Moss Blachman to tell about being an Air Force intelligence officer in Vietnam
April 29, 2024Moss Blachman looks every bit the academic he has been for nearly a half-century, but one thing stands out: His suit coat usually features a small Bronze Star lapel pin.…
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It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s A Flock of Seagulls headed to Harbison Theatre this May!
April 25, 2024It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane, It’s A Flock of Seagulls A New Wave Legacy is on the path to Harbison Theatre! A Flock of Seagulls, the iconic new wave…
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Long Lost Lisbon
April 24, 2024By Tom Poland “The oak was so big, five men could link hands and not reach around it.” On a clear December day I walked where about eight feet…
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The Million Dollar Quartet
April 18, 2024By Tom Poland I go back now, back to August 1, 2012. That’s the day the University of South Carolina Press published Save The Last Dance For Me. Strange…
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Today is a day we have never seen
April 18, 2024By Jeff Becraft One morning last year, I came into the living room. It was only 6:00 in the morning… it is still dark outside. Brenda is sitting in…
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Learn more about Herb Rosencrans, a hero of World War II
April 12, 2024The notice in The New York Times was like so many from 1945: Pfc. Herbert J. Rosencrans, Company C, 415th Infantry, 104th Division, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin J.…
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If A Photo Is Worth 1,000 Words …
April 10, 2024By Tom Poland Why do we need cutlines? Simple. To better serve the reader. A cutline needs to be right. Long after the writer is gone, his work will…
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The Wrong Trousers
April 10, 2024By Jeff Becraft I have this one pair of pants that at some point, a blue ink pen blew out in my back pocket. So now there’s this big…
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The Prom Promise: Helping high schoolers avoid high-risk behaviors
April 8, 2024On the spectrum of life events, the high school prom is one of the most memorable times of a person’s life. Unfortunately, it’s also known as one of the most…
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Love lays down its life for another
April 3, 2024By Jeff Becraft The word passion literally means “to suffer.” As with many words, there can be more than one definition. You have to go down to definition #5…
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Surprise At Surrender Rock
April 3, 2024By Tom Poland A Sunday before Christmas it was. With the gifts all wrapped, I had a bit of time. I wanted to see the monument where Mayor T.J.…
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Melrose Heights brings artists and entertainment to a historic Columbia neighborhood
April 1, 2024The Historic Melrose Art in the Yard will once again welcome artists and artisans to show and sell their original work in the historic, downtown Columbia neighborhood. The event will…
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A Tribute to Trailblazers: A Melodic Odyssey from the King of Rock n’ Roll to the Queens of Country
March 28, 2024A Tribute To Trailblazers: A Melodic Odyssey from the King of Rock n’ Roll to the Queens of Country Enjoy the April lineup that unveils a timeless tapestry of hits…
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Relic Room to stage Revolutionary War Day 2024 – April 13
March 28, 2024True or False: Boston was the only city to stage a “tea party” protest in the years before the American Revolution. False! Charleston had one, too! And the South Carolina…
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Free lecture to tell about the upcoming publication of Francis Marion’s papers – April 12
March 28, 2024A lot of people think the Swamp Fox let the Fighting Gamecock down at a critical moment in the American Revolution. But his letters don’t reflect that. “I have learned…
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It is a great day to be thankful
March 27, 2024By Jeff Becraft I was just recently up in Maryland. My Dad will turn 98 this Sunday. He’s still a part of a Monday night men’s group that I got…
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Running With Ghosts
March 27, 2024By Tom Poland I dreamed I was in a football game again. Then I awoke. Such disappointment. Other than playing in a game again, the next best thing would be…
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Columbia College hosts Congressman James Clyburn and Secretary Xavier Becerra for roundtable discussion
March 27, 2024Columbia College was proud to host Congressman James Clyburn (SC-06) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra for a roundtable discussion as part of their…
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Historic Columbia’s Palladium Tour coming to Wales Garden on April 7
March 27, 2024Fifth annual tour of homes explores the unique style and complex history of this downtown neighborhood Palladium, Historic Columbia’s group of diverse professionals who support the mission of the…
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A stampede of Showoffs are heading to Harbison Theatre
March 25, 2024Annual MTC talent competition featuring students, alumni, faculty, and staff returns! Midlands Technical College Mavericks will compete in MTC’s annual talent competition, the MTC Showoff, this Saturday, March 30. Auditions…
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The important things in life can be hard to see
March 21, 2024By Jeff Becraft A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to speak at a weekend camp for a children’s home. It was a fabulous experience. On my way…
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A Way To Receive And Give Back
March 21, 2024By Tom Poland You reach a point in life where you look backwards a lot. I recall my days studying Journalism at the University of Georgia. Turns out I…
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Vietnam helicopter pilots to tell their stories on Saturday, March 30
March 18, 2024Alston Gore flew helicopters in Vietnam as a young Army first lieutenant. He arrived in-country in September 1970 to support the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). After five months, the 1st…
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Keith Albert to tell about the dangerous work of clearing the jungle in Vietnam
March 14, 2024One of the biggest obstacles the U.S. military services faced in Vietnam was that posed by Mother Nature – the lush, tropical rainforest that never stopped growing. It impeded movement,…
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The Golden Gloved Artist
March 14, 2024By Tom Poland During my not quite 10 years at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources I worked among talented illustrators, filmmakers, designers, photographers, and artists. I watched…
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Why I Don’t Text
March 14, 2024By Jeff Becraft People have asked me over the years, “Why don’t you text?” Some people even get aggravated with me about it. There are various reasons, but one…
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Germany’s Great Bavarian Circus makes its Columbia debut playing SC State Fairgrounds
March 13, 2024April 5-21 Tickets On Sale Now for Electrifying Extravaganza Melding Oktoberfest with Circus Germany’s Great Bavarian Circus makes its Columbia, SC, debut at the SC State Fairgrounds from April 5-21.…
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Overdue: Curated for the Creative set for Friday, March 15th
March 13, 2024Join Richland Library for This FREE, After-Hours Program WHAT: Overdue WHEN: March 15 | 7-11 p.m. WHERE: Richland Library Main(1431 Assembly St., 29201) WHO: Adults, ages 18 & older Experience a night of creativity and…
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Let’s be that ‘someone else’ today
March 7, 2024By Jeff Becraft Back in the YC era, during Orientation for new students and families, I would always bring up the importance of little things. I would ask them, if…
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Bring Back Honest-To-Goodness Screen Doors
March 7, 2024By Tom Poland With winter knock, knock, knocking on their door, people are thinking of storm doors and weather stripping. Well, drafty old screen doors occupy my mind. Recent…
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Family-Friendly Frights and Feats at Harbison Theatre
March 5, 2024Family-Friendly Frights and Feats at Harbison Theatre: Action-packed performances that are sure to give you goosebumps! 360 ALLSTARS Variety Show 4 PM | Sunday, March 24, 2024 Tickets: $40 Launching…
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Feathers Fit For A King
February 29, 2024By Tom Poland I wanted to hunt birds when a boy. Problem was no one would take me hunting. Dad tried but hunting wasn’t in his blood. And so…
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Liverpool F.C. and Manchester United match set for this summer at USC’S Williams-Brice Stadium
February 23, 2024Liverpool F.C. and Manchester United will meet in the United States this summer as part of the Rivals in Red Tour, facing off at the University of South Carolina’s Williams-Brice…
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One View, Two Civilizations
February 22, 2024By Tom Poland On a November Saturday, I drove to the geographic heart of Georgia. The cool breath of autumn and a blue-sky day had pulled people outdoors. I…
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Áróra
February 21, 2024Closes February 29 It’s the last weekend to explore the beauty of the Northern Lights with the museum’s newest planetarium experience. The South Carolina State Museum is offering guests one…
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The things we take for granted
February 21, 2024By Jeff Becraft Now, I am someone who actually likes to go grocery shopping. But I am a dangerous grocery shopper. I can go in to get two items…
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History teacher Mike Burgess to speak about the challenges he faces
February 21, 2024George Orwell wrote, “Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.” Mike Burgess knows Orwell was right. Mike is a history teacher, caught between…
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Collaboration between Wingard’s Market and Riverbanks Zoo leads to exciting oppportunity with distinguished author
February 21, 2024Wingard’s Market announced a new collaboration with Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. On May 16, join us for a unique presentation by author and award-winning expert, Doug Tallamy. Tallamy’s presentation, A…
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What message are we sending?
February 14, 2024By Jeff Becraft One time, I was going to be speaking at a retreat for Black Mountain Home for Children, and our son, Josiah, was also going to be…
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The Luck Of The Draw
February 14, 2024By Tom Poland December 1, 1969, was no ordinary Monday. It was a day when your birthday was your destiny. In Athens, Georgia’s Benton Apartments my roommates and I…
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Columbia SC Visitors Center, One Columbia to host artists pop-ups
February 14, 2024WHO: Columbia SC Visitors Center WHAT: The Columbia SC Visitors Center has partnered with One Columbia for Arts and Culture to host artist pop-ups outside of the VC on weekends. The…
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Cayce’s Soiree on State returns on March 23
February 14, 2024The ‘Party in the Street’ will feature local artists, local vendors, and live music in the Cayce River Arts District The Soiree on State will return to Cayce’s State Street on Saturday,…
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My Dad is the greatest man I have ever met
February 7, 2024By Jeff Becraft And the thing is, I’m not the only one that would say that. And even further, it’s not just family members that would say that. There…
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Ordering Please, One Big Boy
February 7, 2024By Tom Poland Daddy set me straight. “If you want some spending money, get a job.” Thus did I work two jobs while going through college at Georgia. I…
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At 19, Dennis DuPuis flew helicopters in combat in Vietnam
February 7, 2024Dennis DuPuis wasn’t the only soldier in his family to serve in Vietnam. His father, an Army Signal Corps master sergeant who had served in the Second World War and…
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To Keep or To Give
February 1, 2024By Amy Coward I can’t get rid of this bowl. I really don’t know why I’m so attached to it. It’s not very pretty – beige, plastic, divided down…
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Being Thankful – A Different View
February 1, 2024By Jeff Becraft I did not write today’s Friday encouragement – it was sent to me by a friend of mine named Rick. It is from The Speaker’s Friend by Leonard…
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Folk Artist Leonard Jones
February 1, 2024By Tom Poland Giving Old Tin New Life During my school days the yellow bus rolled me past chicken houses. In 1972, when I taught creative writing in Lincolnton,…
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It’s Giving Grace and Gospel Music: Soulful performances will celebrate Black History Month at Harbison Theatre!
February 1, 2024Soulful performances will celebrate Black History Month at Harbison Theatre! John Lakin & Friends Sounds of Amazing Grace 7:30 PM | Saturday, February 10, 2024 Tickets: $25 A familiar favorite…
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The Nick announces special programming for Black History Month
January 31, 2024The Nickelodeon invites you to celebrate Black History Month this February with a film series highlighting black artistry and excellence. This film series is in collaboration with the SC Commission…
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