🌱 Thousands At St. Pat's In Five Points + COMET Hub Heads North

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:

Mostly sunny and pleasant. High: 71 Low: 43.

Here are the top three stories today in Columbia:

1. For the first time in three years, thousands of Columbia residents and visitors gathered at the St. Pat's in Five Points celebration on Saturday. The festivities included regional and national musical acts, a parade along Devine Street, and Irish food and drinks. According to the Five Points Association, the event typically draws around 45,000 people; the Columbia Police Department reports it should have an estimated headcount in the coming days. (WIS News 10)
2. In an effort to ease traffic congestion downtown, The COMET bus system is moving its transfer bus hub to northern Columbia. By the end of 2022, the hub will move from its current home at Lauren and Sumter Streets to its new location at Lucius Road and River Drive. According to Pamela Bynoe-Reed, director of marketing for The COMET, the current hub will be converted into a "super stop" where riders can make multiple connections more easily. (WLTX.com)
3. The Richland County Sheriff's Department is seeking the public's health in finding a missing teen who may be in danger. According to a statement from the department, 17-year-old Naomi Shaffer was last seen on Mar. 13; she was last known to be in the Two Notch Road and Percival Road area. Anyone with information on Shaffer's case is asked to contact Midlands Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC or call 911. (WLTX.com)

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Today in Columbia:

• Support Parent Training - Family Connection of South Carolina (10:00 AM)
• Working With Words - Family Connection of South Carolina (12:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Art Blossoms event tickets are now available to the general public. The Columbia Museum of Art will kick off the festivities the night of Wednesday, May 4 with the Art Blossoms Opening Celebration and follow it with four dazzling days of flowers and art. (Facebook)
• Ice cream or tacos? Why not both? Former Columbia firefighter Sonia Norman is tackling her next adventure as restaurant owner of IceCream Taco in Lexington. (Instagram)
• Calling all current and prospective homebuyers: these new Columbia properties could be your next "home sweet home." (Columbia Patch)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Divorce & The Home – the Spring Housing Market – Vesta's South Carolina Hub (March 22)
• American Diabetes Association Diabetes Alert Day: Understand Your Risk (March 22)
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You're officially in the loop for today! See you 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.