The Phillip Simmons Artist Blacksmith Guild (PSABG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization started in 1994 in the State of South Carolina with about 30 charter members. It was first known as the South Carolina Artist Blacksmith Association. In the beginning, Philip Simmons, the “Charleston Blacksmith” mentored the fledgling organization, and in 1998 the name was changed to honor him while […]
A bake off of hilarious proportions at Town Theatre with The Red Velvet Cake War
Mix three cups of family drama, two tablespoons of zaniness, a pinch of summer heat, and what do you get? The Red Velvet Cake War at Town Theatre. Any way you slice it, the stakes are sure to be high. May the best baker win January 28 to February 13. And don’t miss dinner and a show options—the icing on […]
Columbia Children’s Theatre presents Peter and The Starcatcher!
Join Columbia Children’s Theatre (CCT) January 28-30 for its musical production of Peter and The Starcatcher! This Tony award-winning production upends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan comes to be The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up (a.k.a. Peter Pan). A young orphan and his mates are shipped off from Victorian England to a distant island ruled by […]
Drawback of Poor Tipping Habits
It’s not a criticism; It’s an observationIn 1977, my brother, father, and sister’s husband joined me to attend the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. I fell quickly and permanently in love with the Big Easy and began finding any reason to visit regularly. After establishing a partnership with a sassy woman that enjoyed eating and drinking, we began traveling there regularly for the same reason George […]
Sunnybrook
Excerpt No. 57 from Mike Maddock’s novel available now on AmazonEditor’s Note: We are pleased to publish Mike Maddock’s novel, Sunnybrook, in its entirety as a “50 Something” weekly series for 2021. All published excerpts will also be available on our website, www.TheColumbiaStar.com. Chapter 12 Cont’d Mary Katherine closed her eyes as she squeezed Joey. She let all the secrecy and pain of the last several years come flowing out […]
The Urban Village in Africa— One family
Originally published January 14, 2005In 1981, Richland School District One, under the leadership of Superintendent Gordon McAndrew and Assistant Superintendent Connie Buford, began an exchange program with schools in Africa. Jim and Barbara Fisher and I were the first to leave our positions in Columbia for the wilds of Cameroon, West Africa. The Fishers liked Africa so much they went back in 1997 to […]
FOLKS ABOUT TOWN
CREW Midlands-SC has announced its 2022 Board of Directors—Molly Campolong, president; Lindsey Yarborough, president-elect and programs co-chair; Lauren Greene, immediate past president and CREW Network Foundation Chapter champion; Alli Morgan, treasurer; Jenny Lanford, secretary; Jessica Koumas, sponsorship chair; Boo Moca, membership chair; Dee Deberry, programs co-chair; Elizabeth Riley, communications co-chair; Amanda Merchant, communications co-chair; and Mar ie Dieckmann, at-large. Deanna […]
December 2021 Employment Situation
“We ended 2021 with more good news. South Carolina set a new record for the highest number of individuals working in our state’s history. Employment rose in December by 3,008 to a total of 2,320,717 employed. That is 97,237 more than last December and 21,376 more than the pre-pandemic number. We also saw our unemployment rate go to 3.5 percent […]
Construction on new FBI office in Lexington advances
Construction is progressing on a new Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) facility in northeast Lexington County. Officials with the FBI and Town of Lexington broke ground on the 10-acre facility in October 2020. The facility will be home to the FBI Columbia field office headquarters, which is separated into three buildings in and around the Columbia Metroarea. Both special agents […]
ATTORNEY HONORED
Becky Laffitte, a member of Robinson Gray Stepp & Laffitte law firm, has been inducted into the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN).
