Did y’all enjoy the holiday weekend? Colton and I were walking around in Dollar General a few days before the big celebration and saw the most patriotic shoes ever—red, white, and blue off-brand Crocs.
“I want those,” Colton uttered, his eyes bright like star-spangled fireworks. Honestly … I did too. They were only $6 each, and they had both of our sizes. We walked out of the store with new footwear, totally prepared for the nation’s 250th birthday.
These shoes are bright. They’re statements. They’re impossible to miss—unless you’re my husband, who after walking with us in Tractor Supply for 20 minutes after work didn’t notice them until we got in the car. It gave us all a good laugh, and that’s my wish for you today, too because I’m so glad you’re here.
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Stu Sutphin sells his unique Cozy Carafe Coffee Co. blends at the Chatham Farm Market. (Amie Knowles/Dogwood)
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By Amie Knowles
What started as “a passion project that came to life” now brings joy to an entire community—one cup of coffee at a time.
We caught up with Stu Sutphin at the Chatham Farm Market last summer, which buzzed with activity from a weekly flurry of hometown vendors, talented musical artists, and all the classic charm of a small town gathering.
Now in 2026, it’s his third year vending at the local market, which currently operates on Tuesdays and Fridays at 24 Depot St, right in the heart of downtown Chatham. Despite the expert flavor of his unique blends, Sutphin wasn’t always a coffee roaster—in fact, he majored in personal finance.
It was while he was sitting down to do some financial planning one day that he thought of a catchy name: Cozy Carafe Coffee Co.—and that’s the business he created from scratch.
Now, he travels to various markets, meeting with locals and sharing his products—which have a 12-month shelf life—as well as his knowledge of the roasting craft.
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My husband, Kody, and I are in the summer lull of homeschooling our 8-year-old son, Colton. In September, he’ll embark on third grade—but we’re already planning out fourth grade adventures.
That’s because typically, kids in our area head to the coast for colonial Virginia experiences at sites like Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown, and we want him to have that historical fun, too.
So this week, we’re wondering what your favorite Virginia historical spot is. Write to me at amie@couriernewsroom.com to let me know, and your response could be featured in Friday’s newsletter.
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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Amie Knowles. Amie is a lifelong Virginia resident and mom to a fantastic 8-year-old who loves Pokémon. This edition includes a story from Ava Edwards. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.
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