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The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
Proud to be independently owned.

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Bill Cronin

Santander will bring 875 jobs to Pasco

December 15, 2020 By B.C. Manion

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,” Bill Cronin, president and CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council, Inc., said in remarks to the Pasco County Commission.

Pasco County officials and representatives from Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., and Santander Consumer USA celebrate the agreement expected to attract 875 jobs to Pasco County. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council)

“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.

Santander Consumer USA will be investing $22 million in Pasco County, Cronin said.

“The company will be paying over 115% of our current county average wage,” Cronin added.

The agreement details that Pasco’s average annual wage paid to workers in all industries is $38,338, as reported by Enterprise Florida Inc., and compiled by the State of Florida, Agency for Workforce Innovation, Labor Market Statistics.

Santander has agreed to create the 875 jobs within five years, and to pay at least $46,283 in average annual income for those jobs. To qualify for the incentive, a job must be staffed for at least one year.

Santander plans to renovate and occupy 115,425 square feet of the former Target store building, at 16400 State Road 54, in Odessa. The big box store has been vacant since 2016. (File)

Santander also will be offering career opportunities for the county’s bilingual workforce, which is expected to help the county’s Hispanic population — which makes up the county’s largest ethnic population, Cronin said.

“The economic impact to gross county product to Pasco is $129 million over the next five years,” Cronin added.

Their parent company, Banco Santander, is located in Spain, Cronin said, describing it as one of the world’s largest banks.

“If you have an automobile loan in Latin America, it’s probably from Santander,” he said.

In fact, Cronin added, “Banco Santander was named, just last week, Bank of the Year in the Americas, Brazil, Spain and Argentina, by The Banker, which is a global financial intelligence organization in London.”

Engel spelled out the terms of the economic incentive package.

“For the 875 jobs, the Pasco EDC recommends a $1,750,000 to be paid out over a 10-year period, and a 10-year tangible tax reimbursement, totaling up to $342,000,” Engel said.

Years one through five the incentive will be 50% of Santander’s tangible tax and years six through 10 will be 25% of their tangible tax, he added.

“This, in fact, is the most cost-effective job creation incentive that we’ve offered a company. It’s equivalent to $391 a job,” Engel said.

The incentive agreement notes that Santander intends to make interior and exterior renovations of 115,425 square feet of the old Target store, at 16400 State Road 54, in Odessa.

Backup materials for the board’s agenda item note: “The staff recommendation to

approve the tangible tax reimbursement in this case is based on the unique aspects of this project since it involves the redevelopment and occupancy of a former “big box” retail building by a qualified target industry, at significant expense, in one of the county’s most important high visibility economic growth and job creation corridors.”

It adds: “The recommended tax reimbursement incentive in this case should not be considered a precedent for reimbursement for interior improvements that may be made by other companies in the future, even if such companies qualify for a job creation incentive or are a qualified target industry.”

Background materials in the agreement note that Santander qualifies as a targeted industry, in the financial services sector.

A table in the agreement lays out the company’s plans to gradually add the 875 employees, beginning with 400 in 2021, with a total of 875 by 2025.

Ernie Ocasio, a senior vice president of Santander Consumer USA, told county officials that the company is eager to come to Pasco, and praised the county’s rich resources.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey remarked that she had been so upset about news of the Super Target’s closing that she had appealed to company officials to try to keep it open. It turns out that this new use is better for the county than having a big retailer at that location, the commissioner said.

Commissioners unanimously approved Santander’s incentive package.

What: Santander Consumer USA is setting up shop in Pasco County
Where: On State Road 54, near the Suncoast Parkway, in the old Super Target location
Detail: The company plans to hire 875 workers in the next five years.
When: The company plans to begin hiring in 2021.

Published December 16, 2020

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Banco Santander, Bill Cronin, David Engel, Enterprise Florida Inc., Ernie Ocasio, Kathryn Starkey, Newmark Knight Frank, Pasco County Commission, Pasco Economic Development Council, Santander Consumer USA, State Road 54, Super Target

Pasco stays competitive, during pandemic

October 27, 2020 By B.C. Manion

The news could have been gloomy, because Pasco County — like everywhere else — is in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

But, as it turns out, the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.’s final report for last fiscal year shows that the economic development agency surpassed goals in key categories, such as attracting new projects and adding new jobs.

Bill Cronin, president/CEO of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., holds the agency’s gold award it received in the entrepreneurship category during the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Annual Conference. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.)

That’s the crux of a report delivered by Bill Cronin, president/CEO of Pasco EDC, to the Pasco County Commission during its Oct. 20 board meeting.

Cronin leads the agency, whose mission is to stimulate balanced and diversified economic growth in Pasco County. It uses private investments and tax dollars to support the work it does to foster economic development — which includes attracting companies, helping business startups and helping companies to be resilient, and to grow.

Cronin told commissioners the agency won 15 projects, surpassing its goal of 12. The wins include 13 competitive projects (of which two were expansions already in Pasco that were competitive); plus, two expansion projects that were not competitive.

The agency’s final win came on Sept. 30, about 4:30 in the afternoon, Cronin reported.

“We received a commitment from a company that we’re going to be bringing to you, Nov. 17, for 875 jobs,” he said.

“That put us not only over our goal for a thousand (jobs), but a record for the most recruited jobs in any one fiscal year at 1,464 total jobs committed this year, from (competitive) wins.

“I think it’s not only significant in the sense that it was a record-breaker, but it was amidst COVID that a lot of this activity was taking place,” Cronin said.

Overall, there was $104 million in capital investment last year, exceeding the Pasco EDC’s goal of $90 million.

“We’ve got a total of 44 active projects right now,” Cronin said. That compares favorably with Jacksonville, which has 43, he added.

The majority of those active projects in Pasco’s pipeline is manufacturing.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey is enthusiastic about that.

“Those are great jobs, as you and I know,” Starkey said. “Of course, their No. 1 issue is the talent pipeline, so we are all working hard on filling that.

“Great job on those manufacturing jobs,” she told Cronin.

Obviously, shutdowns imposed by the pandemic created new challenges, and Pasco EDC has responded by becoming a resource to help businesses learn about available resources.

Besides sharing news about grants, loans and training opportunities on its website, Pasco EDC also administered a local small business grant program — that was supported through $7 million in funding approved by the Pasco County Commission, using revenues provided by Penny for Pasco for economic development.

Those receiving the grants were required to submit necessary paperwork, and to attend a two-hour refocus virtual workshop.

“We continue to focus on building resiliency, to work with our small businesses, to help them grow to get stronger,” Cronin said.

It also provided advice to some of its peers in other places, to help them handle resiliency and grants, Cronin said.

The agency’s task forces have been active, too.

The Food Hub task force was expected to present its recommendation at the end of October, and the Office and Industrial Trends Task Force plans to disseminate a report to the real estate community and developers around the nation.

The economic development agency also expects to add a real estate committee to its list of committees in 2021, Cronin said.

The agency also is forming a new task forces on reshoring — which will address the issue of bringing back manufacturing to the United States.

During the board meeting, Cronin also told commissioners about three awards his agency won in an international competition. The agency competed among communities of 500,000 or greater, and won a gold, silver and bronze award in the contest.

Pasco economic statistics for 2019-2020

Overall stats
Business recruitment inquiries: 102
Leads: 35
Active projects: 44
Successes: 15*

Active projects, by category
Manufacturing: 24
Wholesale trade: 2
Information technology: 5
Professional scientific: 4
Company management: 2
Life science: 1
Finance and insurance: 2
Health care: 1
Transportation warehouse: 3

* (Successes include 13 competitive projects, of which two were expansions already in Pasco that were competitive, and two expansion projects that were not competitive)

Source: Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.

Pasco EDC wins international awards
The Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., has received three awards from the International Economic Development Council, in the 2020 Excellence in Economic Development Awards Program.

The local economic development agency won in these categories:

  • Entrepreneurship: A gold award for its SMARTstart Pasco project
  • Digital Media: A silver award for its Pasco Ready Sites Interactive Maps
  • Special Purpose Website: A bronze award for WorkforceCONNECT Pasco.

The awards were presented during the International Economic Development Council Annual Conference.

Bill Cronin, president and CEO for the Pasco EDC, was obviously delighted to share the news with the Pasco County Commission, during the board’s Oct. 20 meeting.

The Pasco EDC was competing in the category for communities over 500,000.

“So that means we were competing with the New Yorks, the Houstons, the Chicagos of the world,” Cronin said. To receive the honors, he said, “is a really big deal for us.”

Published October 28, 2020

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Bill Cronin, Kathryn Starkey, Office and Industrial Trends Task Force, Pasco County Commission, Pasco Economic Development Council, PEDC

Conveyor Consulting and Rubber Company expands

October 6, 2020 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Conveyor Consulting and Rubber Company in Pasco County, which opened in Pasco County in 2014, is constructing two new facilities at One Pasco Center, near Interstate 75 and State Road 52.

The company is investing $2 million to construct a 20,000-square-foot building and a 12,000-square-foot building at One Pasco Center business park, according to an announcement from Pasco Economic Council Inc.

The expansion also includes new manufacturing capabilities for conveyor parts and systems.

“Our company continues to grow, and we are expanding to meet the demand of our clients. Adding to our capabilities to include manufacturing is very exciting,” Ron Fernandes, president of Conveyor Consulting and Rubber Company, said in a release.

“I really appreciate the Pasco EDC and Pasco County staff helping us keep the momentum going by expediting permitting and offering us mobility fee waivers. They are committed to helping businesses grow in Pasco,” he said.

Fernandes looked at numerous locations; however, he found One Pasco Center to have the direct access to major highways he needed to quickly and efficiently distribute to his clients, and provide easy access for business-to-business sales, the release adds.

“I want to congratulate Ron Fernandes and his team on their expansion. The I-75 and SR 52 interchange is rapidly developing, and I think he will find it the perfect fit,” Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley said, in the release.

Bill Cronin, president/CEO of Pasco EDC also weighed in: “The Pasco EDC is always excited to help our current businesses expand and find ways to grow in Pasco County.

“Our road network in Pasco provides a unique transportation network across the county and region. Conveyor Consulting and Rubber Company chose their location because it provides them with quick access for distribution. I am thrilled they were able to remain here and continue to grow with us.”

Published October 07, 2020

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Bill Cronin, Conveyor Consulting and Rubber Company, Interstate 75, One Pasco Center, Pasco Economic Council Inc., Pasco EDC, Ron Fernandes, State Road 52

Amazon plans $40 million investment in Pasco

August 11, 2020 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco Economic Development Council has announced that Amazon plans to invest $40 million in Pasco County.

The company is planning a new 110,000-square-foot facility in Lutz, according to a Pasco EDC news release.

The facility will be located on a portion of the Hayman-Fuentes property near the northeast corner of State Road 54 and the Suncoast Parkway, according to Lauren Miceli, marketing and communications manager for Pasco EDC.

“This new facility will add hundreds of direct and indirect jobs to Pasco County,” Bill Cronin, president/CEO of Pasco EDC, said in the economic development agency’s release.

The new delivery station in Lutz “will power Amazon’s last-mile delivery capabilities to speed up deliveries for customers in Pasco County,” according to an Amazon news release.

“Delivery stations enable Amazon Logistics to supplement capacity and flexibility to Amazon’s delivery capabilities,” the company release says.

The Lutz delivery station is expected to open in 2021, according to Amazon.

Local officials are delighted by Amazon’s decision to invest in Pasco.

“Amazon’s jobs are unique in the sense that some will work directly for the company and others can essentially open their own business and work as a third party with them. It’s a great opportunity for our residents to start their own small business,” Cronin added.

“The county and Pasco EDC have worked hard to create mixed-use neighborhoods and attract a variety of industries to Pasco,” Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells said in the Pasco EDC release. “Amazon putting their trust that Pasco is the right place for them shows that our team’s hard work is paying off and we welcome them to our community.”

Amazon’s delivery stations offer entrepreneurs the opportunity to build their own business delivering Amazon packages, as well as independent contractors the flexibility to be their own boss and create their own schedule delivering for Amazon Flex.

Amazon has more than 150 delivery stations in the United States.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore reacted to the news, in an Amazon release that announced the company’s upcoming Tampa Bay plans.

“I am thrilled to welcome Amazon and the additional jobs this facility will bring to our community,” Moore said, in the release. “This is another example of Pasco County government and the Pasco Economic Development Council working together to make Pasco County the premier place for business.”

In addition to its planned Lutz facility, the company also has announced a new fulfillment center in Temple Terrace, which is expected to create 720 jobs. That, too, is expected to launch in 2021.

Amazon currently operates seven fulfillment and sortation centers in the state, in Jacksonville, Davenport, Orlando, Miami, Ruskin and Lakeland, according to a company news release.

Amazon’s new operations facility in Temple Terrace will span more than 600,000 square feet on the ground floor. Employees at the site will work alongside innovative technologies to pick, pack and ship smaller customer items, such as books, electronics, small household goods and toys, the Amazon release says.

Amazon will hire for roles in human resources, operations management, safety, security, finance and information technology.

Amazon offers a minimum starting wage of $15 per hour. Its full-time employees also receive full medical, vision and dental insurance, as well as a 401(k), with a 50% company match, beginning on Day 1.

To learn more about Amazon, visit Amazon.com.

Published August 12, 2020

 

Filed Under: Top Story Tagged With: Amazon, Amazon Logistics, Bill Cronin, Lauren Miceli, Lutz, Mike Moore, Mike Wells, Pasco Economic Development Council, Pasco EDC, State Road 54, Suncoast Parkway

New interchange will ease congestion

June 16, 2020 By Kathy Steele

Construction crews could be turning dirt within months on a new interchange at Interstate 75 and Overpass Road.

A contractor is expected to be selected by August, and completion is expected about 2 ½ years after construction begins.

The junction frequently is identified as a “gateway” into Pasco County, and a potential catalyst for new development in a largely rural area already experiencing a burst of growth.

The new I-75/Overpass Road interchange is expected to significantly reduce the volume of vehicles per day here and at two other interchanges. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

“It has a regional impact for Pasco,” said Bill Cronin, president and chief executive officer of the Pasco Economic Development Council. “Another exit opens into the county where we have potential for residential and commercial growth. That is another big gateway for Pasco County from the north but from the east, too.”

On a more local scale, the new interchange is expected to ease traffic congestion, bring more connectivity to northeast Pasco cities, and give the county another evacuation route for hurricanes and other emergencies.

“The benefit to the county is just tremendous,” said Margaret Smith, Pasco’s director of engineering services. “We’re giving residential and commercial users a whole other entrance. It takes the volume of traffic off the two busiest interchanges.”

Margaret Smith

Situated about halfway between I-75 interchanges with County Road 54 and State Road 52, traffic engineers estimate a reduction of about 13,000 vehicles per day at each interchange.

It also opens up an east/west route that aids current development in the area, including the futuristic Connected City and its Crystal Lagoon, as well as the Villages of Pasadena Hills.

Once the contractor is selected, final design details will be completed. Conceptually, though, the interchange is expected to be a modified diamond exchange with a flyover.

Pasco County is paying for the project, except for $15 million provided by the Florida Legislature. The final price tag has not yet been determined.

In this rendering, cars are eastbound as they approach the I-75/Overpass Road interchange.

The Florida Department of Transportation is partnering as managers of the project — which includes vetting the construction bids.

It’s significant that Pasco will get a new interchange along one of the major state highways in the country, Cronin said.

Interstate 75 begins in the south at Miami Lakes, Florida and passes through five states before it ends at Sault St. Marie, Michigan, on the Canadian border.

While roadwork and new development, along State Road 54, State Road 52 and the Suncoast Parkway, are highly visible, the I-75 interchange’s potential can be overlooked, Cronin said.

But, its role in attracting developers for commercial, residential and industrial projects will be significant, he added.

The new I-75/Overpass Road interchange will feature a flyover.

“You’ve got pretty good sites for industrial growth,” he said.

And, projects, such as distribution centers, built on speculation, will attract new economic development, he said.

“As soon as you announce that, 10 are in there,” Cronin said. “Space is needed so badly.”

Even Connected City, with its residential and unique Crystal Lagoon, includes industrial in its overall master plan, Cronin said.

Development in the area off the Overpass interchange is well-suited for distribution and office centers “where staff will be driving to work,” Cronin said.

That is in contrast to Suncoast Parkway development, which has “more value for people flying in and out of airports,” he added.

One beneficiary of the new interchange is a former county-owned spray field just south of Overpass Road at the interchange.

Bill Cronin, CEO and president of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc. (File)

Pasco County commissioners approved a land sale in December 2019, and an incentive package, to aid Atlanta-based Rooker Company in developing the 99-acre site as an industrial park.

In phase one, Rooker plans to build a 400,000-square-foot distribution center that is expected to bring hundreds of jobs to Pasco.

“We hope they’ll duplicate this over and over, and over again,” Cronin said.

Amid the new development, the Pasco Rural Protection Overlay District stands as a protection for rural lands and landscapes. Its borders generally are Bellamy Brothers Boulevard, the Green Swamp, State Road 52 and the Hernando County line.

Job creation and growth matters, said Cronin, but development decisions must be made with care.

“Once you use it, you can’t get it back,” he said. “There are a lot of things up there we don’t want to touch.”

In coming years, future and ongoing projects will create more east/west connections that will weave a network of new roadways. They include the Overpass interchange, but also extending State Road 56, widening and realigning State Road 52, and a realignment of U.S. 301 and U.S. 98, with connections to I-75 to the west, and Interstate 4 to the east.

“It’s coming together really well,” Cronin said. “The county has really championed this effort.”

The following highlights features of the new I-75/Overpass Road interchange:

  • Overpass Road from Old Pasco Road to I-75 will be four lanes with bike lanes, a sidewalk on the south side of Overpass, and multi-use trail on the north side of Overpass.
  • Overpass Road bridge will be four lanes with an eastbound to northbound turn-lane. The bridge will include bike lanes, a sidewalk and multi-use paths.
  • Overpass Road from I-75 to Boyette Road will be six lanes with two auxiliary lanes, bike lanes, a sidewalk, multi-use path, turn lane improvements at Overpass and Boyette, and a traffic signal.
  • A traffic signal will be installed at Old Pasco Road and Overpass.
  • Blair Drive access to Overpass will be closed, but a new two-lane road constructed from Blair to Old Pasco, south of Overpass.
  • Current McKendree Road access at Overpass will be relocated to alternate location on Boyette, north of Overpass.
  • Current secondary entry into Wesley Chapel District Park will be closed, with park entrance reconfigured for multi-modes of transportation, including for pedestrians and bicyclists.
  • Overpass between Old Pasco and Boyette will be closed for up to one year during interchange construction.

Published June 17, 2020

Filed Under: Top Story Tagged With: Bellamy Brothers Boulevard, Bill Cronin, Connected City, County Road 54, Florida Department of Transportation, Green Swamp, Hernando County, Interstate 4Interstate 75, Margaret Smith, Overpass Road, Pasco Economic Development Council, Pasco Rural Protection Overlay District, Rooker Company, State Road 52, State Road 54, Suncoast Parkway, U.S. 301, U.S. 98, Villages of Pasadena Hills

Peaceful protesters call for justice

June 9, 2020 By B.C. Manion

Dozens of peaceful protesters stood in front of The Shops at Wiregrass on the rainy evening of June 6 — joining the chorus of voices across America calling for the end of police brutality and systemic racism.

Those gathered in Wesley Chapel were there to speak up in the aftermath of the May 25 death of George Floyd.

Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, according to a video that went viral and national news reports.

Jasmine Sanchez, Elijah Sanchez, Isaiah Sanchez and Kimberly Morin raised their voices during a protest at the corner of State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. (B.C. Manion)

Chauvin initially was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, but  Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison later added a second-degree murder charge against Chauvin. The three other officers — Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane — were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, news reports say.

Protesters in Wesley Chapel walked from the main street of the mall — which had been closed at 3 p.m., by management — out to the intersection of State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

Greg Lenners, the mall’s general manager, said the decision to close was made in an abundance of caution.

“Obviously, we value the beliefs and the opinions of the community,” he said. “It’s just that we have the obligation to protect the safety of the businesses and our employees, and customers,” he added.

So, protesters made their way to the area in front of the mall, which is public property.

They carried signs with messages such as “Silence is Violence,” “Amplify Black Voices,” ”Justice for George,” and “No Justice, No Peace.”

They stood under umbrellas, wore rain ponchos, or simply got drenched.

This protest and others across Tampa Bay came on the same day a second memorial service was held for Floyd, in Hoke County, North Carolina, where he was born. A third, and final service will be held on June 9 in Houston, where Floyd grew up.

Many at the Wesley Chapel event said it was their first protest.

“We feel like this is the time,” said Susan Boyle, who was there with her 16-year-old daughter, Emma. “I’ll cry if I talk.”

She paused for a moment and said, “It’s something black people have experienced all their lives. We really have to say something. White privilege – there’s a huge part of the population who have no idea what’s going on.”

Wesley Chapel resident Tonya Reavis, 52, and several family members walked with a small group that left the mall area and headed to the intersection in front of the mall.

“We’re just tired,” Reavis said. “We’re here showing our solidarity. We want equal pay, equal justice. Every equality. We just want to be treated as human, not three-fifths of a human.”

Tre Moore, 23, who stood next to Reavis, held a sign that said: “Love Black Lives Like You Love Black Culture.”

“We’re peacefully protesting injustice, and against racism,” Moore said.

Protesters stood on the side of the road at the intersection of State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, chanting slogans to try to raise awareness for the need to take action to end systemic racism.

Protesters alternated chants, repeating phrases including: “We want justice. We want justice. We want justice.” And, “Say their names. Say their names. Say their names.” And, “Black lives matter. Black lives matter. Black lives matter.”

Cars streaming by beeped their horns. One motorist shouted to the crowd: “I support you.”

Some protesters told The Laker/Lutz News they’d heard about the plan to gather through social media.

Jenifer Pepen, who lives in Live Oak, said it was important to be there.

“I’ve been a supporter of the Black Lives movement for many years now. It was time to come out. George Floyd’s death, I think, punctuated what is really centuries of systemic racism and injustice and brutality, in this country.

“It’s important to not be silent, in moments like this,” she said.

“Even in New Tampa/Wesley Chapel, it’s important to show that black lives matter, and come out. Even on a rainy day.

“The system needs reform. It needs reform in the suburbs. It needs reform in the inner cities. It needs reforming everywhere.

“It’s a system that affects the lives particularly of black and colored communities, but it is a system that impacts all of us, and we really all should be involved in reforming it,” she said.

She advocates the passage of laws to ban chokeholds and knee-holds, and also calls for improved training.

“I believe de-escalation needs to be something that is a part of training in the police departments across the United States. We’ve unfortunately seen the complete opposite in many situations, as these protests have been carried out throughout the United States.

“I also believe that the purging and the suppression of the records that detail the violence and brutality of bad police officers needs to stop. They need to be held accountable. They need the full weight of justice, when things happen. I think police unions play a role in that, as well.

“I also believe every city, every county, needs to reevaluate their budget, as it pertains to how we fund police departments,” she said.

“I don’t think that police departments that have been found to brutalize the community should be receiving funds. I think those funds should be much better allocated in the education system, the health care system, in places where we make positive impacts in the communities of color.

Tonya Reavis came to join the protest, held in front of The Shops at Wiregrass, in the early evening of June 6. ‘We want to be treated as human, not three-fifths human,’ she says.

“I also think it’s absurd that taxpayers are the ones that have to pay for the civil lawsuits that are brought against police officers, who brutalize families, brutalize communities.

“We should consider, if I am being perfectly frank, taking it out of certain pension funds,” Pepen said.

Kimberly Morin, who lives in Meadow Pointe, explained her motivation for attending the protest this way: “I am very much against the brutality that is in the police force today, the inhumane way they treat not only citizens, but most black citizens.”

She suggests these reforms: “More training for how to handle situations, not to restrain with their knees on their necks, and not to draw guns on unarmed people for no reason.”

Jasmine Sanchez, who lives in Aberdeen, off State Road 54, came to the protest with her sons, Isaiah and Elijah.

“This is not their first protest,” Jasmine Sanchez said. “Their first protest was for Trayvon Martin.”

Martin was 17 when he was fatally shot by George Zimmerman. Zimmerman acknowledged shooting the teenager but claimed self-defense and was acquitted of second-degree murder, according to news reports.

Isaiah Sanchez explained why he wanted to be at the Wesley Chapel protest.

“I came out today for racial equality, for government change and for justice for all those we’ve lost to police,” Isaiah Sanchez said. “I’d like see reforms in police de-escalation, and the equality of all races in all walks of life — if you’re gay, if you’re black, or you’re white, or you’re Asian. If you’re Hispanic.

“Everybody gets equal treatment,” he said.

His brother, Elijah, added: “I came out here today to bring justice to all of the fallen black people, and just make all of the people who made the black families suffer — they need to pay. They need to be in jail.”

Jasmine Sanchez said she’s sensing a growing awareness.

“You’re seeing everybody coming together for this,” she said. “This group is so diverse. It shows a connectedness that I have never seen before.

“I think a lot of people just didn’t realize what was going on. You live in a quiet community.

“You don’t realize what’s going on in the next neighborhood, in the next city. It’s very easy to become closed off in your own little world.

“Thank God for social media. The information is spreading,” she said.

Others speaking out:

The Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.
Bill Cronin, president and CEO of the Pasco EDC, issued a statement that reads in part: “Today, many of our friends, our families and our neighbors are suffering for many difficult reasons.

“We continue to support everyone in our community who feels they are treated unfairly and that their voices are not being heard.

“We are saddened by all of the recent violence taking place around the country and for all of those affected by it, along with all of those impacted by the global pandemic.

“Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it…and no reaction is still a reaction. For this reason, Pasco EDC is reacting by publicly reaffirming its commitment to the equality of all.”

The statement goes on to offer specifics on the organization’s commitment to equal opportunity, diversity and fairness.

Benedictine Sisters of Florida
The Benedictine Sisters of Florida extend their condolences to the family and friends of George Floyd whose death is a grave violation of the values of justice, equality and peace. Our prayers are with those suffering through this tragedy and the aftermath of the demonstrations and civil unrest. We acknowledge the inequities that once again have been exposed and raise our voices praying for good people to come together to “be the change” that will bring peace, compassion and justice to our communities.

This statement, according to the Sisters, was adapted from the original by Sister Beverly Raway, OSB Prioress, at St. Scholastica Monastery in Duluth, Minnesota.

The Archdiocese of St. Petersburg
Bishop Gregory Parkes, of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, issued a statement, which says in part:

“The manner in which George Floyd died is an atrocity to the humanity and dignity that each person has as a child of God. As a Church, we stand in solidarity with peaceful protesters who demand justice and respect for black individuals who have suffered the effects of racism for generations.

“As is stated in the 2018 USCCB Pastoral Letter, Open Wide Your Hearts: ‘Racism arises when—either consciously or unconsciously—a person holds that his or her own race or ethnicity is superior […] When this conviction or attitude leads individuals or groups to exclude, ridicule, mistreat, or unjustly discriminate against persons on the basis of their race or ethnicity, it is sinful. Racist acts are sinful because they violate justice. They reveal a failure to acknowledge the human dignity of the persons offended, to recognize them as the neighbors Christ calls us to love (Mt 22:39).’

“As Bishop of this local Church, with sincere concern for the souls of all within our Diocese, I urge all people of goodwill to seek peace, unity and just changes that will affirm the dignity of all lives, regardless of color, status, age or stage of life. I also urge an end to violence and destruction that victimizes communities and destroys hope.”

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis
In a June 5 newsletter, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis shared the results of a survey he did on the issue of “the civil unrest that we’ve seen throughout Tampa Bay and around the nation.”

The congressman said he frequently sends out surveys to get feedback from constituents.

“However, last week I was surprised by how an issue that appears in the media to elicit such division actually garnered more consensus than any other survey I’ve sent to date.

“The vast majority of my constituents who responded to the survey on civil unrest indicated that they want to see our Constitutionally guaranteed right to peaceful protest protected, they want action to stop the illegal activity that is occurring (rioting, looting, arson, etc.), and they believe that there are systemic racial issues in our criminal justice system that must be addressed immediately.”

Bilirakis goes on: “These lawless actions by a relatively small group of people silence the cries of those who are hurting and detract from meaningful change.”

At the same time, Bilirakis recognizes the difficult work of law enforcement.

“Our law enforcement community is comprised of men and women who bravely place themselves in harm’s way to protect us. Their jobs are dangerous, complex and ever-evolving. “We must always support them as we work to find solutions for how to come together as one nation under God.”

Kathy Steele contributed to this story.

Published June 10, 2020

Filed Under: Top Story Tagged With: Beverly Raway, Bill Cronin, Black Lives, Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Derek Chauvin, Diocese of St. Petersburg, Elijah Sanchez, George Floyd, George Zimmerman, Greg Lenners, Gregory Parkes, Gus Bilirakis, Isaiah Sanchez, J. Alexander Kueng, Jasmine Sanchez, Jenifer Pepen, Keith Ellison, Kimberly Morin, Meadow Pointe, Pasco EDC, St. Scholastica Monastery, State Road 54, State Road 56, Susan Boyle, The Benedictine Sisters of Florida, The Shops at Wiregrass, Thomas Lane, Tonya Reavis, Tou Thao, Trayvon Martin, Tre Moore, Wesley Chapel

$2 million in grants aim to help Pasco businesses

April 28, 2020 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco Economic Development Council Inc. (Pasco EDC), received more than 1,400 applications, before cutting applications off, for a grant program aimed at providing $2 million in assistance to small businesses.

Pasco EDC partnered with Pasco County to provide this relief grant program for small businesses affected by coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Penny for Pasco revenues will be used to provide the relief.

Besides creating a global medical crisis, COVID-19 has caused an economic meltdown, as businesses have been shuttered to prevent potential spread of the deadly virus.

Bill Cronin, president and CEO of the Pasco EDC, outlined the emergency business program during an April 21 virtual Pasco County Commission meeting.

Cronin explained the idea was to provide up to $5,000 grants to eligible small businesses — based on a first-come, first-served basis.

If every business received $5,000, that would provide grants for 400 businesses, Cronin said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano praised the grant program.

“To actually find out a way to help the small businesses, especially in this tough time, I think is phenomenal,” he said.

But, Mariano asked if smaller grants could be given. Some small businesses might not need the entire $5,000, and more could be helped if they don’t.

Cronin responded: “You do need to make sure that it’s able to make an impact. At $5,000, you can actually cover a rent payment or a mortgage payment, or at least something the landlord would be willing to take. Right now, we’ve identified there is $2 million to use for this fund.”

Commission Chairman Mike Moore agreed with Cronin that the grant should be large enough to make an impact.

Commissioner Ron Oakley observed: “Those 400 small businesses are going to go in a hurry, I think.”

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said: “I’m very grateful for this effort.”

The board approved the emergency grant program on April 21 and, by 6 p.m., on April 22 the Pasco EDC stopped accepting applications.

The applications are being vetted and applicants will be informed of their status soon, according to a Pasco EDC news release.

Businesses must meet a number of requirements and cannot have more than 25 employees.

The review committee includes bankers and county staff.

No county commissioners are part of the committee, Moore noted, during the board discussion of the grant program.

Published April 29, 2020

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Bill Cronin, COVID-19, Jack Mariano, Kathyrn Starkey, Mike Moore, Pasco Economic Development Council, Pasco EDC, Penny for Pasco, Ron Oakley

Businesses seek help during pandemic

April 7, 2020 By B.C. Manion

The economy has been flattened by coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), and businesses are seeking a way to continue operating or to reopen their doors.

A $2 trillion stimulus package— the largest in the nation’s history — is called the CARES Act, which stands for Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security.

Bill Cronin, CEO and president of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., offered guidance to help businesses seeking to secure financing to recover from the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. (File)

Part of that package is specifically aimed at assisting companies with fewer than 500 employees, said Bill Cronin, CEO and president of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.

“It’s intended to assist small business owners in whatever needs that they have right now. So, once it’s implemented, there’s going to be lots of resources for small business, as well as some nonprofits and also some other types of employers,” said Cronin, who helps recruit and build business growth through the nonprofit economic development agency he leads.

Cronin and Eileen Rodriguez, regional director for the Florida SBDC at the University of South Florida, participated in a Zoom video conferencing session on April 1, with Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore.

“This particular pandemic, has really, I think, taken a lot of people by surprise,” Rodriguez said. “The scope and magnitude of it is so much more than just our normal disasters, which you know, we’re used to the hurricanes. This is a completely different animal. It’s just so huge.”

While various assistance programs are available, getting through the process can be difficult, Cronin said.

“It is confusing, even for us as practitioners, between state, federal and local programs. So, I can’t imagine what it’s like sometimes, as business people, trying to navigate all of these different resources — in a time when it’s challenging enough as it is, with all of these external pressures,” Cronin said.

Mainstreet Billiards, in downtown Zephyrhills, is complying with the state-mandated shutdown. A posting over the weekend on its Facebook Page says “we will get back to it as soon as we can.” It ends the posting with this message by saying, “Help your neighbor if you can! And shop local small businesses to help out your Zephyrhills family. We will get through this together.” (B.C. Manion)

He outlined some of the programs available to help businesses.

“The most popular program that I think most of you are going to be interested in is called the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP. It is designed for companies that employ fewer than 500 workers,” he said.

In essence, the loan is designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll.

SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest or utilities.

Rodriguez talked about the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program .

“We help small business owners who are currently navigating the loan process.

“We don’t actually make decisions on which loans get approved or denied, but we do work with the independent Emergency Bridge Loan committee that makes those decisions,” she said.

“The team at the SBDC — the entire team — is really working as fast as we can to process all these inquiries and applications that have come in.

“Right now, we’re probably hovering around 4,000, just to give you a sense of the type of volume that we’re looking at,” she said.

“Everybody is trying to move as quickly as possible, to help all of the small businesses that have been affected, which frankly, has been pretty much everybody in the state of Florida, and of course, across the nation.”

The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a brutal effect on the economy. Here is a look at the lack of activity in downtown Zephyrhills, on the Saturday after Gov. Ron DeSantis imposed a Stay-at-Home order for the state of Florida. (B.C. Manion)

Information is changing constantly, Rodriguez added. “Changes occur daily, and I might even say, hourly.”

“What I’m saying right this minute could possibly change in an hour, two hours, this afternoon, tomorrow,” she said.

It’s essential to check officials websites for up-to-the-minute information, she said.

The Florida Emergency Bridge Loan Program was activated on March 16 by the governor’s office.

“They released $50 million for that program. Small businesses can qualify for up to $50,000 in most cases. These are interest-free, short-term loans. And, by short-term, I mean 12 months,” she said.

“Let’s say you would be awarded a loan today. You would have 12 months to pay it off. It’s interest-free for those 12 months. At 12 months and 1 day, if that loan is not paid off, you will have to start paying interest and that interest will be retroactive, back to Day 1.

“This loan does not convert to a long-term loan at that point. It’s still a short-term loan and for all intents and purposes, you will be in default of your loan on that 366th day,” she said.

To apply for this loan, go to FloridaJobs.org, which is the Department of Economic Opportunity’s website. Applications are now being accepted directly through their portal, which was activated on March 23.

Business owners can qualify for both the short-term and long-term loans, she said.

The Small Business Administration also offers an economic injury disaster loan. It allows loans of up to $2 million, and self-employed workers are eligible.

The interest rate is 3.75% for for-profit companies; 2.75% for nonprofit companies.

“This is pretty much considered a working capital loan, again, to help with payroll, with fixed debt, accounts payable, any other bills,” Rodriguez said.

“You don’t have to go through a bank to apply for it. This loan is directly with the Small Business Administration’s disaster assistance program,” she said.

Rodriguez said she has no idea how long it will take for loans to be processed.

“I will tell you that they are overwhelmed, because, again, this is not just a Florida program. That’s a national program, a federal program. They’ve had over 1 million — 1 million — inquiries and applications already.

Pasco Chairman Moore offered some words of support to the small business community.

“You will continue to be the heartbeat in Pasco County,” Moore said.

“We want to see you all get out of this, we want to see you succeed. We want to see everybody working.

“We’re going to get through this,” Moore said. “We’re going to get through this together.”

For more information visit DisasterLoan.sba.gov; SBDCtampabay.com/coronavirus; and, Pasco.edc.com.

Published April 08, 2020

Filed Under: Business Digest, Local News Tagged With: Bill Cronin, CARES Act, coronavirus, COVID-19, Eileen Rodriguez, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida Emergency Bridge Loan Program, Florida SBDC, Mike Moore, Pasco Economic Development Council, Paycheck Protection Program, Small Business Administration, University of South Florida

Touchpoint opens global headquarters in Pasco

February 26, 2020 By Brian Fernandes

TouchPoint Healthcare, located in Odessa, had a grand opening for its new global headquarters.

It’s an unprecedented mark in Pasco County, as it houses the flagship base for the company that supplies 90 countries with manufactured medical supplies.

TouchPoint Healthcare had its ribbon cutting ceremony on Feb. 20. It is the worldwide headquarters for the medical supply distributor, in Odessa. (Brian Fernandes)

Visitors at the Feb. 20 ribbon cutting had the chance to go on a guided tour of the building, which is a two-story structure of 142,000 square feet.

The building, at 2200 Touchpoint Drive, is off of State Road 54, and home to TouchPoint Healthcare’s two businesses – TouchPoint Medical and iTD.

It represents a $23.8-million capital investment for Pasco County.

Brian McNeill, the president and CEO of TouchPoint Inc. – the parent company, told those gathered: “The investment that we’re making here in Pasco County is an example of our long-term commitment to our businesses, to our people and to the communities in which we live and work.

“We work with every major medical device manufacturer in the world who focus their efforts on imaging and software.”

The company is located in The Preserve, a residential community off State Road 54.

Since selecting its Odessa location in 2018, TouchPoint has been working alongside the county and the Pasco Economic Development Council (EDC).

The county was ultimately chosen because it would grant more access to engineers, technicians and accounts, McNeill said.

The area also “attracts a type of person that wants to have a balanced life, wants to enjoy the water [and] wants to enjoy the outdoors,” he added, saying that this reflects the company’s values.

Bill Cronin, president and CEO of the Pasco EDC, praised the new facility.

“You now are at the entry point of a life sciences corridor here for Pasco County, and that’s huge,” Cronin said.

He noted the economic benefit that the new headquarters brings.

Life sciences, as he put it, is a recession-proof industry because everyone needs health care.

The warehouse manufactures various equipment that is brought into hospitals and other health care facilities.

Such products include computerized medication dispensers with multiple draws, and a scanner.

There are even miniature refrigerators to preserve those medicines that need to be kept at a low temperature.

Medical equipment, such as carts designed to mount computers, are built there, as well.

The facility also operates as a storage unit, with aisles lined up with thousands of parts for production.

Machinery can be found throughout the building that manufacture items like metal components, and that paint and provide coating to supplies.

There’s also a spacious cafeteria to accommodate workers.

And, the site is eco-friendly, as it’s incorporated with LED lights and charging stations in the parking lot, for electric cars.

“Very few companies have managed to adapt and stay in existence for more than a century,” said Edward Putnam, chairman of the board of directors for TouchPoint Inc.

He took the time to summarize the company’s history, which first began manufacturing pipes to transport oil in the late 19th century.

David Engel, manager of the county’s office of economic growth, and Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells and Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles were recognized for their role in bringing the company’s headquarters to Pasco.

The headquarters can hold up to 298 employees and currently has 139.

Employment also is expected to continue to grow.

McNeill said there are future plans to expand the headquarters, doubling in size.

Published February 26, 2020.

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Bill Cronin, Brian McNeill, Dan Biles, David Engel, Edward Putnam, iTD, Mike Wells, Odessa, Pasco Economic Development Council, State Road 54, The Preserve, Touchpoint Drive, TouchPoint Healthcare, TouchPoint Inc., TouchPoint Medical

Encompass Health plans move to Land O’ Lakes

December 18, 2019 By B.C. Manion

Encompass Health Corporation has announced plans to bring 179 jobs to Central Pasco.

The company, based in Birmingham, plans to build a 37,000-square-foot facility on about 6 acres in the Bexley Community, off State Road 54, in Land O’ Lakes.

It plans to locate its Central Business Office there, to provide medical billing and collection services to the company’s hospitals in 25 states and Puerto Rico, according to a company statement.

This rendering depicts the planned office for Encompass Health Corporation, which plans to bring 179 jobs to Pasco County. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.)

News of the company’s plans was announced at the Pasco County Commission’s Dec. 10 meeting, where the board voted on an incentive package aimed at attracting the company, a publicly traded company, whose shares are sold on the New York Stock Exchange.

David Engel, Pasco County’s economic growth manager, told commissioners that the building will be single-story, with an architectural façade that’s consistent with the design standards for the Bexley master-planned community, Engel said.

“It’s a one-story administrative office building. It’s quite a substantial project. There’s over $15 million in capital investment; 220 direct and indirect jobs; 179 will be working at this facility, at a minimum,” Engel said.

The capital investment includes acquisition of the land, according to county documents.

Engel said the project “contributes more than $10 million a year to the gross county product,” which amounts to a return on investment of more than 10 to 1.

Commissioners approved a $983,000 incentive package to attract the company.

Various features of that package are:

  • A job creation incentive for 117 of the administrative jobs (amounting to $234,000)
  • The mobility fee waiver for Class A office construction (estimated at $329,000)
  • A 10-year ad valorem reimbursement (estimated at $290,000); the first five years will be 50% of their ad valorem payment; and 25% for the back end
  • An employee training grant ($50,000)
  • A waiver of building county permit fees (maximum of $80,000)

Also, because the company falls within the definition of a qualified targeted industry, the county is offering “rapid response team and expedited permitting,” Engel said.

Besides saving time, the expedited process is “a large financial incentive to the applicant,” Engel said.

Bill Cronin, CEO and president of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., said ”We’re really excited about this company coming in, right into Central Pasco, creating some wonderful jobs.”

The Pasco EDC executive also noted that this project indicates that master-planned communities, such as Bexley, are started to develop their employment entitlements, thus rounding out the developments.

“Now, this development has true live, work, play at their development. You’ve got residential. You’ve got jobs. You’ve got retail. That means less people, potentially, on the road,” Cronin said.

Diane Daerr, director of Encompass Heath’s Central Business Office, said “we’re really excited about our new operation. The new building will allow us to have a lot of amenities for our workforce. Fitness center. Walking trails.

“We really like the setting of Bexley, and the walking trails and bike trails in that general area.

“You can literally live across the street from where our building is going to be, so we’re very excited about that,”” Daerr said.

Pasco officials have been working to shed the county’s image as a bedroom community, where thousands commute daily to jobs in other places.

“I think there’s something to be said about having a publicly traded company choosing Pasco for location for this regional operation. They will be serving 25 states here, and Puerto Rico. So, this is a real regional footprint for them. And, these jobs are good jobs,” Cronin said.

“As you all know, we’ve been focusing on our life sciences cluster,” he said.

In fact, Moffitt Cancer Center is seeking to boost its share of the state’s annual cigarette tax money to support expanded cancer care and research, both in Hillsborough and Pasco counties.

If the proposal moves forward, the new location in Pasco County would be near the Suncoast Parkway and State Road 52. It is being viewed by local leaders as having the potential to be a catalyst that would transform the Central Pasco landscape.

Cronin said that attracting new companies to Pasco, such as Encompass Health, talent being developed in the life sciences industry will have a place to call home, Cronin added.

Cronin also emphasized the project’s strategic location, near State Road 54 and the Suncoast Parkway, with easy access to Tampa International Airport.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore applauded the company’s decision to locate in Pasco, which he describe as “the fastest growing county in the region, if not the fastest growing in the state and one of the fastest growing in the nation.”

Published December 18, 2019

Filed Under: Health, Land O' Lakes News, Local News Tagged With: Bexley, Bill Cronin, David Engel, Diane Daerr, Encompass Health Corporation, Land O' Lakes, Mike Moore, Moffitt Cancer Center, New York Stock Exchange, Pasco County Commission, Pasco Economic Development Council, State Road 52, State Road 54, Suncoast Parkway, Tampa International Airport

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01/23/2021 – Adult craft

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will offer a virtual craft at home for adults on Jan. 23 at 2 p.m. Participants can learn to make fireworks in a jar. To view the video, visit Facebook.com/cplib. … [Read More...] about 01/23/2021 – Adult craft

01/23/2021 – Dumpling soup

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will present “Cook-a-Book: Soup” on Jan. 23 at 11 a.m. This month the book, “Dumpling Soup” by Jama Kim Rattigan will be featured. Participants can hear the story and then learn to make a kid-friendly dumpling soup. For information and to see the presentation, visit Facebook.com/regencyparklibrary. … [Read More...] about 01/23/2021 – Dumpling soup

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The Pasco County Library Cooperative will offer a Hobby Circle on Jan. 23 at 3 p.m., for anyone who wants to share a hobby or learn about a new one — from a work of art to a new recipe, to a favorite video game. The group will meet via Zoom. For information, email . … [Read More...] about 01/23/2021 – Hobby Circle

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The Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI), 4801 E. Fowler Ave., in Tampa, will host a Star Wars Family Night on Jan. 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., for ages 7 and older. Guests can take part in intergalactic adventures and hands-on activities, such as build-your-own lightsaber and train in the art of dueling. Participants also can control a droid through an obstacle course, learn about traveling to other planets in the Saunders planetarium, and navigate through exhibits. There also will be a game called Beat Saber on the Oculus Rift. Preregistration is required. For information and tickets, visit Mosi.org. … [Read More...] about 01/23/2021 – Star Wars Night

01/25/2021 – Fizzy bath bomb

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will offer an adult fizzy bath bomb craft, through curbside pickup only. The kit will include lavender Epsom salt, citric acid, a reusable mold, instructions and more. Pickup is from Jan. 25 through Jan. 30. Registration is required through the calendar feature on the library’s website, or by calling 813-929-1214. … [Read More...] about 01/25/2021 – Fizzy bath bomb

01/25/2021 – Lego building

Mr. John from Bricks 4 Kidz will show participants how to become a Lego Master Builder with an online class that teaches various building methods and techniques. The program will be presented on Jan. 25 at 4:30 p.m., for ages 5 to 12. Registration is through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org. … [Read More...] about 01/25/2021 – Lego building

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