Carolyn Matthews receives 2025 Bissell Award
Story and Photo by Josh Cruse
joshc@thecolumbiastar.com | November 27, 2025
Carolyn Matthews received the 2025 Jean Galloway Bissell Award at an awards ceremony held at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden Thursday, November 20. “It just means that my peers in the...
Tom Falvey’s Odyssey
By Mike Cox | November 27, 2025
Tom Falvey grew up in Western Massachusetts but found his way to the South Carolina State Museum where he has been a fixture for over two decades. While visiting the...
Finlay Park reopens
Story and Photos by Josh Cruse
joshc@thecolumbiastar.com | November 20, 2025
City and State leaders and Columbia residents were on hand to celebrate the reopening of Finlay Park Saturday, November 15. “Columbia, South Carolina is alive and thriving with its own...
Conservation Commission continues focus on preservation
By Josh Cruse
joshc@thecolumbiastar.com | November 27, 2025
The Richland County Conservation Commission was formed by the Richland County Council in 1998. Almost 30 years later, the commission...
Richland County Council meets for regular session
By Anita Baker | November 20, 2025
Richland County Council met Tuesday, November 18. Councilwoman Gretchen Cooper presented the report of the Rules & Appointments Committee. The...
Remembering Ole Yeller
Mike Cox
mwc0423@gmail.com | November 27, 2025
During my childhood, there was much to worry about. There were no urgent care centers, no monstrous medical facilities, or...
Thanksgiving Ramblings
Julia Rogers Hook
jrhook@thecolumbiastar.com | November 27, 2025
I absolutely LOVE this time of the year! In a peculiar sort of way, I’ve always associated autumn with new...
FOLKS ABOUT TOWN
November 27, 2025
Shelby Russell has joined Callison Tighe & Robinson as an associate. Michael Ramirez has joined the McKay Firm as an...
Ann-Chadwell Humphries publishes second work, My Blind Obsession
By Anita Baker | November 27, 2025
Ann-Chadwell Humphries turned to poetry, a childhood love, when her life was changed by adult-onset blindness. Most recently, she has...
BUSINESS BRIEFS
November 27, 2025
The LRADAC Foundation has received an unrestricted $20,000 gift from an anonymous donor known as the Cheerful Giver. The gift...

Original play The Seeing Place inspired by Historic USC Theatre’s haunted reputation
Contributed by Kevin Bush | September 11, 2025
The University of S.C. Department of Theatre and Dance will begin its 2025-2026 season with the ghostly new play The...
Transitions to host 14th annual Reconstructing Home
Contributed by Gavin Brown | September 11, 2025
Transitions Homeless Center will host its 14th annual Reconstructing Home event Wednesday, October 1, at the Columbia Museum of Art....

Columbia Children’s Theatre presents Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience!
Contributed by William Mitchell | February 6, 2025
Experience the whimsical fun and heartfelt lessons of Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience with Columbia Children’s Theatre...
The Columbia Ball begins the debutante season
November 27, 2025
The first of the season’s debutante balls, The Columbia Ball, was held on Thanksgiving Eve, November 26, at the University...
Columbia Garden Club decorates State House Christmas Tree
November 27, 2025
(L-r) Kim Toogood, Gretchen Hope, Columbia Garden Club president Rhoda Pachal, Christmas Tree co-chair Melissa Prickett, and Susan Prickett, along...
DAR meets at Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum
November 20, 2025
The University of South Carolina Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution met Wednesday, November 12 at the S.C....
Lexington Two superintendent announces retirement at end of 2025-2026 school year
Contributed by Dawn Kujawa | November 27, 2025
Lexington School District Two Superintendent Dr. Brenda Hafner announced her retirement at the end of the current 2025-2026 school year,...
School News Briefs
November 27, 2025
Dutch Fork High School has been recognized as a 2025–2026 National Beta School of Merit. Richland One Superintendent Dr. Todd...
Richland One to hold parent information sessions for 2026-2027 Magnet Choice Programs
Contributed by Ilyssa Weiner | November 27, 2025
Richland One will hold a series of information sessions for parents interested in enrolling their children in the district’s magnet...
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
November 27, 2025
•ART Alexandra’s Art Studio, 111 Sparkleberry Crossing Road, offers adult...
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
November 20, 2025
•ART Alexandra’s Art Studio, 111 Sparkleberry Crossing Road, offers adult...
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
November 13, 2025
•ART Alexandra’s Art Studio, 111 Sparkleberry Crossing Road, offers adult...
Heathwood Hall falls to Northwood in state championship game
November 27, 2025
Find these pictures and many more here! The Northwood Chargers scored 61 unanswered points to knock off the Heathwood Hall Highlanders 61-7 in the SCISA 4A State Championship game Friday,...
A.C. Flora senior selected for Shrine Bowl run team
November 27, 2025
A. C. Flora High School senior Daniel Brown has been selected for the 2025 Shrine Bowl Run Team, which recognizes the top senior cross country athletes in South Carolina. The...
Bethea returns with big expectations for Gray
November 27, 2025
In March, Gray Collegiate welcomed back Dion Bethea to coach the boys basketball program after serving as an assistant coach at Georgia Southern University. “My family is so important to...

Antecedent Arrangement—a life-changing behavior modification strategy
By Jenna Pellerito,
Owner and Head Trainer Columbia K9 Training & Behavior
www.thefutureisforcefree.com | October 30, 2025
Antecedent arrangement is one of the first steps, as well as one of the most important steps, to a behavior modification protocol in dogs. Proper implementation of antecedent arrangement can...

Bringing home a new puppy
September 25, 2025
I am so excited to announce that at the end of this month I will be bringing home a new puppy, an obnoxiously adorable nine-week old Groenendael. As a professional...

High Intensity vs Low Intensity Exercise: Which one does your dog need?
By Jenna Pellerito, Owner and Head Trainer Columbia K9 Training & Behavior https://www.thefutureisforcefree.com/ | July 24, 2025
We all know dogs need exercise, but what kind of exercise is best for which dogs? And much do they need? In this article we will dive into the differences...
A Wonderful Birthday Rockton–Rion Dinner Train
By Warner M. Montgomery, Ph.D. | November 27, 2025
Editor’s Note: At the request of his readers and in memory of Warner M. Montgomery, Ph.D, we will continue to publish his Adventure Travel stories for the time being. Linda’s...
A Wonderful Birthday Exploring the Augusta Canal
By Warner M. Montgomery, Ph.D. | November 20, 2025
Editor’s Note: At the request of his readers and in memory of Warner M. Montgomery, Ph.D, we will continue to publish his Adventure Travel stories for the time being. Linda’s...
A Wonderful Birthday History of Augusta Canal
By Warner M. Montgomery, Ph.D. | November 13, 2025
Editor’s Note: At the request of his readers and in memory of Warner M. Montgomery, Ph.D, we will continue to publish his Adventure Travel stories for the time being. Just...
Photoperiodism and Flowering Plants
By Arlene Marturano
South Carolina Garden-based Learning Network on Facebook | November 27, 2025
Plants are classified in many ways—annuals, biennials, perennials; spring, summer, and fall bloomers; sun-loving or shade-loving; native vs. invasive; kingdom, phylum, family, genus, species; deciduous vs. evergreen; edibles, ornamentals, groundcovers;...
Star Chefs
Contributed by allrecipes.com | November 27, 2025
Thanksgiving Quesadilla 2 flour tortillas½ cup shredded Cheddarcheese¼ pound shreddedcooked turkey meat2 Tbsp. cranberry sauce½ jalapeño pepper,seeded and minced1 green onion, sliced 2 Tbsp. chopped freshcilantro, or to taste Heat...
Chia Flowers and Pets
By Arlene Marturano
South Carolina Garden-based Learning Network on Facebook | November 20, 2025
Chia, Salvia hispanica, is a species of annual herbaceous flowering plant in the mint family native to Mexico and Guatemala. Chia seed was domesticated as early as 3500B.C. by the...
Master’s Sales
November 27, 2025
MASTER'S SALE C/A#2024CP4005128 BY VIRTUE of a decree heretofore granted in the case of: PennyMac Loan Services, LLC vs. Jonathan Marshal Gearhart; I, the undersigned Master for Richland County, will...
Notice of Unclaimed Vehicles/Public Sales
November 27, 2025
NOTICE OFUNCLAIMEDVEHICLES/PUBLICSALEThe following vehicles aresubject to towing, repairand/or storage liens; aredeclared to be abandonedpursuant to Section 56-5-5810, 56-5-5635 and/or 29-15-10 SC Law as Amended;and are in the custody ofDick Smith...
Public Notices
November 27, 2025
SUMMONS AND NOTICES STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF RICHLAND IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS C/A No.: 2025-CP- 40-06692 Guild Mortgage Company, Plaintiff, vs Takquana H. Aryeequaye; The United...


