Howard Hellams's love affair with Italy begins thus: "Better you should have died in childbirth than have your first glimpse of Italy through the window of a tour bus." Now that he's retiring from the workaday world, he'll share that romance in a yet- to- be- written paean to Old Italia. More...

S.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Les Tindal had a plan several years ago, a plan to upgrade the 58- acre S.C. State Farmers' Market where it was. Then S.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers had a plan, a plan to move the market to the end of Shop Road to a 194- acre tract purchased by Richland County. More...

The Marriott in Downtown Columbia was the site of the Columbia Junior Cotillion's 14th Annual Spring Ball. Middle school students from Crayton Middle School, Cardinal Newman, Hand, Heathwood Hall, and Dent practiced manners, escort protocol, line dancing, the foxtrot, and the shag. More...

This is the last time I am responding about this issue unless I am summoned to speak in Columbia, because, quite frankly I am tired of repeating myself. I am coughing on all the smoke being used to cloud the true issue. First, I don't appreciate BJ Mishoe of the Humane Society for insulting the law enforcement "in these parts" as you so politely phrased it. More...

Led by juniors Eduardo Adam and Cristoph Holzwarth, Brookland - Cayce blitzed A.C. Flora 4- 0 at Bolden Stadium on March 10. Adam opened the game's scoring and Holzwarth helped the Bearcats control the possession and pace of the match from start to finish. More...

World of Wonder EdVenture Children's Museum, located in the heart of Columbia's Vista, is 67,000 square feet of fun and educational discovery. Its state- - of- the- art facility holds the title of the largest children's museum in the South and the 10th largest in the world. More...

My uncle, J.K. Gourdin IV, arranged his own funeral. A female Unitarian minister conducted the service. A black gospel choir sang spirituals in the chapel. A guitarist and saxophonist played Dixie at the graveside in the old St. Stephen Episcopal Church. He was a unique person to the very end. More...

ART The Columbia Museum of Art will be showing Excavating Egypt:Great Discoveries from the Patrie Museum of Egyptian Achaeology through June 8. www.columbiamuseum. org for more information. More...

Mayor Avery Wilkerson, Mayor Pro-tem Rick Myers, Councilman Kenneth Jumper, Councilman Robert Malpass, City Manager John Sharpe, Public Safety Chief Charles McNair, and City Attorney Danny Crowe were all in attendance. Councilman James Jenkins was absent due to sickness. More...

_____________________________ NOTICE OF APPLICATION Notice is hereby given that Lite-Um-Up Cigars, LLC intends to apply to the South Carolina Department of Revenue for a license/permit that will allow the sale on premises consumption of Beer, and Wine only at 4435 Hardscrabble Rd. Suite 102, Columbia, SC 29229. . More...

As assured as the blooming of the azaleas and dogwood, the South Carolina Midland Master Gardener Association returns with the 18th annual spring gardening symposium. This year's theme "How Green is Your Garden?" features nationally recognized experts and local exemplars of state of the art gardening practices for a greener garden. More...