LETTER FROM THE MANAGING EDITOR
FLOOR-TO-CEILING
y p p a H idays Season’s Blessings l o H INTERIOR DESIGN
I
am thankful for many blessings. This month marks the fifth year since my last chemo infusion, which was part of a two-year treatment plan to combat an aggressive form of breast cancer. Recovery can be tough, but the process yields resilience and gratitude. Local writer and author Dolly R. Sickles knows this, too, and shares her own perspective of strength, patience and grace following an accident that left her with a traumatic brain injury. You can read her story on page 56. There is no doubt that even in challenging times we dare to hold hope for young families like the Kennedys. Beth Kennedy and Taylor Kennedy share their dream of giving son Carson Kennedy and daughter Charlotte Kennedy an idyllic childhood in a nearly 100-year-old home on page 104. I’m sure their fairy-tale farmhouse will be beautiful for the holidays. ’Tis the season for modified family gatherings. I was happy to learn some of the tips on page 62 that local professionals gave about how to look good – and feel good – for every occasion. However, my favorite stories in this winter issue are about the three families who share some of their holiday traditions with us starting on page 38. Lois Sobel and Richard Sobel enjoy passing on the stories and customs of their Jewish faith to their grandchildren. Davide Aguiar and Michelle California-Aguiar and their sons observe their family's Catholic traditions like abstaining from meat on certain holy days, choosing instead to celebrate Christmas with a seafood feast. Every year, Davide and sons Nuno Aguiar and Rui Aguiar create a nativity scene of sorts with found items around their home. For Zi Yun “John” Sit and Ming Jung “Vicki” Cheng, their family’s biggest gathering happens at Chinese New Year, when they sweep out the old and welcome in the new. Elsewhere in the issue, you will find recipes to incorporate into your own holiday meals, because food has a way of bringing people together to celebrate and enjoy one another’s company, in comfort and joy. CM
FAMILY-OWNED SINCE 1988: SEW FINE II IS NOW
Anna-Rhesa Versola rhesa@chathammagazinenc.com
(919) 806-3638 design@MaxHugoInteriors.com FOLLOW US! @MaxHugoInteriors MAXHUGOINTERIORS.COM
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CHATHAM MAGAZINE
THE COVER Photo by Cornell Watson
WINTER 2021-2022