Opening a barbershop in March 2020 sounds like terrible timing. But for Navy veteran Craig and barber Anna, it was perfect. Their commitment to safety during COVID made 77 Barbershop an instant trusted space, and their motto "We cut hair, not corners" has kept them winning Best Barbershop every year since. They offer free back-to-school cuts, accommodate kids with sensory needs, and treat their team like the "dysfunctional family" they proudly are. Turns out a barbershop built on 20 years of military service and genuine care is exactly what Stafford needed.

Zachary Guy knows the Stafford grind: long commutes, endless traffic, military life. So the local native and his wife Claire launched Laudenbach Brewing as a refuge for neighbors who've earned a cold one. Their love story started over craft beer, survived a hilariously botched snowy proposal, and turned into a mission: giving Route 95 warriors a place to finally breathe.

Senior Aubree Bullock brings a megaphone to every Riverbend football game, and she's not apologizing. As a student section leader, she's on a mission to pump up underclassmen and help the team get their ring this season. "If you're embarrassed, this isn't the place for you," Bullock says. From blackout themes to USA nights, the stands are packed with students who get that Friday nights are about more than football. They're about showing up loud, supporting your guys, and making memories you can't get back. The band keeps the energy flowing, friends from rival schools connect, and the message is clear: don't hold back.

Dr. Lloyd "Jeppy" Moss III grew up on Stafford's Pill Hill, where his grandfather built a home in the 1950s. Catherine Corbin's family has been in Caroline County since the 1600s. They ran in the same circles but never met until both came back home after college. Now they're raising two kids, running a dental practice together, and biking the VRE Trail to hit ice cream shops. Jeppy joined his father's practice and volunteers at Moss Free Clinic while Catherine left Dahlgren to manage operations alongside him. Turns out you can go home again, especially when home has been waiting four centuries.

Your pet's annual rabies shot isn't keeping them healthy—what you do every day is. During National Pet Wellness Month, local veterinarians are pushing a whole-body approach focused on three pillars: nutrition that prevents obesity and inflammation, emotional wellness that reduces hidden stress, and daily movement because "motion is lotion" for aging joints. Overfeeding is a bigger problem than under-vaccinating, and a stressed pet hiding under the bed needs attention as much as one limping. The goal? Twenty to 30 minutes of activity daily, proper portions, and real connection. Wellness isn't a checkup—it's a lifestyle.

When you've lived in Italy for nearly three years, you become insufferable about Italian food. This couple admits it. He's a "carbonara snob" and they walked into Orofino ready to judge. The verdict? It's legit. The menu maps every dish to its Italian region, the tagliata di manzo brought back Veneto memories, and the lamb chops nailed that trattoria vibe. The only thing missing? Complimentary limoncello at the end, but Virginia liquor laws won't allow it. For everyone else who can't afford airfare to Tuscany right now, Orofino delivers la dolce vita without the jet lag.