Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine February 2025 by Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine

Robotic-Assisted Surgery in Our Community

Robotic-assisted surgery changes the surgical experience for both doctors and patients, improving precision and shortening recovery times. The da Vinci Surgical System is directly controlled by our trained surgeons, allowing them to perform your procedure with smaller incisions and better visualization. With this robotic platform, Fauquier Health is proud to offer minimally invasive surgical care in our community.

Benefits for the Surgeon:

•10x magnification in 3D allows a clear, close view

•Greater dexterity

• Precise micro-movements enhance surgical maneuvers

Benefits for the Patient May Include:

•Smaller incisions can mean less pain

•Faster recovery time

•Shorter hospital stay

•Reduced risk of infection

Robotic Procedures Currently Available at Fauquier Health*

General Surgery:

• Abdominal wall or ventral hernia

•Inguinal hernia

•Paraesophageal or hiatal hernia repair

•Colon resection

•Gallbladder

Gynecology:

•Hysterectomy

•Ovary removal

•Endometriosis, chronic pain and fibroids

Urology:

• Prostatectomy (prostate cancer and enlarged prostate)

•Mass and tumor removal

•Nephrectomy (kidney tumors and cancer)

•Adrenalectomy (adrenal masses and cancer)

•Pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction repair

• Ureteral reimplantation (ureteral stricture and obstruction)

•Radical cystectomy for bladder cancer treatment

*Not all conditions or patients qualify for robotic-assisted surgery

Trained Surgeons

Nchang Azefor, MD General Surgery

Olga Mazur, MD General Surgery

Mohamad Salkini, MD, FACS Urology

G.Benjamin Wampler, MD General Surgery

Victoria McDonald, MD OB/GYN

Nathaniel Saint-Preux, MD General Surgery

Love Your New Home with Patti Brown & Co

FROM THE EDITOR

It’s February again, time to announce the winners of our annual Cutest Pet Contest! I always love to see the pets submitted-they’re all pretty adorable.

This year we had 133 entries — including dogs, cats, horses, chickens, and a couple of goats — and 2500 votes-thank you to all who submitted their furry friends and thank you to the voters who took the time to look at all 133 of them and make the tough choice on a favorite.

All animals are special, but my vote for cutest would go to my Golden Retriever, Winston, who of course wasn’t entered in the contest. Conflict of interest and all. He is literally a beautiful dog inside and out. He particularly adores my husband. But his sense of understanding is uncanny. He’s playful but not too rough, and especially gentle with children and seniors, although they are likely to be surprised by the sloppy kisses.

He accompanies me to yoga (my teacher, whom he adores, comes to the house). Last week, he was participating a little too enthusiastically, and Christina said to him, “Why don’t you go see daddy and let us do this exercise.” Winston picked up his toy and headed downstairs. She said, “Wow, I didn’t think he was really listening!”

My mother has loved two dogs in her life: our German Shephard I grew up with, and Winston. We took him with us to visit her at Christmastime, and she called him “a joy”. High praise indeed. So, while he is a beautiful Golden Retriever, it’s his heart that makes him a winner, in my book. But all the contest entries are pretty cute too.

EDITOR

Pam Kamphuis

WARRENTON LIFESTYLE

A Celebration of Fauquier County

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Dennis Brack dennis@warrentonlifestyle.com

EDITOR Pam Kamphuis pam@warrentonlifestyle.com

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The Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine is published monthly and distributed to over 11,500 selected addresses. While reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to The Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to any such material. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. While ensuring that all published information is accurate, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any mistakes or omissions. Reproduction in whole or part of any of the text, illustration or photograph is strictly forbidden. ©2025 Rappahannock Media LLC.

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COVER PHOTO BY LUKE CHRISTOPHER

The ‘Unfireable’ Employee

Richard Corum reflects on his 40-year career at Warrenton’s Burger King

BY GRACE SCHUMACHER

For 40 years, Richard Corum was a constant presence at the Warrenton Burger King on Broadview Avenue. As the restaurant closes its doors this December, Corum’s retirement marks the end of a career that defined much of his life and left a lasting impression on the community. Corum began working at the restau-

rant in 1978, shortly after graduating from Fauquier High School, Corum dedicated the next four decades of his life to the restaurant. Born on Hospital Hill, Corum grew up with six siblings in a neighborhood off Alexandria Pike. His roots run deep in Warrenton, and his enduring presence at the Burger King made him a friendly face to many.

He can still remember his first day on the job working as a cook, walking into the kitchen for the first time. He must have come in the middle of a busy lunch rush, he joked, because his training was minimal.

“One guy just told me, ‘Hey, you’re in charge of the fries,’ and that was all the training I got, I didn’t know what he was telling me to do!” Corum recalled with a laugh. From tackling the learning curve that comes with any job, he became the go-to person for just about everything.

“You wanted to learn how to make the Whopper right? I could show you,” he said. “If the milkshake machine stopped working? I could fix it.” Even when the restaurant needed change, Corum would walk to the

bank, where everyone knew him by name. He was always on call, even keeping a toolbox in the trunk of his car knowing something would inevitably need fixing.

“Sometimes I’d get calls at home at three o’clock in the morning. One time it was, ‘Corum, the sink is broken and we can’t get the water to stop! We need you to come turn the main water off,’” he recalled one phone call. “I was speeding down Route 211 heading to Burger King to fix it and got pulled over by a cop as I was coming over the hill.”

The Broadview Avenue location witnessed many changes over Corum’s tenure, including two renovations, introduction of new technologies and a pandemic. He fondly recalls the days when the restaurant’s interior was adorned with blue décor and murals on the ceiling.

The menu also evolved, introducing fish, chicken, ham and cheese and steak sandwiches to complement the chain’s signature burgers. But Corum preferred his own creation, a personalized Whopper with a special

Richard Corum donned his uniform one last time to commemorate his 40-year career with a photo outside the Broadview Avenue’s Burger King in Warrenton.

Richard Corum’s senior portrait in the Fauquier High School Eyrie 1978 yearbook.

sauce he made during his breaks.

Corum typically worked from 5:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., though he joked that sometimes he felt like he was on call 24/7. For much of his career, Corum worked under the ownership of Richard G. Walther, who operated several Burger King franchises in the region.

“Mister Walther,” as Corum fondly called him, was more than just a boss. According to Corum, Walther treated his employees like family, often taking the staff on bowling outings, fishing trips and giving out generous holiday bonuses that included a Christmas ham. When Walther passed away, Corum discovered he had been named in Walther’s will as an “unfireable” employee.

“The food service industry is hard work,” he said, reflecting on his decades-long career, but it was obvious he takes pride in the friendships he formed and the community he served.

Now retired, Corum, who worked his last shift in June, is adjusting to life outside of the food-service industry. Though he says

“When I go to WalMart, Food Lion or even the bank, people will stop me to say, ‘Hey, Corum!’”

his body is still programmed to wake up early, he appreciates having more time to spend with his wife, their children and his mother.

These days, Corum enjoys indulging in his creative side by building intricate structures with Legos. His hobby seems fitting for someone who spent his life building not just sandwiches but connections with his community.

“When I go to Wal-Mart, Food Lion or even the bank, people will stop me to say, ‘Hey, Corum!,” he said. Mere minutes after sitting down for his interview, at least two people had already given him a holler and a

wave. Corum seemed to always have an easy smile to offer back.

Wendy’s was the location Corum picked for his interview. When asked about what seemed to be a surprising choice for a former Burger King employee, he just shrugged and smiled, saying, “Michelle and I are going to have a lunch date here afterwards.”

Michelle is Corum’s wife of over 27 years. She laughed as she listened to Corum recall some memories about his time working at the burger-chain, occasionally chiming in to supply the name of a co-worker or the location of a weekend work trip.

“I’ve heard all the good stories and the bad stories,” she said.

Though the Broadview Avenue Burger King is closing its chapter in Warrenton, Corum’s legacy remains. In Warrenton, he is not just remembered as an employee but a part of the town’s fabric. His story is one of dedication and the quiet pride of a job well done. L

The 84th Running

Warrenton Hunt

Point - to - Point Races

The 84th Running Warrenton Hunt

Point - to - Point Races

Saturday, March 15, 2025

Gates Open: 10:30 AM

Post Time: 12 PM

Tailgate

Airlie Race Course

Warrenton, VA

the gate

Douglas Lees Photo

New feature!

giving back

The gift of time and talent

Fauquier County has always been a special, tight-knit and caring community, with generous people, organizations and nonprofits supporting those in need. But giving back doesn’t always have to mean a financial donation. Often the most valuable contribution is a gift of your time or talent. Just being there for someone who’s lonely or helping a nonprofit with one of the many tasks necessary to fulfill their mission can be as important — and rewarding. Just a few examples include things like sorting food bank donations, nurturing a community garden, or providing services you may have expertise in. There are endless needs, some of which require specific skills, but many that don’t. They just require time and a giving spirit.

Warrenton Lifestyle’s ongoing feature highlights some of the countless and always needed time and talent volunteer opportunities in Fauquier County and nearby. In this we hope to bring awareness not only to the needs themselves but the many ways you can be a part of uplifting others to strengthen even more what is already an impressive community.

Horse Leader

RAINBOW THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER

Create meaningful equine experiences for children and adults with physical, developmental, and mental health disabilities with Rainbow Therapeutic Riding Center in Haymarket. Each week, approximately 70 students come to ride, care for, and create positive experiences with their horses. Horse leaders will primarily tack up and prepare horses for lessons, lead them, and complete aftercare duties. Additionally, volunteers may serve on the all-volunteer board of directors, support fundraisers and other projects. Prior experience with horses is expected, as well as communication and listening skills, and ability to walk/jog while leading a horse. Activities run Tuesday through Saturday; schedule will be agreed upon between volunteer and organization, however, 2+ hours/ week is optimal for the best student experience as bonds are formed with the team. Complete training is provided and a supportive team environment is emphasized.

Information: Julie McGuire julie@rainbowriding.org 540-905-2269, rainbowriding.org

Thrift Store Clerk

NOAH’S ARK (COMMUNITY TOUCH INC.)

Support neighbors in your community by stocking shelves, sorting clothes, pricing merchandise and cashiering in the Bealeton and Marshall Noah’s Ark Thrift Store locations. Community Touch provides free furniture and clothing, transitional housing and food pantry services to those in need. All store proceeds benefit Community Touch’s mission. Duties include stocking shelves, sorting clothes, pricing merchandise and possibly some cashiering. Must be 16 years or older, have strong customer service skills and be able to organize merchandise and handle donations. Cashiering experience is welcome, but not necessary. The store is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; schedule will be agreed upon between volunteer and organization.

Information: Noah’s Ark Thrift Store, 540-364-8096 or Community Touch 540-439-9300, communitytouchinc.org

Listening to Understand

Piedmont Peace Center’s CHATS program is transforming community connections

BY MARY ROOK

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Warrenton, the Piedmont Peace Center, a 501C3 nonprofit formerly known as the Piedmont Dispute Resolution Center, stands as a quiet force for change. The center’s team includes Executive Director Brandon Bastian, Community Peacebuilding Program Leader Lisa Barkema, and 12-15 mediators. Called up by local law enforcement or representatives from the legal system as if from the Batman signal, the members of PPC jump into the task of resolving conflicts, tackling high-stress custody cases and legal disputes, then take on civil cases in the private sector. These capeless crusaders have devoted their careers to finding common ground in seemingly impossible arguments between very angry and hurt people. They help find peace when there is conflict.

Preventing conflict

As well as helping people in disputes find solutions and compromise, PPC also works to prevent the need for mediations in the first place by helping improve interpersonal understanding and communication skills.

“Our real joy is in working in the community and prevention-type work,” Bastian said. “Building peace in the community keeps us going through the harder work we do as mediators.”

Especially since COVID, Piedmont Peace Center has witnessed a sharp increase in the need for mediation services.

One of the most profound effects of COVID is a lack of social interaction leading to an epidemic of loneliness. This, when combined with social media’s curated connections, can lead to a growing gap in interpersonal relationships (such as with family members, neighbors, co-workers, and friends) and less cohesiveness in the com-

munity. This, of course, leads to conflicts as people struggle to understand each other.

CHATS

Last July, PPC introduced CHATS, a community initiative aimed at improving connections and mental health.

“One of the building blocks of peace or understanding is seeing people as they are, that they are as important as you yourself would be,” Bastian said. The CHATS program aims to help build that first block.

CHATS, which stands for Connecting Humans And Telling Stories, is a roughly hour and a half session open to anyone yearning for real interaction and desiring to better connect with those around them. If that sounds vague, that’s because it is.

“It’s hard to find the right words to describe the class,” said Bastian.

The facilitated sessions, which can accommodate up to about 50 people but are often much smaller groups, combine elements of education, self-introspection, and a social hour filled with interesting conversations and activities as a group and as one-on-one interactions.

Activities through the session vary widely but can include group conversations starting with the extremely general (pepperoni or no pepperoni on pizza?) as a sort of “warm up” and gradually encourage more sharing (always on an optional basis) things that go a little deeper (Do you feel comfortable eating alone in a restaurant?). An example of a one-on-one topic might include sharing a childhood memory that was special to you.

“One of the pillars of CHATS is curiosity — being curious about others and learning more [about them],” Barkema said.

The best way to do that is through conversation, of course. But how well do we truly listen to each other? How much do we pay attention and absorb what the other person is communicating?

To this end, the class explores “listening to understand”—the ability to truly hear and process what someone else is saying without preparing your own response. This fosters a feeling of being seen and heard.

Joyce Heflin, a CPA and town council member in The Plains who attended two CHATS classes, appreciates improving this skill. “I am more present when I am talking to someone,” Heflin said. “I give them time to say what they want to say, and don’t

“I wish I had known about hospice sooner.”

Caring for patients and families as they face the challenges of a life-limiting illness has long been our calling, so we’re proud to be recognized as the preferred hospice provider in our community. From easing patients’ physical and emotional suffering to helping families cope with loss and grief, it is an honor to be with you when life matters most. To learn more about our care –and the compassionate people behind it – you can reach us 24/7.

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interrupt as much. I stop myself from adding my experiences so that they feel heard.”

CHATS in the Community

CHATS has held classes at the PATH Foundation, Fauquier Health, Leadership Fauquier, Mental Health Association of

Fauquier County’s Youth Dialogue and local business organizations. They tailor their classes to each group while still keeping true to their goal: creating more connections. But they’re also eager to teach anywhere else where people are stuck in surface-level conversations — chitchat — such as church

congregations or among parents on the sidelines of kids’ sports teams.

Kathy Marmet, another multi-session attendee says, “I think the CHATS process might be helpful in any group that seeks to build or strengthen connections among its members, or between people who may not habitually interact with each other in ways that create a sense of genuinely knowing each other.”

PPC aims to spread CHATS beyond the region, but for now, they’re focused on bringing the program to local schools — especially at the start of the year when students and teachers are building new relationships.

“Our main hope is that we unlock everybody else to do all the great things that they want to be doing,” Bastian says. “Creating community is the first step, and it’s one we must take together.” L

Piedmontpeace.org Piedmontpeace.org/join-us-for-chats

Brandon Bastion and Lisa Barkema (center) leading a CHATS session

our neighbors

A Little AI Goes a Long Way

Fauquier Pastor a Leading Expert in Technology, Ancestry

BY KIPP HANLEY

Rev. Stephen Little became his family’s ancestry scribe in the early 1990s, diligently enshrining all of the knowledge passed down from his aunt Monty Ann into what was then a new program called Family Tree Maker.

“This was in the 80s and 90s and computers were just coming out,” said Little, whose family tree took root in the Appalachian region of North Carolina in the late 17th century. “She wasn’t so much interested in [computers], but she wanted her work preserved.”

Four decades later, Little, now the AI Program Director for the National Genealogical Society, is educating folks across the country about how artificial intelligence can play a significant role in genealogy research.

Little moved to Fauquier County when he pursued ministry with the United Methodist Church in 2007. He is the pastor at Trinity UMC in Catlett and Wesleyan UMC in Calverton and lives with his wife Shawn, who works in accounting at SCORE (Senior Corps of Retired Executives), next to the church in Catlett.

“When Chat GPT dropped two years [ago], I knew I was sitting on a very odd combination of 40 years of experience,” said Little, who spent his young adulthood build-

ing and teaching library information systems after pursuing graduate work in applied linguistics. “Forty years of doing genealogy, 40 years of doing technology and 40 years of being fascinated by language.”

While AI hasn’t replaced websites like ancestry.com or myheritage.com as the go-to sources for your family’s history, the use of this technology has become a valuable tool in the curation and analysis of primary source documents like wills, probates and deeds.

At its core, AI is a language-based technology that finds and analyzes patterns. The more specific information a user provides in a question, the easier it is for AI to provide the

user with an accurate answer. One example Little cites of the technology’s growing power are the wills of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. A year and a half ago, Little said it could only accurately and quickly summarize the three-page Jefferson will but would “choke” on Washington’s six-page will.

Now that same technology can curate key data from documents that are hundreds of pages long in just minutes, said Little. While looking at Jefferson’s will, using AI can tell the user who inherited Poplar Hall from Jefferson based on a spreadsheet you tell it to create.

“I would give it Thomas Jefferson’s will and then you talk to it in plain English,” Little said. “You’d say, ‘create a table.’ In the first column, you’d mention everyone listed in the will. In the second column, list how they’re related to Thomas Jefferson. In the third column, list what Jefferson left them to be inherited. In the fourth column, [you say] show me the sentence in the will that leads you to believe that Francis Epps is Jefferson’s grandson and that he inherited Poplar Hall. And it will pull out the sentence in the will that is the evidence.”

AI is already making a difference for the staff of the Fauquier Court House Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, according

to Honorary Regent Cat Schwetke. DAR is comprised of individuals who can prove direct lineal connections to those who fought for or aided in the American Revolution.

“Using that AI tool, we have pulled up deeds and probates that we couldn’t find before,” said Schwetke. “Not only will it pull up a deed, but it has it totally transcribed.”

Fauquier County resident and Virginia Genealogical Society vice-president Gitte Tessier became interested in her family’s history while growing up in Denmark. Tessier met Little at a NGS conference in Richmond in May of 2023 and the two of them decided to create The Genealogy Cafe, a once-a-month meeting at the Remington United Methodist Church where ancestry enthusiasts can bond over family trees and coffee.

What she has come to learn from Little is that AI is not a universal encyclopedia, but what it can do, it can do well.

“You may have tons of notes [about your family] that are hard to look at all at one time,” said Tessier. “AI may help organize it, whether by person or place, so that you have a much cleaner overview than the bits and pieces that you have here or there.”

Rev. Littlespeaking at a Roots Tech conference in Salt Lake City in 2024

One thing Little tells his audiences to do is to consistently temper their expectations of AI. Much of what he does for NGS is beta test the technology to see where its weaknesses are.

“I make more mistakes by 9 a.m. than most people make all week,” Little said. “The way I am able to help people understand how to use these tools is I break them. I find out how far they can go and get things right and say, ‘here’s where it is safe, and here is where you are getting on thin ice.’”

Now that AI has become more accessible to the public (a version of ChatGPT is free), Little expects more people to use it for genealogy purposes. Little has already seen rapid advancement in AI, to the point where PowerPoint documents he uses for presentations one month may be obsolete by the next month.

“[If] you want to deal with facts and evidence, you need to lower your expectations now, and we will grow into being able to do amazing things,” Little said. L

AI apps

Find out more at Steve Little’s website aigenealogyinsights. com and his “Family History AI Show” podcast at podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-family-history-ai-show/id1749873836

Want to visit the Genealogy Café? The group meets once a month at Remington United Methodist Church parish hall. Information at facebook.com/groups/700043330389519/ posts/2139050989822072/

Kipp Hanley is an award-winning journalist with experience covering government, education, sports and the military. He resides in Woodbridge, Va. with his daughter Charlotte.

HIGHLAND SCHOOL’S SUMMER PROGRAMS NEW FOR 2025!

SUMMER EXPLORERS ARE HERE!

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FAVORITE CAMPS ARE BACK!

Enrichment and sports camps for rising Grades 1-8 including art, ceramics, tie dye camp, STEAM, baseball, basketball, soccer, and so much more!

Announcing the results of Warrenton Lifestyle’s

2025 Cutest Pet Contest

BY BROOKE ARTHUR

Dora

OWNERS: JOSH AND MICHELLE BELIVEAU TOWN OF RESIDENCE: WARRENTON

From former vigilant drug detection dog to life loving retiree, Dora embodies plenty of admirable qualities that make her Warrenton’s Cutest Pet of 2025. To owners Josh and Michelle Beliveau, Dora is not only an integral part of the family, but of the community as well. Born in Slovakia and trained in nearby Front Royal, Dora was paired with customs officer Michelle at age two and served as her loyal partner for five years. At home, Dora, a 14-year-old Belgian Malinois, lives with her much tinier best friend, Oliver, an Australian Cattle Dog mutt. Together they take on each day with some light wrestling and the occasional but well-deserved, retiree nap. For many, old favorites never die, like the fairly indestructible Goughnut toy that she received as a reward for discovering contraband during her working days. With her elevated palate, she prefers to snack on fresh produce like crunchy cucumbers or apples over a traditional dog treat. A beach lover during her career in California, Dora has found new outdoor activities for her life in Virginia. When

Sponsored by Allen Real Estate

1st Place

the weather warms up and the Warrenton Farmers market rolls around, Dora and her owners frequent the booths, never failing to stop by the micro greens booth to visit owner Tim and receive a handful of some leafy spinach micro greens for the road. Her love for friends, new and old, doesn’t stop

there, as she also attends First Fridays and shares an ice cream with the same little girl whenever their paths cross. When not out and about, Dora takes retirement to the next level, hanging out at home, napping, and gnawing on toys. After a nice meal at home she loves to go outside, walk up a small hill, and slide down it on her back—now that’s one way to travel! It turns out that hard work runs in the family too; in recent years, Dora’s brother was found through some doggy DNA testing which led to a brother-sister meetup. Always remembering her roots, Dora and her owners participate in outreach events for the organization Paws of Honor, which supports retired working dogs by covering their routine and emergency medical care. Hard work pays off in the long run and Dora continues living life to the fullest in her retirement.

2nd Place

Inka

OWNERS: SILVIA FUECHSEL TOWN OF RESIDENCE: WARRENTON

Traveling long and far, Inka journeyed from a Poland puppy mill to the United States with her owner Silvia. She is a roughly eight-year-old Miniature Pincher Terrier mix who takes full advantage of being an only dog at home. Inka found owner Silvia when she was located in Germany, adopting her from a shelter near the Polish border. Drawn in by her funky “one up, one down” set of ears, Silvia simply couldn’t say no to such a timid, sweet puppy. Seven years later, their bond is stronger, and Inka’s confidence has reached new heights. She spends her time as the office mascot at Dok Klaus Computer Care, trying to fill her belly with snacks. Despite a full bowl of kibble at all times, Inka finds her way around the office looking for anyone willing to “accidentally” drop something tasty. If unsuccessful, she returns back to the always-there kibble and acceptingly munches away. Known for being well-behaved, Inka still knows how to get what she wants with her high emotional intelligence and cheeky personality. With her high-brow taste, Inka delights in a salmon or tuna treat and will never say no to anything that contains gluten. She enjoys her close proximity to Main Street, taking frequent walks up and down it in an unending search for treats. She stops at any shop with a counter to ask for a treat, always putting on a little dance in return. It’s clear that she’s a dog with a goal and will leave no person unsniffed for a snack.

3rd

Place

Cash

OWNERS: JEREMY & KORINNA STRITZINGER

TOWN OF RESIDENCE: WARRENTON

Rescue animals often have the most unique personalities, with four-year-old Shar Pei, Pitt, and Catahoula mutt, Cash being no exception. Owners Jeremy and Korinna Stritzinger found him at a rescue in the Northern Virginia area as a seven-month-old puppy and instantly fell in love. He’s known for his goofy, comedic demeanor that always makes his owners laugh. There’s certainly some classic Shar Pei stubbornness mixed in as well, making his personality all the more entertaining. On top of all that, he’s great with kids! He takes advantage of his only dog status, claiming the front window couch, affectionately deemed “Cash’s couch” by his owners, regularly flopping upside down without a care in the world. Bully sticks are top of the list for best treats, with close favorites being blueberries, cucumbers, and pickles. However, a crunchy stick of celery will never make it on that list (or near Cash for that matter)! An outdoor dog at heart, he loves to hike, play chase, and recently discovered a newfound love for snow. He’s a social butterfly, spending time with canine pals Snoopy, Foxy, Bowie, Maui, Hank, Hopper, Scout, and Merlin around the neighborhood. Cash absolutely adores his favorite dog walker, Connie Chung of Zorger’s dog walking, and spends plenty of quality time hanging out with her.

SUPERLATIVES

MOST INTERESTING NAME

Fawkes

Named after Albus Dumbledore’s pet phoenix in the Harry Potter series due to his flame-like markings.

Ready for adventure: German Shorthair Pointers who love the outdoors

Captain and Callie

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STAFF PICKS

Hamish

Hamish, a 10-year old Cairn Terrier rescue chosen by: CARINA RICHARD WHEAT, BUSINESS AND ACCOUNTING MANAGER

Barron

Maddie

A spunky Golden who loves dirt, mud, and tennis balls chosen by: PAM KAMPHUIS, EDITOR, WARRENTON LIFESTYLE

The most comical little sock thief you could ever meet chosen by: JIM KELLY, SALES DIRECTOR

Midnight

Two year old brave and curious cat with a big personality chosen by: KARA THORPE, ART DIRECTOR

Olivia Grace

Five year old Yorkie chosen by: STACY SHAW, EDITOR, HAYMARKET GAINESVILLE LIFESTYLE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Brooke Arthur is a senior with a double major in Spanish and Media Arts & Design (creative advertising concentration) at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. Expressing herself creatively through writing has always been a lifelong passion.

Heart the of Haven

Volunteers gain as much as they give at Haven Hills Farm and Sanctuary in Bealeton

BY PAM KAMPHUIS

Adoption is at the heart of the Garney family and Haven Hills Farm and Sanctuary. Melisa and her husband Al started by adopting their two children, now 14 and 16, as infants. When their children were young, they became involved in the adoption community, creating support groups to help adoptive families.

“That’s where our heart for adoption came. We have experience with it, and we transitioned it over to animals,” Melisa said.

Melisa and her family opened Haven Hills Farm and Sanctuary, a 501c3 nonprofit animal sanctuary, a year ago and formed a unique program to support it. The farm operates completely on donations and support from a steady stream of volunteers.

A dream born of challenges

As with so many families, COVID had a life changing effect. Animal sanctuary work is a fairly recent endeavor for the Garneys, who originally did not have experience with farm animals.

In 2020, the Garneys’ special needs son Coleman did not respond well to remote online education that resulted from the pandemic. While they were trying to find a homeschool method that would work for him, he expressed an interest in learning about pigs. The Garneys connected with Renee Small of the nearby Hope

Among the variety of animals that have found a home at Haven Hills are (clockwise from top) Prada, Cannoli, Mike (shown with Melisa) and Chicky.

and Serenity Farm Sanctuary in Nokesville where Coleman was able to volunteer.

His response was dramatic as he connected with the animals and developed a feeling of responsibility and accomplishment. His sister Bethany followed suit and started volunteering with the horses. Before they knew it, the whole family had incorporated animal rescue into their lives. By the time he was 13, Coleman dreamed of starting their own sanctuary and the Garneys started to work towards that goal.

At the time the family was living in a big neighborhood in Bristow, but Melisa’s husband Al had always wanted some property with land. They bought a house on four acres in Bealeton and set about building fences, adapting outbuildings, and preparing the property for their dream.

Melisa said, “I just thought this is a great opportunity for our family to grow and do the types of things that they love to do. And it’s worked out wonderfully.”

With help from Small and other local contacts, the Garneys established and set about populating their sanctuary. Their first rescue, a mini pony called Scootaloo, was followed by a parade of a variety of farm and domestic animals.

Sharing the farm lifestyle

The Garneys had benefited in so many ways from their life with the animals that they wanted to share it with others. They developed a volunteer program with a twofold purpose: to give others the chance to interact with the farm animals and to help support the sanctuary. Volunteers are encouraged, but not required, to make a donation (either financial or in the form of needed supplies or expertise) when they come to help on the farm. Most do so gladly.

“I have a philosophy. When I have new volunteers, I always tell them that I want them to think of this as their sanctuary as

well, and these are their animals they are taking care of. They’re going to have a lot more fun and be more responsible if they’re doing it for themselves than if they’re doing it for me. They take on more of a leadership role,” said Melisa.

Jobs at the sanctuary

On a farm, there are a great many things that need to be done.

Melisa explained they have two types of volunteers: people who come to do feeding, and then people who come do general chores. Some families come and assist with the heavy work such as building and repairing fences, maintaining buildings, mucking stalls, and other tasks.

While there are directions posted for all the feedings and chores, some volunteers don’t have any experience with animals, so Melisa takes on the role of educator as well as supervisor. This is something she thrives on.

All ages are welcome at the sanctuary. Melisa said, “There’s always something for

anybody, of any age, to do. For instance, one of my pastures is being revitalized, and the sheep cannot graze on it right now. I can give a two-year-old a bucket and she can go pick grass for the sheep. They can wash out feeding bowls.”

Paula Copeland of Warrenton and her family have been volunteering at Haven Hills for more than two years. Her children Michaela, 5, and Stephen, 3, love being part of the farm experience, and Copeland sees many benefits.

“It gives them structure, and it gets them out and about rather than sitting inside with their games,” she said. Her children don’t have the opportunity to experience farm life much, and she appreciates their developing love of animals. Stephen likes to pull a little wagon full of hay for feeding, and Michaela enjoys grooming and petting the horses and holding the smaller animals.

Paula herself enjoys the experience as much as her children.

“It’s calming,” she said. “I love being outside and petting the animals, [and] it gets me out of my comfort zone.” She has become attached to Cannoli, one of the horses, and has become invested in watching his progress through his rehabilitation and is thrilled with his happiness as he rolls in the pasture.

Children of all ages are welcome at Haven Hills to learn about farm life and animals, all overseen by the livestock guardian dogs Kopi and Stella (top left).

MAKE EVERY MOMENT COUNT

When you look back on life, You might find there are certain moments You wish you could live all over again.

At Hospice of the Piedmont, We help families get the most

Healing for all

A big part of volunteering, which benefits the volunteers as much as the animals, is petting and spending time with them. It socializes and comforts the animals and gives the volunteers new experiences and enables them to feel the healing power of interacting with animals.

The Garneys have even had people who come to the animals for comfort as a respite when they’ve had a loss or a difficult period

in their lives.

Because of their experiences with adoption and children with special needs, the Garneys are very welcoming to those with differing abilities.

“I’m not a therapist or a psychologist, but a lot of families [with members with special needs] come and use the sanctuary as a resource,” Melisa said. “There are a lot of reasons people come [here], which I love, and we embrace all of those opportunities.”

One thing about the sanctuary is that volunteers can be sure of seeing the same animals every time they come. The animals the Garneys adopt are a part of their family; they are not there to be rehomed, so they are permanent residents. This is comforting to volunteers and enables them to build a relationship with a favorite animal. It also allows hesitant children to go through the experience at their own pace.

“When parents encourage a child to pet an animal, I remind them, ‘I’m not going anywhere. I’m here. We’ll go slow, next time we’ll try it again.’” L

havenhillsfarm.net

Left: Donkeys Shimmer and Shine sharing a meal with Angus; center: Chicky getting some loving attention

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FAUQUIER CELEBRATE RECOVERY – PATHWAY TO FREEDOM

LIFE ISSUES AND ADDICTION RECOVERY PROGRAM

Thursday Nights at Warrenton Church of Christ 6398 Lee Highway Access Rd, Warrenton (Child Care is Provided)

FAUQUIER CELEBRATE RECOVERY is a faith based 12 STEP program for all of us who have been tangled up with hurts that haunt our hearts, hang ups that cause us pain, and habits that mess up our lives. We are for anyone who struggles with:

Depression • Alcohol or chemical addition • Fear • Anxiety • Unforgiveness

Grief • Divorce • Pornography • Sexual or Physical Abuse Co-Dependence (enabling) • Marital Issues • Anger • Addicted Family Member Overspending • Overeating and other life issues

This program, established in 1991, is in over 38,000 churches/facilities world wide where God’s helping power and freedom are available in this “forever family.” Dinner at 6:15 Meeting at 7 pm followed by men’s/women’s safe/confidential Open Share at 8 pm, finishing up with fellowship, fun, and food at our café. Come Join us

faithful friends Hungry Like the Woof

Helping pets live their healthiest lives through nutrition and holistic practices

BY JENNIFER WALDERA

If you Google the name of the pet supply shop in Vint Hill, you will invariably have to correct the search engine which will automatically direct you to Duran Duran’s song “Hungry Like the Wolf.” But the operative word in the name is “Woof,” which has a much more pet-centered connotation.

And after all, dogs are always hungry, right? Hungry Like the Woof owner Dr. Carol Lundquist’s interests include pet nutrition as an important part of the holistic approach she brings to her patients at her related veterinary practice Singing Stones Animal Wellness Centre where she combines alternative therapies and personalized attention to support animal health for pets from dogs and cats to horses and more.

beyond traditional methods, specifically inspired by her dog who had allergies which she wanted to treat holistically.

For Dr. Lundquist, animals have always been a part of her life. She grew up riding

horses and always had pets around. That love for animals guided her decision to major in animal science and eventually go to veterinary school. She obtained her DVM from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1992.

Over time, she developed a particular interest in finding ways to support animals

Lundquist pursued additional education to deepen her understanding of holistic care. Her journey started in 1995, studying with Dr. Ian Billinghurst, a leader in holistic pet nutrition. Since then, she’s taken courses through the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society and the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association. Through that work, she has earned certifications in acupuncture, chiropractic care and animal rehabilitation, among other therapies, all helping her to create an approach that

Carol Lundquist, DVM with three of her patients: Shelties Bling, Bond and Elektra

focuses on treating the whole animal and finding what works best for their health.

Lundquist started her practice Singing Stones Animal Wellness Centre in 1995, moving it to Warrenton and adding Hungry Like the Woof in 2015, then moving both to Vint Hill in 2023. She now lives in Little Washington.

Adjusting to meet each individual animal’s needs, Hungry Like the Woof/ Singing Stones Animal Wellness Centre focuses on integrative treatments, offering services like chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, shockwave therapy, laser therapy and physical rehabilitation.

And when it comes to pet care, Dr. Lundquist is particularly passionate about nutrition. “Without whole foods, you aren't providing the pet with the natural and pure building blocks they need for them to be healthy and strong,” she said. “A good recipe isn't made with bad ingredients; a good and healthy pet isn't made with bad nutrition.” To help support pet owners in providing topnotch nutrition for their animals, the practice carries products like raw whole foods, home-cooked foods, vitamins, herbals, supplements and healthy treats.

While Dr. Lundquist does focus on maximizing animal health through nutrition, she also wants to clear up the common misconception that every single meal must be perfectly balanced. “It’s about balance over time,” she said. “Just like with our own diets.”

Behind the scenes at Hungry Like the Woof is a team of dedicated women who help bring the clinic’s mission to life. “Everyone who is a member of our staff here at Hungry Like the Woof plays a key role in its success,” Lundquist said. “We are all a group of hardworking

women that strive to give pets the holistic care that they deserve.”

That care is appreciated by many of her longtime clients. One passionate pet owner, Ann Decker, credits Lundquist for keeping her three dogs Bling, Bond (James Bond), and Elektra healthy. "I have been bringing my Shelties to Carol for 20+ years to keep them in tip-top shape," Decker said.

Dr. Lundquist feels fortunate to have established her practice in the community, where she notes that people work hard to provide quality care for pets. Hungry Like the Woof/Singing Stones Animal Wellness Centre also collaborates with other local pet professionals, like trainer Patrice Leipham, who’s both a collaborator and a client. “As a competition obedience instructor, the benefit of having Dr. Lundquist’s expertise is immeasurable. In obedience competition, there are repetitive exercises such as heeling that can cause muscle imbalances,” Leipham said. “If a dog refuses a task, I immediately enlist Dr. Lundquist’s help to assess whether it’s a physical problem before assuming it’s behavioral.”

Leipham credits Dr. Lundquist’s work as being crucial to the community: “We are extremely fortunate to have such a gifted practitioner available in our area.” L

Jennifer Waldera is an award-winning freelance writer published in numerous print and digital publications. When she’s not crafting creative content, Jennifer can be found exploring new spots, indulging in some quality time with a new novel or magazine or streaming shows about food, drinks and travel.

Toodles, a Welsh Pembroke Corgi owned by Claire Ward, visits with Dr. Lundquist’s dog Zazzy and Dr. Lundquist in Hungry Like the Woof.

Fauquier’s

TOP 10

Top Sales

The ten highest-priced homes that sold between midDecember, 2024 and mid-January, 2025 in Fauquier County. Data and photos from Zillow.com.

3830 ZULLA ROAD, THE PLAINS

$4,000,000

2082 WINCHESTER ROAD, DELAPLANE

$2,650,000

5352

$2,600,000

$1,675,000

3572 ZULLA ROAD, THE PLAINS

$1,650,000

The Big Picture

“The month of November in the Greater Piedmont footprint saw a 3% increase in active listings. As a result, pending sales were also up 6% compared to November 2023. Across the four county footprint the median list and sales prices were down slightly compared to where they were at the same time last year. November however ended strong heading into the holiday season with a sales total up 11% compared to November 2023.”

—Carrie Brown, 2025 Greater Piedmont REALTORS® President

The November Details for Fauquier County

Compared to November 2023

Median Sales Price: $600,000, down 6%

Sales Activity: 67, down 8%

Days on Market: 25, down 13%

Greater Piedmont REALTORS® is a trade association representing 650 REALTORS® in Fauquier, Culpeper, Rappahannock, and Madison counties.

5770 KEYSER ROAD, HUME

$1,650,000

7076 BELLEVUE FARM ROAD, WARRENTON $1,550,000

5 THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT WORKING WITH SELLERS

Helping our clients prepare their homes in the most desirable ways which can include picking paint colors, staging the home, changing light fixtures, light renovations, getting contractors lined up etc

Educating our sellers on the process before we begin the journey. Real Estate always changes and evolves and we stay on top of those changes with our commitment to educate ourselves constantly.

Setting expectations of what today’s market looks like so that outcomes can be accomplished, what happened last year is not what the future may look like.

Building relationships and understanding our seller’s needs, this can mean so many things based on our clients individual situation.

Helping sellers on their next journey… that might not even include purchasing a house.

Dawn Arruda

Direct: 540-729-6740

E-mail: Realtor@dawnarruda.com

Website: DawnArruda.com RossVA.com/dawn-arruda

Wendy Johnson

Direct: 302-222-6703

E-mail: wendyj.reagent@gmail.com

Website: RossVA.com/wendy-johnson