A Lexington teacher is in line to get big help with an extreme classroom makeover.

Lexington Elementary art teacher Rebecca Spires entered the KI Classroom Furniture Giveaway, with three winners, one from each region of the contest, set to receive $40,000 worth of furniture to carry out the “classroom makeover of their dreams,” according to a company press release.

Spires, who has been teaching at the school for 10 years, was named one of the three finalists for her region. Voting in the final round goes through March 3 at ki.com/design-resources/classroom-planner/classroom-furniture-giveaway, with winners announced March 10 by the school furniture company.

According to the contest site, nearly 500 teachers applied from across the U.S., with the finalists “painstakingly selected by our education team.”

Each contestant submitted a design plan to be considered, with Spires explaining in her entry video that she “wanted her students to take ownership of [the] learning space.” This guided her design, which includes height-adjustable tables, stools (because they’re more conducive to messy hands) and a calming corner “where students could be reflective and reset their minds and be ready for an awesome day with the arts.”

Make that 2 mobile cigar lounges in Lexington County

Earlier this week, the Chronicle ran a story about a new mobile cigar lounge, Tobacco in Tow, which is set to make its debut this weekend at Steel Hands Brewing in Cayce.

Well, it turns out that’s not the only mobile cigar lounge operating out of the county.

SC Cigars Mobile Lounge, which is based out of West Columbia, reached out to the Chronicle after seeing our story to tell us about the movable stogie experience it has offered for about a year now.

“Our Mobile Cigar Lounge is a 32-foot custom bus, with indoor seating for up to 12 people,” the company’s website states. “It features luxurious leather seating, elegant interior décor with VIP Red Carpet entrance, 50” TV screen with satellite TV, audio system, onboard bathroom, custom air ventilation, and air purification systems. The lounge is stocked with custom ashtrays, table-top torch lighters, punchers, and cutters.”

More info on the business can be found at scigarsmobile.com.

Lexington mayor to chair council candidate’s steering committee

In addition to the endorsement he announced last week, Lexington Mayor Steve MacDougall is doing even more to help Gavin Smith get elected to Lexington Town Council.

The candidate announced Feb. 28 that MacDougall will chair his campaign steering committee in his bid to win the May 2 special election to replace Steve Baker following his resignation ahead of a move to Florida.

Smith, the owner of his own public and government relations firm and a partner in the scuttled Navy Yard on Main beer garden, was the first candidate to announce his intentions to seek the seat, doing so the day after Baker announced his departure.

“Since Gavin announced his candidacy for Lexington Town Council, we have been overwhelmed by the enthusiastic support of residents in the Town who are excited to see a young person running for office,” MacDougall is quoted in a release. “Gavin has hit the ground running, he’s working tirelessly to earn votes across the Town, and this is just step one in building an extensive network of supporters that propel Gavin, a proven young leader who loves our Town, to victory on May 2.”

Smith and Edwin Gerace, a realtor and former Lexington Planning Commission member, have announced campaigns for the special election.

Cayce Food Lion makeover is complete

If you haven’t noticed, the grocery store in the Parkland Plaza shopping center looks a little different these days.

After changing hands from BI-LO and reopening as a Food Lion, the store underwent a long renovation process, staying open as it refinished walls and floors, moved aisles and shelves, and rearranged where different items are placed within the store.

The store’s been looking pretty finished of late, and Cayce Mayor Elise Partin took to Facebook to toast the grand reopening of the local Food Lion. 

“After a makeover and some new additions, Food Lion is ready to serve the City of Cayce again,” she posted. “Thank you to store manager Vivian Reed and the fantastic staff for all you do for our community!”

Aldi coming to Irmo

Speaking of supermarkets, Irmo is set to get a new one.

Chris Trainor at The State reports that Aldi has plans to open a new store along the 1100 block of Dutch Fork Road, across the street from the local Walmart.

While details are still forthcoming about when the location of the discount-and-store-brand-focused grocery chain will open its Irmo outpost, Trainor writes that it could be open by the fall.

The Town of Irmo teased the news in a Facebook post showing land along Dutch Fork Road being cleared and saying that “something new is coming to town” that is “Not a car wash! Not a storage unit! Not a gas station!”