May 5 was another day in the seemingly never-ending days of “what’s next” with the coronavirus. It was also Cinco de Mayo, a day of celebration that was maybe a little less celebratory than past years, but it was also Teacher Appreciation Day. A day most people really don’t know about except for the parents who send notes and gifts […]
The extrovert’s guide to acting like an introvert
Editor’s Note: This is the seventh in a series called “Together While Alone” that will explore creative solutions Columbia residents and businesses are employing to connect to each other while still staying safe and healthy. This week, we discuss simple coping mechanisms some are using to keep calm through the storm. For introverts, there are parts of COVID-19, that are, […]
From bananas to peonies: Zone-pushing in the home garden
For most avid gardeners, the grass is always greener on the other side. Some people lust for the lilacs and peonies of a youth spent up North, and others yearn for the date palms and shampoo ginger of Florida or California. What if I told you that, to a degree, you can have both! In recent decades, the term “zone-pushing” […]
Quirky Crimes in the Capital City
West Columbia Augusta Road: A citizen flagged down a police officer on patrol at 3:30 p.m. Thursday after she said an SUV parked in a handicapped space of a store parking lot didn’t have the correct identification to use that spot. As the officer and the citizen were talking, a young man came out and got into the vehicle. The […]
People breathe a sigh of relief through outdoor recreation
ASK US AT THE STARWhat’s the latest on outdoor recreation options with restrictions being lifted? Now that pandemic restrictions are being lifted, more people are seeking outdoor opportunities for recreation. Locally, City of Columbia greenspaces such as the Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park and the Cayce/West Columbia Riverwalk on the Congaree beckon to people yearning for nature’s gifts. City of Columbia Councilman Howard E. […]
This Mother’s Day
It’s not a criticism; It’s an observationHaving finished my immediate assignment, I was waiting on the slower kids so we could go on to the next lesson. I glanced around the room for Mrs. Pratt. She was walking toward the doorway; something had her attention. I followed her line of vision and my eyes collided with the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. There was something […]
Killer Kitties and a Prolific Pooch
I’m just saying...I think this quarantining is beginning to take its toll on our animals. My husband, Marty, and I have two female cats, Scrappy and Copper, and one nine-pound shih tzu named Charlie. While Charlie is thrilled the two of us are home so much these days…I think the cats may be plotting to kill us. Seriously. And they’re working together. […]
Sawyer is good for COVID Rage
50–SomethingI thought I’d hit rock bottom during this whole COVID crisis when I stumbled upon a show that has self-quarantined celebrities watching television shows as its premise. It’s called Celebrity Watch Party. At least I guessed that was the premise because I could not in good conscience watch enough of it to actually know what was going on. The whole […]
Communication takes center stage at The COMET during pandemic
It has not been business as usual at Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority ( The COMET). Pamela Bynoe-Reed reflected to last fall when she joined as manager of Marketing and Public Information. No one could have predicted the current state of business due to the pandemic or how it has changed everyday life for everyone. Bynoe-Reed is responsible for directing […]