09.13.2023

Today’s Forecast

83º | Thunderstorms | 70% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:05 a.m. | Sunset 7:37 p.m.

🦒 Walk on the wild side

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden’s Bridge to the Wild project: Phase 2

Rendering of a new restaurant that would overlook the orangutan exhibit + the Saluda River | Photo provided by Riverbanks Zoo

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is looking to expand its “Bridge to the Wild” project into Phase 2 and provided updates.

Phase 1, initiated in 2019, brought:

Infrastructure improvements
The new Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Aquarium & Reptile Conservation Center
Brought white rhinos back to Riverbanks after 30 years
Currently helping to develop the Komodo dragon breeding facility + a new state-of-the-art education facility.

Watch this seven-minute video to see what the local zoo has in store as the Bridge to the Wild project continues to expand. Locals can expect:

River development
New restaurant overlooking the Saluda River and new orangutan exhibit
New SC nature and history preserve
Aerial trams
New walkways + habitats that house black bears, red wolves, and bald eagles

SC nature trail with black bear.png — Rendering of new SC nature trail with black bears | Rendering provided by Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

The Zoo is seeking funding for Phase Two through a twenty-year general obligation bond. It’s estimated that a ~$44.8 million investment from Richland County + a ~$35.2 million investment will be made by Lexington County.

Official requests for consideration of the bond by both counties have been delivered, and each county will now determine the timeline for the next steps.

The adjustment wouldn’t impact property owners until 2025, and the estimated maximum cost of $7.20 per $100,000 of assessed property value would occur in 2026. The impact will then decrease each year until the bond’s expiration.

“This development will keep Riverbanks as one of the top-ranked zoos in the country and a must-see attraction bringing countless tourists to the Midlands,” says Chuck Whipple, VP Director of Business Development, ECS Southeast. “More importantly, it will lead development along the rivers.”

The project is expected to create 500 jobs + increase Riverbanks’ economic impact in the Midlands to over $175 million annually.

Events

Wednesday, Sept. 13

Read to a Dog | Wednesday, Sept. 13 | 4-5 p.m. | Richland Library North Main, 5306 North Main St., Columbia | Free | Join Susanne and her certified dog to practice reading with a furry friend.

Thursday, Sept. 14

Columbia’s Greek Festival | Thursday, Sept. 14-Sunday, Sept. 17 | Times vary | Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1900 Main St., Columbia | Price of purchase | Enjoy the music, atmosphere, food, drinks, and learn a little about Greek culture.
Mt. Joy | Thursday, Sept. 14 | 8 p.m. | The Township Auditorium, 1703 Taylor St., Columbia | $35-$46 | Groove to Mt. Joy — a five-piece indie rock band based in Los Angeles with roots in Philadelphia.

Friday, Sept. 15

PARK(ing) Day | Friday, Sept. 15 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m | Downtown Columbia | Free | PARK(ing) Day is an annual open-source global event where citizens, artists, and activists collaborate to temporarily transform metered parking spaces into PARK(ing) spaces — temporary public spaces.
Oktoberfest | Friday, Sept. 15 | 12-10 p.m. | Steel Hands Brewing, 2350 Foreman St., Cayce | Free to attend | Celebrate Oktoberfest with authentic German music, contests and a delicious menu of Oktoberfest-themed delights + a stein of Festbier.
Noah Cyrus |Friday, Sept. 15 | 8 p.m. | The Senate, 1022B Senate St., Columbia | $28 | Get tickets to see Noah Cyrus on her “The Hardest Part” tour inside The Senate.

Saturday, Sept. 16

2023 Midlands Fall Arts & Crafts Market Extravaganza | Saturday, Sept. 16 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | South Carolina State Farmers Market, 3483 Charleston Hwy., West Columbia | Free | Over 170 crafters and vendors from all over the Midlands will be showcasing their talents and creations.
Jubilee: Festival of Black History & Culture | Saturday, Sept. 16 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Mann-Simons Site, 1403 Richland St., Columbia | Free | Now in its 45th year, this free festival brings musicians, artisans, and storytellers together to celebrate South Carolina’s black history and culture on the grounds of the Mann-Simons Site.

Calendar events here

Click here to have your event featured.

Asked

Prisma Health On Call: Ask your breast cancer questions

COLA.GVL-Prisma Health On Call breast cancer-9.13.23.jpeg

Women over 40 are encouraged to schedule a mammogram annually (since early detection is prevention). | Photo provided by Prisma Health

As October draws near, you might start seeing Breast Cancer Awareness Month ads and reminders to get a mammogram pop up on your social feeds. Our pro tip: Don’t keep scrolling.

Next to skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the US. The good news: If caught early, an incredible 99% of women survive at least five years after diagnosis.

That’s why for this month’s installment of Prisma Health On Call, we’re connecting readers to Prisma Health specialists who are on call and ready to answer your questions regarding breast cancer prevention, detection, surgery + reconstruction.

Think:
❓ If I don’t have a family history of breast cancer, do I really need to get a mammogram?
❓ What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
❓ If I’m diagnosed, can diet, exercise, and other lifestyle choices help?
❓ Are there any new treatments?

Submit your questions, and we’ll share the experts’ answers in a few weeks.

Ask the experts

News Notes

Announced

Get ready for blastoff. Discounted tickets for the South Carolina State Fair are on sale now, offering up to 50% off on admission and rides. Purchase your ticket by Wednesday, Oct. 10 at Circle K stores or the State Fair website. This year’s theme is “Meet me at The Rocket.”

Civic

Want to help make a difference in your community? The City of Columbia is looking to fill vacant positions on various boards and commissions, including the Board of Zoning Appeals + Columbia Housing Authority.. Applications must be submitted by Saturday, Sept. 30.

Edu

Beginning next fall, USC will admit the top 10% of all SC high school graduates, aiming to increase rural student applicants. Admissions criteria won’t change, but it aims to provide opportunities to students from less-represented areas and support first-generation students. (The Daily Gamecock)

Number

300. That’s the number of games Shelley Smith, Women’s Soccer Head Coach at USC, has won. Coach Shelley has been the head coach for over two decades and we caught up with her to ask her six questions. Take a look.

Community

Speaking of Riverbanks — there’s a new baby, but they may be difficult to spot. The zoo’s herpetology team successfully hatched an endangered neon day gecko, native to Madagascar. The tinygecko will be nurtured in the Conservation Lab before joining the adults in the Aquarium & Reptile Conservation Center.

Shop

Join femme x COLUMBIA a for a swap meet and yard sale event on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 2 to 5 p.m. Shop for various items like home goods, clothing, art, and furniture.

Plan Ahead

Save the date for Saturday, Oct. 7. Hazelwood Brewing Company is hosting a Steinfest in collaboration with Bierkeller Columbia. The event will be serving a dark, German lagerbier called a Steinbier and feature live music + German food. Enjoy these seven other Oktoberfests happening around Soda City.

The Word

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU). A new minimally invasive treatment for prostate cancer that allows physicians to target cancer with pinpoint accuracy. See the benefits of HIFU + how it changes how prostate cancer is treated.*

Eat

We may be deep into PSL season, but we still have one more week until fall officially begins. Pro tip: Say goodbye to summer with this blueberry lemon sorbet (no ice cream maker required).*

Home

Dramatic and moody, yet tranquil and grounded. Are we describing ourselves, or Sherwin-Williams’ Color of the Month for September 2023? Discover the color for your next home project.^

Shop

Shop 9.13.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

Seasonal

Put your holiday gifting headaches in the past with Six & Main’s gifting quiz. Get the perfect gift for your friends and family with just a few clicks. Start quiz.

Arts

Kathyphantastic items are perfect for spicing up your wardrobe, water bottle, or fridge. From unique magnets to art prints, shop the collection.

Drink

The internet’s favorite tumbler — the 40-oz. Stanley Quencher — is in stock in cute colors like pool, jade, and orchid.

Travel

Love flying first class? Snag an Elite membership from Going and get emailed when first + business class flights are 40-90% off (hello, European vacation).

Wellness

It doesn’t get more luxurious than the Drowsy sleep mask, which is silky smooth on skin and completely light-blocking for the deepest sleep.

Answered

Last week we asked you to write a short story about a day spent in Columbia. Here’s what James R. said:

UofSC horseshoe — Take a *trip* down memory lane at USC’s horseshoe | Photo by @hopewoolf

The character I would imagine would spend their day humbly reminiscing about their time spent living in Columbia as a young adult (maybe 18-28) as many people have probably experienced Columbia through this lens. He would venture through the USC campus slowly taking everything in as if he could see the campus from the fresh point of view he had when he first arrived in Columbia.

Seeing strange but familiar faces warms his heart as he is reminded of the eager anticipation he was replete with when he first left the comfortable nest of his parent’s home for the start of adult life. Sitting down on the Horseshoe’s evergreen and plush grass, he can see the “Cool Beans” and decides to take a trip through memory lane.

The aromas of complex and deep coffee mixed with the delightfully sweet scent of warm cinnamon buns rushes into him, and he is instantly transported to the memory of all the times he had studied at the nook in the back room left of the bar. His heart flutters as reminisces about all the romantic interests he took to his favorite coffee place in Columbia. Smiling, he walks out with a hot, black coffee ready to make his way to the destination on his itinerary...

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The Wrap

Samantha Robertson in a white shirt and grey vest

Today’s edition by:
Sam

From the editor

I just want to say a big thank you to our readers who take the time to put together the puzzles, respond to our Asked modules, and email us with scoops, tips, and kind messages.

It truly put a smile on our faces to read through James R.'s creative writing prompt of how his main character would spend a day in Columbia. If you ever want to ask questions, give us a local scoop, or just say hi, our inbox is always open.

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