The 2025 Best of the Best Winners are in!
BY Thomas Spargur
This is the eleventh year the Culpeper Times has showcased the winners for the annual Best of the Best contest, featuring many of the dedicated local businesses who serve our community every day.
It has been fun watching the amount of votes increase year over year! This year’s contest received 131,523 votes from 8,978 participants. Impressively, that’s up from last year, when we thought we had a record breaker (94,951 votes cast from 7,761 participants).
The special 56-page section you’re reading now shows the huge interest in how the community continues to support their local favorite businesses. This year we saw several new business winners, joining many
repeat honorees who continue to show Culpeper they are worthy of being recognized as the Best of the Best in their category.
Use this Winners’ Guide to visit the businesses and experience the di erence they make. And as you visit these winners, let them know you saw they won the Best of the Best this year. We know they will appreciate your kind comments.
The Culpeper Times Best of the Best contest has been the one you have been waiting for…and it is here now!
Thanks again to all the people who took the time to vote — and congratulations to all the 2025 winners!
COVER ART BY THIS YEAR’S BEST ARTIST
Layton Scarbrough is an award-winning illustrator and mural artist based in Culpeper. Known for his community-driven artwork, Layton thrives on sharing the creative process with students, neighborhoods, and anyone curious enough to strike up a conversation. Whether he’s transforming blank walls into visual stories or chatting about life with total strangers, his passion for connection runs deep. When not in the studio or scaling buildings with a paintbrush in hand, he’s likely running with his trusty pup, Winston, or adventuring through a national park with his wife, Heidi. See his work at laytonscarbroughart.com
Our Patients Are the
of
Thank you for naming Culpeper Medical Center best hospital.
We take great pride in caring for our communities.
At UVA Health, we understand that staying healthy allows you to do the things you care about most. That’s why our experts are driven to help you thrive at every stage of your life. And if your needs become complex, UVA Health offers seamless access to the most advanced specialists, innovative treatments and clinical trials available. Good health isn’t a given. UVA Health being here for you is.
Christ-Centered Addiction Restoration Services
BY Richard Horner
Since 2018, the Culpeper-based nonprofit ChristCentered Addiction Restoration Services has dedicated itself to, in the words of its executive director Shelley Burnham, “bringing restoration to lives destroyed by addiction.” CARS accomplishes this through building and running long-term residential “restore” homes for students 20-40 years old.
CARS and its Freedom Car and Bike show have been recognized for two awards in this year’s Best of the Best: Best Addiction Health Services and Best Charity Event for the organization’s annual July 4th Freedom Car and Bike Show.
Burnham discussed what motivates the work at CARS, among other topics.
What was the motivation for this organization?
CARS knows first-hand the impact of substance abuse on families. We are driven to advocate for healing, support, and restoration from the devastating effects. Over 100,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in the past year; fentanyl is the leading cause CARS has gained the public trust. CARS partners with collaborative organizations, with a strong Recovery Ecosystem.
What is the best part of your work?
Working as executive director of CARS provides me with three great opportunities. By leading and developing a strong team, we help individuals recover, work on prevention efforts, and build supportive communities. This brings me great joy. I have the honor of working alongside so many
wonderful co-laborers at the forefront of contributing to a vital cause, creating positive change, reducing stigma, promoting understanding, compassion and love while making a tangible difference in people’s lives. This motivates me every day. I am passionate about this cause. Working in this sector is incredibly fulfilling. I have the opportunity to advocate for the mission, raise awareness, and combine my professional skills with my personal values.
What have you been able to accomplish because of the show that you may not have been able to do without it?
The July 4th Freedom Car and Bike Show by CARS is a memorable event that leaves a lasting impression while offering hope to the hurting. We feature amazing vehicles. We have great volunteers and judges, as well as beautiful trophies. We draw a diverse group of people, build community, boost brand awareness, and provide networking opportunities. Because of the event, CARS has had the opportunity to help individuals who are struggling with addiction. The Freedom Car and Bike Show celebrates our nation’s freedom and helps individuals find freedom from their addictions.
Pictured: Shelley Burnham (Executive Director); with Board Members (in this order) Richard Brooking (Vice Chairman), Shirley Cox (Secretary), Mark Jenkins (Chairman), Michelle Romero, and Lisa Haynes.
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Natisha Sommerville
An interview with the Best Administrative Assistant winner
One of the fixtures of Best of the Best has been its multi-time winner for Best Administrative Assistant, Natisha Sommerville.
Somerville has served as an administrative assistant and o ce manager at Banner Christian School for about two and a half years. Next month she and her husband Sean will celebrate 30 years of marriage, which has brought 2 children, a son and daughter, into their lives.
Somerville is noted by those who know her for her warmth and energy, making those who come across her at Banner feel welcome. She spoke about her career and what it has meant to her.
How long have you been in your position?
I have been serving as the Administrative Assistant and O ce Manager at Banner Christian School since August 2022. Prior to this, I worked as an administrative assistant in the attendance and main o ce at Eastern View High School from 2018 to 2022.
What inspired you to get into your position and what’s the best thing about your position?
My journey into this role began with a workstudy position in the Financial Aid O ce at
Germanna Community College, where I discovered my passion for o ce work. After earning my associate’s degree in education, I took a full-time position at Germanna, which I held until becoming a stay-at-home mom in 2000.
When my children were older, I started a K3 program at a local Christian school, teaching for nine years. Later, I transitioned back into an o ce role at Eastern View High School, working in the Attendance and Front O ce until 2022.
That same year, I joined Banner Christian School as the o ce manager/administrative assistant, a role I truly enjoy for the opportunity to connect with parents and students in a setting I love.
What was a moment of success that you experienced?
A moment of success for me is best reflected in the heartfelt messages I received from parents today after they learned I won this award. Their words and appreciation are the true measure of success in my role!
What’s next on the horizon?
My priority is to give my best e ort in everything I undertake, trusting God to guide me in the journey ahead.
BY Richard Horner
Photo provided by Natisha Somerville
Culpeper County Public Schools
CCPS was voted this year’s Best Place to Work.
Culpeper’s public schools are great places to learn and, as Best of the Best voters affirmed, they’re also great places to work: Culpeper County Public Schools was voted this year’s Best Place to Work.
Currently, the CCPS system includes six elementary schools, two middle schools, two high schools, and a career and technical education center. The system is also in the process of renovating Culpeper County Middle School and planning for a seventh elementary school.
According to CCPS’ Director of Communications Laura Hoover, the school system has made strides over the last several years to attract quality teachers. One of the steps they’ve taken is raising teacher pay to be more competitive with neighboring counties.
Hoover answered some questions about what else has made CCPS the Best of the Best.
What do you think separates CCPS from other school systems?
Our staff. We have incredible staff in CCPS who work hard every day to ensure the success of our students.
The Culpeper community also sets us apart. This is an amazing community that all works together to ensure the success of our schools, students, and community. We like to say “Small Town, Big Family.” Also, our location, mentorship program, tuition reimbursement program are things that separate us from others.
BY Richard Horner
What inspired CCPS to make the changes that lead to its success?
We continue to evaluate our many offerings and programs to make sure that we are meeting the needs of not only our students, but our staff and community as well.
What have you done to attract employees to CCPS?
Our best method of recruitment is word of mouth from our current staff. We utilize social media and our website, both of which are very popular methods of communication
for us. We attend job fairs in the community and at universities. We offer a signing bonus for bus drivers, as well as a referral bonus for employees who send bus drivers to us.
What has been the best part of those changes?
Our employees make our schools the success that they are, so we are lucky to have great administrators, teachers and support staff.
What’s next on the horizon?
Stay tuned!
The first day of school at CTEC, Culpeper County Public Schools’ technical education center.
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