Making the most of your hometown

Transcription

2009-2010 guide
to Columbia and the Midlands
Living Here
Making the most of your hometown
S UNDAY , JUNE 21, 2009
| THE STATE
| LIVING HERE
JG7750-60-0
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| THE STATE
| LIVING HERE
3
JG5185-62-0
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| THE STATE
CONTENTS
5 | WHO WE ARE
Getting to know Columbia
6 | GETTING SETTLED
Services, laws, weather and more
9 | GETTING AROUND
Trains, buses and parking
10 | COMMUNITIES
Intown, suburbs, Lake Murray
Contents <<
| LIVING HERE
ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE
ON THE COVER
Living Here is an annual
publication of The State,
produced by staff reporters,
photographers, designers and
editors. Send comments and
suggestions to section editor
Dawn Kujawa at
[email protected].
For additional copies, call (803)
255-1386.
Beau Peterson and Lindsay
Moore enjoy dessert
outside Nonnah’s in the
Vista, an area once home
to mills and warehouses
that today is one of the
city’s hottest places, with
restaurants, nightclubs, art
galleries and shops.
How to reach our newspaper
departments:
20 | SCHOOLS
PHOTOGRAPH BY
KIM-KIM FOSTER TOBIN
[email protected]
SERVICES
Public and private schools, plus
colleges and universities
Newspaper subscriptions:
(800) 888-3566
Print advertising: (803) 771-8338
(retail business);
(803) 771-SOLD (classified)
Online advertising:
(803) 771-8338
24 | FAITH
Diverse offerings in worship
26 | HEALTHY LIVING
Medical care and other resources
NEWSROOM
27 | AT PLAY
News tips: (803) 771-8415
Sports: (803) 771-8470
Business: (803) 771-8619
Life&Style: (803) 771-8441
To publish an event or
announcement, and for all other
news-related questions:
(803) 771-8415
thestate.com: (803) 771-8598
Art, theater, dance, parks, kids’ fun
32 | SHOPPING
Malls, specialty shops
35 | SPORTS
For spectators and participants
37 | MILITARY
ALL OTHER NEWSPAPER
INQUIRIES
Fort Jackson, veterans groups
40 | BUSINESS
(803) 771-6161
Jobs, networking
KEEP UP WITH COLUMBIA AT THESTATE.COM
The State newspaper’s Web site
Look for a home or job, find entertainment listings, follow your favorite
sports teams and keep up with the latest news.
Daily and breaking news, including traffic and weather updates, neighborhoods, schools, local issues, business and more.
S.C. Politics Today: Keep up with the news — and newsmakers.
Things to do: Ideas for making the most of your down time, from concerts
and nightclubs to movies, family festivals and more.
SITES FOR SPORTS FANS:
gogamecocks.com is the source for daily recruiting, practice and breaking
news from your leading authority on University of South Carolina athletics.
midlandspreps.com helps you track your favorite high school
players and teams.
ALSO FROM THE STATE:
Newsletters: Sign up at thestate.com/register for free
e-mail newsletters, including breaking news, twice-daily
business reports, and a daily gogamecocks.com update.
Long’s Drugs
Same Co-Pay… Better Service
FREE Next Day Delivery
Now Serving Columbia and Lexington in 7 convenient locations
Irmo
7163 St. Andrews Rd.
404-6700
Coming
Soon!
Kilbourne Road
Garners Ferry
630 Kilbourne Rd.
9019 Garners Ferry Rd.
254-4619
227-6890
Lexington
Millwood Avenue
1216 West Main St.
2801 Millwood Ave.
358-3030
256-7481
Northeast
Farrow Road
8810 Farrow Rd.
736-5975
3000 Northeast Medical Park
788-9608
Transfers Made Easy
We’ll Do All The Work
JG7751-60-3
>> Who we are
| THE STATE
| LIVING HERE
5
A DEMOGRAPHIC SNAPSHOT
Information provided by Central Midlands Council of Governments
using 2008 estimates based on the 2000 U.S. census:
SOUTH CAROLINA
POPULATION: 4,422,320
Male: 2,152,649
Female: 2,269,671
RACE/ETHNICITY
White: 67.4 percent
African-American: 28.4 percent
Hispanic or Latino: 3.8 percent
Asian: 0.3 percent
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME:
$47,060; individuals below poverty
1
level: 641,485
AVERAGE FAMILY SIZE: 2.25
COMMUTING: Mean travel time to
1
work: 22.9 minutes
RICHLAND COUNTY
County seat: Columbia
POPULATION: 356,503
Male: 170,602
Female: 185,901
Median age: 34.6
RACE/ETHNICITY
White: 48.2 percent
Asian: 2.1 percent
TOTAL HOUSING UNITS:
156,436; owner-occupied 54.3
percent, renter-occupied 32.9
percent
AVERAGE HOME VALUE:
2
$135,300
$51,913
1
work: 21.9 minutes
LEXINGTON COUNTY
County seat: Lexington
POPULATION: 248,124
Male: 121,498
Female: 126,626
Median age: 38.3
RACE/ETHNICITY
White: 81.9 percent
Asian: 1.1 percent
105,110; owner-occupied 67.8
percent, renter-occupied 24.1
percent
AVERAGE HOME VALUE:
2
$148,800
$54,837
1
work: 24.3 minutes
KERSHAW COUNTY
THINK SAFE
For All Your
Financial Needs.
Low-rate Loans
County seat: Camden
POPULATION: 59,017
Male: 28,557
Female: 30,460
Median age: 39
RACE/ETHNICITY
White: 71.7 percent
Asian: 0.3 percent
25,942; owner-occupied 71
percent: renter-occupied 16.4
percent
AVERAGE HOME VALUE:
2
$72,000
$47,936
1
work: 27.9 minutes
Notes: 12000 U.S. Census; 2 Estimates from
county assessors
WHAT THE LOCALS SAY Look for boxes throughout this section with tips and advice
Mortgages
FREE Checking Plus Dividends
Competitive Savings Yields
Free Financial Counseling
Shared Branching
Retirement Planning
Investment Services
Online Banking
from residents about getting to know your new hometown.
Welcome to the Midlands
Location, location, location: South
Carolina is a small state, and Columbia is right in the middle, making it a great jumping-off point for
day — or even weekend — trips
that are roughly two hours away:
two hours to the beach, two hours
to the mountains, two hours to historic Charleston and Beaufort.
A natural setting: It may be a big
city with tall buildings, but it’s easy
to get in touch with nature. There
are lots of city, neighborhood and
state parks, three rivers, Lake
Murray and one of the nation’s
newest national parks, Congaree
National Park — all a stone’s throw
from downtown.
Sunny skies. There’s no denying
that weather is a huge draw for
South Carolina. Winter is mild and
brief, with an occasional dusting
of white stuff; spring is fabulous,
with azaleas and dogwoods in
bloom; and fall is a welcome and
colorful respite after hot, humid
summers.
It’s family-friendly: There is no
shortage of things to do for education and recreation with fami-
lies, from community festivals to
the award-winning Riverbanks Zoo
and Gardens. Best of all, most Columbia area events and attractions
are easy on the wallet, many even
free.
It’s a university town: From August through May each year, Columbia’s colleges and universities
— particularly the University of
South Carolina — become a focal
point of life in Columbia. There are
Football Saturdays (and, of course,
game-day traffic), lively nightlife
in the Five Points and Vista districts, and a shortage of parking
everywhere. But it all brings an unmistakable vibrancy, too, one that
we love.
— Dawn Kujawa
Where Membership Matters
www.safefed.org
Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000
and backed by the full faith and credit of the
United States Government. National Credit Union
Administration, a U.S. Government Agency.
JG5183-62-0
There’s a lot to like about living in Columbia.
Just ask the locals.
It’s a capital city and home to
universities and has walkable
downtown neighborhoods, a rich
history, a world-class zoo — and
so much more.
We’ve pulled together a few of
the reasons we hear about time
and again from the people who live
here about what makes Columbia
special.
6
| THE STATE
Who we are <<
| LIVING HERE
A LOOK AT STATE POLITICS
Hot, hot, hot
3 HOT-BUTTON ISSUES
IN THE COMING YEAR
Point of sale. A bill was introduced
that would limit property tax increases on new home buyers to 15 percent. A 2008 tax law that raised the
state’s sales tax in exchange for a decrease in property taxes allowed local
government to tax new home buyers at
market value. For some buyers that
meant tax bills that would double. Real
estate brokers say the law slowed home
sales.
Cigarette tax. South Carolina has
the nation’s lowest cigarette tax at 7
cents a pack. A bill that would raise the
tax by 50 cents a pack failed in the Senate, as lawmakers could not agree on
how to spend the $157 million in revenues.
24-hour abortion wait. A bill that
would require a woman seeking an
abortion to wait 24 hours after an ultrasound passed the House in 2009 and
stalled in the Senate. The bill will begin
in the Senate in 2010.
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STATE HOUSE TOURS
Public tours: The public can tour the
inside of the State House during business hours and tour the State House
grounds anytime. Inside, visitors can see
how the nearly 160-year-old building has
preserved much of its original character,
even after surviving a Union assault during the Civil War and undergoing a series
of renovations. The last renovation was
10 years ago, when the building got a
$50 million facelift. The State House
grounds are a monument to the state’s
military and political history. The most
controversial display is the Confederate
flag next to the Soldier’s Monument in
front of the State House.
Hours for visiting inside the State
House: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday;
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 1-5 p.m.
the first Sunday of each month
Sitting in on House, Senate action:
Galleries are open to the public.
USEFUL GOVERNMENT
WEB SITES
www. scgov.com: The main page of
state government
www.scstatehouse.net: The main
page of the General Assembly; includes
links to live webcasts of House and Senate proceedings, as well as search engines on legislation and more
www.state.sc.us/jobs: The main employment page of state government; updated daily; includes every state government job being advertised
A weather primer:
FILE PHOTOGRAPHS/THE STATE
ELECTED STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS
>>> GOVERNOR
>>> AREA U.S. HOUSE
Next election: 2010
Next election: 2010
Mark Sanford (R)
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12267, Columbia, SC 29211
(803) 734-2100; [email protected]
Jim Clyburn (D)
District 6: Bamberg, Berkeley, Calhoun,
Charleston, Clarendon, Colleton,
Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Lee,
Marion, Orangeburg, Richland, Sumter,
Williamsburg counties
2135 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515; (202) 225-3315
1225 Lady Street, Suite 200
(803) 799-1100; http://clyburn.house.gov/
>>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Next election: 2010
Andre Bauer (R)
State House, 1st Floor
P.O. Box 142, Columbia, SC 29202
(803) 734-2080; [email protected]
>>> U.S. SENATORS
Next election: 2014
Lindsey Graham (R)
290 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-5972
508 Hampton St., Suite 202
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 933-0112; http://lgraham.senate.gov/
Next election: 2010
Jim DeMint (R)
340 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-6121
1901 Main St., Suite 1475
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 771-6112
http://demint.senate.gov/
Next election: 2010
John Spratt (D)
District 5: Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield,
Darlington, Dillon, Fairfield, Florence,
Kershaw, Lancaster, Lee, Marlboro,
Newberry, Sumter, York counties
1401 Longworth Building
Washington, DC 20515; (202) 225-5501
707 Bultman Drive; Sumter, SC 29150
(803) 773-3362; http://www.house.gov/spratt/
Next election: 2010
Joe Wilson (R)
District 2: Aiken, Allendale, Barnwell, Beaufort, Calhoun, Hampton, Jasper, Lexington,
Orangeburg, Richland counties
212 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515; (202) 225-2452
1700 Sunset Blvd., Suite 1
West Columbia, SC 29169
(803) 939-0041; http://joewilson.house.gov/
When’s the best time to plan an outdoor wedding in the Midlands?
First, rule out July 4 through Labor Day, unless the bride wants to wear a bikini. Late July
and early August are simply stifling.
Second, rule out January and February. While
the winters are mild, a wet cold front would put
a real damper on outdoor festivities.
The weather the rest of the year is conducive
to outdoor parties. If you’re really worried about
rain, traditionally the driest months are October
and November, but remember you’re battling college football weekends.
June used to be the big wedding month, but
the recent trend has been toward early spring.
Then, you just have to worry about afternoon thunderstorms.
Why does anyone stay in Columbia in late July
and early August?
The only plausible explanation is they simply
can’t get away. Temperatures routinely reach the
90s, and combined with our high humidity, turn
the area into a sauna.
Those who can’t take vacations at the beach
or the mountains know the Midlands routine.
Exercise outside at the break of dawn or
around sunset. Head to swimming pools, lakes
and rivers for water sports. And think 3M — malls,
museums and movie theaters.
How late in spring should I plant my backyard
garden to avoid the last freeze?
Watch the television listings for The Masters
golf tournament. Tune in and admire the lush
grass and beautiful azaleas that magically reach
their peak in Augusta in April.
Funnel that inspiration into a garden planting
frenzy over the next couple of weeks.
The normal last spring frost in Columbia, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, is April 1.
But we’ve had one light and one hard freeze the
second week of April the past two years. Better
to trust the golfers than the farmers on this one.
— Joey Holleman
STATE LEGISLATORS
To find out who your state representative and senator are, go to www.scstatehouse.net
and click on “Find Your Legislator.” You’ll need your nine-digit ZIP code. Members of the House
are up for election in 2010. The entire General Assembly is up for election in 2012.
AT THE STATE HOUSE
The S.C. General Assembly meets each year in early January and adjourns on the first
Thursday in June. The S.C. House of Representatives, which is elected every two years, has
124 members. The S.C. Senate, which is elected every four years, has 46 members.
Lawmakers’ main duty each year is to pass a budget to fund all functions of state government,
from K-12 education, to colleges, to health care.
WEATHER BY THE MONTH
Average temperatures in the Columbia area:
January
February
March
April
May
June
High
56.6
60.1
67.5
76.6
83.9
89.4
Low
33.7
35.8
42.2
50.3
59.1
66.9
July
August
September
October
November
December
SOURCE: National Weather Service
High
92.3
90.7
85.2
76.4
67.3
58.4
Low
70.8
69.8
63.7
51.1
41.3
34.8
>> Getting settled
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Here is a list of telephone numbers for county, city and town
administrative offices.
Richland County (ombudsman):
(803) 929-6000
Lexington County: (803) 359-8000
or (800) 333-8180
Kershaw County: (803) 425-1500
Town of Arcadia Lakes: (803) 782-2272
Town of Batesburg-Leesville:
(803) 532-4601
Town of Blythewood: (803) 754-0501
City of Camden: (803) 432-2421
City of Cayce: (803) 796-9020
Town of Chapin: (803) 345-2444
City of Columbia: (803) 545-3000
Town of Eastover: (803) 353-2281
Town of Elgin: (803) 438-2362
City of Forest Acres: (803) 782-9475
Town of Gaston: (803) 796-7725
Town of Gilbert: (803) 892-5207
Town of Irmo: (803) 781-7050
Town of Lexington: (803) 359-4164
Town of Pelion: (803) 894-3535
Town of Pine Ridge: (803) 755-2500
Town of South Congaree:
(803) 755-2760
Town of Springdale: (803) 794-0408
Town of Summit: (803) 892-6161
Town of Swansea: (803) 568-2835
City of West Columbia: (803) 791-1880
DRIVING REGULATIONS
New residents licensed
in former state
Military personnel (and their dependents) and students temporarily
in South Carolina are not required
to get a South Carolina driver’s license. However, you must have a
driver’s license from your home state
to operate a vehicle here.
If you are a new resident, you
may use a valid driver’s license from
your former state for up to 90 days.
However, you must convert to a
South Carolina driver’s license before the end of the 90-day period. If
your driver’s license from your home
state has expired, you also must pass
the knowledge and road tests.
Drivers can have only one driver’s
license, not have a valid license from
South Carolina and one from another
state. To qualify for a South Carolina
driver’s license, you must pass the eye
exam given at any DMV office or submit a statement of visual acuity from
an eye specialist. Your license is valid
for 10 years and must be renewed by
your birthday in the 10th year.
Vehicle registration
New residents have 45 days
from the time of establishing residency to register their vehicles
and get new license plates. You
can get the proper forms at any
Department of Motor Vehicle office listed below.
DMV BRANCH OFFICES
Richland County
1630 Shop Road, Columbia,
(803) 737-8350
| THE STATE
800 Dutch Square Blvd., Dutch Square
Plaza Building A, Suite 100
Columbia, (803) 896-6238
2500 Decker Blvd., Decker Mall,
Columbia, (803) 865-9478
Lexington County
509 Liberty St., Batesburg-Leesville,
(803) 532-5285
1016 Broad Stone Road, Irmo,
(803) 749-9041
122 Park Road, Lexington, (803) 356-8537
Kershaw County
1056 Ehrenclou Drive, Camden,
(803) 432-4340
Customer service line
For other questions, call the
DMV’s 24-hour customer service
line at (800) 442-1368. In the Columbia area, call (803) 896-8623.
VOTER REGISTRATION
To find out how and where to
vote, contact your county voter
registration office, listed below.
Richland County
■þAdministration Annex, 2020
Hampton St., Columbia 29202;
(803) 576-2240; www.richlandonline.com
Lexington County
■þ605 W. Main St., Suite 105, Lexington 29072; (803) 785-8361;
www.lex-co.com
Kershaw County
■þ515 Walnut St., Camden
29020; (803) 424-4016; [email protected]
ALCOHOL REGULATIONS
Beer and wine
Local laws vary on the purchase
of beer and wine on Sundays at convenience and grocery stores.
Beer and wine can be purchased
any time in Columbia and Richland
County — but not between midnight
Saturday and 7 a.m. Monday in Lexington and Kershaw counties.
That could be changing, at least
in Irmo. A measure on the November ballot will let voters decide
whether shopkeepers can sell beer
and wine on Sundays. The proposed
changes would not affect the retail
sale of liquor on Sundays.
Beer and wine also can be purchased by the drink at locations,
such as bars and restaurants, holding an on-premises license. For businesses to be licensed to serve beer
and wine on Sundays, though, voters must approve.
Liquor
Don’t bother to go to the liquor
store on Sunday; it will be closed.
By state law, liquor stores can be
open only from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday through Saturday.
And there’s a quirk in state law
that keeps liquor stores from stocking the olives mandatory for martinis. Liquor must be sold separately
| LIVING HERE
7
from all other products. (That explains why there are always two
doors — one for the part of the store
where beer and wine are sold; another for the liquor store right next
door.)
It’s enough to make your head
spin.
For those who like a cocktail on
the traditional day of rest, licensed
restaurants and nonprofit clubs may
serve liquor by the drink on Sundays in Richland, Lexington and
Kershaw counties if they have permits.
In some places, patrons still may
be served from 1.7-ounce mini-bottles, though bartenders have had the
option of pouring from larger bottles of liquor since 2006.
As for drinking in public — beware.
Drinking on the street, sidewalk
or in parking lots may be prohibited
by county and city ordinances. The
city of Columbia and Richland, Lexington and Kershaw counties all
have laws banning open containers
of alcohol on most public property.
For some outdoor functions, such
as festivals and sporting events,
those laws can be waived.
State law prohibits open containers of alcohol in moving vehicles, regardless of whether anyone
is drinking.
Age, ID requirements
You must be at least 21 to purchase alcoholic beverages in South
Carolina. (You must be at least 21
to work as a bartender and at least
18 to sell alcoholic beverages in open
containers as a waiter or waitress.)
You could be found guilty of selling
alcoholic beverages to an underage
person if you have not made a “reasonable” effort to determine the age
of a person purchasing alcoholic
beverages.
BLUE LAWS
South Carolina’s blue laws were
first established during colonial
times. And, while some restrictions
are in place in some of the state’s
counties and municipalities — primarily dealing with alcohol sales
and store opening times on Sundays — many have relaxed them.
While Columbia and Richland
County are exempt from blue laws,
for example, most mom-and-pop
retailers choose not to open on
Sundays. As for large retailers, they
open anywhere from 8 a.m. to
noon to 1:30 p.m. Best to check before heading out.
Sales before 1:30 p.m. on Sundays remains banned in Lexington
County, which in 1996 rejected a
relaxation of restrictions on purchases of a wide range of items.
The restrictions keep most stores
closed until early afternoon.
JG7749-60-0
8
BUSINESS LICENSES
Richland County is one of just eight counties in South Carolina that charge businesses
annual license fees.
The licenses run by calendar year, so they
expire Dec. 31. The deadline to pay is March
15. For details, see www.rcgov.us/bsc or call
(803) 576-2287.
Lexington County does not have a business license for those in unincorporated parts
of the county. However, businesses must
meet the county’s zoning ordinances.
Kershaw County has no business license
fee.
SMOKING
Smoking in public places is frowned upon
— and in many places it’s illegal.
In Richland County, it’s illegal to smoke
in most workplaces. The primary exemption
is for hotel rooms that have been designated
for smokers.
But because the weather is pleasant most
of the year, many bars and restaurants have
patios that accommodate smokers.
Richland County’s ban doesn’t apply inside Irmo, a town divided by the RichlandLexington county line.
There are no controls on smoking in unincorporated Lexington County, though
County Council has been struggling for a
year to establish some kind of limit. Only
the town of Lexington has imposed a ban
that affects all workplaces.
In Kershaw County, the city of Camden
bans smoking in most public and private
gathering places and workspaces.
PETS
Residents of Columbia are limited to two
dogs per household.
Richland County doesn’t have a pet limit,
but does require that dogs and cats be licensed. The county has a leash law, too, so
don’t let your animals run loose.
If your pet turns up missing, check both
the city of Columbia’s animal shelter at (803)
776-PETS and Richland County’s ombudsman at (803) 929-6000. The county maintains a Web site with photos of animals that
have been picked up that is updated daily.
(From the home page at www.richlandonline.com, click the “Departments” tab on the
left side of the page, then “Licensing and
registration” and “animal care.” At the top
of the page, hit “view animals.”) The phone
number is (803) 576-2461.
Here’s more about licensing:
Both the city of Columbia and the county
require people to have their pets spayed or
neutered, with limited exceptions.
| THE STATE
Getting settled <<
| LIVING HERE
The county charges a $4 fee for sterile pets
and $20 for others. Getting a license requires
a copy of a current vaccination record and
proof the animal has been sterilized, if appropriate. Applications for county pet licenses are available at www.richlandonline.com or request an application by mail
by calling (803) 929-6000.
Want to adopt? The city and county maintain a joint adoption center at 127 Humane
Lane, and there are several other animal protection groups in the Midlands.
Lexington County has no limit on the
number of pets in unincorporated parts of
the county. But other animal control restrictions are listed on the county’s Web site:
www.lex-co.com under Animal Services
page. Inquiries also may be made by calling
(803) 785-8149.
The only municipality in the county to
limit the number of pets is West Columbia,
which in 2006 set the cap at six per household. And, in Kershaw County, there are no
limits on pets per household.
RECYCLING
When it comes to trash disposal, going
green varies widely among communities.
In some areas, recycling and yard waste
removal are part of tax-supported waste disposal. In others, it’s an option that costs you
extra.
Curbside recycling: Available for all singlefamily homes in unincorporated areas of
Richland and Lexington counties, in the city
of Columbia and in some of the two dozen
surrounding communities.
Residents in unincorporated Lexington
must arrange pickup with private companies. Lexington and Kershaw counties have
drop-off sites for recylables.
Camden has recycling pickup once a
week of paper, aluminum cans, steel cans
and clear, plastic bottles and brown and
green glass.
While requirements for curbside recycling vary, some items are uniformly accepted: newspapers and inserts, magazines,
aluminum and steel cans and some types of
plastic bottles. Richland County does not collect glass, but many others do. Some also
take cardboard and used vehicle fluids, like
oil and antifreeze.
Drop-off recycling of computers and office
equipment: Contact Richland County at
(803) 576-2390 or Columbia
at (803) 545-3800, which
also offers recycling of
light bulbs containing
mercury. In
unincorporated Lexington County, residents
may take most recyclables to any of 11 dropoff sites around the county.
Richland County has just opened three
recycling stations where residents can drop
off items not accepted curbside, including
junk mail. They are: Sonoco Recycling, 1132
Idlewilde Blvd., off Bluff Road, not far from
Williams-Brice Stadium; Clemson’s Sandhill
Research and Education Center, 900 Clemson Road; and the county public works department, 400 Powell Road, off Pisgah
Church Road.
In addition, Sonoco offers free shredding
from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, a service that’s proved very popular,
spokeswoman Jane Hiller said. Call (803)
779-0500 before dropping by.
Yard trash: Such trash is picked up in Richland County and Columbia, as well as suburbs including Batesburg-Leesville, Camden,
Cayce, Irmo, Forest Acres, Lexington and
West Columbia. Collection days vary by community.
In Lexington and Kershaw counties, property owners may hire private companies that
provide curbside service in more populated
areas. Residents also may choose to take
their trash to county-run drop-off stations —
11 in Lexington and 10 in Kershaw.
Policymakers in both Columbia and Richland County are weighing whether to require
residents to bag their leaves and grass clippings to cut down on problems with stormwater drainage and water quality.
Schedules, collection carts and other information: Contact the waste disposal office
in the county or municipality where you live.
POST OFFICE BRANCHES
Richland County
Those with Saturday hours are noted below.
Ballentine, 1720 Dutch Fork Road, (803) 781-1648;
Saturdays, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Blythewood, 401 McNulty St., (803) 754-2422;
Broad River Road CPU, 7139 Broad River Road, Suite
103, (803) 781-0044; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Capitol Station, 1233 Marion St., (803) 733-4730
Crossroads Center CPU, 6903 St. Andrews Road,
(803) 781-3340; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Dutch Fork, 1120 Briargate Circle, (803) 772-7894;
Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Eastover, 301 Main St., (803) 353-8482; Saturdays,
9 a.m. to noon
Eau Claire, 4026 Lamar St., (803) 252-9009
Edgewood Station, 2638 Two Notch Road,
(803) 252-9043
Five Points, 2108 Greene St., (803) 799-0701
Forest Acres, 4840 Forest Drive, (803) 738-8076; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fort Jackson, 4400 Early St., (803) 782-8709
Gadsden, 7731 Bluff Road, (803) 353-0995; Saturdays, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Harbison, 5201 Broad River Road, (803) 798-3348;
Saturdays, 7 a.m.-noon
Hopkins, 6200 Lower Richland Blvd., (803) 776-5180;
Saturdays, 8-10 a.m.
Irmo, 7821 St. Andrews Road, (803) 781-4024; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon
Leesburg Station, 7406 Garners Ferry Road, (803) 7766178
Main Branch, 1601 Assembly St., (803) 733-4643
National Mail Service, 736 St. Andrews Road, (803)
731-2699
Northeast, 8505 Two Notch Road, (803) 736-2262;
Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Polo Market, 841 Polo Road, (803) 462-3799; Saturdays, 9 a.m.-noon
Sandhills Branch, 1805 Clemson Road, (803) 8650068; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
State Park, Building 20, Hinton St., (803) 935-0209
Two Notch Road CPU, 9003 Two Notch Road, Suite 18,
(803) 788-1109; Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
University Branch, 1600 Hampton St., (803) 777-3168
White Rock, 1947 Dutch Fork Road, (803) 781-9380;
Lexington County
Those with Saturday hours are noted below.
Air Mail Facility, 3501 Air Commerce Drive, (803) 8228258
Batesburg-Leesville, 110 E. Church St., (803) 5324394; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon
Cayce/West Columbia, 1535 Platt Springs Road,
(803) 796-0455; Saturdays, 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Chapin, 1249 Chapin Road, (803) 345-5531; Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.-noon
Gaston, 220 S. Main St., (803) 796-7555; Saturdays,
8-11 a.m.
Gilbert, 401 Broad St., (803) 892-2525; Saturdays,
8:30-11 a.m.
Main Office, 1830 S. Lake Drive, (803) 359-9355;
Lexington Station, 710 W. Main St., (803) 359-9356;
Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Parkland, 220 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce, (803) 7968855; Saturdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Pelion, 739 Pine St., (803) 894-3466; Saturdays,
8 a.m.-noon
Swansea, 295 S. Church St., (803) 568-2837; Saturdays, 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Kershaw County
Camden, 542 W. DeKalb St., (803) 432-2215; Saturdays, 9-11 a.m.
King Haigler, 2629 Liberty Hill Road, (803) 425-4991
Lugoff, 40 Plaza Drive, (803) 438-9618; Saturdays,
8:30 a.m. to noon
Elgin, 1100 Church St., (803) 438-1700; Saturdays,
8:30 a.m. to noon
>> Getting around
| THE STATE
| LIVING HERE
9
FILE PHOTOGRAPH/THE STATE
Fall game-day traffic already is heavy. Add a train to the mix on Assembly Street, and traffic is at a standstill.
HOW TO MOVE ABOUT THE MIDLANDS
Midlands residents have plenty
of choices for getting into, out of
and around the Columbia area.
Buses, trains and an airport are
all within reach.
The Columbia Metropolitan Airport offers daily nonstop flights to
more than a dozen U.S. cities.
The Central Midlands Regional
Transit Authority has struggled financially in the past few years but
still maintains bus routes throughout the Columbia area, though service is limited — and in flux — in
the Cayce and West Columbia areas.
Following is a list of transportation options:
AMTRAK
Address: 850 Pulaski St.
Phone: (800) 872-7245 for reservations or (803) 252-8246 in the
morning.
Web site: www.amtrak.com
GREYHOUND
■þ2015 Gervais St., Columbia
■þ907 S. Broad St., Camden
Tickets can be purchased at
the stations, online at www.greyhound.com or by calling (800)
231-2222.
LOCAL BUSES
Central Midlands Regional
Transit Authority
In general, buses start to run at:
■þ5:30 a.m. Monday through
Saturday
■þ7:35 a.m. Sunday
Service stops at:
■þ10 p.m. Monday through Sat-
urday
■þ7:35 p.m. Sunday
To get on the bus:
■þFor route and scheduling information: (803) 255-7100 or
www.gocmrta.com
■þFare: $1.50 per trip, 75 cents
for senior citizens or the disabled. Bus drivers can’t make
change.
■þCayce routes: 5:55 a.m.-6:23
p.m. weekdays from the Transfer Center at Laurel and Sumter
streets to Dunbar Road and
Frink Street. Weekday service to
the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, 7:30 a.m.-4:42 p.m.
■þWest Columbia routes: 5:40
a.m.-6:40 p.m. weekdays from
the Transfer Center at Laurel and
Sumter streets to the Lexington
Medical Center
■þCocky’s Caravan routes to the
Vista, Five Points and USC’s campus 9 p.m.-2:30 a.m. ThursdaySaturday except during evenings
with USC home football games.
■þTo change buses: Ask the bus
driver for a transfer slip.
■þRack and Roll: Each bus is
equipped with racks to hold two
standard bicycles.
COMMUTER BUSES
■þSMARTRIDE commuter service 6 a.m.-6:27 p.m. weekdays
from Newberry Shopping Plaza
(S.C. 19 at U.S. 76) to Columbia
with stops in Little Mountain and
Chapin; $30 week; single-trip
passes, $4 upon boarding. (803)
276-8266.
■þSMARTRIDE commuter ser-
vice 6:10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. weekdays from the United Way, 116
E. Dekalb St., Camden, to Columbia with a stop in Lugoff
(U.S. 601), $1.50 one way, $3
round trip. Santee Wateree Regional Transportation Authority,
(888) 748-4987; www.swrta.com.
AIRPORT
Columbia Metropolitan Airport
3000 Aviation Way, West Columbia;
(803) 822-5000 or (888) 562-5002
or www.columbiaairport.com
Here are the carriers that serve the
airport:
Allegiant Air: Direct flights to
Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale
and Orlando/Sanford, Fla.;
www.allegiantair.com,
(702) 505-8888
American Eagle: Direct flights to
Dallas/Fort Worth; www.aa.com,
(800) 433-7300
Continental Airlines: Direct flights
to Houston and Newark; www.continental.com, (800) 525-0280
Delta: Direct flights to Atlanta,
Cincinnati, Orlando, New York/LaGuardia; www.delta.com, (800)
221-1212
Northwest Airlines: Direct flights
to Detroit and Memphis;
www.nwa.com, (800) 225-2525
United: Direct flights to Washington/Dulles and Chicago/O’Hare;
www.united.com, (800) 2416522
US Airways: Direct flights to
Charlotte, Philadelphia, Washington/Reagan; www.usairways.com,
(800) 428-4322
KNOW BEFORE YOU PARK
The city of Columbia operates six parking garages in the downtown
area and 4,600 metered parking spaces. Though there are
moments — particularly at lunchtime — when every space seems to
be filled, you generally can find a spot if you know where to look.
KNOW YOUR COLORS
Red meters: 30-minute parking;
found primarily at the end of a
block
Green meters: Two-hour parking
Blue meters: Five- or 10-hour
parking; found primarily in the
USC area
NO CHANGE
FOR THE METER?
SmartCards and tokens are
available at the Parking Service
Department’s Customer Service
Office at 820 Washington St., in
the Lincoln Street Garage. (803)
545-4015
One token is good for a full hour
on any city meter. Tokens can be
bought in bags of 50 for $35, a
savings of $2.50.
SmartCards can be bought in increments of $20, $50, $75,
$100 or $150. The SmartCard
itself costs $5. Once the original
amount has been used, the card
can be recharged at the Customer Service Office.
SmartCards can be used in all
city meters except those on five
blocks of Bull Street from Lady
Street to Laurel Street. To pay
for parking with a SmartCard, in-
sert it into the slot in the parking
meter. The meter will read a microchip in the card and show you
how much money is left on the
SmartCard. By leaving the card
in the meter, you can use the
card to purchase time in 20minute increments every few
seconds.
PAY NOW OR PAY
MORE LATER
75 cents: Hourly meter rate
throughout the city
$7: Fine for letting a meter expire
$10: Penalty for not paying ticket
within 30 days
$10: Fine for refeeding a parking
meter after it expires
$15: Fine for double-parking,
blocking a driveway or sidewalk,
or parking in a no-parking or
loading zone
$200: Fine for parking in a
handicapped space without a
permit
10
| THE STATE
| LIVING HERE
Communities <<
Living in the heart of the Midlands
Three major interstates. A major metropolitan airport. State government. Colleges and
universities. And, a portion of the famous U.S. 1 highway.
The Midlands is made up of several counties in the central part of the state, with the heart
of it in Richland, Lexington and Kershaw counties. Within these counties are some of
the fastest-growing areas in South Carolina.
These counties offer a mix of small towns, thriving suburbs and growing
metropolitan areas. Among key communities: Northeast Richland, a suburban
area that includes Blythewood, touted for its rural character; Lugoff and Elgin, in
the growing West Wateree area; Columbia, the state capital, northwest portions of
Richland and Lexington counties, with affluent areas around Lake Murray; Lexington
and surrounding areas, among the Midlands’ fastest-growing; and Southeast
Richland, home to farms and emerging subdivisions.
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>> Communities
| THE STATE
| LIVING HERE
11
DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA
Living in town is in vogue again.
With close proximity to USC and other
schools, cultural offerings, a range of restaurants and the thriving entertainment districts
of the Vista and Five Points, Columbia is an
increasingly attractive place to call home.
A new convention center and hotel, as
well as the University of South Carolina’s Innovista research campus, should ensure a
steady stream of new residents for years to
come.
In addition to historic neighborhoods in
and around the downtown core, a range of
new condo options — popular with singles
and empty nesters, in particular — have
cropped up recently.
Slice of history: Downtown Columbia consists of the Vista to the west, Main Street in
the middle and Five Points to the east. The
Vista, once filled with warehouses overlooking train tracks, has been transformed into
an arts and entertainment district.
Main Street, once the center of the city’s
commercial district, has lost some of its shopping luster but is making a comeback in part
because of the success of the Vista.
Five Points, the city’s first suburb, has always been an urban village of quaint shops,
bars and restaurants. Much of its future depends on a master plan that calls for more
shopping and living space and less bars and
restaurants. The master plan has not been
approved.
What to watch for in the future: As gas
prices continue to rise, more people are discovering the value of living intown. While
the housing market has slowed, upscale
apartments are popping up all over the city,
with an eye toward eventual renovations into
condos.
Hot community/political issue: Homelessness. Downtown business leaders are fed up
with the number of homeless men and
women who swarm Main Street and Finlay
Park. They have organized an effort to build
a homeless shelter on Main Street, which is
fiercely opposed by a group of powerful
downtown neighborhoods.
School district: Richland 1
Columbia’s Main Street, a hub for business, has started to draw residential development in recent years.
HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS
Hot ZIP codes: 29201, 29204, 29205,
29206
Who’s moving here: A good mix, including young and middle-aged families and retirees.
Median range of home prices in the Columbia area:
First quarter 2009: $134,000
Higher-priced homes generally have taken
a harder hit, real estate agents said.
Well-known communities: Rosewood, Melrose
Heights, Shandon, Heathwood, Earlewood,
Adesso, The Heritage
Midtown at Forest Acres mall: 2 miles
DOLLARS AND SENSE
Columbia Metropolitan Airport: 9 miles
Tax rate: $42.50 in city taxes for the owner of
a $100,000 home (not including property tax
relief credits)
DRIVE TIMES
From the Richland County Administration
Building, 2020 Hampton St.
State House: 1.4 miles
Andy Anderson
Williams-Brice Stadium: 3 miles
City Hall: 1 mile
Traffic bottleneck to avoid: Assembly Street
is nice and wide, but you have to make it
through the railroad crossings. Trains can
sometimes stop and cause delays of up to 45
minutes.
SEE DOWNTOWN PAGE 12
WHAT THE LOCALS SAY
Where do you live and how long have you lived there?
I live in the Shandon neighborhood and have lived
here for five years.
Andy Anderson’s three great hidden
finds for intown residents:
Sims Park: You never meet a stranger
there. Neighbors are like long-time
friends, even upon the first meeting.
What attracted you to the area?
My wife — who was attracted to quietness and safety
afforded by the neighborhood and its proximity to the
University of South Carolina, where she works. She was
a Shandon resident.
5th Avenue Deli (on Rosewood Drive):
Sandwiches named for streets in
Shandon. Great locally-owned deli!
What’s the most noticeable change you’ve seen since
you moved there?
The new Dreher High School and the change to the
intersection of Ott/Devine/Adger roads.
What does this side of town need?
An art-house movie theater — a la the Nickelodeon —
would be a pretty good fit for Rosewood or Devine Street.
Palmetto Health Baptist hospital: .78 mile
RICH GLICKSTEIN/[email protected]
Andy and Lara Anderson walk up Edward Court in Shandon with their
1-year-old Ashlyn.
Walks through Shandon: The
Shandon neighborhood has sidewalks
and plenty of mature shade trees. Again,
friendly neighbors make for great
excursions.
12
SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2009
|
THE STATE
|
Communities <<
LIVING HERE
SUBURBAN AREAS
DOWNTOWN FROM PAGE 11
SHOPPING
Where is the shopping? Think
boutique and not big-box when
shopping in town. There’s only
one department store, Belk at
Midtown at Forest Acres, but
there are plenty of local retailers.
Try the Vista for specialty items,
Five Points for funky items,
Devine Street for upscale items
and Trenholm Plaza for classic
items.
Longtime businesses or employers in the area: Hiller Hardware in Five Points, Moe Levy’s
on Assembly Street, Rosewood
Dairy Bar, De Loache Florist on
Millwood Ave., Rogers Brothers
Fabric, formerly in Trenholm
Plaza but now on Devine Street
JUST FOR FUN
■þBored on a Saturday? Chances
are there’s a festival somewhere.
Five Points has the St. Patrick’s Day
festival in March, Rosewood has
the Crawfish Festival in May, downtown Columbia has the Greek Festival in September and Finlay Park
is the home to many smaller festivals.
■þTake a walk along the riverfront.
The easiest places to access the
Three Rivers Greenway are Riverfront Park off Huger Street and
near the West Columbia Riverwalk
Amphitheater, just over the Gervais
Street bridge.
■þMelton Memorial Observatory
on the USC campus invites the public to take a look through its telescopes on clear Monday nights
from 8:30-10:30 p.m. November
through March and 9:30-11:30 p.m.
April through October. Free.
■þHistoric Columbia Foundation
offers moonlight tours of historic
Elmwood Cemetery as well as
lantern tours of historic homes in
downtown neighborhoods throughout the year. www.historiccolumbia.org
mit, Lake Carolina, Longcreek Plantation, Wildewood Downs retirement
community, Wren Creek, condos at
the Village at Sandhill
Award-winning schools — among
the best in the state — as well as a
range of housing options and bustling
retail make Northeast Richland
among the fastest-growing suburban
areas in the Midlands.
Major retailers have arrived in
droves. Restaurants are plentiful.
The Village at Sandhill, a commercial and residential development,
has become the heart of the Northeast community.
If you live in this bustling suburban area, you will have to deal with
traffic. But, considering the lifestyle
advantages, it’s something residents
are willing to do.
DOLLARS AND SENSE
DRIVE TIMES
Distances from Blythewood Town Hall:
SEE NORTHEAST PAGE 14
JG5903-06-0
Slice of history: Development in
Northeast Richland — an area once
known for agriculture and farming
— began in the 1960s, when developer Edwin Cooper paid the U.S. government $100 an acre for the land
known today as Spring Valley. Since
then, growth has been marching up
Two Notch Road, toward the Kershaw County line.
What to watch for in the future: Like
many areas in the country, due to rising development costs and the increase in fuel prices, residential developments in the Northeast could
offer smaller lots in single-family
communities, and more attention
could be directed to infill projects.
The Northeast will also see more retailers and service businesses as well
as a fifth high school in the district.
Hot community/political issues:
■þLand conservation and beautification projects are taking root to balance development.
■þCounty leaders hope federal and
state money might give a boost to efforts at widening Hard Scrabble
Road, arguably the county’s most urgent transportation need.
■þThe county library system is laying the groundwork for a new branch
to replace the cramped Sandhills
branch.
■þCounty Council is grappling with
how to fund a tournament park for
land it purchased at Farrow and
Hard Scrabble.
Property taxes: $1,048 per year,
which includes a $249 annual
garbage fee, on a $100,000 house
State House: 18 miles
Columbia Place mall: 10 miles
Providence Hospital Northeast: 8
miles
Columbia Metropolitan Airport:
21 miles
Richland County Administration
Building: 17 miles
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HOMES AND
NEIGHBORHOODS
Hot ZIP codes: 29223, 29229,
29016
Who’s moving here: A good mix, including young and middle-aged families and retirees.
Median range of home prices in the
Columbia area:
Higher-priced homes generally have
taken a harder hit, real estate agents
said.
Well-known communities: The Sum-
Visit our web site: www.courtsidecommons.com
Deborah C. Hall
US Properties-SC
803-234-7810
[email protected]
For 24 hour Recorded Info Call: 800-209-0625 Ext. 2000
JG5904-06-2
The historic Timothy Apartments on Devine Street were recently
remodeled into condominiums.
NORTHEAST
RICHLAND
COLUMBIA’S
HEADQUARTERS
765-9010
| LIVING HERE
13
Columbia’s Premier
Jazz & Blues Eatery
Lunch • Dinner • Private Events
Professional onsite monogramming
Luggage & Leather Goods
Reisenthel baskets • Unique gifts
1111 Lady St.
Columbia, SC
| THE STATE
1710 Main Street, Columbia, SC
803.929.0037
www.macsjazznblues.com
Contact Event Coordinator
Paulette Koutroulakis
(803) 343-2855
www.BullMarketRestaurant.com
902 C Gervais St.
Columbia, SC
The New
1219 Bull St., Columbia
799-1219
Come visit our newly refurbished showroom
Patio Dining Indoors
Open for Lunch
Monday - Friday
11-2 pm
Unique sandwiches, salads, soups, wraps & more
www.gardenbistrosc.com
Behind Art Bar on Park Street
Mon-Fri 11am-3pm *free parking
803.933.9085
Call Ahead For Your Next Office Luncheon
JG3864-56-3
Sales • Appraisals
Repairs • Fur Cleaning
Columbia’s Only Onsite
Cold Storage
14
|
THE STATE
|
LIVING HERE
Communities <<
Sylvia Hanna
Where do you live and how long
have you lived there?
I have lived in the WildeWood
community for 14 years.
Since Columbia is my hometown, and I have lived here all my
life, I had somewhat of an advantage on which area met my family’s needs. Each community has
its personal designs and attractions, be it the distance to schools,
jobs or the like. My family felt the
Northeast area was the right place
for us because of its schools, traffic, distances to our jobs and
church.
NORTHEAST FROM PAGE 12
Traffic bottlenecks to avoid: I-77 at
the Killian Road exit is notoriously
bad during rush hour. School traffic
makes Hard Scrabble Road tough to
negotiate, especially at Summit Parkway Middle School.
RETAIL AND BUSINESS
Where is the shopping? Homebodies have their choice of grocery
stores, with specialty offerings, too,
like the Ole Timey Meat Market. As
a place to shop and see neighbors,
nothing beats the Target on Two
Notch Road. The new Wal-Mart Supercenter on Killian Road at I-77 is
attracting an influx of smaller shops,
big-box retailers and small restaurants. But it’s the Village at Sandhill,
at Two Notch and Clemson roads,
that provides an oasis of retail.
Longtime businesses or employers
in the area: Blue Cross and Blue
Shield, Fort Jackson, Providence
Northeast Hospital, Bose and FN
Manufacturing, which makes military supplies.
WHAT THE
LOCALS SAY
What’s the most noticeable change
since you moved there?
The growth in new homes,
which have led to more new
schools and the development of numerous new shopping areas.
What does this side of town need?
The Northeast lacks areas for
young children to go. I would love
to see an amusement center or puttputt course (like in Myrtle Beach)
— any fun area that is safe for families to go to; entertainment for
adults — a nice jazz or cool R&B
wine-sipping setting or a place to
unwind and enjoy a good dinner;
and a upscale furniture store.
ball and lacrosse. It’s at the Village
at Sandhill.
WEST WATEREE
The West Wateree area — which
includes Elgin and Lugoff — is the
fastest-growing area of Kershaw
County.
Some of the folks who live here
drive into the Camden area to work
or commute to Columbia.
The area is known for good
schools, lower taxes than neighboring Richland County, more house for
the money — yet easy access to the
interstate, major highways into Columbia and major retailers in Northeast Richland.
Slice of history: Elgin is the only incorporated town in the West Wateree
Sylvia Hanna’s three great
finds in Northeast Richland:
Stein Mart: A great place
to shop, especially when
there’s a sale. You’ll see
all your friends there.
Solstice Restaurant:
Quiet, upscale, very good
food
Sylvia Hanna likes to shop at Stein Mart in Northeast Richland. This
fast-growing area has drawn a lot of national retail stores and
restaurants in recent years.
area. With a housing boom in neighboring Northeast Richland, Elgin is
preparing for more growth with new
traffic management plans and additional emergency services.
What to watch for in the future: A
new rental market put in motion with
the recent increase in foreclosure
rates, additional starter homes under $130,000, and more relocating
families because of the lower taxes
and good schools.
Hot community/political issue: How
and whether to build a major regional sewer system; and how to
manage continuing growth.
School district: Kershaw County
HOMES AND
NEIGHBORHOODS
ZIP codes: 29045 and 29078
Who’s moving here: Mostly younger
families, as well as a mix of middleaged families and retirees.
Columbia area:
said.
Well-known communities: Haigs
Creek, Kelsney Ridge, Heath Pond,
Canterfield
DOLLARS AND SENSE
Tax rate: Average annual taxes on
a $100,000 Kershaw County home
before credits: $1,207 in the county;
$1,261 in the Lugoff Fire District.
Annual Sparkleberry
Country Fair: A sense of
family, fun, entertaining
Village at Sandhill shopping center:
12 miles
Columbia Place mall: 22 miles
KershawHealth: 8 miles
Columbia Metropolitan Airport: 39
miles
Kershaw County Government Center: 7 miles
Traffic bottleneck to avoid: U.S. 1,
linking Elgin and Lugoff, during
school opening and closing times
SHOPPING
DRIVE TIMES
Where is the shopping? Camden,
South Carolina’s oldest inland city,
draws shoppers from all around, with
its many antique stores. And Village
at Sandhill, with its abundance of na-
Distances from Lugoff-Elgin High School:
SEE WATEREE PAGE 15
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Lunch 11-2 Tuesday-Friday
Dinner 5-10 Tuesday-Saturday
Phone: 803-713-0631
Fax: 803-713-0633
JG7307-47-0
■þSesquicentennial State Park, off U.S.
1, offers Northeast and downtown residents 1,419 acres to roam and includes a 30-acre lake and a dog park.
Paddle boat rentals are available.
■þThe annual Sparkleberry Country
Fair, held each spring at the Clemson University Sandhill Research and
Education Center, offers a smalltown feel with activities including
craft booths, local food vendors, gardening exhibits, musical performances, rides and more.
■þOn Percival Road, the National Bicycle League-sanctioned track is 940
feet long with a starting hill, three
turns and dirt obstacles in between.
■þThe young people in your life will
lead you to Plex Indoor Sports for
everything from skateboarding to
soccer, hockey, flag football, volley-
>> Communities
WATEREE FROM PAGE 14
tional retailers, is nearby off Two
Notch Road.
Major employers in the area: INVISTA, Target Distribution Center
JUST FOR FUN
■þKershaw County and nearby Camden in particular are known for many
historic homes and sites that predate
the Civil War. An example is Kamschatka, built in 1854 and home of
well-known Civil War diarist Mary
Boykin Chesnut.
■þOutdoor pursuits, particularly
horse riding, are big in Kershaw
County. Known as the largest outdoor cocktail party in the state, the
annual spring Carolina Cup draws
more than 60,000 people to Camden
for horse racing. There’s a fall counterpart, the Colonial Cup.
■þThe Fine Arts Center of Kershaw
County provides children and adult
plays, concerts, art displays and
classes throughout the year.
■þThe town of Elgin holds its annual
Catfish Stomp the first Saturday in
December. Come for the parade, children’s activities and catfish stew.
SOUTHEAST
RICHLAND
Developers and new residents
alike are eyeing Lower Richland,
which is close to downtown Columbia and Fort Jackson. More than
2,000 new homes already are on
planning maps.
Still, part of the area’s charm is
thousands of acres of open space and
farmland.
Then there’s the unique Congaree National Park — the state’s only
national park — with easy-to-navigate boardwalks, a visitors center to
get you started and the popular Owl
Prowl.
Slice of history: Efforts to nurture
small farms and save local history —
from a simple freed-slave cabin to a
plantation home with plaster molding as ornate as icing on a wedding
cake — are gaining momentum.
Look for announcements of selfguided history tours through the
countryside, where two-lane roads
and picturesque country churches
prevail.
What to watch for in the future:
Richland County is studying whether
to extend public sewerage service between the city of Columbia and Eastover, which would pave the way for
development and decrease the use
of undesirable septic systems. The
county also is working to improve
water quality and looking at how to
pay for paving dirt roads in the area.
Hot community/political issue:
County Council has been batting
around whether to buy a piece of
property from the Mungo Companies on Lower Richland Boulevard
to keep it from being developed into
houses. One consultant said the
county shouldn’t use the property for
a park. Now the council is hiring another consultant to look into preserving the property — which has a
portion of a rare inland Carolina bay
on it — through a conservation program.
HOMES AND
NEIGHBORHOODS
ZIP codes: 29209, 29061
Who’s moving here: A lot of firsttime home buyers, as well as empty
nesters, young families and military.
The proximity to downtown is attractive to many.
Columbia area:
said.
Well-known communities: Hampton
Forest, Cedar Terrace, Kings Grant,
Hampton Leas, Hampton Hills
DOLLARS AND SENSE
Tax rate: $916 for the owner of a
$100,000 home, which includes an
annual garbage collection fee
DRIVE TIMES
Distances from Lower Richland High
School, 2615 Lower Richland Blvd.:
| THE STATE
Midtown at Forest Acres mall: 10
miles
Providence Hospital (Forest Drive):
11 miles
miles
Richland County Administration
Building: 11 miles
Traffic bottleneck to avoid: Garners
Ferry Road, aka Sumter Highway, is
the main route in and out of Lower
Richland, so it tends to get congested
during rush hour.
RETAIL AND BUSINESS
Where is the shopping? Foodies will
have to come into town for some
shopping; the Food Lion on Sumter
Highway at Lower Richland Boulevard is the largest grocery store in
Lower Richland. Once you get closer
in toward I-77, strip malls are plentiful along Garners Ferry Road, but
there are no retail malls on this side
of town.
One local gathering place is Mr.
Bunky’s Store, an old-fashioned general store, grocery, meat market and
restaurant near McEntire Air National Guard Base. The Perkin’ Beans
Cafe is a great little coffee shop and
lunch spot along Garners Ferry Road
in Hopkins. The owners display the
work of local artists, too.
Longtime businesses or employers in the area: We know it for its
logo — a big square with a “D” in it.
| LIVING HERE
15
Square D, which employs about 750
people, builds engineered-to-order
electrical components — mainly
switchboards and switch gears. Its
parts turn up at hospitals, industrial
facilities and data centers. It has
been on Garners Ferry Road since
1972.
JUST FOR FUN
■þRoughly 22,000 acres of forests
across wetlands with abundant
wildlife make up the Congaree National Park near Hopkins. Twenty
miles of trails as well as fishing, canoeing and camping.
■þThe 30-acre Hopkins Park at 150
Hopkins Park Blvd. includes a gym,
game room, softball field, playground, pool and picnic facilities.
■þSince the first festival in 2003, the
weekend-long Swamp Fest has expanded beyond the Congaree National Park each fall to include events
at other Lower Richland landmarks,
such as the Mount Moriah Baptist
Church and historic Harriet Barber
House. There’s storytelling, gospel
music, guided walks, hayrides, West
African drumming and many natureoriented activities. For more, see
www. congareeswampfest.com.
■þThe countryside is filled with picturesque old churches, and Congaree Baptist is one of the oldest, built
around the time of the Revolutionary War. Set at Bluff and Congaree
Church roads, the old wooden
church has a cemetery along the side.
Located at the Village at Sandhills
(across from J.C. Penny)
Casual Fine Dining
With A Twist
Village Bistro offers you the finest cuisine
From our heart to your plate!
489-1 Town Center Place
The Village at Sandhills, Columbia
803.227.2710
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Monday thru Thursday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
16
|
THE STATE
|
LIVING HERE
Communities <<
CHAPIN/IRMO/
DUTCH FORK
festival as well as community improvement days.
■þIrmo is home to the nationally
known Okra Strut in late September.
■þSaluda Shoals Park near Irmo offers canoe trips and other adventures
on and off the water.
■þStables in the Dutch Fork area offer horseback riding and hay rides.
■þLake tourism officials sponsor a
major fireworks display and outdoor
concert in mid-summer
■þPurple Martins form clouds coming to and leaving Doolittle Island in
the middle of the lake, an activity
best viewed from a boat.
■þTwo ships cruise the lake, available to rent for events.
This area — known for its proximity to Lake Murray, good schools
and semi-rural lifestyle — is a halfhour drive from downtown Columbia’s amenities.
With its population expected to
grow 12 percent by 2010 and some
of its woods being transformed into
neighborhoods, the biggest challenge
is to keep its pastoral setting amid
growth.
Midlands Tech College has a
small campus in the Harbison-Irmo
area.
Slice of history: Chapin, incorporated in 1889, is named after a prominent 19th-century businessman and
civic leader. Irmo, one of Columbia’s
oldest suburbs, is named after 19thcentury railroad executives. The
Dutch Fork area gets its name from
early settlers primarily of German
descent.
Steady residential growth, with a bit
of retail mixed in.
■þHow much growth is too much?
■þProposed incorporation of Ballentine to control growth on the
northeast corner of Lake Murray
■þExpansion of Irmo into areas once
considered well away from town
■þKeeping Lake Murray’s water level
high enough for year-round boating
and limiting shoreline development
to keep it clean and save scenery and
fish habitat
■þThe increasing congestion on
roads leading into I-26
■þRedevelopment of older parts of
the St. Andrews area
■þPutting a 1½-mile train siding in
the White Rock area
■þFinding a new home for Chapin
Community Theatre
DRIVE TIMES
From Chapin Town Hall:
TIM DOMINICK/[email protected]
Bikers cross Main Street in Lexington as part of Bike to Work Week in May. Steve Hawley, owner of
The Hawley Company, led the ride from the Bi-Lo shopping center on Columbia Avenue to his office
on South Lake Drive. Areas around the lake, including Chapin and Lexington, have seen a lot of
residential and retail growth in recent years.
■þSettling on smoking limits in
stores, offices, restaurants and bars
School district: Lexington-Richland 5
HOMES AND
NEIGHBORHOODS
Hot ZIP code: 29036
Who’s moving here: Retirees drawn
by the lake’s resort lifestyle and families attracted by good schools, a
semi-rural setting and an easy drive
to downtown
Columbia area:
taken a harder hit, real estate agents said.
Well-known communities: Timberlake for upscale lake homes, Firebridge and Friarsgate for starter
homes, Lowman Home for retirees,
Richard Franklin Estates for affordable lakeside homes
Harbison area. Chapin has a small
niche of specialty merchants downtown. Strip malls line major roads.
Longtime businesses in the area:
Ellett Brothers, General Information
Services, FBJohnston Graphic and
Texchine in Chapin. Shaw Industries
and Mungo Homes in Irmo.
DOLLARS AND SENSE
JUST FOR FUN
Tax rate: $48 per year for $100,000
house in Chapin. Irmo has no town
property tax.
■þCrooked Creek park is a hub for
recreation and informal education.
■þDreher Island State Recreation
Area offers a lakeside setting for picnicking, fishing, boating and other
recreation.
■þChapin has an annual Labor Day
RETAIL AND BUSINESS
Where is the shopping? It’s a 10mile drive to national retailers in the
Aleda Anderson
Where do you live and how long
have you lived there?
White Rock. In the early ’70s
we moved into the Irmo area of
Coldstream and relocated just
over 20 years ago to Lake Murray.
We decided this area would
be a great place to raise our two
young sons, Steven and David.
The continuing attraction involves the wonderful people in
this area — family and friends
will keep you rooted here forever.
My son and his family, who just
moved back from San Francisco,
can also attest to that.
What’s the most noticeable
TOWN OF
LEXINGTON
Rapid growth in the last 25 years
has made the community the secondlargest municipality in the Columbia
area.
The town is popular because of
its proximity to Lake Murray and
lower Saluda River as well as its
good schools.
The population of 16,000 is more
than triple what it was in 1990, with
SEE LEXINGTON PAGE 18
WHAT THE
LOCALS SAY
change you’ve seen since you
moved there?
Two things weigh in: (1) For
the last couple of years, the lake
level has remained at or above
the 354-foot level. I love to swim
for exercise in the lake and really enjoy having enough water
in my small cove to do so.
(2) Despite the economic situation, property tax assessments
always head upward. The most
recent is at the 15 percent limit.
What does this side of town
need?
With the addition of the new
Super Wal-Mart coming to completion in the Ballentine area, I
imagine everything else we need
will follow.
Columbiana Centre mall: 14 miles
Lexington Medical Center: 20 miles
miles
Lexington County Administration
Building: 28 miles
Traffic bottlenecks: Columbia Avenue in Chapin; St. Andrews Road
and Lake Murray Boulevard in Irmo;
Harbison Avenue in Harbison; the I26/I-20 intersection
Aleda Anderson’s three great
hidden finds around the lake:
The Link Branch of the Richland County Library (Ballentine) provides a wealth of resources and is so inviting to my
1-year-old grandson, who loves
its books, puzzles, stuffed animals and coloring area.
Zorba’s Greek Restaurant is
the place where friends and
groups gather for good food and
good times.
Aleda Anderson loves to spend time with her 1-year-old grandson
Nathan Anderson at the Link Library of the Richland County
Library in Ballentine.
Lighthouse Marina/Rusty Anchor Restaurant provides
boating access and casual lakeside dining all in one spot.
| THE STATE
| LIVING HERE
17
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>> Communities
| THE STATE
| LIVING HERE
18
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LEXINGTON FROM PAGE 16
projections of 30,000 people by 2020.
A new commercial strip is rising
on U.S. 378 near I-20. That growth
adds to road congestion but keeps
taxes stable and utility fees low.
Slice of history: The town has been
a commercial and political center
since becoming the Lexington
County seat in 1820. It has bounced
backed from many disasters — it was
virtually destroyed by Union Army
forces in 1865, endured major fires
downtown in the early 1900s and recovered from a tornado that skipped
through its center in 1994. It’s a
rapidly growing suburb with ambitions to become bigger while keeping a small-town atmosphere.
More national merchants are coming. Growth will largely continue
east. Development also is steady in
unincorporated Red Bank along S.C.
6 to the south. High-end neighborhoods will continue to sprout on
Lake Murray.
■þEasing road congestion, particularly in downtown Lexington, where
three commuter routes intersect
■þControlling growth along the lower
Saluda River and nearby areas to
preserve the landscape that makes
it attractive for development
■þAttracting businesses that create
jobs
■þKeeping Lake Murray water levels high enough for year-round boating and limiting shoreline development to keep it clean and save
scenery and fish habitat
School district: Lexington 1
HOMES AND
NEIGHBORHOODS
Hot ZIP codes: 29072, 29073
Dreher Island State Recreation Area is a popular spot on Lake Murray.
Who’s moving here: Families attracted by good schools and a suburban lifestyle centered on school
and church activities
Median range of home prices
First quarter 2009: N/A
First quarter 2008: N/A
But, worth noting:
Summer 2007:$155,900-$168,690
Summer 2006: $156,500-$158,000
Well-known communities: Golden
Hills, Mallard Hills, Kenwood, Hope
Ferry Plantation, Spence Plantation
DOLLARS AND SENSE
Tax rate: $145 a year on a $100,000
home
DRIVE TIMES
Distances from Lexington Town Hall:
Columbiana Centre mall: 16 miles
Lexington Medical Center: 8 miles;
its local clinic, one mile
miles
Traffic bottlenecks to avoid: U.S.
378, S.C. 6, U.S. 1
RETAIL AND BUSINESS
Where is the shopping? Major roads
are lined with strip malls mixing
stores that are locally-owned with regional and national merchants. It’s
a 10-mile drive to Harbison malls.
Longtime businesses or employers
in the area: Michelin Tire, Golden
State Foods, USFood Service
JUST FOR FUN
■þVirginia Hylton Park and Gibson
Pond Park are wooded escapes in
the busy suburb.
■þThe library is home to records
popular with amateur historians and
genealogists.
■þThe Bundrick Island peninsula on
Lake Murray — reachable only by
boat — is a popular spot for outdoor
fun. It is six miles west of town. In
fact, just about any activity on Lake
Murray is a focal point of fun here.
— Communities writers:
Adam Beam, Tim Flach,
Dawn Hinshaw, John Monk,
Bertram Rantin
This is how life was meant to be.
Suddenly, there's time for you on
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community is as genuine as the
quality that surrounds you.
WHAT THE LOCALS SAY
Some of the unpleasantries homeowners may find:
Palmetto bugs: Palmetto bugs
sound almost cute. Don’t be fooled
— they’re just big cockroaches. They
grow to about 1½ inches long, and
you’ll often see them scurrying
across the sidewalk, front steps —
even your living room. And these
bugs can fly, too.
Mosquitoes: There are 50 types
of mosquitoes in South Carolina,
but the Asian tiger is the No. 1
daytime biter. Unlike many native
mosquitoes, the Asian tiger does
not breed in swamps or wet natural
habitats. They breed in rain gutters,
bird baths, flower pots, tires, barrels, etc. Control them by eliminating breeding sites. These mosquitoes, however, can fly several miles
from breeding sites, so one abandoned house or trash-filled yard
can breed mosquitoes to infest an
entire neighborhood.
Clay and sand: If you live in the
Midlands, you’ll have to get used to
growing in sand or clay — different
soil with different needs.
Sand is easy to dig in, and it
drains quickly. Unfortunately, nutrients and water can run right
through it, so chances are you’ll
need to amend it. That means
adding organic matter — such as
mushroom compost, sewer sludge,
chicken manure, hay and bark.
Clay is high in nutrients, especially iron. But it’s heavy, hard to
work with and doesn’t drain well.
Like sand, it needs to be amended
with organic material.
— Megan Sexton
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Fire ants: If you’ve stepped in a
fire ant mound and been bitten by
a fire ant, you probably won’t forget
it. The sting is painful and can
cause medical problems. Fire ant
control is a long-term commitment.
There are two strategies recommended by Clemson Extension Service. The first includes a fire ant
bait set out
when they
are foraging, following
up with a
mound treatment seven to 10
days later. The second involves applying granular insecticides over the
entire area infested with fire ants.
>> Communities
AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESOURCES
Affordable Housing Coalition of
South Carolina
Contact: Gloria Bowden
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone and Web: (803) 8082980, www.affordablehousingsc.org
City of Columbia Community
Development Department
Phone: (803) 545-3373
Columbia Housing Authority
Contact: Gilbert Walker
Phone and Web: (803) 2543886, www.chasc.org
Columbia Housing Development
Corp.
Contact: Deborah Livingston
Phone and Web: (803) 5453766, www.columbiahousingdev.com
Department of Consumer
Affairs
Contact: Brandolyn Pinkston
E-mail: bpinkston@
scconsumer.gov
Phone and Web: (803) 7344200, www.scconsumer.gov
Eau Claire Development Corp.
Contact: Michael L. Manis
Phone and Web: (803) 9888052, www.eauclairecolumbiasc.com
Habitat for Humanity
Richland and Lexington counties
Contact: Roy Kramer
Phone and Web: (803) 2523570, www.habitatcsc.org
Habitat for Humanity
Kershaw County
Contact: Bruce Little
E-mail: information@
kershawhabitat.org
Phone: (803) 432-4333
Home Builders Association of
South Carolina
Contact: Mark Nix
Phone and Web: (803) 7717408, www.hbaofsc.com
Home Works of America Inc.
Contact: Hank Chardos
E-mail: h.chardos@
homeworksusa.net
Phone and Web: (803) 781-
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| THE STATE
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19
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S.C. Association of Community
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Contact: Bernie Mazyck
Phone and Web: (843) 5799855, www.communitydevelopmentsc.org
S.C. Association of Counties
Contact: William Stuart Morgan III
Phone: (803) 252-7255
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20
| THE STATE
Schools <<
| LIVING HERE
KERSHAW COUNTY
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
1616 Richland St., Columbia, 29201;
(803)231-7000; www.richlandone.org
The district is nearing the end of a budgeted $102 million facilities upgrade plan,
which is adding a few new schools and expanding or renovating seven others.
Kershaw County also is in its fifth year
of an $8 million laptop initiative, which
outfits every high school student with a
laptop computer to use during the year.
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
1301 DuBose Court, Camden, 29202;
(803) 432-8416; www.kershaw.k12.sc.us
Superintendent: Frank Morgan
Total schools: 11 elementary, four middle,
three high and one career technical school
Total students: 10,224
Total teachers: 780
2008 SAT average: 1002
Percentage of students who met the
standard for the high school exit exam:
89.9 percent passed the language arts section
on first try, and 85.8 percent passed the math
section on first try
Worth noting:
■þLaptop initiative has received national attention as an innovative way to make technology
accessible to all high school students.
■þThe new Jackson School (K-5) under construction is expected to be a state leader in use
of alternative and renewable energy sources.
LEXINGTON 1
A fast-growing school system that
serves the Gilbert, Lexington, Pelion and
Red Bank areas.
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
100 Tarrar Springs Road, Lexington, 29072;
(803) 821-1000; www.lexington1.net
Superintendent: Karen Woodward
Total schools: One primary, 13 elementary,
one intermediate, six middle and four high
Total teachers: 1,675
89.2 percent
Worth noting:
■þStudents at Midway, Pleasant Hill and Red
Bank elementary schools receive science and
mathematics instruction in French or Spanish
■þJunior and seniors at Lexington High School
can receive pre-college instruction through international diploma courses
LEXINGTON 2
Lexington 2 covers Cayce, Pine Ridge,
South Congaree, Springdale, West Columbia and nearby areas.
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
715 Ninth St., West Columbia, 29169;
(803) 796-4708; www.lex2.org
Superintendent: Venus Holland
Total schools: One primary, nine elementary,
four middle, two high
Total teachers: 661
Percent of students who met the stan-
Students at Pontiac Elementary in Richland 2, one of the area’s largest school
districts, listen to a visiting South Carolina author.
dard for high school exit exam: 81.8
percent passed both sections on first try
Worth noting:
■þThe district has three magnet programs, a
school of technology, two fine arts schools, a
school for the gifted and talented and some single-gender classes.
■þAn effort to improve beginning reading is under way at all elementary schools.
■þA multiplication marathon is in use to improve math skills of third-graders.
LEXINGTON 3
The district serves the BatesburgLeesville area in western Lexington
County as well as a small section of
Saluda County.
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
338 W. Columbia Ave., Batesburg-Leesville,
29006; (803) 532-4423; www.lex3.k12.sc.us
Superintendent: William Gummerson
Total schools: Two elementary, one middle,
one high
Total teachers: 162
89 percent
Worth noting:
■ The district is home to a 1,000-seat fine arts
center, which opened in 2000 and is used by
local schools and community groups. District
leaders describe it as the only one of its kind in
the county.
■ All teachers are designated as highly qualified.
■ The high school is a Palmetto Gold academic
achievement winner while the middle school is
at the silver level.
LEXINGTON 4
The rural district serves the Gaston and
Swansea areas in southern Lexington
County.
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
607 E. Fifth St., Swansea, 29160; (803)
568-1000; www.lexington4.k12.sc.us
Superintendent: Linda Hawkins
Total schools: Two primary, one elementary,
one intermediate, one middle and one high
school
Total teachers: 228
LEXINGTON-RICHLAND 5
The district is home to suburban
schools adjoining the northern and eastern
shore of Lake Murray, straddling two
counties to serve Chapin, Dutch Fork and
Irmo. Students consistently earn top
scores on state and national tests.
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
1020 Dutch Fork Road, Irmo, 29063;
(803) 476-8000; www.lex5.k12.sc.us
Superintendent: Herbert Berg
Total schools: 12 elementary, four middle,
three high, one alternative
Percent of students who met the standard for high school exit exam: 90.7
Worth noting:
■þNearly 92 percent of 2009 high school graduates are pursuing college education.
■þThose graduates earned more than $30 million in scholarships.
■þTwo magnet program debut this fall — the Escolares Academy at Harbison West Elementary
will serve gifted and talented students while one
at Leaphart Elementary will focus on mathematics and engineering.
RICHLAND 1
This district draws students from the
capital city and southern Richland County.
Touting itself as a district with the “urban
advantage,” Richland 1 has completed a
$381 million overhaul of schools, including
replacing several high schools. New superintendent Percy Mack arrived in summer
2008 and since then has stressed early
reading intervention.
Superintendent: Percy Mack
Total schools: 29 elementary, nine middle,
seven high; six special or charter schools, including an alternative school and career/technology center
Percentage of high school students who
met the standard for the exit exam:
70.5 percent
Worth noting:
■ Four elementary schools use Montessori instruction and a fifth follows a Paideia program.
Two high schools have International Baccalaureate curriculums.
■ USC education dean Les Sternberg presented
a detailed report on the district schools to the
Together We Can business/civic/school partnership urging an examination of school climate. As
part of Together We Can, the district invited 50
civic leaders to be principal for a day, a tradition
the district plans to continue in 2010.
RICHLAND 2
Richland 2, which serves the mainly
suburban neighborhoods in Northeast
Richland, is perhaps best known in the
state for its school choice program, a system of magnet centers and specialty programs allowing families to apply to any
school in the district. More than 4,100
magnet and choice applications were submitted for the 2009-10 school year.
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
6831 Brookfield Road, Columbia, 29206;
(803) 787-1910; fax (803) 738-7393;
www.richland2.org
Superintendent: Stephen Hefner
Total schools: 16 elementary, six middle, four
high; two child development centers, four
magnet centers, two alternative schools, one
adult education and technology center
87.4 percent
Worth noting:
■þFour new magnet programs will begin this
fall, including the Environmental Fitness Academy at Rice Creek Elementary; an LTD (Leadership Talent Development) program at Killian Elementary; the School of Zoological & Botanical
Studies at Longleaf Middle School; and STEMS
(Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics School) at North Springs Elementary.
■þRichland 2 is nationally recognized for its
technology innovations, including SmartBoards
in every classroom and Parent Portal, which allows parents computer access to their children’s
academic record on a daily basis.
■þThe Tri-District Arts Consortium offers rising
sixth through ninth graders an intense threeweek summer arts program in dance, music,
creative writing, theater, and the visual arts. The
program, at the Palmetto Center for the Arts at
Richland Northeast High, is a joint effort of Lexington-Richland 5, Lexington 1 and Richland 2.
>> Schools
| THE STATE
Private schools play vital role
Parents of primary- and secondary-age children have a variety
of private-education options to
choose from in the Columbia
area.
Some schools, such as Cardinal Newman (Catholic) School
and Heathwood Hall Episcopal
School, have church affiliations,
although students from other
faiths can and do enroll there.
Others are independent or have
no religious affiliation.
Tuition varies among schools.
Some private schools have programs that offer scholarships and
other assistance to defray education expenses and meet eligibility
requirements.
Among offerings:
| LIVING HERE
21
29206; (803) 782-2748; www.timmermanschool.com
V.V. Reid School
Grades: K-2½ to grade 5; Christian
612 Gabriel St., Columbia 29203;
(803) 735-9570;
www.vvreidschool.org
LEXINGTON COUNTY
Ben Lippen Elementary School
Grades: K-4 to grade 5; Christian
500 St. Andrews Road, Columbia
29212; (803) 807-4400; www.benlippen.com
Columbia Adventist Academy
Grades: K-4 to grade 10; Seventh-day
Adventist
241 Riverchase Way, Lexington,
29072; (803) 796-0277;
www.columbiaadventistacademy.com
Covenant Christian Academy
3222 Platt Springs Road, West Columbia 29170; (803) 796-2860
Glenforest School
TIM DOMINICK/[email protected]
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School fourth-graders display projects they created on countries
they studied during the year.
Grades: 1-12; children with learning differences and focusing issues
1041 Harbor Drive, West Columbia
29169; (803) 796-7622; www.glenforest.org
Grace Christian School
RICHLAND COUNTY
Ben Lippen Elementary School
7401 Monticello Road, Columbia
Ben Lippen Middle and High
School
Grades: 6-12; Christian
7401 Monticello Road, Columbia
Cardinal Newman School
Grades: 7-12; Catholic
4701 Forest Drive, Columbia 29206;
(803) 782-2814; www.cnhs.org
Columbia Jewish Day School
Grades: 2 years to grade 5; Jewish
5827 N. Trenholm Road, Columbia
29206; (803) 782-1831;
www.chabadofsc.com
Columbia Montessori Academy
Ages: Up to age 12; operates yearround; Montessori
1510 Canal Drive, Columbia 29210;
(803) 551-5555; www.columbiamontessoriacademy.com
Covenant Classical Christian
School
Grades: K-4 to grade 12; Montessori
2801 Stepp Drive, Columbia 29204;
(803) 787-0225; www.covenantcs.org/
Hammond School
Grades: K-4 to grade 12; college prep
854 Galway Lane, Columbia 29209;
(803) 776-0295; www.hammondschool.org
Harmony School
Grades: Age 2½ to grade 5; Montessori
3737 Covenant Road, Columbia
29204; (803) 787-1899;
www.harmonyschoolsc.com
Heathwood Hall Episcopal
School
Grades: 3-year-old nursery program to
grade 12; Episcopal college prep
3000 S. Beltline Blvd., Columbia
29201; (803) 765-2309;
www.heathwood.org
Montessori College of Early
Learning
Grades: Pre-kindergarten through high
school; operates year-round
1313 Means Ave., Columbia 29210;
(803) 772-3317; www.CEL.edu
Montessori Early Learning Center and School of the Arts
Ages: 3-10; will offer instruction to girls
only, ages 9 to 12, in fall 2009; operates year-round
1101 Balsam Road, Columbia 29210;
(803) 772-2262; www.melcsota.com
Grades: 1-6; Montessori
2807 Oceola St., Columbia 29205;
(803) 256-2823 or (803) 783-8838;
www.montessoricolumbia.com
St. Peter’s Catholic School
Holy Trinity Lutheran School
Grades: K-4 to grade 6; Catholic
1035 Hampton St., Columbia 29201;
(803) 252-8285; www.stpeterscatholic-school.org
2920 Pella Ave., West Columbia
29170; (803) 791-9039
Montessori School of Columbia
Sandhills School
Montessori School of Columbia
Preschool: ages 3 to 5; Montessori
1000 Greenlawn Drive, Columbia
29209; (803) 783-8838;
www.montessoricolumbia.com
St.æ John Neumann Catholic
School
Grades: 1-10; for children with learning
differences
1500 Hallbrook Drive, Columbia
29209; (803) 695-1400; www.sandhillsschool.org
Sloan School
Grades: 4 years to grade 6; Catholic
721 Polo Road, Columbia 29223;
(803) 788-1367;
www.sjncatholic.com
Grades: 7-12; independent
171 Starlight Drive, Columbia 29210;
(803) 772-1677; www.sloanschool.net
St. Joseph Catholic School
Grades: K-3 to grade 8; independent
2219 Atascadero Drive, Columbia
Grades: K-4 to grade 6; Catholic
Five things you need to know about
public schools in the Midlands:
Unlike in other parts of the country,
especially in the colder areas, spring
break isn’t a traditional time to travel to
warmer climates but a time to stay put and
enjoy Columbia weather — and color.
1
Heritage Christian Academy
649 Barr Road, Lexington 29072;
(803) 951-3901; www.heritagechristian.com
mandate for a later start date for the school
year — no earlier than the third week of
August. The change was in response to
officials near the coast saying earlier start
dates were cutting into their tourism dollars.
If you’re wondering why schools don’t let
out before Memorial Day, ask the S.C.
Legislature. A few years ago, it set out a
St. Martin de Porres Catholic
School
416 Denham Ave., West Columbia
29169; (803) 794-8996; www.gracelions.com
Grades: 3 years to grade 6; Catholic
2225 Hampton St., Columbia 29204;
(803) 254-5477; www.saintmartindeporres.org
WHAT THE
LOCALS SAY
2
3700 Devine St., Columbia 29205;
(803) 254-6736;
www.stjosdevine.com
Timmerman School
Speaking of spring, it’s a big testing
season for third- through eighth-graders,
who take the PASS test. Expect a chunk of
classroom time to be devoted to preparing
for the test, which is factored into the state’s
annual school report cards.
3
South Carolina isn’t just a football state,
it’s also a marching band state. Booster
clubs, fundraisers, out-of-state (and even
out-of-country) trips, and months of practice
4
KERSHAW COUNTY
Camden Military Academy
Grades: 7-12; male boarding and day
school
520 U.S. 1 North, Camden 29020;
(800) 948-6291; www.camdenmilitary.com
Montessori School of Camden
Ages: 18 months to grade 6; Montessori
Two Montessori Way, Camden 29020;
(803) 432-6828; www.montessoricamden.com
make the state high school marching band
competition as serious as any athletic rivalry.
A rite of passage for most Midlands
schoolchildren is a field trip to the Koger
Center to see the S.C. Philharmonic. Rows of
school buses line Park Street, and students
file into the hall to be charmed by master of
ceremonies Joe Pinner, who uses his years
as TV’s Mr. Knozit to educate the students
about the instruments and performers.
5
Joe Pinner
22
| THE STATE
| LIVING HERE
Colleges & universities <<
Colleges offer variety of experiences
Columbia offers a richly layered higher
education landscape focused on providing
training to compete in a job market that
covets employees with multiple skills.
Whether your ambition is to learn a new
language, learn how to do your taxes or
participate in the global economy, there’s a
school or satellite campus near your home.
ALLEN UNIVERSITY
1530 Harden St.; (803) 376-5700;
www.allenuniversity.edu
Allen is a private, four-year college founded
in 1870 and supported by the African Methodist
Episcopal Church. Allen focuses on nine areas of
study, including liberal arts, business and education. The school has an evening college.
Enrollment: 500-plus
Cost: Annual tuition and fees, $9,884
President: Charles Young
BENEDICT COLLEGE
1600 Harden St.; (803) 256-4220,
(800) 253-5000; www.benedict.edu
Benedict is the fifth-largest private, historically black college in the country. The college offers undergraduate degree programs with classes
that meet in the evenings and on Saturdays.
Enrollment: 2,800
President: David Swinton
COLUMBIA COLLEGE
1301 Columbia College Drive;
(803) 786-3871, (800) 277-1301;
www.columbiacollegesc.edu
Founded in 1854, Columbia College is a private, liberal arts, women’s college with co-educational evening and graduate programs. The
college’s undergraduate curriculum offers 36
majors, 23 minors and a premedical program.
Columbia College emphasizes leadership development for women throughout its four-year curriculum. The college is also home to The Leadership Institute and The Alliance for Women, a
public-private partnership with the South Carolina Commission on Women.
Enrollment: 1,500
President: Caroline Whitson
COLUMBIA INTERNATIONAL
UNIVERSITY
7435 Monticello Road; (803) 754-4100,
(800) 777-2227; www.ciu.edu
The university comprises Columbia Bible College, the CIU graduate school and Columbia
Biblical Seminary and School of Missions.
Columbia International University is a private, multidenominational Christian school that
offers undergraduate and graduate degrees as
well as certificate programs. It has a campus in
Germany and houses the Christian radio station
WMHK (89.7 FM).
Enrollment: 1,000
President: William Jones
University of South Carolina students study outside Thomas Cooper Library on campus.
AMONG OTHER HIGHER EDUCATION OFFERINGS
In the Columbia area:
Centura College: 7500 Two Notch Road;
(803) 754-7544; www.centuracollege.edu
ECPI College of Technology: 250
Berryhill Road, Suite 300; (866) 7086168; (803) 772-3333; www.ecpi.edu
ITT Technical Institute — Columbia:
720 Gracern Road, Suite 120; (800) 2425158; (803) 216-6000; www.itt-tech.edu
Limestone College — Extended
Campus: 400 Arbor Lake Drive, Suite
800; (803) 691-3016;
www.limestone.edu/co
Lutheran Theological Southern
Seminary: 4201 North Main St.;
(803) 786-5150; www.ltss.edu
Medical Careers Institute — Columbia:
250 Berryhill Road, Suite 300; (866) 7086168; (803) 772-3333; www.medical.edu
Remington College — Columbia
MIDLANDS TECHNICAL COLLEGE
316 South Beltline Blvd., Columbia; 1260
Lexington Drive, West Columbia; 7300 College St., Irmo; Fort Jackson Army Continuing
Education Center, Imboden Street; 151 Powell Road, Columbia; (803) 738-8324;
www.midlandstech.edu
Campus: 607 Bush River Road;
(800) 560-6192; (803) 214-9000;
www.remingtoncollege.edu
South University: 9 Science Court (off I77 at Farrow Road and Parklane);
(800) 688-0932, (803) 799-9082;
www.southuniversity.edu
Southern Wesleyan University —
Cayce: 1021 Pinnacle Point Drive;
(803) 744-7981; www.swu.edu
Strayer University: 200 Center Point
Circle, Suite 300; (803) 750-2500;
www.strayer.edu
University of Phoenix — Columbia:
1001 Pinnacle Point Drive, Suite 200;
(803) 699-5096; www.phoenix.edu
Webster University: 8911 Farrow Road,
Suite 101; (803) 699-0900;
www.webster.edu/southcarolina
Midlands Tech is one of the state’s largest
public, two-year technical colleges and the
state’s third-largest college. There are more
than 90 areas of study, including nursing, computing and basic academics.
Enrollment: 11,000
Cost: Annual tuition $3,240
President: Sonny White
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Pendleton and Sumter streets;
(803) 777-7000; www.sc.edu
USC is the state’s largest university system, and
the Columbia campus is the flagship for the seven
other regional campuses. USC offers more than
350 undergraduate and graduate courses of study.
Enrollment: 27,488
President: Harris Pastides
SCHOOL OF LAW
701 South Main St.; (803) 777-6605;
www.law.sc.edu
The University of South Carolina’s School of
Law is the state’s only public law school. Students
earn a juris doctorate, which makes them eligible
to be admitted to the Bar and practice law.
Enrollment: 730
Cost: Annual tuition $17,448
Dean: Walter Pratt Jr.
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
6439 Garners Ferry Road; (803) 733-3325;
www.med.sc.edu
The school mainly trains physicians. It also
offers a doctorate in biomedical science and
master’s degrees in genetic counseling, biomedical science and rehabilitation counseling.
Enrollment: 306
Cost: Annual tuition, $24,776
Dean: Dr. Donald DiPette
GATEWAY BAPTIST CHURCH
Experiencing LIFE together
Sr. Pastor, Don Brock
1651 Dutch Fork Road, Irmo, SC
(803) 732-0590
Classic Service: 9:00 a.m.
Contemporary: 10:15 a.m., 11:35 a.m.
LEXINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH
308 E. Main St., Lexington
www.lexingtonbaptist.org
Trad. Svc: 9 and 10:15 am
Contemp. Svc.: 11:30 am
Pastor Mike Turner
Main office: 803.359.4146
Church of Christ
LONG CREEK CHURCH OF CHRIST
720 Longtown Rd, Columbia
Sunday Bible Study: 9:00 a.m.
Sunday Worship: 10.15 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
Wed VBS July 1st 7-9
Sat VBS: 12-9 (when Fireworks begin)
Sun VBS July 5th 9-12
803-788-7997
[email protected]
Episcopal
ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
1001 12th St., Cayce – 796-5735
(Near corner of 12th & Knox Abbott)
Rev. Dr. Georg Retzlaff
Rev. Fred A. Walters, Deacon
Sunday School 9:00 am
Holy Eucharist: Sun. 8am & 10:30am
Nursery Provided/Visitors Welcome
allsaintscayce.org
ST. DAVID’S EPISCOPAL
805 Polo Rd. 736-0866
Worship 8:00am & 10:30am
1st Sunday Children’s Service,
All Summer 9:15am
The Rev. Robert L. Chiles, Pastor
www.stdavidscolumbia.org
ST. TIMOTHY’S
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
900 Calhoun St.
(1 block from the Governor’s Mansion)
www.sainttimothyscolumbia.com
Rev. Tula Henson, Rector – 765-1519
Sun 9:00am Holy Eucharist, Rite I
Sun 10:00am Christian Formation
Sun 11:00am Holy Eucharist, Rite II
Tues. 5:30pm Evening Prayer
Wed. 12:15 Healing Service & Rite II
A Radically Welcoming Church That
Exemplifies Christ’s Love To The World
Nursery Available 9:30am-12noon
Wed & Thurs Mass 12:05
VISITORS WELCOME – 799-2960
The Rev. Dr. James Fraser Lyon IV, Rector
Evangelical
COLUMBIA EVANGELICAL CHURCH
S.S. 9:15 a.m.
Worship 10:45 a.m.
Bible Study 5:30 p.m.
Wed. Prayer 6:30 p.m.
Mens & Ladies
Bible Studies
Alternate Tues. 7 p.m.
1013 Barnwell Street
803-799-1628
[email protected]
Evangelical
Lutheran Church
in America
BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
WHITE ROCK- 781-2134
Early Communion Svc. 8:30am
Sunday Church School 9:30am
Worship 10:45am
Pastor H. Brett Collins
OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN
1500 Sunset Blvd, West Columbia
SS: 9:15am, Worship: 10:30am
Pastor, Lance Henderson
794-8180, www.oursavior.net
ST. STEPHENS
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN
119 N. Church St., Lexington 359-6562
Worship Services at 8:30am & 11:00am
Nursery Provided: S.S. 9:45am
Pat Riddle & Dennis Bolton, Pastors
Web Site: www.sslc.org
Nazarene
FIRST CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE
Loving God...Loving People
901 St. Andrews Road
(1/4 mi east of I-26, Exit 106)
Praise & Worship
9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m.
Sunday School
9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m.
803-772-2461
www.columbiafirstnaz.com
WELCOME!
Pentecostal
Holiness
LIFE SPRINGS WORSHIP CENTER
THE CHURCH OF
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
SINCE 1883
1512 Blanding St. Uptown
Sunday Masses 8am & 10:30am
Church School for all ages 9:30am
Rosary 9:30am
5630 Platt Springs Road
Lexington, SC 29073
957-2221 • www.lswc.com
Morning Worship 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
Wed. Family Night 7:00 p.m.
Rev. Derrick Gardner
Southern Baptist
NORTH TRENHOLM BAPTIST
“We are a REAL ministry, raising up REAL
Christians, to influence the REAL world.”
Pastors: Tim and Kim Hodge
2606 Emanuel Church Road
Phone: 803/755-0246 / 0334
www.cwoconline.org
Sunday: Worship: 10 AM / Sunday School: 6 PM
Wednesday Bible Study Classes: 7:30 PM
Presbyterian USA
MCGREGOR PRESBYTERIAN
6505 St. Andrews Rd. 781-2391
(near Irmo High School)
Rev, Dr. James St. John, Pastor
Sunday School 9:45 am
Worship Service 11:00 am
www.mcgregorpresbyterian.org
SAXE GOTHA
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
5503 Sunset Blvd, Lexington 359-7770
Sunday School (all ages) 9:45am
Traditional Worship: 8:30am & 11:00am
Contemporary Worship: 10:45am
Nursery Provided
Pastor: Dr. James Glatz
www.saxegotha.org
SEVEN OAKS PRESBYTERIAN
530 St. Andrews Rd, 772-1761
S.S. 9:45am, Worship 11am
Dr. L. Franklin Fant, Pastor
Pastor Rev. Larry Bates, Parish Associate
Preschool: Ages 1-4K
www.sopc.net
(call or visit website for summer hours)
6515 North Trenholm Road
Worship 8:40am and 11:05am
Connection Classes (Sun Schl) 9:50am
Pastor Dr. Paul H., Ballard
24-Hour Prayer Line – 790-7729
RIVERLAND HILLS
BAPTIST CHURCH
201 Lake Murray Boulevard
(803) 772-3227
Sunday Morning Worship
Traditional 9am & 10:15am
Contemporary Service 11:30am
Sunday School 8:00, 9:00 & 10:15am
Ministry opportunities for all ages
A Place for Everyone!
Dr. Edward M. Carney, Pastor
www.riverlandhills.org
SHANDON BAPTIST CHURCH
Web Address: www.shandon.org
5250 Forest Drive
Pastor: John R. Lincoln
Service Times: 10:00am Celebration
11:30am Modern
Sunday School Hours: 8:45 & 10:00-11:15
For Birth – 5th Grade only
8:30am Broadcast on WVOC – 560 AM
Pastor’s Bible Study
Wednesdays at 5:55pm in the Chapel
Main Office Number: 782-1300
24 Hour Prayer Room 790-AMEN
SPEARS CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH
Interstate 20/Exit 82
SS: 9:45am, Worship Service 11:00am & 6:00pm
Nursery , AWANA, Children & Youth Activities
Pastor: Paul Stephens , 788-3126
SPRINGDALE BAPTIST CHURCH
SHANDON
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
607 Woodrow Street, Columbia, SC 29205
Phone: 771-4408 * Fax: 771-6223
www.shandonpres.org
Sun. School 9:45am
Worship: 8:45 & 11am
Nursery provided for all services
Agnes Norfleet, Pastor
John Cook, Campus Pastor
Tom Glenn, Parish Associate
Child Development Center
TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1000 Greenlawn Drive – Ph 776-2067
Sun. Schl 10am/Worship 11am
Visitors Welcome – Nursery Provided
Robert & Robyn McMullen, Co-Pastors
WESTMINSTER
Presbyterian Church
1715 Broad River Road – 772-1338
Church School 9:00am
Worship 8:15 & 10:30am
Nursery Provided
Wkday program 6 wks-k 7:30am-6pm
Pastor: Rev George T. Head
357 Wattling Road, 796-8110
Sunday Services: 9:30am
Bible Study for all ages
10:30am Worship Service
6:00pm Evening Activities
Rev. Tommy McGill
STATE STREET BAPTIST CHURCH
1420 State Street, Cayce
803-796-6123
Sunday School: 9:15am
Morning Worship: 10:30am
Sunday Bible Study: 5:00pm
Wednesday Prayer Meeting: 6:30pm
Dr. Tommy Pillow, Pastor
www.statestreetbaptist.org
| LIVING HERE
23
We Welcome All w/Handicapped
Conditions & Special Needs
LEXINGTON UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
309 East Main Street - Lexington
8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Traditional Srvc
11:00 a.m. Contemporary Service
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Pastors - Richard Knight & Miyoung Paik
Pre-School Available 359-6838
www.lexumcsc.com
MAIN STREET UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
Main & Richland, 779-0610
Joe Cal Watson, Pastor
Jazz Worship 9:00 a.m.
Church School 9:45 a.m.
Sunday Worship Service 11:00 a.m.
Nursery Provided
Mon.-Fri. 779-3142
www.mainstreetmethodist.com
SALEM UNITED METHODIST
Hwy 6 & Salem Church Rd, Ballentine
4 mi. from Lake Murray Dam
Sun. School 9:30-10:15am
Worship: 10:30-11:30am
Pastor, D.M. Houston
803-781-1626
SHANDON UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
3407 Devine St.
“Find Your Way”
8:45 & 11:00am – Traditional Worship
11:05am – Lifeline Contemporary Worship
9:45am – Sunday School
Nursery Provided
Dr. Michael L. Guffee, Sr., Senior Minister
www.shandon-umc.org 256-8383
TRENHOLM ROAD
UNITED METHODIST
Worship: Sunday 8:30 & 11:00am
Sunday School: 9:45am
WOLO TV (ABC) Sundays, 10:00am
Pastors: R. Wayne Horne,
Mollie Barne, C.D. “Red” Williams
3401 Trenholm Road, 29204
254-6695, www.trumc.org
United Methodist
GRACE UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
410 Harbison Boulevard, Left off of I-26
www.gracecolumbia.org
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
Children's Church & Nursery
11 a.m. Service Interpreted For The Deaf
Alex Stevenson, Pastor
732-1899
JG7012-99-1
Baptist
| THE STATE
| THE STATE
Faith <<
| LIVING HERE
Churches, faith
groups enrich life
Faith and spirituality are vibrant
elements of life in the Midlands.
Southern Baptists and other
Protestant denominations dominate
in numbers, but there is a rich amalgam of many religions that enrich
the life of the region.
Churches, synagogues and
mosques open their doors not only
for worship but also for all sorts of
other activities throughout the week
to accommodate the faithful.
Selecting the right congregation
takes time. Here, a look at some
area houses of worship — and a few
of the things that make them special:
To God be the Glory: First Baptist Church in downtown Columbia is renowned for its faith-based
musical performances. The congregation stages a salute to liberty
every July and a spectacular Christmas pageant in December. The
congregation, with its multiple outreach ministries, also offers a place
for downtown workers to enjoy a
specialty coffee and a browse
through books at its Higher
Grounds Books & Beans store,
which opened in August 2008.
History lessons: The scaffolding
around Trinity Episcopal Cathedral will likely remain for another
year, but expect the $6 million renovation of this historic downtown
structure to be complete by spring
2010. The wait will be worth it. The
beautiful stained glass windows,
restored to new grandeur, are
worth the trip alone. Meanwhile,
congregants continue to worship
in adjacent Averyt Hall and Keenan
Chapel.
Myriad ministries: Walk down
Shandon Baptist Church’s “Main
Street” and you’ll find a ministry
to suit every congregant’s needs.
Shandon Baptist is a beacon of
spirituality on Forest Drive, wellknown for its many outreach missions, both domestic and abroad.
Wonderful walking cemetery: First
Presbyterian Church, another historic Gothic downtown gem, has a
wonderful walking tour of its
churchyard. It was established as
a burial ground by the Legislature
in 1798 and includes ministers,
government officials, lawmakers,
WHAT THE
LOCALS SAY
Five things you need to
know about the area faith
community:
1
There’s a reason
South Carolina is called
the buckle of the Bible Belt.
Expect to answer this
question shortly after being
introduced: “And where do
you go to church?”
and soldiers of the Revolution, the
Mexican War and the Civil War.
Fastest-growing: The Rev. Gregg
Surratt began Seacoast Church in
Mount Pleasant and now has five
locations in South Carolina, including Columbia and Irmo — as
well as congregations in North Carolina and Georgia.
2
Southern Baptists
dominate, but there are
plenty of other Christian
variations, including Roman
Catholics, Anglicans and
Protestant denominations
that include United
Methodists, Lutherans,
Presbyterians,
Episcopalians, African
Methodist Episcopalians,
Pentecostals and others.
Civil rights history: Zion Baptist
Church on Washington Street in
downtown Columbia served as a
meeting place for hundreds involved in the civil rights movement
in Columbia, as did First Nazareth
Church on Gervais Street and
Bethel AME Church, now on
Woodrow Street.
There are strong
communities of faith
among Jews, Muslims,
Hindus and Buddhists.
Diversity is respected and
there is a strong streak of
ecumenism.
3
Great preaching: The Rev. Charles
Jackson at Brookland Baptist
Church in West Columbia is
known for dynamic preaching, but
don’t stop there. Many congregations will boast that their minister
is the best.
Focus on outreach: Bible Way
Church of Atlas Road, led by the
Rev. Darrell Jackson, challenged
its membership to contribute
160,000 hours of volunteer work
at United Way agencies and other
charitable organizations. Now, the
congregation is reaching out to
those who have suffered during the
economic recession with the Because We Care program.
A call to prayer: Columbia area
Muslims are small in number but
worship at several mosques around
the city and are active participants
in interfaith dialogues.
A member of the First Baptist Church flower committee sets out
decorations for Easter Sunday.
Hispanic ministry: St. Joseph
Catholic Church and St. Peter’s
Catholic Church operate the
largest Hispanic outreach programs. St. Mary’s Episcopal
Church on St. Andrews Road has
a vibrant Spanish ministry, with a
regular Sunday Spanish-language
service and a Spanish-speaking
priest. As more Hispanics make
South Carolina their home, congregations are reaching out with
Spanish-language services and
programs.
— Carolyn Click
Wednesday night is
church night. Many
congregants enjoy a good
meal, religious programs
and fellowship on this midweek evening.
4
Ignore that old saw
about politics and
religion. In South Carolina,
people love to share their
opinions about the two
subjects, which are often
entwined.
5
Shalom: Columbia’s Jewish community gathers in Trenholm Roadarea congregations: Beth Shalom
(Conservative), Tree of Life (Reform), and Chabad of South Carolina (congregation Beit Midrash)
on Rockbridge Road. The three
synagogues offer a variety of programs and educational seminars.
The Katie and Irwin Kahn Jewish
Community Center hosts vibrant
athletic and cultural activities for
the community.
It’s Orthodox: There are four Orthodox congregations in the Midlands: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, site of the annual
downtown Greek Festival; St.
Barnabas Orthodox Church in Lexington; Holy Apostles Orthodox
Christian Church in West Columbia; and St. Elizabeth the New
Martyr Orthodox Church in Cayce.
JG7757-60-0
24
| THE STATE
| LIVING HERE
25
The Heritage at Lowman, an active life-style retirement
community located on Hwy 76 between Chapin & Irmo,
is looking for leaders dedicated to providing quality care and
promoting superior customer service!
Employment opportunities include:
RNS & LPNs & CNAs
Housekeeping & Laundry
Culinary & Dining Services
Maintenance & Grounds
Administration & Clerical
Wellness & Life Enrichment
We offer a generous salary & benefits package.
For consideration send resume to Human Resources Dept.,
P.O. Box 444, White Rock, SC 29177; Fax: 803-732-8707;
Email: [email protected] or apply in person
at 300 Lowman Home Barn Rd, Chapin, SC 29036.
EOE
Career Opportunities
for Strong Experienced
QSR. Managers
Salary, bonus, benefits, more
[email protected]
828-262-1785 ext 885 • Fax 828-265-2453
Love The
Elderly?
C-STORE
ASSISTANT MANAGERS
We are searching for Proud
Health Care Workers
who enjoy the
geriatric Population.
We are seeking C-Store Assistant Managers
for greater Columbia locations.
Previous Convenience Store experience a plus.
Comprehensive benefit package including Paid
Vacations, Insurance, Bonuses and much more.
We will train the right individuals.
If you are self motivated and want to grow with our
organization, please send/Fax resume
with salary history to or apply in person at:
557 Whiteford Way • Lexington, SC 29072
Fax: 803-356-2084
Summit Collision Centers Has Career Opportunities
Summit Collision Centers, Columbia area’s largest chain of
collision centers is growing and expanding and is always
looking for dedicated and skilled employees. We have
positions for; Managers, Accounting Personnel, Collision
Repair Estimators, Receptionists, Exp’d Autobody
Technicians and more. If you are interested in applying
with Summit Collision Centers you may: stop at any of our
3 locations and fill out an application, Fax a resume to
803-788-8133 or you may e-mail it to
[email protected]
summitcollisioncenters.com
thestate.com/
classified/employment
3514 Sidney Road
Columbia, SC 29210
COLUMBIA REGIONAL
CARE CENTER
Private Secure Medical Facility
Hiring RNs, LPNs, CNAs & Security
A Great Place To Work
www.justcareinc.com
[email protected]
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Available for
Staff and Management
803-957-7367 ext 1501
803-957-7367 ext 1502
www.brandicompanies.com
JG7013-99-4
Carolina Convenience Corp.
A Great Place to Live &
A Rewarding Place to Work
26
| THE STATE
Healthy living <<
| LIVING HERE
IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH
Newcomers will find an array of health
services for everyone— young couples
starting families, baby boomers getting
high-tech hips to replace their worn-out
joints, and retirees concerned with heart
health.
DORN VA MEDICAL CENTER
Location: 6439 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, 29209
Contact: (803) 776-4000 or (800) 2938262; www.va.gov/columbiasc/
Worth noting: Dorn serves more than
410,000 veterans from across the state, including more than 1,500 who have served in
Afghanistan and Iraq. Services include emergency care, primary and specialty care, surgical and social services, long-term care and
psychiatric care, including treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder. Dorn also is a research center with affiliations that include USC
programs in medicine, nursing and pharmacy.
PALMETTO HEALTH RICHLAND,
PALMETTO HEALTH BAPTIST
Location: 5 Richland Medical Park Drive, Columbia, 29203 (Richland); Taylor at Marion
streets, Columbia, 29220 (Baptist)
Contact: (803) 434-7000 (Richland); (803)
296-5010 (Baptist); www.palmettohealth.org
Worth noting: A teaching hospital with close
ties to the University of South Carolina medical school, Palmetto Health Richland has the
only Level 1 trauma center and children’s hospital in the Midlands. It also offers robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery in urology,
cardiology and gynecology. In 2009, it added
Gamma Knife technology to treat brain tumors.
Palmetto Health Baptist delivers more babies
than any other hospital in the Midlands. It also
is known for general surgery, bariatric surgery
for obesity, and psychiatric services. The hospital expects to complete this year a $57 million expansion and renovation of surgical, obstetrics and neonatal services. With the renovation, the neonatal intensive care unit became the first in the state to have private
rooms.
LEXINGTON MEDICAL CENTER
Location: 2720 Sunset Blvd., West Columbia, 29169
Contact: (803) 791-2000 (main campus);
www.lexmed.com; www.lexmed.tv
Worth noting: The hospital system’s care
network includes a main hospital, six community medical centers, the state’s largest
nursing home and an occupational health cen-
KERSHAWHEALTH
Location: 1315 Roberts St., Camden, 29020
Contact: (803) 432-4311; www.kcmc.org
Doctors at Palmetto Health Baptist, in downtown Columbia, are increasingly using
electronic files to track patient progress.
ter. The hospital performs more surgeries than
any other Midlands hospital and has the second busiest emergency room in the state. The
hospital has a certified bariatric surgery center and offers digital mammography at its
Women’s Imaging Centers and in a mammography van. Lexington Medical is the first local
hospital to offer single-incision laproscopic
surgery to reduce recovery time and microwave
ablation to treat tumors. Other specialties include a doula program (for women giving birth)
that’s unique in the Midlands.
SISTERS OF CHARITY
PROVIDENCE HOSPITALS
Locations: Providence Hospital and Providence Heart and Vascular Institute, 2435 For-
est Drive, Columbia, 29204; Providence Northeast Hospital and Providence Orthopaedic and
Neuro Spine Institute, 120 Gateway Corporate
Blvd., Columbia, 29203
Contact: (803) 256-5300
www.providencehospitals.com
Worth noting: Four main entities make up
Providence Hospitals, a Catholic health care
organization. Services include general surgery,
emergency care, imaging and community wellness programs. Providence’s heart institute offers prevention, diagnosis and treatment of
cardiovascular disease. Providence Hospital
Northeast offers emergency care, obstetrics,
women’s services and rehabilitation. The orthopaedic institute treats bone and joint diseases and injuries.
Worth noting: KershawHealth serves the
Camden area through its main campus in Camden, five outpatient centers and medical offices in outlying communities and through the
Health Resource Center and Karesh Long Term
Care. Specialty services include urgent care,
cardiovascular care, rehabilitation, sleep diagnostics, diabetes management, home health
and hospice, gastroenterology, women’s imaging and aquatic therapy.
COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS
A source of information and vaccinations,
including children’s immunizations and seasonal flu shots.
Richland: (803) 576-2980. Children’s immunizations (by appointment only), (803) 5762840
Lexington: (803) 791-3580
Kershaw: (803) 425-6012
WHAT THE LOCALS SAY
No matter your age, there’s plenty to help you take care of mind, body and soul:
Community and recreation centers:
These excellent and affordable resources offer programs for any age. Just for seniors:
the Capital Senior Center, near downtown,
for health, fitness, social and cultural programs, (www.capitalseniorcenter.com) and
the Shepherd’s Centers, a network of interfaith, community-based organizations with
several locations, provide educational, travel
and social opportunities. For a list of recreation commissions, see Page 29.
Hit the trail: If walking or running are part
of your routine, there are a number of
scenic routes for these activities, among
them: State House grounds, Finlay Park,
Three Rivers Greenway, Sesquicentennial
State Park and Harbison State Forest.
Fitness centers: There is no shortage of
local gyms and health clubs. Among the notables: Drew Wellness Center, the city of Columbia’s fitness facility downtown; the Katie
and Irwin Kahn Jewish Community Center in
Northeast Richland; Plex Indoor Sports, with
locations in the Northeast and Irmo areas;
and YMCA, with locations downtown, and in
the Northeast and northwest parts of Richland County.
Do good deeds: Make your new community a better place by volunteering. The
United Way of the Midlands is an umbrella
agency for several community organizations
(www.uway.org). But you can also do things
like beautify the community through Keep
the Midlands Beautiful (www.keepthemidlandsbeautiful.com), or share local history
through the Historic Columbia Foundation
(www.historiccolumbia.org).
An organizer of the inaugural Columbia Downtown Triathlon marks the running
course. Runners and bikers will find plenty of venues to enjoy their passion.
GOOD TIMES ON THE CHEAP
Many people are watching their budgets these days, and that can
mean limited funds for entertainment. Fortunately, there are plenty of
options for fun that are cheap — even free. A sampling:
FREE MUSIC
If you like music in an outdoor
setting, check out one of the free
concert series. Most set in spring
and summer seasons. A few:
Rhythm on the River: Set along
the river at the West Columbia
Riverwalk Amphitheater, the
evening series is Saturdays from
late April through June. www.rorsc.
com
Sizzling Summer Concert Series:
One of Columbia’s longest-running
series, held Saturday evenings at
Finlay Park downtown during summer months. www.columbiaparksandrecreation.net
Music at Sandhill: Held at the Village at Sandhill in Northeast Richland on Fridays, typically in June,
July and August. www.villageatsandhillonline.com
Finally Friday Concert Series: A
spring and summer event, held outdoors at the Fine Arts Center of
Kershaw County in Camden. (803)
425-7676, ext. 300 or www.fineartscenter.org
FREE ART
Take a Sunday drive around
Columbia to check out free art. A
sampling:
On the Columbia Museum of Art
|
THE STATE
plaza, you’ll find “Upright Motive
No. 8,” a 1956 bronze sculpture by
Henry Moore.
Artist Blue Sky’s “Neverbust,” a
large 25-foot-long chain connecting two downtown buildings, is just
across the street from the art museum. Also downtown is his giant
mural “Tunnel Vision,” on the back
wall of the AgFirst Farm Credit
Bank near Taylor and Marion
streets, and on the same block is
his “Busted Plug,” a 39-foot steel
fire hydrant that spouts water.
The Cultural Council of Richland
and Lexington Counties has commissioned public artworks for the
|
LIVING HERE
27
area as well, among them:
■þ“Jubilaeus,” at the Bank of America on Main Street
■þ“Passages,” at the Richland
County Judicial Center on Main
Street
FREE ATTRACTIONS
Some city attractions offer discounted admission and programs
at select times during the year. In
2009, EdVenture offered $1 admission the second Tuesday
monthly; and Riverbanks Zoo had
Free Fridays in January and February for residents of Richland and
Lexington counties.
For Advertising
Information contact
Cheryl Owen
at 803-771-8686
JG3865-56-1
>> At play
>> At play
| THE STATE
| LIVING HERE
28
ENJOY THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
ON THE STAGE
VISUAL ART
Here are some of the larger facilities
in the Columbia area:
Several area colleges and universities have their own public galleries.
Here are four of the larger museums
in the Columbia area showing art:
The flagship is Town Theatre,
which has been in business for 80
years, making it the oldest continuously operating community theater in the United States. It offers
a bit of everything. 1012 Sumter
St. (803) 799-2510 or www.towntheatre.com
Workshop Theatre, started in the
early 1970s, began as a theater for
young directors but has since become best known for its musicals.
1136 Bull St. (803) 799-6551 or
www.workshoptheatre.com
Trustus, in an old warehouse in
the Vista, is a professional theater
that offers cutting-edge work as
well as late-night shows. 520 Lady
St. (803) 254-9732 or www.trustus.
org
USC’s Theatre South Carolina
brings in experienced graduate students, guest actors and directors
from regional theaters nationwide.
Longstreet, Greene Street at the
foot of Sumter Street; Drayton Hall,
College Street between Sumter and
Greene. (803) 777-2551 or
www.cas.sc.edu/thea/
Koger Center for the Arts hosts a
touring musical theater season.
1051 Greene St. (803) 777-7500 or
koger.sc.edu/
Columbia Museum of Art is one
of only two museums in the state
with a significant European art collection, most from the Renaissance
and Baroque periods. The museum
also hosts exhibitions from other
institutions. Hampton and Main
streets. (803) 799-2810 or www.
columbiamuseum.org
McKissick Museum focuses on
folk arts. USC Horseshoe. (803)
777-7251
The State Museum emphasizes S.C.
artists. 301 Gervais St. (803) 8984921 or www.museum. state.sc.us
Fine Arts Museum of Kershaw
County hosts a wealth of art: jazz,
blues, exhibits, theater and dance.
810 Lyttleton St., Camden. (803)
425-7676; www.fineartscenter.org
MUSIC AND DANCE
Colleges and universities, churches
and other community bands and
orchestras offer performances, too.
Here, a sampling of the larger
established groups:
South Carolina Philharmonic’s music director, Morihiko Nakahara,
enters his second season with The
Phil. The orchestra plays at the
Koger Center. (803) 254-7445 or
www.scphilharmonic.com
USC Symphony provides a continuing flow of concerts, from contemporary and experimental to organ recitals. www.music.sc.edu/
ea/orchestra
USC School of Music offers a
range of mostly free concerts, most
held at the Recital Hall, 813 Assembly St. (803) 777-4280, (803)
576-5763 or www.music.sc.edu/
Columbia Music Festival Association is the city’s arts incubator,
which helps establish and direct
performing arts groups such as
Carolina Ballet, Eboni Dance Theatre, S.C. Shakespeare Company
and Boreyna West African Drummers. (803) 771-6303 or www.cmfaonline.com
Columbia Classical Ballet generally presents tried-and-true works
by the world’s great choreographers. (803) 252-9112 or
www.columbiaclassicalballet.org
Columbia City Ballet has created
several of its own works that blend
theater with dance. (803) 799-7605
or www.columbiacityballet.com
USC Department of Theatre and
Dance has been expanding its offerings, and for the past two years
has brought in members of the
New York City Ballet. (803) 7774288 or www.cas.sc. edu/thea/
JG3863-56-0
Capital City Chorale, shown performing at the city’s MLK Day celebration, is a nearly 20-year-old
community group that specializes in African-American spirituals and gospel music. The group often
performs at the Koger Center and State Museum.
>> At play
| THE STATE
| LIVING HERE
29
FUN FOR THE KIDS
There are endless educational and playful opportunities for Midlands children. A sampling:
PARKS, MUSEUMS, ZOO
Carolina Children’s Garden: Explore Pooh’s Garden and dig in McGregor’s Carrot Patch at the Carolina
Children’s Garden at Clemson University’s Sandhill Research and Education Center in Northeast Richland. It’s
a delightful retreat of tinkling wind
chimes, alphabet exploration and
imaginary play. 905 Clemson Road;
(803) 788-5700, ext. 30
Congaree National Park: South
Carolina’s only national park — a 2025 minute drive from downtown Columbia — contains giant hardwoods
and towering pines. The 24,500-acre
park protects the largest contiguous
tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States.
100 National Park Road, Hopkins;
(803) 776-4396 or
www.nps.gov/cong
Less than 10 years old, Irmo Town Park has matured
into a heavily used community park.
Park it right here for
outdoor activities
The great thing about liv- mountains or the beach.
You can paddle a canoe
ing in the Midlands, the cliche
goes, is you’re two hours from on the crystal-clear spring
the beach and two hours from waters of Goodale State Park
or the tanninthe mountains.
stained creeks of
The insinuaPAGE 30
Congaree National
tion: You have to
Park. You can ride
leave the area to
A sampling of
the hilly mountain
find outdoors fun.
area parks
bike trails at HarThe reality:
bison State Forest
The beach used
to be here millions of years or the flat pavement along
ago, creating some interest- the Columbia Canal in the
ing places to explore. And you Three Rivers Greenway. You
don’t have to go to the moun- can hike among the funky
tains to see majestic trees; rock formations of the
many of the largest are here Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve or along the sandy
in Congaree National Park.
On the edge of the Pied- trails (remnants of the old
mont and the coastal plain, beaches) at Sesquicentennial
the Midlands also has more State Park.
— Joey Holleman
outdoor diversity than the
EdVenture Children’s Museum:
This hands-on museum is designed
for children 12 and younger but is
perfect for families, school groups
and those with a lot of kid left in
them. The museum features a 40foot exhibit of a boy named Eddie,
large enough for adults and children
to climb in and through to learn
about the body. New this year is
Blooming Butterflies, an outdoor enclosed nature exhibit featuring hundreds of butterflies flying among native plants. The museum also hosts
programs and events. 211 Gervais
St., Columbia; (803) 779-3100;
www.edventure.org
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden:
More than 2,000 animals and 4,200
species of botanical beauties await
visitors. The zoo is home to a range
of animals including those common
to the African plains — giraffes and
zebras — and those native to Australia
— koalas and wallabies. The Riverbanks Botanical Garden boasts 70
acres of themed gardens. 500
Wildlife Parkway, off I-26 and Greystone Blvd.; (803) 779-8717 or
www.riverbanks.org
Richland County Recreation and
Aging Commission: Recreation
centers, an 18-hole professional golf
course, a boat ramp with access to
the Congaree River, tennis centers,
swimming pools, the Adult Activity
Center and several neighborhood
parks. 7494 Parklane Road;
Columbia; (803) 754-7275;
www.richlandcountyrecreation.com
Irmo-Chapin Recreation Commission: Two traditional recreation
centers — Crooked Creek in Chapin
and Seven Oaks in Irmo — for youth
sports leagues and craft classes.
The nature-oriented Saluda Shoals
Park on the Saluda River has miles
of hiking and biking trails, a children’s splash zone and canoe/kayak
rentals. 5605 Bush River Road,
Columbia; (803) 772-1228 or
www.icrc.net
Camden-Kershaw County Recreation Department: Tennis courts,
baseball fields, soccer fields, volleyball courts, walking paths and an observatory for the astronomy enthusiast. Sports programs, crafts and instructional courses are available.
1042 West DeKalb St., Camden;
(803) 425-6009 or
www.camden-sc.org/rec-department.php
WATER, WATER
EVERYWHERE
At the lake: A public beach at the
south side of the Lake Murray dam,
off North Lake Drive, has a sandy
beach, picnic facilities and lots of water and scenery.
Public pools: Several public pools
in Richland County, among them at
Trenholm Park, 3900 Covenant
Road; Maxcy Gregg Park, 2650 Park
Circle; Drew Wellness Center, near
Harden and Calhoun streets; and
Greenview Park, 6700 David St.
Spray, splash parks: Several
parks feature outdoor spray areas
where kids can have fun and cool off.
At Saluda Shoals Park, Saluda
Splash is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
daily for $3. 5605 Bush River Road,
Columbia, (803) 731-5208 or
www.icrc.net. In Columbia, several
city parks offer outdoor spray areas,
including: Earlewood, 1111 Parkside
Drive; Elmwood-Roy Lynch, Lincoln
and Abbeville streets; Emily Douglas,
2500 Wheat St.; Heathwood, 800
Abelia Road; Lorick, 1600 Lorick
Ave.; Mays, 4100 Trenholm Road;
Melrose, 1500 Fairview Road; Pacific, 200 Wayne St.; Pinehurst,
2315 Pinehurt Road; St. Anna’s,
1315 Liberty Hill Ave.; and Sims,
3500 Duncan St.
Water parks: Palmetto Falls Water
Park at Fort Jackson is open to the
public Tuesdays through Fridays in
the summer. $9.50. (803) 7513381; fortjacksonmwr.com/waterpark
OFFBEAT ACTIVITIES
Disc golf. This is a great way to kill
an hour or two with the kids, tossing
Frisbee-like discs at raised chain-link
“holes.” You can play for free on disc
golf courses at Crooked Creek Park in
Chapin, and Owens Field and Earlewood Park in Columbia.
www.columbiadiscgolfclub.com
Paintball. Triggertyme, 429 Koon
Store Road, Columbia, (803) 7864539
Rock climbing. It only sounds dangerous. The 40-foot climbing wall at
Stronghold Athletic Club is a great
place for kids to burn off energy. And
it’s safe because belay ropes protect
against falls. A 10-visit climbing pass
is $70. 925½ Huger St., Columbia;
(803) 256-9001
RECREATION
COMMISSIONS
City of Columbia Parks and
Recreation: Activities for children,
adults and seniors ranging from pottery-making classes to volleyball, basketball and swimming. 1932 Calhoun
St.; (803) 545-3100 or
www.columbiasc.net
Lexington County Recreation
and Aging Commission: Activities
include racquetball, tennis, softball,
football and basketball. 563 South
Lake Drive; Lexington;
(803) 359-0964 or www.lcrac.com
Sesquicentennial State Park in Northeast Richland hosts a
camping weekend for first-time campers, complete with canoeing.
30
| THE STATE
At play <<
| LIVING HERE
GREEN SPACES
WHAT THE LOCALS SAY
A sampling of federal, state and regional parks in the area:
Sesquicentennial State Park: 12
miles of trails for hiking and biking, fishing or canoe rentals on 30-acre lake, picnic shelters, camping. 9564 Two Notch
Road, Columbia; (803) 788-2706,
www.southcarolinaparks.com
Dreher Island State Recreation
Area: 348 acres and 12 miles of shoreline on Lake Murray, boat ramps, picnic
shelters, three miles of trails, cabins,
camping. 3677 State Park Road, Prosperity; (803) 364-4152, www.southcarolinaparks.com
Goodale State Park: 763 acres with
picnic shelters, boat rentals and fishing
on 140-acre, spring-fed lake, canoe-kayak
trail. 650 Park Road, Camden; (803) 4322772, www.southcarolinaparks.com
Harbison State Forest: 2,177 acres
of hilly forest land, 18 miles of trails for
hiking and biking, Broad River access.
5600 Broad River Road, Columbia; (803)
896-8890, www.state.sc.us/ forest/refharb.
htm
Congaree National Park: Nearly
24,000 acres including the largest contiguous tract of old-growth bottomland forest in the country, dozens of miles of trails
for hiking and wildlife viewing, canoe trail,
fishing, primitive camping. 100 National
Park Road, Hopkins; (803) 776-4396,
www.nps.gov/cong
heritage/peachtree/description.html
Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve:
627 acres in area that has archaeological evidence of human habitation for
12,000 years, 2.5-mile hiking trail. Old
State Road, Cayce, just past Cayce Landing;
(803)
734-3886,
www.dnr.sc.gov/managed/heritage/
congcreek/description.html
Historic Camden Revolutionary War
Site: 107-acre outdoor history museum
at original site of town of Camden, restored 16th- and 17th-century structures.
222 Broad St., Camden; (803) 4329841, www.historic-camden.net
Three Rivers Greenway: Numerous
access points in Columbia, West Columbia and Cayce, including Riverfront Park
in Columbia. More than half of the proposed 12-mile linear park is open for hiking, biking, skating, fishing and picnics.
(803) 765-2200, www.riveralliance.org
Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve:
460 acres including the largest sandstone
outcrops in the state, three miles of hiking trails. S.C. 6, half-mile south of
intersection with S.C. 302; (803)
734-3886, www.dnr.sc.gov/managed/
Saluda Shoals Park: 300 acres along
the Saluda River, picnic areas, paved and
unpaved trails for hiking and biking, dog
park, boat ramp, canoe and kayak rentals.
5605 Bush River Road, Columbia; (803)
731-5208, www.icrc.net
A sampling of some favorite neighborhood parks:
Virginia Hylton Park, Lexing- the home of the Lexington County
ton: This jewel is tucked behind the Peach Festival. But it’s a great place
Lexington County Courthouse, near for a picnic or just to let kids run,
the intersection of U.S. 1 and S.C. and there’s plenty of shade, benches
6. It has a one-third mile paved path, and porch-type swings for the adults.
a playground (complete with special- Southeast Park, Columbia: This
needs swings), a koi pond and cov- 62-acre park at 951 Hazelwood
ered picnic areas with grills. Road (just off Garners Ferry Road)
www.lexsc.com/parkinfo.htm
features 16 tennis courts. Paved
Finlay Park, Columbia: The 18- trails around a pond are ideal for hikacre park at Taylor and Gadsden ing or biking, and you can picnic unstreets downtown has two play- der live oaks on the back of the
grounds, a man-made waterfall, pond. www.columbiasc.net
porch swings and a large open field Guignard Park, Cayce: When
for picnics or Frisbee. It’s also a set- you saunter down the trail to the
ting for community events, such as creek in this natural bowl of a park,
the Saturday night Summer Concert you forget that five-lane Knox Abbott
Series. www.columbiasc.net
Drive serves as one of its borders.
Gilbert Community Park: Most Enjoy a picnic under the shady trees.
folks from outside Gilbert know this www.cityofcayce-sc.gov
— Joey Holleman
little park at 250 Main St. only as
MILLCREEK ANIMAL HOSPITAL
811 East Main Street, Lexington, SC 29072
Pup Strutters
(803) 359-1933
Cameron Barkley, DVM
Vanessa Brooks, DVM
Holly Hodges, DVM
Columbia’s 1st
“Cats Only” Clinic
31 Years…& 16 Years Serving Columbia
Complete Medical, Dental,
Grooming & Boarding
Dr. Neal Atkinson & Associates
Doctors Hours By
Appointment
254-9257
254-2600
Daly Street at Millwood Avenue
Near Dreher High School
www.millcreekanimalhospital.com
A caring and safe
alternative to Boarding
• Professional Pet Sitting
• Licensed & Bonded, Trained
& Experienced
• Your Pet stays comfortable at home!
Debra & Tasha
781-5585
www.pupstrutters.com
Debra Hall, Owner • Since 1992
• Pet Meds, Vet Trips, Litter pans
and Bird Cages
• And Happy Plants Too!
Endorsed by the Animal
Protection League
and Project Pet
To Advertise
Please Call Jason Stegall
at
803-771-8688
See Us For All Your
Grooming Needs
4718-B Forest Drive • Columbia, SC 29206 • 803-738-9556
Lisa T. Moore
Russell & Jeffcoat Realtors
JG8408-45-1
We Carry All
Natural Dog Food
>> At play
Food for everyone’s taste
SUBURBS
FINE DINING
31
WHAT THE LOCALS SAY
Five things you need to know about to eat and drink
like a Southerner:
Mr. Bunky’s in Lower Richland offers a salad bar
in addition to its country cooking.
IN-TOWN
FINE DINING
Ristorante Divino: The Northern Italian eatery (chef and
owner Fulvio Valsecchi is a native Italian) was one of the first
restaurants to relocate to the
Vista, more than 10 years ago,
and it still sits apart from the
trendy restaurants that have
come and gone since then. Consistently memorable food, and
with some of the finest wait
staff in Columbia, this is the
place to go if you’re looking for
a calm, quiet dinner. 803 Gervais St.; (803) 799-4550
CASUAL
Mediterranean Tea Room: This
Middle Eastern restaurant is
turning into an institution itself,
with more than 10 years of serving hefty falafel sandwiches,
chicken kabobs and chunky
tomato and cucumber salad. Always fresh, always satisfying,
and always neighborly. 2601
Devine St.; (803) 799-3118
THE INSTITUTION
THE INSTITUTION
Mr. Bunky’s: Make your way
to the back of this general store
and meat market in Lower
Richland for a taste of home
cooking followed by a “Thanks,
darling.” Soldiers from nearby
McEntire Joint National Guard
Station, workmen and businessmen fill the place at
lunchtime for the daily special.
Don’t leave without trying the
beer-battered onion rings: thin,
light and worth the trip alone.
10441 Garners Ferry Road;
(803) 783-3501
The Original D’s: This low-key
but fast-paced restaurant has
stuck with its formula of fingerlicking wings and steamed
seafood for more than 30 years.
The menu is huge — sandwiches, salads, spuds — and the
clientele loyal. There’s something for everyone, which is
why it is often full of multigenerational families. A great place
to grab a bite before a USC basketball or baseball game. And
where else can you still order a
hot bologna sandwich? Just
over the Blossom Street bridge
in Cayce. 920 Axtel Road; (803)
791-4486
AROUND THE LAKE
FINE DINING
Catch-22 Seafood and Rawbar: This beautiful restaurant,
with its polished wood and
large porch, manages to be unpretentious yet upscale at the
same time. A great place to dine
with friends. Pass around the
oysters and crab cakes. 1085-D
Lake Murray Blvd., Irmo; (803)
749-4700
CASUAL
DL McLaughlin’s: You can’t get
more casual than this sandwich
shop. The former owners of Sub
Cabin, once a Midlands institution itself, opened this Irmo
restaurant years ago but have
pared it down to concentrate on
what they do best: Philly cheese
steaks. The greasy, cheesy,
oniony delights are not to be
passed up. 10400 Broad River
Road; (803) 732-4109
Boiled peanuts. The first time I encountered boiled
peanuts, I thought someone had knocked over a
drink into a bowl of roasted peanuts (was there any
other kind of peanut?). Now I’ve grown to appreciate
the salty, slimy taste. Stop by Cromer’s on Huger
Street to pick up a hot bag.
But my new favorite is deep-friend peanuts,
found at Magnolia Plantation in Charleston and popping up in some Lowcountry convenience stores. Last
summer in Virginia, I stopped at a store on a peanut
farm, and there wasn’t a boiled (or deep-fried)
peanut in sight. Hah, and Virginia calls itself a Southern state.
“New Southern” means grits. When word got
out about 10 years ago that Southern chefs knew
how to make more than jambalaya, high-end restaurants began embracing the term “New Southern” to
describe their menus. But I find that the term just
means you’ll get grits instead of mashed potatoes
with your entree. That’s not necessarily a negative, as
grits have been elevated from their watery presence at breakfast to a
creamy, flavorful side dish. Bring it on!
Crab cakes Benedict. Always a fan of eggs Benedict, I was surprised to
find the Southern version on breakfast menus, particularly along the coast.
The traditional tough Canadian bacon is replaced with a flaky crab cake,
topped by a poached egg and hollandaise sauce. Grab a seat on the porch
at Sea Biscuit Cafe, near the beach at Isle of Palms, and order this beautiful, messy delight.
Slaw makes the dog. There is no end to what can be heaped upon a
hot dog — chili, grilled onions, beans, cole slaw. But even cole slaw can
mean vinegar slaw, ketchup slaw or creamy slaw. The slaw dog (with mayonnaise-based cole slaw, meat-only chili, diced onions and mustard) was
invented in West Virginia and soon spread throughout the South. Sandy’s
Famous Hot Dogs, with five area restaurants, serves the Midlands’ finest.
— Janet Kahler
THE INSTITUTION
Rusty Anchor: For a taste of the
beach right here in the Midlands, pull up your boat (or car)
to Lighthouse Marina in Chapin
and grab dinner at this longtime
Lake Murray restaurant. Lobster
and fried or broiled shrimp, fish
and scallops fill the menu. But
you’re there for the view of the
lake so don’t forget to order a
slice of key lime pie to round out
the dockside experience. 1925
Johnson’s Marina Road, Chapin;
(803) 749-1555
Free-Times “Best of” Sunday Brunch Runner Up
2004, 2007, 2008 Southern Living Sept.2006
JG3962-57-1
CASUAL
Big T Barbecue: If you’re hankering for a big plate of barbecue, look no further than Big T.
The bare-bones decor keeps you
focused on the food, including
the best macaroni and cheese in
town and melt-in-your-mouth
collards. Top it off with some
sweet tea and homemade banana pudding. Bring your outof-town guests to show them
what real (mustard-based)
South Carolina barbecue is all
about. The family-owned
smokehouse has locations in
Gadsden, on Garners Ferry
Road and on Sparkleberry
Lane.
| LIVING HERE
Sweet tea. If you order tea, it’s gonna be sweet. According
to a local connoisseur, who holds an annual Sweet Tea
Soiree in his back yard, Lizard’s Thicket has the best tea in
town, followed closely by Rush’s (it’s the crushed ice). And
now you can even order a version that packs a punch. Firefly’s Sweet Tea Vodka, brewed on Wadmalaw Island using
vodka made from homegrown muscadines and tea from
nearby Charleston, is the latest rage for those of drinking
age.
The Midlands is home to a variety of restaurants, from familyfriendly eateries in the Northeast
to comfort food in West Columbia.
Check out the Weekend section
each Friday in The State for restaurant reviews and more dining options.
Solstice Kitchen and Wine Bar:
It’s been more than two years
since the owner of Mr.
Friendly’s New Southern Cafe
and Cellar on Greene, both in
Five Points, brought classy dining to the Northeast. With its
cosmopolitan decor and enthusiasm for wine, there’s no better
place for a night out. If you
can’t wait for a special occasion,
put your name in for one of the
nights when they close the
doors to the public and serve a
prix fixe dinner with everyone
gathered around big tables. 8414 Sparkleberry Lane; (803) 7886966
| THE STATE
| THE STATE
Weathers of Columbia: 2710 Devine
St.
White House/Black Market: 100
Columbiana Circle, Columbiana Centre mall
Ready, set, shop!
WHAT THE LOCALS SAY
Give the gift of South Carolina to friends and
family. Here, some places where you can
buy homegrown specialties:
The Cotton Mill Exchange at the State
Museum, 301 Gervais St.; www.sc.gov/mall
The South Carolina Shop, 1314 Rosewood
Drive; www.shop.scshops.com
Adluh Flour Store, 804½ Gervais St.;
www.adluhstore.com
Boykin Company Store and The Broom
Place, S.C. 261, Boykin; www.boykinmillfarms.com
Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center and Visitors Bureau, 1101 Lincoln
St.; www.columbiacvb.com
Shopping <<
| LIVING HERE
The lasting recession the past year has
been hard on some retailers in Columbia, with
stores closing or cutting back.
But the Midlands has not been as hard hit
as some parts of the country and has seen
some retailers opening new stores or taking on
expansions despite the market.
The area offers a mix of national retailers
and local boutiques.
Here, seven categories — and a small sampling of where you can find it all:
Your personal
boutique
carrying
Frank Lyman
Designs!
SPECIALTY, UPSCALE CLOTHES
AND SHOES
Brittons: 2818 Devine St.
Coplon’s: 4825 Forest Drive
Granger Owings: 1333 Main St.
Kicks Exceptional Shoes: 2921 Devine
St.
Mae’s: 121 E. Main St., Lexington
Pink Sorbet/Lilly Pulitzer Via Shop:
2726 Devine St.
Round Robin: 2800 Devine St.
HOME
Gallery art, rugs, furniture, accessories and specialty gifts
The Vista
Downtown Columbia
■þHavens Framemakers and Gallery,
1616 Gervais St.
■þWhit-Ash, 919 Gervais St.
SEE RETAIL PAGE 33
Diplomas • Needlework • Shadowboxes
Christening Gowns • Military Medals
Heirloom Memorabilia
All your kitchen and grill needs
to prepare, serve, and bless.
Featuring cutlery,
cookware,
and tabletop from:
Cool down by the pool with
unbreakable
Prodyne ice buckets, wine glasses,
and beverage glasses.
Dia's Merle Norman & Boutique
All-Clad • Henckels
Casafina • Shun
Scanpan • Victorinox
Art of the Spirit
Whimsical Grace
Over 75% of our items
are less than $30.00!
Forest Park Shopping Center • 4711-16 Forest Drive
(803) 787.6165 • www.MaryandMarthaSC.com
4711-13 Forest Drive, Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 743-9010
Forest Lake
Presbyterian Church
6500 North Trenholm Road,
Columbia, SC
803.787.5672
www.flpc.org
Rev. Dr. Ellen Fowler Skidmore
Senior Pastor
Rev. Travis A. Webster
Associate Pastor
SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICE
10:15am
SUNDAY SCHOOL – 9:00am
"The Church on the Hill"
JG7498-40-5
32
THE STATE
■þGoodwood Furniture, 3303
Forest Drive
RETAIL FROM PAGE 32
Northeast Richland
■þFrame Warehouse, 130 Forum
Drive, Village at Sandhill (near
Bi-Lo store)
Devine Street
Near Five Points
■þBohemian Design Store, 2736
Devine St.
■þRogers Brothers Fabrics, 2912
Devine St.
Harbison Boulevard
Northwest Richland/Irmo areas
■þAshley Furniture & Home
Store, 108 Harbison Blvd.
■þEthan Allen Home Interiors,
101 Harbison Blvd.
■þWilliams-Sonoma, Columbiana
|
Southern Pottery is a popular specialty shop on Devine Street.
Centre mall
Forest Acres
■þStrobler & Company, 4721
Forest Drive
■þCasual Living, 4708 Forest
Drive
Furniture, Carnival Glass, Art Pottery,
Oils On Canvas, Limited Edition Prints,
Depression glass, Crystal, Costume-Jewelry,
Wedgwood, Elegant Glass, Folk Pottery,
Sterling/Silver plate, Opalescent glass,
general merchandise.
Sales Every Tuesday – Preview Monday
From 12:00 – 6:00 PM
13% Buyers Premium
R. Thomas Hagler SCAL #3148
Visit website for pictures and complete listing
www.armory-auction.com
Armory Auction House
1101 Augusta St. West Columbia
803-600-4200
VISTA ON THE
WEST
New merchandise arriving weekly, European
imports, fine home décor, lamps, jewelry,
gifts for her and him, and more!
602 Meeting Street, West Columbia, SC
803-939-9738
Open Tuesday – Saturday 11am to 5:30pm
Lexington
■þClayborne’s Amish Furniture
at Barnyard Fleamarket, 4414
Augusta Road
■þFurniture Pointe, 5140 Sunset
Blvd.
■þMarty Rae’s, 5108 Sunset Blvd.
|
LIVING HERE
33
■þAppletree Landscaping & Garden, 5466 Bush River Road
■þCongaree Feed, Seed & Garden, 832 Main St., West Columbia
■þCooper’s Nursery, 8244 Parklane Road
■þWoodley’s Garden Center,
10015 Two Notch Road and
2840 Dreher Shoals Road
ANTIQUES
■þCamden Antiques Market and
The Granary Antiques, 830 S.
Broad St., Camden
GARDEN AND YARD
A sampling of local nurseries:
SEE RETAIL PAGE 34
Furniture, Linens, Sterling, Porcelains,
Pottery, Art Deco & Jewelry.
Hours: Monday – Saturday
10:00am to 5:30pm
Sunday 1:30pm to 5:30pm
Gift Certificates Available
763 Meeting Street
803-796-1516
Want to advertise
your business?
Call Linda Hoover
803-771-8635
or
[email protected]
JG3948-57-1
>> Shopping
| THE STATE
Shopping <<
| LIVING HERE
RETAIL FROM PAGE 33
■þMeeting Street Interiors, 614
Meeting St., West Columbia
■þCity Market Antiques Mall, 705
Gervais St.
ETHNIC MARKETS
Village at Sandhill is known for its shopping, restaurants and
places to stroll, even with an ice cream cone.
Those who like one-stop
shopping will find no shortage
of malls and major shopping
centers in the Columbia area.
Here’s a general primer;
hours may change during holiday seasons.
Columbia Place: 7201 Two
Notch Road; contact (803)
788-4676 or www.shopcolumbiaplace.com; 10 a.m.-9
p.m. Monday through Saturday,
noon-6 p.m. Sunday. After 5
p.m. Friday and Saturday, shoppers under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian.
ORGANIC
■þEarth Fare, 3312 Devine St.
■þRosewood Market and Deli,
2803 Rosewood Drive
■þFourteen Carrot Health Foods,
5300 Sunset Blvd., Lexington
FARMERS MARKETS
■þThe State Farmers Market, 1001
Bluff Road, runs year-round, 6
a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1-6 p.m. Sunday.
■þTwo all-local markets held yearround, from 8 a.m. to noon each
second Saturday in the courtyard
of Gervais & Vine in the Vista,
and each fourth Saturday in the
parking lot of the Rosewood
Market and Deli on Rosewood
Drive.
■þSeasonal markets are in the
Lake Carolina subdivision and at
Clemson University’s Sandhill
Research and Education Center,
both in Northeast Richland, and
another in Camden.
■þDuring summer months, Seeds
of Hope markets pop up in
church and synagogue lots,
where local farmers bring their
produce to sell.
Exotic Fans
INSTANT CURB APPEAL
With A New
Garage Door!
• Ask us about the $1500
Tax Credit
• Custom Made Doors
• Steel & Wood
FREE ESTIMATES
JG7752-60-0
MAKE IT TO
THE MALL
■þOriental International Market,
2205 Decker Blvd.
■þHyundai Oriental Food, 1807
Decker Blvd.
■þTienda y Dulceria Mexicana
Jessi, 103 Charleston Highway,
West Columbia
■þTaqueria El Perico, 1807 Decker
Blvd.
■þJM Emporium, 9221 Two Notch
Road
■þTouch of India, 1321 Garner
Lane. This is a restaurant that
has a small food market.
744-DOOR (3667)
www.biltritegaragedoors.com
Visit Our Showroom
Garage Door Openers
128 A N Shorecrest Rd. Columbia
Serving the Midlands Since 1971
Dan’s Fan City
275-AA Harbison Blvd.
(Behind Rush’s)
781-FANS
Columbiana Centre: 100
Columbiana Circle; contact
(803) 781-1000 or
www.columbianacentre.com; 10
a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through
Saturday, 1:30-6 p.m. Sunday
Dutch Square: 421 Bush
River Road; contact (803) 7723864 or www.dutchsquare.com;
10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday
through Saturday, 12:30-6 p.m.
Sunday
Midtown at Forest Acres:
3400 Forest Drive; contact
(803) 738-2995 or www.midtownatforestacres.com; 10
Saturday, 12:30-6 p.m. Sunday
Christian Gift & Bookstore
Mon.-Fri. 9am-7pm • Sat. 9am-6pm
Village at Sandhill: Clemson
Road at Two Notch Road; contact (803) 419-0235 or
www.villageatsandhill.com; 10
Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday;
after 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, shoppers 16 and younger
must be accompanied by a
guardian.
Valid until June 30, 2010
SAVE 25%
$10 OFF
$7 OFF
Any Tune-Up
Oil Change
751 Greenlawn Drive
783-3192
on any reg. price book or gift item
*Some restrictions may apply
Redeemable at Shepherd’s Corner Christian Bookstore
Landmark Square Shopping Center
6740 Garners Ferry Rd • Columbia SC
803-776-7892
www.shepherdcorner.com
JF5282-55-1
34
>> Sports
Allen University, Tigers, Columbia;
(803) 376-5807 or www.allenuniversity.edu
Benedict College, Tigers, Columbia; (803) 705-4535 or
www.benedict.edu/athletics.html
Charleston Southern, Buccaneers, Charleston; (843) 8637213 (tickets) or
www.csusports.com
The Citadel, Bulldogs, Charleston;
(843) 953-5121 or www.citadelsports.com
Claflin University, Panthers, Orangeburg; (803) 535-5549 or
www.claflin.edu/athletics.html
Clemson University, Tigers, Clemson; (864) 656-2118 (tickets) or
www.clemsontigers.com
Coastal Carolina University,
Chanticleers, Conway; (877) 4242687 or www.goccusports.com
Coker College, Cobras, Hartsville;
(843) 383-8000 or www.cokercobras.com
College of Charleston, Cougars,
Charleston; (843) 953-5479 or
www.cofcsports.com
Erskine College, Flying Fleet, Due
West; (864) 379-8859 or www.erskinecollegesports.com
Francis Marion University, Patriots, Florence; (843) 661-1362 orwww.francismarionpatriots.com
Furman University, Paladins,
Greenville; (864) 294-3099 (tickets) or www.furmanpaladins.com
Lander University, Bearcats,
Greenwood; (864) 388-8316 or
www.landerbearcats.com
Limestone College, Saints,
Gaffney; (864) 488-4564 or
www.golimestonesaints.com
Morris College, Hornets, Sumter;
(803) 934-3235 or
www.morris.edu/athletics
Newberry College, Scarlet and
Gray, Newberry; (803) 321-5101
(tickets) or newberryathleticsite.com
North Greenville College, Crusaders, Greenville; (864) 9777150 or www.ngcrusaders.com
Presbyterian College, Blue Hose,
Clinton; (864) 833-8240 or
www.gobluehose.com
University of South Carolina,
Gamecocks, Columbia; (800) 4723267 (tickets) or gamecocksonline.com
USC Upstate, Spartans, Spartanburg; (864) 503-5144 or www.upstatespartans.com
South Carolina State University,
Bulldogs, Orangeburg; (800) 2989157 (tickets) or www.scsuathletics.com
Voorhees, Tigers, Denmark; (803)
780-1049 or
www.voorhees.edu/athletics
Wofford College, Terriers, Spartanburg; (864) 597-4090 (tickets) or
athletics.wofford.edu
Winthrop University, Eagles, Rock
Hill; (803) 323-2345 (tickets) or
www.winthropeagles.com
| THE STATE
| LIVING HERE
35
Plenty of sports to play and watch
COLLEGE SPORTS
USC football tickets are a hot
item in the fall, especially for home
games. This season’s home opener
is Sept. 3 against North Carolina
State.
The men’s and women’s basketball teams play in the 18,000seat Colonial Center, with games
beginning in November and running through March.
The Gamecocks’ nationally
ranked baseball team begins play
in its second-year stadium in February.
For USC tickets: (803) 7774274.
GOLF
The PGA Tour spends three
weeks each spring within shouting
distance of the Midlands: the Masters in Augusta the second week
of April, the Verizon Heritage in
Hilton Head a week later, and the
Quail Hollow Championship in
Charlotte in early May.
The Masters is sold out. For the
Heritage, call (800) 234-1107 or
visit verizonheritage.com. For Quail
Hollow, call (800) 945-0777 or visit
quailhollowchampionship.com.
The Nationwide Tour makes an
annual May stop in the Greenville
area for the BMW Charity Pro-Am.
Also, the NGA/Hooters Tour will
be in Columbia for a tournament
at The Members Club at Woodcreek & WildeWood, Oct. 1-4.
BASEBALL
The Columbia Blowfish compete in the Coastal Plain League
and feature players from the state’s
college teams. The Blowfish play
at Capital City Stadium from late
May to early August. Visit blowfishbaseball.com.
FISHING TOURNAMENTS
Lake Murray hosts a yearround schedule of fishing tour-
A USC football fan starts a cheer to get some fans to scream ‘Game’ and others to scream ‘Cocks’
before the game against N.C. State.
naments, including the BASS
Weekend Series, Midlands
Striper Club tournaments and the
Carolina Angler’s Team Trail.
Visit scfishingreport.com for fishing tournament schedules for
area lakes.
HORSE RACING
The state offers a variety of
horse-racing opportunities, starting with spring and fall steeplechases at Camden’s Springdale
Race Course.
The Carolina Cup is one of
spring’s biggest parties, attracting
crowds of 50,000 or more in
March. The Colonial Cup runs in
November. Tickets: (803) 432-6513
or carolina-cup.org.
Aiken features the Aiken Trials and Aiken Steeplechase each
spring, and a large number of
polo tournaments year-round.
Tickets: Aiken Trials, (803) 6484631; Aiken Steeplechase,
(803) 648-9641.
MAJOR LEAGUE
SPORTS
NFL and NBA
games are available 90 miles
away in Charlotte, and MLB in
Atlanta is a 3½-hour drive
from the Midlands.
SAILING EVENTS
The Columbia Sailing Club visits Lake Murray each Easter weekend for its featured event, the
Easter Regatta. Visit columbiasailingclub.org.
STOCK CAR RACING
NASCAR’s biggest stars gather
each spring at Darlington, stock-car
racing’s oldest superspeedway, for
the Southern 500. Tickets: (866) 9897223, darlingtonraceway.com/tickets.
TENNIS
The Family Circle Cup brings
the world’s best women’s players
to Charleston’s Daniel Island each
spring. Tickets: (800) 677-2293,
(843) 856-7900, familycirclecup.
com.
Jimmy’s Automotive
Repairs & Towing
“No job is too big
or too small!”
Complete Engine Service
Foreign and Domestic
238 Naomi Drive,Gaston, SC 29053
803-755-2352
We also do
24hr. towing
JG3950-57-1
COLLEGE AND
UNIVERSITY
SPORTS TEAMS
36
| THE STATE
Sports <<
| LIVING HERE
MIDLANDS-AREA
GOLF COURSES
FILE PHOTOGRAPH/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
It’s easy for golfers to improve their game here, whether it’s getting out on a Midlands area course
or watching some of the pros who come to South Carolina annually for tournaments such as the
Heritage on Hilton Head Island.
PUBLIC
PRIVATE
LEXINGTON COUNTY
Charwood Country Club, 222 Clubhouse Drive, West Columbia; (803)
755-2000
Cooper’s Creek Golf Club, 700 Wagener Highway, Pelion; (803) 894-3666
Golden Hills Golf & Country Club,
100 Scotland Drive, Lexington; (803)
957-3355
Hidden Valley Country Club, 147
Excaliber Court, Gaston; (803) 7948087
Indian River Golf Club, 200 Indian
River Drive, West Columbia; (803) 9550080
Indian Trail Golf Course, 1304 Willis
St., Batesburg-Leesville; (803) 5329010
Timberlake Golf Club, 284 Club Drive,
Chapin; (803) 345-9909
LEXINGTON COUNTY
Country Club of Lexington, 1066 Barr
Road, Lexington; (803) 359-2515
Ponderosa Country Club, 190 Durango Drive, Batesburg-Leesville; (803)
532-3472
RICHLAND COUNTY
Golf Club of South Carolina at
Crickentree, 1084 Langford Road,
Blythewood; (803) 754-8600
LinRick Golf Course, 356 Campground Road, Columbia; (803) 7546331
Northwoods Golf Course, 201 Powell Road, Columbia; (803) 786-9242
Oak Hills Golf Club, 7629 Fairfield
Road, Columbia; (803) 735-9830
Sedgewood Country Club, 9560 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia; (803) 7762177
RICHLAND COUNTY
Columbia Country Club, 135 Columbia Club Drive, Blythewood; (803) 7548109
Country Club at Woodcreek Farm,
300 Club Ridge Drive, Elgin; (803) 6992411
Forest Lake Club, Country Club Drive,
Columbia; (803) 738-0500
Fort Jackson Golf Club, Fort Jackson;
(803) 787-4437
Spring Valley Country Club, 300
Spring Valley Road, Columbia; (803)
788-3084
The Country Club at WildeWood, 90
Mallet Hill Road, Columbia; (803) 7888000
The University Club at Cobblestone
Park, Blythewood Road, Blythewood;
(803) 754-6415
The Windermere Club, Longtown
Road, Columbia; (803) 786-7888
Woodlands Country Club, 100 Norse
Way, Columbia; (803) 788-6658
KERSHAW COUNTY
Camden Country Club, 111 Knights
Hill Road, Camden; (803) 432-3322
PRO SPORTS TEAMS
BASEBALL
Atlanta Braves
Stadium: Turner Field
Tickets: Single-game, starting at $5.
Purchase online or by calling (404)
577-9100.
Web: www.atlantabraves.com
Charlotte Knights
(Triple-A, International League)
Stadium: Knights Stadium, Fort Mill
Tickets: Single-game, $7-$13. Purchase online or by calling (704) 3578071 ext. 2001.
Web: www.charlotteknights.com
Greenville Drive (Single-A,
South Atlantic League)
Stadium: West End Field
Tickets: Single-game, $5-$8 (free for
ages 2 and younger). Purchase online or by calling (864) 240-4528.
Web: www.greenvilledrive.com
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
(Single-A, Carolina League)
Stadium: BB&T Coastal Field
Tickets: Single-game, $7-$11. Purchase
online or by calling (877) 918-8499.
Web: www.myrtlebeachpelicans.com
Charleston Riverdogs (Single-A,
South Atlantic League)
Stadium: Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park
Tickets: Single-game, $5-$12. Purchase
online or by calling (843) 577-3647.
Web: www.riverdogs.com
SOCCER
Charleston Battery
(USL First Division)
Stadium: Blackbaud Stadium
Tickets: Single-game, $10-$18.
Purchase online or by calling
(843) 971-4625.
Web: www.charlestonbattery.com
HOCKEY
Carolina Stingrays (ECHL)
Arena: North Charleston Coliseum
Purchase online or by calling
(843) 744-2248.
Web: www.stingrayshockey.com
Atlanta Thrashers
Arena: Philips Arena
Tickets: Single-game, starting at
$10. Purchase at the team Web site
or ticketmaster.com or by calling
(866) 715-1500.
Web: www.atlantathrashers.com
Carolina Hurricanes
Arena: RBC Center, Raleigh
Purchase at the team Web site or
ticketmaster.com or by calling
(919) 834-4000.
Web: www.hurricanes.nhl.com
FILE PHOTOGRAPH/MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE
If NFL football is your passion, attend a Carolina Panthers home
game in Charlotte, just over an hour’s drive from Columbia.
FOOTBALL
Carolina Panthers
Stadium: Bank of America Stadium,
Charlotte
Tickets: Single-game, $51-$90;
(704) 522-6500.
Web: www.panthers.com
Atlanta Falcons
Stadium: Georgia Dome
Tickets: Single-game, to be announced. Purchase at the team Web
site or ticketmaster.com or by calling
(404) 223-8444.
Web: www.atlantafalcons.com
BASKETBALL
Atlanta Hawks
Arena: Philips Arena
(866) 715-1500.
Web: www.hawks.com
Charlotte Bobcats
Arena: Charlotte Bobcats Arena
Purchase at the team Web site or ticketmaster.com or (704) 262-2287.
Web: www.bobcats.com
McDaniels Acura/Porsche†
With a large military presence in the Midlands, air shows, such as
this one at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, draw large crowds.
MILITARY IN THE MIDLANDS
A look at local installations that impact the Midlands economy:
FORT JACKSON
The U.S. Army’s largest training center, located in Columbia, provides
basic training.
50 percent: U.S. soldiers who receive basic combat training at Fort
Jackson
66 percent: Female soldiers who
receive basic combat training at
Fort Jackson
50,000: Soldiers who completed
basic and advanced individual
training at the fort last year
52,000: Total fort acreage
4,000: Active-duty soldiers assigned to the post
5,200: Civilians employed by the
fort
$2.6 billion: Annual estimated
impact on Midlands economy
McENTIRE JOINT NATIONAL
GUARD BASE
Located in Eastover, home to the
S.C. Air National Guard, the base is
home to an F-16 fighter wing, three
Army Guard helicopter units and the
central maintenance shop.
1,300: Full- and part-time Air
Guard members; 150 active-duty
members of Air Force attached to
the base
1,100: Army Guard soldiers attached to the base
$250 million: Annual estimated
impact on the Midlands economy
VETERANS OF
FOREIGN WARS
State headquarters: 210
Glassmaster Road, Lexington; (803)
808-0317; find local chapters at
www.vfw.org.
Gandy-Griffin Post 4262: 5821 N.
Main St., Columbia; (803) 754-1614
Charles J. Girardeau Post 641:
Mike Addy Chrysler Jeep†
5215 Sunset Blvd. Hwy 378 Exit 61 on I-20
803-957-2010
Sales: M-F 9-8, Sat. 9-6
Service: M-F 7-6, Sat 7-4
Dodgeland of Columbia†
A number of Midlands organizations are open to military veterans:
State headquarters: 103 Legion
Plaza Road, Columbia; (803) 6121171
Post No. 6: 200 Pickens St.,
Columbia; (803) 799-2736
Post No. 215: 2432 Chappelle St.,
Columbia; (803) 765-0175
GDick Dyer & Associates†
5825 Two Notch Road
786-8888
1-800-766-3638
Service: M-F 7:30-6:00, Sat. 8:30-4:00
190 Greystone Blvd., Columbia, SC 29210
799-1900
Sales: M-Sat 9-9
Service: M-F 7:30-6, Sat 8:00-1:30
VETERANS, MILITARY GROUPS
AMERICAN LEGION
Jim Hudson
Buick-Pontiac-GMC-Saab†
Sumter Hwy.
783-0110 or 1-800-922-5291
Sales: M-F 8:30-8, Sat. 8:30-6
Service: M-F 7:30-6, Sat. 7:30-1
F
534 S. Beltline Blvd., Columbia;
(803) 782-0148 or (803) 782-5943
Lexington Post 8738: 424
Cedarcrest Drive, Lexington; (803)
359-8738
VETERANS AGENCIES
Department of Veterans Affairs
regional office: 1801 Assembly
St., Columbia; (800) 827-1000
Dorn VA Medical Center: 6439
Garners Ferry Road, Columbia; (803)
776-4000 or (800) 293-8262
S.C. Office of Veterans’ Affairs:
1205 Pendleton St., Columbia; (803)
734-0200
Vet Center: 1513 Pickens St.,
Columbia; (803) 765-9944
37
Jim Hudson Lexus†
5717 Two Notch Road
1-800-277-0225, 754-9500
or 1-800-922-5291
Sales: M-F 8:30-7:30, Sat. 8:30-6
Service: M-F 7:30-6, Sat. 7:30-1
The U.S. Air Force’s largest F-16
fighter jet base, in Sumter, has
three squadrons and 80 fighters. It
is also home to the 9th Air Force
and U.S. Central Command Air
Forces, which oversee air force
operations in the Middle East.
— Chuck Crumbo and Noelle Phillips
| LIVING HERE
6409 Two Notch Rd.
803-786-6400
Service: M-F 8-6, Sat. 9-1
www.mcdanielsautogroup.com
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE
6,100: Airmen assigned to the
base
750: Civilians employed by the
base
$1 billion: Annual estimated impact on the local economy
| THE STATE
Dick Dyer Scion†
3201 Two Notch Road
786-4111
Service: M-F 7:30-7, Sat. 8:30-5
Jim Hudson Scion†
970 Columbiana Dr., Irmo, SC 29063
803-407-5678
Toyota Center - Scion†
1640 Airport Blvd., W. Cola
796-6650
Service: M-F 7:30-6, Sat 7-3
Mike Addy Dodge†
521 Columbia Ave., Lexington
803-359-2501
Service: M-F 7:30-6
Honda of Columbia
4333 Sunset Blvd., Lexington, SC
256-0156
Service: M-F 7:30-6, Sat. 8-3
Dick Dyer Toyota†
3215 Two Notch Rd.
786-4111
Service: M-F 7:30-7, Sat 8:30-5
Jim Hudson Toyota†
970 Columbiana Dr., Irmo, SC 29063
803-407-5678
Toyota Center†
Jim Hudson Hyundai†
Greystone Blvd.
799-1234 or 1-800-962-0684
Sales: M-F 9AM-8PM, Sat. 9AM-7PM
Service: M-F 7:30-6, Sat. 8-1
5
Mike Addy Chrysler Jeep†
5215 Sunset Blvd. Hwy 378 Exit 61 on I-20
803-957-2010
1640 Airport Blvd., W. Cola
796-6650
Service: M-F 7:30-6, Sat 7-3
Dick Dyer & Associates†
5825 Two Notch Road
786-8888
1-800-766-3638
Service: M-F 7:30-6:00, Sat 8:30-4:00
† The dealers can be found on
LOOKING FOR A NEW CAR?
Find the right car for you.
JG2139-99-0
>> Military
38
WHAT THE
LOCALS SAY
| THE STATE
Military <<
| LIVING HERE
NEW MISSIONS, NEW BUILDINGS
Five things to know before you
head out to Fort Jackson:
Traffic: Vehicles without a Defense Department registration
sticker must enter Gate 2 on Forest Drive or Gate 4 at Percival
Road.
What to bring: Drivers must
show a valid driver’s license, insurance card and vehicle registration papers. Passengers may
be asked to present a picture ID.
Noise: It’s an Army post so expect to hear occasional booms
and gunfire from training events
and ceremonies. Neighbors sometime hear the fort’s public address
system broadcast bugle calls for
the troops. Reveille is at 6 a.m.,
and taps is at 9 p.m.
Celebrations: The public is invited to ceremonies for the Army’s
newest soldiers, held most Fridays at Hilton Field. They begin
at 9 a.m. in the spring and summer, 10 a.m. in fall and winter.
There also are two large public
events annually: On Armed Forces
Day in mid-May, Fort Jackson invites the public to watch military
demonstrations and tour the post.
On July 4, the public is invited to
a concert and fireworks display.
Recreation: The public is invited
to play at the post’s water park,
ride bicycle trails and visit the museum. Here’s how:
■þPalmetto Falls Water Park:
Open Tuesday through Friday;
season pass holders and military
families, Tuesday through Sunday. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday through Saturday; Sunday 1-7 p.m. Tickets are $9.50,
free for ages 2 and under; season pass is $149 for an individual or $249 for a family of four.
Discounted prices vary for military; log on at www.fortjacksonmwr.com/waterpark.
■þBicycling: Civilians need to show
a valid picture ID and must wear
an approved bicycle helmet and
some type of reflective material
such as tape, wristbands, vest or
belt. For riding at night, bikes must
be equipped a lamp on the front
that emits a white light visible from
500 feet, and a red reflector on
the rear visible from 50 to 200
feet. A red light visible from 500
feet may be used in addition to
the rear reflector.
■þMuseum: More than 4,000
items from weapons to uniforms
are on display at the Fort Jackson Museum, located across from
post headquarters. Hours are 9
a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through
Friday.
Army ROTC students from Lugoff-Elgin High School carry an American flag during the Veterans Day Parade
through downtown Columbia.
Fort Jackson booming
Originally established during
World War I for the training of
U.S. troops, Fort Jackson has
emerged as the Army’s largest
and most active training center.
“Unlike some other posts that
are being closed or scaled back
in accordance with defense cutbacks, Fort Jackson is experiencing an upsurge in growth,” reports Globalsecurity.org, a military think tank.
Not only are new missions being assigned to the post, but
an $800 million building boom
is under way. Construction projects range from new barracks
and dining facilities to housing
for married troops and childcare centers.
Back in 1917, Army commander Gen. Douglas MacArthur
picked Columbia as a trainingbase site because of the area’s
moderate climate and welldrained soil. MacArthur figured
few training days would be lost
to having troops stuck in mud
or digging out of snowdrifts.
City and local business leaders
came up with a $50,000 bond issue to buy 1,200 acres of land
and deed it to the Army.
Today, Fort Jackson covers
52,000 acres and is the site
where about half of all troops
and nearly 70 percent of women
entering the Army undergo basic training. Fort Jackson also
supports a variety of training
programs for soldiers going into
support jobs like human resources specialists and mechanics.
About 12,000 students annually attend professional-development schools such as the
Soldier Support Institute, which
includes the Adjutant General
School, Finance School, Recruiting and Retention School, the
Non-Commissioned Officers
Academy and the Training Support Battalion.
Students also are enrolled in
the Army’s only Drill Sergeant
School and the Chaplain Center. The chaplain center is being
expanded and soon will be renamed the Joint Center of Excellence for Military Chaplaincy,
serving all four branches of the
armed services. The change at
the chaplain school, as well as
the consolidation of Army drill
sergeant schools, were recommendations of the 2005 Base
Realignment and Closure Com-
mission. The commission also
moved the 81st Regional Readiness Command to Fort Jackson
from Birmingham, Ala.
For more than a decade, Fort
Jackson has been the site of the
Defense Academy for Credibility
Assessment, formerly known as
the Defense Polygraph Institute.
The school trains both civilian
and military personnel.
Fort Jackson also is home to
the Army Preparatory School, a
pilot program where potential recruits who don’t have a highschool diploma study for a General Educational Development, or
GED, certificate. So far, more
than 1,000 soldiers have obtained
their GED through the program
and moved on to basic training.
— Chuck Crumbo and Noelle Phillips
Employment Opportunities
Clinical Dietician
Medical Office Technician
Certified Medical Assistant
Financial Services Representative
Associate Teacher
Doula
NICU Registered Respiratory Therapist
Budget/RVU Manager
Database Administrator
EKG Tech
Medical Social Worker
Medical Technologist
Speech Language Pathologist
Director of Community Medical Center
Nurse Manager
CRNA
RN
| THE STATE
| LIVING HERE
39
Buy It! Sell It! List It! Find It!
AND
Do It Yourself!
Come Grow with Us!
West Columbia
Lugoff
Hwy 6 & Platt Springs Rd
2000 Clemson Rd
116 Dreher Rd
996-0601
865-5494
796-2888
River Crossing
(w/Food Lion)
Shoppes at White Knoll Magnolia Pointe
Please apply online at www.lexmed.com
408-9992
Widewater Square
Irmo
Lexington
Ballentine
3315 Broad River Rd
Crossroad
Shopping Center
Lexington Towne
Center
Dutch Fork & Broad
River Rd
781-6004
951-2841
COMING SOON!
731-1735
Build, place and pay for your ad anytime of the day or night.
It’s that easy!
www.thestate.com/adperfect
The State’s new and improved Self Service Advertising In print and online 24/7.
HEALTH CARE CAREERS at WJB Dorn VA Medical Center
WHERE EVERYTHING COMES TOGETHER
Education, experience, and teamwork.
They all come together at VA. We offer a
competitive benefits package that includes:
• Competitive salary
• Nationwide job transfer opportunities
• 13 to 26 days paid annual vacation/personal leave
• 13 days paid annual sick leave
• 10 paid annual Federal holidays
• Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS)
• Group health insurance plans with the majority
of premiums paid by the Federal Government
• Term life insurance, family, and additional coverage options
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Nursing Occupations,
Physicians, and many other
Allied Health Occupations.
• Liability protection
Clinical occupations of particular need include:
Pharmacists Clinical & Staff
Call toll-free
1-800-949-0002
or visit
Psychiatrists and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners;
Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioners in Cardiology;
Physical and Occupational Therapist
Nurse Anesthetists;
Physiatrist;
Ophthalmologist;
Medical Technologists;
Diagnostic Radiologic Techs.;
http://www.usajobs.opm.gov
RN Case Managers,
LPNs.
JG7002-99-6
RNs,
40
WHAT THE LOCALS SAY
You’ll hear a lot about how USC is changing the
Midlands economy. Here, five things to know:
South Carolina is in transition from a
manufacturing economy to one termed
“knowledge-based” — what used to be called “hightech.” The theory is to have the best brains USC
and others schools can muster to come up with
innovative discoveries than entrepreneurs can turn
into products. That, in turn, would create jobs.
1
To help that along, USC is creating Innovista,
a downtown research campus (they call it an
“innovation district”) that would have research
buildings intermingled with residences, shops,
restaurants, bars and all the other amenities of
urban life.
2
The mix — which would include a huge
riverfront park — is intended to draw those big
brains and entrepreneurs.
3
USC is presently focusing in the disciplines of
nanotechnology, biomed, alternative fuels and
environmental science.
4
Hydrogen fuel cells are also a big push for
the city and the state, primarily because of
USC researchers and the 40 years of hydrogen
production and storage experience at the
Savannah River National Laboratory in Aiken
County.
5
THE BUSINESS OF
FINDING HELP
Phone numbers and Web sites
of helpful business resources:
Chambers of commerce: Find links to most
S.C. chambers at www.2chambers.com.
USC businessLINK: (866) 756-2883,
uscbusinesslink.sc.edu
Small Business Development Center:
(803) 777-5118, www.uscbiz.net.
S.C. Women’s Business Center:
(803) 461-8900, www.scwbc.org.
S.C. Minority Business Enterprise Center:
(803) 779-5905, www.scmbec.com
Benedict College Business Development
Center: (803) 253-5186, find links at
www.benedict.edu/community.html/
Midlands Technical College: (803) 732-0432,
www.midlandstech.com (click on Continuing Education link)
USC Columbia Technology Incubator:
(803) 545-4454, www.incubator.research.sc.edu
The Enterprise Campus at Midlands Technical College: (803) 691-3885,
www.mtcenterprisecampus.com
Innovista: (803) 576-6500, www.innovista.sc.edu
EngenuitySC: (803) 783-1507,
www.engenuitysc.com.
Fast Trac Coalition: (803) 732-5213,
www.fasttracsc.org.
S.C. Technology Alliance: (803) 748-1323,
www.sctech.org.
County and municipal offices: You can find
links to most municipalities through the Municipal
Association of South Carolina — (803) 799-9574
or www.masc.sc. Links to county Web sites can
be found at www.sccounties.org or call the S.C.
Association of Counties, (803) 252-7255.
State agencies and organizations: The best
source: www.myscgov.com.
| THE STATE
Business <<
| LIVING HERE
AREA’S LARGEST PRIVATE EMPLOYERS
NO. 1
9,000 employees
PALMETTO HEALTH
1301 Taylor St. 29201; (803) 296-2273,
www.palmettohealth.org
Palmetto Health operates three locations
in the area, including a children’s hospital at
Palmetto Health Richland in Columbia.
Palmetto Health Richland has heart and
cancer centers, and the area’s only Level 1
trauma center. Palmetto Health Baptist in
Columbia delivers more babies than any
other hospital in the Midlands and is known
for surgery and psychiatric care. Palmetto
Health Parkridge in Irmo is an outpatient
surgery and diagnostic center.
NO. 2
6,911 employees
BLUECROSS
BLUESHIELD OF S.C.
I-20 at Alpine Road 29219; (803) 788-0222,
www.southcarolinablues.com
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
serves 21.5 million customers nationwide
through private insurance and government
contracts and provides claims processing and
customer service to other health insurers.
BlueCross BlueShield has offices in
Richland, Lexington and Kershaw counties.
NO. 3
5,100 employees
LEXINGTON MEDICAL CENTER
2720 Sunset Blvd., West Columbia 29169;
(803) 791-2000, www.lexmed.com
Lexington Medical Center comprises a
346-bed medical complex, six community
medical centers throughout Lexington
County, the largest extended care facility in
the state, an occupational health center
and affiliated physician practices.
NO. 4
3,297 employees
SCANA
The company will be moving into new
headquarters in Cayce. 1426 Main St. 29218,
(803) 217-9000, www.scana.com
SCANA, the state’s only Fortune 500
company, is parent of 13 subsidiaries involved
in the generation and sale of electricity, and
the purchase, sale and transportation of
natural gas to wholesale and retail customers
in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia.
It owns SCE&G, the primary provider of
electricity and natural gas for most of central
and southern South Carolina.
Trulite, among South Carolina’s first hydrogen companies, makes hydrogen cell
powered electric generators at the Business Accelerator at Midland Tech’s
Northeast Campus.
NO. 5
1,930 employees
SISTERS OF CHARITY
PROVIDENCE HOSPITALS
2435 Forest Drive, Columbia 29204; (803)
256-5300, www.providencehospitals.com
Sisters of Charity Providence Hospitals
owns Providence Hospital and Providence
Hospital Northeast. Providence Hospital
features cardiac care at Providence Heart
Institute, and Providence Northeast provides
treatment of diseases and injuries of the
bones, joints and spine at Providence
Orthopaedic & NeuroSpine Institute.
NO. 6
1,827 employees
UNITED PARCEL SERVICE
124 Creekside Road, West Columbia 29172;
(803) 742-5877, www.ups.com
The United Parcel Service facility in West
Columbia is one of seven U.S. air cargo hubs
for the Atlanta-based UPS of America. UPS
has had a package-collection gateway at
Columbia Metropolitan Airport since 1982,
and expanded its operations there to become
a regional hub in 1996.
NO. 7
radial tires for passenger vehicles and huge
tires for earth movers and other large
construction equipment.
NO. 8
1,700 employees
VERIZON WIRELESS
3400 Forest Drive 29204; (800) 575-4473,
www.verizonwireless.com
The Verizon Wireless 24-hour call center
handles customer service calls from around
the country in former retail space at Midtown
at Forest Acres mall.
NO. 9
1,400 employees
WACHOVIA
142 Main St. 29201; (803) 765-3172,
www.wachovia.com
The Charlotte-based bank, the fourthlargest U.S. bank holding company based on
assets, has 25 branch offices in the
Midlands. In 2008, Wells Fargo bought
Wachovia, but the name has not changed in
South Carolina.
NO. 10
1,223 employees
1,750 employees
WESTINGHOUSE NUCLEAR FUEL
MICHELIN NORTH AMERICA
5801 Bluff Road, Columbia29250; (803)
647-1000, www.westinghousenuclear.com
2420 Two Notch Road, Lexington 29072;
(803) 951-5200, www.michelin.com
The 550,000-square-foot Columbia plant
makes fuel for commercial nuclear reactors
generating electricity.
— Noelle Phillips
Michelin North America operates two
plants at the Lexington complex, producing
| THE STATE
| LIVING HERE
41
JG7189-47-0
| THE STATE
| LIVING HERE
JG7187-47-1
42
| THE STATE
| LIVING HERE
43
Efficient, reliable, clean – natural gas is the smart energy choice for your home. It’s not just about
comfort anymore. Natural gas appliances are more energy efficient, more cost-effective to operate,
last longer and require less maintenance. And, natural gas is one of the most environmentallyfriendly energy sources available.
When you purchase an Essex Home, you’ll enjoy the comfort, convenience and reliability of natural
gas. Plus, you’ll qualify for SCE&G’s lowest natural gas rate and lower energy bills. To learn more, call
1-866-523-8242 or visit SCE&G’s virtual home at sceg.com/value.
Please visit these fine Essex Homes Communities:
Commons at Winchester
Cobblestone Farms
The Preserve at Rolling Creek
Magnolia Point
Heritage Forest
Woodside Farm
Black River Place
Manors at White Knoll
www.essexhomes.net
www.comfortableresponsible.org
www.sceg.com/value
jf9275-68
| THE STATE
| LIVING HERE
JG5182-62-0
44

Making the most of your hometown

Transcription

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