Northeast “Knickknacks” is an interactive space to get and share the bric-a-brac of life – tips, advice, news, good reads, good deeds, trivia, hot spots to shop or eat, and so on.

We hope you – parents, teens, teachers, day-care providers, church leaders and members, business owners and employees, gardeners and anybody else with news or advice to share will pitch in.

Here are three ways you can:

1) Call Lori Roberts at (803) 772-3617

2) E-mail lroberts@thestate.com.

3) Write Northeast Knick-knacks, c/o Lori Roberts, P.O. Box 1333, Columbia, S.C., 29202.

Don’t forget to tell us how to reach you by phone or e-mail.

KUDOS

Blythewood pharmacist Mike Ross has been named S.C. Pharmacist of the Year by the South Carolina Pharmacy Association.

“It is a tremendous honor,” said Ross, owner of Blythewood Pharmacy. “It’s probably something I have dreamed of all my life.”

Ross opened Blythewood Pharmacy in 1981 as a place to provide old-fashioned, community health care services. Ross said the recognition from his peers is wonderful, but that he also hopes the recognition stems from the down-home service he provides his customers.

Known for his work to get legislation passed to keep pharmacists’ Medicaid reimbursements at the same level, Ross also was recognized with an Outgoing President Award presented by Bristol Myers Squibb and the Pharmacist Achievement Award presented by Merck.

Ross has been selected to serve on the SilverCard Advisory Council to assist the governor in developing the program that helps senior citizens with the cost of prescription drugs.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Baskin Robbins ice cream shop at 4711 Forest Drive, in the Forest Park Shopping Center, offers the “Freeze Frame” ice cream cake. Owners Maggie and Mike Switzer will copy any photo you bring in that is not restricted by copyright laws onto edible paper with edible ink. The photo can then be put onto a professionally decorated ice cream cake with any one of their 31 flavors.

The “Freeze Frame” cakes are suitable for birthdays, anniversaries and team sports parties. In addition, the Switzers’ Baskin Robbins has a mobile ice cream cart for parties, weddings, festivals, and employee and/or customer appreciation gatherings. Contact the Switzers’ Baskin Robbins by phone: at 782-0731, by fax at 782-0930 or by e-mail at baskin-robbins@sc.rr.com.

HAPPENINGS

Motivational speaker Michael Walden, founder of Attitude is Everything! will begin an “It’s All About Youth” national motor coach tour in Richland 2. At 9 a.m. today, Walden will be at Dent Middle School. On Friday, the tour will stop at Blythewood Middle School at 9 a.m. Walden presents high energy, interactive presentations centered on goal-setting, a winning attitude, reaching success, striving for academic excellence and character education traits.

The goal of the motor coach tour is to visit all 50 states and reach more than 1 million students. For more information, call (888) LIFE 101, e-mail michaelgwalden@aol.com or go to www.youthmotiviation.com

Singing the gospel: The Chosen Few Gospel Singers of Blythewood will officially introduce themselves at a free gospel singing at Blythewood Community Center on Sunday. Doors open at 4 p.m., the concert begins at 5 p.m.

The Chosen Few is a local group of eight singers and three musicians who have been singing together about two months and are ready to share their talents, said Charles Rodoson, a bass player and manager of the group. Blanche Goodson of WLGO-1170 AM will emcee the event. Also scheduled to perform are the National Juniors of Columbia, The Singing Cavaliers of Eastover, T.D. Brown and the Glori-Aires, The Tones of Joy, The Knight Family and Deacon Robinson and the Flying Souls. For more information, call 736-2824 or 414-1509.

Watermelon scoop. South Carolina Watermelon Queen Julie Bryant of Greenville gave some young members of Blaney Baptist Church of Elgin some watermelon cutting advice. Julie recently visited the church for a summer celebration of worship, watermelons and tomato sandwiches. The event was part of the melon queen’s summerlong promotion of South Carolina-grown watermelons.Caption: 1. Ross2. Speaker Michael Walden, front center, will bring his “It’s All About Youth” tour to Dent and Blythewood middle schools. SPECIAL TO THE STATE3. Julie Bryant, S.C. Watermelon Queen, offers watermelon cutting tips to, from left, Jack Harper, Meghan Starling, Lauren Dennis, Bobby Irvin and Tyler Starling. SONNY SMITH/SPECIAL TO THE STATE