Saving the planet is in the bag
By Mike Cox | August 4, 2022
Climate change is likely the most pressing problem facing Planet Earth today. Approximately 97 percent of scientists who study climate consider the current state of the world to be unsustainable,...
Gov. McMaster makes major investment into S.C. workforce
Contributed by Brian Symmes | August 4, 2022
Governor Henry McMaster has announced an additional $25 million investment into Workforce Scholarships for the Future. The program provides scholarships to cover the cost of tuition and required fees at...
Iron jewelry?
By Sherry Jaco, Olympia Mill Village Museum | August 4, 2022
Blacksmithing artists from around the state gathered in the Olympia Mill Village recently at Texas Street Works Studio for a five-day class in coal fired blacksmithing. The instructor, Ellen Durkan,...
Hallman resigns from West Columbia City Council
By Josh Cruse | August 4, 2022
West Columbia City Councilperson Casey Hallman has resigned from her position as District Three representative effective August 1. Hallman said...
Council appoints Werner to Housing Authority board
By Josh Cruse | August 4, 2022
Columbia City Council held its monthly meeting Tuesday, August 2. Kevin Werner was appointed to the Columbia Housing Authority board....
Richland County Council releases notification of vacancies
By Anita Baker | July 28, 2022
Richland County Council met for a special called meeting July 26. Council member Bill Malinowski presented the report from the...
Human Feces in local park
August 4, 2022
Dear Mr. Mayorand others, Today I took my three-year-old son to Roy Lynch Park to throw a football. What should...
Where’s there’s smoke…
Julia Rogers Hook
jrhook@thecolumbiastar.com | August 4, 2022
It’s official now. I became a one-month-old non-smoker on Monday, August 1. I didn’t smoke cigarettes, but I did enjoy...
Saving us from demons
Mike Cox
mwc0423@gmail.com | July 28, 2022
My brother, Rick, and I were touring the home country—West Blocton, Alabama—origin of most of the maternal side of our...
FOLKS ABOUT TOWN
August 4, 2022
Hotel Trundle has been nominated for Best Historic Hotel in the USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The Columbia...
Leon Levine Foundation awards $45,000 grant to Senior Resources to provide nutritional support and resources to vulnerable seniors
Contributed by Dargan Davis | August 4, 2022
Senior Resources has announced The Leon Levine Foundation has awarded $45,000 in grant funding to provide nutritional support and resources...
Junk King expands kingdom with new Columbia location
Contributed by Brooke Sutcliffe | August 4, 2022
Columbia residents rejoice as Junk King expands its kingdom under the rule of Andrew and Michelle Lucas as well as...

The Cat Behind the Hat! coming to Rob Shaw Gallery for a limited engagement
Contributed by Scott Segelbaum | August 4, 2022
For over 60 years, Dr. Seuss’s illustrations have brought a visual realization to his fantastic and imaginary worlds. His artistic...

Columbia Children’s Theatre presents Matilda the Musical!
Contributed by William Mitchell | July 28, 2022
Columbia Children’s Theatre will present Matilda: The Musical! August 5–7 and August 12–14 at CA Johnson High School, 2219 Barhamville...

Irmo’s Mount leads cast of The Sound of Music
Contributed by Jimmy Mount | July 21, 2022
New York actress and Irmo native Hannah Mount is returning to the Columbia stage as Maria Rainer in the Broadway...
Rotary Club of Columbia East recognizes Paul Harris Fellows
August 4, 2022
The Rotary Club of Columbia East recognized 26 members as Paul Harris Fellows. Past District Governor Paul Walter and Past...
Jim Hudson honored as Rotary Foundation donor
August 4, 2022
Anne Matthews and Paul Walter recognize Jim Hudson as a major donor to The Rotary Foundation at a recent meeting...
Brookhaven HOA awards Yard of the Month
August 4, 2022
Darlene Bush’s yard was named Brookhaven Community Beautiful Yard of the Month for July. There were 61 homes nominated. This...
District Five students win FBI Safe Online Surfing challenge
Contributed by District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties | August 4, 2022
Chapin Intermediate School received an award from the FBI for its efforts to encourage students to be safe while online....
Spring Valley graduate receives 2022 Representative Beth Bernstein Women’s Leadership Scholarship award
August 4, 2022
This year’s recipient of the Beth Bernstein Women’s Leadership Scholarship award is Rai Megha. Megha is a Spring Valley High...
Lexington Two submits proposed corrective action plan to S.C. Department of Education
Contributed by Dawn Kujawa | August 4, 2022
Lexington School District Two has submitted a proposed corrective action plan to the S.C. Department of Education (SCDOE) addressing concerns...
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
August 4, 2022
•ANIMALS Columbia Animal Services is participating in the annual Clear...
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
July 28, 2022
•ART Alexandra’s Art Studio, 111 Sparkleberry Crossing Road, offers adult...
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
July 21, 2022
•ANIMALS Rikard & Protopapas is hosting a month-long donation drive...
The beat goes on at Hammond
August 4, 2022
While some things may change, others remain the same. When former Hammond Skyhawks head coach Erik Kimrey left the program following the 2020 season to join Shane Beamer’s University of...
Cardinals under the Helms of a new coach in 2022
August 4, 2022
It has been a rough few years for the Cardinal Newman Cardinals. A 27-21 win over Wilson Hall in 2021 ended a 12-game losing streak dating back to the end...

What makes a therapy dog?
By Phyllis Beasley, CPDT-KA, FFCP Owner/Lead Trainer, Praise Dog Training www.PraiseYourDog- Training.com | July 7, 2022
One of the most rewarding volunteer jobs is being the handler to a therapy animal. Seeing the smiles of lonely older people in care facilities or children in hospitals, providing...

Pet of the Week
June 23, 2022
Bella is the City of Columbia’s adoptable pet of the week. She may weigh only 39 lbs. but this three-year-old packs a big personality. She fancies herself a bit of...
Under the Tuscan Spell— The walled city of Lucca
By War ne r M. Montg ome ry, Ph .D. | August 4, 2022
Lucca is one of Tuscany’s most famous walled cities. It is west of Florence, 20 miles from the sea, and about 15 miles from the Leaning Tower of Pisa. From...
Under the Tuscan Spell— Farewell to Florence
By Warn er M. Mo nt gomer y, Ph. D. | July 28, 2022
It was our last day in Florence, a sad day, so Linda and I tried to cram in as much as we could. Right after breakfast in our Strozzi Palace...
Under the Tuscan Spell— Land of Motorscooters
By War ne r M. Montg ome ry, Ph. D. | July 21, 2022
When we landed in Florence, it was immediately apparent. This is paradise for scooter lovers. Forget the wine, pasta, olive oil, historic buildings, sculptures, and art. This city was made...
Beautiful Bountiful Blueberries
By Arlene Marturano SCGardenLearning
on Facebook | August 4, 2022
Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) are beautiful perennial flowering shrubs native to North America. They live for decades bearing delicious nutrient rich berries with minimal care. As edible landscape plants, blueberries celebrate...
Star Chefs
allrecipes.com | August 4, 2022
Blueberry Loaf 1½ cups all-purpose flour ¾ cup white sugar 2 tsp. baking powder ⅛ tsp. salt ½ cup milk ¼ cup vegetable oil 1 egg ½ tsp. vanilla extract...
New online map shows citizens where to find fresh food in the city
Contributed by City of Columbia Public Relations, Media, and Marketing Department | July 28, 2022
The City of Columbia and the Columbia Food Policy Committee have created a food access GIS (geographic information system) map that lists various sites to access healthy food for local...
Legal Notices
August 4, 2022
NOTICE OF TRUST TRANSFER GRANT DEED Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Hear Year. I, Tori Keon Thompson, grantor of the Tori Keon Thompson Living Estate Trust (eTKT256US), do hereby give constructive...
STORAGE AUCTIONS
August 4, 2022
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE To satisfy the owner’s storage lien, PS Retail Sales, LLC will sell at public lien sale on August 24, 2022, the personal property in the below-listed...
Notice to Creditors of Estates
August 4, 2022
All persons having claims against the following estates are required to deliver or mail their claims to the indicated Personal Representatives, appointed to administer these estates, and to file their...