The Valley Today

In this episode, host Janet Michael sits down with Martha Reynolds to explore everything happening at the Barns of Rose Hill in Berryville, Virginia this spring — from stunning gallery exhibitions and hands-on art classes to jazz concerts, film screenings, and sustainability milestones. If you love the arts in the Shenandoah Valley, this one's for you. What We Cover 🎨 Art Exhibitions Life Extende...

Winchester's Indoor Pool: What's Next for Aquatics at Jim Barnett Park? Winchester Parks & Recreation Director Chris Konyar joins Janet to discuss the future of the city's indoor pool — and why your input matters right now. What's the issue? The War Memorial building's older wing dates to 1957, and the indoor pool itself was installed in 1975. By 2029–2030, the city will face a mandatory renovatio...

In this episode, host Janet Michael sits down with Winchester City Parks Director Chris Konyar for a wide-ranging conversation about upcoming spring events, facility upgrades, youth programming, and an exciting long-term vision for aquatics in the Winchester area. Topics Covered 🥚 Flashlight Egg Hunt – March 20th A unique twist on the traditional egg hunt held on the turf fields after dark Kids u...

In this episode, host Janet Michael talks with Luray/Page Chamber of Commerce President Gina Hilliard and her guest Rich Hostelley , a licensed architect with nearly 40 years of experience. Rich shares his fascinating journey from military service to becoming a globally licensed architect practicing in Virginia, California, the UK, and beyond. What You'll Learn in This Episode Rich's Path to Archi...

In this episode, host Janet Michael talks with Guy Curtis - Director of Marketing, Laurel Ridge Community College , Christine Kriz - Director of Corporate Training, Laurel Ridge Workforce Solutions , and Professor Corinne Hoisington - Professor, Central Virginia Community College; AI educator, international speaker, and author of AI: A Business Perspective, to discuss the Laurel Ridge AI Summit —...

In this episode, host Janet Michael visits the Capon Valley Bank branch in Stephens City to discuss the value of community banking in today's digital age. Melba Thorne shares insights on personalized banking, financial literacy, and how a century-old institution maintains its commitment to local communities. About Capon Valley Bank History : Serving communities since 1918, starting in Wardensville...

Episode Summary Host Janet Michael visits Winchester Little Theatre to preview their upcoming production "Decision Height," opening March 13th. This powerful play tells the overlooked story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) of World War II—courageous women who left everything to fly military planes and free up male pilots for combat. Director Theresa Apple and cast members share insight...

Host Janet Michael welcomes Deb Fleming, Executive Director of the Greater Shenandoah Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross , for a comprehensive discussion on flood preparedness. As spring approaches and snow begins to melt, flooding becomes a real threat to communities across the Shenandoah Valley. Learn how to prepare your home and family before disaster strikes, what to do when floodwaters...

Supporting Parents and Young Children: The Yellow Schoolhouse On this United Way segment of The Valley Today , host Janet Michael spoke with Pam Haefner, executive director of the Yellow School House , about how the nonprofit is helping parents of young children find connection, resources, and support in the Northern Shenandoah Valley. Haefner explained that the organization began after she and a...

The Numbers Tell a Startling Story Frederick County Sheriff's Office Captain Warren Gosnell sits down with Valley Today host Janet Michael to discuss a reality check for local drivers: the county's newly activated school zone speed cameras caught nearly 3,000 violators in just four days. Even more concerning, some drivers were caught speeding through the same school zone every single day, with spe...

A Thriving Indoor Farm Operation In this episode of The Valley Today , host Janet Michael and cohost Niki Foster from the Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce talk with chamber member & community advocate Rob Demariano about his growing business Robby Ds Lil Greens , an indoor vertical microgreen farm that has been quietly revolutionizing local food access in Front Royal, Virginia for nea...

From Dream to Reality Winchester's dining scene welcomes a fresh voice as Bistro Sojo opens its doors, bringing Mediterranean and tropical flavors to downtown Winchester. Host of The Valley Today , Janet Michael and cohost Justin Kerns from VisitWinchesterVA.com sit down with owners Felix and Martha Addison to uncover the story behind Winchester's most talked-about new restaurant. The Addisons did...

A Vision Born from Compassion Fifty-two years ago, educator Bill Moyers looked around his classroom and asked a simple but profound question: where will these students go after graduation? In 1974, opportunities for individuals with disabilities were virtually nonexistent. Rather than accepting this reality, Moyers and his colleagues founded Shen-Paco , an organization that would transform the liv...

Mountain Trails sits nestled on Winchester's Old Town walking mall at 115 North Loudoun Street, where owner Garry Green has cultivated something rare in retail: a store that feels like a community. After 34 years in business—the last 13 at this location—Garry has discovered what he calls "the Loudoun Street Magic," especially on Saturday evenings when the mall comes alive. He shares his passion du...

A Growing Crisis Hidden in Plain Sight Winchester's family homelessness crisis looks nothing like what most people imagine. There are no tent encampments or visible street corners occupied by children. Instead, the crisis unfolds quietly in motel rooms, backseats of cars, and overcrowded apartments where families double up with relatives, desperately hoping their situation will improve. Chris Brig...

A Community Comes Together to Honor Local Excellence Fresh off a Parisian adventure, Kaleigh Fincham returns to the Top of Virginia region with renewed energy and a mission: to orchestrate one of the Chamber's most meaningful events of the year. As Director of Events for the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber , Kaleigh joins host Janet Michael on "The Valley Business Today" to unveil the details of...

During a recent episode of The Valley Today , host Janet Michael sits down with Jill Edlich and Kary Haun for Tourism Tuesday — Shenandoah County Edition — to talk about an exciting new chapter unfolding at North Mountain Vineyard and Winery . What begins as a conversation about events and community quickly reveals something much bigger: a Renaissance fair founder has just stepped into life as a v...

Record Numbers Shatter Post-Pandemic Expectations Six years after the pandemic first disrupted American life, a troubling trend emerges across rural Virginia. The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank now serves approximately 180,000 people every month—a staggering 39,000 more than the pandemic's peak. Les Sinclair, the organization's Communications and PR Manager, reveals this sobering reality during a recen...

A Homecoming to the Shenandoah Valley Candace DeLong is settling into her new role as Frederick County's consumer horticulture extension agent, and she's already discovering the perks of the position, she explains to host Janet Michael on this episode of The Valley Today . Just three weeks into the job, she's found herself surrounded by enthusiastic Master Gardeners , chocolate Valentine's Day cak...

The Silent Threat Women Face Heart disease remains the number one killer of women in America, yet nearly half of all women fail to recognize it as their greatest health threat. During a recent Community Health episode of The Valley Today , host Janet Michael talks with Dr. April Shewmake , a board-certified interventional cardiologist at Winchester Cardiology and Vascular Medicine I Valley Health...

A Return Visit Reveals Restaurant Reality Just months after opening their doors, Amanda and Bill Whitson welcome back Valley Today host, Janet Michael, and SBA Virginia District Director, Carl Knoblock to share the unvarnished truth about launching Clem's Kitchen at Middletown's historic Wayside Inn. While the couple anticipated challenges, the reality of restaurant ownership has delivered surpris...

How One Virginia Town is Reinventing Community Commerce During Its Bicentennial Mount Jackson, Virginia , is having a moment. During a recent Tourism Tuesday episode of The Valley Today , Town Manager Olivia Hilton sat down with host Janet Michael to share an ambitious slate of initiatives transforming this small Shenandoah County community. From quirky farmers markets to business incubators, Moun...

An Unexpected Path to Baking Chef Chuck Arnaud didn't follow a traditional route to becoming one of Luray's most beloved bakers. For over two decades, he worked in stagecraft, starting as a junior high school stagehand and eventually country music artists in Nashville. However, his career took a dramatic turn when he traded stage lights for bread ovens, opening Main Street Bakery and Catering in t...

A Hidden Gem Takes Flight Winchester Regional Airport has quietly transformed from a modest local airfield into a major economic driver for the Shenandoah Valley. In a recent episode of The Valley Today , Executive Director Nick Sabo talks with host Janet Michael to unveil stunning new data that reveals just how significant this transformation has been. The Numbers Tell a Compelling Story The Virg...

A Career Path Born from Industry Need Laurel Ridge Community College is addressing a critical workforce shortage head-on with its innovative Power Line Worker Program . What began as conversations with local utilities in February 2024 has rapidly transformed into a comprehensive training pipeline that's already placing graduates into high-paying careers across the region. During a recent episode o...