EEASC presents Arlene Marturano its Lifetime Achievement Award
By Mike Cox | July 10, 2025
The Environmental Education Association of South Carolina (EEASC) held its annual awards dinner Friday June 20, at the Conference Center in Florence. Dr. Arlene Marturano, veteran Columbia Star writer, was...
Spring Valley Rotary Club honored by the American Red Cross
Contributed by Spring Valley Rotary Club | July 10, 2025
The American Red Cross recently recognized the Spring Valley Rotary Club as a “Premier Blood Partner” for the club’s blood drive efforts in 2024 when members held two drives and...
Keenan’s McLain and Blythewood’s Washington to be inducted into SCBA Hall of Fame
Contributed by SCBCA | July 10, 2025
The South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association (SCBA) announced the Hall of Fame Class for 2025. This year’s inductees include Reggie McLain of Keenan High School, Zeke Washington of Blythewood High...
What to look for in a vacation rental
Special to The Star | July 10, 2025
Hardworking individuals and their families look forward to their vacations with much anticipation. People not only work hard to afford...
Did you know?
Special to The Star | July 10, 2025
Ice cream is a wildly popular dessert, with an estimated 15.4 billion liters of ice cream consumed each year around...
Columbia journalist releases novel set in South Carolina
Contributed by Jessica Brodie | July 10, 2025
A Columbia journalist has released a novel set in the Palmetto State, and it’s receiving both acclaim and strong sales....
Ghosts of Lake Payne
Mike Cox
mwc0423@gmail.com | July 10, 2025
While trying to resume sleeping early one morning, wondering why we put lake first and river second when naming water...
Hitting the Nail on the Head
Julia Rogers Hook
jrhook@thecolumbiastar.com | July 10, 2025
“Marty where is your power drill?” I asked my husband, Marty, this the other day, and while I shouldn’t admit...
Being a Man
Mike Cox
mwc0423@gmail.com | July 3, 2025
I’ve been reading about Being a Man recently. You’d think after this long in existence we’d have a good idea...
FOLKS ABOUT TOWN
July 10, 2025
La’Jessica Stringfellow, a lawyer at Robinson Gray law firm, has started her term as president of the South Carolina Bar...
REAL ESTATE
July 10, 2025
Colliers South Carolina brokers Henry Roe and Allen Wilkerson, SIOR, CCIM have facilitated several new leases to bring Center Point...
BUSINESS BRIEFS
July 10, 2025
Above & Beyond Tattoo Studio has announced its grand opening at 2321 Devine Street (Suites B & C), above the...

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...

South Carolina Ballet presents Romeo and Juliet
January 30, 2025
South Carolina Ballet will present Romeo and Juliet February 8, with performances at 3 and 7:30 p.m. at the Koger...

Dr. Whitehouse performs at St. Timothy’s
Contributed by Sallie Hook Boggs | January 9, 2025
Dr. Matthew Whitehouse opened St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church’s 2025 Concert Series Sunday, January 5. He is an organist, composer, and...
Lee Ramon Wilson
July 10, 2025
Lee Ramon Wilson, 92, of Columbia, died on Saturday, June 28, 2025. Born on March 22, 1933, in Rutland, Vermont,...
Harry “Hal” Roy Lindsey IV
July 3, 2025
Harry “Hal” Roy Lindsey IV, 41, of West Columbia, South Carolina, departed this life on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Hal...
Dr. Richard Maxwell Sasnett III
June 26, 2025
Dr. Richard Maxwell Sasnett III died peacefully on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. Born in Columbia, S.C. on March 9, 1937,...
Richland One announces principal appointments for 2025-2026
Contributed by Karen E. York | July 10, 2025
Students at two Richland One schools will be greeted by new principals when the 2025-2026 school year begins August 11....
School News Briefs
July 10, 2025
Lexington-Richland School District Five students earned top honors at the Senior National Beta Convention held in Orlando, Florida from June...
A.C. Flora’s Weston awarded Dr. John R. Stevenson Music Scholarship
Contributed by Karen E. York | July 10, 2025
Sara Weston, who graduated from A.C. Flora High School in May, has been awarded the 2025 Dr. John R. Stevenson...
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
July 10, 2025
•ART Alexandra’s Art Studio, 111 Sparkleberry Crossing Road, offers adult...
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
July 3, 2025
•ART Alexandra’s Art Studio, 111 Sparkleberry Crossing Road, offers adult...
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
June 26, 2025
•ART Alexandra’s Art Studio, 111 Sparkleberry Crossing Road, offers adult...
Stroman’s basketball life comes full circle
July 10, 2025
About a month has passed since Morgan Stroman was announced as the new Lower Richland girls basketball coach. For the former Lower Richland star, returning to the program is a...
A Stroman is back on the sidelines at Lower Richland
June 26, 2025
For the first time since 2016 there will be a Stroman leading the Lower Richland Diamond Hornets girls basketball program. Morgan Stroman returns following a six-year playing career with Lower...
Murray tabbed as new Eau Claire athletic director
June 26, 2025
Demetris Murray has been named the new athletic director at Eau Claire High School, beginning on July 1. She replaces Jamil Canada. Murray has been at Eau Claire for 30...

Action First, Then Reinforcement: Avoiding the use of coercion in dog training
By Jenna Pellerito, Owner and Head Trainer Columbia K9 Training & Behavior www.thefutureisforcefree.com | June 26, 2025
While many people try their best to avoid coercion, accidental coercion can occur much easier than you might think. The trick to avoiding coercion when exposing puppies or dogs to...

A game I teach every puppy I meet (and why)
By Jenna Pellerito, Owner and Head Trainer Columbia K9 Training & Behavior www.thefutureisforcefree.com | May 22, 2025
As a dog trainer who specializes in both behavior modification and puppy socialization, I see many adult dogs presenting behavioral issues that could have been prevented by teaching them certain...

Why you should hire a force free dog trainer and ditch punishment based training methods
Jenna Pellerito, Owner and Head Trainer Columbia K9 Training & Behavior www.thefutureisforcefree.com/ | March 13, 2025
Force free dog training is a style of dog training that does not use force, fear, intimidation, pain, dominance, punishment, or corrections as a behavior modification strategy. This training primarily...
An Interlude in France— Part 2: Mr. Jefferson’s Paris
By Warner M. Montgomery, Ph.D. | July 10, 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. Thomas...
An Interlude in France— Introduction
By Warner M. Montgomery, Ph.D. | July 3, 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. I...
A Middle East Expedition— Conclusion
By Warner M. Montgomery, Ph.D. | June 26, 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...
Grow Bear’s-Foot in Your Garden
By Arlene Marturano
South Carolina Garden-based Learning Network on Facebook | July 10, 2025
A ruby-throated hummingbird nectaring at the tallest plant in my butterfly garden brought to my attention how popular the clusters of yellow daisy-like flowers are to pollinators like bees, wasps,...
Star Chefs
Contributed by allrecipes.com | July 10, 2025
Almond Bear Claws ⅓ cup almond paste 2 ¾ cups ground almonds ½ cup white sugar 1 pinch salt 2 tablespoons butter 2 egg whites ½ teaspoon almond extract 2...
Tomato Troubles
By Arlene Marturano
South Carolina Garden-based Learning Network on Facebook | July 3, 2025
Tomatoes, Solanum lycopersicum, are one of the most popular homegrown and commercial garden vegetables. They are favored for their juicy flavor, relatively easy growth, and endless versatile varieties used for...
Public Notices
July 10, 2025
SUMMONS AND NOTICE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF RICHLAND IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS C/A NO. 2025-CP- 40-03805 Towne Mortgage Company, Plaintiff vs. Dion Lewis aka Dion E....
Notice of Unclaimed Vehicles/Public Sales
July 10, 2025
NOTICE OF UNCLAIMED VEHICLES/PUBLIC SALE The following vehicles are subject to towing, repair and/or storage liens; are declared to be abandoned pursuant to Section 56-5- 5810, 56-5-5635 and/or 29- 15-10...
Storage Auctions
July 10, 2025
NOTICE OF PUBLIC LIEN SALE Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell to satisfy the lien of owner at public online sale on July 29, 2025, at 12:00PM...