Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann and representatives from the Babcock Center unveiled this year’s “Official City Ornament” at a press conference on November 3. This year’s ornament depicts Riverfront Park. It is the 31st ornament in the collectors’ series. Each ornament is 24-karat gold on brass and comes in a feltContinue Reading

Mimosa Garden Club is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year. The club was organized and federated in 1938. In celebration of their anniversary David Stoudenmire, President of the Garden Club of South Carolina was a special guest speaker at a recent meeting. Stoudenmire congratulated the club on its anniversary andContinue Reading

Annika Thomas, Community Relations Manager for the Richland County Public Library, spoke on October 20 to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo. Thomas quickly dispelled any antiquated notions that libraries are merely institutions where books can be accessed. That having been established, Thomas did detail how RCPL strives to addressContinue Reading

On September 29, the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo held its annual Day of Giving during which more than $30,000 was donated to 20 causes. The common thread of the recipients is that each of them works to improve the lives of the youth of the Midlands. Many of theContinue Reading

On October 13 the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo held a banquet celebrating the transfer of power. At the banquet, outgoing President Larry Blosser ended a successful year by symbolically passing the gavel to incoming President Kerry Powers. Powers became the first woman to lead the club in its 52-yearContinue Reading

This month, Make-A-Wish South Carolina elected Meredith Dial, marketing manager for Dial Grimm and Rupert, to the chapter’s board of directors. “We are overjoyed to add Meredith Dial as a director to our board. We are honored to have another director who understands our mission so well. Meredith embodies aContinue Reading

Local personality Charlie Benton spoke to the St. Andrews Optimist Club on September 15. Benton hosted an AM radio talk show with his father for several years and now coaches sales organizations regarding their sales techniques and their promotional/advertising efforts. Pictured are Club President Larry Blosser, Benton, and speaker sponsorContinue Reading

The Junior League of Columbia recently awarded The Cooperative Ministry a special Done in a Day gift of $3,055.89 to fund improvements for its clothing bank store setting, where clients shop for free clothing needed for work or school. The gift was used to buy new merchandise signage, shopping carts,Continue Reading

Councilman Bill Danielson, who has spoken to St. Andrews Optimists in the past, appeared September 8 in his new role as a candidate for Mayor of the Town of Irmo. Having announced formally, Danielson spoke to the club about both his motivations for seeking the office and about some ofContinue Reading