed to find a day care so they could return to work.

Corey Rancourt, a Westbrook resident whose 2-year-old son was enrolled at Lollipop Lane, said there were whispers two or three weeks ago the day care might close. He said Hebert denied those rumors.

“Sure enough, it’s closing,” he said on Friday as he picked up his son. “I can’t imagine the well went dry in the past two days. Something like that doesn’t happen overnight.”

Hebert said financial troubles lingered for three years, but things came to a head after a deal on a facility with cheaper rent fell through. She said her $27,500 monthly rent at the Patrick Drive facility, combined with a $1 million annual payroll and other costs, crippled the business as families struggled to pay for services during the recession.

Hebert also owes the city money. City Administrator Jerre Bryant said she borrowed $40,000 several years ago to buy her buses through the city’s revolving loan program. The program enables the city to work with small, growing businesses looking to make investments, he said.

“She’s been having a tough economic time for some time now,” Bryant said. “We’ve been working with her for some time.”

Hebert said she knew it was time to close when she had to decide between paying the utility bill and writing paychecks for her staff.

“I just literally had to make the choice between paying the light bill and payroll,” she said.

Workers haul items away from Lollipop Lane Educare in Westbrook on Tuesday. The center abruptly closed last week and owner AnnMarie Hebert is selling the equipment.
Staff photo by Joey Cresta