Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What’s changing at Columbia’s airport gateway and I‑77 Forest Drive exit?

Be sure to catch Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness on the Columbia Patch calendar

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Greetings Columbia! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • What's changing at Columbia's airport gateway and I‑77 Forest Drive exit?
  • How Meeting Street's lane reduction could change your Columbia commute
  • How a legendary New Wave band is coming back to Columbia

Also on today's calendar: Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: I'm a rock group with 4 members; one member was assassinated. What am I? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm, with a high of 91 and low of 72 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Saturday: Humid with a thunderstorm, temps: high: 85, low: 70.
  • Sunday: Cloudy, humid; a p.m. t-storm, with a high of 91 and low of 72 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Elevating the Midlands of SC (southcarolinapublicradio.org) — Columbia-area leaders are working to make the city's main gateways more welcoming, starting with landscaping and corridor upgrades from the airport into town. The Midlands Business Leadership Group also has its sights on improving the I‑77 and Forest Drive interchange, a key route for visitors heading to Fort Jackson and surrounding neighborhoods.
   

2. West Columbia set to begin Meeting Street transformation to enhance pedestrian safety and business access (wltx.com) — Drivers traveling between West Columbia and Columbia will soon see Meeting Street reduced from four lanes to three, with wider sidewalks, new medians, crosswalks, and on-street parking aimed at slowing traffic and improving pedestrian safety. Lane closures begin Monday, Sept. 14, with work stretching into March 2027, so Columbia-area commuters should plan for construction delays while businesses remain accessible throughout the project.
   

3. Swimming Pool Qs Celebrate 40th Anniversary of Blue Tomorrow with Columbia Return (news-usa.today) — Columbia is set to welcome back influential New Wave band Swimming Pool Qs for a September 2026 show celebrating the 40th anniversary of their album "Blue Tomorrow." The article highlights how Columbia helped build the band's early following and explains how legacy tours like this boost downtown venues, restaurants, and the broader local arts and tourism economy.
   

4. Law enforcement, firefighters gather for appreciation cookout in Irmo (wistv.com) — First responders from Columbia and across the Midlands gathered in nearby Irmo for an appreciation cookout hosted by Dunbar Funeral Home, honoring law enforcement and firefighters after recent local line‑of‑duty deaths and a serious Columbia house fire. Columbia-area leaders stressed mental health support, fellowship, and regional solidarity among agencies that routinely respond together in the toughest moments.
   

5. SC Secretary of State Mark Hammond Invites Nominations for 2026 Angel Charities (dillonnews.org) — State residents can now nominate standout charities for South Carolina's 2026 Angel Awards, with letters accepted through September 30 and mailed directly to the Secretary of State's Columbia office. To help you choose, the state offers its free Give Smart SC app so you can quickly check whether a charity is registered and how it spends donations.
   

📸 Around Columbia

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Dr. Mathai of Delta Dental of South Carolina - Oral, Vision and Brain Health Are Connected —Hauser Group Read on Patch
  • Please share & repost to help reunite this stray dog!
    Found on September 9, 2026 in Columbia, SC 29223 near Almeda Drive and Vega Drive Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to contact… (Nextdoor Highlands)
  • Edit: Found him!
    He came home! Lost cat. He is an indoor baby, ran out at about 4 this morning on Chaunticleer road in Clear Springs. About 3 months old, white with… (Nextdoor Brickyard)
  • Government Jobs posted a job opening for Administrative Specialist II / Titling & Licensing Specialist III - 192410 in Columbia. Apply here.
  • Buckle posted a job opening for Freight Coordinator (Part-Time) in Columbia. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Columbia here.

Ok Columbia! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Mount Rushmore (Thank you J.J. W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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