Chatham Magazine

09/01/2026

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻. 🗣️💛
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Readers cast thousands of votes in 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟵𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗹, and today, we're thrilled to unveil the 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝟮𝟮𝟱 winners representing your favorite places, people and businesses – from 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝘁𝘀𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗼 to 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻 to 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 and beyond – deserving of this recognition. 🏆
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And there's a lot to discover in this issue 👀:
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🍴A closer look at 𝟭𝟯 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 you voted among Chatham’s best
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🛍️ Local shops and makers worth a special trip
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🏡 Home, garden and service pros you trust to get the job done
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💆 Wellness and personal care favorites that keep you feeling your best
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✨ New businesses making their mark
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🏆 Plus, the 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀!
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Looking for somewhere new to eat? A local business to support? Or a favorite you somehow haven’t discovered yet? 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁. 📋
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See who made the cut by reading it online today at the 🔗 below, or grab a copy when it hits stands later this week!

Discover the restaurants, bars, goods and more that readers picked as their favorites in our ninth annual Best of Chatham poll.

08/24/2026

Meet Ashlyn Martin, director of Chatham County Aging Services for the past four years. 💛

She leads a team that helps older adults across the county stay active and independent through Meals on Wheels, home repairs and exercise classes at the Pittsboro Center for Active Living and newly reopened Siler City Center for Active Living. 💪🏽

Ashlyn's path to this work started young – she was inspired by her grandmothers and a great aunt who, at 86, still works, drives and lives on her own. Internships during her social work studies at UNC Greensboro and North Carolina A&T State University confirmed where her passion was, and she's been serving older adults ever since.

"I enjoy getting to know so many wonderful people, hearing their stories, supporting them along their journey and being a listening ear and friend for those in need," Ashlyn says. "The work may not always be easy, but it's always rewarding." ✨

Read our full Q&A with Ashlyn – and learn more about who's who in town and county government – at the 🔗 below.

Chatham County Aging Services Director Ashlyn Martin shares how her team supports older adults through Meals on Wheels, home repairs and more

08/06/2026

Disney has released a new rendering of the entrance to Asteria, its Storyliving by Disney residential community planned for Chatham Park NC in Pittsboro.

The entryway is designed to reflect North Carolina's Piedmont landscape through the use of locally sourced dry stacked stone and a moon gate that frames the view into the community.

The new rendering offers another look at how the development is taking shape.

08/05/2026

From a shipping container to your dinner table! 👩‍🌾 🌱 Learn how Drip Culture Farm is using indoor farming methods to bring sustainable, locally grown produce to Chatham County.

Learn how the Drip Culture Container Farm is bringing sustainable, locally grown produce to Chatham County through container farming

07/28/2026

Discover mahjong at Chatham Community Library, music bingo and trivia at Forgotten Road Ales & Provisions, euchre at bmc brewing and board games at Bynum Front Porch – and how each is helping build community across the county:

Discover mahjong, music bingo, euchre, trivia and board game groups that are helping build community across Chatham County.

07/10/2026

After three years at The Plant, Pittsboro Farmers Market has moved back downtown, to Salisbury Street’s Pop-up Park, landing a spot with more room to grow and a walk-up crowd of neighbors, kids and dog walkers.

Market manager Elizabeth Ferrin says the shift was about accessibility – bringing local farmers, bakers, beekeepers and fishmongers closer to the people they serve. Longtime vendor Greta Laws of McNeills Strawberry Farm has watched the market grow since 1997 and says the new spot feels like coming full circle.

Join a nearly 30-year Chatham County tradition every Thursday at 3 p.m. From fresh produce to homemade soap and baked goods, the Pittsboro Farmers Market brings together local families and small businesses each week. 🍓🥬 🧁

Read more about the Pittsboro Farmers Market at the 🔗 below!

After three years at The Plant, the Pittsboro Farmers Market is back downtown in a move that increases accessibility and visibility.

06/23/2026

Pittsboro's The Quiltmaker Café is officially open! 🥳

🥘 This new nonprofit, pay-what-you-can, counter-service restaurant serves up delicious meals and doubles as a social hub built for community connection. Donate or volunteer today at 📍 75 W. Salisbury St., and help ensure everyone has access to healthy and affordable food, regardless of their ability to give. ❤️

06/16/2026

57 years of marriage, a lifetime of memories and a legacy that has deeply shaped Goldston, NC. 🏠📍

Meet Gary and Carolyn Cox. From their dedicated careers at UNC to their decades of volunteering with organizations like Chatham County Partnership for Children and Chatham Habitat for Humanity, this couple has created a legacy of service and community. Read their story:

Through 57 years of marriage, this Goldston couple has dedicated their lives to strengthening Chatham County's community and building a legacy of service

06/10/2026

𝐵𝑒𝒽𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓇: On a 17-acre site at one of the highest elevations in Chatham County sits FireClay Cellars, a vineyard reimagining the possibilities of North Carolina wine.🍷

Owned by Sue Mitran, her husband Andrei Mitran and their son, Erik Mitran, FireClay is truly a family effort. From planting the first grapes 🍇 deep in the red North Carolina clay that inspired their name, to welcoming guests into the Siler City tasting room, Sue, Andrei and Erik are committed to being hands-on.

With newer offerings – mead and cider – and plans for experimentation this summer, FireClay continues to innovate and change expectations.

Read more about FireClay’s story and how they’re changing the North Carolina wine game:

With hilltop views and unexpected varietals, FireClay Cellars is a family's 16-year effort to change what North Carolina wine can be.