Lexington School District 1’s Education Foundation has awarded covid-19 relief to district schools.

The district’s 31 schools will split $76,788 in Helping Hands grants to assist families in need through the covid-19 pandemic.

The grants were made possible by the Educational Foundation’s LEAP Emergency Fund.

The funds will go to students with emergency needs and to help employees by providing food, paying utility bills for parents who have a temporary job loss due to covid-19 and provide winter clothing for students whose families are financially struggling to survive.

Substitute teachers needed

Lexington-Richland School District 5 is in need of additional substitute teachers for the 2020–2021 school year.

Available positions include substitute teachers, substitute teacher assistants and substitute custodians. The minimum education requirement is a high school diploma/GED.

Apply by emailing a resume and interest to the local team at 544C@Kellyservices. com or apply online at kellyservices.com.

Scholarships available

The South Carolina State Fair is accepting applications for its Ride of Your Life Scholarship program.

Fifty $6,000 scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors across the state and will be paid out at $1,500 a year over 4 years. Students pursuing 2-year degrees will receive $1,500 per year.

The scholarship funds must be used at a South Carolina university, college, or institution and may cover tuition or other educational expenses such as on-campus housing, a computer, or textbooks.

Scholarship applications must be completed online at scstatefair.org by Mar. 15. The State Fair Scholars will be notified in May.

Tots receive 20 million toys

Toys for Tots, the US Marine Corps’ premiere community outreach program, delivered a record setting 20.2 million toys to 7.4 million less fortunate children in 2020.

Lexington County, supported by the Eastover campaign, distributed over 28,000 toys to 6,500 children.

New downtown restaurant

Downtown Lexington continues to move from retail to restaurants.

The former Carpet One at 102 West Main Street will become home in a few months to family-friendly Navy Yard Biergarten & Restaurant with live entertainment.

Gavin Smith, managing partner of Vision Ventures Investment Group, and co-owners Matthew Pace and Cody Cook are partnering with KCR Properties owned by Jeremy Addy and his family.

The restaurant will serve lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday and brunch Saturday and Sunday.

New Girl Scout leadership

Girl Scouts of South Carolina – Mountains to Midlands has elected 3 new members to the Board of Directors serving a 22-county jurisdiction, including one from Lexington. Newly-elected Michelle

Newly-elected Michelle White is VP of Field Development and Client Management for Colonial Life. She earned her Girl Scout Silver and Gold awards, has a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Connecticut and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Maine.

Food Lion opens in Cayce

Neighbors in Cayce have a new shopping option.

Food Lion has opened at 300 Knox Abbott Drive. The new store will have approximately 75 associates and serve customers daily from 7 am until 11 pm.

Food Lion recently completed the acquisition of this location, which was formerly a BI-LO, after announcing its plans last year to acquire 62 BI-LO/Harveys Supermarkets across the Carolinas and Georgia.

Pamper your pets Jessica Roberts believes pets deserve lux

Jessica Roberts believes pets deserve luxury vacations, too.

She owns and operates Pet Vacations, a luxury boutique for animals in Irmo.

Dogs can experience a variety of suites at Pet Vacations ranging from a “park suite” with an elevated bed, soothing music and a bedtime treat, to a “celebrity luxury suite” with a full size bed, 32 in. flat-screen TV featuring a Dog TV channel, a daily maid service with linen change, and room service available. The business also offers a “junior boutique suite” specifically for small dogs, with its own VIP private play park. Prices range from $30 to $80 per day.

Pet Vacations is at 10013 Broad River Rd, Irmo. Details at www.petvacationsirmo.com.

Who’s new at Flight Deck

2 new restaurants have opened in the Flight Deck Shopping Center on Old Chapin Road.

The Lexington Nutrition and Energy has opened by Dan Dolan and his wife Mallory. The couple moved here from Texas where they had several locations for their healthy shakes and teas business.

Hours of operation are Monday - Friday 7 am - 2 pm and Saturday 9-2. A grand opening celebration will be held

A grand opening celebration will be held Saturday including music, giveaways and raffle prizes.

Fusión Cocina Latina is at 109-K Old Chapin Road, formerly Nooch and Lalo.

Owner Yesie Hernandez moved from Costa Rica 20 years ago and graduated from the University of South Carolina.

The menu includes chori-queso, yuca frita con mojo (fried yuca chips alongside a garlic sauce), churrasco con camarones (skirt steak with shrimp), mofongo (a Puerto Rican dish made of smashed plantains), churros and other Latin fusion dishes.