Plus, meet this new zoo baby at Riverbanks Zoo
 
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The Blood Connection

Today’s Forecast

90º | Scattered thunderstorms | 60% chance of rain | Sunrise 6:18 a.m. | Sunset 8:39 p.m.
 

🎒 School is in session

25+ elementary, middle, and high schools in Columbia
Outside of the East Point Academy
East Point Academy is the No. 8 best charter elementary school in South Carolina. | Photo by COLAtoday
Columbia serves 100,000+ students who are enrolled in local public school districts. We’re giving you the 411 on enrollment, student-teacher ratio, tuition, and more on six major districts around the Midlands. And don’t worry, there won’t be any homework.

Last time we talked about our local schools, one of our readers raised their hand and said, “Please do not forget about public charter schools!” So, class is in session once again. Here are the top five charter schools in Columbia.

GREEN Charter School Midlands, 7820 Broad River Rd., Irmo
  • Grades K-8
  • Total enrollment: 290
  • Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
  • Tuition: Call for tuition information
  • No. 7 best charter elementary school in South Carolina
East Point Academy, 1401 Leaphart St., West Columbia
Richland One Charter Middle College, 316 S. Beltline Blvd., Columbia
  • Grades 11-12
  • Total enrollment: 77
  • Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
  • Tuition is free
  • No. 11 best charter high school in South Carolina
Gray Collegiate Academy, 3833 Leaphart Rd., West Columbia
  • Grades 8-12
  • Total enrollment: 670
  • Student-teacher ratio: 28:1
  • Tuition is free
  • No. 12 best charter high school in South Carolina
Midlands Middle College, 1260 Lexington Dr., West Columbia
Click the button below to read all the pertinent details about elementary, middle, and high schools in the Midlands.
25+ more local schools
Prisma Health
 
Events
Wednesday, July 5
  • Wild Wednesdays at Sesquicentennial State Park | Wednesday, July 5 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Sesquicentennial State Park, 9564 Two Notch Rd., Columbia | Explore and discover many of the plants and animals that call Sesqui home.
  • Blythewood Farmers Market | Wednesday, July 5, Wednesday, Aug. 2 | 4-7 p.m. | Doko Meadows Park, 171 Langford Rd., Blythewood | This market has food, live music, and special promotional events throughout the year.
Thursday, July 6
  • First Thursday on Main | Thursday, July 6, Thursday, Aug. 3 | 6 p.m. | Main Street, Columbia | Free | On the first Thursday of each month, businesses in downtown Columbia participate in First Thursday on Main by keeping their doors open late, offering a mix of specials, events, entertainment, and more.
Friday, July 7
  • Nashville Nights Concert Series | Friday, July 7, Friday, Aug. 4 | 6 p.m. | Steel Hands Brewing, 2350 Foreman St., Cayce | Free | Nashville Nights feature talented singer/songwriters traveling from Nashville, TN for special live music performances on stage, and who are writing and touring with some of the biggest names in music.
Saturday, July 8
  • Accessibility Morning | Saturday, July 8 | 9-11 a.m. | SC State Museum, 301 Gervais St., Columbia | Offered on the second Saturday of each month, this program allows children, teenagers, and adults who are neurodiverse, autistic, or have other disabilities to experience the museum’s exhibitions at their own pace and enjoy other special activities.
  • Big Tree Hike | Saturday, July 8 | 1-4 p.m. | Congaree National Park, 100 National Park Rd., Hopkins | Join Volunteer Park Naturalist John Cely for a guided hike to some of the park’s big trees.
  • Rosé Wine Tasting | Saturday, July 8 | 3-4 p.m. | Hampton Street Vineyard, 1207 Hampton St., Columbia | $33 | Try six different rosés with Advanced Sommelier Jonathan Lopez.
Calendar events here
Click here to have your event featured.
The Blood Connection
 
News Notes
Community
  • Riverbanks Zoo and Garden announced the arrival of a new baby harbor seal. The pup, born to proud parents Riley and Triton, is in good health and will be kept out of sight for a few weeks. The local zoo will be sharing regular updates as the pup grows.
Number
  • 534. That’s the number of families that were fed during the collaborative effort between Richland County + Harvest Hope Food Bank. The mobile food market held at Columbia Place Mall aimed to address food insecurity in the Midlands. Richland County employees, council members, and volunteers came together to collect and distribute food and supplies, exceeding their goal of serving 300 families. (Cola Daily)
Try This
  • Historic Columbia released its event calendar for July. Look forward to walking tours, summer camps, free Sundays, the 45th Annual Jubilee, and more.
Asked
  • What are the “unwritten rules” of Columbia? For example, we all know saying, “Sorry, I got stuck behind a train” is a legitimate excuse for being late. Send us your unspoken tips + need-to-knows from locals for the chance to be featured in an upcoming newsletter.
Soda Citizen
Eat
  • Calling all meat lovers: You may want to bookmark this recipe for bacon-wrapped sausage. Yes, you read that right.*
Giveaway
  • To celebrate our revamped referral program, we’re hosting a special giveaway until Wednesday, August 2, 2023. The top referrer will receive $500, and one additional person who refers at least one friend will automatically be entered for another $100 giveaway. Find the referral section at the bottom of this newsletter.
Health
  • Did you know that heart attacks are more common in men — but silent heart attacks (read: having a heart attack and not knowing it) happen more often in women? See the signs of a silent heart attack + what to do if you think you could be having one.*
 
Food

🍦 We all scream for ice cream

Get a taste of Columbia as a flavor of ice cream
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Lick local at Sweet Cream Company | Photo via @yumartsyfood
Recently, we asked you to come up with a unique ice cream flavor that describes Columbia and utilizes one to three locally sourced ingredients. After reading all of your responses, it’s safe to say that our mouths are watering. Here were some of our favorites:

Cottle Strawberry Farm ice cream topped with dark chocolate covered pecans from The Peanut Man and diced fresh strawberries. Called “Summer Strawberry Indulgence.” - Becky R.

Peach ice cream topped with a hummingbird cupcake from Lita’s Treats. Called “Peach Perfect.” - Lisa L.

A USC women’s basketball-themed ice cream featuring coffee ice cream using coffee from Oliver Gospel Roastery and topped with caramel popcorn bits from Carolina Kernels. Called “Natty Crunch.” - Madelyn S.

The only thing we need now is a local ice cream shop to make one of these flavors a reality. Sweet Cream Co., Scoopy Doo Gelato Shop, The Baked Bear — we’re looking at you.
3 more Columbia-inspired flavors
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  • It’s grilling season, and we want to make sure you are set for the summer. Elevate your grilling experience with flavors by Spicewalla.
Drink
  • On a water bottle hunt? Amazon’s No. 1 bestselling insulated bottle is the Owala FreeSip — it’s thoughtfully designed, leak proof, and keeps drinks cold.
Travel
  • Wanna save 40-90% on flights? Sign up for Going — a free travel membership — and you can browse deals immediately (like a $300+ round trip to Barcelona).
Outdoors
  • The perfect outdoor string lights do exist, and they’ve got a secret weapon: solar power. Light up your yard with a 50-ft strand.
 
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The Wrap
 
Samantha Robertson in a white shirt and grey vest

Today’s edition by:
Sam
From the editor
Exciting news, Soda Citizens. COLAtoday has joined TikTok to bring you even more engaging content. Follow us as we test drive this new platform, sharing local highlights + all things Columbia. Let’s connect, have fun, and explore together.
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