Podcasts about Frederick County

Kevin Stoller sits down with Dr. George Hummer, Superintendent of Frederick County Public Schools, to explore his journey from special education aide to school district leader, and the district's ongoing effort to build its fourth high school. Dr. Hummer shares how his mother's career as a special education teacher and his own experience working with students with disabilities shaped his empathy-driven leadership style. The conversation dives deep into the mechanics of planning new school construction — including the critical difference between "design capacity" and "program capacity," how Frederick County builds community trust through transparent data, and why involving every stakeholder voice (parents, teachers, students, county officials) is essential to a successful bond and building process. Dr. Hummer also reflects on team-building, situational leadership drawn from his coaching background, and why investing in students must remain the non-negotiable priority behind every facilities decision. Takeaways: Program capacity vs. design capacity — A room's legal occupancy limit isn't the same as how many students it can actually serve well; specialized programs (special ed, ELL, CTE, kindergarten) mean real capacity is often much lower than code allows. Run schools at 85–90% capacity, not 100% — Like redlining a car engine, operating school buildings at full capacity year-round accelerates wear and leaves no room for enrollment shifts or new programs. There's no such thing as too many voices — Successful school construction requires input from county officials, principals, teachers, parents, and even students — genuine inclusion builds long-term community trust. Seek out your critics, not just your supporters — Dr. Hummer's willingness to sit down with a skeptical taxpayer and address misinformation directly turned an opponent into an advocate for the new high school. Situational leadership matters — Knowing when to encourage versus when to push for improvement (borrowed from his coaching background) is key to building strong, resilient teams.   About Dr. George Hummer: Dr. George C. Hummer began serving as Frederick County's Superintendent of Schools on January 30, 2023. He is a native of New Jersey who moved to Virginia in 1994. He graduated from Chancellor High School in Fredericksburg and received a bachelor of arts degree from Radford University in 2005. Dr. Hummer also holds a master's degree in educational leadership and special education from the University of Mary Washington as well as a doctorate in educational leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Hummer credits his mother, who was a lifelong special education teacher, with inspiring him to pursue a career in education. He began his career as a special education teacher, athletic director, and football and basketball coach at Battlefield Middle School in Fredericksburg. After serving in those roles from 2005 to 2012, Dr. Hummer was named assistant principal at Rodney Thompson Middle School in Stafford and served in that capacity for three years. In 2015, Dr. Hummer was named the Supervisor of Student Services and Special Education for Stafford County Public Schools. Four years later, he became Stafford County Public Schools' Executive Director of Student Services and Special Education. In 2022, he was named that school division's Chief Student Support Services Officer. As a teacher, Dr. Hummer was recognized with a Teacher of the Year Award and for improving the performance of his students. As a central office administrator, Dr. Hummer has spent countless hours supporting students, families and staff while working to develop better procedures to help bridge the achievement gap for all students. In 2021, the Virginia Council of Administrators of Special Education recognized Dr. Hummer with the Mary Lou Wall Award for Early Special Education Leadership. The award recognizes individuals who are in their first three years of leading a school division's special education services and exemplify five values: (1) Heart- the passion to serve, nurture and care; (2) Leadership by example; (3) Honesty; (4) Creative thinking; and (5) Collaboration. From 2018 to 2023, Dr. Hummer served as an adjunct professor of educational leadership and education at the University of Mary Washington. He has also been a featured speaker at several state meetings for the Virginia Department of Education. Dr. Hummer is proud to remain actively engaged in the Frederick County and Northern Shenandoah Valley communities. He currently serves on the boards of the Valley Health Foundation, United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley, Grafton School Foundation, and Frederick County Education Foundation. He is also an active member of the Rotary Club of Frederick County. Through these meaningful partnerships, Dr. Hummer enthusiastically supportsefforts that strengthen our students, education, health, opportunity, and overall community well-being throughout the region. Dr. Hummer, his wife, Charnell, and his step-daughter, Madison, live in Frederick County.   Episode 354 of the Better Learning Podcast For more information on our partners: Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/ Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/ Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/ EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/ Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website

A child and two adults were injured after a two-vehicle crash Monday morning in Frederick County. A former Peace Corps senior human resources employee from Silver Spring has been sentenced for stealing government property through a timecard scheme. Frederick County officials are asking residents to help shape the county’s legislative priorities for the 2027 General Assembly session. Derwood Man Sentenced to 120 Years for Rockville Double MurderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New federal rules are changing who can receive SNAP benefits in Maryland, with Governor Wes Moore saying this week the changes are creating added burdens for families. A Jefferson County man accused in the February shooting death of a Shepherd University student has now been indicted on a second-degree murder charge. A proposed change to Maryland’s congressional redistricting process is headed to voters as Question 3 on the November ballot. Girls’ flag football is getting some extra support in Frederick County.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 into a weekend food pack, why fewer kids take the bags home as they get older, and how discreet school food pantries (one uses a clickable "hall pass") are reaching middle and high schoolers who'd rather go hungry than be seen. She also explains why allergy-friendly food matters, which donations are "gold" (and which to keep at home, like pickled beets), and how you can drop off food, shop the wish list, or give a few dollars that go further than you'd think. If you've ever wondered how to help a local kid in need, this conversation is a great place to start. LINKS & RESOURCES Bright Futures Frederick/Winchester website (see the needs lists under "Get Involved"): sites.google.com/fcpsk12.net/brightfuturesfrederickcounty/home Bright Futures Frederick/Winchester on Facebook: facebook.com/brightfuturesfrederickcounty Donation drop-off (donation shed by the first garage door): Bright Futures Distribution Center, 178 Indian Hollow Road, Winchester, VA 22603 Bright Futures phone: 540-667-2490 Bright Futures Amazon wish list: linked from the Bright Futures website and social pages THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations. New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon. Subscribe and listen at thevalleytodaypodcast.com — available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a rating or review — it helps more listeners find us. Connect with us: Facebook — facebook.com/ValleyTodayFanPage Instagram — instagram.com/thevalleytoday

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, about what's in store on November 14 at Laurel Ridge Community College. This year's theme, "Planting Seeds, Harvesting Change," has speakers covering everything from gardening for birds to backyard meadows to the bugs in your beds — and each one is sending attendees home with a concrete action item. Janet, Candace, and Chris also dig into what the symposium's ticket sales actually fund, from seed lending libraries to children's garden programs, and preview the 2027 Master Gardener training class for anyone thinking about getting more involved. It's equal parts education and pep talk for anyone who's ever wondered why their garden isn't quite working yet. Event Details Fall Gardening Symposium — "Planting Seeds, Harvesting Change" Date: Saturday, November 14 Location: Laurel Ridge Community College, Middletown campus — Corron Community Development Center Doors: 8:00 AM (breakfast items available) | Sessions: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Cost: $65 per ticket, includes breakfast, snacks, and a pre-orderable boxed lunch (Panera; gluten-free/vegan options available) Incentive: Free coffee mug for the first 50 registrants Registration: nsvmga.org, or via NSVMGA's Facebook page (search "Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association") 2027 Extension Master Gardener Class Info session: Tuesday, October 12, 6:00 PM, Shenandoah County Extension office (Woodstock) Class runs Feb. 15 – May 12, Monday and Wednesday nights, 6:00–9:00 PM, at the Shenandoah County Extension office Space limited to about 20 people; registration open now at nsvmga.org ("Join Us" tab) THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations. New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon. Subscribe and listen at thevalleytodaypodcast.com — available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a rating or review — it helps more listeners find us. Connect with us: Facebook — facebook.com/ValleyTodayFanPage Instagram — instagram.com/thevalleytoday

A Reston, Virginia man is facing a felony animal cruelty charge after Frederick County deputies say he stabbed his dog to death early Thursday morning. Wanted Man Identified in Fatal Rockville Shooting A Silver Spring man faces up to 60 years in prison after being convicted in the 2024 murder of Jamar Jenifer. A year-long pause on new data center applications is being proposed in Loudoun County. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ICYMI: A Frederick County 9/11 Story — Michael Strawsbaugh Joins Bob Miller on the Morning News Express On the 25th anniversary of September 11th, Bob Miller was joined by Michael Strawsbaugh, a former volunteer with the Woodsboro Volunteer Fire Department, to share an incredible piece of Frederick County's connection to that tragic day. After American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon, Woodsboro received an extraordinary call for help. The Pentagon needed the department's 1950s-era Mack Ladder Truck 16 because it was small enough to fit through a 10-foot entrance and into the Pentagon's inner courtyard. A crew from Woodsboro answered that call and headed for Washington. Strawsbaugh shares what he remembers from September 11, 2001, how the Woodsboro volunteers became part of the massive response at the Pentagon, and the story of the old fire truck that became known as “the little truck that could.” The crew spent roughly 13 hours at the Pentagon helping contain the fire and working alongside first responders from across the region. It's a powerful local story of service, courage and answering the call when our country needed help most — and one worth hearing again 25 years later.

Federal prosecutors have indicted a West Friendship man on child sex abuse material charges. A West Virginia man who volunteered as a Loudoun County firefighter has been arrested in connection with the burning of his own vehicle. Plans are taking shape for a new Brunswick 50-plus Community Center as Frederick County prepares for a growing older population. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Preservation for the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, for the rest of the conversation. Brady recaps the hot dog crawl's surprise success and previews a packed September on the Old Town Walking Mall — First Friday, Fiddles & Fifths, Celebracion, and a helicopter-themed block party with the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum. Then Jack takes listeners inside the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum — the 1840s courthouse turned museum on the Loudoun Street Mall — with the story of how it came to be, what's new on display, and why it's about to get a whole lot bigger. LINKS & RESOURCES Friends of Old Town — friendsofoldtown.org (community events calendar) Friends of Old Town on Facebook and Instagram  Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation — shenandoahatwar.org Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District on Facebook and Instagram Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum, Old Courthouse, Loudoun Street Mall — $12/adult, free for ages 17 and under, free for Winchester and Frederick County residents with ID. Open Mon–Sat 10 AM–5 PM, Sun 1–5 PM. Winchester Tales book series by Mike Robinson THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations. New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon. Subscribe and listen at thevalleytodaypodcast.com — available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a rating or review — it helps more listeners find us. Connect with us: Facebook — facebook.com/ValleyTodayFanPage Instagram — instagram.com/thevalleytoday

ICYMI: Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins Joins Bob Miller on the Morning News Express Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins joined Bob Miller this morning on the Morning News Express for a conversation about local law enforcement, community, and his upcoming campaign event. Jenkins weighed in on the appointment of Kevin Meyer as the new Chief of the Frederick Police Department, saying he was pleased to see the city promote from within and give the position to someone who already knows the department and the Frederick community. The Sheriff also previewed his “End of Summer Get Out the Vote” Rally happening this weekend at AMVETS Post #2 — better known as “The Farm.” Jenkins says the goal is about more than politics. He wants to feed people, meet people, and have conversations with residents from across the political spectrum. His message? Even if you've never met him before, come out, grab some food, ask questions, and get to know the person behind the campaign.

“Charlie Smith has served as Frederick County’s State’s Attorney since 2007. Charlie has extensive experience as a prosecutor, having previously served as Deputy State’s Attorney in Frederick County. He has also been involved in criminal justice and community organizations throughout his career.” He joined the Morning Mayor Bob Miller on the Morning news Express See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following the response to The Briefing Room's energy series, we're revisiting one of the topics that generated the most listener interest: data centers.In this special bonus episode, Dom Butchko is joined by Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater to discuss why Frederick County has become one of Maryland's leaders in developing local data center policy. The conversation explores how the county approached zoning, public engagement, and long-term planning, while examining the lessons learned from neighboring jurisdictions and the importance of balancing economic opportunity with community priorities.Jessica also shares how Frederick County has strengthened its regulations over time, coordinated with state partners, and worked to ensure residents remain informed throughout the process. For county officials navigating similar conversations, the episode offers practical insights into developing thoughtful local policy in a rapidly evolving industry.Follow us on Socials!MACo on TwitterMACo on Facebook

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 Family Farm) join the show to preview ten days of food, farms, and 250th-anniversary history across Winchester, Frederick County, and Clarke County. From a candlelit Tavern Night in a barn built in the mid-1800s to a possibly apocryphal tale of who really invented the potato chip, this episode is packed with the kind of history that makes you hungry — literally. Tune in for all the details on where to go, what to eat, and why colonists drank a lot more than you'd think. EVENT DETAILS Event: Hungry for History (4th annual) Dates: August 28 – September 7, 2026 (spans Labor Day weekend) Where: Approximately 15 locations across Winchester, Frederick County, and Clarke County, VA Cost: Varies by site/event — some free, some ticketed; vendor fees may apply separately (e.g., Tavern Night entry is free, but food/drink vendors charge individually) Full schedule: visitwinchesterva.com, or pick up a printed program at the Visitor Center, 1400 S. Pleasant Valley Rd., Winchester Select highlights mentioned: Tavern Night — LaGrange Farm, Friday, August 28 Colonial-themed beer — Chilly Hollow Brewing Special traditional menu — Clem's Kitchen (Wayside) Colonial dance demo, queen cakes & shrubs — Winchester-Frederick County Visitor Center Chef's market hall — Belle Grove, during Shenandoah Sips Colonial Kids Kitchen — Handley Regional Library Patsy Cline Block Party (walnut cake) — Patsy Cline Historic House A Taste of Two Communities (Geneva Jackson) — Claremont Farm & Josephine School Museum Additional participating sites: Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park, Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters Museum, Abram's Delight Museum LINKS & RESOURCES Hungry for History full schedule — visitwinchesterva.com Newtown History Center — newtownhistorycenter.org | 540-869-1700 | 5408 Main Street, Stephens City La Grange Family Farm — https://www.lagrangefamilyfarm.com l follow on Facebook for event updates  Winchester-Frederick County Visitor Center — 1400 S. Pleasant Valley Rd., Winchester, open 7 days a week, 9 AM–5 PM THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations. New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon. Subscribe and listen at thevalleytodaypodcast.com — available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a rating or review — it helps more listeners find us. Connect with us: Facebook — facebook.com/ValleyTodayFanPage Instagram — instagram.com/thevalleytoday

President Donald Trump holds a Cabinet meeting at the presidential retreat Camp David in Frederick County, Maryland, where he acknowledges a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund designed to pay defendants in the January 6th attack at the U.S. Capitol and others who he says were unfairly targeted by the government is 'dead,' but he adds, 'I wish it weren't'; President also says, 'This has nothing to do with Todd,' referring to Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche, whose confirmation has been held up by a few Republican Senators opposed the fund; President Trump also claims 'Israel is very happy" with his Board of Peace reaching a deal with Hamas to disarm in exchange for Israel withdrawing troops from Gaza; Three potential 2028 Democratic Presidential candidates speak at the National Urban League conference in Nashville, Tennessee: former Vice President Kamala Harris, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg; Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin is reportedly coming under fire from some donors not happy with his leadership. We will talk about it with Politico National Political Reporter Lisa Kashinsky (35); Discussion about what the rise of artificial intelligence means for people's jobs in the future with two governors: Wes Moore (D-MD) and Spencer Cox (R-UT). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dive into the big current local topic of discussion with Mark and Rachel as they discuss the pros and cons of data centers coming to our local community.Frederick County site:https://www.fcva.us/departments/public-information/dc-faqWinchester Star article:https://www.winchesterstar.com/winchester_star/board-to-consider-ordinance-disallowing-data-centers/article_b87af9ff-4836-5293-ad46-91540371fd86.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawTCEeBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETExVm1jVkpVVGtrWWl3bHdVc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvwxnzm_-jaJekW3pw8U70Vk9IiArOVa1XpyEjIIRgGH1seG0y5iLunB6dyl_aem_O_E68Wn36UelMabqYAnVeQShenandoah Valley Electric Coophttps://svec.siraza.net/resources/nps/260603-nps-campaign-2.htmlUpcoming Local Events:Monty Python Pub Crawl - Friday, July 17https://friendsofoldtown.org/event/monty-python-pub-crawl/Shenandoah Summer Music Theaterhttps://www.ssmtva.org

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 the same four-pillar framework Amanda teaches: Clean, Separate, Cook, Chill. Amanda walks through what most home cooks get wrong (yes, you need to wash the outside of a watermelon before you cut it; no, you can't tell doneness by looking at a hamburger; no, your macaroni and cheese is not "already cooked" and safe forever). She covers the current Cyclospora parasite situation in Virginia (fewer than 100 cases, potentially linked to leafy greens, and no — washing produce won't kill the parasite; only good hand hygiene stops the spread). She lays out the temperature danger zone (40°F to 140°F), the two-hour rule for food left out (which drops to one hour when it's 90°F or hotter outside), the proper internal temperatures for chicken, ground meat, and steaks, and the smart practical tips that make the whole thing manageable — from separate coolers for drinks and food, to smaller serving bowls that keep the reserve cold in the cooler, to why you should always reheat leftover mac and cheese to 135°F (Janet: "See, I told him"). Plus a Handwashing 101 refresher (20 seconds, out of the water, Happy Birthday twice or the ABCs will do it). THE FOUR PILLARS OF FOOD SAFETY 1. CLEAN • Wash hands with soap for 20 seconds (out of the water), then rinse and dry • Wash all fresh produce under warm running water — including melon and squash exteriors • Sanitize prep surfaces and utensils • No soap needed on produce; just water and a bit of friction 2. SEPARATE • Never use the same plate for raw meat and cooked meat • Use different utensils at the grill for handling raw vs. cooked • Pack raw meat at the bottom of a cooler, sealed • Keep a separate cooler or bag for drink ice — never use the meltwater ice for beverages 3. COOK • Use a food thermometer — visual cues (grill marks, edges, color) are not reliable • Insert the thermometer from the SIDE of a burger, not top-down • Poultry: 165°F • Ground meat (hamburger, ground lamb): 160°F • Whole cuts (steaks, roasts): 145°F • Reheated leftovers: minimum 135°F 4. CHILL • The temperature danger zone: 40°F to 140°F • Hot foods should stay above 140°F while served • Cold foods should stay below 40°F while served • The two-hour rule: food out longer than 2 hours should be discarded • When it's 90°F or hotter outside, the rule drops to ONE hour • Crock-Pots can HOLD hot food but should NOT be used to reheat cold food SMART PICNIC AND COOKOUT TIPS FROM THIS EPISODE • Keep coolers in the shade • Use SEPARATE coolers for drinks and food (drinks get opened way more often) • Serve from a smaller bowl and refill from the cooler as needed — the reserve stays cold • A bowl of ice under your potato salad extends its safe time on the table • Cover food to keep bugs (and inconsistent hands) out • Bring a food thermometer, always • When you get home from a cookout, EVERYTHING gets reheated to 135°F before eating CYCLOSPORA — WHAT TO KNOW RIGHT NOW • Fewer than 100 confirmed cases in Virginia at time of recording • Transmitted through fecal contamination (water contact on produce is one route) • Washing produce does NOT kill the parasite — good handwashing is your best defense • Symptoms: diarrhea, can last weeks or months and can recur • Treatment: antibiotics and hydration • Suspected source under investigation, possibly leafy greens • Amanda's guidance: DO NOT stop eating fruits and vegetables — just be extra cautious with washing and hand hygiene WHO IS AT HIGHEST RISK FROM FOODBORNE ILLNESS • Elderly adults • Children under 5 • Pregnant women • People with autoimmune conditions or compromised immune systems • For these populations especially, all four pillars matter more. LINKS & RESOURCES • Virginia Cooperative Extension — Frederick County: contact your local Extension office for questions about food safety, nutrition, home food preservation, and health • USDA food safety information: fsis.usda.gov • Foodsafety.gov — federal food safety resource • Amanda's earlier appearance on The Valley Today (November) — holiday food safety, thawing turkeys, and safe leftovers: https://thevalleytodaypodcast.com/turkey-talk-avoiding-foodborne-illness-this-thanksgiving THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations. New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon. Subscribe and listen at thevalleytodaypodcast.com — available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a rating or review — it helps more listeners find us. Connect with us: Facebook — facebook.com/ValleyTodayFanPage Instagram — instagram.com/thevalleytoday    

Mark and Rachel cover all of the topics of the holiday, including the weather, soccer, local events and even medical tips in the special 4th of July episode.City of Winchester activities:https://www.winchesterva.gov/News-Happenings/Events/Rockin%E2%80%99-Independence-Evehttps://friendsofoldtown.org/event/va250-old-town-jubilee/Frederick County activities:https://visitwinchesterva.com/event/july-4th-celebration/Soccer song of the summer!https://youtu.be/safzyuZNCGI?is=j6pI-rQqABdTL2OD

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 earlier this week by an impaired driver who didn't move over. The conversation opens with a genuine plea from Sheriff Milholland — via Captain Gosnell — to actually take the Move Over Law seriously (with language slightly stronger than his usual style, quoted with permission). It winds through Frederick County's cooling stations, Our Health Campus's downtown Winchester cooling tents, and why the combination of oppressive humidity, heavy fluid consumption, and celebratory alcohol creates a uniquely dangerous holiday-weekend cocktail. Then Niki Foster's Main Street U-turn question from yesterday's show gets a definitive answer (no, and also no), followed by a rundown of the new Virginia laws effective July 1: court-ordered speed monitoring devices for reckless-by-speed convictions and 100+ mph drivers, helmet requirements for kids on scooters and motorized skateboards, new autism-awareness driver interaction protocols, hands-free-law refinements (a driver improvement course option for first-time offenders), a new live-streaming-while-driving ban, and a new restriction on leaving unattended firearms in vehicles. Plus a firm quote from the Fire Marshal's office on what counts as an illegal firework in Virginia (spoiler: most of them), and Captain Gosnell's 10,500th day on the job. KNOW THE LAW — WHAT CHANGED ON JULY 1, 2026 Five new Virginia traffic-related laws worth knowing: • SPEED MONITORING DEVICES — Courts can now order a speed monitoring device (like an ignition interlock, but for speed) as an alternative to license suspension for reckless-by-speed convictions. Anyone convicted of driving 100+ mph SHALL be required to have one for a set period. DMV can also order one for habitual speeders under the "rapid points" scenario. Cost is paid by the driver. • HELMET REQUIREMENT — Anyone 14 or younger must wear a helmet on motorized skateboards or scooters (motorized or non-motorized). E-bikes are covered under separate existing legislation, and local ordinances are being developed county-by-county. • AUTISM AWARENESS INTERACTION PROTOCOLS — Law enforcement is being trained on interactions with drivers or passengers on the autism spectrum. Drivers can now present a packet during a stop to help mitigate a stressful interaction. Does NOT exempt drivers from any rules of the road. • HANDS-FREE LAW UPDATE — First-time offenders can now be offered a driver improvement course as an alternative resolution. Also: it is now illegal to initiate, participate in, or interact with a live stream while driving (whether the phone is in your hand or in a holder). • UNATTENDED FIREARMS IN VEHICLES — Firearms left in vehicles must be secured in a locked box or container. Applies whether the vehicle is parked or unattended. KNOW THE RULES — MAIN STREET U-TURNS AND PARKING A few clarifications for parking in downtown areas: • You cannot park facing against the direction of travel — parking must face the direction of the flow of traffic in the lane where you're parked. (Frederick County ordinance; Front Royal likely has a similar town ordinance.) • You cannot make a U-turn across a double solid yellow line. No sign is required saying "no U-turn" — the double solid line itself prohibits the crossing. • You CAN legally cross a double yellow line to enter a driveway or parking entryway. Look for the visible break in the double line. • A missing witness doesn't make an infraction legal. FIREWORKS — WHAT'S ILLEGAL IN VIRGINIA Direct from the Fire Marshal's office. In Virginia and Frederick County, any firework that: • Explodes • Propels itself into the air • Travels horizontally • Shoots flaming balls ...is illegal. That specifically includes mortars, rockets, Roman candles, artillery shells, and firecrackers (this list is not exhaustive). The community alternative: attend one of the many public fireworks displays across the Shenandoah Valley over the July 4th weekend. LINKS & RESOURCES • Frederick County Sheriff's Office: https://www.fcva.us/departments/sheriff-s-office • Virginia Motor Vehicle Code (Title 46.2): law.lis.virginia.gov THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations. New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon. Subscribe and listen at thevalleytodaypodcast.com — available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a rating or review — it helps more listeners find us. Connect with us: Facebook — facebook.com/ValleyTodayFanPage Instagram — instagram.com/thevalleytoday  

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 preventing it. Chris walks through the numbers most people don't see: the average direct-assistance cost to get a family into stable housing is about $500 per child. The historical cap on a Family Promise move-in package is around $1,500 per family. Of the first 73 families they've moved into homes, 71 are still housed. That's the case for investing in first month's rent — and it's the heart of why federal funding gaps, ALICE-population stagnation, and the rising cost of living are now landing harder on Family Promise's doorstep than ever before. Chris also previews the new THRIVE program (a multi-agency collaboration launching soon with CCAP, United Way NSV, Horizon Goodwill, Connected Communities, and the I'm Just Me Movement, backed by grants from the Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints Church and Valley Health), explains how Family Promise differs from WATTS and Winchester Rescue Mission in the homelessness ecosystem, and shares three remarkable client stories — including a young couple who slept in their car all winter, a mother emerging from incarceration who got herself stably housed within eight weeks, and a hearing-impaired mother who didn't need a dollar of assistance, just someone to read a document with her. THE NUMBERS THAT MATTER DEMAND • Last year: 40-45 monthly assistance requests - this month: 95+ already, likely 100+ by month-end (more than double) • Of the first 73 families moved into housing, 71 are still housed. The two who didn't were lost to unforeseen circumstances (one disappeared, one had to leave for medical reasons) THE COST OF GETTING A FAMILY HOUSED • ~$500 in direct assistance per child to get a family stably housed • ~$1,500 historical cap on a full move-in assistance package per family • That single intervention often eliminates the need for any future assistance WHO'S SERVED • Almost 99% of families moved into housing are gainfully employed • Most are part of the ALICE population: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed • Service area: Winchester, Frederick County, Warren County, and Clarke County ABOUT FAMILY PROMISE WINCHESTER A 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving families with minor children (or expecting parents) experiencing housing instability across Winchester and the surrounding counties. Family Promise is not government-funded — operations are powered by individual donors, local faith communities, and grants. The organization provides case management, financial counseling, scattered-site emergency family shelter, eviction prevention assistance, first month's rent and security deposit assistance, and connections to a broader network of community partners. The organizational philosophy: view family through the eyes of the child — whoever the child sees as their core loving unit is the family. ABOUT THE THRIVE PROGRAM A new multi-agency program launching soon, with grant backing from the Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints Church and Valley Health Foundation. Designed to bring 50 participants through a six-month structured program of therapy, financial literacy classes, life coaching, and job assistance — with case management distributed across partner agencies based on each family's needs. Partners include Family Promise Winchester, Winchester CCAP, United Way Northern Shenandoah Valley, Horizon Goodwill Industries, Connected Communities (low/no-cost mental health), and the I'm Just Me Movement. HOW TO HELP • Donate online: familypromisewinchester.org (donation link on the front page and under the Get Involved tab) • Send a check: Family Promise Winchester, 131 South Cameron Street, Winchester, VA 22601 • Call Chris directly for a coffee and conversation: 540-323-8038 • Spread the word — Chris welcomes the chance to come speak to civic groups, churches, and businesses • Need help yourself? An application is on the front page of the website LINKS & RESOURCES • Family Promise Winchester: familypromisewinchester.org (donations, applications, contact) • Partner organizations: Winchester CCAP, United Way of the Northern Shenandoah Valley, Horizon Goodwill Industries, Connected Communities, I'm Just Me Movement  THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations. New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon. Subscribe and listen at thevalleytodaypodcast.com — available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a rating or review — it helps more listeners find us. Connect with us: Facebook — facebook.com/ValleyTodayFanPage Instagram — instagram.com/thevalleytoday

Montgomery County, MD, pauses the processing of data centers permits for six months, Student journalists in MCPS protest a new rule that requires prior review of all school-sponsored publications. We have crowd-sourced data on MCPS schools affected by HVAC failures. And Delegate Kris Fair from Frederick County has an explainer for what happens with the replacement ballots Maryland had to send out. And more. Music from Seth Kibel's brand new album, Clarinet Without A Net.

In the fall of 1909, a strange fear settled over the hills and farms of Maryland. Newspapers carried reports of a monstrous winged creature said to stalk the countryside with a host of bizarre descriptions pouring out from witnesses, including glowing eyes, huge claws, and boiling brimstone dripping from its snout. The creature became known as the Snallygaster, and for a time, its legend gripped entire communities until its rapid demise. More than twenty years later, in 1932, the panic returned, proving that some stories refuse to stay buried. But was everything as it seemed? Or were there far uglier things at play than flying monsters?SOURCES Boyton, Patrick (2011) Snallygaster: The Lost Legend of Frederick County. Self Published Bridgeton Evening News (1909) The Devil Runs Rampant. Bridgeton Evening News, Fri 22 Jan, p3. NJ, USA Sheperdstown Register (1909) After The Colored People. Shepherdstown Register, Thu 4 Feb, p3. WV, USA. The Tennesseasn (1887) The Devil Of Leeds. The Tennessean, Sun 16 Oct, p12. TN, USA. Chicago Tribune (1909) Devil Which Alarms Jersey Likely To Be Captured Soon. Chicago Tribune, Fri 22 Jan 1909, p5. IL, USA. The Evening Sun (1932) Bovalopus Snallygaster Swoops Down On Village. The Evening Sun, Fri 25 Nov 1932, p50. MD, USA. The Evening Sun (1932) John Barleycorn Ends Career Of Snallygaster. The Evening Sun, Thurs 1 Dec 1932, p3. MD, USA. The News (1932) Snallygaster Captured: Huge Owl Is Shot Down. The News, Thurs 1 Dec 1932, p1. MD, USA. ------ For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠darkhistories.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the show by visiting our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/darkhistories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Dark Histories books are available to buy here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://author.to/darkhistories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dark Histories merch is available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3GChjk9⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with us on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or find us on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://twitter.com/darkhistories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/dark_histories/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or you can contact us directly via email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠contact@darkhistories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or join our Discord community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/cmGcBFf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereye Music was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017 Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices