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Santander will bring 875 jobs to Pasco
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Pasco County scored two big wins last week. First, it sealed a deal with Santander Consumer USA to set up shop in the county, and to create 875 new job opportunities in Pasco. Second, it found a way to give new life to a vacant building, at a prominent spot. “Since about 2016, we’ve had a very difficult time in explaining why we have this (vacant) big box building, right at the entrance of our county, at Suncoast and State Road 54,”
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Bill Cronin, president and CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council, Inc., said in remarks to the Pasco County Commission. “Super Target has remained empty for four years, despite our healthy growth. “I’m happy to say that because of the specialized need of that building and the specialized use, we do have a special company that is taking that building,” Cronin said. Cronin and David Engel, manager of the county’s office of economic growth, explained the details of the incentive package that’s being extended to Santander to persuade it to choose Pasco County. Efforts to land the company began several
months ago, when Santander Consumer USA came to the county during a national search conducted by Newmark Knight Frank. “The goal was to locate a modern and efficient site that could accommodate future expansions,” Cronin said. The search went beyond finding a site, he said. It “was also a search for sustainable talent pipeline in a community with great livability,” he said. Santander Consumer USA will be investing $22 million in Pasco County, Cronin said.
See JOBS, page 9A
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A showcase of the artistry of pottery The annual tradition of the Tampa Tour de Clay — now in its 13th year — gave pottery lovers a chance to check out new pieces — either live or virtually in an event that adjusted, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gallery hoppers could check out pieces on Dec. 12 and Dec. 13 at Jack Boyle’s San Antonio Pottery in San Antonio, Wellman and Welsch Pottery in Lutz, and Pottery Boys Clay Studios in Palm Harbor. Those who didn’t feel comfortable visiting the studios in person could take a virtual tour option, instead. One benefit of the virtual tour was that “attendees” could view and purchase work by some artists who were unable to attend the traditional tour, including Lynne Meade, Timothy Sullivan, Larry Allen, Jennifer McCurdy and Martha Grover. Above, Judy Bilek and Cindy Karafilis, both of Land O’ Lakes, browse Tampa Tour de Clay artist Ira Burhan’s work at Jack Boyle’s San Antonio Pottery studio. This was the first time the women had attended the tour, but after purchasing several pieces of pottery, it won’t be their last.
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Design funding granted for Seven Oaks library By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Pasco County has allocated $1 million for design work for a new public library near Seven Oaks Elementary School. Commissioners approved the allocation as part of the board’s consent agenda — meaning it was approved along with a number of other items without discussion. During a later part of the meeting, Commissioner Mike Moore who advocated for building a public library near Seven Oaks Elementary School, thanked his colleagues for approving the funding. “We were able to use some of those excess funds that were returned by the tax collector’s office to provide this first round of funding,” Moore said. The county has owned the library site, next to Seven Oaks Elementary at See LIBRARY, page 9A
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Tampa Tour de Clay artist Kimberli Cummings puts the finishing touches on her booth at the 13th annual Tampa Tour de Clay. She was stationed at Wellman and Welsch’s Pottery studio in Lutz. Cummings specializes in majolica pottery, and many of her pieces depict Tampa landscapes, such as the University of Tampa.
Tampa Tour de Clay artist William ‘Bill’ Kidd shows off one of his latest pieces available for purchase at the event.
Adding safety, security and Pasco lifts restriction savings to holiday shopping on Sunday morning alcohol sales
By Joey Johnston
Special to The Laker/Lutz News
‘Tis the season of comfort and joy — unless you are trying to complete your holiday shopping in these pandemic-induced, economically shaky times. Then, it’s more like the season of stress. The good news is that with proper preparation, precautions and common sense, things can run much more efficiently. And, you might even save some money along the way. That’s the word from Taynisha Berenguer, a library service/technology guide with the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System. She recently shared a wealth of information in a webinar entitled:“Holiday Shopping: Safely, Securely, Sensibly.’’ “I know it’s a cliche, but shopping during the ‘new normal’ has a whole array of things to consider, and there are plenty of other things that you always need to think about,’’ she said. Here’s how Berenguer broke it down:
THE BASICS
Any good shopping expedition needs a plan.That’s where budgeting applies. Even when they have a sound budget, shoppers often overlook the holiday incidentals — such as tape and wrapping paper, Berenguer said. Research is essential, especially with so many online options. The pandemic has mandated some creative thinking. “You need to think outside the box … and by that, I mean it’s really easy to think about just the Big Three — Amazon,Walmart and Target,’’ Berenguer said. “There are a bunch of other retailers out there, along with many small local businesses.These are places to find some good buys and maybe find something really cool. “If you’re going to the brick-and-mortar store, make sure that store is open. Some may be offering curbside service.You’ve got to have your hand sanitizer and mask. You
See SHOPPING, page 9A
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
The Pasco County Commission has removed the county’s ban on the Sunday morning sales of alcoholic beverages. Now, alcohol sales on Sunday will be treated like alcohol sales on any other day of the week in the county, said County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder. Previously, the sales weren’t allowed on Sundays before 11 a.m. No one spoke during the public hearing and commissioners voted 5-0 to amend the ordinance, during the board’s Dec. 8 meeting. The change will take effect within 10 days of the board’s action. The change was prompted by Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, who raised the issue at a board meeting in September. “A lot of counties in the state and around See ALCOHOL, page 9A