Good morning, Columbia. Considering this year has been a wash for social outings and making new friends, we’ve decided to launch a special project to help you feel a little more connected.
We’ve heard a lot about how 2020 has encouraged people to get back to the basics — bread baking, at-home exercise, calling people on the phone… And in the spirit of that, we’re inviting you to join #6AMPenPals. Bonus: social distancing protocols are already built-in.
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Here’s how it works: Click the button below to fill out our form by Wednesday, August 5 (if you’ve already signed up, you don’t have to do it again). We’ll need your name and email address. In mid- to late August, you’ll receive an email matching you with a randomly-selected pen pal in one of our six sister cities — Asheville, NC; Raleigh, NC; Greenville, SC; Charleston, SC; Chattanooga, TN; or Lakeland, FL.
The rest is up to you. It’s our hope that you’ll reach out to your pen pal and begin sharing thoughts and experiences about what’s happening in your respective cities, comparing notes, opening dialogue + building a unique friendship. Then, on September 1 — World Letter Writing Day — we encourage you to send a letter to your pen pal (yes, a letter) using the good ole USPS. Be sure to share on social + tag us #COLAtoday #6AMPenPals to commemorate the day.
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○ On Friday, State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman announced everyone (two-years-old and older) inside public schools will be required to wear face masks, including faculty and students. The Department of Education will provide five cloth masks to teachers, bus drivers, custodians + food service workers. (The State)
○ Put up your lederhosen back in the closet – the 2020 Columbia Oktoberfest has been cancelled due to concerns over the coronavirus.
○ On Friday, Ray Tanner, Athletics Director for the University of South Carolina, speculated that attendance at Williams-Brice Stadium this fall will be “maybe north of 20,000.” This estimate is about 25% of the arena’s normal 80,000+ capacity. (The State)
○ South Carolina is receiving $14.3 million in funding for gap financing for small businesses and entrepreneurs from the US Department of Commerce. The City of Columbia will receive $2.9 million of this to deliver in grants. (CRBR)
Click the button below for local resources regarding the coronavirus.
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Columbia coronavirus resources
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Hey, there. Looking for today’s #MustDo events? In accordance with the
CDC’s recommendations regarding public gatherings, we have decided to postpone public event coverage for the time being. We look forward to bringing you Columbia’s #MustDo events soon (until then, feel free to submit your virtual events
here).
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What’s that buzz happening in Lake City? While the annual Art Fields festival was cancelled this year there is still a lot going on. Follow the Art Fields instagram account for more updates including two new art shows opening this month. If you are missing the new art vibes from the festival, visit the website here to see the 2020 artwork online.
The art must go on. |
#DYK that your photo could be featured in our newsletter? Just use #COLAtoday on social media.
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Weather
○ 82º | Thunderstorms | 90% chance of rain
Community
○ Plans have been proposed for a Black Lives Matter mural in Columbia. Residents of the Rosewood neighborhood are gathering signatures in support of a mural along Jim Hamilton Blvd. Local artist Margaret Carnes designed a mock-up for the proposed mural and currently, the petition has 1,100+ signatures. (The State)
Arts
○ The Koger Center for the Arts announced last week that artist Kimberly Case has been selected winner of the 1593 Project. The exhibition focusing on Kimberly Case’s work + including submissions from other artists will be held in the Upstairs Gallery at the Koger Center for the Arts at a later date. The call for art received over 50 submissions from both performing and visual artists throughout SC.
Cause
○ United Way of the Midlands Young Leaders Society is hosting a virtual school supply drive to support upcoming kindergarten students in Richland, Lexington, Fairfield + Orangeburg. Donors can make purchases online to ensure contactless donations through August. Those interested in supporting can visit the donation page. (Cola Daily)
○ The College Food Insecurity Subcommittee is collecting gift cards until August 14 to help fill the food banks on local campuses before classes resume. This subcommittee is supporting the food pantries on 5 local campuses including Columbia College, Allen University, Benedict College, USC's undergraduate program + the USC Law School. (WLTX)
WaterCooler
○ The NCAA will allow student-athletes in all sports to wear social justice statements on their uniforms, including patches, replacing last names with words to celebrate or memorialize people, events, or other causes.
NowOpen
○ The Ballentine location of Pelicans, located at 1600 Dutch Fork Rd., celebrated its grand reopening last week after being closed since May 16 due to a fire. (Cola Daily)
PlanAhead
○ Historic Columbia is hosting a Research Roundtable series that will take a deeper look at the history of the State House + its monuments. Register here for the first virtual roundtable that will discuss the History of Confederate Monuments on the SC State House Grounds from noon-1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4. Register here for the second discussion covering the Last 50 Years: A Modern State House Grounds on Tuesday, Aug. 18 from noon-1p.m. These events are free for Historic Columbia members.
Apply
○ Dominos is hiring more than 300 employees at over 20 locations in the Midlands. Open positions include delivery drivers, assistant managers + managers. Apply here. (WIS)
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BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is debunking COVID-19 myths and sharing real facts with Rumor vs. Real, part of the Slow the Spread SC campaign | Image provided
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❌ Rumor: Wearing a mask won’t keep me from getting COVID-19. ✅ Real: Wearing a mask helps protect the people you come in contact with by decreasing the risk that you will spread COVID-19 to others.
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is debunking COVID-19 myths and sharing real facts with Rumor vs. Real.
Wanna get really real? Masking up = prioritizing collective safety over individual convenience.
Share why you wear a mask on social using #SlowtheSpreadSC. Ⓟ
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