🌱 Black History Parade & Festival Returns + Free COVID Testing

Hello again, Columbia! Important update: You all, as readers, have made the Columbia Daily so successful that it is my honor to announce the next stage of the newsletter. Patch is looking for a local writer and entrepreneur to take the helm of the Columbia Daily. Although I have loved getting to know this community, we want to pass the torch to someone truly local to write about Columbia long term. So if you’re interested in earning extra income while making this newsletter a more valuable resource for your neighbors, learn more and apply here.

First, today's weather:

A passing shower. High: 79 Low: 59.

Here are the top three stories today in Columbia:

1. Columbia's 17th annual Black History Parade and Festival is returning this weekend for the first time in two years. The parade will start at 1 p.m. on the corner of Hampton St. and Harden Swith the festival taking place at MLK Park from 1 to 5 p.m. Alex English and Bishop Redfern II will be the Grand Marshals for the parade. (ColaDaily.com)
2. Free COVID-19 testing and vaccines will be available at COMET Central this week. They will be open from Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The COMET Central is located at 1727 Sumter Street. (Abccolumbia.com)
3. A body was found in the wreckage of an overnight fire at 5432 Pinestraw Road. Tawarna Mitchell, 65, was killed in the fire that occurred on Monday night. No one else was in the house during the fire. (The State)

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Today in Columbia:

• CTE Spring Advisory Board Breakfast At Ridge View HS Library Commons (8:00 AM)
• Outdoor Family Storytime At Richland Library Main (10:00 AM)
• Marcus Gullen At Za's On Devine (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The 2022 Columbia Fireflies Minor League season will begin on time as scheduled at Segra Park on April 8! Read the full official statement regarding the 2022 season in the link. (Facebook)
• This Saturday, help protect wildlife and wild places with Riverbanks Zoo and Garden during the 4th annual Wild About Recycling event. A variety of materials will be accepted. Visit www.riverbanks.org for additional details. (Facebook)
• In a bonus episode of Binder podcast out today, Columbia’s poet laureate, Dr. Ed Madden, joins host Ray McManus to share some poetry and talk about growing up in the South, coming out to his family, and more in this extended interview. (Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Learn How To Reduce Your Risk For Heart Disease During American Heart Month (February 28)
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You're officially in the loop for today! See you all tomorrow for another update.

— Dan Casarella

About me: Dan Casarella is a writer, podcast producer, and small business development specialist who formerly worked in late-night television. He’s produced many talk segments, including with President Joe Biden, Kobe Bryant, and Chadwick Boseman. Dan studied Media Studies and Production at Temple University. He also enjoys running, painting, and the highs and lows of Philadelphia’s sports teams.