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Some Christmas pop
By JOSH ZIMMER © St. Petersburg Times, published December 24, 2000 KEYSTONE -- Along with the candy canes, miniature electronics, action figures, CDs and anything else that can fit, Cheryl Jessop suggests adding something unconventional to the list of stocking stuffers. For the bang for the buck, you can't beat it. How about fireworks? Jessop watches over a large, colorful stand at the busy intersection of Van Dyke Road and Gunn Highway. Safe to say there's enough explosive power under this tarp to shake more than a few oranges off their trees. But fireworks? For Christmas? "It's amazing how many people bought" during last year's set up, the enthusiastic proponent said under layers of clothing fending off the recent cold spell. "Really, I think it's a neat Christmas present. It's never dull. You know it's something they're going to like." Jessop works for Galaxy Fireworks Inc. of Tampa, a company that is operating 23 fireworks tents throughout Hillsborough County during the holiday season, along with others in Pinellas, Pasco, Polk and Hernando counties. Nearby stands are located at the Sam's Club in Northdale and near the intersection of Ehrlich Road and Hutchinson Drive. The tents have been a fixture for years, said President Sharon Hunnewell. Her Keystone tent competes against another stand just to the south at Gunn and North Mobley that also sells many Tampa Bay Buccaneers objects for Universe Novelty and Fireworks Inc. in Riverview. "It makes a good Christmas present for somebody (if) you don't know what to buy them," said Hunnewell, who is cautiously optimistic about receiving a sales boost from the New Year's rush, or the "true millennium," as she puts it. Jessop, stainless steel coffee cup fixed to her gloved hands, watches over a small but impressive range of firecrackers and sparklers in almost every shape and size. Open up the top and light the fuse; a fake champagne bottle will shower the area with hot color. For the big-boy thrills, walk to the back. That's where the small artillery shells tower like warriors over their tamer cousins and where signs begin to warn customers that they'll need to sign a waiver before they can buy husky packages with names like "Goliath." Business was a little slow last week. Jessop thinks the cold is deterring people from getting out of their cars. An odd purchase happened Thursday afternoon. After buying a pack of hand-held sparklers for her 4-year-old grandson, Deborah Nolan launched a tirade against the dangers and environmental damage caused by fireworks. "Oh, you're kidding," she then said when told some people buy them as Christmas presents. "Now that we've offended everybody, let's go," she said, grabbing her grandson, Cody Brennan. Then, in the same breath, she wished Jessop a hearty "Merry Christmas!" - Josh Zimmer covers Keystone and the environment. He can be reached at 813-226-3474.
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From the Times |
