The Chatham News + Record

Football bowl games: Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Rose Bowl, even the Cheez-It and Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Nope. Tupperware bowl, cereal bowl, crystal bowl, mixing bowl. Nope. Not even that … more

BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook | 4/7/21

Ch@T: Folklorist Rankin, author McCorkle to discuss ‘Goat Light’

Duke University professor, photographer, folklorist and author Tom Rankin and his wife, novelist and award-winning short-story writer Jill McCorkle, will be featured in Chatham Literacy’s … more

4/7/21

Some of the ingredients for root beer jelly.

Curious Cook: Eating at my desk

My boss at the dealership is the sales manager. His name is Andy. He is kind, funny, and very supportive of this complete car-selling neophyte. Every day his patience surprises me. I get nervous … more

BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook | 3/31/21

Raya meets Camus: So you think it’s just a kids movie, eh?

Editor’s note: As the worldwide box office for “Raya and the Last Dragon” reached a reported $90.5 million last week, university English lecturer Lei Jiao watched the film in Wuhan, China, with … more

By Buck Ryan
& Lei Jiao

Special to the News + Record

| 3/31/21

CH@T: County’s 2020 Census leader reflects on count, and what’s next

The 2020 Census count is over, the work of the Chatham County team is mostly done — but the results are still to come, delayed by the pandemic. This week, we speak with Courtney Cooper-Lewter, who … more

CN+R STAFF REPORTS | 3/24/21

A pressed Cuban sandwich is a tasty treat.

Curious Cook: ‘Mom, we have a situation’

One recent Monday, The Kid joined us for dinner. While I was out in my pursuit of filthy lucre at my new job, Petey cooked. And, it wasn’t canned soup, frozen pizza, or microwave popcorn. He … more

BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook | 3/24/21

‘Nobody’ doesn’t hold a candle to Wick

“Nobody” is the “RED” of “John Wicks.” Indeed, this middle-aged pastiche hews so closely to the Keanu Reeves resurrection vehicle that you periodically ponder whether it was meant as a … more

BY NEIL MORRIS, CN+R Film Critic | 3/24/21

Jason Momoa, Gal Gadot and Ray Fisher star in 'Zack Snyder's Justice League.'

Improved, mammoth ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ is a cinematic singularity

Like so many superhero origin stories, the 2017 “Justice League” was an orphan, left fatherless and later adopted by a foster parent who, while experienced in the role, mistreated his ward and … more

BY NEIL MORRIS, CN+R Film Critic | 3/24/21

Toddler Time presenter Michelle Morehouse reads 'Black Dog Gets Dressed' to a group of toddlers and parents last week at the Chatham Community Library.

CH@T: One in five Chatham adults lack basic literacy skills. Chatham Literacy works to teach, enhance and more.

Throughout the pandemic, Chatham Literacy’s staff and volunteer tutors have been working remotely to help residents gain a variety of life skills. This week, we speak with Vicki Newell about the … more

3/18/21

Heavy ‘Traffic’: ‘Crisis’ is an earnest, if muddled look at opioid epidemic

The aptly named “Crisis” might well describe the public relations effort surrounding the early 2021 release. Shot mostly in 2019, the film has the misfortune of debuting in the wake of a … more

BY NEIL MORRIS, CN+R Film Critic | 3/12/21

The apartments at Sanctuary at Powell Place in Pittsboro.

Ch@T: New apartment complex provides upscale living in Pittsboro

It will take years for the 22,000 homes planned for Chatham Park to be built. But right now, more than 1,000 new apartment units are in the process of development north of Pittsboro — including the … more

3/10/21

The Chatham Community Library in Pittsboro.

Ch@T: The pandemic closed its doors. The cyber attack knocked its systems offline. But the Chatham Community Library is still providing good reading.

Nearly a year into a pandemic that has turned operations at Chatham County’s public libraries upside down, Rita Van Duinen is part of a team continuing to work to keep the services available and … more

3/2/21

Curious Cook: The secret’s out

Retail is a tough job. It’s not just that it’s hard, physical work, and long hours. The folks that staff your favorite store don’t really have Christmas. It’s the busiest time of the year, … more

BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook | 3/2/21

Tahar Rahim and Jodie Foster star in 'The Mauritanian.'

Engrossing ‘The Mauritanian’ forgets things that make good movies great

There is a running thread of self-evidence that runs throughout many of the films chronicling American intelligence gathering in the post-9/11 era. Their principle preassumption — that … more

BY NEIL MORRIS, CN+R Film Critic | 2/28/21

A Taylor family photo discovered by Antonio Austin as a part of his genealogical research.

Ch@t: 8th-generation Pittsboro native reflects on history, heritage

During Black History Month, the News + Record is featuring discussions about issues related to the African American experience in our Chatham Chats. This week, we speak with historian Antonio Austin, … more

2/24/21

A chocolate cake is a wonderful complement to a meal — or by itself.

Curious Cook: Chocolate is the answer

The question? Irrelevant. There are two absolutes concerning this confection. Everyone who tastes it asks for the recipe. And, every time someone makes it for the first time, they panic; … more

BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook | 2/17/21

In this file photo, members of Chatham County's two NAACP chapters involved in an effort to memorialize the six victims of racial terror lynching in Chatham stand on the steps of the PIttsboro courthouse. This same group was involved in the creation of the Community Remembrance Coalition. Front row, from left: Armentha Davis, Mary Harris, Larry Brooks and Mary Nettles. Middle row, from left: Vickie Shea, Cledia Holland and Linda Batley. Back row, from left: Glenn Fox, Wayne Holland, Carl Thompson and Bob Pearson. Pearson, a retired attorney and diplomat who lives in Fearrington Village, was responsible for getting the effort started.

CH@T: Inspired by ‘a conviction that our country was better than its worst days’

During Black History Month, the News + Record is featuring discussions about issues related to the African American experience in our Chatham Chats. This week, we speak with W. Robert Pearson about … more

2/17/21

Internal conflict of ‘Nomadland’ mars thematic promise

Lying somewhere between anguish and admiration, “Nomadland” couches itself as a sober tour d’horizon of the contemporary American condition and enduring American … more

BY NEIL MORRIS, CN+R Film Critic | 2/15/21

Sunday sides collide

I love a thrift store. It’s like wandering into Aladdin’s cave. Sometimes that cave is empty and smells funny. But sometimes … Sometimes. Sometimes that darn cave is chock-full of … more

BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook | 2/10/21

Chatham Community (East) Branch of the NAACP President Mary Nettles (right) and West Chatham NAACP President Larry Brooks (2nd to right) at an event calling for justice last July, sponsored by the nonprofit organization Community Remembrance Coalition Chatham.

Ch@T: Chatham’s NAACP branches speak out on history, change

During Black History Month, the News + Record is featuring discussions about issues related to the African American experience in our Chatham Chats. This week, we speak with Mary Nettles of the … more

2/10/21