The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Veterans Health Administration vaccinated its 1 millionth Veteran with their first dose of COVID- 19 vaccine. Columbia VA has administered more than 6,400 first doses of the Moderna vaccine to local Veterans and more than 2,200 second doses. The VA began COVID- 19 immunizations in December 2020. As of February 17, the VA has […]
2021-02-26
Miss Olivia turns 100
Mrs. Olivia Turkett Chestnut, a long-time resident of the Rosewood neighborhood, celebrated her 100th birthday Saturday, February 20. Her family, in conjunction with her church, St. Timothy’s Episcopal in the historic Arsenal Hill neighborhood, commemorated her birthday with a birthday cake, goody basket of snacks, floral arrangements, yard décor, dozens of cards, and a DVD of memorable photographs. “Miss Olivia,” […]
Early Columbia Cemeteries
Part 5: Other Early Columbia CemeteriesThe three religious groups— Catholics, Lutheran, and Jews—had less impact during the opening decades of the 19th century. In 1822, a Jewish Benevolent Society was organized in Columbia with a goal of establishing and maintaining a Jewish cemetery. The first Catholics, Irish laborers employed to construct the Columbia Canal, led to the erection of a small Catholic sanctuary designed by […]
“An old man’s recollections about being a student at Hand Junior High School in the early 1950s”
These remarks were originally prepared in April 2016 for the 60th class reunion of the Dreher High School class of 1956, of which the writer is a classmate. Most classmates today are age 82. English essayist Max Beerbohm once said: “Memory is a great artist, we are told; she selects and rejects and shapes and so on. No doubt. Elderly […]
Goodbye Sadie
It’s not a criticism; It’s an observationI first encountered Sadie about 15 years ago while walking with The Greatest Dog that Ever Lived, Quigley, and was just getting used to a partner after decades of solo strutting. Quigley was perfect, quickly marking territory and resuming a crisp pace. His interest in the surrounding environment was keen but quickly satisfied— whether mineral, plant, or animal. I was […]
Sunnybrook
Excerpt No. 9 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 1 (Cont’d) Allen Knox’s bushes were a little further up the road from Jimmy’s Curve. Back in 1977, Allen had weaved his way down Sunnybrook Lane […]
My Mother’s People
Where you from? Who yo’ people? These were important questions asked while I was growing up in Columbia. I learned to answer in this way… My parents, Mary Gourdin and Miller Montgomery, were married in Pineville, S.C., in 1938 and rented an apartment in Columbia where both had gone to college and where my father had a job at The […]
Receiving award in COVID times
Jennifer Mancke (l) and her 2019-2020 students from Harmony Elementary School could not accept Mancke’s recognition as S.C. Conservation Teacher of the Year from the S.C. House in March due to the close-down of the legislature, but she received it belatedly in January from Rep. Wendy Brawley—sadly sans her students.
FOLKS ABOUT TOWN
The University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia has announced the establishment of the Luminary Leaders in Medicine and Science Recognition program. The inaugural class of Luminary Leaders includes Raymond P. Bynoe, M.D.; Everett Dargan, M. D.; Everlyn Hall-Baker, M.D.; Carol McMahon, M. D.; Lurlene Scott, MRC; Alvin F. Wells, M.D.; and Patricia Witherspoon, M.D. Ted Nissen has been […]
Scott & Corley attorney named “Go To Lawyer”
Scott & Corley, PA’s firm chair, Ronald C. Scott, has been selected for the inaugural class of 2020 “Go To Lawyers” for Business Law ( South C arolina Lawyers Weekly ® and SC Biz News ®). Scott & Corley, PA, also led by Reginald P. Corley as its managing attorney and president, is focused on real estate matters with emphasis […]
