Big Red Barn Retreat: Healing the best of us
By Mike Cox | July 31, 2025
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1980 by the American Psychiatric Association. The significant change ushered in by the PTSD...
Midlands WWII veteran presented with medal at surprise ceremony
July 31, 2025
A Midlands World War II marine veteran was presented with a service medal at a surprise ceremony July 23 at Richland County Wellness Center, 306 Flora Drive. Larry Pressley is...
Jay Bender makes one more leap of faith
By Mike Cox | July 24, 2025
Jay Bender and his twin brother, Ray, were born in Oklahoma in 1944. The family moved to New Mexico soon after. Jay still visits the Land of Enchantment regularly and...
Columbia native participates in a live-fire exercise aboard USS Abraham Lincoln
July 31, 2025
Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Santino Roccuzzo (l), from Philadelphia, fires a .50-caliber machine gun with Ens. Michael Guirau, from Columbia, during...
Great activities for kids come the dog days of summer
Special to The Star | July 31, 2025
The arrival of summer is a momentous day for children. Summer means school is closed and weeks of rest, recreation...
S.C. Retail Association welcomes annual sales tax holiday
Contributed by SCPA | July 31, 2025
South Carolina shoppers will enjoy a welcome break this weekend as the state’s annual Sales Tax Holiday returns from Friday,...
It’s Not Too Soon
Mike Cox
mwc0423@gmail.com | July 31, 2025
Earlier this summer, while Texas was digging itself out of a climate change crisis, there were two incidents that show...
Too Hot To Handle
Julia Rogers Hook
jrhook@thecolumbiastar.com | July 31, 2025
I wasn’t made for summer. I just am not a summer person. I never have been. I have red hair...
Laughing with the puppies
Mike Cox
mwc0423@gmail.com | July 24, 2025
In 1974, a Pepsi commercial featuring little boys and puppies aired. The finale involved one adorable blonde-haired boy overwhelmed by...
FOLKS ABOUT TOWN
July 31, 2025
A.J. Jones has joined Thomas and Hutton as a civil designer in the Columbia office. Tamara King has been executive...
Dominion Energy expands free energy-saving program to Columbia community
Contributed by Dominion Energy | July 31, 2025
More than 2,200 Dominion Energy customers in Columbia communities are eligible for free energy-saving products and services. The company recently...
BUSINESS BRIEFS
July 31, 2025
U-Haul Co. of South Carolina, Inc. has announced Fast Casual Storage signed on as a UHaul ® neighborhood dealer to...

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...
Mary Katherine Anderson
July 24, 2025
Mary Katherine “Kay” Young Anderson passed away peacefully and surrounded by her family in Columbia, South Carolina, on July 13,...
Kay Martin Germany
July 17, 2025
Kay Martin Germany, 81, passed away on July 8, 2025. A graveside service was held at 12 noon Wednesday, July...
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,...
Richland One welcomes new teachers
Story and Photos By Josh Cruse
joshc@thecolumbiastar.com | July 31, 2025
W.J. Keenan High School hosted Richland One’s “New to One” event Tuesday, July 29. “New to One” welcomes new teachers...
Registration for Lexington Two Adult Education classes under way for fall 2025 season
Contributed by Dawn Kujawa | July 31, 2025
Registration is now open for the fall 2025 session of Lexington Two’s Adult Education Program. Lexington Two’s award-winning adult education...
Richland One parents, community invited to meet new principals
Contributed by Ilyssa Weiner | July 31, 2025
Richland One students, parents and community members are invited to meet two new principals before the 2025-2026 school year begins...
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
July 31, 2025
•ART Alexandra’s Art Studio, 111 Sparkleberry Crossing Road, offers adult...
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
July 24, 2025
•ART Alexandra’s Art Studio, 111 Sparkleberry Crossing Road, offers adult...
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
July 17, 2025
•ART Alexandra’s Art Studio, 111 Sparkleberry Crossing Road, offers adult...
Dreher paying the price now for success later
July 31, 2025
The Dreher Blue Devils battled to a 3-7 record and a playoff appearance in their first year back in the 4A classification in 2024. “I think last year was more...
Raiders on stable ground
July 31, 2025
The 2025 Keenan Raiders enter an offseason of stability after overcoming an array of off the field issues to post an 8-5 record in 2024, which ended in the 3A...
Barr expects C.A. Johnson to be more competitive
July 24, 2025
The 2024 season was a forgettable one for the C.A. Johnson Green Hornets who had their lowest win total since 2018 at 2-9. The Green Hornets did make the playoffs,...

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...

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...
An Interlude in France— Orangerie and Orsay Museums
By Warner M. Montgomery, Ph.D. | July 31, 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. My...
An Interlude in France— Famous Monuments
By Warner M. Montgomery, Ph.D. | July 24, 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. Paris...
An Interlude in France— Les Véhicules de Paris
By Warner M. Montgomery, Ph.D. | July 17, 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. Paris...
Four o’clocks—the Scented Timepiece
By Arlene Marturano
South Carolina Garden-based Learning Network on Facebook | July 31, 2025
Each day as I walk the path to the compost bin, I pass a bed of four o’clocks waking up in late afternoon. While most flowers open early in the...
Star Chefs
Contributed by allrecipes.com | July 31, 2025
Easy Blueberry Cobbler ½ cup butter 1 cup self-rising flour 1 cup white sugar 1 cup milk 4 cups fresh blueberries Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place butter in...
Burrows’s Blueberries
By Arlene Marturano
South Carolina Garden-based Learning Network on Facebook | July 24, 2025
Blueberry picking time starts in July in James Burrows’s garden where four family generations harvest the delicious and nutritious summer fruit. Two 12-foot tall and six-foot wide shrubs produce an...
Master’s Sales
July 31, 2025
MASTER'S SALE C/A No.2025CP4001435 BY VIRTUE of a decree heretofore granted in the case of: PennyMac Loan Services, LLC vs. Gilbert Jacobs III; Jacobs Family Trust, Gilbert Jacobs Trustee; South...
Notice of Application
July 31, 2025
NOTICE OF APPLICATION Notice is hereby given that LV Petroleum, LLC intends to apply to the South Carolina Department of Revenue for a license and/or permit that will allow the...
Public Notices
July 31, 2025
NOTICE OF UNCLAIMED MOBILE HOME /PUBLIC SALE The following Mobile Home is subject to towing, repair and/or storage liens, is declared to be abandoned pursuant to Section 6-1-150 and 29-15-10...