Podcast appearances and mentions of janet michael

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 the new unit that will bring full-quality 3D mammograms directly to workplaces, churches, schools, and community spaces across the region. They dig into who made the unit possible, why transportation and time off work are two of the biggest barriers to getting screened, and how the van — donated through Valley Health Foundations' Stronger Together campaign — will target the Valley's most rural corners first. Jason also shares the rollout timeline, what a screening day looks like, and how local employers, faith communities, and schools can request a stop. It's a fun, heartfelt conversation with a serious payoff: more women getting screened, closer to home. Links & Resources Valley Health: valleyhealthlink.com Give to Valley Health Foundations: valleyhealthlink.com/giving Stronger Together campaign: valleyhealthlink.com/stronger 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

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 Clarke County's equine legacy. Nathan and Janet cover the details on Art at the Mill (including the online gallery), the CCHA's newest exhibit on art, memory, and history, the return of the Haunted Historic Berryville tours, and the county's biggest history event of the year, Heritage Day. Tune in for all the dates, hours, and ticket details you need to plan your fall around Clarke County history. EVENT DETAILS Art at the Mill (Fall Show) Dates: Saturday, September 19 – Sunday, October 4 Location: Burwell-Morgan Mill, 15 Tannery Lane, Millwood, VA Hours: Sunday–Friday, 12:00–5:00 PM; Saturdays (3 dates), 10:00 AM–5:00 PM Admission: $5 adults, $3 seniors, free for kids and students Online gallery goes live September 19 at clarkehistory.org Exhibit Opening: "William and Byron: Art, Memory, and the Black Horsemen of Clarke County" Opening talk: Thursday, September 24, 6:00 PM Location: CCHA Museum, 32 East Main Street, Berryville, VA Free and open to the public; light refreshments; talk by curator Dana Getka On display through the end of the year Haunted Historic Berryville Tours Dates: Friday, October 23 & Saturday, October 24 Tour times: first tour 6:30 PM, last tour 8:00 PM (approx. 45 min–1 hour, walking tour) Tickets available at clarkehistory.org (Events tab) Heritage Day Date: Saturday, November 7, 11:00 AM–4:00 PM Free admission; historic re-enactors, working mill and cider press, family-friendly activities LINKS & RESOURCES Clarke County Historical Association: clarkehistory.org 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

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, sustainable housing. Deb walks through how SRT identifies each person's unique barriers to housing, why the Red Cross deliberately avoids "quick fix" solutions like extended hotel stays, and what it's actually like to help someone rebuild when they've lost everything — including the emotional toll on both survivors and the workers who support them. She also shares stories from Maui, from local house fires, and from building community partnerships that stretch far beyond the Red Cross itself. If you've ever wondered what happens to people after the cameras leave a disaster zone, this conversation has the answer. LINKS & RESOURCES American Red Cross volunteer sign-up: redcross.org United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley Day of Caring — presented by First Bank: https://www.unitedwaynsv.org/day-caring-2026  Community Baby Shower donation drop-off: Marlow Motors locations and participating First Bank branches

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 YDC Connect after-school program is reimagining care for kids in kindergarten through eighth grade, previews the return of free Saturday art classes (plus new donation-based classes for the grown-ups), and looks ahead to Trunk or Treat on October 17 and the comeback of Festival of Trees on November 21. She also introduces Baker's Anchor Mentoring, a program honoring the families who helped start the YDC three decades ago. Tune in for a full look at everything happening at the YDC this season — and how the community can get involved. EVENT DETAILS Trunk or Treat on Loudoun Street Date: Saturday, October 17 Location: The YDC, 302 S. Loudoun Street, Winchester Cost: Free (registration encouraged) Details: Community partner trunks, entertainment, and a pre-event "witch walk" fundraiser Festival of Trees Date: Saturday, November 21 Location: The YDC, 302 S. Loudoun Street, Winchester Daytime (10 AM–2 PM): Free family activities, cookie decorating, Santa, and viewing of trees/wreaths up for silent auction Evening: Ticketed candlelight showcase with a live tree and wreath auction, cocktail hour, and heavy hors d'oeuvres Cost: Free during the day; ticketed for the evening candlelight showcase Giving Tuesday Date: December 1 Focus: Raising support for summer access programming LINKS & RESOURCES YDC website (events, registration, volunteering, donations): myydc.org YDC Connect after-school program: available via myydc.org Baker's Anchor Mentoring (mentor/mentee applications, donations): available via myydc.org 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

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 exchange" scams replacing gift cards, this conversation is a real-world look at how con artists build trust and confusion — and why no one, regardless of age or experience, is immune. Gosnell and Janet walk through the warning signs to watch for, what to actually do if you suspect a scam call, why reporting near-misses to law enforcement still matters, and the one simple rule that can stop almost any scam in its tracks: hang up and call the number you know, not the one they give you. 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

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 role as an independent, self-funded organization — from nonpartisan candidate forums and business education to the networking events, committees, and community programs that connect residents, nonprofits, and business owners alike. Whether you're a longtime member or have never set foot in the Chamber office, this conversation is a great refresher on how much value is packed into that membership — and how affordable it really is to join. Links & Resources Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce: frontroyalchamber.com Contact Niki Foster: nfoster@frontroyalchamber.com Coffee & Conversations — first Friday of every month, 9:00 AM, at On Cue (Front Royal) 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 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

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 Gelato Shop to the Home Store's decades of family history and New Market's packed fall festival calendar, this episode is full of reasons to plan a trip. Grab your walking shoes — and maybe save room for gelato. Links & Resources Shenandoah County Tourism — visitshenandoahcounty.com Town of New Market — https://www.newmarketvirginia.com/  The Home Store — rhomestore.com  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 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 High School on September 26th and 27th. Ben breaks down how the Page Free Clinic serves Page County residents year-round, why the RAM event throws its doors open to anyone from anywhere, and what a day at the pop-up clinic actually looks like — from midnight parking-lot lines to walking away with a free pair of glasses. Gina also shares what's new at the Luray-Page Chamber, including a new member portal and a full slate of August events. It's a conversation about removing every possible barrier to healthcare, one weekend at a time. EVENT DETAILS What: 5th Annual RAM (Remote Area Medical) Clinic — free medical, dental, and vision care, including free eyeglasses for those needing a vision correction When: Saturday, September 26 – Sunday, September 27 Where: Luray High School, Luray, VA Format: Walk-in, first come first served — no appointment or reservation needed Parking: Lot opens at midnight the night before (Friday, September 25, ahead of Saturday's clinic day); doors/registration begin around 6:00 AM Cost: 100% free — no income, insurance, or residency screening required; open to anyone from anywhere To volunteer: Register at ramusa.org (search for the September 26 Luray event) LINKS & RESOURCES Page Free Clinic: pagefreeclinic.org  Page Free Clinic phone: 540-743-1054  Page Free Clinic address: 250 Memorial Drive, Luray, VA (on the Page Memorial Hospital campus); open Tuesdays 4:00–7:00 PM Luray-Page Chamber of Commerce website: luraypagechamber.com Chamber phone: 540-743-3915 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

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 your energy costs as the seasons turn. From cleaning dryer vents and refrigerator coils to hunting down phantom power drains with a switched power strip, Karen and Janet walk through room-by-room tips anyone can start using this weekend. They also cover thermostat habits, lighting upgrades, water heater settings, and where to find help if paying the energy bill is a struggle. Tune in for tips you can put to use before the next bill arrives. LINKS & RESOURCES Northern Shenandoah Valley Financial Education Program: https://warren.ext.vt.edu/programs/nsvfep.html Virginia Energy Sense: https://www.virginiaenergysense.org/ - Virginia Energy Sense is Virginia Energy's consumer education initiative that helps residents reduce energy use, lower utility costs, and make informed energy decisions. The website offers practical energy-saving tips, information on home energy efficiency improvements, guidance on available incentives and rebates, and tools to help households improve comfort and manage energy expenses year-round. Federal Energy Programs: https://www.energy.virginia.gov/ - The federal Home Energy Rebates programs created through the Inflation Reduction Act are being implemented and administered by individual states. Virginia is currently developing and finalizing its program requirements and enrollment processes. Residents can find the most up-to-date information about program availability, eligibility, and application procedures through the Virginia Department of Energy (Virginia Energy). U.S. Department of Energy Home Energy Rebates Program:  - https://www.energy.gov/cmei/scep/home-energy-rebates-program - Offers an overview of the federal Home Energy Rebates programs, including program goals, eligible upgrades, and state implementation guidance. Virginia Home Energy Rebates FAQ (Virginia Energy):  https://www.energy.virginia.gov/energy-efficiency/HomeEnergyRebatesFrequentlyAskedQuestions.shtml - Provides the latest information on Virginia's Home Energy Rebates programs, including eligibility requirements, qualified improvements, and implementation updates. Virginia Energy Connect:  https://energy.virginia.gov/connect/residential - A one-stop resource for Virginia residents to explore available energy efficiency incentives, connect with Energy Ambassadors, and learn about clean energy and cost-saving opportunities. The site reflects currently available programs and will be updated as new rebate programs become available. Virginia Energy Sense: Energy Providers Tab:  https://www.virginiaenergysense.org/incentives-and-rebates/ - The Energy Providers section of this web page allows Virginia residents to search for rebates, incentives, and energy-saving programs offered by their electric or natural gas utility. By selecting a utility provider, consumers can identify programs that may help reduce the cost of energy efficiency upgrades, home energy assessments, weatherization improvements, and other energy-saving measures available in their service area. Weatherization Assistance - Community Housing Partners Weatherization Program: https://www.communityhousingpartners.org/energy-solutions/weatherization/ - Provides weatherization services and energy-saving improvements for eligible households. Complete the online program survey to determine which energy assistance and weatherization programs you may qualify for. 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

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 walks through the ripple effects of a rough year for wildfires and flooding, from a blood supply as low as it's been since COVID to the 40 disaster operations Red Cross volunteers are supporting across the country right now. They also cover how Red Cross distributes emergency supplies, coordinates with local nonprofits and churches, and reunites families separated by disaster — plus plenty of simple ways anyone listening can help, starting today. LINKS & RESOURCES Find a blood drive: redcrossblood.org Volunteer or give: redcross.org

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 lost) a battle over a crab on the logo. The three also dig into the tap list — including a purple ube lager and a crab-seasoned summer gose — First Friday plans, and why the best breweries these days are as much about art, trivia, and thrifting as they are about beer. FIRST FRIDAY EVENT DETAILS  DORA in Effect / Sip & Stroll: 5:00–10:00 PM — grab a drink to go from Dividing Creek or other participating spots and walk the mall Community Open Mic Night with The River House: Taylor Pavilion, 5:00–9:00 PM, performers roughly every 15–20 minutes — spoken word, poetry, and singer-songwriter acts Artist Alley: led by Shen Arts, set up on Boscawen; additional vendors from Moon Phased near the south end Friends of Old Town table (Taylor Pavilion): info on The River House nonprofit, kids' arts & activities, new Friends of Old Town shirts, pre-order Dawg Days of Summer shirts (design by Valerie Burgess of Big Fog), and remaining ornaments At Dividing Creek specifically: Lauren will be on-site that evening as the featured local artist, showcasing/selling framed photography, prints, and mixed-media work LINKS & RESOURCES Dividing Creek Beer Co. - dividingcreekbeerco.com Dividing Creek Beer Co. on Facebook and Instagram Friends of Old Town - friendsofoldtown.org    Friends of Old Town on Facebook and Instagram Dawg Days of Summer: Get tickets Wasteland Winchester (Thrift on Tap vintage markets) on Facebook 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

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, the participating restaurants' wildly creative creations, the live band with a surprising city-hall connection, and why the whole event is really about boosting Old Town's business community. Tune in before you plan your hot dog fast. Event Details Event: Dawg Days of Summer — Old Town Hot Dog Crawl Date: Saturday, August 22nd Time: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM Home base: Taylor Pavilion Cost: $30 adult ticket (includes 10 hot dogs across participating restaurants + one free beer); ~$15 kids ticket Where to buy: Eventbrite link via Friends of Old Town's Facebook/Instagram bio; pre-orders also available at First Friday Extras: Live music from the Gully Jimson Quartet at Taylor Pavilion (~6:00 PM start), beer tent from Winchester Brew Works, "passport" voting system for a golden hot dog trophy winner Links & Resources Friends of Old Town — Facebook & Instagram (event page + Eventbrite ticket link pinned) 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

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 history is full of surprises. The conversation digs into how the Foundation actually operates (it's not just UVA money), what a "centennial endowment campaign" is and why unrestricted funds matter so much to nonprofits, and how listeners — at any dollar amount — can be part of Blandy's next 100 years. LINKS & RESOURCES Blandy Experimental Farm / Virginia State Arboretum centennial giving page — blandy.virginia.edu (Support tab) Blandy Experimental Farm on Facebook and Instagram 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 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 actually goes into a custom cutting board or a hand-built lamp, and the unlikely friendship that grew out of a shared cohort program. If you caught yesterday's Tourism Tuesday segment, you already know the backstory of The Nest — this half is about the people making it work. LINKS & RESOURCES Home Revival and Decor — www.homerevivalanddecor.com and instagram.com/home.revival.and.decor/ Poppy's Dust — facebook.com/poppysdust and poppysdust.com The Nest Mount Jackson —  on Facebook  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

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 program, the $125,000 in grants behind it, and why "kicking them out of the nest" is actually the goal. Along the way: shop-local philosophy, a brand-new small-business retention grant, and where to find the county's next big event. Come back tomorrow for Part Two — a Valley Business Today segment featuring two of The Nest's own makers. LINKS & RESOURCES The Nest Mount Jackson — Facebook Shenandoah County Tourism — visitshenandoahcounty.com (Events tab for weekly happenings) Route 11 Yard Crawl — annual event, second Saturday in August Junk 'N Jams — monthly market, second Saturday, 9:00–1:00, Mayors Park Gazebo 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

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 Hideaway's One Plate One Purpose bingo card turns customer dollars into real meals for people in need, how Declan's Shelter Pup Program (and current mascot Miso) helps get shelter dogs adopted, and how Victoria's 13-year-old daughter is already running her own mini philanthropic fundraisers. Along the way, Victoria shares practical advice for any small business owner who wants to build giving back into their day-to-day model — no big budget required. LINKS & RESOURCES Hideaway Cafe: hideawaycafeva.com Hideaway Cafe on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok — search "Hideaway Cafe VA" 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

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 shares record-breaking summer numbers, some of the families she works with, and exactly how you can help — from dropping supplies at one of three area Walmarts to shopping a virtual drive from your couch. Whether it's pencils, Expo markers, snacks for the new in-school food pantries, or a cash donation that goes further than you'd think, there's an easy way to pitch in before the first bell rings. Stuff the Bus Event Details Date: Saturday, August 1st Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Locations: Three Winchester-area Walmart locations — Pleasant Valley, Stephens City, and Route 50  What to bring: School supplies such as pencils, Expo markers, folders, construction paper, crayons, and markers (top needs this year: pencils and Expo markers) Alternate ways to give: Drop donations at Bright Futures' 24/7 donation shed in Winchester, or shop the virtual Stuff the Bus drive online Links & Resources Bright Futures Frederick/Winchester: brightfuturesfrederickcounty.org (shopping lists, printable PDFs, and the virtual Stuff the Bus drive) Bright Futures Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/brightfuturesfrederickcounty  Bright Futures Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3W3LH65W1K4FE/ 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

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)sics, a grant-funded national training initiative — backed by the US Chamber Foundation, the US Chamber of Commerce, and Google — designed to help local business owners figure out what AI can actually do for them, at no cost. Along the way, Janet and Missy reflect on this year's Arising Leadership Program graduates, Taylor introduces herself and her new role, and the two look ahead to Hob Nob in the Valley, Wings and Wheels, and the Chamber's upcoming international travel program. Tune in for the details on how to register — and why "you don't know what you don't know" when it comes to AI. LINKS & RESOURCES Top of Virginia Regional Chamber — regionalchamber.biz Small Business B(AI)sics training — Click here 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

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-a-Basket" bulk system to tiered memberships, tool rentals, and a members-only craft room. They dig into what inspired the idea — including the closure of JOANN Fabrics — how donations and community partnerships with local arts nonprofits will work, and why crafters (and their basements) may never be the same. Tune in for a peek behind the doors of one of the Valley's most unexpected new small businesses. Links & Resources Website: artagainthrift.com Social media: Search "Art Again Thrift" on your platform of choice 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

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 down what actually goes into planning and building a sustainable mountain trail, why hikers and trail runners will likely outnumber bikers on this one, and how e-bikes are opening the sport up to more people. They also talk phase-two plans, trail-use data and heat maps, and where to go if you're just getting started. Plus, a quick rundown of what's happening around the valley this weekend. Links & Resources Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition — svbcoalition.org Shenandoah County Tourism — visitshenandoahcounty.com 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

"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 reassuring conversation about vein health — what varicose veins and spider veins actually are, why they happen, when they're cosmetic and when they're medically significant, and just how minimally invasive today's treatments really are. Dr. Reardon walks through the diagnostic starting point (an in-office ultrasound to check for any deeper reflux), the treatment ladder for both spider veins (sclerotherapy — small injections, no anesthesia, no downtime) and varicose veins (in-office endovascular ablations plus, when needed, small micro-phlebectomy incisions to remove the visible larger veins), and the everyday, non-medical steps that help genuinely: regular walking, compression stockings for long sitting or standing days, healthy weight, healthy diet. She also clears up the single biggest patient misconception — that vein disease is a circulation emergency threatening amputation. It isn't. Varicose veins are a drainage issue in the superficial venous system, not an artery blockage. Plus: what's covered by insurance (spoiler: much more than most people think), the recurrence rate (~10%), why vascular surgery is embracing "less than minimally invasive" techniques, and the open-door policy at Dr. Reardon's Winchester and Front Royal offices — no ultrasound needed for the first consultation. WHAT DR. REARDON WANTS YOU TO KNOW VEIN DISEASE ≠ CIRCULATION EMERGENCY- The single biggest misconception Dr. Reardon hears is that varicose or spider veins mean blockages, poor circulation, or amputation risk. They don't. The arteries in the legs — which carry vital blood flow to the feet and muscles — are a completely different system. Vein disease is about DRAINAGE, not supply. Even severe cases progress to skin problems and slow-healing wounds — treatable, not catastrophic. TREATMENTS HAVE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY - Modern vein care is far less invasive than it was even a decade ago. Most procedures are done in-office with injections or through IV-based techniques. The old "stripping" surgeries have been largely replaced by endovascular ablation and micro-phlebectomies (small incisions to remove larger surface veins). Recovery is fast, downtime is minimal, and most patients don't need to take time off work. TREATMENT PATH AT A GLANCE SPIDER VEINS (small superficial veins) Treatment: Sclerotherapy — a liquid detergent injected via small needles • Anesthesia: None needed • Downtime: None • Insurance: Usually out-of-pocket (unless deeper reflux is found) • Sessions: Typically multiple, to reach full result VARICOSE VEINS (larger, often with deeper feeder veins) Treatment: Ultrasound to check for deeper reflux, then a combination of: Endovascular ablation of the deeper vein (through an IV) and/or Micro-phlebectomy for the visible larger veins (small incisions) • Anesthesia: Minimal (typically local) • Downtime: Minimal • Insurance: Typically covered • Sessions: Usually one treatment per leg EVERYDAY STEPS TO PROTECT YOUR VEIN HEALTH • Walk regularly — even short intervals help • Avoid long stretches of sitting OR standing without moving • Wear compression stockings on long-sit or long-stand days • Maintain a healthy weight • Get evaluated when things look or feel different — a consultation is the fastest way to know if it's cosmetic or medically significant WHO'S A GOOD CANDIDATE Because vein treatments are low-risk, most people are candidates regardless of age or coexisting health issues. There is no minimum severity required to book a consultation — Dr. Reardon has an open door for new patients and often meets first for a conversation before recommending any testing. WHERE TO GO Valley Health Vascular Surgeons offer vein consultations and treatments at two locations: • Winchester Medical Center (main office) • Warren Memorial Hospital (Front Royal — a couple of days per month) LINKS & RESOURCES • Valley Health: valleyhealthlink.com  • Community Health archive: thevalleytodaypodcast.com — "Community Health" • Valley Health Vascular Surgeons: https://www.valleyhealthlink.com/our-locations/profile/valley-health-vascular-surgeons/  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

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    

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 Stalvey, Executive Director of the Clarke County Historical Association, for a full-throttle preview of Colonial Kids Day, the fall Art at the Mill submission window, and the VA 250 Mobile Museum's stop at Long Branch. Nathan walks through the growth of Colonial Kids Day — now in its 10th year with sponsorship from United Bank and a Virginia Tourism Corporation grant — and the impressive roster of participating organizations for 2026: the Sons of the American Revolution (with a special Daniel Morgan Beeline March reenactment), New Town History Center, Loudoun Heritage Area Farm Museum, Blandy Experimental Farm, Sky Meadows, Belle Grove Plantation, the Fort Monroe Museum, and the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. Then it's a preview of the fall Art at the Mill call for artists (open now, closes the last Monday of July, $35 to submit up to five pieces, thanks to a significant new marketing grant from the VA Tourism Corporation and continued Tito's Handmade Vodka sponsorship). And finally: the VA 250 Mobile Museum — a genuinely impressive expandable semi-trailer — is coming to Long Branch August 21-23. Plus a delightful mill anecdote about grinding barley for Chilly Hollow Brewing's forthcoming "Carter's Gold," a beer named after Carter Hall. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES CCHA is always looking for volunteers, especially for: • Colonial Kids Day (day-of assistance) • Saturday mill grinds throughout the year — hands-on experience running the historic mill • Special events, art shows, and educational programming  LINKS & RESOURCES • Clarke County Historical Association: clarkehistory.org (events, Art at the Mill, artist submissions, volunteer information) • CCHA on Facebook and Instagram: @ClarkHistory • Burwell-Morgan Mill on Facebook 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 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 productions spanning farce, Regency, contemporary satire, drama, and musical. Tim walks through the current run (James and the Giant Peach Jr. opens July 18 and runs through July 25, with weekday morning and afternoon options for the "kids at home in the rain" contingency), and previews the five main-stage shows opening in September: See How They Run (a WWII British farce), The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley (a Downton-Abbey-vibed sequel to Pride and Prejudice from a servants'-quarters perspective), Eureka Day (a sharp Berkeley PTA satire about a mumps outbreak), Time Stands Still (a Donald Margulies drama about a photojournalist returning from a war zone), and Sister Act the Musical to close out the season. Plus: the reserved-seat season subscription is live (five shows for $115 with your seats picked in advance), a critical PSA about the ticket-reseller scam problem (WLT has moved to receipt-only online sales — no printed or displayed tickets required) and a genuinely delightful reveal: WLT's own podcast, "Sight Lines," is launching this fall, funded by a Winchester-Frederick County CVB grant, and Tim credits Janet as the inspiration. HOW TO BUY TICKETS • PRIMARY: winchesterlittletheatre.org (season subscriptions live now; single-show tickets on sale August 1) • BOX OFFICE (starting August 31, 12 days before opening night): Mondays and Wednesdays 4:00-6:00 PM, and 90 minutes before each performance • DO NOT buy from third-party resellers. WLT tickets are always $25 or less. Any listing above that price is a scam. • Online sales are now RECEIPT ONLY — no printed or phone-displayed ticket needed. House managers check you in by name. • Exchanges: call the box office at least 24 hours before curtain, subject to availability • Passing a ticket to a friend: call the box office with the new name ABOUT THE RESERVED-SEAT SEASON SUBSCRIPTION Now available at winchesterlittletheatre.org. Pick all five main-stage shows AND your specific seats in advance for $115 — a genuine discount over single-ticket pricing, plus the peace of mind of having your seats already reserved. COMING SOON — SIGHT LINES PODCAST WLT is launching a monthly podcast during the season, funded through a Winchester-Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau grant. Backstage conversations with actors and artists across generations of WLT productions. First episodes coming this fall. 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

"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 Specialist and Career Coach at Laurel Ridge's Middletown campus, and the actual first human anyone new to Laurel Ridge is likely to meet. Thomas walks through what an outreach specialist actually does — 25+ conversations a week with prospective students of every age (from high schoolers exploring dual enrollment to 50-somethings quietly wondering if it's too late to change careers), a philosophy of "half the hurdle is just getting started," and a way of thinking about the college journey as a baton pass across five different departments that the student experiences as one hour of their time. He explains the biggest questions he gets ("How do I get started?" and "Can I afford this?"), the guaranteed-admission agreements with 37 Virginia colleges and universities, why he starts by asking students what they DON'T want to do, and why he loves being the objective third party in what's often a very personal decision. Plus: the upcoming Laurel Ridge Open House on July 23rd (virtual at noon, in-person at 5 PM), why AI and machine learning is now a real Laurel Ridge program, and Janet's ongoing internal dialogue about what she should go back to school for — with special thanks to her best friend Mary, whose incoming text after this episode is a foregone conclusion. WHERE TO START AT LAUREL RIDGE FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS (any age, any goal) • Ask a question — laurelridge.edu/visit → the top box lets you submit ANY question (dual enrollment, career change, program interest, "I don't even know where to start"). Thomas or a team member replies within 48 hours. • Schedule a meeting — second box on the same page. Book a 30-minute session with Thomas or the outreach team, virtually or in person. • Book a campus tour — outside of events, at your convenience. • Come to an open house — customized, semi-structured, room-based Q&A. WHAT THE OUTREACH TEAM CAN HELP WITH • Application and getting started • Financial aid, scholarships, and G3 funding • Academic advisor matching • Transfer credits from previous colleges or universities • Life-experience credit • Program exploration (academic + workforce solutions + certifications) • Corporate and continuing education • Custom in-person or virtual visits with your group or organization UPCOMING OPEN HOUSE — JULY 23, 2026 Two-session format (attend one or both): • 12:00–1:00 PM — Virtual session (great for a lunch break) • 5:00 PM — In-person session at the Middletown campus Both sessions include a program overview, application help, tour options, and access to specific department representatives. Register at laurelridge.edu/openhouse. 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

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 Lead and a retired nurse who leads the volunteer nursing team responsible for the health side of every Red Cross disaster response, from home fires down the street to hurricanes across the country. Elizabeth walks through what the nursing deployment actually looks like: contact within 24 hours of a disaster to help families replace prescriptions, glasses, dentures, hearing aids, CPAPs and BiPAPs, and other health essentials the survivors probably haven't even started to think about yet. She explains the community-based model (RN-led, with physicians serving under nurse supervision — Elizabeth's favorite perk), the streamlined 8.5-hour training (down from 20), and the game-changing option most new nurse volunteers don't know exists: virtual deployments, where a nurse anywhere in the country can serve disaster survivors from their kitchen table for a scheduled shift. Plus a genuinely powerful story from a Mississippi shelter, where a nurse stayed two hours after her shift to help a gentleman who couldn't read reconnect with over $6,000 in back benefits he'd already earned. Deb closes with a national update — home fires, a hydrochloric acid train spill, flooding in Minnesota and Michigan, the Guam typhoon, blood donation shortages, and FIFA World Cup event support — and teases next month's guest: Dave, the volunteer who maintains Red Cross buildings across multiple regions (assuming she can convince him). WHO CAN VOLUNTEER AS A DISASTER HEALTH SERVICES NURSE • Registered nurses (RNs) • Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) • Physicians (serve under RN supervision in this program) • EMTs (locally within the state they are licensed) • Any licensed healthcare professional with a current, active license WHAT DISASTER HEALTH SERVICES ACTUALLY DOES • Contacts families within 24 hours of a home fire or larger disaster • Helps replace lost medications, glasses, dentures, hearing aids, CPAPs, BiPAPs, and other durable medical equipment • Provides emotional support, physical support, and health navigation during recovery • Coordinates with pharmacies, insurance companies, and case managers on disaster overrides and paperwork • Works local, national, and virtual deployments TWO WAYS TO DEPLOY IN PERSON Travel to shelters and disaster sites nationwide (typical two-week commitment). Elizabeth has completed 20+ of these across the continental U.S. Virutally serve clients from your home computer and phone, on shifts scheduled around your life. Same training requirements. Current biggest need. Same client outcomes without leaving home. Perfect for currently-working nurses, retirees who prefer to stay local, and anyone who wants to help without the travel commitment. HOW TO SIGN UP Call 1-800-RED-CROSS, or contact the Greater Shenandoah Valley Chapter directly Complete a short application and interview to identify your interests Nurse applications are routed to Elizabeth for a personal call Complete 8.5 hours of self-paced video training Attend one 90-minute live interactive online class Complete platform-specific computer training with Elizabeth Come onto the schedule — always backed by a seasoned nurse for as long as you need LINKS & RESOURCES • Sign up to volunteer: redcross.org → click "Volunteer" or call 1-800-RED-CROSS • The Greater Shenandoah Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross — contact for local nurse volunteer opportunities • Give blood (currently in national short supply): redcrossblood.org • Last month's episode with Jill Johnson (general volunteer): https://thevalleytodaypodcast.com/red-vest-ready-a-red-cross-volunteers-story 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

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 restaurant opening this month in Gore, Virginia. Cheryl is the chef and immersive-experience mastermind behind the beloved Sweet NOLA's Southern Food Lounge (which ran for eight years in Winchester). Drew is a lifelong Sweet NOLA's fan who moved back from Colorado last Christmas and made her food coming back to the area a personal mission. The conversation covers the origin story (a joke at Apple Blossom that became a business), the location (about seven minutes down Route 50 West past Walmart, in a building that's been a truck stop since about 1930, then North Mountain Family Restaurant), the menu (alligator sausage, award-winning shrimp and grits, po'boys with bread flown in from New Orleans, an old-fashioned bottled soda menu presented like a wine service, and a French Quarter Finale dessert menu that includes Bananas Foster pudding, Krispy Kreme donut bread pudding Napoleon, and a country cobbler flight), and the plan (open for lunch first, add breakfast, dinner, and private events as they grow). Plus: why the kids' menu will have real food (with a portion of every kids' menu sale going to Dakota's Dream Animal Rescue), why the walls will be full of hidden plaques honoring the customers who bolstered them, and why "Come Get Grit Faced" is a phrase that got its own shirt. VISIT INFO — GYPSY JANE'S SOUTHERN FOOD LOUNGE 5665 Northwestern Turnpike, Gore, Virginia About seven minutes west of Winchester on Route 50 (past Walmart) Opening target: late July / by August 1, 2026 Initial hours (opening phase): Lunch, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM Coming later: breakfast, dinner, private events Private events available for booking during the lunch-only phase Beer and wine license coming within a month of opening LINKS & RESOURCES • Gypsy Jane's Southern Food Lounge website: gypsyjanes.com • On Facebook:  search "GJ Southern Food Lounge"  • Visit Winchester events calendar: visitwinchesterva.com → Events (VA250 events continuing throughout the summer) 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

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 — Little River Band, The Four Tops, Diamond Rio, a 250th-anniversary big-band night with the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra, Al Jardine of the Beach Boys with Brian Wilson's band, the Bacon Brothers, and Hotel California to close out Labor Day weekend. Dennis walks Janet through each show, the low-ticket alerts (Little River Band has fewer than 100 pavilion tickets left), why the venue is genuinely 5-10 degrees cooler than the valley below, what you can and can't bring (blankets yes, tents no, pets no, food yes), and the audience zones on the lawn ("we have what we call high chairs — that's where we put the babies"). Then the conversation turns to something new: the Community Art Collaborative is bringing a mosaic project into the festival this summer. On four select concert nights (Little River Band, Diamond Rio, Bacon Brothers, and Hotel California — with more possible if demand builds), concertgoers will help assemble a permanent glass mosaic that will travel between Woodstock and Orkney Springs. Plus: the Bacon Brothers' local hero nomination form, the Hot Strings and Cool Breezes free workshop, package deals with Shrine Mont, the "pick six" ticket discount, and a firm warning about third-party ticket resellers. Buy your tickets at musicfest.org — and only musicfest.org. 2026 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AT A GLANCE FRIDAY, JULY 17 — LITTLE RIVER BAND Australian rock legends, 30+ million records sold. Six years of top-10 hits.

"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 independent, membership-based primary care practice in Woodstock — the first in the Valley to partner with MDVIP, a national network of about 1,400 physicians using this model. Dr. Chan walks through what membership medicine actually means: an annual $2,500 fee (payable in full, halves, or quarterly), a smaller patient panel that lets her spend real time with each person, insurance still accepted for routine visits, and once a year an executive-style physical — the first offered in the Valley — that tests eyes, hearing, lungs, heart, skin, body composition, visceral fat, and includes advanced inflammatory and cardiac blood work not usually covered by insurance. Plus after-hours access to her directly, same- or next-day appointments, and — a genuinely useful perk for snowbirds and travelers — the ability to be seen by any MDVIP-affiliated physician across the country at no additional cost. The conversation also gets into the harder parts: why she loves taking patients OFF medication, why she often becomes the only physician in a complex patient's care team who sees the whole picture, and why "too good to be true" is the misconception she hears most often. Niki closes out with Chamber events — Business After Hours at Play Favorites on July 21, no Coffee & Conversation in July (a first in 23 months), and yes — apparently it's already time to talk about the Christmas Parade. ABOUT THE MEMBERSHIP MODEL AT A GLANCE An annual $2,500 fee (payable in full, halved, or quarterly) covers: • A smaller patient panel — so Dr. Chan can spend more time with each patient • Same- or next-day appointments for members • 24/7 direct access for after-hours emergencies • One annual executive-style physical (the first offered in the Valley) — including advanced blood work and comprehensive testing not typically covered by insurance • Access to MDVIP's nationwide network of ~1,400 physicians — if you travel, you can be seen by an MDVIP doctor anywhere in the country at no additional cost • Insurance is still billed separately for routine visits, chronic care, and acute care • Cash-pay options available for patients without insurance or who prefer not to use it WHO IT'S FOR • People who want a real relationship with a primary care doctor • Anyone with complex health needs juggling multiple specialists — Dr. Chan consolidates every specialist report • Healthy younger adults who want preventive care without traditional insurance • Aging-in-place patients who want a physician actively planning for their long-term health • Snowbirds and frequent travelers who value the nationwide MDVIP network • Anyone who's ever felt rushed at a primary care visit VISIT INFO — DR. EMILY CHAN, MD (MDVIP) Located on Main Street in Woodstock, next door to the John Deere tractor dealer Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Phone: (540) 459-1990 Complimentary meet-and-greets available — tour the office, meet the team, see the executive physical room, and decide if it's the right fit UPCOMING FRONT ROYAL-WARREN COUNTY CHAMBER EVENTS • Business After Hours — Tuesday, July 21, 2026 • 5:30-7:00 PM • Hosted by Play Favorites • Non-members are welcome. RSVP through the Chamber. • Coffee & Conversation — Skipping July (first time in 23 months). Returns the first Friday of August. • Christmas Market and Christmas Parade — applications now being accepted (yes, already) LINKS & RESOURCES • Dr. Emily Chan, MD: mdvip.com/emilychanmd • Emily Chan MD on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn — search "Emily Chan MD" or "Dr. Emily Chan" • MDVIP national network: mdvip.com • Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce: frontroyalchamber.com

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 a full preview of Luray's July 4th festivities, from the DAR Children's Parade at 10 AM through the Downtown Get Down and fireworks at dusk. LINKS & RESOURCES • Luray-Page Chamber of Commerce (brand-new website, launched mid-May): luraypagechamber.com — events tab includes Chamber events AND member events on one calendar • Stanley Homecoming details on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StanleyHomecoming 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

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 before Brady cuts the ribbon on the South End Literacy Mural at the splash pad — the year-long project with United Way, the John and Janice Wyatt Foundation, and the Winchester Campaign for Grade-Level Reading that's already doing what it was designed to do (drawing kids and parents to a previously quiet end of the walking mall). Brady walks through Friends of Old Town's recent three-award sweep from Virginia Main Street — including milestone recognition for crossing 40,000 volunteer hours (about $1 million in volunteered time) and 10,000+ building projects across 40 years — plus the upcoming Friends of Old Town public art initiative at Taylor Pavilion (37 artist applications, narrowed to a top six). Then it's a full preview of the July 4th VA250 Downtown Jubilee — 12-to-10 PM with Made in Virginia vendors, two live music acts at Taylor Pavilion, the reading of the Declaration of Independence, a Cheerwine relay chug, a Snow White slider eating contest, and a laser-light show to close out the night. Plus details on the August 22 Dog Days of Summer Hot Dog Crawl, a teaser for the Monty Python pub crawl on July 17, and a friendly reminder that the parrot in the mural is wearing a pirate hat for a reason — though Janet is more than willing to take credit on Brady's behalf. EVENT LINEUP — JULY-AUGUST IN OLD TOWN WINCHESTER FIRST FRIDAY — Friday, July 3 • All That of Winchester at Taylor Pavilion (6:30–8:30 PM, with a break) • Artist Alley on Boscawen — curated by Tin Top in June; new partner each month • Sip and Stroll active throughout • Then head to Jim Barnett Park for Red, White & Boom fireworks VA250 DOWNTOWN JUBILEE — Saturday, July 4 • 12 PM–10 PM • Made in Virginia vendor fair (10–15 vendors throughout the mall) • Rebecca Porter (Americana/country) — Taylor Pavilion, 12–3 PM • Reading of the Declaration of Independence + presentation of colors (Sons & Daughters of the American Revolution) • Melissa and the Mothmen (honky-tonk) — Taylor Pavilion, 5–8 PM • Cheerwine relay chug race • Snow White slider eating contest • Laser-light show at dusk (between 9:00 and 9:30 PM) • Sip and Stroll active throughout MONTY PYTHON PUB CRAWL — Thursday, July 17 • Joint fundraiser with Friends of Old Town, United Way, Blue Ridge Cares, Winchester CCAP, and ARE. Costumes encouraged. Details via partner organizations. DOG DAYS OF SUMMER HOT DOG CRAWL — Friday, August 22 • 12:00–6:00 PM $30 ticket gets unlimited hot dogs at 8 participating Old Town businesses (plus a surprise import). Score the dogs, crown a champion, music at Taylor Pavilion. Best Dressed Hot Dog competition for costumed attendees. Limited tickets — buy early via the event page on Facebook (Eventbrite link). TAYLOR PAVILION MURAL — coming September 2026 • The next Friends of Old Town mural, going on the Mountain Trails building and the stucco above the wine room patio. Selected from 37 artist submissions. LINKS & RESOURCES • Friends of Old Town: friendsofoldtown.org (community calendar — events from across Old Town) • Friends of Old Town on Facebook (event pages for every gathering) • Friends of Old Town on Instagram: @friendsofoldtownwinc • Mural partners: United Way of the Northern Shenandoah Valley, John and Janice Wyatt Foundation, Winchester Campaign for Grade-Level Reading 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

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 VA250 anniversary) and to preview Red, White & Boom — Independence Eve at the park on Friday, July 3rd. Chris walks through the full Red, White & Boom lineup: a pool DJ, the Fun Zone with a dozen inflatables and water slides on the turf, a magic show at 5 PM, three live music acts starting at 6 PM (a bluegrass band led by Zach Townsend, a patriotic cover band, and a tribute band), a Winchester Royals home game against the New Market Rebels with free admission, food and craft vendors, and a slightly bigger-than-usual fireworks finale shot from Bodie Grimm. Then the conversation turns to everything still ahead this summer — Parks and Rec Month in July, the Fun in the Sun pool event on July 18th, additional sports camps (soccer, volleyball, tennis, the new softball camp, the sport sampler), continued swim lessons through July and August, junior lifeguard and junior counselor programs, and the increasingly popular drop-in turf passes now that the season has wound down for everyone else. Plus a recurring theme worth a podcast all its own: thank a Parks employee. RED, WHITE & BOOM (INDEPENDENCE EVE)  Friday, July 3, 2026 Jim Barnett Park • Pool opens at noon (regular admission) • Fun Zone (inflatables, water slides) opens 12:30 PM • Food and craft vendors throughout the afternoon on Hinkel-Harris field • Magic show — 5:00 PM • Live music — 6:00 PM until fireworks (Zach Townsend bluegrass, patriotic cover band, tribute band) • Winchester Royals vs. New Market Rebels — game starts around 5:00-5:30 PM, free admission • Fireworks at dusk, shot from Bodie Grimm WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING THIS SUMMER AT JIM BARNETT PARK POOL & AQUATICS (open daily 12:00–6:30 PM) • Swim lessons — multiple July and August sessions, weekday morning, weekday afternoon, and Sunday • Adult lessons available • Aqua fitness classes and other fitness classes • Fun in the Sun pool event — Friday, July 18 (with regular pool admission) • Indoor pool available year-round SPORTS CAMPS (July and August) • Soccer (July session) — led by the Shenandoah University soccer coach and college players • Volleyball (August session) • Tennis camp • Softball camp — new this year, run by the Handley softball coach • Girls and Boys Sport Sampler Camp (July) — try-everything camp for younger kids • Drop-in turf — significantly more availability now that league seasons are over LINKS & RESOURCES • Winchester Parks and Recreation: winchesterva.gov/parks (online registration, full activity guide, schedules) • Summer Activity Guide — available online and in print • Monthly e-newsletter — sign up via the Parks website for highlights of upcoming events • Winchester Royals: winchesterroyals.org (schedule and game info) 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 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 the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber's Arising Leadership Program — this time to find out whether the sessions they thought they were most looking forward to actually were their favorites, and what surprised them along the way. Janet catches up with six of the students at graduation — Amoni Hill, Emily Ramirez, Jack Bruns, Nyomi Coates, Lucy Gluszack (returning as an intern after participating last year), and Cole Stockli — plus parents Whitney and Amy, Carmeuse local leader Logan Thompson, Chamber program director Missy Spielman, and Chamber CEO Cynthia Schneider. You'll hear the two student speeches given that evening — Nyomi quoting Ratatouille on the soul, Amoni honoring "the orange lady" — and a really moving observation from a fire marshal: that this group had bonded in three days the way another group hadn't in nine months. Plus: Cynthia's reveal that two of these students already have business ideas they want to launch. (She is, predictably, ready for next year's class.) QUOTABLE MOMENTS FROM THE STUDENTS • "I will never forget the orange lady — as we called her — with her bubbly personality. She taught us to speak confidently, always looking for new opportunities if we prepare." — Amoni Hill • "You must not let anyone define your limits because of where you come from. Your only limit is your soul." — Nyomi Coates (quoting Gusteau, from Ratatouille) • "I had no idea this is what the program was gonna be. I thought maybe we'd just go inside businesses and talk for a little bit. But I was super excited when we started doing more hands-on stuff." — Emily Ramirez • "If you guys are looking for free certifications, maybe consider applying." — Jack Bruns • "It was just really personal. She gave us her business card. It was just really great." — Cole Stockli WHAT THE PROGRAM DOES (IN THE STUDENTS' OWN WORDS) This year's class confirmed what the previous two classes have shown: the Arising Leadership Program isn't just about exposing students to careers. It's about helping them rethink what's possible in their own backyard, building cross-school friendships across former rivalries, and shifting their sense of identity from "student" to "leader." By graduation, every student in this year's class had moved their Post-it Note from the "not yet" column to "I am a leader." ABOUT THE ARISING LEADERSHIP PROGRAM A career exploration program for rising high-school juniors and seniors across the Top of Virginia region. Over a week and a half, students rotate through industries in their own backyard — radio, aviation, healthcare, law and public safety, mining and engineering, agriculture, hospitality, culinary, events and floristry, financial services, and more. Coordinated by Missy Spielman through the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber. The program is free for participating students thanks to founding sponsorship from Carmeuse and additional community partners. LINKS & RESOURCES • Top of Virginia Regional Chamber: regionalchamber.biz (Arising Leadership Program applications and info available for next year's rising juniors and seniors) • Listen to the first-day episode (June 10): thevalleytodaypodcast.com  • Featured host businesses mentioned in this episode: The River 95.3, Valley Health, Carmeuse, Weber's Nursery, The Ivy Room, Edward Jones, Frederick County Courthouse, Frederick County Sheriff's Office, and many more • Interested employers, host businesses, or potential sponsors can contact the Chamber directly through regionalchamber.biz 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 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 county full of ice cream stands, fireworks displays, summer music series in nearly every town, the river walks of Seven Bends State Park and Lake Laura, dozens of outdoor-dining patios, and an underground 55-degree cavern for the days when the heat just won't quit. Whether you live in Shenandoah County or you're just a drive away, this episode is a complete summer planning guide. SUMMER IN SHENANDOAH COUNTY — AT A GLANCE BASEBALL (Valley League — collegiate, community-hosted, family-affordable) • Strasburg Express • Woodstock River Bandits (Central High School stadium) • New Market Rebels (Rebel Park) • Schedules, scores, rosters, stats: valleybaseballleague.com ICE CREAM (a few favorites mentioned on the show) • Katie's Custard — Route 11, near the Woodstock games • Sugar Creek — Route 11, Woodstock (now near the Food Lion; still bright pink) • Ice Cream Depot — downtown Strasburg • Peep's Ice Cream Stand — New Market • Smiley's Ice Cream — Basye (with putt-putt and gem sluicing) • Edinburg mini golf and ice cream — right off Route 11 FIREWORKS — JULY 2026 (VA250) • New Market — Thursday, July 3 • Woodstock — at the fairgrounds (July 4) • Strasburg — town display (July 4) • Bryce Resort — fireworks on the slopes (July 4) MUSIC SERIES THIS SUMMER • Strasburg — Front Porch Live (Thursday evenings) • Woodstock — Woodstock ROCS at the community park • New Market — Crossroads Fest at Rebel Park • Vineyards, breweries, and wineries across the county host live music throughout the summer (full list on the events tab at visitshenandoahcounty.com) RIVER & WATER WALKS • Seven Bends State Park (Woodstock) — three-mile riverside loop with kayak rentals from the Hollingsworth side to the Lupton side • Strasburg River Walk — near the town municipal park • Lake Laura (Bryce) — 2.5-mile loop, paddle boats, paddle boards OUTDOOR DINING (a sampler from the show) • Box Office Brewery — Strasburg • Bean's Barbecue — Edinburg (mostly takeout; perfect for a picnic) • Miller Grill — New Market • Woodstock Cafe — front and back patios with strung lights • Flour to Fork — alleyway summer dinner series, plus pizza Wednesdays and dinners Fridays • Swover Creek Farms — wood-fired pizza, sausages, dog-friendly, kid-friendly • Woodstock BrewHouse — patio with Thursday live music • Pale Fire — pizza and beer, Basye • The Burn Barrel — Basye WHEN IT'S TOO HOT TO BE OUTSIDE • Shenandoah Caverns — guided one-hour tours, 55° year-round, exceptionally family-friendly LINKS & RESOURCES • Shenandoah County Tourism: visitshenandoahcounty.com (Events tab for the full summer calendar; search bar to look up any business or attraction) • Valley Baseball League — schedules, scores, rosters, and YouTube replays: valleybaseballleague.com • Seven Bends State Park: dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/seven-bends 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

She saw the commercial — the one with the Red Cross volunteer in the red vest, hugging someone, handing over a blanket — and told her husband, "When I retire, I want to be that person." 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, who brings along volunteer Jill Johnson — a retired teacher who has now been deployed five times (three nationally, two locally) and is on standby for another deployment as the conversation is happening. Jill walks through the surprisingly simple sign-up process at redcross.org, how the certifications stack (sheltering, feeding, and more), and the dual paths she's chosen: Prepare with Pedro, a K-2 disaster preparedness program she teaches in local schools, churches, and scout groups, alongside national deployments to Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, the Southern California floods and mudslides, and Hurricane Helene in Asheville. She shares what it actually looks like inside a shelter — bearded dragons, dancing parrots, Tide trucks doing laundry, FEMA tents holding a thousand people for dinner — and why the Red Cross changed its pet policy after recognizing that families won't evacuate without their animals. Plus: Deb's good news that the chapter has already hit its volunteer recruitment goals for the year because so many people stepped up in unexpected ways. ABOUT THE GREATER SHENANDOAH VALLEY CHAPTER The American Red Cross Greater Shenandoah Valley Chapter serves the region with disaster response, blood services, military family support, health and safety education, and community preparedness programs. The chapter has met its 2026 volunteer recruitment goals — including a recent reduction in target numbers based on how well the local chapter has performed. ABOUT PREPARE WITH PEDRO A free Red Cross disaster preparedness program designed for children in grades K-2. The program uses books, videos, songs, and hands-on activities to teach kids the basics of home fire safety — including escape plans, meeting places, smoke alarm checks, the "get low and go" technique for smoke, and coping/breathing exercises that apply to disasters and everyday stressful moments. Available free to classrooms, scout groups, church groups, and any setting with children. Schools and groups can request a visit through their local Red Cross chapter. WAYS TO VOLUNTEER (THERE'S MORE THAN YOU THINK) • Direct disaster response — sheltering, feeding (local and national deployments, two-week commitments) • Disaster preparedness education — Prepare with Pedro, hands-only CPR, home fire safety • Smoke alarm installation in partnership with local fire departments • Behind-the-scenes — logistics, supply, planning, weather tracking, government operations coordination • Blood services support • Military family support (armed forces programs) • Local events and community outreach • Set your own schedule — volunteer as much or as little as your life allows LINKS & RESOURCES • Sign up to volunteer: redcross.org → click "Volunteer"  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

Deworm every animal every time, and pretty soon the dewormer stops working. On this Extension Office Friday edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael is back on the Zooms with Elizabeth Mullins Baldwin (Page County Extension agent) and Cynthia Fairbanks (Warren County Extension agent) to talk about herd health for the region's growing population of small-ruminant producers — and a hands-on FAMACHA certification workshop coming up at the Warren County Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 11th. The conversation starts with a friendly reality check for anyone thinking about getting into sheep or goats — yes, they're a great entry point into farming, but also yes, "do your homework before you go to the sale" is the single best piece of advice the Extension office can give. Then Cynthia and Elizabeth walk through what FAMACHA actually is — a science-based, color-card system developed in 1990s South Africa by Dr. Faffa Malan that helps producers decide which animals actually need deworming and which don't, based on real-time signs of anemia from the barber pole worm. The result: less money wasted on dewormer, less resistance built up in parasites, and healthier animals. Workshop attendees get hands-on practice, a FAMACHA certification, fecal egg count demonstrations, and the science-backed answers to all the "but I heard you can just feed them a Christmas tree" home remedies floating around. EVENT DETAILS — FAMACHA CERTIFICATION WORKSHOP Saturday, July 11, 2026 • 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Warren County Fairgrounds • $30 per person (flat fee, regardless of farm size) • Breakfast included • Open to producers from any county • Pre-registration required WHAT YOU'LL LEARN AND LEAVE WITH • FAMACHA certification (with certificate) • Hands-on practice scoring real sheep and goats with the FAMACHA color card • Demonstration of proper fecal sample collection (Elizabeth) • Live microscope demo of fecal egg counts (a powerful tool for measuring dewormer resistance) • Science-based review of internal and external parasites common in Virginia • A look at popular herbal/home remedies — and which ones research actually supports • Direct Q&A with Extension agents WHO IT'S FOR • Current sheep and goat producers • New producers building up their first herd • Anyone considering sheep or goats in the future who wants to know what they're getting into • Camelid (llama and alpaca) owners — newly included this year • Producers concerned about dewormer resistance and rising input costs HOW TO REGISTER • Online registration - click here or get the flyer here.  • In person at your local Extension office (cash or check) • By phone — call either Extension office directly A NOTE ON FAMACHA FAMACHA was developed in South Africa in the early 1990s by veterinarian Dr. Faffa Malan, in response to widespread blanket deworming that was creating costly dewormer-resistant parasites. The system uses a color card matched to the eye mucous membrane of the animal to score anemia on a 1-5 scale — a real-time, non-invasive proxy for packed cell volume (red blood cell concentration). It's specifically designed to detect the effects of the barber pole worm (Haemonchus contortus), the most common and damaging internal parasite for small ruminants in the southeastern United States. The goal: only deworm animals that actually need it, preserve the effectiveness of the few approved dewormers we still have, and save producers money in the process. LINKS & RESOURCES • Page County Extension on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PageCountyVCE • Warren County Extension on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WarrenCountyVCE  • Your local Extension office can answer questions on herd health, soil testing, pest management, and more (calls are free and welcome — Extension agents in Frederick, Clarke, Shenandoah, Warren, and Page counties serve the whole region) CONNECT WITH VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION VCE – Clarke County: 540-955-5164 VCE – Frederick County: 540-665-5699 VCE – Page County: 540-778-5794 VCE – Shenandoah County: 540-459-6140 VCE – Warren County: 540-635-4549 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

Palliative isn't a synonym for terminal. On this Community Health edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael welcomes back Dr. Jim VanKirk, board-certified palliative care specialist and Medical Director of Valley Health's Palliative Care Program, joined by team social worker Rachel Schwartz, to clear up one of the most persistent misconceptions in medicine — and to make the case for thinking about palliative care as a living tool, not an end-of-life one. Dr. VanKirk walks through what palliative care actually is — symptom support, treatment planning, and team-based care for patients with serious illnesses who are still receiving aggressive treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation, and ICU care — and explains the research showing that earlier palliative intervention actually correlates with patients living longer. Rachel talks through the role of a palliative social worker, the kinds of grief families navigate along the way of a progressive illness (not just at the end), and the concept of "substituted judgment" when a patient can't speak for themselves. Plus: a thorough, practical conversation about advance directives — what they are, why every adult needs one starting at age 18, why April 16th is the easiest day to remember to update yours, and the family stories (including Dr. VanKirk's own) that show why having "the document" isn't the point — the conversation that leads to the document is. ABOUT VALLEY HEALTH'S PALLIATIVE CARE PROGRAM A specialized medical service for patients with serious or life-threatening illnesses, working alongside primary treatment teams to provide symptom management, treatment planning support, and goals-of-care conversations. The team works across the hospital — including with ICU patients and patients still receiving aggressive treatment like chemotherapy or radiation — and partners with chaplains, music therapists, speech therapists, physical and occupational therapists, and bedside nursing teams to provide whole-person care for both the patient and their family. ABOUT ADVANCE DIRECTIVES An advance directive is a document that expresses your wishes for healthcare, especially if you become unable to speak for yourself. It typically has two parts: (1) the designation of a healthcare agent — the person empowered to make decisions on your behalf, and (2) specific wishes about what care you would or would not want in certain situations (sometimes called a "living will"). KEY POINTS FROM THIS EPISODE • Every adult — starting at age 18 — should have an advance directive. Car accidents don't wait for a diagnosis. • The conversation matters more than the document. Your healthcare agent needs to know how you think and what's important to you. • Tell your designated agent first. Tell other close family and friends the document exists. • Update your directive periodically — life changes, designated agents pass away or move, your wishes evolve. • Virginia and West Virginia have different legal requirements. Know which state's form you need. • Don't store it in a lockbox. Your agent, your primary care physician, and your hospital should all have copies. • April 16th is the easy day to remember — the day after Tax Day. Take care of the government on the 15th; take care of yourself on the 16th. • If a loved one is diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's, complete legal documents IMMEDIATELY. Capacity can be lost faster than families expect. LINKS & RESOURCES • Valley Health Palliative Care Program: https://www.valleyhealthlink.com/patient-visitors/for-patients/advance-care-planning-advance-directives/ (click Your Visit → Patient Resources for advance directive information, FAQs, state-specific forms, and a number to schedule a facilitator appointment) • Every Community Health conversation in one place: thevalleytodaypodcast.com (click Categories → VH Community Health)  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 federal poverty line for a family of four in America is $33,000 a year. In Virginia, a single person needs to earn more than $50,000 just to meet their basic needs. On this episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael welcomes back Les Sinclair, Communications and PR Manager at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, for a candid conversation about why hunger and unemployment have "decoupled" since the pandemic — and why the people now showing up at food pantries are increasingly working, employed, and earning more than the federal poverty level. Les walks through the MIT Living Wage Calculator and what it really costs to live in places like Winchester versus Warren County, the math that makes a $3 donation worth nine meals, and the stories behind the statistics — including a bus driver who was living in her truck and saved enough through a mobile food pantry to put a down payment on an apartment, and the HVAC family that sold their kitchen table to buy food before discovering a partner pantry. Plus: the realities of summer hunger when 56,000+ children in the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank's service region lose access to school meals, why USDA donations are down and the food bank is now spending hundreds of thousands on protein, and how the Supper Club provides the kind of reliable monthly support that keeps shelves full. UNDERSTANDING MODERN HUNGER — THE NUMBERS • Federal poverty level for a family of four (2025): $33,000/year • Virginia basic-needs income for a single adult: over $50,000/year (MIT Living Wage Calculator) • Virginia unemployment rate: below 4% • Blue Ridge Area Food Bank monthly guest visits: ~177,000 • Children among guest visits: 1 in 3 • Children food-insecure in Virginia: 1 in 7 • SNAP-to-charitable-network meal ratio: 9 to 1 • Emergency food box size: ~30 pounds of food per person • $1 donated = ~3 meals provided ($3 = 9 meals) HOW TO HELP • Donate at https://www.brafb.org/ — every dollar provides about three meals • Join the Supper Club — recurring monthly donations the food bank can rely on (as little as $10/month) • Volunteer — locally with the food bank, with a partner pantry, or with local school-food programs  • Use the Food Finder — for yourself or to help a neighbor (search by location, with hours and directions) • Support local food-pantry partners and summer feeding programs in your community LINKS & RESOURCES • Blue Ridge Area Food Bank: https://www.brafb.org/ (Food Finder tool, Supper Club, donations) • Blue Ridge Area Food Bank on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn • MIT Living Wage Calculator: livingwage.mit.edu (search your city/county) • Feeding America — the national network of food banks • Bright Futures Winchester/Frederick County — summer food bus program (Elise's organization, mentioned) • Winchester CCAP and other local food pantry partners across the Blue Ridge service region 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 Patsy Cline Theater isn't just an auditorium — it's Winchester's de facto civic center. From Willie Nelson to Vince Gill to Sara Evans, from the Apple Blossom coronations to 35 years of community gatherings, it's where Winchester has shown up for itself. And the seats, after nearly 40 years of student traffic and standing ovations, are showing every bit of their age. On this episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael welcomes an old friend back to the show — Larry Weiss, Executive Director of the Winchester Education Foundation — for a conversation about how the Foundation supports Winchester Public Schools and the year-long Community Comfort Campaign to replace all 1,100 seats and the carpeting in the historic theater. Larry walks through the full scope of the Foundation's work — scholarships for graduating Handley seniors, a unique endowment from Mindy Loy that funds continuing education for Handley graduates who come back to teach in Winchester schools, and the brick-and-mortar work that brought the Emil and Grace Shihadeh Innovation Center into existence (now featured in a national PBS-style documentary called Multiple Choice). Plus: a special August benefit concert at the Patsy Cline Theater by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Valerie Smith, whose new "musical journal" Maggie's Journal sets her grandmother's post-Civil War handwritten journal to bluegrass, Americana, and roots music — with all proceeds going to the seating campaign. ABOUT THE COMMUNITY COMFORT CAMPAIGN A year-long fundraising campaign by the Winchester Education Foundation to replace all 1,100 seats and the carpeting in the Patsy Cline Theater at John Handley High School — the venue that serves not just the school but the wider Winchester community as a civic center, concert hall, and Apple Blossom event space. Total project cost is estimated at approximately $1 million. New seating and carpeting installation is targeted for summer 2027. WAYS TO PARTICIPATE • $350 names a seat — name tag can honor anyone (teacher, parent, classmate, graduating student) • Purchase an entire row to reunite a graduating class • Take one of the old seats home as a souvenir when they're uninstalled • Any contribution — from $10 to $10,000 — moves the campaign forward • The balcony will be dedicated in honor of Russ Potts • All 1991-era donor name tags will be moved to the new seats, preserving the theater's history BENEFIT CONCERT — VALERIE SMITH'S MAGGIE'S JOURNAL Saturday, August 1, 2026 • 7:00 PM Sunday, August 2, 2026 • 2:00 PM matinee Patsy Cline Theater, John Handley High School LINKS & RESOURCES • Winchester Education Foundation — winchestereducationfoundation.org (click the Community Comfort Campaign graphic on the homepage) • Valerie Smith — thevaleriesmith.com (concert tickets and information) 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

Marketing isn't the thing small-business owners hate — it's the thing they're afraid of, and they're afraid of it because nobody ever explains it. On this Luray-Page Chamber edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael is back on the Zooms with Colton Wolf — owner of White Wolf Communications Group and a familiar voice on the show from his earlier conversations about the theater in Stanley — for a wide-ranging talk about why small and mid-sized businesses deserve the same strategic communications work the big brands get, and how a Page County firm is delivering it. Colton walks through how his firm grew from a pandemic-era pivot and a Georgetown public-relations program into a five-person team that builds holistic strategies for nonprofits, local pillars like Racey Engineering, and PACA — partnerships that started with Colton being president of PACA's first leadership club back in high school. The conversation digs into the realities of modern marketing in a noisy landscape (Snapchat, YouTube, Facebook, and Google all competing for the same mental real estate), why word-of-mouth alone isn't enough anymore, why the right overhead investment for a communications firm is its people, and the moment Colton lives for: when a client says, "I never even thought of that." Plus a couple of Page County Chamber events worth your time. ABOUT WHITE WOLF COMMUNICATIONS GROUP A Page County-based communications firm focused on small and mid-sized businesses and nonprofits across the region. Services span communications planning, public relations, social media strategy and management, website design and SEO, print and surface design, photography, and videography (including drone work). Engagements range from monthly retainer packages to one-off projects. LURAY-PAGE CHAMBER EVENTS COMING UP • Business After Hours — Thursday, June 18, 2026 • 5:30–7:00 PM • Il Vesuvio Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria • You do not need to be a Chamber member to attend — a great way to test-drive the Chamber. • Lunch & Learn: Accessing Capital for Startups and Small Businesses — Wednesday, June 24, 2026 • 11:30 AM–1:00 PM • Chamber Boardroom, 18 Campbell Street, Luray • Speaker: Leslie Currle, People Inc. Financial Services • Part of a new quarterly series, Capital Readiness for Small Businesses, designed to strengthen local businesses and expand access to capital. LINKS & RESOURCES • White Wolf Communications Group: whitewolfcg.com • Email: contact@whitewolfcg.com • White Wolf on Facebook • Luray-Page Chamber of Commerce: luraypagechamber.com (event registration and details) 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

It started with an email and one really good lecture — and turned into the biggest day in Shenandoah County history in a generation. On this bonus Shenandoah County Tourism episode, host Janet Michael and Kary Haun head to the historic courthouse in Woodstock to talk with Suzanne McIlwee and Kim Yeck, co-chairs of Shenandoah County Celebrates 1776 — a free, full-day VA 250 commemoration happening Saturday, June 20, 2026, hosted by the Shenandoah County Historical Society. Suzanne and Kim walk through how a chapter-meeting idea grew into a downtown-wide event featuring the fifth great-grandson of Patrick Henry delivering "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" in character, the 1st and 8th Virginia Regiments encamped on East Court Street, a mounted dragoon cavalry unit doing demonstrations, lectures running simultaneously in three churches, a Williamsburg-trained cordwainer, a master gunsmith, a tape loomist, an 18th-century surveyor, period authors and book signings, kids' activities and a scavenger hunt, historical dancing on the courthouse lawn at 4 PM, museums open all day, and a special 250 Celebration Ale being unveiled. Plus shuttle and parking info, the opening ceremony schedule, and one truly pressing question: do they still need a fifer? (Yes. Yes they do.) EVENT DETAILS — SHENANDOAH COUNTY CELEBRATES 1776 Saturday, June 20, 2026 Downtown Woodstock, Virginia • Centered on the historic courthouse, East Court Street, West Court Street, and Lawyer's Row Free admission • Rain or shine • Family-friendly • Colonial dress encouraged Opening ceremony: 10:00 AM at the historic courthouse (Theatre Shenandoah preview at 9:45) Event runs through the afternoon, with the historical dance on the courthouse lawn at 4:00 PM Street closures: East Court Street and a portion of West Court Street barricaded all day; Main Street briefly closed for the opening ceremony Parking: county administration building (600 N. Main Street) with shuttle service to East Court Street, running 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM; additional parking at the old Woodstock High School lot on West Court Street and at lots throughout town Museums open all day: historic courthouse, Marshall House, Wickham House, Ott-Magruder-Grable Museum KICKOFF EVENT — SAVE THE DATE Free screening of the 1776 movie — Sunday, June 14, 2026 • 4:30 PM Co-presented by the Shenandoah County Historical Society and Woodstock Community Theatre LINKS & RESOURCES • Event website: shenandoah250.org • Event Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ShenCo1776/ • Shenandoah County Historical Society — host organization, with archives and ancestry research support • Visit Shenandoah County: VisitShenandoahCounty.com • Play the fife? The organizers want to hear from you — contact via shenandoah250.org 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

You don't need Johns Hopkins to become a nurse. You don't even need four years. On this Laurel Ridge Community College edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael is back on the Zooms with Director of Marketing Guy Curtis, joined by Dr. Scott Vanderkooi, Dean of Health Professions, and Dr. Amanda Hodges, Interim Director of Nursing — to talk about how someone in this region can become a working RN in two years, often for far less money than they assume, and with a 100% job placement rate to show for it. The bigger news in this conversation is the launch of a brand-new weekend-and-online cohort starting in spring 2027, designed specifically for people who can't quit their jobs to go back to school. Online lectures, weekend labs, weekend clinicals — built around the reality that most adult learners are already working. Amanda walks through what the program looks like, who it's right for, and how CNAs, LPNs, EMTs, paramedics, and even total beginners can step in. Plus: how G3 state funding can cover the last dollar of tuition for eligible Virginia residents, and the upcoming online information sessions where you can learn more. ABOUT THE NEW WEEKEND RN COHORT Launching spring 2027, Laurel Ridge's new RN nursing cohort is built for adult learners who can't step away from full-time work. Lectures and coursework are delivered online. Labs, simulations, and clinical hours run on weekends. The program leads to an RN license — the same credential as the traditional weekday program — and qualifies for G3 last-dollar tuition funding for eligible Virginia residents. WHO IT'S FOR • Adults currently working who want to change careers • CNAs, LPNs, EMTs, paramedics, and surgical techs looking to advance to RN • People with no prior healthcare experience who want to enter the field • Anyone who needs to keep their current job while going to nursing school INFORMATION SESSIONS • First session: Monday, June 23, 2026 — online • Additional sessions throughout July (dates listed at laurelridge.edu/nursing) • Sessions cover the new weekend cohort, the traditional RN program, the CNA program, and the Practical Nursing program — plus admission requirements, the entrance exam, and how to prepare. Parents of high school students considering nursing careers are welcome to attend. ABOUT G3 FUNDING G3 (Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back) is a Virginia state program that covers the "last dollar" of tuition costs for high-demand career programs at Virginia community colleges. Eligibility is based on household income — roughly $100,000 to $128,000 depending on household size — and Virginia residency. G3 stacks on top of any federal financial aid (like FAFSA) so it covers what other aid doesn't. LINKS & RESOURCES • Laurel Ridge Nursing — program info, info session registration, application: laurelridge.edu/nursing • Schedule a campus visit: laurelridge.edu/visit • G3 funding eligibility and details: laurelridge.edu/G3  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

"I didn't even know there was a radio station over here." That sentence — or some version of it — came up so many times on this episode that it became the unofficial theme. On a special episode of The Valley Today recorded on the first day of the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber's Arising Leadership Program, host Janet Michael sits down in the studio with 16 high-school participants and program director Missy Spielman to talk about what brought them to the program, what surprised them about radio in particular, and where they think their futures might be headed — from anesthesiology to architecture inspired by Minecraft. You'll meet rising juniors and seniors from John Handley, Millbrook, Sherando, Clarke County, and James Wood, hear what each one is hoping to get from the week-and-a-half-long career exploration program, and find out which of them might be the next architect, anesthesiologist, attorney, dentist, sports broadcaster, business analyst, or — Janet's lobbying hard — radio station part-timer. Missy closes out with what she saw from the very first orientation: a group that walked in quiet and reserved, and within ten minutes were swapping numbers, ignoring school rivalries, and learning to network in the most authentic way possible. THE ARISING LEADERSHIP CLASS The 16 students featured on this episode, in interview order: • Owen Parker — Millbrook High School, rising senior • Lucy Gluszak — John Handley High School, 12th grade (returning as an intern after participating last year — now interning at the Winchester Regional Airport) • Sam Donohue — Clarke County High School, rising junior — interested in law • Emily Ramirez — Sherando High School, rising senior — interested in healthcare and agriculture • Cole Stockli — Millbrook High School, rising senior — interested in medical and culinary • Kimberly Andrade — John Handley High School, rising 11th grader • Hudson Slaughter — John Handley High School, rising 11th grader (older brother went through the program two years ago) • Jack Bruns — Sherando High School, junior — interested in business analytics • Tiffany Yau — Millbrook High School, rising senior — interested in engineering and medical sciences • Nyomi Coates — Sherando High School, rising senior — wants to be an architect (credit: Minecraft) • Amoni Hill — James Wood High School, rising senior — wants to be an anesthesiologist • Brennan Carter — Millbrook High School, rising senior — interested in engineering • Sierra Chastain — Clarke County High School, rising junior — wants to be a dentist (Janet lobbied for "DJ") • Noah Mandel — Sherando High School, rising junior — interested in physical therapy and sports medicine • Christiana Ekoue — John Handley High School, rising senior • Andrea Rojas — John Handley High School, rising senior IN THIS EPISODE (00:00) What the Arising Leadership Program is — and how Day 1 unfolded at The River 95.3 (00:30) How the station team split up the group: Sports Director Ryan Rutherford, Operations Manager Lonnie Hill, Business Manager Kathy Willis, and Janet (01:00) Meet the 16 students — short interviews about what drew them to the program and what they're hoping to learn (timestamps for each student are approximate, running consecutively from 01:00 to 19:00) (19:00) A sit-down with program director Missy Spielman (19:30) What Missy saw on orientation night — a quiet group that opened up in ten minutes flat (20:30) Why cross-school networking matters more than ever (and why school rivalries don't show up here the way they used to) (21:00) "You can't be it if you can't see it" — the program's mission in one sentence (21:30) Why so many former students are now the people Missy coordinates host visits with WHAT THE STUDENTS LEARNED AT THE STATION (in their own words) • Working on the elevator pitch was something they wouldn't have thought to do on their own • Communication is the foundation of everything — without it, projects "crash and burn" • Radio is much bigger than people think — multiple studios, not a closet with a microphone • The music you hear comes via satellite, often from Texas • Doing a weather blurb under a tight time limit is genuinely hard • Listeners tune out when they hear the same voice too long — voice variety keeps attention • Sports broadcasting takes far more planning than people realize ABOUT THE ARISING LEADERSHIP PROGRAM A career exploration program for rising high-school juniors and seniors across the Top of Virginia region. Over a week and a half, students rotate through industries in their own backyard — radio, aviation, law, healthcare, hospitality, culinary, criminal justice, agriculture, and more — to discover careers they may not have considered or even known existed. Coordinated by Missy Spielman through the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber. LINKS & RESOURCES • Top of Virginia Regional Chamber: regionalchamber.biz   • The River 95.3 — and yes, they're hiring part-timers and interns (ask Janet)  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 rainy spring turned into a packed season at The Barns of Rose Hill. On this Tourism Tuesday Berryville/Clarke County edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael catches up with Martha Reynolds, Executive Director of The Barns of Rose Hill, to walk through what's coming next — and there is a lot. Two simultaneous gallery exhibitions, a VA250 concert series tied to traditional American roots music, a folk opera that's already sold out twice, and a benefit concert from a beloved local artist on the way. Martha previews everything from Color Stories (vivid contemporary stripes) and Jackson Foster's historic tavern signs to The Quiet Vast photography exhibit to a Portuguese artist who pairs her work with QR-coded music. Plus: the Forging a Nation film series with American Legion Post 41, Jules & the Agreeables benefit concert on June 27, Larry Keel and Jon Stickley's flatpicking bluegrass on 7/11, the return of the Orange on the Blue Ridge folk opera in August, and the final stretch of a 10-year endowment campaign that wraps August 31st — every dollar matched by the Eugene B. Casey Foundation. The Barns turns 15 in September, and the gala that closes the campaign is shaping up to be the celebration of the year. IN THIS EPISODE (00:00) Why spring wasn't slow this year — and the John Prine tribute screening that brought a packed house (02:00) Color Stories — contemporary stripes through June 13 (03:00) Jackson Foster's historic tavern signs — VA250 programming opens soon in the upper gallery (04:00) The Quiet Vast — Suzanne and Chris Bowers's duo photography exhibit (June 19–August 1) (05:00) Why Suzanne's new astrophotography is worth the trip on its own (05:30) Portuguese artist Leonor Brazão — color, music, and QR codes (August–September) (06:30) Why technology in galleries deepens rather than dilutes the experience (07:30) Forging a Nation film series with American Legion Post 41 — classic Americana on the big screen, with the historical inaccuracies called out up front (09:00) Roots of a Nation concert series — supported by Virginia Humanities, running well past July 4th (09:30) Coming up: Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer's From China to Appalachia (June 19), The Hot Seats, Larry & Joe (Pan-American roots, November), and Critton Hollow String Band (11:30) Jules & the Agreeables benefit concert — June 27, sponsored by Bank of Clarke Foundation (12:30) Why a ticket doesn't keep the lights on — and why a benefit concert does (15:00) Larry Keel & Jon Stickley duo — Friday, July 11 (7/11 — easy to remember), Bluegrass & BBQ series with Jordan Springs Market, sponsor still wanted (16:30) Orange on the Blue Ridge returns in August — the folk opera that's sold out two years running (19:00) The 10-year, $100,000-a-year endowment campaign — ending August 31, dollar-for-dollar match from the Eugene B. Casey Foundation (20:00) Why a $10 gift becomes a $20 gift becomes a 15-year investment (22:30) 15th Anniversary Gala — September 19, with Furnace Mountain Duo (Morgan Morrison and Dave Van Deventer) returning home (24:00) Why The Barns calls Furnace Mountain "the house band" (24:30) Where to find everything — barnsofrosehill.org, Facebook (now 10,000+ followers), and the newsletter GALLERY EXHIBITIONS THIS SUMMER • Color Stories — through June 13 (contemporary art, vivid striped color swatches) • Jackson Foster — historic tavern signs, reclaimed wood, hand-forged hardware (VA250 programming, upper gallery, opens mid-June) • The Quiet Vast — Suzanne & Chris Bowers, duo photography exhibition including new astrophotography work (June 19–Aug 1)  • Leonor Brazão — Portuguese artist pairing color, music, and QR-coded audio experience (August–September) CONCERTS & SPECIAL EVENTS • Jules & the Agreeables benefit concert — Friday, June 27 • $30 standing, ~$50 seated • sponsored by Bank of Clarke Foundation • local wine and food truck on site • Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer: From China to Appalachia — June 19 (Roots of a Nation series) • Larry Keel & Jon Stickley duo — Friday, July 11 • Bluegrass & BBQ series with Jordan Springs Market • sponsor opportunity available • The Hot Seats — Richmond-based string band with a funky twist • Orange on the Blue Ridge — folk opera by Suni Mackall, music direction by Morgan Morrison • two dates in August • historically sells out — buy now • Larry & Joe — Pan-American roots (Venezuelan + Appalachian), November • Critton Hollow String Band — 50+ years of traditional music • Forging a Nation film series with American Legion Post 41 — screenings in June, July, and October ANNIVERSARY & ENDOWMENT • Endowment Campaign — final year of a 10-year, $100,000-a-year goal, every dollar matched by the Eugene B. Casey Foundation. Campaign ends August 31, 2026. • 15th Anniversary Gala — Friday, September 19, 2026 at The Barns, featuring Furnace Mountain Duo (Morgan Morrison and Dave Van Deventer) LINKS & RESOURCES • The Barns of Rose Hill: barnsofrosehill.org (tickets, newsletter signup at bottom of homepage) • The Barns on Facebook (10,000+ followers — best place for last-minute additions and updates) 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

Crisis aid keeps the lights on this month. The THRIVE Project is built to make sure there isn't a next crisis. On this episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael sits down at the United Way office with longtime friend Andrea Cosans, Executive Director of Winchester CCAP, to talk about the most ambitious project of her CCAP tenure — a multi-agency, grant-funded initiative that will take up to 50 ALICE-population clients through a year of intensive support (case management, therapy, life coaching, financial literacy, job training) and follow them for a second year to see if it sticks. Andrea walks through the small-scale pilots that got her here — five clients, then ten, with results so strong they convinced funders to back a $112,000 expansion — and the partner agencies who said yes to building it together: Connected Communities, I'm Just ME, United Way Northern Shenandoah Valley, Horizon Goodwill, and Family Promise. Plus a much bigger argument about how nonprofits in this community actually do collaborate, and why "too many nonprofits, too much overlap" is the wrong story to tell about the people doing this work. Plus details on two upcoming CCAP fundraisers: An Evening of Enchantment (June 18th) and the 6th Annual Benefit Bike Ride (August 22nd). IN THIS EPISODE (00:00) Why this conversation is happening at the United Way office (it'll make sense in a minute) (00:30) CCAP's history — founded 1974 to help the population we now call ALICE (01:00) Why preventing homelessness is cheaper than fixing it (01:30) What CCAP's financial aid actually covers — rent, mortgage, utilities, heating, car repair (02:00) Why CCAP is, by design, a Band-Aid — and why a Band-Aid isn't enough (02:30) The origin story: a Legacy Wellness therapist, a life coach, a conference, and $1,000 (03:00) The first five clients — and what "wildly successful" really meant (03:30) The story of the man who came to CCAP every day, and now hasn't been seen in two years (03:30) The woman who won the Park Ranger Wheelbarrow Olympics at Great Meadows (04:30) Round two: 10 clients, 10 successes, and a $112,000 grant package (04:30) Why this can't be a one-agency program — and who said yes (05:30) Why the program follows clients for a second year (the real test) (06:30) The Valley Health Foundation and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints grants (07:00) What clients actually do — Get on Board job boot camp, financial literacy, mentoring (07:30) The forklift-certified couple, the substance-abuse and DV story, and the volunteers they became (08:30) The drug-court client who came back to teach CPR classes (09:00) Who the program is for — ALICE: asset-limited, income-constrained, employed  (09:30) The Winchester paradox — beautiful downtown, 19% food insecurity, 50% on some benefit (10:30) Trauma-informed decisions and the myth that fast food is cheaper (11:30) The week-by-week structure — case manager, therapist, life coach, classes, all of it (12:30) "Room to dream" — the single father who didn't know how to go back to college (13:30) Why nobody taught most of us how to do a family budget (Janet included) (15:30) The first meeting — Andrea, the partners, and a ground rule for letting go (16:30) Logistics: release-of-information forms, intake, referrals, who does what (17:00) Kim Wilt's policy magic — and the dream of replicating THRIVE in other communities (18:00) "They're not my clients — they're citizens who need help" (19:30) The City of Winchester visit and what workforce partnerships could look like (20:30) The 6th Annual Benefit Bike Ride — August 22 at the Wellness Center (21:00) Why people fly in from Germany, England, Florida, and Ohio for it (21:30) An Evening of Enchantment — Thursday, June 18 with New Eve Maternity Home (22:00) Silent auction, live auction, Gore Cabin staycation, Vic the magician (22:30) The hot water heater story (and why it outsold the jewelry) (23:00) Why "too many nonprofits, no collaboration" is the wrong story (24:30) How CCAP's $200/household actually works in partnership with others (25:30) The food-pantry schedule across town — Mondays at CCAP, Tuesdays at Highland, Saturdays at the Merriman's Lane church (25:30) The $50,000 United Way grant that pushed 50,000 pounds of produce across the region (26:30) The Nonprofit Collaborative and the case for citizens, not clients (27:30) What happens when Church World Services loses funding — and why CCAP feels it indirectly ABOUT THE THRIVE PROJECT A new multi-agency program led by Winchester CCAP and backed by $112,000 in initial grant funding. Designed to take up to 50 ALICE-population clients through a structured year of services — case management, therapy, life coaching, financial literacy classes, Horizon Goodwill's "Get on Board" job boot camp — followed by a second year of check-ins to measure durable change. Built around the premise that crisis aid alone won't break the poverty cycle, and that no single agency can deliver everything one person needs. THE PARTNERS • Winchester CCAP (lead) • Connected Communities • I'm Just ME • United Way Northern Shenandoah Valley (fiscal agent) • Horizon Goodwill • Family Promise Winchester Area CCAP FUNDRAISERS COMING UP An Evening of Enchantment — Thursday, June 18, 2026 • Joint fundraiser with New Eve Maternity Home • Silent auction, live auction (including a Gore Cabin staycation with dinner at Violino's), entertainment by Vic the Magician, emcee by Janet Michael • 120 tickets remaining — register at CCAPwinchester.org 6th Annual Benefit Bike Ride — Friday, August 22, 2026 8:00 AM start at the Wellness Center, 105 Campus Boulevard • ~270 riders expected, drawing participants from across the country and abroad • Volunteers still needed — contact Jessica Leonard • Register at CCAPwinchester.org LINKS & RESOURCES • Winchester CCAP: CCAPwinchester.org (new website by Wild Ember) • United Way of the Northern Shenandoah Valley (THRIVE fiscal agent) • Partner organizations: Connected Communities, I'm Just ME, Horizon Goodwill, Family Promise Winchester Area • Local food pantry network mentioned: Highland Food Pantry, Hope Again Food Pantry, Catholic Charities, Salvation Army, New Life Church, Love In Action • Workforce training partner: Laurel Ridge Community College • Funders: Valley Health Foundation, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 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 shelter season may end with the cold weather — but homelessness doesn't. On this episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael catches up with Robyn Miller, Executive Director of WATTS (Winchester Area Temporary Transitional Shelter), to talk about what the organization is doing right now in June — the year-round case management, the two transitional homes, the cooling center that currently has no home of its own, and the everyday work of helping someone get their birth certificate so they can get a driver's license, so they can get a job, so they can get a place to live. Robyn explains why the goal at WATTS is, paradoxically, to put WATTS out of business — and walks Janet through the patchwork of partner organizations that make that possible, from Winchester CCAP to Family Promise Winchester Area to the Concern Hotline to the Winchester Police Department's addiction recovery team. Plus: the lineup of summer and fall fundraisers that keep the lights on at a privately-funded nonprofit — Caring & Sharing at Greenwood Fire Hall, the Walt Cunningham Memorial Golf Tournament at Rock Harbor, and the wildly popular Cheesin' for a Reason on the Old Town Walking Mall in November. UPCOMING WATTS EVENTS & FUNDRAISERS Caring & Sharing — Friday, August 15, 2026 • Greenwood Fire Hall • An evening of music, food, and raffles celebrating WATTS volunteers and guests, with success stories told in their own voices. Walt Cunningham Memorial Golf Tournament — Thursday, October 2, 2026 • Rock Harbor Golf Course • Lunch by Billy Sous  Named in memory of the man who got the United Methodist Church involved with WATTS. Cheesin' for a Reason — Friday, November 14, 2026 • Feltner lot at Boscawen and Loudoun Streets (Old Town Walking Mall, downtown Winchester) • Local restaurants compete with grilled cheese and tomato soup. Last year's winners: T.T. Walls and Water Street Kitchen. Over 1,000 participants in 2025. HOW TO HELP • Donate online at WATTS-homelessshelter.org • Become a Hero for WATTS — $10/month recurring (yes, you'll get free pancakes at Clem's Kitchen) • Volunteer at any of the fall fundraisers — sign-ups for Cheesin' for a Reason open in August • Sign up to serve meals during the Thanksgiving or Christmas shelter weeks • Donate or rent a building for the cooling/warming center — even nominal rent is welcome (creative arrangements have tax benefits) LINKS & RESOURCES • WATTS website: WATTS-homelessshelter.org • WATTS on Facebook and Instagram: search "Help WATTS" • Partner organizations mentioned: Winchester CCAP, Family Promise Winchester Area, Winchester Rescue Mission  • Comprehensive local resource directory — Concern Hotline (the most accurate, up-to-date list) • Winchester Police Department Addiction Recovery Team • Community Paramedic 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 Virginia Code is full of one-word differences that change everything — and on this Public Safety Thursday edition of The Valley Today, Captain Warren Gosnell of the Frederick County Sheriff's Office walks host Janet Michael through some of the most common ones. "May" doesn't mean "shall." A speed limit is a maximum, not a target. A red light isn't the same as a red arrow. And driving an inspected friend's car doesn't make the friend responsible. Captain Gosnell answers a listener seatbelt question, breaks down what really happens with that "four-month grace period" for expired inspections and registrations, and explains why a $50 civil penalty might be the cheapest parenting tool a frustrated mom or dad has at their disposal. Plus a tanker-truck slow-roll on Route 522 that earned Captain Gosnell a Facebook thank-you before he even got to the studio. 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 parking-lot pop-up two years ago is now a full storefront with a now-famous 11-foot Amish blow-up greeting visitors at the door. On this Valley Business Today edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael sits down at the Front Royal-Warren County Chamber with Chamber Director Niki Foster and Zach Burke, owner of Lancaster County Connection, to talk about how the business grew from a single TLC parking-lot weekend into a home base inside the Loose Cow Mercantile — and what it really takes to run a quality-first, hand-picked retail business as a side hustle. Zach walks through what makes his lineup different: Amish-made wood crafts hand-selected monthly from two friends' farms in Lancaster County, paint that holds up for seven years, clean-burning Crossroads candles he discovered after his own pets got sick from chemical scents, and Lancaster County Coffee Roasters beans that don't get roasted until you order them. The conversation also gets into the realities of small-business retail — pricing your work without apologizing for it, ordering Christmas inventory in July, and competing on a timeline the big-box stores set. Plus: Niki previews Coffee & Conversation with the new Warren County Schools superintendent, and a Chamber rebrand and new website on the horizon. VISIT INFO — LANCASTER COUNTY CONNECTION (inside the Loose Cow Mercantile) 18 High Street, Front Royal (the old Happy Creek Coffee Company, behind Bungalow, across from the gazebo — look for the building with the butterflies painted on the wall) Hours: 12–6 daily (closed Tuesdays) • Saturday 10–6 • Sunday 10–6 (aligned with the Main Street farmers market) What you'll find: hand-selected Amish wood crafts, Crossroads candles, Primitives by Kathy, custom-order Amish furniture (~4–6 week lead time), customized mailboxes, freshly roasted Lancaster County Coffee Roasters coffee (taste a sample on the weekends), and a seasonal rotation that goes hard on every holiday. Custom pieces and pre-orders welcome — ask in the shop or via social media LINKS & RESOURCES • Lancaster County Connection on Facebook and Instagram (and soon TikTok)  Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce: frontroyalchamber.com (a rebrand and new site coming soon)  ALSO MENTIONED • Coffee & Conversation — Friday, June 5 • 9 AM at On Cue • Free, open to anyone (not just Chamber members) • Featuring Dr. Troy Wright, Superintendent of Warren County Public Schools  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