Can you package pep?

If you could, you would end up with someone who has 

the human characteristics of Colleen Leskinen.

Colleen lives a couple of miles out of Nespelem.

She was mayor there for 14 years, but if you know her it is probably for her daycare program.

Not long ago she applied for and won a state grant to erect a daycare center on her 80-acre farm.

She has provided daycare for the area for a number of years, in her home.

This fall her new daycare facility will be finished and Colleen will be authorized to provide services for up to 50 children. She currently has around 30 children.

If you could package and sell someone like Colleen you would have a gold mine. A half-hour conversation with Leskinen leaves you with the desire to go out and conquer the world.

She takes children very early in the morning and it isn’t very long before school buses roll in and pick them up to take them to various schools.

Her daycare operation provides services that relate to the nearby school, only a half mile away.

In fact, through arrangements the school will provide and deliver lunch for her kids.

A life-size metal horse sculpture helps define the property. It was created by the late Smoker Marchand. He created the sculpture to raise money for someone in need, and Leskinen won it with the winning ticket. It joins a couple of real horses living on the property.

At a time when most adults would be looking for ways to taper off activities, Colleen is expanding her workload.

A year ago she ordered 100 chickens and they were delivered through the post office there.

Add to that some 40 peacocks and 20 Guinea hens, some dogs and cats, and you have a very active farm atmosphere.

Currently, workers are constructing the future daycare facility. With the construction is a pledge from Colleen that the service will continue for another 10 years.

Most families that live anywhere close have used the daycare. It sounds like a gigantic extended family.

To get the grant, Colleen has agreed to a matching fund arrangement.

The cats keep mice away, the peacocks, Guinea hens and chickens keep insects away, and the peacocks sound the alarm when there is any unusual activity.

It doesn’t get much better than that.

Meanwhile Colleen and her two assistants use the time to present school-related subject matter to little kids. An open house is planned this fall, and before school begins, so the greater community can experience the wave of pep and enthusiasm that will await their visit.

Leskinen’s day begins early, and cleaning up, doing chores can end by around 8:30 p.m.

She can’t forget the bird population, and even three goats.