Chatham Magazine April/May

50 how does your garden grow? 54 this old house: renovation tales 78 meet Mema of Howard's Produce april / may 2019 vol. 2, no. 6

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Chatham Magazine is published by Shannon Media, Inc. 1777 Fordham Blvd., Suite 105, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 tel 919.933.1551 fax 919.933.1557 Subscriptions $24 for 2 years – subscribe at chathammagazinenc.com

april / may 2019

contents

THE WOMEN’S ISSUE 34 Theresa Chiettini of Fearrington Village

90 Far-Fetched A visit to the dog-jumping dock at Indian Creek K9 Aquatics reveals a strong community and one stubborn dog

37 Tracy Burnett of Chatham County Parks and Recreation

THE BIG GIVE 44 Special Advertising Section Our local nonprofits, how they support the community and how you can get involved

38 Rose Dyer of Fair Game Beverage Co. 39 Mary Nettles of Chatham County Community NAACP

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

40 Jenny Garrett McLaurin goldsmith 42 Ilana Dubester of El Vínculo Hispano 43 Grace O’Hara of Having Faith Cures

FEATURES 30 All in the Details Brighten up your look with spring accessories!

6 Letter from the Editor

40

92 Wellness Three area chefs share their favorite spring recipes 97 On the Table Sadie’s Southern

102 Engagement Luchenbill & Schranz

50 Flower Power A growing number of garden clubs keep Chatham connected to its agricultural roots and teach new generations age-old skills

103 Weddings Mitchell & Robinson; Harris & Wood

PEOPLE & PLACES

54 Home Improvement Three renovation projects that produced gorgeous results

82 An Agricultural Evolution Farmland accounts for nearly a quarter of Chatham County, an area whose history reveals both enduring traditions and a willingness to change

22 Noted

98 Dining Guide

32 Island Escape Chathamites share their top recommendations for Bald Head Island

78 Fruits of Their Labor Mema’s Fruit Shack in Pittsboro is open only in the summer. But it is a year-round operation.

20 5 Events Not to Miss

8 Pop-up Ramen Night at Chatham Marketplace

54

10 Carolina Tiger Rescue’s Black Tie & Tails Ball 12 Siler City Community Meal at Peppercorn 16 CORA Food Pantry’s Empty Bowls 18 Chatham County Economic Development Corporation’s Opportunity Chatham event

Imagine Life But Larger

By emphasizing the smallest of details, the arts can change the way we look at life and each other. We’re proud to support Chatham Arts Council’s 17th year celebrating ClydeFEST.

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rowing up in the ’90s meant the women I idolized included Christina Aguilera, P!nk and Brandy, and it started with the Spice Girls (my very first CD that I would play on my parents’ primitive Gateway computer). I remember going to Blockbuster to rent “Spice World” over and over, yelling “Girl Power!” every time Posh, Sporty, Baby, Scary and Ginger said it. I had two middle school friends who had dueling loyalties – one was a die-hard Britney fan, the other was all about Beyonce.

While I was torn then, Queen Bey secured my fandom in high school, college and beyond with her female-forward tracks, from her “Independent Woman” days with Destiny’s Child to “Flawless,” a powerful anthem that features an impassioned speech by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as an interlude: “We teach girls to shrink themselves To make themselves smaller We say to girls, ‘You can have ambition

I’ve worked on the annual women’s issues across our three magazines (including Chapel Hill Magazine and Durham Magazine) for six years, and I can tell you – that sentiment did not impact any of the dozens of extraordinary women I’ve met and interviewed. Starting on page 34, Executive Editor Matt White, Editorial Assistant Hannah Lee and even one of our editorial interns, Parrish Alto, introduce seven women who are working to improve life here in Chatham, and also in our broader communities and our nation. I encourage you to read their stories, and then I also hope you’ll seek them out, talk with them, find out how you can do more to help further their missions, or follow their lead to find and fulfill your own passions. CM

the cover Photo by Beth Mann 6

Chatham Magazine

April/May 2019

But not too much You should aim to be successful But not too successful Otherwise you will threaten the man.’”

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oodles of noodles P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y MATT WH ITE

A pop-up ramen night at the Chatham Marketplace brought out big appetites and a big crowd. Run by sushi chef Inhee Smith, who operates Oishi Sushi at the Marketplace, the event was conceived as the first of a series of Asian food nights at the Pittsboro grocery co-op. Craig Kolman, a manager at the Marketplace, said response completely blew out expetations.

Close to 100 hungry guests bought out the night’s supply in 20 minutes. CM 8

Chatham Magazine

April/May 2019

1 Johnny Torres, Karen Torres, Mariela Arias and Andrea Torres, 6 months.

2 Heather Scheffler, Katie Scheffler, 13, and Scott Scheffler.

3 Anne Kachergis and Mimi Gussow.

4 Nathan, 11, Lindsay, 13, and Kevin Smith.

5 Oishi Sushi chef Inhee Smith and Chatham Marketplace General Manager Evan Diamond.

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PEO PL E & P L A C E S

a roarin’ good time PHO T O G R A P H Y B Y LIZ SLABODNICK , M I N T & M U S T A RD P H OTOGRAP H Y

At the end of February, the Carolina Tiger Rescue hosted its 12th annual Black Tie & Tails Ball, the Pittsboro animal rescue’s largest fundraiser of the year. The event, themed “The Mysteries of Morocco,” was held at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club and raised $28,000, all of which will go toward X-ray equipment, organizers say. The rescue cares for 10 cat species and a variety of other animals at its 67acre sanctuary and offers educational programs to the public. CM

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Chatham Magazine

April/May 2019

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breaking bread

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P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y MATT WH ITE

In late January, Peppercorn restaurant hosted a Siler City Community Meal, a monthly event offering residents free dinner and a chance to meet their neighbors. Joan Underwood, who owns Peppercorn as well as Blue Dot Coffee in Pittsboro, started the events last March to build a sense of community among the new faces downtown. The meals typically draw crowds of about 50 people. CM 12

Chatham Magazine

April/May 2019

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bowl season P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y MATT WH ITE

CORA Food Pantry, Chatham’s largest food bank, held its ninth annual Empty Bowls

fundraiser at Galloway Ridge in late February. Guests took home glass, wooden or ceramic bowls, crafted by local artists, as a reminder that “someone’s bowl is always empty.” Some 2,500 families used CORA’s services in 2018, receiving more than 600,000 pounds of food. At the event, guests sampled soups from many Chatham restaurants: Angelina’s Kitchen, Breakaway Cafe, Carolina Brewery, The City Tap, Fearrington House Restaurant, Flair Restaurant & Wine Bar, Galloway Ridge, Pittsboro Roadhouse, Postal Fish Company, Sadie’s Southern, Small Street B&B Cafe, Tarantini, The Mod and The Root Cellar. Uncle Julio’s Mexican Restaurant in Durham donated additional items. Chatham Magazine is a sponsor of Empty Bowls. CM

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Chatham Magazine

April/May 2019

1 Natalie Stewart, Mandy German, Greg German, and Dolly Sickles.

2 Dylan Verinder, Julie Wagner, Jon Darling and Rosalyn Darling.

3 Sebastian Mehringer, 18, McKenna Snively, 15, Tommy Ocariza, 16, and Caitlyn Bailey, 17.

4 Jennifer Adams, Emily Geizer and Karen Serrano.

5 Patricia Parker and Jennifer Platt.

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opportunity chatham P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y CH RIS E LK INS, ME LISSA CRANE , EL LE N S H A N N O N AND MATT WH ITE

A crowd of more than 200 local business and political leaders met for breakfast, networking and economic news at the Chatham County Economic Development Corporation’s Opportunity Chatham event in February. North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Anthony M. Copeland was the keynote speaker, and Alyssa byrd, formerly the EDC’s interim president, was named to the full-time position. CM 18

Chatham Magazine

April/May 2019

1 Doug Emmons, Chris Ehrenfeld, Dan LaMontagne and Bryan Thompson.

2 Dr. Mark Hall and State Representative Robert T. Reives II. 3 Sarah Guidi, Ebony West and Treat Harvey.

4 John Foley, Brian Grabowski and Debbie Andleton.

5 Jon Spoon, North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Anthony M. Copeland and Jacob Verghese.

6 Greg Lewis, Maria Parker-Lewis and Tom D’Alesandro.

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five events

you won’t want to miss

ClydeFEST A PRI L 6 , 1 1 A.M.

Chatham’s own Clyde Jones is one of a kind. The annual festival that celebrates his work is, too.

Hosted by the Chatham Arts Council, Clydefest fills Bynum’s Earl Thompson Park with Clyde’s wood-cut creations, local artists and family-friendly activities like face painting, carnival games, crafts and more. chathamartscouncil.org

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH LARSON PHOTOGRAPHY

Compiled by Adam Phan

Spring for Literacy Luncheon A PRI L 1 0 , 1 1 A . M. Chatham Literacy’s annual fundraising luncheon

moves to Governors Club this year. The event, which supports the group’s tutoring and adult literacy programs, will include a raffle for a trip to Tuscany, delicious food and The New York Times best-selling author and Hillsborough resident Frances Mayes. chathamliteracy.org

The Shakori Hills festival of folk music, dance and art returns in May.

Picture Success!

A PRI L 2 8 , 5 P.M. Communities In Schools Chatham County, which is celebrating

30 years of helping high-risk students stay in school, holds its annual spring fundraiser at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center. The event will feature tapas, music, dancing and auctions. cischatham.org

Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance M AY 2 - 5

Grab your camping gear and dancing shoes for this semi-annual festival. The four-day event features a lineup of 40+ bands 20

Chatham Magazine

April/May 2019

from rock ’n’ roll to bluegrass. Activities include games and crafts, gardening and yoga workshops, environmental seminars and more. Come for a day, or camp all weekend. shakorihillsgrassroots.org

Spring Chicken Festival M A Y 4 , 1 0 A . M . - 6 P. M .

Siler City’s iconic downtown festival gets

a revival after a two decade hiatus with a ferris wheel, a 28-foot rock wall, classic cars, music, food trucks and more fun. silercity.org CM

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WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD? LET US KNOW! noted@ chathammagazinenc .com

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Chatham Magazine

noted

what we’ve heard around Chatham So EGG-citing A volunteer group counted more bluebirds in Governors Club than ever before in an annual survey of the neighborhood in December. The Bluebird Guardians protect and monitor 54 bluebird nest boxes throughout the neighborhood’s 27-hole golf course.

Along a path on the property known as the Bluebird Trail, the volunteers counted 325 eggs in 2018, and 305 chicks, a survival rate of 81%, the highest the club has recorded. The Guardians also built and installed new nest boxes. “‘Bluebird Trail’ is just amazing,” Ken Kernodle, the President of the North Carolina Bluebird Society, says.

“The correctness of their physical nesting boxes, the welcoming site locations and their amazing monitoring and reporting system reaches the highest standards we all are striving to achieve in our bluebird trails across North Carolina.”

April/May 2019

In Memoriam Moncure’s Scott Durso was a beloved musician, woodworker, scientist and a devoted father and husband, according to friends and family. The married father of two died in late January when his car was struck by a vehicle being pursued by police. Scott was well known at the Joy of Movement studio in Chatham Mills where he played music for classes and healing programs.

He served on the board of the North Carolina Zen Center in Pittsboro and worked as an engineer at Lord Corporation in Cary for 25 years. Scott’s wife Amy said the couple moved to Chatham in 1996 and have 13-year-old twin boys, Connor and Owen. “We were involved in a variety of different communities that have come together in incredible ways, including our spiritual community and our local community,” Amy says.

What an Honor Dr. Diego Riveros-Iregui, a UNC assistant

professor of geography and a Briar Chapel resident, won the university’s J. Carlyle Sitterson Award for Teaching First-Year Students. Dr. Riveros-Iregui was one of 24 UNC faculty members and teaching assistants singled out from the university’s nearly 4,000 faculty members as part of the 2019 University Teaching Awards.

Winners were selected by students who nominated candidates based on care for students, mentorship and effective use of classroom methods.

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April/May 2019

Chatham Magazine

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NO T ED

In Our Schools Melvin Diggs was named the executive director of Chatham County Schools’ Exceptional Children (EC) and Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) programs in February.

Melvin has worked in education for nearly two decades, having served as an assistant principal in the AlamanceBurlington school system and as a program specialist and district reading consultant in exceptional children’s special services.

Maddie Posse, a senior at Northwood High School, was named

the Big Eight Conference Swimmer of the Year, and her coach, Sara Graham, was named the conference’s Coach of the Year. Along with Northwood, the Big Eight includes four high schools in Orange County and three in Durham. Posse’s teammates Mia Corrado, Julia Earnshaw and Suzanne Earnshaw each won all-conference honors, and the four earned fourth place in the 400 freestyle relay race at the state championships.

Ginger Harris, the

early childhood department chair at Central Carolina Community College

(CCCC), won the North Carolina Community College System’s 2019 Excellence in Teaching Award. Ginger is a native of Chatham County and a graduate of JordanMatthews High School.

Angela Crisp-Sears, CCCC’s student

learning coordinator, was named the school’s 2018-19 Staff Member of the Year for her commitment to promoting campus services and encouraging students to utilize tutors, STEM lab assistants and writing center coaches.

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Chatham Magazine

April/May 2019

Coach Sara Graham, Suzanne Earnshaw, Mia Corrado, Coach Jill Wenstrand (standing behind Mia), Julia Earnshaw and Maddie Posse.

Through a fun run, a GoFundMe and a $5,000 grant from the Lowe’s Toolbox for Education, North Chatham Elementary raised more than $18,000 for a new playground and to make the school’s older equipment handicap accessible. Installation was planned for mid-March.

N O TE D

Recognitions In January, the Town of Siler City won the Urban Conservation Award. The award is given by The N.C. Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

The Chatham County Public Health Department and the Chatham Health Alliance won a $25,000 grant for its use of advanced mapping techniques to detail obesity levels in the county. The Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge Spotlight Award is a partnership of the Aetna Foundation, American Public Health Association and the National Association of Counties. The award recognizes “home-grown solutions” to local health issues.

Chatham County earned a Gold Award from the national SolSmart Program for making it faster, easier and more affordable for homes and businesses to adopt solar power. The county joins Asheville and Carrboro as the only local governments in North Carolina to earn Gold Awards.

Chatham County Communications’ Fire

Priority Dispatch System was named an Accredited Center of Excellence by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. Only 43 EMS dispatch centers in the world hold the status.

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April/May 2019

Chatham Magazine

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Giving Back Chatham Habitat for Humanity

partnered with the Chatham YMCA to give free six-month memberships to new Chatham Habitat homeowners.

As part of its Bronze Award project in February, Girl Scout Troop 997 created a space in the Chatham Habitat for Humanity ReStore where children can play as their parents shop.

More than 20 artists who live and work in Fearrington Village will open their studios to visitors April 13-14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The fifth annual Open Studio Tour is free, self-guided and welcomes art lovers of all ages. The artists will hold a reception at the Fearrington Gathering Place

on April 12, from 6-8 p.m.

Photographer Eric Saunders’

work will be displayed during Building news Fearrington’s Open Studio Tour.

Halle Companies, which last year purchased 204 acres next to Chatham Park for $4.4 million, submitted a rezoning application to the Town of Pittsboro in March. Project Manager Eric Rifkin says the company plans to ask for approval to build a mixed-use property, which includes 50,000 square feet of commercial space and up to 350 apartments.

Bold Construction was honored for “Best of Customer

Service” by Houzz, a home renovation and design website for the fourth consecutive year.

Legacy at Jordan Lake opened a new model home designed

Mark Your Calendars The Chatham County Partnership for Children will celebrate 25 years with the annual Blue Jeans & Bling Benefit for Children May 4 from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Proceeds will help fund programs like early childhood literacy and child care. The event will feature a silent auction and food from 39 West Catering at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center.

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April/May 2019

and built by M/I Homes. The Hathaway II has 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths and 3,481 square feet, and includes a gourmet kitchen with a breakfast area, a screened-in porch and a twocar garage.

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CarolinaBeachTravel.com | 800-833-3165 April/May 2019

Chatham Magazine

27

NO TED

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28

Chatham Magazine

New Faces In Town

April/May 2019

Two businesses opened in Pittsboro’s Penguin Place at the entrance of Chatham Park. Allen Tates Companies opened for business in January and Eric Williams, a financial advisor for Edward Jones, held a ribbon cutting in February.

Above, Vickie Newell, Katy McReynolds, Kris Howard, Debbie Andleton, Lonnie West and Chatham Magazine Senior Account Executive Chris Elkins help Eric (far right) celebrate.

Pablo Avendano

joined Communities In Schools Chatham County as a

community service, restitution and teen court program assistant. Pablo was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, and previously worked with New York City students at academic risk in Queens and Harlem. CM

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chapelhillhomeworks.com April/May 2019

Chatham Magazine

29

all in the details Brighten up your look with spring accessories!

COMPILED BY HAN N AH LEE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY B E T H M ANN

Pink/Red/Lilac Naot Judith Sandals, $135, New Horizons

Cream, Silver and Black Kennon Bracelet, $24.95, Steel Roots Home Decor

Blue straw sun hat from Madagascar,

Pink/Coral/ Opal Labradorite Dangle Miyuki Earrings,

$25, French Connections

Sterling silver ring, $48, Liquidambar Gallery and Gifts

$334, Dovecote For more spring fashion, visit chathammagazinenc.com

Necklace with Tibetan Tube Barrel Beads, French Brass, Antique Russian Blue Beads, Vintage Czech Glass Beads and Sterling Silver Fastener,

ABLE Local + Global Cognac Abera Commuter, $158, Deep River Mercantile

$125, Wild Women Chasing Periwinkle

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April/May 2019

Cloud • Fly London • Sacha London • Gentle Souls • Naot • And many more, made for style & comfort!

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island escape This Chatham couple loves Bald Head Island. Here’s why.

BY JE SSICA STRINGE R | P H OTOGRAPHY COU RTESY OF BALD HEAD ISLAN D LIMITED

I

t took one visit to the southernmost of North Carolina’s cape islands to capture the hearts of Pittsboro residents’ Ted and Marilyn Koenig.

“We had known about the island for a long time, and our curiosity got the better of us, so we went for a weekend visit,” Marilyn says. “We loved it.” Bald Head Island has changed drastically since the couple’s first visit in 1982. They stayed then in the old Bald Head Inn, which has since shuttered. During those early trips, there was no clubhouse or pro shop, just a golf shop in a mobile trailer. The Koenigs, who visit five or six times a year, offer their tips for an enjoyable trip to the island.

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GETTING AROUND We drive a golf cart, bike and walk – but only after a ferry ride to kick things off. The ferry is filled with happy, friendly people, the views are beautiful, and we begin to decompress. A tram picks up and drops off when it’s time for the ferry to go back to the mainland.

WHERE TO STAY We rented houses all over the island for years, with our favorites being the three Captain Charlie’s houses, which lie on South Beach. In the mid-1980s, Captain Charlie’s was still remote from the rest of the island. Twenty years ago we bought a house with a small group of friends. It’s on the dune in Flora’s Bluff. We live in the woods of Chatham County, so we love the village look of Flora’s Bluff.

EVERY SINGLE TRIP We take walks, spend time on the beach, fish, explore and chill.

FAVORITE PART Beauty and peace, three beaches to choose from and no cars.

CAN’T MISS Climb Old Baldy for the gorgeous 360-degree view of the coastline and water.

Kayaking and paddleboarding through the creeks and in the ocean are great options.

L I K E A LO C A L Most everyone visits the lighthouse, but I always insist they stop in our little chapel next door. Then I have them drive all the way down Federal Road through the beautiful tunnel of trees to the conservancy. From there, it’s off to the beach to experience the ocean. Often you can be all by yourself on the beach except for the occasional pod of dolphins or a sea turtle.

Then I send them up and down the streets to see the unique and wonderful homes on the island.

Finally, [head] up Stede Bonnet Wynd to see some of our gorgeous golf course.

but also inland and way, way down the southern coast until they are tiny sparks of color.

IN BAD WEATHER We spend time on the front porch of the house, read, go to the various shops, the hardware store and the market. We also take care of the house and visit the gym.

TO DO ADVICE FOR First thing each morning, we OTHERS walk on the beach or through Look at Bald Head the maritime forest. The point websites and think – Andrea Pitera, who cowhere South and East Beaches about rental location owns Mojo’s on the Harbor meet is our usual destination. We options from the and Honey’s BBQ Shack with her husband, John Pitera walk in the evening as well to harbor and village take in the sunsets. We fish, read, golf, cook to the beach and fish and shrimp, and occasionally eat out. We forest. They are very love to explore the island in our golf cart. Even though we have different from each other, and all are been to Bald Head many times, we still love to cruise around beautiful. We still take a lot of supplies and see what changes have occurred and what has stayed the with us, as old habits die hard, but the same. We take friends with us, take our pets and generally grocery store has everything a visitor enjoy a time focused on the outdoors. We still sit on the beach, would need. The island is casual. fish and swim. We see folks we know and enjoy catching up.

Get a map and go exploring. Enjoy SUNSET SPOT Sunsets on South Beach and on the river, looking out over the ocean.

FUN ON THE FOURTH [For] the fireworks on the Fourth of July, go to the West Beach and see the fireworks across the river in Southport

getting lost. Drive, stop and walk, then explore some more. Take a chill pill and embrace the adventure Bald Head has to offer. The island is grand for children and adults. Check the planned activities, such as turtle walks, birding, children’s day camps and howling at the moon. CM April/May 2019

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THE MANAGER

A PHOTOGRAPHY BY BETH MAN N

Seven women who head businesses, organizations or nonprofits, who support their communities and who show a resilient spirit

of

women achievement 34

Theresa Chiettini

Chatham Magazine

lmost 2 square miles, more than 2,000 residents, close to a dozen business enterprises – and Theresa Chiettini is responsible for every single bit of it.

“It” is Fearrington Village. Beginning in 1974, founders R.B. and Jenny Fitch converted a historical farm halfway between Pittsboro and Chapel Hill into a cosy country village and residential community offering an inn, dining, retail stores and more. The Fitch family still owns all of Fearrington and hired Theresa to run the village in 2000. She took over as the resort’s general manager in 2005.

Among Theresa’s responsibilities is overseeing The Fearrington House Inn, a 32-room hotel that is one of the oldest properties of Relais & Châteaux, a global association of luxury destinations. She also oversees The Fearrington House Restaurant, one of only 67 restaurants in the country, and two in North Carolina, to hold AAA Five Diamond status, the highest level.

“No two days are alike,” Theresa says.

“I’m never in my office because I’m more of a hands-on manager – I like to be able to slot myself in where needed, so sometimes you will see me helping at The Belted Goat [a coffee and wine shop] clearing tables, or ringing up customers at Dovecote or Nest [retail stores], or working the reception desk at the spa if someone is sick.”

On an recent morning, her gentle voice and relaxed demeanor belied the hectic week ahead of her: planning for an annual folk art show, overseeing more than 120 employees and flying to New York to scout fashions for Dovecote (Theresa says the store has

April/May 2019

April/May 2019

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W OM EN OF A C H IE V E M E N T

trends that often take years to reach other stores in North Carolina). This day doesn’t even include the almost 140 meetings, retreats, dinners and celebrations that she has to coordinate and organize every year.

“My life is pretty much Fearrington Village,” Theresa laughs. “I joke that my car doesn’t leave the property unless I have to get gas.”

It hasn’t always been that way for Theresa, who was born in Barbados to Austrian parents and later lived in Austria. She was working as assistant front desk manager at Hotel Rafael in Munich, Germany in 2000 when a recruiter encouraged her to apply for a position at Fearrington.

“I came here sight unseen thinking I would only do it for one year and then move on to another opportunity,” she says, “and I’ve been here 19 years.”

With the constant cycling from one role to another, life is seldom monotonous, and oddities can arise that provide her with unique challenges. Like when the Belted Galloway cows escape from the pasture (it’s unclear how they make occasional escapes), Theresa helps corral them.

Her hard work has paid off with the village being mentioned in some of the nation’s highly regarded lifestyle magazines, like Vogue, Instyle and Food & Wine.

“This place, I’m very passionate about it,” Theresa says. “It’s grown to be such a part of me.” – Hannah Lee

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W O MEN O F AC HIE VE M E NT

Tracy Burnett THE DIRECTOR

Y

moved closer to home, settling in Graham ou might be surprised to learn that Tracy Burnett, the in UCLA – “Upper Chatham, Lower director of Chatham County Parks and Recreation, is Alamance,” she jokes – and was hired somewhat unfamiliar with Leslie Knope, the famously as the Town of Pittsboro Parks and tireless parks director on the former NBC sitcom, Recreation director. She moved to the “Parks and Recreation.” county position within a year.

“I find myself bringing work home sometimes,” Tracy says.

Her children, Calen, Shaylen and Jalen, “So when somebody was talking about the show, and I hadn’t are now in their 20s, but she still regularly seen it before, I was thinking like, ‘Do I really want to go home attends youth rec events. and watch it again?’ I’ve already experienced it from 8 to maybe She says it is rewarding “to see the kids 5 or 5:30, six and seven days a week – because recreation never hit the ball for the first ends, you know?” time, make their first catch, Indeed, more than half of Tracy’s life has been make their first basket,” dedicated to organizing and leading Chatham’s "You know, and to “watch the last kid parks and recreational activities. there are some stick with it, finish the race When she stepped into her position as the challenges in it and cross the finish line.” director 27 years ago, Chatham County had along the way, and patience After more than two only one park. Today, there are five. Under her and resiliency decades cheering for leadership, the county opened Southwest District that comes Chatham kids, Tracy Park, Northeast District Park and The Park at along with it, says she usually can’t Briar Chapel, renovated Northwest District Park but that's the go to Walmart without and set aside 268 acres for future parks. She also enjoyment." someone wanting to chat. led the expansion of 4.6 miles of the American Even when people don’t Tobacco Trail in Chatham. Recently, she’s focused remember her name, on the department’s new master plan, which they recognize her as the face cheering hopes to add 85 miles of greenway and trails over 10 years. alongside parents.

Public parks can take up to four years to design and build.

“Everybody thinks my job is fun,” That’s the most difficult part of her job, waiting and keeping Tracy laughs. “There are some challenges things moving: finding creative ways to leverage funds, in it along the way, and patience and managing design plans, hiring contractors and, finally, overseeing resiliency that comes along with it, but construction. that’s the enjoyment: Just to see [kids] at “The patience,” Tracy says taking a deep breath, “is big just events, see them advance, see them have because we work in county government.” a good time. And not just the kids, but the Tracy’s Chatham roots run deep. She played on Chatham seniors and the older adults,” Tracy adds.

Central High School’s 1986 state championship basketball team “They get big enjoyment out of watching their in addition to playing tennis and softball. She then attended High kids’ success.” – Hannah Lee  Point University on an athletic scholarship, and after graduation, April/May 2019

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W OM EN OF A C H IE V E M E N T

Rose Dyer THE DISTILLER

W

hen Rose Dyer realized the 9-to-5 work life of a chemistry lab was not for her, she dropped out of her chemical engineering program at NC State University to pursue another calling for her love of math and science: distilling.

In April 2014, Rose started volunteering at Fair Game Beverage Co. in Pittsboro, drawing on her chemistry background to learn how to produce Fair Game’s signature pepper-flavored vodka.

Now Rose is Fair Game’s head distiller, responsible for its growing line of vodka, apple brandy, amber rum, seasonal rum agricole (made from sugarcane instead of molasses), and a special rum called No’lasses made from sweet sorghum.

“It’s a very dude-heavy industry, so it’s a lot of fun for me to go and surprise people out in the industry with the fact that I am a younger woman,” Rose says.

“It’s fun defying people’s expectations and being like, ‘Nope! I’m actually back here doing all this work.’”

Fair Game’s small distillery is in an old industrial building on Lorax Lane. Beakers, test tubes, scales and hydrometers cover a long table in her

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office, and two chalkboards on opposite sides of the distillery are thick with Rose’s handwritten chemical equations. Inked on her right forearm is a complicated and famous math equation. Rose’s grandfather, Dale Sayers, was a pioneer in X-ray science and helped develop the equation. Rose keeps it as a reminder of how science has shaped her life.

“I try to do what keeps me happy,” Rose says. “I prioritize being happy over money or anything else.”

And while she calls her work fun and laid-back, Fair Game’s reputation is growing. The Flying Pepper Vodka was named a finalist in the spirits category of the 2019 Good Food Awards, a national competition of craft food producers.

Fair Game’s four employees annually produce two or three batches (each about 70 cases) of each spirit, all bottled by hand.

“I feel like our spirits are getting better and better,” Rose says.

“And it’s really, really gratifying to actually be able to see that and taste that.” – Hannah Lee

W O MEN O F AC HIE VE M E NT

Mary Nettles

m

THE CULTIVATOR

ary Nettles makes things in Chatham grow.

She keeps proof in her phone and scrolls through the pictures looking for examples, stopping to exclaim, “Sunflowers!” The round, yellow starbursts beam from the screen and Mary beams, too. “And that’s cucumbers,” she says, moving on. “And do you recognize this? Basil.”

Mary has kept a garden her whole life. As a girl in Pittsboro, she helped her parents grow for the table. She kept an urban garden in Carrboro during a 30-year career with UNC Health Care and recently completed her certification as a NC State Extension Master Gardener. Her Pittsboro backyard – and most of her iPhone photos – is dedicated to gardening. “I came back in 1995,” she says, “and I’ve had a garden since.”

But vegetables and flowers aren’t all that Mary helps nurture in Chatham. She is the president of the Chatham County Community NAACP, the latest role in a life of civil and political activism.

As Chatham has grown, she’s helped political discourse grow with it.

As a child, Mary tagged along with her parents as a volunteer during elections, handing out sample ballots and knocking on doors for get-out– the-vote drives. In college, she led protests at the Chatham County Courthouse, though her father put a stop to that after an early close call. She overslept and missed a bus carrying activists to Greensboro for a major protest. The event ended in clashes between the protesters and police. When her father learned she had tried to go, he erupted.

“He called me everything but the child of God,” she says. “That was the end of me being in protests. If I went to jail, I knew he was not going to come get me.”

Moving from protest marches to party politics,

Mary became the first African-American woman to chair the Chatham County Democratic Party. She returned to the NAACP in 2009.

This year was also a special sort of harvest. Since retiring, Mary has worked as a substitute teacher for Chatham County Schools. In 2018, kids she taught as kindergartners began graduating from high school. – Matt White 

April/May 2019

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W OM EN OF A C H IE V E M E N T

Jenny Garrett McLaurin THE GOLDSMITH

J

and tiny garnets. “You’ve gotta break some stones to learn how to do it,” Jenny says. “There’s absolutely no replacement for creating custom gold jewelry practice.” in Chatham for more than 20 She adds “I knew I wanted to do it while I was young before years, but she’s been honing her craft for much longer than that. I had kids and while my eyes were still good. And I’m so glad I did, because it takes 10 years to figure out what you’re doing.”

“My grandmother and great aunt In 2009, Jenny and her husband, Christopher Crean, adopted would give me their junky costume two brothers from Ukraine, Hughson, 14, and Crozes, 13. But jewelry,” Jenny says. “I would take it little has changed in her work over the years – she starts each apart and rearrange it.” piece of jewelry with sheets and wires of gold and platinum from After graduating from Northwood which she cuts, molds and solders every element.

High School and UNC, Often, customers approach her with aging she worked a series of jewelry they want refashioned. apprenticeships and signed “There’s “I love old diamonds, old mine-cut diamonds,” up for a metalworking Absolutely no Jenny says. “I know I’m getting to work with class at the Penland School replacement a little part of something that is important to of Craft, a well-regarded for practice.” someone.” art school in western Melissa Messer grew up with Jenny in North Carolina. There, Pittsboro and remembers her early focus on arts, she made fast friends with particularly in drawing. another woman in class who taught her “She seemed out of place in Pittsboro, like she was too the basics of metalworking. worldly,” Melissa says. “She brings the world to Chatham.”

“It just became overwhelmingly As Melissa approached 50 last year, she asked Jenny to clear that this was what I wanted to combine the stones of two rings into one. “We spent four hours do,” Jenny says. In 1997, she bought in her shop just talking,” Melissa says. “The whole time she was metalworking tools – “I still use some of them today,” she says – and an old, thick sketching, and when I looked down, she had designed my ring. I said, ‘That’s it.’” textbook called “Bead Setting Diamonds Jenny fashioned a ring that set the older diamonds around with Pavé Applications.” three gold leaves honoring her son Gabriel, 16, and two “Let me tell you, that was not a very nephews, Tayten, 12, and Cullen, 8. Melissa now wears it every sexy book, but it taught me how to set day. beads,” she remembers. “It was in black Whether remaking an old friend’s ring or reading a textbook, there’s and white, and the pictures were no good. still no substitute for practice, Jenny says.

But I learned it.”

“I have a good friend who brought in a ring to be polished up that I She drew her own designs and then made five or six years ago,” Jenny says. “I said, ‘I made this? I’m better practiced translating them to metal by now.’” – Matt White  molding and soldering with sterling silver enny Garrett McLaurin has been

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to bridge the gaps between Chatham’s Spanishand English-speaking communities. In 1995, Ilana opened El Vínculo Hispano, or the Hispanic Liaison, as a county agency to translate documents and arrange services for Chatham’s Spanish-speaking community, which is heavily immigrants. By 1997, El Vínculo was an independent nonprofit.

“We are the Google of the Hispanic

Ilana Dubester THE ADVOCATE

S

oon after arriving in Siler City in 1991, Ilana Dubester found herself in line at a pharmacy behind an Hispanic woman who was holding a crying baby and stretching her limited English with the pharmacist.

“Being a nosy person, I butted in,” says Ilana, who speaks Spanish, though not because she grew up in South America.

Born and raised in Brazil, she spoke only Portuguese until she picked up Spanish working on a kibbutz in Israel.

The woman in line didn’t know any of that, of course, but with a few questions and kind words, Ilana helped her buy a thermometer and medicine for her baby’s fever.

In some sense, Ilana has been repeating that episode for 25 years – “butting in”

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community,” Ilana says. “We answer any and every kind of question, from education to housing to taxes to immigration laws.” In late 2016, Johnson’s Mobile Home Park in Siler City was sold to Mountaire Farms, a chicken processor that planned a major factory on the site. The deal was a boon for Siler City and was backed by county tax breaks. But the 28 mostly Spanish-speaking families living at the park faced eviction. Most owned their homes but the old trailers were too modified or deteriorated to move. On average, Ilana found, families had invested more than $10,000 in their homes, and faced losing all of it.

“For her it was a call to arms,” says Diana Hales, the Chatham Board of County Commissioners’ vice chairwoman.

“She’s definitely not only a great leader, but she also has an enormous heart.”

In a quickly assembled meeting at Peppercorn restaurant, Ilana told residents, “We have no idea if we can win. The only thing we have is the power of the people.”

Ilana rallied residents to a Commissioners meeting at the Chatham County Courthouse where they rose one at a time to tell their stories. Retired couples said they had no savings to start over, while young mothers described working three jobs to stay afloat. English-speaking children – some wearing clothes bearing the name of Chatham schools – translated for parents.

“It’s one thing to know the numbers,” Diana says. “It’s another to see the people behind the numbers.”

Within a week, Mountaire increased its offer to $8,300 in cash and waived rent collection as residents focused on moving.

“It was enough for people to move into their next phase,” Ilana says. – Matt White

W O MEN O F AC HIE VE M E NT

Grace O'Hara THE ENTREPRENEUR

I

n 2014, Grace O’Hara was 12 when she attended a YoungLife camp in Virginia that featured a small lake with an inflatable, trampoline-like floating platform

called the “blob.” As one camper sat on the end of the blob, another would drop on the opposing side, bouncing their partner into the water. But Grace’s partner was almost twice her size.

“I went flying,” Grace says. “I remember I felt like I wanted to grab something but there was nothing there.

It was slow, like a movie.”

Two months later, she began having severe headaches and trouble focusing.

“I was just struggling a lot.” Grace says. “Typically, I’m an A student, but I was struggling to get Bs,” she says.

After many hospital visits, doctors realized she’d suffered a concussion at camp that had never been treated.

Her family moved from Virginia to Pittsboro to be near Duke and UNC Children’s Hospitals.

To pass the time, she made headbands. Some were knit, some stretched, some with beads. She asked her nurses to give the headbands to kids in her hall. “I saw a girl walking past my room wearing the hairband, and it all spiraled from that,” Grace says. “Something as little as a headband can actually make a difference.”

She launched Having Faith Cures in late 2016. For every headband sold on the Cures’ website, Grace donates one to a hospitalized child. To date, she’s sent about 400 headbands, but she no longer makes them herself. She commissions artists in other countries to make them, and the proceeds go to another

nonprofit, Every Orphan’s Hope, which provides health care, food and faith services to orphans in Zambia.

“It’s weird saying that I’m an entrepreneur, but I guess I am,” she says.

Now 16, the Chatham Charter School sophomore is focused on the present.

“Before I got sick, I was training for a half-marathon,” she says. “And now I’m doing a half-marathon.”

– Parrish Alto CM April/May 2019

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Special Advertising Section Our local nonprofits, how they support the community and how you can get involved

Our Mission

Upcoming Event

Communities in Schools surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and succeed in life.

•

“Picture Success” Spring Fundraiser Sunday, April 28 5-8 pm Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center in Pittsboro Visit: cischatham.org to become a sponsor, buy raffle and event tickets.

Wish List Mentors Lunch Buddies Expanded services so every child and young adult in Chatham County has the support they need to grow and thrive

Background

Brag Lines

Since 1989, Communities In Schools Chatham

Communities In Schools Chatham County’ s

County (CISCC), formerly Chatham County

community- and school-based programs build

Together!, has served children and young adults to

the resiliency of youth who are significant risk for

help them reach their full potential. CISCC takes a

health, academic and social problems. CISCC’s

holistic approach to meeting students’ needs by

staff connects students to resources and support

addressing emotional and health concerns and

for their individual social-emotional, health,

offering academic tutoring, mentoring from staff

academic and basic needs. CISCC is committed to

and adult volunteers, cultural enrichment, parent

engaging local partners in innovative strategies to

involvement activities, and restorative justice

promote school success, graduation and promising

208 N. Chatham Ave.

opportunities. The students and families served

futures for Chatham youth.

Siler City, NC 27344

Get in Touch!

Phone: 919-663-0116

have a great diversity of backgrounds, experiences,

Website: cischatham.org

and needs.

Email: ciscc@cischatham.org

Special Advertising Section Our local nonprofits, how they support the community and how you can get involved

Wish List

Our Mission Duke Children’s is committed to achieving and maintaining a standard of excellence in all we do. Most importantly, we consistently strive to make the patient experience a model of quality care through advanced treatment, compassionate support and full family participation and communication.

Your options for supporting Duke Children’s are as varied as the children we treat. You can give a gift today. Or, you can plan a transformational gift to underwrite research that could lead to a cure, fund a program to enhance patient quality-of-life or lay the foundation for future endeavors. No matter which route you take, we will work with you to ensure that your generosity makes a difference in the lives of our young patients and their families.

For more information on making a gift to Duke Children’s, please visit giving.dukechildrens.org/ ways-to-give.

Our mission is to provide: •

Excellence in the clinical care of infants and children

•

Innovation in basic and applied research

•

Leadership in the education of health care professionals

•

Advocacy for children’s health

•

Patient and family centered care

Upcoming Events •

giving.dukechildrens.org/ events/jim-valvano-kidsklassic

•

Background

Brag Lines

Duke Children’s serves patients in the Triangle and

As a major pediatric teaching hospital, Duke

beyond and strives to provide the highest quality

Children’s educates tomorrow’s leading physicians

care through advanced treatment, compassionate

and researchers. As one of the largest southeastern

support, and full family participation. Duke

pediatric providers, Duke Children’s addresses health

Children’s is recognized for its clinical programs,

equity through clinical service, research, education

research initiatives, educational opportunities

and community engagement. Duke Children’s

for medical students, residents, and fellows,

researchers and physicians are internationally

and strong advocacy efforts for children. Duke

recognized for ground-breaking discoveries, and

Children’s is affiliated with the Department of

remarkable advances have emerged from both

Pediatrics at Duke University School of Medicine.

laboratory studies and the investigation of new therapies in patients. Discoveries made here impact children around the world.

Jim Valvano Kids Klassic July 12-13 Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club

uke Children’s Gala D Saturday September 21 Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club giving.dukechildrens.org/ events/duke-childrensgala

Get in Touch!

Websites: giving.dukechildrens.org dukehealth.org/dukechildrens

Special Advertising Section Our local nonprofits, how they support the community and how you can get involved

Our Mission

Wish List

The Council promotes independent living, community engagement and the physical and mental wellness of older adults, while also supporting family caregivers.

Meals on Wheels volunteers for western Chatham Auction items for fall fundraiser Incontinent supplies (pull-ups) Knitting yarn Wheelchairs, shower chairs and hospital mattresses Planned Giving

Upcoming Events

Background

Brag Lines

This year, the Chatham County Council on Aging

•

2019 recipient of the state’s Ernest B. Messer

will celebrate its 45th anniversary as a nonprofit

Award for excelling in addressing the needs of

serving Chatham seniors, their families and the

older citizens and their families.

community. The Council is viewed as Chatham’s primary portal for accessing information, services

•

in-home personal care, caregiver respite, assistive equipment, minor home repair, medical transportation, Senior Games/SilverArts, Medicare

• •

Led development of the 2018-2023 Aging Plan for Chatham.

•

Ranked 4th among the state’s 53 local/ growth between 2016-2018.

•

presents many opportunities and calls for meeting

its community partners to help meet those needs.

Fall On-line Auction: September 2019

•

Senior Education Conference: November 2019

designated “Centers of Excellence.”

Pittsboro and Siler City.

depends on the goodwill of donors, volunteers, and

•

Both of the Council’s centers are state-

regional Senior Games programs for percent

many service needs. As a nonprofit, the Council

Tony Williamson and Friends at Carolina Meadows: Summer 2019

2018 recipient of the GSK IMPACT award as

The Council also operates community centers in Chatham’s large and growing older population

•

critical community health challenges.

counseling, support groups, exercise classes, senior education, volunteerism and much more.

Chatham Senior Games & SilverArts Opening Ceremony: April 20

outstanding nonprofit working to address

and programs for our growing older population.

The Council is a resource for Meals on Wheels,

•

2017 Excellence in Innovation Award, NC Association of County Commissioners

•

Eastern Chatham Senior Center

365 NC Hwy 87 N, Pittsboro Phone: 919-542-4512

2017 Partnership Award from the Chatham County Board of Health

•

Get in Touch!

Western Chatham Senior Center 112 Village Lake Rd., Siler City Phone: 919-742-3975

2014 Small Business of the Year, Chatham Chamber of Commerce

Website: chathamcoa.org

Special Advertising Section Our local nonprofits, how they support the community and how you can get involved

Our Mission

Wish List

Jamie’s Vision, Inc. is a non-profit organization whose mission is to satisfy the needs and desires of children in need and their families throughout Chatham County.

Visit jamiesvision.org to learn about us and donate Share, like and follow Jamie’s Vision on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to hear about our fundraising events Reach out to us if you know of a Chatham County child that needs our help

Upcoming Events 50/50 Raffle drawing March 27 at 7 pm Virlie’s Grill, Pittsboro, NC

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTY CLEWIS

•

Background

Brag Lines

Jamie’s Vision, Inc. was formed by a group of

In 2018, Jamie’s Vision provided financial

ladies in the Chatham County area to assist the

assistance to multiple Chatham county families

needs of families with children who are facing

who lost their homes and possessions due to

hardship. Jamie’s Vision is named in memory of

fire; who were coping with a medical emergency

Jamie Hipp Hinsley, who passed away on

that disrupted personal finances; or who had

February 27, 2017. Jamie always tried to do

unexpectedly lost a family provider.

what she could for a child who was in need. Our

Jamie’s Vision also provided children’s Christmas

Phone: 919-526-5929

presents for 17 Chatham County families in need;

21 E. Salisbury St.

became a collection point for Florence disaster

Pittsboro, NC 27312

relief; and provided $1,000 in scholarships for

Website: jamiesvision.org

Chatham County kids to attend Camp Royall.

Email: jamiesvisitionchatham@gmail.com

prayer is to honor her memory by supporting families in a way favorable to God’s plan.

Get in Touch!

Special Advertising Section Our local nonprofits, how they support the community and how you can get involved

Our Mission Chatham Literacy is a non-profit agency that helps adults develop the educational and literacy skills that they need to reach their goals. As a community-based, volunteer-driven nonprofit, Chatham Literacy promotes adult literacy within the community one person at a time

The single greatest indicator of children’s success is the literacy level of their parents.

Background Chatham Literacy began in 1988 as a group of friends helping their neighbors. Twenty years later, the group was reorganized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Together with Central Carolina Community College and local nonprofits, Chatham Literacy recruits and trains volunteers to tutor its adult learners. A literate work force fuels the economic growth of Chatham County. Chatham Literacy ensures that its residents are prepared as new jobs and opportunities arise in Siler City, Moncure, and Pittsboro.

Wish List Tutors Volunteers for boards and committees Donations for services Office supplies, especially printer ink Office computers Adult learners!

Upcoming Events •

Spring for Literacy Luncheon with Frances Mayes April 10, 2019 from 11am – 2pm Governors Club $100 per seat – contact (919) 241-1269

•

Italy Trip Raffle A trip for two to the heart of Tuscany!

Flight for two, 5 nights and 6 days at Bernini Hotel, and breakfast ($5,000 value – no cash value) $100 per ticket – contact (919) 214-1269

•

Tutor Training April 19, 2019 from 9 am – 3 pm May 18, 2019 from 9 am – 3 pm – contact Travis Patterson at (919) 930-7284

Brag Lines Chatham Literacy provides free, confidential, one-on-one and small-group instruction in reading, writing, basic math, computer literacy, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and citizenship and high school equivalency preparation. Additionally, Chatham Literacy offers life skills training in financial literacy and workforce soft skills. Chatham Literacy is building a more qualified local workforce.

Get in Touch!

P.O. Box 1696

606 E. 3rd St. Pittsboro, NC 27312 Phone: 919-742-0578 Website: chathamliteracy.org

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F

or Liz Rolison, suburban farming is really about nurturing a community – even if the community is already in a neighborhood.

Since 2010, close to 80 families have taken a turn to plant, feed, water, weed and harvest two large community

flower power A growing number of garden clubs keep Chatham connected to its agricultural roots and teach new generations age-old skills

BY JO HN WE L L S | P H OTOGRAP H Y BY BE TH MANN

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gardens in Briar Chapel. “It’s just nice to all get out there to get our hands dirty and see things grow,” says Liz, who serves as the co-president of the Briar Chapel Garden Club. Briar Chapel is Chatham’s largest housing subdivision, with neatly trimmed streets, wide sidewalks and many other suburb staples like a pool and tennis courts.

But, Liz says, the two large gardens – which together cover more than a quarter of an acre – remain among the most popular amenities in the neighborhood. The gardening group, she says, reflects many residents’ support of sustainable, small-scale agriculture.

At home, Liz says, most members seek out farm-to-table restaurants, farmers markets and locally sustained food stands and grocery stores. Most, then, are eager to get their hands in the dirt and grow their own produce.

The club also encourages neighborhood children to discover the basics of agriculture which they might not otherwise find in Briar Chapel’s suburban landscape. Children plant

Noreen Ordronneau and her grandaughter Ryn Ordronneau, 2, dig into their work.

flowers and herbs alongside their parents and neighbors, and return over a season to watch what they’ve planted grow. The club’s governing principle is to cultivate relationships, both between people and their natural habitat, and with one another. “It really is all about community and having something to share,” Liz says.

While regularly participating families get first dibs on the final crops, the club hosts an annual “Harvest Dinner” that is open to all residents. The club also invites local chefs to speak to members and share recipes for specific crops.

“Who doesn’t love a plate full of things you’ve grown?” Liz says.  Briar Chapel’s community gardens are part of the neighborhood’s landscape.

HONORING

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H O M E & GA R DE N

St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church’s weekly Community Lunch is a staple of life in downtown Pittsboro, bringing together parishioners and members of the community for a hot meal. And many of the vegetables the church serves each week are grown just steps away, in the small, communitytended garden just behind the church.

Karen Ladd runs the Community Lunch as one of the church’s lay ministers.

“We started the garden in 2008 as a way to bring the community together,” Karen says. “It offers people without access to a garden a chance to have a space to plant things.”

Soon they began to supplement the Community Lunch, which otherwise depends largely on local produce donations. But Karen and others quickly recognized further opportunities for the space.

“We saw it as a potential venue for education – for church members, Vacation Bible School activities and for visiting children.” Several years ago, the space hosted a group of young people working with the local YMCA. “They played, learned and planted,” Karen says. “They even used the produce they picked for their lunch that afternoon.”

The garden is managed by about a dozen church volunteers, including Mike Mannshardt, Gaines Steer and Jamie Saunders. In all, the garden is a testament to a simple but profound idea: bringing people together is easier with a little work, a little persistence, and – eventually – great food.

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PHOTO COURTESY DEBBIE ROOS

MIND YOUR PEAS AND PEWS

The pollinator garden’s 215 species of plants create both a beautiful landscape at Chatham Mills and a classroom for local gardeners, beekeepers and farmers to practice their skills.

POLLINATION NATION A lifelong Southerner, Debbie Roos developed a fascination for the links between society and agriculture during a Peace Corps stint in Senegal. In western Africa, she saw firsthand the impact that agricultural education and support can have on a community. When she returned home, she says, she was dedicated to the idea of “bettering communities through agriculture.”

She is now an instructor and extension agent at the NC Cooperative Extension in Pittsboro, and her philosophy can be seen in the large demonstration garden she maintains at Chatham Marketplace. Debbie arrived in Chatham 20 years ago, having added a master’s degree in horticulture and another in applied anthropology. In 2008, she started the demonstration garden, which is maintained by students and volunteers with the Extension office. These days, the garden – a prominent feature of Chatham Mill’s landscape – has 215 species of plants, 85% of which are indigenous to North Carolina. At the heart of the garden is the pollinator habitat.

Designed with plants that draw pollinating insects, the garden also serves as a sort of outdoor classroom for the Extension’s programs, where students can practice the science and art of beekeeping, small farm agriculture and gardening.

While the lion’s share of the upkeep for the demonstration garden falls to Debbie herself, she’s quick to praise her “small group of dedicated volunteers,” who help her with watering, weeding and other maintenance. (Anyone interested in volunteering at the garden can visit carolinapollinatorgarden.org for more information.)

Chatham County is one of the only counties in the state that is expanding the role of small farms. The skills that Debbie teaches at Chatham Mills carry over. “Small farms are such a valuable part of the community,” she says, “and anybody who likes to eat can appreciate the labors of these local farmers.” CM

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BY MATT WH ITE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BETH MAN N

‘we’d work until we couldn’t see anymore’ Fulfilling lifelong dreams of farm living, Rachel and Justin Clark have spent two years restoring their home south of Pittsboro

R

achel Clark grew up in

Wilton, Connecticut, a commuter town close to New York City with tight-knit neighborhoods and neatly mowed yards, and she insists that both she and her brothers, Dave and Scott Mackson, loved their suburban childhoods.

But something didn’t quite take.

Dave now lives in Maine where he is slowly restoring a home built in the 1800s. And in late 2016, Rachel, with her then-boyfriend, Justin Clark, put in a bid on an 11-acre farm about 10 miles

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Rachel says the barn, with its tall gambrel roof, is her favorite spot on their farm. Last year, they took a break from renovations to get married, and they held their reception outside it.

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The Clark’s home had no electricity or running water when they bought it in 2017. They spent two years of nights and weekends restoring it.

south of Pittsboro that was up for auction. The property came with nine buildings, including a two-story house and a large barn, all in terrible shape.

“My dad says, ‘Why can’t my kids buy a house and just move in?’” Rachel says.

Justin, an engineer at BASF, a chemical company in Research Triangle Park, grew up on a farm in Tennessee and has long wanted his own. And Rachel, despite her suburban upbringing, says that even as a kid, she wanted a farm life – that neatly mowed Connecticut lawn? “I mowed it,” she says. But when 56

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April/May 2019

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H O M E & GA R DE N

Rachel and Justin both grew up with dreams of farm life. Now with goats, turkeys and a first crop of strawberries, they’re starting to make it a reality.

they won the auction, those pastoral daydreams gave way to a daunting rehabilitation.

“It’s our quote-unquote ‘entertainment,’ it’s our weekend, it’s every day,” Rachel says. The couple closed on the property in spring 2017 and quickly sold two of the property’s wood sheds to a reclaimed lumber builder. They tore down two other buildings. But the center of the project is the 1,500 square-foot, two-bedroom 58

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April/May 2019

farmhouse that was built in 1942. As the heat of summer arrived, the couple put in late nights and weekends with no air conditioning and, at first, no power or running water.

“Every day after work we’d change and go to the house,” Rachel says. “It was the middle of the North Carolina heat, ripping up floors and doing demo. We’d work until we couldn’t see anymore.”

Like most rehab jobs, there were plenty of surprises, like the opossum skeleton found under a bathroom tub, or the kitchen’s linoleum floor that hid an unscrapable layer of tar paper. Even a steamer, put to work in the height of summer, didn’t get it off.

“Then we found this YouTube video,” Rachel says. “It said to soak the tar paper in towels doused with Diet Pepsi. So we bought the dollar store out of towels and Diet Pepsi.”

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“It scraped right up the next day,” Rachel says.

The Clarks’ farm was part of a larger farm owned by the Moses family, who still own a large swath across the street.

Their new neighbors were glad to see the land go to a family set on farming rather than development (the couple bought an adjacent plot last year to bring their parcel to 30 acres).

“Most of the people in our neighborhood have been there a long time and, especially during the first year, neighbors would come by and tell us stories about the property,” Rachel says. “We got to hear the whole history of this road.”

As the rehab progressed, Rachel and Justin managed another work-

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intensive milestone: getting married.

After a small ceremony at the Chatham County Historic Courthouse last April, they held their reception outside Rachel’s favorite spot on the farm, the two-story clapboard barn with its high gambrel roof.

“It wasn’t structurally ready for 40 people,” Rachel says. “It has one working lightbulb.”

The wedding, she says, was the first chance to show friends and family their new home. “It was kind of an open house,” Rachel says. “They all knew we’d worked so hard.”

Though far from finished, the house is now a fully livable home, and the Clarks have focused on turning the property into a working farm. They have goats and turkeys with plans for more. Last winter they put down 5,500 strawberry plants – they hope to sell the fruits at local farmers markets this spring. Rachel also has visions of turning the barn into an event space.

“My dream would be to renovate so we can host events or meetings or something that the community can partake in,” she says. “But that will take a lot of work. It’s a long way from one lightbulb to that.” 

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parts of a house make a home The Fisher family’s house was pieced together over decades by owners and neighbors

A

ny tour of Lorrie and Christian Fisher’s home in the woodsy Saralyn neighborhood quickly becomes a tour of the neighborhood itself, person by person, year by year.

There’s the fence a neighbor built, and the kitchen cabinets put in by two others. Even within the walls of the

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Fishers’ home are traces of buildings that, long ago, sat on another property just down the street.

“There was always a tradition in Saralyn of neighbors helping to build one another’s homes,” Lorrie says. “So all the houses are quirky.”

Just on the northern edge of Pittsboro, the heavy woods of Saralyn filter any signs of encroaching development or traffic on nearby Highway 15-501 and helps block the sun on the hottest days of summer. 

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H O M E & GA R DE N

“As soon as you drive in, it’s a few degrees cooler,” Lorrie says.

Saralyn dates to 1968 when a UNC literature professor fancied the idea of finding – and selling – a Thoreau-like existence in Chatham’s quiet woods. But as artists and academics trickled into Pittsboro, Saralyn’s Walden-like rawness also drew a wave of tradespeople who could clear a lot, wire a home or add a roof to a building, no matter how deep in the woods. With virtually no zoning or building codes, the neighborhood soon sprouted homes built from recycled materials or even recycled buildings, shaped only by available material and the imagination of the neighbors.

That early ethic is present all over the Fisher home. The yard and large garden is lined by a fence made of gnarled wood and vines, a half-barrier, half-sculpture built by Ernie Milloy, who lives a street over. Inside, the Fishers’ refurbished kitchen is an inviting cooking and gathering space lined with modern custom wood cabinetry, the focal point of which is a large slab of knotty, burnished pignut hickory fashioned into a countertop. The woodworking was done by neighbors

Gus, 13 (top), and Rowan, 9, live in a “crow’s nest” loft, which they reach by steps fashioned as cargo boxes and steamer trunks.

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The Fishers have renovated the living spaces of the house with modern styles and materials, but chickens in the yard are one of the many ways they keep a country feel.

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Matt Bacheler and Joe Angelillo,

who also built a pirate ship-style crow’s nest in the loft bedroom shared by Gus, 13, and Rowan, 9 (the Fishers’ oldest daughter, Taylor, lives in Carrboro). Even the Fishers’ plates, bowls and mugs are handmade by Lara O’Keefe, who

Above, Lorrie sits in the Fisher’s completely renovated dining room. The family’s living room (below) was once a tobacco shed, and its walls remain partially as they were.

An inscription left by the former owners is etched above the wood-burning stove.

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creates pottery in her Moncure studio but lives in Saralyn.

The same kind of history is literally built into the walls of the house. The previous owners, Louise and John Barnum, pieced together the current house from three structures, all of which can still be detected. According to Louise, a partner at Weaver Street Realty, when she and John arrived in 1977, the house was a tiny boxy structure, which the current kitchen mostly fills. A Saralyn neighbor provided the couple with a small barn, which the Barnums moved, attached and remade as bedrooms. They then traveled to Hillsborough to retrieve a log cabin built for tobacco drying (elsewhere in Saralyn, neighbors say, are buildings that were destined for the bottom of Jordan Lake before residents saved them from the reservoir’s 1974 impoundment.)

The Barnums kept the house listed as a “construction site” with the electric company for almost the entire time they owned it, as they constantly added, upgraded and changed the house. Like the Fishers today, John and Louise raised kids

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April/May 2019

With a goldfish pond just outside the front door and a fence made from natural materials, the Fisher’s home feels like a forest retreat.

lifestyle.”

—TAIMI

in the house, and the lifestyle stuck. As adults, Louise says, both of her kids “renovate every house they go into.”

Layers of the rough-cut logs that were once the outside of the cabin serve as the Fishers’ interior walls, lining a flight of stairs and a hallway. The interior of the former cabin is now outfitted with the trappings of a modern family living room: recessed lighting, wall art and comfy furniture. During a recent afternoon, a teenager sat on a sofa playing Fortnite on a big screen.

But in the room’s back corner, scratched into the grout between two logs, is a note from the past: “John + Louise Married Dec. 3, 1978.” 

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Nancy Cellner (left) and Karen Rose, who met while working at the Chapel Hill Police Department, renovated a former tobacco barn off Manns Chapel Road, doing most of the work themselves.

cabin in the woods turning a leaky, ramshackle tobacco barn into a dream home, piece by piece

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N

ancy Cellner purchased a plot of land off of Manns Chapel Road in 1990, knowing only

that she wanted to leave the world of rents and roommates behind. She parked a popup camper on the property next to the only structure, a ramshackle tobacco barn. Karen Rose soon joined Nancy, and they decided they’d fix up the barn until they could build the house they really wanted. ď ľ

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In early years, before adding a bedroom, Nancy and Karen would awake to snow inside their home. Karen hunts for treasures in long walks around the property.

But after about six months, they realized that the house they really wanted was the barn.

“When I saw it on the property I thought, ‘Oh, that will be handy for storing things,’” Nancy says. “Next thing you know, we’re living in it. We added a cement floor, got it sort of semi-livable and then gradually added more and more.”

The two met working for the Chapel Hill Police Department. Nancy was a canine officer while Karen retired last year as a crime analyst. The odd hours of police shifts, Nancy says, freed up big blocks of time, often overnight, to work on the house.

Today they run Keepsakes Custom Picture Framing in Pittsboro.

Still, the house is nearly as simple as the original barn. Doing nearly all the 72

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Nancy adopted Atticus after spotting him alone, undernourished and ignored in a local pasture. They added Scout to keep him company.

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work themselves, Nancy and Karen added two wings off the square barn – one for a kitchen with a simple dining table, the other the master bedroom. The barn itself is now the living room, with a large tobacco basket hung on the wall as a reminder of the past. The high ceiling of the barn allowed for a secondfloor loft, which they say they’ll get around to furnishing one day. For now, it serves as extra storage.

The time it takes to run the framing shop has cut into recent renovations.

“We’re going to definitely finish this as soon as we can get some time off,” Nancy says, laughing.

The cabin is a far cry from its early days, when the roof was a

HOM E & G A R D E N

tin sheet with venting holes open to the elements, and which they countered with only heated blankets and kerosene heaters. “I remember sometimes we’d actually see snow in here,” Karen says. “That’s fine when you’re in your 30s.”

During the summer, temperatures swelled, which made for one particularly memorable July Fourth weekend in which they sanded and finished a hardwood floor in 100-degree heat.

“That took years off our life,” Karen says.

The property was part of the farm owned by the Cotton family, sharecroppers-turned-landowners from Chatham’s post-Civil War era. Mildred Cotton, better known as Mama Dip, gained international fame cooking recipes that she learned on and around the land.

Several of her relatives live nearby.

Today, in what were once fields of crops, Nancy and Karen keep two horses, Atticus and Scout, who graze in the quiet meadows. CM

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fruits of their labor Mema’s Fruit Shack in Pittsboro is only open in the summer. But it is a year-round operation

BY JO HN WE L L S | P H OTOGRAP H Y BY BE TH MANN

H

arold and Alice Howard ran a

construction business through the 1990s and early 2000s, building houses all over Chatham. But when they decided to retire, two things happened: First, in 2008, the couple purchased a bit of countryside halfway between Pittsboro and Siler City, where they planted some peach trees a few years later.

And second, Alice’s grandchildren began to call her “Mema.”

The small peach orchard “quickly got out of hand,” Alice says, and today the Howards tend to more than 350 trees across 5 acres of their farm.

The peaches are part of the wider offerings that supply Mema’s Fruit Shack, the farm’s produce

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Harold and Alice Howard bought their land in 2008 and planted peach trees a few years later. The orchard “quickly got out of hand,� Alice says. They now tend to 350 trees on 5 acres.

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and gift store on Highway 64. The Howards sell their own produce at Mema’s, which they opened soon after planting the peach trees, and they also sell scoops of creamy, homemade ice cream.

“We start from scratch,” Alice says of their signature frozen treat, “with just the basic ingredients and things we grow here at the farm, but I’ve been told that it’s very good.”

It has hardly made for a lazy retirement. Mema’s is open from June to September, but running the farm is a year-round job. In January, they put up fencing to keep deer out of the crops. Early spring brings the threat of a late frost. “We spend a lot of time just combating the elements,” Alice says.

The Howards’ farm is 64 acres, and they cultivate blueberries, peaches, squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, corn, and other fruits and vegetables throughout the year.

Alongside fresh produce, the Howards stock Mema’s with antiques, home décor, craft items, and even bowls that the Howards and their children carve out of maple. Though they didn’t intend to build a new career, Alice and Harold plan on operating the farm and fruit stand for the foreseeable future.

“As my husband says,”Alice offers, “you can only play so much golf.” CM

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“We start from scratch,” Alice says of the stand’s ice cream, “with just the basic ingredients and things we grow here at the farm, but I’ve been told that it’s very good.”

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Melinda Fitzgerald with potatoes trucked in from Idaho. With one large annual shipment, she supplies dozens of small farms in Chatham and beyond with seed potatoes for a year’s crop.

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an agricultural

evolution Farms accounts for nearly a quarter of land in Chatham, and those who work them embrace both enduring traditions and a willingness to change

BY MATT WHITE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BETH MAN N

I

f you want to chat about the science behind organic farming, the benefits of raw milk or how agriculture in Chatham has changed over the past 10 years – or the last 100 – don’t worry about calling Neill Lindley before regular business hours. He’ll be up.

“My goal every night is to get a lot of sleep,” says Neill, who owns Lindale Farms outside Silk Hope. “But I’ll wake up at 2:30 a.m. or so, thinking about the condition of an animal.”

Maybe a cow is about to deliver a calf, or a goat has been sick, or it’s just too cold.

“I’ll get up about 3 [o’clock] and go check on them,” he says.

Workers arrive at Lindale’s dairy at 4 a.m. to milk the farm’s goats and at 5 a.m. to start on the cows. Workdays have started long

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PHOTO COURTESY OF ORGANIC VALLEY FARMS

FA R M

Cori and Neill Lindley own Lindale Farms in Silk Hope, and are up every day before dawn to help tend to their goats and 75 dairy cows. Though Chatham County trails the rest of the state in the number of field crops, it ranks fourth in the number of goats and sheep, and second in live cattle.

before dawn for the Lindley’s for five generations.

“The good part about this job,” Neill says, “is I can take a nap anytime I want.”

According to the 2012 USDA Census of Agriculture, the most recent data available, Chatham has just over 111,000 acres of farmland, almost exactly a quarter of the county, and a little more than 1,100 active farms. Those numbers increased slightly from the 2007 census, 84

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though, on average, farms brought in about 10 percent less money than they had five years before. The census also shows that more than half of Chatham farmers make most of their living in another profession. Chatham trails most of North Carolina in field crop production, but it is a leader in animals, both for milk and meat. In 2017, Chatham produced 20 million chickens and 80 million eggs. Chatham was No. 4 in the state in goats and sheep, No. 3 in horses, No. 2 in live cattle and first in pheasants.

Neill runs Lindale Farms with his wife, Cori, and their son, Neill. His great-grandfather, Sam, started the farm, and later generations expanded it to about 200 dairy cows and 500

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FA R M

acres using traditional methods of feed, engineered seeds and fertilizer. But in 2009, Neill made the dairy organic. It took the soil three years to purge itself of the generations of fertilizers and pesticides.

“I farm with a microscope,” Neill says.

“We would be using more chemicals and fertilizer each year, and the crops would suffer. I felt we were headed down the wrong path.”

Neill reduced the number of Lindale’s cows from 200 to 75, but brought in a herd of goats.

“The cool part about this is that we can produce as a small farm what a large farm can’t do efficiently,” Neill says. With organic milk now more widely available, he hopes to begin selling a raw, unpasteurized variety. If he does – regulatory issues remain – he’ll use glass jars. “I do not do plastics. We’re helping clean up the oceans. See, I love all animals.” He pauses briefly.

“Except snakes,” he says.

While Neill is a full-time farmer, Al Clapp is one of many Chatham farmers who works his land part time. He keeps 160 cows on 350 Dallas Hurley, second from left, sold Country Farm & Home to his daughter, Melinda Fitzgerald, in 2014. Family businesses passing through generations are a staple of Chatham farm life.

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FARM

acres outside Siler City. “A farm is a never ending chore,” Al says. “You can never sit back and say everything’s done for today.” Al also runs the family business, Clapp Brothers Tractor & Implement in Siler City, opened by Sam and Ben Clapp in 1937.

“There was a tractor dealer in almost every town,” Al says. “At one time in Siler City there was a John Deere dealer, a Ford tractor dealer and

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this place.”

Today, only Clapp Brothers remains.

The store’s inventory covers two downtown blocks, inlcuding a huge aging harvester in one corner. Al bought it and drove it back to Siler City himself at 7 mph. He hoped to resell it quickly, but interest was thin. In one sense, the huge machine is a throwback to a bygone era of farming in Chatham, a notion Al sums up with a joke: “Every now and again I have to buy a harvester to remind myself why I don’t sell harvesters.” 

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April/May 2019

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anything his father would have sold. “A smaller tractor is kind of like your bass boats or Harley Davidson. It’s a luxury,” Al says. “There are a lot of, maybe not retired yet, but people who are 55 to 65, who grew up on their farm, got a college education and then made some money. Now they got kids in college, their house is paid for, their parents have passed away. Now they can buy some land, have some cows and buy some equipment.”

Pittsboro’s Country Farm & Home is another Chatham business that has evolved across generations. It was founded as the Central Carolina Farmers Exchange in the 1950s, and farmers shipped their crops to market from its loading docks.

Dallas Hurley bought the store in the 1990s and ran it as a traditional feed and fertilizer supplier. As Dallas contemplated retirement in 2014, his daughter, Melinda Fitzgerald, NOON≠–5PM then a Chapel Hill public school teacher, bought it from him. She

Today Al runs the dealership from a tiny, cluttered office in the dealership’s bay while is daughters, Ivey and Caroline, work part-time up front.

Aside from the used harvester, nearly everything Al sells is smaller than

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FARM

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decided to refocus on supplying organic and small farms in Chatham.

“I just thought, ‘I can’t sell Roundup the rest of my life,’” Melinda says. “I thought if I can develop a base of, you know, tree hugging environmental farmers like I am, that would be great.”

By bringing together many small farmers, she can place big orders, like in late February, when a tractor-trailer truck rolled in straight from Idaho.

The potatoes had arrived. For the next two days, farmers from as far off as Virginia and South Carolina came to pick up heavy sacks of Idaho potatoes to plant for late spring harvest.

“The way people make it in farming now is they find a niche,” Melanie says.

“They grow rice, they grow hemp, they grow out of season, they grow berries.

Anything that’s a little different.” CM

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Our writer visited a practice session at Noah’s Ark, where Gibb, Therese Leafstedt’s golden retriever, couldn’t wait to jump …

far-fetched

A visit to the dog-jumping dock at Indian Creek K9 Aquatics in Goldston finds a strong community and one stubborn dog

BY RILE Y SHAN ER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY RILEY SHAN ER

“P

lease jump, Truett,” I said. Truett is a dog, but I’m the one begging. I stand up to my shoulders in the 42-foot pool at Indian Creek K9 Aquatics, looking up at Truett, a friend’s big Australian Shepherd who’d come with me to the unique dog-jumping facility near Goldston. Truett walked to the end of

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the oversized deck, glanced down at the huge pool and – just as my hopes began to rise – sat down at the edge. He looked at the tennis ball in the water and then back to me, as if telling me to fetch the ball. He was not going to jump.

It was not a great start to my dog aquatics career, but Jay Harris, who built and owns Indian Creek, assured me it wasn’t out of the ordinary.

“We have dogs who won’t even come to the edge, and by the end of a weekend, they’re leaping,” Jay says.

Jay built Indian Creek K9 Aquatics as the home base of

PHOTO BY KJ PHOTOGRAPHY

Carolina DockDogs. You may

have seen a DockDogs event on TV, or just seen the real-life version at a lake or backyard pool: A pup races down a long platform and, chasing a toy thrown by its owner, launches into the air before splashing

competitors. Just as animals and people entered the Biblical ark in pairs, members believe life is meant to be lived in unity with others.

“We’re a family,” says Kaitie Uebelhoer, whose

into a huge swimming pool. labrador Jon Snow has gone Jay’s dock – which he from a Craigslist rescue to Jay Harris with Noah Ammons, 3. calls Noah’s Ark, after his a jumping world champion. grandson, Noah Ammons – is She and her family regularly one of the biggest and best-known docks in the country. travel from Charleston, South Carolina, Born in Sanford, Jay worked for Honeywell in Moncure for to train and compete at Indian Creek.

37 years, retiring in 2012. In 2005, he started competing “We can always turn to each other.” in DockDog competitions with his yellow lab, Sir Harley, “The DockDogs family is second to and by 2012, both were inducted into the DockDog Hall none,” Jay adds. “They show what of Fame. Jay wanted to share his love of dock diving on a some good people can do.” larger scale and opened Noah’s Ark in September 2016.

Maybe next time, they can even get Like the dock, Noah is 3. Jay and his wife, Deb, have been Truett to jump. raising Noah nearly his whole life. Born almost threemonths premature and weighing 30 ounces, Noah wasn’t expected to survive through infancy. He spent his first 271 days at WakeMed Children’s Hospital in Raleigh.

“He is definitely a miracle,” Jay says. “He has really come a long way.”

Noah continues to face developmental challenges ranging from speech issues to a diagnosis of autism and receives specialized physical and speech therapy.

To help with those costs, Indian Creek will host the third annual Bark at Noah’s Ark May 2 - May 5, as both a fundraiser for Noah’s ongoing care and a qualifying event for national DockDog championships. Registration for 80 … while Truett never did. dogs filled up in less than two hours, with entrants from as far away as Canada and Texas. Spectators are welcome all weekend.

Riley Shaner is a senior at Northwood The first two years of Bark at Noah’s Ark raised $18,000, High School. The Bark at Noah’s and they hope to raise $15,000 in May. Jay says the response Ark is May 2 - May 5 and is open to is a reflection of a “two-by-two” ethic among DockDogs the public. CM April/May 2019

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Pickled Rhubarb and Strawberry Salad by Sera Cuni

light fare, locally sourced Three area chefs share their favorite spring recipes ASPARAGUS ALLA MILANESE

D

aniel Taylor worked

in kitchens from London to the Cayman Islands before returning to his cooking roots

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in Chapel Hill. For his personal chef service, The Briar Chapel Chef, he offers in-home cooking lessons and caters private events with meals sourced from local farms. This asparagus dish, he says, is less a recipe than it is a “foolproof suggestion.� Daniel loves the asparagus at Peaceful River Farm and gets his eggs from Perry-winkle Farm, both of which sell at the

Fearrington Farmers’ Market.

24 thick-stemmed asparagus, trimmed and peeled 4 eggs, as fresh as possible 3 handfuls of arugula Freshly grated Parmesan cheese Olive oil Sea salt Blanch asparagus in salted boiling water and shock in ice. Dry and season with salt and olive oil to taste.

Char asparagus on grill at high heat to color without further cooking. Fry eggs sunny side up to ensure the yolk remains soft.

Place a small bed of arugula with 6 spears on each plate and top with a fried egg. Grate lots of Parmesan over the top. The Parmesan and egg yolk will create a very simple style of Italian “hollandaise.” Serves 4.

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BRAISED COLLARDS

A

ngelina Koulizakis-Battiste,

proprietor of Angelina’s Kitchen just off Highway 64 on Rectory Street in Pittsboro, has built a following by using fresh, locally grown ingredients. Her Greek and Southwestern-influenced menu takes its cues

from Chatham’s growing seasons. She likes to shop the Pittsboro Farmers Market, which includes local growers like Lilly Den Farm, Red Roots Farm and Granite Springs Farm. She’ll pick up collards as soon as they are available.

2 pounds collards ½ pound carrots 1 cup crushed tomato ¼ cup olive oil Salt and pepper to taste Remove thick stem from collards, and cut leaves into 1½-inch-wide ribbons.

Peel carrots, and cut into ½-inch rounds. Put olive oil in a deep, heavybottomed pot. Clean collards well, put in pot, top with carrots. Add 1 cup water and cover. Cook for about 20 minutes until collards start to soften, and then remove lid and continue cooking until collards are as soft as desired. Add the tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy as is or over rice. To complete your meal, serve with fresh seafood from Pittsboro Market.

A NG EL INA ’ S K IT C H EN, 2 3 R EC T O R Y S T . , P IT T S B O R O , A NG EL INA S K IT C H ENO NL INE. C O M 9 1 9 -5 4 5 -5 5 0 5 

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W EL L NESS

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I N C.

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PICKLED RHUBARB AND STRAWBERRY SALAD

S

era Cuni and Susan White

opened The Root Cellar in Pittsboro more than a year ago, expanding from their successful restaurant in Chapel Hill. They keep the menu limited to healthy, seasonal recipes, and in the spring they look for fresh local strawberries to add the perfect sweetness to their pickled rhubarb.

PICKLED RHUBARB

thank you for choosing us!

3 pounds rhubarb 1 cup apple cider vinegar ½ cup sugar 1 cup water 1 Tbsp. cloves 1 Tbsp. ginger 3 sticks cinnamon 10-12 unground peppercorns Combine all except rhubarb in a large pot, bring to a boil for 5 minutes. Add rhubarb and allow it to cool to room temp. Then place the dish in the in the fridge to chill.

(It can be made ahead of time, and keeps for a few weeks in the fridge.)

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WELLNESS

SALAD

1 pint strawberries, quartered ¼ cup chevre ¼ cup candied pecans (recipe below) ¼ cup pickled red onions ¼ cup watermelon radish 4 cups arugula and baby kale mix DRESSING

1 cup strawberries 1 Tbsp. poppy seeds 1 cup olive oil ¼ cup orange juice ¼ cup lemon juice 1 Tbsp. honey Salt and pepper to taste

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Blend until smooth.

CANDIED PECANS

Blanch pecans in salt water for 3 minutes. Toss in some powdered sugar and allow to dry.

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Pecans should be crunchy and sweet.

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S

adie’s Southern owners Brendan and Leslie Cox have been serving up fresh,

farm-to-table food in Chatham since 2010. The couple owns Oakleaf, which combined fine dining and a focus on local food in Chatham Mills in Pittsboro before relocating to Carrboro. And in November, the couple opened Sadie’s in the Veranda at the entrance to Briar Chapel, replacing their sandwich and pasta restaurant, Alberello Café & Market. “We wanted to do something that was very different from Oakleaf and Alberello,” Brendan says.

“We’ve always had a Southern concept on the backburner.” Brendan runs the kitchens in Oakleaf and Sadie’s, while Leslie handles the front-of-house chores. Since opening, they say they’ve already developed a following for their traditional buttermilk brined and fried chicken. The dish comes in both regular and Nashville-style spicy, which Brendan insists is not to be taken lightly. “Like, melt-your-face hot,” he says. Brendan breads the chicken, sourced from Joyce Farms, with a combination of flour varieties that produces a perfect crackly skin without an over-supply of grease. On a recent day, the chicken was joined with braised collard greens from eastern North Carolina and rich, creamy mashed red potatoes that were a delightful mix of buttermilk, sour cream and butter. The plate comes with pimento cheese, an uncommon companion to fried chicken that pairs well with the buttermilk and combination of spices. – Hannah Lee CM April/May 2019

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restaurants, delis and bistros (advertisers boxed in green)

North Chatham Briar Chapel 501 Pharmacy Scoops of Maple View Farm ice cream, plus malts and shakes.

98 Chapelton Ct., Ste. 300; 984-999-0501; 501rx.com Breakaway Cafe A casual “cyclinginspired” cafe serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and small plates, along with Counter Culture coffee, beer, wine and Maple View ice cream. 58 Chapelton Ct., Ste. 100; 984-234-3010; breakawaync.co Capp’s Pizzeria & Trattoria Traditional Italian cuisine including homemade fresh pastas, salads, sandwiches and a trattoria menu. 79 Falling Springs Dr., Ste. 140; 919-240-4104; cappspizzeria.com Sadie’s Southern Southern comfort food. 72 Chapelton Ct.; 984-234-3017; sadiessouthern.com Town Hall Burger and Beer Gourmet burgers plus shared plates, tacos, wings and salads. 58 Chapelton Ct.; 984-234-3504; townhallburgerandbeer.com Governors Village Al’s Pub Shack Classic gourmet burger and fries joint, featuring an expanded menu with sandwiches, seafood, soups and salads along with a full bar. 50050 Governors Dr.; 919-904-7659

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taste

Flair Restaurant & Wine Bar High-quality French-influenced American food, coffee, wine, beer and Sunday brunch. 50100 Governors Dr.; 919-967-9990; flairforfoodrestaurant.com Papa John’s Pizza Pizza crafted with quality. 50010 Governors Dr.; 919-968-7272; papajohns.com

Tarantini Italian cuisine. 50160 Governors Dr.; 919-942-4240; tarantinirestaurant.com North Chatham Village/Cole Park Plaza Captain John’s Dockside Fish & Crab House American seafood dishes.

11550 U.S. 15-501 N.; 919-968-7955; captainjohnsdockside.com Marco’s Pizza Traditional Italian dishes and pizzas. 141 Chatham Downs Dr., Ste. 201; 919-391-4090; marcos.com Moon Asian Bistro Asian fusion restaurant offering sushi, Chinese dishes like sweetand-sour chicken, Thai curry dishes, rice and noodles. 111 Knox Way; 919-869-7894; moonasianbistroch.com Panda Garden Chinese dishes like chow mein and egg foo young, dine in or take out. 11312 U.S. Highway 15-501; 919-960-8000; chapelhillpandagarden.com Guanajuato Mexican Restaurant Mexican dishes with vegetarian options.

11552 U.S. 15-501 N., Ste. 205; 919-9298012; guanajuatomexicanrestaurant.net Village Pizza and Pasta A neighborhood pizza place serving up subs, calzones, pastas and salads. 11312 U.S. Hwy. 15-501 S., Ste. 300; 919-960-3232; villagepizzapasta.com

Pittsboro

U.S. 15-501/Fearrington Village Allen & Son BBQ N.C. barbecue.

5650 U.S. 15-501; 919-542-2294; stubbsandsonbbq.com Carolina Brewery Pub-style fare made with local ingredients from places like Boxcarr Handmade Cheese and Lilly Den Farm. 120 Lowes Dr., Ste. 100; 919-545-2330; carolinabrewery.com/ pittsboro Compadres Tequila Lounge Mexican restaurant with a variety of classic dishes.

193 Lowes Dr., Ste. 107; 919-704-8374; compadresnc.com

The Fearrington House Restaurant Fine-dining French cuisine offering a chef’s tasting menu.

Fearrington Village Center; 919-5422121; fearrington. com/house

House of Hops Relaxed bar and bottle shop with a large craft beer selection on tap.

112 Russet Run, Ste. 110; 919-542-3435; houseofhopsnc.com

The Belted Goat Casual dining for breakfast, lunch, dinner. Coffee & wine shop.

Fearrington Village; 919-545-5717; fearrington.com/ belted-goat

San Felipe Mexican dishes including fajitas, burritos and combo plates.

630 East St.; 919-542-1008; sanfelipenc.com Small B&B Cafe Farm-to-table breakfast and lunch. 219 East St.; 919-537-1909; smallbandbcafe.com Starrlight Mead Tastings of honey wines and honey.

Chatham Mills; 919-533-6314; starrlightmead.com

New Japan Hibachi-style Japanese cooking, dine in or carry out. 90 Lowes Dr.; 919-542-4380 Papa John’s Pizza Pizza crafted with quality. 120 Lowes Dr.; 919-545-7272; papajohns.com Roost Beer Garden Wood-fired pizza, local brews and live music. 2000 Fearrington Village Center; 919-5455717; fearrington. com/roost

The Root Cellar Sandwiches, prepared salads, desserts and more.

35 Suttles Rd.; 919-542-1062; rootcellarpbo.com Willy’s Cinnamon Rolls, Etc. Bakery selling cinnamon rolls, scones, muffins, cookies and bread with ’40s and ’50s flair.

35 W. Chatham St.; 252-305-9227; willysrolls.com

Al’s Diner Traditional American classics for breakfast, lunch and supper. 535 West St.; 919-542-5800 Angelina’s Kitchen Seasonal dishes of the Greek and southwestern variety including gyros, rice bowls and family dinners for pickup. 23 Rectory St.; 919-545-5505; angelinaskitchenonline.com Circle City Grill Featuring hamburgers, barbecue and tacos. 517 West St.; 919-704-8798; circlecitygrill.com The Phoenix Bakery Small-batch, seasonal baked goods like apple pie doughnuts, caramel-pecan rolls, scones, cookies and specialty cakes. 664 West St.; 919-542-4452; thephoenixbakerync.com The Pickle Jar Cafe & Catering Fresh American classics with a twist.

480 Hillsboro St.; 919-704-8878; picklejarcafe.com Pittsboro Roadhouse Hearty American fare like smoked gouda mac ‘n’ cheese, plus burgers and salads. 39 West St.; 919-542-2432; pittsbororoadhouse.com Hillsboro Street/Downtown

China Inn Chinese dishes, dine in or carry out. 630 East St.; 919-545-0259

Blue Dot Coffee Joe Van Gogh coffee, lattes, smoothies and pastries.

53 Hillsboro St.; 919-704-8064

Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries Burgers, cheesesteaks and frozen custard.

987 East St.; 919-542-1312; hwy55.com/ locations/pittsboro John’s Italian Pizza Restaurant Pizzas, pastas, wraps, calzones and strombolis; 122 Sanford Rd.; 919-542-5027; johnspizzarestaurant.com

The Mod Wood-fired pizza, salads, small plates and a full bar. 46 Sanford Rd.; 919-533-6883; themodernlifedeli.com

West Street

East Street

Greek Kouzina Made from scratch hummus, gyros, kebabs and more.

964 East St.; 919-542-9950; greekkouzina.com

Elizabeth’s Pizza Pizzas, calzones, sandwiches, salads and pasta.

160 Hillsboro St.; 919-545-9292; elizabethspizza pittsboro.com

Café Diem Carrboro Coffee Roasters coffee and espresso offerings, plus tea and alternative milk/sugar-free options.

439 Hillsboro St.; 919-704-4239; davenports-cafediem.com The City Tap Hoagie and grilled sandwiches, plus classic bar snacks.

89 Hillsboro St.; 919-545-0562; thecitytap.com

Postal Fish Company Fresh seafood from North Carolina’s coast prepared thoughtfully by chefs James Clark and Bill Hartley. 75 W. Salisbury St.; 919-704-8612 S&T’s Soda Shoppe Soda fountain, American fare. 85 Hillsboro St.; 919-545-0007; sandtsodashoppe.com Virlie’s Grill Breakfast, lunch and supper options like biscuits, salads, subs and barbecue. 58 Hillsboro St.; 919-542-0376; virliesgrill.com Chatham Marketplace Buzz Cafe sandwiches, daily changing hot bar, sushi, salads and baked goods. Chatham Mills; 919-542-2643; chathammarketplace.coop

Siler City Artisan Hub Scratch-made breakfast and fresh lunches including salads, sandwiches, burgers and specials like chicken & waffles and shrimp & grits. 113 W. Raleigh St.; 919-663-1758; artisan-hub.business.site Bestfood Steakhouse and Cafeteria Southern comfort food. 220 E. 11th St.; 919-742-2475 (cafeteria), 919-742-6033 (steakhouse); bestfoodsilercity.com Brownie Lu’s Restaurant Southern comfort food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 919 N. Second Ave.; 919-663-3913 Chris’ Drive-in Burgers, hot dogs and fries.

1329 N. Second Ave.; 919-663-2333

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D IN I N G GUI D E

Compadres Mexican Restaurant A variety of classic dishes. 115 Siler Crossing; 919-663-5600; compadresnc.com Courtyard Coffee and Soda Cafe Coffee, Italian sodas, smoothies and bakery items.

223 N. Chatham Ave.; 919-663-2152 Dry Dock Seafood A variety of seafood dishes and daily specials.

408 N. Second Ave.; 919-742-2177; drydockseafood.com Elizabeth’s Pizza Pizzas, calzones, sandwiches, salads and pasta. 119 Siler Crossing; 919-663-5555; elizabethspizza silercity.com Hayley Bales Steakhouse Americanstyle salads, steaks, chicken and seafood. 220 E. 11th St.; 919-742-6033; hayleybalessteakhouse.letseat.at

Johnson’s Drive In Burgers, hot dogs and fries on Highway 64 since 1946.

1520 E. 11th St.

news bites

New China Inn Chinese dishes.

Dine in or carry out. 203 Chatham Sq.; 919-663-0889

ODDCO, an art and design store with a bar featuring regional craft beers, opened at 684 West Street, Pittsboro (next to The Phoenix Bakery).

Oasis Fresh Market & Deli Local and organic soups, sandwiches and Mediterranean specialties. 117 S. Chatham Ave.; 919-799-7434; oasisfreshmarket.com San Felipe Mexican dishes including fajitas, burritos and combo plates.

102 Walmart Supercenter; 919-663-7333; sanfelipenc.com

Chapel Hill Southern Village Al’s Burger Shack Gourmet burgers and fries made with local ingredients.

708 Market St.; 919-914-6694; alsburgershack.com

The Modern Life and Deli is adding a bar and event space. Owner Dylan Perry says the new area will host events and feature a pool tables, dart boards, a foosball table and couches.

La Vita Dolce Coffee and Gelato Café Pastries, sorbet, gelato. 610 Market St., Ste. 101-C; 919-968-1635; lavitadolcecafe.com Pazzo! Italian cuisine, takeout pizza. 700 Market St.; Trattoria: 919-929-9984; Pizzeria: 919-929-9991 pazzo-restaurant.com Rasa Malaysia Authentic Malaysian dishes. 410 Market St.; 984-234-0256; rasamalaysiach.com The Town Hall Grill Sandwiches, steak, seafood. 410 Market St.; 919-960-8696; thetownhallgrill.com

wood-fired pizza • housemade pastas sammies • salads • desserts

RADIUS

Sounds of Saturday return this Spring.

Live music on the patio every Saturday 6:00-9:00 pm 919- 542-3435 112 Russet Run, Suite 110 • Pittsboro

112 N. Churton Street • Hillsborough

radiuspizzeria.net

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h o u se of h o p sn c . com

DI NI NG GU I DE

Weaver Street Market Hot bar and salad bar for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 716 Market St.; 919-929-2009; weaverstreetmarket.coop

Radius Wood-fired pizzas, housemade pastas, sandwiches, salads and desserts.

Outdoor dining. 112 N. Churton St., Chapel Hill; 919-245-0601; radiuspizzeria.net

also check out these area restaurants Al’s Burger Shack Gourmet burgers and fries with local ingredients.

516 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill; 919-904-7659; alsburgershack.com

The Root Cellar Sandwiches, prepared salads, desserts and more. Beer and wine only; outdoor dining.

750 MLK Jr. Blvd.; 919-967-3663; rootcellarchapelhill.com

elements Combines classic and modern Asian and European cooking; wine bar next door. 2110 Environ Way, Chapel Hill; 919-537-8780; elementsof chapelhill.com

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April/May 2019

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EN GA GEM EN T

Luchenbill & Schranz B Y EL LI E GL ASS PHO TO GRA PHY BY HE BA S ALAMA, H EBA SALAMA P HO TO G R AP HY , HE BAS ALAMA . C O M

R

ebecca Schranz and Bradford Luchenbill had not

been dating long when they went to MerleFest and discovered a shared love of folk music. The sweltering temperatures turned many others away, but, Rebecca says, “we managed to have the best time.”

and when Rebecca turned to look, he had

In January 2018, Rebecca suspected Bradford was about to propose when he invited her parents to dinner at J. Betski’s in Raleigh. Her suspicion was confirmed a week later when, as she brushed her teeth one morning during a beach trip in South Carolina, she heard the snap of a ring box in the next room. Later, they took a walk on the beach toward an old fort beyond the dunes. Bradford pointed to “dolphins” in the water,

dropped to one knee. She said yes.

They’ll settle in Pittsboro after the wedding. It has a “peaceful country living feel while still being close to town,” she says.

The couple has planned a September 28 ceremony, the third anniversary of their first date, at Lavender Oaks Farms. CM

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WE DDING S

Mitchell & Robinson B Y PARRI SH A LTO PHO TO GRA PHY BY AN N I E BR O W N PHO TO GRA PHY, AN N I E BR O W N P HO TO . CO M

E

mily Mitchell met Drew Robinson during a

trivia night at Top of The Hill when both were students at UNC. But it wasn’t until after they graduated that Drew asked Emily on a date. While they dated, she took a job teaching at Margaret B. Pollard Middle School, just a few minutes away from the house she grew up in off Manns Chapel Road.

She suspected nothing when the two spent a day visiting Drew’s mom in Fayetteville for her birthday in February 2018, and then drove back for a walk around their alma mater. When they reached the Old Well, Drew surprised Emily with a ring and a proposal. He’d even arranged for a friend, Morgan Dailey, to be hiding nearby with a camera to capture the moment. When she said yes, Drew had a second surprise: a celebration party nearby with family and all seven of Emily’s college housemates.

Emily says her students also got in the spirit.

“One student asked me, ‘Who are you going to be now?’ I assured him that I would still be his teacher, not realizing that he was trying to ask me what my new name would be,” Emily (now Robinson) says.

The couple married in front of hundreds of guests Oct. 12, 2018, at The Cloth Mill at Eno River. Emily’s parents, Jane and Robbie Mitchell of Durham, and Drew’s parents,

Jeff and Paige Robinson of Fayetteville, attended.

Emily and Drew agree that the most memorable moment of their day was the instant they saw each other at the start of the ceremony.

“It was the culmination of all the hype and anticipation leading up to the wedding,” Drew says. “It was the first time I could see my best friend on the best day of our lives.” CM April/May 2019

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W ED D I N GS

Harris & Wood B Y M ATT WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS BAILEY PHOTOGRAPHY CBAI LEYPHO TO G R AP HY . CO M

D

alton Harris and Julia Campbell Wood

met in Texas, got engaged in Tennessee and had their first dance in an art gallery surrounded by portraits of British royals.

But the spark that started it all was right here in North Carolina.

Dalton is originally from Siler City, where the rest of his family still lives and runs the family business, Welford Harris Ford. Dalton worked at the dealership for both his dad, Welford David Harris, and grandfather, Welford Dalton Harris, during summers as a student at Jordan Matthews High School. In 2016, Dalton’s sister Alexandra Harris Evans attended a wedding in Raleigh where she met an old friend of Julia’s, Allie McNairy, from Texas.

The two women hit it off and quickly decided to play long distance matchmakers, setting up their Texas friends. Eventually Dalton proposed on a trip to Memphis. Julia said yes in the city’s Peabody Hotel and the couple popped Champagne with the famous ducks that live in the building’s lobby. At the rehearsal dinner in Houston, both Texas and North Carolina flags decorated the walls, and the menu featured a barbecue showdown between the states’ signature styles.

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Houston, where guests toasted the new couple among an exhibition of portraits of Henry VIII, Princess Diana and other British royalty. Dalton’s father was his best man as mother Valerie Harris looked on. Siler City friends Jonathan “JJ” Daniel, Wren Farrar and Curt McBee were groomsmen. Julia’s bridesmaids included Dalton’s sisters: the original matchmaker, Alexandra, and Avery Evans. CM

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