CRANBERRY TWP — Supervisors on Thursday, Aug. 31, approved a new day care center that anticipates opening its doors next week.

Steve and Marsha Karanikos, owners of the new Ready Roo’s Early Learning Center, participated in a public hearing at Thursday’s meeting for the 1,640-square-foot facilities’ conditional use as a day care.

The center, located at 20510 Route 19, suite 106, currently operates as a MathZone, a K-12 tutoring service. The couple said they plan to move this service to a sister location in Wexford, fully transforming the facility into a day care center.

“I’ve been working with 2- to 5-year-olds in both locations, Wexford and Cranberry,” Marsha Karanikos said. “And more and more people were asking for us to help their younger children.”

She said the need in the community played an important part in their decision to convert the facility to a day care center.

“That probably would have been the main factor, just the interest and the demand was increasing,” Marsha Karanikos said.

Steve Karanikos, Marsha’s husband, said she has extensive experience as a teacher in both the United States and Australia.

“She will be positioned as the center’s director,” he said. “She’ll be looking after programs content, managing staff, and coordinating the educational activities of the children in their care.”

With a background in information technology, Steve Karanikos said he would be managing the center’s software and devices.

“We’ll be having a lot of technical equipment, iPads for the kids and a surveillance system that’ll eventually be linked to what they call a Watch Me Grow,” he said.

The Watch Me Grow system allows parents to log in from a remote location and monitor their child’s play and activities.

Marsha Karanikos said the center already has applicants and is expecting to be able to accommodate just over 20 children.

“In the space that Cranberry is, 20-21 children is what we anticipate the Department of Human Services will approve,” she said.

She said the center could open its doors as a day care next week.

“It’s a business that’s going to meet the demands of the community, so we’re excited,” township manager Dan Santoro said. “We’re excited that they’re existing business owners and have been for some time; they’re growing their business and they’re local residents.”

Chief Kevin Meyers of the Cranberry Township Police Department stands with the newly-pinned Sgt. Mike Kramer. Kramer competed with nine other officers for the position formerly held by Bill Oct. He was promoted Thursday, Aug. 31, by the board of supervisors. Austin Uram/Butler Eagle

On Thursday, Sept. 7, supervisors will vote on final approval for two developments with a combined total of nearly 300 residential and apartment units.

The Felson development along Brandt Drive is asking for final planned residential development approval for its second phase.

Ron Henshaw, director of planning and development, said the development included 180 apartment units as well as a clubhouse and pool. If approved, he said construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2024.

The Breckenridge development along Freedom Road is seeking preliminary and final land development approval, now revised to include four phases for the project.

Henshaw said the development would include 117 townhouse units as well as its own clubhouse and pool. He said construction is anticipated to begin this fall.

Supervisors also promoted officer Mike Kramer, of the Cranberry Township Police Department, to the rank of sergeant at Thursday’s meeting.

Supervisors’ president Mike Manipole said Sgt. Mike Kramer competed alongside eight other officers for the former Sgt. Bill Oct’s position.

“It’s an honor to have you here, officer Kramer — Sgt. Kramer, I guess is what we should say,” Manipole said. “From the time that you hit our police department, you’ve become a very respected, a very honored police officer."