community news
Sustainable Midlands Hosts Tasty Tomato Festival
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ime for a tasty celebration! On Saturday, July 23, from 1 to 4 p.m., Sustainable Midlands—a champion of the region’s sustainable food efforts—will host its annual Palmetto Tasty Tomato Festival at a brand new location: the historic, community-driven neighborhood of Cottontown, in Columbia's North Main District. The festival is a family-friendly event that offers a variety of fun and exciting activities for all ages. Festivalgoers can cool off and enjoy tomato tasting and more inside of the NoMa Warehouse and Indah Coffee cafe while things heat up with live music and a variety of vendors featured on Sumter Street between Jefferson and Franklin streets. Tickets are on sale now ($10 in advance and $15 day of). Admission is free for children ages 10 and under. To encourage biking as alternative transportation, the day-of admission amount will be discounted to $10 for cyclists. Firearms are not permitted inside the festival areas, and COVID-19 safety measures and protocols will be in effect. As a note, festival proceeds will go to support Sustainable Midlands’ local community programs and help to promote local businesses. As a part of the festivities, Sustainable Midlands is hosting a Tasty Tomato kickoff party the night before on Friday, July 22, at Gardener's Outpost’s new location: 1211 Franklin Street, in Columbia. The pre-event celebration will include a preview of the festival's offerings, drinks, small bites, live music, and admission to Saturday’s festival—all for only $50.
How Ceiling Fans Keep Us Cooler and Help Save Money!
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eiling fans can be ideal for helping to keep living spaces cooler and comfortable without running up the utility bill. With record temperatures soaring around the Midlands and summer starting to settle in, ceiling fans can make a significant difference. Here are some of the reasons and ways: Ceiling fans can actually make it feel at least four degrees cooler. In addition, the usage of ceiling fans costs about .003 cents per hour, whereas air conditioners can cost up to a dollar an hour. Many are unaware that by adequately setting a ceiling fan’s rotation direction in the summer, one can save as much as 30 percent on cooling costs. Ceiling fans primarily work through a wind chill effect, essentially moving air across the skin to help evaporate sweat instead of reducing the room temperature. If no one is in the room, the fan should be turned off. As an important note, ceiling fans should be set to spin counterclockwise, so that the blades push down cool air into the rest of the room. For more information, call 803-545-2722.
For more information, visit TastyTomatoFestival.org or SustainableMidlands.org/events. See ad, page 5.
ICRC Hosts Sunset on the Shoals – Paddle and Wine Tasting
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re you ready for a great time on the water? On Friday, July 8, from 6 to 8 p.m., the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission (ICRC) is hosting its Sunset on the Shoals event at Saluda Shoals Park. For adults ages 21 and up, participants will enjoy an interpretive paddle tour on the Saluda River while learning about the rich and unique history of the area. The paddle tour will be followed by a wine tasting. The trip is dependent on the weather and river levels. Boats and all necessary equipment will be provided. Cost: $47 per person. Location: Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Rd., Columbia. For more information, contact Lindsay Hudson at 803-213-2062 or LHudson@icrc.net. Also visit icrc.net.
July 2022
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