The Valley Today

Host Janet Michael chats with Kristen Laise about an action-packed spring and summer season at Belle Grove Plantation in Middletown, Virginia. From a moving community quilt project honoring the enslaved to a traveling American Revolution exhibit, there's something for history lovers, nature enthusiasts, and families alike. Topics Covered Memorial Quilts Two quilts honoring 270 enslaved individuals...

In this episode, host Janet Michael chats with Kit Redmer, Communications Director for the City of Winchester , and several of her fellow Civic Leadership Academy (CLA) classmates about their experiences in this immersive, nine-month program designed to connect residents with their local government. What is the Civic Leadership Academy? The CLA is a program run by the City of Winchester that gives...

Host Janet Michael sits down with Emily Shultz, Warren County 4-H Extension Agent, to talk about everything you need to know about 4-H overnight camps in the Northern Shenandoah Valley. In This Episode: What 4-H overnight camps are and who they're for Camp dates, locations, and county clusters Age requirements and the 4-H age cutoff explained What a typical camp week looks like (no screens!) Activ...

Host Janet Michael sits down with Jodi Young, Executive Director of Healthy Families Northern Shenandoah Valley , and Tracy Mitchell, Manager of Valley Health 's Wellness Services and Risk Reduction, to explore a free home visiting program that supports new and expectant parents from pregnancy through a child's fifth birthday — and why April's Child Abuse Prevention Month makes this conversation e...

Host Janet Michael welcomes back Guy Curtis — wearing his Little League hat this time rather than his Laurel Ridge Community College one — along with Terra Walker, Frederick County National Little League 's information officer, to discuss the organization's ambitious capital campaign to expand and improve youth sports facilities in the Winchester and Frederick County area. About Frederick County N...

Host Janet Michael visits the Winchester SPCA — the original home of her own dogs, Briscoe and Miller — for a conversation with Executive Director Lavenda Denney about the organization's growing campus, April membership drive, and the community programs that make them more than just a shelter. Topics Covered The Winchester SPCA Campus — Located at 111 Feathered Lane in Winchester, the campus inclu...

Host Janet Michael talks with Nathan Stalvey about the Clarke County Historical Association 's spring Art at the Mill show, upcoming VA250 events in Clarke County, and behind-the-scenes updates on the historic Burwell-Morgan Mill . Art at the Mill – Spring 2026 Dates: Saturday, April 18 – Sunday, May 3, 2026 Hours: Sunday–Friday, 12–5pm | Saturdays, 10–5pm Location: Burwell-Morgan Mill, Millwood,...

Guests: Sam Armel – Founder, Frederick County Homesteaders ; local real estate agent Kristin Tesdall – Five Roots Farm ( fiverootsfarm.com ) Jaclyn Mommen – Laurel Grove Wine Farm & Patty's Place ( laurelgrovewinefarm.com ) What We Cover: Why Frederick County Homesteaders is switching from a farm crawl to a farm hop — and what that means for families, those with mobility challenges, and anyone who...

In this episode, host Janet Michael talks with Traci Toth, Executive Director of Wheels for Wellness, and Ann Lamanna, board chair and volunteer driver, about the vital free medical transportation service they provide to residents across the Winchester, VA region — and their upcoming 10th annual fundraiser, Tablescapes. About Wheels for Wellness Wheels for Wellness provides free transportation to...

Guests Cynthia Schneider — CEO, Top of Virginia Regional Chamber ; 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient, Laurel Ridge Community College Liv Heggoy — Associate Vice President of Development, Laurel Ridge Community College & Executive Director, Laurel Ridge Educational Foundation Brandy Hawkins Boies — Director of Public Relations & Special Events, Laurel Ridge Community College Episode Summary...

Janet sits down with John Keim from the Clarke County Litter Committee to talk about the county's Earth Day celebration and the ongoing effort to keep Clarke County clean and beautiful. They discuss how small, everyday actions can make a big difference — and how you can get involved no matter how much time you have. Clarke County Earth Day Event Details Date: April 25th Time: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Loc...

Host Janet Michael and Winchester Tourism Director Justin Kerns visit Three Wives Distillery , the first farm distillery in Frederick County, Virginia in over 90 years. They sit down with owners Vernon and Toni Wright to explore how a century-old family farm transformed into a thriving craft distillery — and what it takes to bring locally grown spirits to the public. In This Episode How Hill High...

Featuring Deb Fleming, Executive Director, Greater Shenandoah Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross Episode Summary Host Janet Michael continues her year-long disaster preparedness series with a return visit from Deb Fleming of the American Red Cross. This episode goes behind the curtain to reveal the extensive planning, training, and funding that makes local disaster response possible — before...

Janet Michael talks with Megan Craggs of Carter Hall Farm and Christa Nahhas of La Grange Family Farm to share everything you need to know about the inaugural Lost Arts Festival — a celebration of heritage crafts, hands-on skills, and community connection in the Shenandoah Valley. Event Details Date: April 12th Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Location: La Grange Family Farm, 5498 Valley Pike, Stephens Ci...

Host Janet Michael welcomes back her most frequent guest, Captain Warren Gosnell of the Frederick County Sheriff's Office , for another Public Safety Thursday conversation. They cover two major topics: Frederick County's new school zone speed camera program and how to navigate police interactions safely and legally. Topics Covered 🚦 School Zone Speed Cameras Frederick County's camera program laun...

In This Episode Janet Michael sits down with Melanie Stull, Administrative Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator for Phoenix Project , to discuss Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the many ways the organization serves survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Front Royal and Warren County. Chamber President Niki Foster then joins Janet to share upcoming Chamber events, including Coffee & Convers...

Host: Janet Michael Guests: Gina Hilliard, President – Luray Page Chamber of Commerce Jen Jenkins, Parks Superintendent – Luray Parks & Recreation Sherri Glenn, Events & Marketing Coordinator – Luray Parks & Recreation Episode Summary Janet talks with Gina, Jen, and Sherri about upcoming events from free youth fishing derbies and outdoor concerts to the nation's 250th birthday celebration and a Ch...

Guest: Dawn Devine, Executive Director, and Tammy Stevenson, Director of Development & Marketing Organization: Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum (Winchester, VA) Website: discoverymuseum.net In This Episode: Janet Michael talks with Dawn Devine and Tammy Stevenson from the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum about exciting upcoming events, a brand-new traveling exhibit, summer camps, and a milesto...

Host Janet Michael spends the day in Old Town Winchester, sitting down with Brady Cloven, Executive Director of Friends of Old Town Winchester, and Holly Redding, board chair of Friends of Old Town and co-owner of Winchester Brew Works . They cover the nonprofit's mission, big upcoming events, and what's new at the brewery. Topics Covered What Friends of Old Town Winchester actually is — and why i...

Host Janet Michael sits down with leaders and members of the Greater Winchester Area Parkinson's Support Group to discuss life with Parkinson's disease, the power of community, and the resources available to patients and caregivers in the region. Guests Kaleen Baker – Co-leader, Greater Winchester Area Parkinson's Support Group Cheryl Conrad – Co-leader, Greater Winchester Area Parkinson's Support...

Guests: Kaleigh Fincham, Director of Events, Top of Virginia Regional Chamber of Commerce | Leslie Hicks, President & Founder, Cardinal Technology Solutions Episode Summary Janet tallks with Kaleigh and Leslie about the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber's annual Charity Golf Classic — and the conversation takes a fun detour into the world of business IT along the way. Event Details: TVRC Charity Go...

Sparkle and Sequins: Johanna Pearson Is Dressing Shenandoah Valley One Dream at a Time In this episode of The Valley Today 's Tourism Tuesday Shenandoah County edition, host Janet Michael and co-host Kary Haun from Shenandoah County Tourism visit Ruby Mae 's to talk with owner Johanna Pearson about the newest addition to her Cherry on Top empire.  From Camper to Storefront When Johanna Pearson was...

Guest: Ken Slack, Communications Specialist, VDOT Staunton District Episode Summary Host Janet Michael sits down with VDOT's Ken Slack to get the latest on road construction, pothole season, and a major trail feasibility study affecting the Shenandoah Valley. Recorded on a stormy "Tornado Monday," the two cover everything from orange barrels blowing away in high winds to a nearly 50-mile potential...

On this episode of Extension Office Friday on The Valley Today, host Janet Michael welcomes two guests from Virginia Cooperative Extension — Liz Rohrer, the brand-new Clarke County Extension Agent, and returning guest Elizabeth Baldwin from Page County. The conversation covers Liz's journey from 16 years in the agriculture classroom to her new role in the community, and what it means to serve a he...

Host Janet Michael sits down with Dr. Michael Avery , board-certified general surgeon, Colorectal surgery specialist with Valley Health Surgical Oncology at Winchester Medical Center  to discuss colorectal cancer — why awareness matters, who's at risk, how to screen, and how far treatment has come. Dr. Avery brings both personal backstory and clinical expertise to a conversation that could save yo...