Learn how native plants and sustainable gardening techniques can benefit your home garden. | Photo via SC Native Plant Society
Want more from your lawn than just grass? You could turn it into a mini “national park.”
Meet Homegrown National Park, a nationwide grassroots movement that invites property owners to restore wildlife habitats through sustainable planting and the removal of invasive species.
Here’s how it works: Swap a portion of your lawn for native plants that support food webs for local fauna, then watch your yard transform into a natural oasis where wildlife thrives.
Explore the map for yourself. | Screenshot via Homegrown National Park
Registered habitats are tracked on a digital biodiversity map, so you can see which of your Capital City neighbors are pitching in.
Luxury living, redefined in Columbia and West Columbia
Presented by Estates & Companies
These mixed-use communities prioritize both aesthetic appeal and convenience, offering residents a unique lifestyle experience. | Photos by Kickstand Photography
Across Columbia and West Columbia, a collection of luxury mixed-development communities is redefining what it means to live well in the Midlands.
From striking riverfront views to walkable access to dining and entertainment, Estates and Companies offer residents a vibrant, connected lifestyle.
On the West Columbia riverfront, Brookland and 4 West combine striking architecture with scenic vistas and convenience. In Columbia, the Devine District just off Devine St. blends charm, modern design, and accessibility, with distinctive communities including:
Each community delivers high-end finishes and thoughtfully planned surroundings. Looking ahead, Devine & Heidt will join the portfolio in Fall 2026, continuing the neighborhood’s growth.
SODECIA AAPICO, a parts supplier for Scout Motors, will invest $120 million in a new 400,000 sqft manufacturing facility in Orangeburg County. The plant will create nearly 400 jobs and break ground Monday, Dec. 8, producing ladder frames for Scout’s Blythewood production center.
Coming Soon
Fetch this: A hybrid dog park + sports bar is coming to Lexington. Macie and Milo’s Brew Pup could open on Cromer Road as soon as March 1. It will have an off-leash play space, TVs for game days, workstations, and food and drinks served from an on-site truck. (Free Times)
Number
300,179,160 — that’s the number of miles Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) passengers traveled this year. That’s over 12,000 trips around the globe. See more of the CAE numbers in its wrapped post.
Read
Miss Cocky in Chapin will host a book signing with Coach Dawn Staley on Monday, Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5 and go toward any in-store purchase during the event.
Environment
SC may add 482 acres to the Congaree Bluffs Heritage Preserve. The blufftop land — nearly 200 ft above the Congaree River — offers views of the 27,000-acre National Park. (The State)
Seasonal
Here’s a chance to stop by the Governor’s Mansion next time you’re at Finlay Park. Gov. McMaster and First Lady Peggy McMaster will host a Christmas Open House on Sunday, Dec. 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. There’ll be live music, refreshments, and festive decor.
Home
Planning a move after the holidays?MovEase helps soon-to-be 2026 movers find trusted companies early, making the process smoother and less stressful. By searching four-six weeks ahead, users secure better options and rates. Check out the app.*
Featured Lot
This ±204.5-acre recreational tract offers ±4,200 feet of Camp Welfare Road frontage with public water and nearly a mile of interior creeks. Located minutes from Scout Motors, Columbia, and Rock Hill, it’s ideal for recreation, a private retreat, or long-term investment. Learn more.*
Shop
If you’re a Costco shopper, you know about the $1.50 hot dog. But are you in on these other 10 lesser-known hacks all Costco shoppers should know about? Wait until you see number six.*
Finance
This just in: 6% is the new 2%. This card is every reward-seeker’s dream, offering up to 6% cash back in categories you’ll actually use. Bonus: You can get 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers into 2027. Learn more and apply.*
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Time to “right-size?” A local interior designer has a few tips
Presented by Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community
Local interior designer Katherine Anderson has been working with clients looking to right-size their spaces for nearly three decades. | Photo provided by Still Hopes
Do you have one (or two) rooms you only enter once a year, squint at like an archeological dig, and then quietly back out of? It might be time to “right-size.”
Interior designer Katherine Anderson says it doesn’t have to feel dramatic. Before a move (or just a long-overdue purge) grab supplies, set up a donations box, pick one small area, and set a one-hour timer. Sort items into keep, donate, or toss. If you’ve got steam left, keep going; if not, celebrate the progress.
Discover clever, useful tech that solves everyday problems in this guide to 2025’s coolest gadgets. We’re talking a small but mighty home security upgrade, a power bank the size of a credit card, and more.
A cold and wet weekend is ahead of us, so a few events are being rescheduled. The first Screen on the Green at Finlay Park featuring “The Polar Express” will now take place on Friday, Dec. 12 at 6:30, and Jazz in the Park will move to Saturday, Dec. 13 from 4 to 7 p.m.
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