If you were anywhere near downtown Columbia Saturday, May 30, you probably saw or at least heard about the turmoil that erupted after the peaceful “I can’t breathe” march and protest rally ended at the State House. Some took the situation as an opportunity to create chaos and confrontation. Others still protested with their voices and signs, but maintained a […]
Spring Valley honors graduates while maintaining social distancing
Saying 2020 is a year of firsts is an understatement. For the students of the class of 2020 in the Midlands and across South Carolina, it was almost a year without a graduation. When classes were canceled indefinitely due to the coronavirus in March, no one knew what the next few months would hold for the seniors in the class […]
Disasters and Dreams
It took two disasters to throw me into writing. The first was a natural disaster: the Thousand Year Flood that hit in 2015. Thank you notes turned in to essays. Essays eventually became a chapter in my new book. The second disaster was the man-man variety— divorce, then dating. Even though my online dating misadventures only lasted a few months, […]
Quirky Crimes in the Capital City
Forest Acres Trenholm Road: A woman went to police headquarters at 10 a.m. Sunday to ask officers to check on the legality of a fence her neighbor was erecting. The 71-year-old woman told the officers her neighbor was putting up a privacy fence but in the process, had damaged her bushes. She said she had lantanas and rosemary bushes along […]
Seek trusted sources when learning more about COVID- 19
ASK US AT THE STARHow can people avoid misinformation on COVID- 19? Even amid a serious pandemic, there can be some shysters touting a remedy to help treat COV- 19 that don’t work or may even be harmful. In our concern over the virus, it may be tempting to try an unproven remedy that is unlikely to be effective and may even be harmful. […]
Evidence shows this column may be good
50–SomethingOver the weekend, I was in line at a grocery store with a lady wearing a hairnet on her face. This “mask” may have worked well if the goal was to avoid shedding a whisker or two on the impulse buy rack, but this was no bearded lady of the Big Top. She was just a young woman who had […]
Confusing My Irenes
It’s not a criticism; It’s an observationI came downstairs the other morning while the Landlord was watching Anna and the King of Siam on TCM—the one from the ’ 30s, starring Irene Dunne. I remember the Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr version from 1956 fondly and refused to watch the most recent one starring Jodie Foster. I had noticed the old one on the Direct TV […]
Perky is as Perky does
I’m just saying...I saw an ad online the other day from a photographer who was looking for an “exuberant, perky, and adventurous couple” to do a photo shoot. The ad said there would be lots of “crazy fun” and to come to the shoot “ready for anything.” I wanted to call the photographer and volunteer immediately but I figured this would be […]
West Columbia and Cayce respond to protests
West Columbia City Council met in council chambers Tuesday, June 2 for the first time since COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. The meeting was also broadcasted on YouTube youtube/ypTWxZCJ8VQ. Council members sat at a distance from each other, and council chambers only had seating six feet apart. The City of Cayce Council continued to meet via Zoom. The council conducted a […]
