AROUND TOWN

Publix Super Markets has been given the United Way of the Midlands Community Champion Award for Best Overall Performance.

This award is given to companies that give through volunteer service for United Way’s community partner agencies.

Publix matched its local employee donations of more than $608,000.

Clemson honor

Clemson University has named its Construction Science and Management Department for Michael Nieri and his wife Robyn of Chapin.

Nieri, owner of Great Southern Homes, made a generous gift to Clemson’s Construction Science and Management Department. As a result, Clemson named the department “The Nieri Family Department of Construction Science and Management,” the only named department in the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities.

Kids get in free to museum

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, the South Carolina State Museum is offering free general admission to kids 12 and under during Space Week, July 20 through July 28.

This special week-long event, sponsored by Boeing, is loaded with space themed excitement for the entire family.

Guests will get to discover the museum’s newly renovated 13,000 square foot space gallery, complete with a state-of- the-art, 360 degree, interactive digital globe.

Feeding the hungry

Food Lion has donated a refrigerated truck to Harvest Hope food bank.

The truck will take perishable food to Lexington County charities and others in the Midlands.

Harvest Hope serves 20 out of 46 South Carolina counties, is affiliated with 439 non-profit partners and served more than 2 million individuals in the last fiscal year.

Extra cash for teachers

Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation has introduced an educator program.

As a part of it, local teachers and administrators are paid $21 an hour for much needed auxiliary support of company operations.

More than 650 teachers are currently registered to assist the 1,000-plus Nephron employees.

Nephron is just outside of Cayce, in Lexington County.

Who’s new

• Lexington-Richland School District 5 named Melanie Cohen its new coordinator of personnel.

• Cohen previously served as principal of River Springs Elementary School, a position she has held since 2009.

She replaces John Young, who retired from the position earlier this month.

• Lexington native Patty Wise has joined the Building Industry Association of Central SC.

Wise joins as the association’s sales and marketing council director for special events.

Wise will provide support to the 24-member SMC Board of Directors, while representing over 300 members of the Sales & Marketing Council of Greater Columbia.

Contact her at (803) 256-6238 or e-mail patty@columbiabuilders.com .

Triangle City construction

Renovation is underway on 1205 D Avenue in Triangle City in West Columbia to create a new flex space.

Joe E. Taylor Jr., the former SC secretary of commerce, is redeveloping the former medical office building.

SEED Architecture of Columbia is the architect for remodeling, and Boyer Commercial Construction of Columbia is handling the renovation of the 3,700-sq-foot building.

The renovation is expected to be completed by the end of 2019, and the building will be available for purchase or lease.

Hackers attack Midlands Tech

Cybercriminals closed Midlands Technical College computers Wednesday.

They inserted a virus that could have affected the entire college system.

Officials shut down the system to prevent the virus from being spread.

For several hours, administrators, faculty and students could not use email or online classes, Midlands Tech spokesperson Stefanie Goebeler said.

Midlands Tech officials are investigating how it happened. They do not believe any data was lost and all systems are back to normal.

Colleges and universities are popular targets. The University of South Carolina has been hit by more than 100 million cyber attacks.

New West Columbia restaurant

Primal Gourmet opened its doors July 15 in the former McGee Auction building at 725 Meeting St.

Their fresh market includes local produce, meats, seafood and dry goods. All of the products in the market are grown in SC.