The Valley Today

As part of our community health partnership with Valley Health , this month we discuss adolescent mental health and substance use issues with Whitney Maddox, a licensed professional counselor and coordinator for the Catalyst program, and Amanda Dondero, a licensed clinical social worker and adolescent outpatient behavioral health supervisor with Valley Health Outpatient Behavioral Health .  Our co...

Our conversation today is part of an ongoing partnership with the US Small Business Administration highlighting small businesses in the Shenandoah Valley as well as offering advice and resources to all small businesses. My co-host for this monthly series is Carl Knoblock , Virginia District Director for the SBA. In this episode we travel to the town of Mount Jackson to meet with Olivia Hilton, tow...

Our conversation for Tourism Tuesday with Gina Hilliard from Luray/Page Chamber of Commerce included Dunnzy Kaufman, CEO of Sojourn , and Melissa Reynoso, Innkeeper at The Legacy Inn in Luray. Our conversation revolves around the Legacy Inn's offerings and unique characteristics. Dunnzy explains Sojourn's role in managing the aesthetic and experience of the Legacy Inn, while Melissa shares her pas...

Our conversation today with Vicki Ruckman, Secretary & Event Coordinator for the Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail  gave all the details for the Shenandoah Valley Wine Festival happening on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley from 1pm - 7pm. We discuss the festival's history, including its previous locations and the move to The MSV. Vicki talks about the wineries participati...

Our conversation today welcomes Julie Armel, the Deputy Director of Marketing and Communications for The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley , and special guest Craig Mitchell Smith , an innovative kiln glass artist. Julie talks about the new 'Gardens of Glass' exhibit, showcasing Craig's glass sculptures, some created specifically for the MSV. Craig shares his accidental journey into glass art, initi...

Our conversation today with Guy Curtis, Director of Marketing with Laurel Ridge Community College included Kaitlyn Lambert , Assistant Director of Financial Aid for the college. Our discussion spanned various financial aid options, including scholarships, grants, and specific programs like G3 and VASA , aimed at making education accessible for all students. Guy Curtis shares that Laurel Ridge has...

Our conversation for The Valley Business Today - Front Royal/Warren County edition - with Niki Foster from Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce includes a recap of the Wine and Craft Festival dealing with unexpected rain, and the noticeable attendance despite the weather challenges.  We delve into planning and logistics, discussing the continuous nature of planning such events and reveal...

Our conversation for Tourism Tuesday - Clarke County edition - featured Martha Reynolds, Executive Director of Barns of Rose Hill . Our discussion includes details about the Shenandoah Arts Council exhibition being held at the Barns of Rose Hill. Martha shares her excitement about the collaboration and mentions that the exhibit, themed 'Summer Solstice' will be available until August 8th. She expr...

Our conversation today welcomes back Ryan Hall and Katie Overfield-Zook to the show. Ryan is the acting executive director for the Shenandoah Community Capital Fund (SCCF), and Katie is the director of programming. They discuss the ongoing transformations within SCCF, including Ryan's recent appointment and staffing changes due to fluctuating funding sources. Ryan describes SCCF's commitment to ai...

Our conversation for National Donut Day features Missy and Ryan Spielman, owners of the mobile food truck "Donut Dive."  Missy and Ryan share their story of how they came to start their donut business. Both widowed before, they married four years ago and decided they wanted a joyful business that they could operate together. Ryan, with an engineering mindset, researched extensively and suggested m...

Our conversation for Traffic Safety Thursday with Lt. Warren Gosnell from  Frederick County Sheriff's Office gives some great advice for everyone on the roads to be aware of children who are now out of school. We also talk motorcycle safety and the consequences of speed.

Our conversation today with Elise Stine Dolinar from Bright Futures - Frederick/Winchester highlights the success of their recent  community food pack campaign for Winchester City/Frederick County Public School students. She provides an overview of Bright Futures' operation, which works with Winchester City and Frederick County school systems to meet basic needs of students in a confidential manne...

Our conversation today with Stacy McFarland, Executive Director for the Greater Shenandoah Valley chapter of the American Red Cross kicks off with a recap of recent natural disasters such as wildfires, tornadoes, and the ongoing hurricane season. Stacy reveals the relentless demand on the organization's volunteers who are continuously engaged in emergency education, preparedness, response, and rec...

Our conversation today with Dennis Lynch, Director at the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival gives all the details for the upcoming season. We discuss the excitement surrounding the festival's 61st season while Dennis provides an overview of the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival, highlighting its venue - Shrine Mont, a renovated old Springs Hotel from the 1890s, known for its world-class music perfor...

Our conversation today features Ryan Hall, one of the co-founders and the Vice President of the Valley Makers Association, a non-profit makerspace organization based in Winchester. Ryan shares the association's origin story, explaining his personal transition from farm life to city life and how his lack of access to tools spurred the creation of a meetup group. He recounts how the interest in tool...

Our conversation today highlights the partnership between Blue Ridge Hospice and Valley Health to offer hospice services ( Hospice in the Hospital ) at Shenandoah Memorial Hospital , a program previously established at Winchester Medical Center . Guests today include Jennifer Martin, Chief Access and Growth Officer & Carlos Galliamore, Director of Strategic Growth and Access - both from Blue Ridge...

Our conversation for The Valley Business Today with Patrick Barker, Director of Frederick County Economic Development Authority focuses on the initiative 'Live Love Shenandoah.' Patrick explains the strategic efforts to retain and attract talent to the region through a comprehensive cookbook strategy. We discuss the importance of education and awareness for both existing and potential talent. Patr...

Our conversation for Tourism Tuesday with Justin Kerns from  Winchester/Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau features Terri Hardin, owner of Fleur de Lis Cheese Shop which recently opened on the Old Town Walking Mall in downtown Winchester. Terri shares her journey of acquiring the shop, navigating through the pandemic, and creating a welcoming environment for customers. Our conversation...

Our conversation today featured Kimberly Sowers, owner of Kimberly's in Old Town Winchester. Kimberly talks about the history of her boutique, which has been open for 35 years. She explains the diverse range of products in her store, including men's and women's clothing, jewelry, kitchen towels, fine jewelry, gourmet food items, and personalized gifts. She highlights the addition of hand-made ice...

Our conversation today with Jeremy Sanders (Marketing Manager) and Ashley Ferguson (Program Supervisor) from Frederick County Parks & Recreation gives details about summer programs, the new activity guide and registration software.  We discuss various summer events and programs including races like the Loudoun Street Mile, The Glow All Out 5K, and the Sherando Youth Triathlon. Ashley tells us abou...

Our conversation for The Valley Business Today included Kaleigh Fincham, Director of Programs & Events for the  Top of Virginia Regional Chamber to give updates about their Arising Leadership Program and Community Leadership Program. The Arising Leadership Program is aimed at 16 and 17-year-olds, while the Community Leadership Program is for adults. The programs focus on exploring career & leaders...

Our conversation for Tourism Tuesday with Edison Emmons from Luray/Page Chamber of Commerce included Lora Jenkins from the town of Shenandoah. Lora serves as the museum curator and events coordinator for Shenandoah and gives details about both. We discuss the recent hospitality award received by the town and the museum's growth. Lora describes the different collections at the museum, highlighting...

Our conversation today with Tyler Hinkle, Shenandoah County's Planner is part of an ongoing series following the work on Shenandoah 2045 - Shenandoah County's comprehensive plan. The planning process will unfold over the course of four years with the majority of the community collaboration occurring from 2020-2022, with input in 2023-2024. He highlights the collaborative efforts of the Planning Co...

Our conversation for Extension Office Friday included Joanne Royaltey, Program Associate based in the Frederick County Extension Office (though she serves all five counties.) Our topic was the Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association 's GardenFest happening on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at Belle Grove Plantation from 8am til 2pm. Joining us for the conversation were GardenFest program l...

As part of our community health partnership with Valley Health , this month we talked with Dr. Maureen Hill , a board certified Surgical Oncologist and General Surgeon with Valley Health Surgical Oncology at Winchester Medical Center . May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month . We discuss the importance of skin cancer awareness, prevention, early detection, and treatment options including insights on th...