The Valley Today
The Valley Today is a radio show and podcast that highlights community leaders and local events in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. It features insightful conversations, engaging stories, and event details that connect listeners with the region's unique culture and initiatives. Guests are recorded in advance at local coffee shops, businesses, and events. The radio program airs weekdays on The River 95.3 and Sports Radio 1450.
Episodes
Guardians of Our Community
A 10-year-old who pulled a drowning child from a lake. An off-duty officer who saved his own wife with CPR. These are the kinds of stories that fill the room at the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber's Valor Awards, and Janet Michael gets a preview with Taylor Coumes, Director of Event Management at the Chamber, and Brandon Lorey, President & CEO of Bank of Clarke, the event's presenting sponsor. No
Believing in Magic
Janet recorded this one from the pilot's seat of a real helicopter, perched on the roof of the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum and hanging about 10 feet out over Cork Street. A few weeks after watching a crane lift it into place, she climbs aboard with Executive Director Dawn Devine and Taylor Wilmoth to talk about how the "impossible" project came together, and why it matters so much for kids
Less Than Two Minutes
If a fire started in your home tonight, you might have less than two minutes to get out, and Deb Fleming wants to make sure you spend those minutes getting out instead of grabbing your laptop. Janet Michael sat down with Deb, Executive Director of the Greater Shenandoah Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, in the Secret Garden at the Espresso Bar on the Old Town Walking Mall to talk about hom
Frederick County's School Tax Referendum
Frederick County voters will see a school sales tax question on their ballot this November, and here's what it actually does. Janet Michael sits down with Frederick County Administrator Mike Bollhoefer and Frederick County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. George Hummer to walk through the up-to-1% sales tax referendum on the November 3 general election ballot (early voting is already underway). M
Your Backyard College Experience
Think you have to go away to a four-year university to get the "real" college experience? Think again. On this Laurel Ridge Community College episode, Janet Michael and Director of Marketing Guy Curtis are joined by John Owens, coordinator of Student Life & Engagement, and student ambassadors Adam Gagnon and Alyssah Rodgers to bust one of the biggest myths about community college. Adam shares how
Buzzing About Business
What if the tasks keeping you up at night could just… take care of themselves? On this Valley Business Today, recorded in the lobby of the Front Royal Warren County Chamber of Commerce, Janet Michael and Chamber President Niki Foster sit down with Joe Peters, owner of Buzzy Work Pro, a Front Royal company built to handle the "anything admin" work small business owners never seem to get to. Joe exp
The Tourism–Economy Connection
Small business is economic development, and Frederick County's new economic development director is ready to plant her flag on that hill. For Tourism Tuesday, Winchester-Frederick County edition, Janet Michael and Justin Kerns sit out back at the Visitor Center with Amanda Killen, the new Director of the Frederick County Economic Development Authority, just four weeks into the job. Amanda shares h
Bringing Dolly's Books to Clarke County
Imagine a preschooler racing to the mailbox every month, shouting, "It's my book day!" Janet Michael sits down with Beth Williams, Executive Director of the Clarke County Education Foundation, to talk about the foundation's push to bring Dolly Parton's Imagination Library back to every child from birth to age five in Clarke County. Beth shares how a September "Dolly Day" kickoff and two generous g
Parks, Programs, and Progress
A rooftop tennis complex on top of a free parking garage at Jim Barnett Park? It's a real proposal, and Winchester Parks Director Chris Konyar is here to walk through the facts. Janet Michael sits down with Chris at Jim Barnett Park for their regular check-in on everything happening at Winchester's parks this fall and holiday season. Chris shares what's ahead on the calendar: Spooky Fun on October
E-Bikes on the Roadway
That new e-bike in the driveway can hit 20 miles an hour, and Captain Warren Gosnell wants parents to think hard about what that means on a road shared with 6,000-pound SUVs. It's Public Safety Thursday, and Janet Michael is live in the studio with Captain Gosnell of the Frederick County Sheriff's Office for his monthly visit, starting with stories from his 15th-anniversary trip to Las Vegas and a
Out of the Darkness
A hula lesson, a string of honor beads, and a moment where you realize you are not alone — the Out of the Darkness Community Walk packs all of that into a single Saturday morning at Sherando Park. Janet Michael sits down at the Espresso Bar on the Old Town Walking Mall with returning guests Patricia Brewer and Mandy Foxley, co-chairs of the Stephens City walk, to talk about this year's event on Oc
More Than Camping
A haunted trail, campsites decked out for Halloween, and Yogi Bear himself — fall at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Luray is a lot more than pitching a tent. On this Luray-Page County edition of Tourism Tuesday, Janet Michael and Gina Hilliard of the Luray-Page County Chamber of Commerce welcome general manager Bryan Fykes — better known around the park as "Ranger Bryan" — to talk about one of Pag
Unstuck
"I was stuck. You guys unstuck me." That's what one participant told Winchester CCAP Executive Director Andrea Cosans, and it's the heart of THRIVE, a new two-year program helping local families move from constant crisis to real self-sufficiency. Janet sits down at CCAP with Andrea and Jordan Hurley, Executive Assistant at Connected Communities, to talk about how four local nonprofits are joining
Adventures in Cheese
There's a cheese shop on the Old Town Walking Mall where you can taste anything in the case before you buy it, and yes, they make grown-up Lunchables. Janet Michael and Brady Cloven of Friends of Old Town pull up a chair at Fleur de Lis Cheese Shop with owner Terri Boyd, two years after she first joined the show just after opening. Terri explains what "fancy cheese" really means (hint: it's not as
Hidden Hunger
For some kids in our area, Friday's school lunch is the last meal they can count on until Monday's breakfast. Janet Michael checks back in with Elise Stine-Dolinar of Bright Futures Frederick/Winchester to talk about the hidden hunger in our local schools, and how neighbors across Winchester and Frederick County are helping more than 1,200 students get fed every week. Elise walks through what goes
Road Work Ahead
New lanes on I-81, a brand-new bridge at Exit 313, and longer turn lanes on the roads you drive every day: VDOT's Ken Slack is back with the latest on the road work around the Northern Shenandoah Valley. Janet Michael checks in with Ken, communications specialist for VDOT's Staunton District, on the big highway projects that make headlines and the smaller fixes that change your daily drive. Ken ex
Medieval in the Mountains
North Mountain Vineyard & Winery's first Ravenwood Faire is almost here — and owner Jill Edlich says getting a 90-vendor medieval festival ready on a working vineyard has been its own kind of harvest season. Janet Michael and Kary Haun catch up with Jill for Shenandoah County Tourism Tuesday, checking in on everything that's changed since February: a new accessible walkway, a horse arena, and a vi
Valley Venture Scavenger Hunt
Grab a team, grab a driver, and get ready to venture across the Northern Shenandoah Valley — for a good cause. Janet is back on the Zooms with Gina Hilliard, president of the Luray-Page Chamber of Commerce, and Greg Stockton, development director for Seniors First, to talk about the Valley Venture Scavenger Hunt, an app-based fundraiser happening October 17th across six counties. Greg walks throug
Planting Seeds, Harvesting Change
The Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association is bringing back its fall symposium after a pandemic-era hiatus — and this year it comes with a theme, a full slate of local experts, and a challenge for every gardener in the room. Janet talks with Candace DeLong, Frederick County's Virginia Cooperative Extension agent, and Chris Jorgensen, president of the NSV Master Gardener Association
Community Health: Mobile Mammograms
A brand-new, 36-foot pink mobile mammography unit just rolled into the Shenandoah Valley — and Janet Michael is sitting right next to it on the Winchester Medical Center campus to find out what it means for local women's health. On this Community Health episode, Janet talks with Jenny Grooms, Executive Director of Valley Health Foundations and Jason Craig, Senior Director of Community Health about
Planes, Cars, and Community
Wings & Wheels is coming back to the Winchester Regional Airport on Saturday, October 3rd, and it's free to get in the gate. Janet sits down with Taylor Coumes of the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber and Pete Warren of United Bank to talk about how this beloved community event — think warbirds, classic cars, Air Force simulators, and food trucks — has grown to draw more than 3,000 people a year, a
Art, History, and Horses
It's Tourism Tuesday, Berryville/Clarke County edition, and that means one thing every September: Art at the Mill is back. Janet Michael is joined by Nathan Stalvey, Executive Director of the Clarke County Historical Association, for a full rundown of what's new this fall — from the juried art show's opening weekend to a brand-new exhibit exploring the little-known history of Black horsemen in Cla
The Long Road Home
When a disaster destroys your home, the shelter is never meant to be the ending point — it's step one. Janet Michael sits down with Deb Fleming, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of the Greater Shenandoah Valley, for a deep dive into the Red Cross's Shelter Resident Transition (SRT) program: the behind-the-scenes work of moving disaster survivors out of shelters and into permanent, sust
More Than a Bus Stop
After a record-breaking summer, the YDC is diving straight into a packed fall season — and Executive Director Sarah Fishel joins Janet Michael at the YDC's Loudoun Street home to walk through all of it. From a brand-new after-school program to two beloved traditions making their long-awaited return, there's a lot happening at 302 S. Loudoun Street in Old Town Winchester. Sarah shares how the new Y
Running for Recovery
A local 5K is doing double duty this year — raising money for scholarships and keeping a beloved friend's memory alive. Host Janet Michael is joined by Guy Curtis, Director of Marketing at Laurel Ridge Community College, along with Julie Judy and Meredith Speir-Cavalier, co-founders of The Recovery Connection, to talk about the Laurel Ridge Community College 5K and the scholarship it supports in h
Don't Touch That Dial
Would your car still have AM radio if automakers got their way? Janet sits down with Andrew Shearer, President/Owner of Royal Broadcasting, which owns The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450, to talk about why AM radio still matters, and why it might disappear from new cars for good. Andrew breaks down why AM signal reaches places FM and cell service can't, what the American Red Cross has to do with an
15 Years of Art, Music, and Milestones
It's Tourism Tuesday, Berryville/Clarke County edition, and Janet is on the Zooms with Martha Reynolds, Executive Director of Barns of Rose Hill, for a rundown of a huge year: new exhibitions, a brand-new midweek concert series, and a completed 10-year endowment challenge. From a colorful new exhibit inspired by Brazilian music to a can't-miss documentary premiere, Martha walks through everything
Pies, Pups & Pints
It's the Shenandoah Valley's biggest fall tradition, and it's turning 52. Host Janet Michael sat down with Darla McCrary, co-chair of the Shenandoah Valley Apple Harvest Festival, at the Espresso Bar on Winchester's Old Town Walking Mall to talk pie contests, pony rides, and pints of hard cider. The Rotary Club of Winchester has put on this festival for over 50 years, raising an estimated $1.5 mil
Scammed
Even a veteran law enforcement officer can almost get scammed — and that's exactly what happened to Captain Warren Gosnell of the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, who joins Janet Michael for Public Safety Thursday to break down how today's fraudsters are getting smarter, sneakier, and harder to spot. From spoofed voicemail greetings that used Gosnell's own name and voice to the rise of "gold exc
More Than Membership
Ever called the Chamber of Commerce to complain about a price hike at the Dollar Tree? Someone has — twice. On this episode of Valley Business Today, Niki Foster, President of the Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce, joins Janet Michael to clear up exactly what the Chamber is, what it isn't, and why so many people get it confused with local government. Niki walks through the Chamber's ro
From Makers to Mixology
It's a two-for-one Tourism Tuesday! Host Janet Michael and Justin Kerns of the Winchester-Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau head to downtown Winchester's historic former bank building, The Exchange on Loudoun, to talk with co-owners Molly McGehee-Hanson and Jillian McGehee about the Last Sunday Market — an indoor artisan makers and growers market that's already drawing hundreds of visi
Way Down Yonder
Pawpaws are Virginia's forgotten native fruit — and this fall, Blandy Experimental Farm is throwing them a party. Janet welcomes back Melanie Mullinax, Communications & Events Manager at Blandy, to talk about the return of Pawpaw & Pints on September 13th, complete with a locally brewed pawpaw beer, fruit tastings, and a talk from renowned pawpaw expert Neal Peterson. From the surprising 1916 pawp
Hot Dog Crawls and Civil War Relics
The Dawg Days of Summer Hot Dog Crawl sold out its very first year — over 3,000 hot dogs, a live band, temporary (and a few permanent) tattoos, and fans who flew in from as far as Chicago. Janet Michael sits down in the Secret Garden behind the Espresso Bar with Brady Cloven, Executive Director of Friends of Old Town, for their monthly Old Town check-in, then welcomes Jack Owens, Director of Land
Kids, Cranes, and Helicopters
There's a helicopter on its way to downtown Winchester right now — and it's landing on a rooftop. Janet sits down with Dawn Devine, Tammy Stevenson, and Taylor Wilmoth of the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum to talk about the museum's boldest exhibit yet: a real helicopter, craned onto the Sky Level rooftop, that kids will be able to climb into and "fly." From the four-year journey to get city a
Hob Nob in the Valley
Hob Nob in the Valley is back — and it's still the most refreshingly nonpartisan political event you'll attend all year. Host Janet Michael sits down with Cynthia Schneider (CEO) and Taylor Coumes (Director of Event Management) from the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber, along with Brandon Lorey, President and CEO of Bank of Clarke, the event's presenting sponsor, to preview this year's Hob Nob hap
Exploring New Market
New Market is having a moment — a new gelato shop is moving in, a grab-and-go cafe is on the way, and a furniture store is still going strong after 37 years. It's Shenandoah County Tourism Tuesday, and host Janet Michael catches up with Kary Haun from Shenandoah County Tourism, Savannah Smith from the Town of New Market, and Karla Kokkonen from The Home Store. From the soon-to-open Battlefield Gel
Keeping Seniors Independent
When Juli Ferrell's own mother could no longer drive herself to doctor's appointments, a low-cost transportation service called WellTran became a lifeline — now, just three weeks into her new role as Executive Director of Seniors First, Juli is bringing that same personal understanding to an organization that serves thousands of seniors across the Northern Shenandoah Valley. Janet sits down with J
More Than a Meal
NW Works is throwing its 11th annual Farm to Table dinner on September 12th — and for the first time in years, tickets to the general admission event are still available. Janet talks with communications coordinator Morgan McIntosh and CFO Todd Devine about what makes this Middletown street dinner one of the valley's most beloved fundraisers, from the locally sourced menu to the neighbors-turned-bu
Top 15 in the Nation
It's Community Health Day, and Janet sat down with Dr. Nick Restrepo, Valley Health's Chief Quality and Patient Safety Officer, to unpack some huge news: Valley Health has just been named one of the nation's top 15 health systems by Modern Healthcare and Premier Inc. Dr. Restrepo breaks down what the award actually measures, why it took five years of data (not a lucky year) to earn it, and why he
Feeding Our Elders
With National Senior Citizens Day landing this Friday, Janet sits down with Les Sinclair, Communications and PR Manager for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, to talk about a group that's too often overlooked in the conversation about hunger: our senior citizens. About one in five people the food bank serves are seniors living on fixed incomes that just can't keep pace with rising gas, housing, and gr
Belle Grove's Big Beverage Bash
Shenandoah Sips is back at Belle Grove, and it's bigger than ever — six wineries, four distilleries, a cidery, and a full lineup of non-alcoholic options, all in one very sippable location. Janet catches up with Kristen Laise (Executive Director) and Paige Ulevich (Festivals Coordinator) about how this former Wine Fest transformed into the Shenandoah Valley's favorite beverage festival. From the r
Free Healthcare, No Barriers
A free medical, dental, and vision clinic that asks nothing of you but showing up — no insurance, no income screening, no residency requirement. On this episode, host Janet Michael talks with Gina Hilliard, President of the Luray-Page Chamber of Commerce, and Ben Dolewski, Executive Director of the Page Free Clinic, about the clinic's fifth annual Remote Area Medical (RAM) Clinic coming to Luray H
Save Energy, Save Money
Turning down your water heater by a few degrees, switching one bulb at a time, and slicing up a $2 pool noodle can add up to real savings on your electric bill — and Karen Poff is back to show you how. Janet Michael welcomes local Extension agent Karen Poff, who manages the Northern Shenandoah Valley Financial Education Program, for a bonus conversation packed with practical, low-cost ways to trim
Don't Let Cost Stop You
It's Laurel Ridge Community College Day on The Valley Today, and today's conversation tackles one of the biggest myths standing between people and a degree: the belief that they can't afford it. Host Janet Michael is joined by Guy Curtis, Director of Marketing, and Buddy Wilson, Director of Financial Aid at Laurel Ridge Community College, to walk through exactly what financial aid can look like —
It's Your House
A Warren County family is closing on their brand-new home this week — and Janet got the news firsthand, sitting inside the house just days before it happened. In this episode, Janet talks with Andrea Ross, Executive Director of Warren County Habitat for Humanity, about what it really takes to build not just a house, but a neighborhood. Andrea opens up about the emotional weight of watching familie
Pedaling Progress
BikeWALK Winchester started as an idea in 2023 — now it's a full-fledged nonprofit with community walks, bike rides, and a seat at the table with the city. Co-founders Kara Capelli and Steve Policastro join Janet to catch up on everything that's happened since their last visit, from monthly "TalkWALKs" through Winchester's neighborhoods to landing a spot for a bike and pedestrian advisory committe
When Disaster Strikes
It's the busiest, most dangerous stretch of the year for disasters — and blood banks are running dangerously low right at the moment they're needed most. Janet Michael sits down with Deb Fleming, Executive Director of the Greater Shenandoah Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, for their monthly check-in on all things Red Cross — this time digging into what "disaster season" really means. Deb
12 Taps, One Community
Janet Michael sits down with Lauren Fleming, Tap Room Manager for Dividing Creek Beer Co., and Friends of Old Town's Brady Cloven, for a bonus Old Town Winchester conversation about how a brewery became a full-blown community living room. Lauren shares the winding path that brought her back to Winchester, the chaos of a surprise opening day in the middle of the pandemic, and why she fought (and lo
Flock, Lidar, and Your Privacy
It's Public Safety Thursday, and Captain Warren Gosnell of the Frederick County Sheriff's Office is back in the studio to untangle one of the most misunderstood pieces of back-to-school season: school zone speed cameras. With students returning to class next week, Gosnell walks Janet through exactly how the lidar-based camera systems work, why they're not the same as license plate reader (LPR) tec
Debbies Lighthouse
A five-year-old antique shop in Front Royal turned into something much bigger — a nonprofit built entirely around making sure no one in the community goes hungry. Janet sits down at the Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce with Chamber President Niki Foster and Julie Vaught, owner of Happy Creek Antiques and founder of the nonprofit Debbie's Lighthouse, to talk about how a mother's love o
Hungry for History Turns Four
It's almost time for one of the Valley's tastiest traditions — Hungry for History is back for its fourth year, and Janet sits down with the three people who make it happen to talk taverns, colonial "shrubs," and a walnut cake with a very local backstory. Renee Bayliss (Winchester-Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau), Rick Kriebel (Newtown History Center), and Christa Nahhas (La Grange Fa
From Stacks to Screens
Handley Regional Library just had its biggest year ever — and executive director John Huddy joins Janet to break down exactly why. From nearly 850,000 items checked out to a 100,000-visit jump since before the pandemic, the numbers tell the story of a library system that's become an essential gathering place for Winchester, Frederick, and Clarke. John and Janet dig into what's driving the surge —
The Hot Dog Episode
Brady Cloven, executive director for Friends of Old Town, joins Janet Michael to unveil the details of Dawg Days of Summer — the Old Town Hot Dog Crawl — and yes, he's every bit as excited about hot dogs as you'd expect. Ten restaurants (and one food truck!), one-of-a-kind hot dogs, one very committed hot dog costume, and a golden trophy on the line: this episode has all the details on tickets, th
100 Years of Blandy
Blandy Experimental Farm is turning 100 — and Janet Michael sits down with Anne Marie Chirieleison, director of the Foundation of the State Arboretum, to unpack a century of research, discovery, and community stewardship at the Virginia State Arboretum. From an 1835 enslaved-quarters building that once housed the first researchers to a mysterious pawpaw patch rediscovered decades later, Blandy's h
Meet the Nesters
A woodworker six and a half years sober and a real estate broker whose "hobby got out of hand" — these are the makers filling the shelves at The Nest in Mount Jackson. On this Valley Business Today segment, Janet Michael hands the mic to two of The Nest's founding Nesters: Ryan Peters of Home Revival and Decor, and Mike Cain of Poppy's Dust. They talk candidly about how they landed in retail, what
The Nest in Mount Jackson
What does it take to turn a vacant, decades-old hardware store into the heart of a small town's downtown? On this Tourism Tuesday edition of The Valley Today, Janet Michael heads to The Nest in Mount Jackson with Shenandoah County Tourism's Kary Haun, joined by Mount Jackson Town Manager Olivia Hilton and Assistant Town Manager Greg Beam, to find out. They dig into the town's Mount Jackson Five pr
Coffee to Cocktails
Victoria Kidd Armstrong makes espresso martinis and community change with equal skill — and on this episode of The Valley Today, she tells Janet Michael how Hideaway Cafe, her "coffee to cocktails" spot on Winchester's Old Town Walking Mall, has quietly funneled nearly $75,000 in cash and in-kind donations back into the community over its 11 years in business. Janet and Victoria dig into how Hidea
Pencils, Pantries, and Partnerships
Back-to-school season means one thing on The Valley Today: it's time to Stuff the Bus. Janet Michael welcomes back Elise Stine Dolinar, executive director of Bright Futures Frederick/Winchester, for a catch-up on the joint Frederick County/Winchester City Schools program that makes sure kids have what they need to learn — and a look ahead at this year's Stuff the Bus school supply drive. Elise sha
Road Work Roundup
It's VDOT Day on The Valley Today, and Ken Slack, communications specialist for VDOT's Staunton District, is back with a full slate of road project updates for the Northern Shenandoah Valley. From the widening of I-81 at Strasburg to a soon-to-triple-in-size park and ride, this episode covers a lot of ground — literally. Janet and Ken dig into the I-81/Strasburg bridge work, the Oranda Park & Ride
Small Business B(AI)sics
Curious how AI could actually help your small business — but not sure where to start? The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber has a free, hands-on answer, and it's launching this month. Janet Michael sits down with Missy Spielman, the Chamber's Director of Programs, and Taylor Coumes, the Chamber's brand-new Director of Events, for the Chamber's monthly segment. Missy previews Small Business B(AI)sic
Art Again
There's a new thrift shop in Winchester, but it's not selling clothes — it's stocked with fabric, yarn, wine corks, carpet samples, and just about anything else you could turn into art. Janet Michael sits down with Misty Weaver, owner of the brand-new Art Again Thrift Shop, just 24 hours after opening its doors on Valley Avenue. Misty walks through how the creative-reuse shop works, from the "Fill
Valley & Vine Transport
Ever wished someone else would just plan your whole wine country day for you? On this episode, Janet sits down with Gina Hilliard, president of the Luray-Page Chamber of Commerce, and Chris Snow, owner of the brand-new Valley & Vine Transport, a private curated tour and transport service built around the Shenandoah Valley's craft beverage scene. Chris walks through how it works — guests fill out a
Building the Bends
There's a brand-new trail at Seven Bends State Park — and it took a decade, a federal grant, and a whole lot of volunteer sweat to build it. Janet Michael is joined by Kary Haun (Shenandoah County Tourism) for a bonus conversation with Kyle Lawrence of the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition about the new shared-use trail connecting the park to the George Washington National Forest. Kyle breaks
Community Health: Vein Care Demystified
"Spider veins" was a scary name for a little girl who was afraid of spiders. As it turns out, it's a scary name for a lot of grown-ups too — and one of the biggest reasons people put off getting evaluated. On this Community Health edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael welcomes Dr. Emily Reardon, board-certified vascular surgeon with Valley Health Vascular Surgeons, for a genuinely reassu
Clean, Separate, Cook, Chill: Summer Cookout Survival Guide
Your potato salad has been out for how long? On this episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael welcomes back Amanda Johnson, the Food, Nutrition, and Health Extension Agent based in Frederick County (serving all five surrounding counties), for a genuinely useful summer companion to their November food safety conversation. This time the focus is picnics, cookouts, and family reunions — with t
The Mill, The Museum, and The Masterpieces
Ten years ago, a Shenandoah University undergraduate history major had an internship project: create a summer kid-friendly program at Burwell-Morgan Mill. This Saturday, that program will draw hundreds of families and host history organizations from across the state. On this Tourism Tuesday Berryville/Clarke County edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael catches up on the Zooms with Nathan
From Peaches to Pemberley
A giant peach, a British farce, a Christmas at Pemberley, a Berkeley PTA vaccine debate, a war photographer's homecoming, and a nun-choir tribute to Whoopi Goldberg. On this episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael catches up with Tim Bambara from Winchester Little Theatre to preview the second WLT for Kids show of the summer AND the full 2026-2027 main-stage season — five main-stage produc
The Hidden Cost of Homelessness
"Did you know that being homeless is really expensive?" That's the sentence one Family Promise Winchester client said to Chris Brigante recently — and it's the question that anchors this follow-up episode of The Valley Today. Host Janet Michael welcomes Chris Brigante, Executive Director of Family Promise Winchester, back to the show for the deep-dive conversation she promised at the end of their
Where Do I Even Start?
"I'm the person that calls that number and just pushes zero until a human picks up. I need a Thomas." Brandy Hawkins Boies said it, and it's the truest thing about community college enrollment in 2026. On this Laurel Ridge Community College edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael welcomes back Director of Communications and Outreach Brandy Hawkins Boies, joined by Thomas Monk — Outreach Sp
The Healing Volunteers
Twenty-plus deployments across the country. Coast to coast. And this month, Elizabeth Quinn was on standby to fly to Guam via Hawaii for a Category 5 typhoon response. On this episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael continues her year-long Red Cross series with Deb Fleming, Executive Director of the Greater Shenandoah Valley Chapter, joined by Elizabeth Quinn — the Disaster Health Services
Come Get Grit Faced
Some restaurants are worth coming back for. And some people are worth partnering with to make that happen. On this Tourism Tuesday Winchester/Frederick County edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael and Justin Kerns catch up on the Zooms with Cheryl Ash and Drew Braithwaite — the team behind Gypsy Jane's Southern Food Lounge, a brand-new Creole-leaning New Orleans-inspired destination rest
A Mosaic of Music
Every year, a jigsaw puzzle. But this year, the pieces gelled. On this episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael returns to the corporate headquarters of the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival in Woodstock (as always, delighting Dennis Lynch by calling it that) for her annual walk through the summer concert series at Orkney Springs. And Dennis has assembled a genuinely wide-ranging 2026 lineup
Public Safety Thursday: Move Over, Slow Down, Stay Cool
Some things bear repeating. And on this Public Safety Thursday edition of The Valley Today — the day before the 250th Independence Day weekend — Captain Warren Gosnell of the Frederick County Sheriff's Office does exactly that. Host Janet Michael welcomes him back to the studio with a folder of new laws, a warning about the heat, and a story about one of his deputies whose truck was totaled earlie
Reimagining Primary Care
"This is the healthcare we used to have," some of Dr. Emily Chan's older patients have told her. Her reply: "Yep — and that's the way that it should be." On this Valley Business Today edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael sits down at the Front Royal-Warren County Chamber with Chamber President Niki Foster and Dr. Emily Chan, a board-certified family medicine physician who has opened an
Fireworks, Floats, and Fun in Page County
Sixty-one years. Only two missed. On this Luray-Page Tourism Tuesday edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael welcomes Leon Stout, Town Treasurer of Stanley, for a rundown of the 59th Annual Stanley Homecoming — a four-day, town-wide celebration running Wednesday, July 1st through Saturday, July 4th at Ed Good Park. Then Gina Hilliard, President of the Luray-Page Chamber of Commerce, gives
First Month's Rent
Last year, Family Promise Winchester typically received 40 to 45 requests for help per month. This month, they'll cross 100. On this episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael welcomes back Chris Brigante, Executive Director of Family Promise Winchester, for a candid conversation about why family homelessness is surging in our region — and the surprisingly cost-effective math behind preventin
Murals, Main Streets, and Hot Dogs
Neither of us is actually in Old Town today — but as Brady put it, we're there in spirit. On this Friends of Old Town edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael catches up with Brady Cloven (Executive Director, Friends of Old Town Winchester) via Zoom while he's at a tourism conference in Pennsylvania, pitching bus tours on coming to Winchester. The conversation is released just minutes befor
From Drones to Donuts: Summer at Jim Barnett Park
Three hundred drones, eleven minutes, and an entire park's collective gasp. On this episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael sits down at Jim Barnett Park's Active Living Center with Winchester City Parks Director Chris Konyar to recap the city's first-ever drone show (the Winchester logo perfectly drawn in the sky, the animated Patsy Cline, the Apple Blossom bloom, all to celebrate the VA2
First Day to Graduation: Arising Leadership Program
A week and a half ago, they walked into a radio station they didn't know existed. This week, they were standing on a stage at the HIVE at Shenandoah University with graduation certificates in their hands, telling a room full of parents and business leaders how the experience changed them. On this follow-up to the June 10th episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael returns to the students of
Summer in Shenandoah County
A string of pearls runs along Route 11 — and every one of them is built for summer. On this Shenandoah County Tourism Tuesday edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael is joined on the Zooms by Kary Haun and Brittany Clem-Hott for a conversation devoted to the best of summer in Shenandoah County, from Strasburg to New Market and everywhere between. Three Valley League baseball teams, a count
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