The Valley Today

The Show Must Go On Despite battling the flu for over 10 days, Niki Foster, President of the Front Royal Warren County Chamber of Commerce , refused to miss another episode of The Valley Today . Host Janet Michael awarded her friend the "perseverance award of the year" as they settled in for a conversation about recent community celebrations and upcoming events that have the chamber buzzing with u...

When host Janet Michael talks with Rosemary Wallinger and Laura Fogle for this episode of The Valley Today , she expected a straightforward conversation about local history. What unfolded instead was a remarkable story of discovery, perseverance, and the fight to preserve a crucial piece of American—and African American—heritage that has been hiding in plain sight for nearly 90 years. A Tale of Tw...

The Unexpected Connection Between Snow and Blood Shortages Winter storms don't just strand motorists and close schools—they create life-threatening blood shortages that most Americans never consider. In a revealing conversation, host Janet Michael talks with Deb Fleming, Executive Director of the Greater Shenandoah Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross , to discuss how a recent severe winter st...

Understanding the True Landscape of Community Services United Way Northern Shenandoah Valley is tackling one of the region's most persistent questions: Are there too many nonprofits, and do they overlap in their services? To find definitive answers, CEO Andy Gail announced a comprehensive regional nonprofit survey during a recent episode of The Valley Today with host Janet Michael. "We've heard so...

When Snow Removal Becomes a Community Challenge The recent winter storm that buried Frederick County under heavy snow and ice has left residents grappling with more than just blocked driveways and buried mailboxes. In a candid conversation on The Valley Today , Captain Warren Gosnell from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office sat down with host Janet Michael to discuss the realities of winter stor...

From Historic Roots to Modern Mission The Youth Development Center has found its new home in the heart of Winchester, and Executive Director Sarah Fishel couldn't be more excited about what this means for the community. Speaking with host Janet Michael on The Valley Today , Sarah traced the organization's journey from its 1990 founding to its March 2025 relocation to 302 South Loudoun Street, righ...

A New Era for the SportsPlex On a snow covered Thursday afternoon in Winchester, Virginia, the sounds of laughter and plastic paddles echo through the newly transformed PklPlex . What was once a multipurpose arena hosting basketball, floor hockey, and volleyball has evolved into something entirely different—six championship-quality indoor pickleball courts that are drawing players from teenagers t...

A Race Against the Cold When temperatures plummet below freezing in Winchester, Virginia, Robyn Miller's phone doesn't stop ringing. As Executive Director of WATTS (Winchester Area Temporary Transitional Shelter) , she oversees a lifesaving operation that runs 24 hours a day during the coldest months of the year.  In this episode of The Valley Today , host Janet Michael talks with Robyn about how...

A Conversation About Community, Connection, and Caring for Kids in Need When Heather Frost joins Janet Michael on The Valley Today , she brings a message that hits close to home: hundreds of children across the Shenandoah Valley desperately need stable, caring families. As Foster Parent Coordinator for Embrace Treatment Foster Care , Heather sees firsthand how the shortage of local foster homes af...

From Crisis to Opportunity When the Wrangler plant closed its doors in Page County over two decades ago, the community faced a crossroads. However, what could have been a devastating blow instead became the catalyst for educational transformation. Dr. Kim Blosser, President of Laurel Ridge Community College , talks with Janet Michael on The Valley Today to reflect on how the Luray-Page County Cent...

A Broadcast with Purpose Host Janet Michael and cohost Andy Gail transform Handley Regional Library into a podcast studio, broadcasting from the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber 's Community Leadership Program (CLP). The energy in the room is palpable on this episode of The Valley Today , as this year's class gathers for their media and nonprofit session. Meanwhile, Andy, a 2016 CLP graduate and c...

A Homecoming Story Suzanne Soliday has come full circle. After opening Suzanne's Studio in Woodstock back in 2018, relocating to Florida in 2021, and continuing her artistic passion in Titusville, she's now back where it all began. In this Tourism Tuesday episode of The Valley Today , host Janet Michael and cohost from Shenandoah County Tourism , Kary Haun sit down with Suzanne at her freshly reop...

A Conversation About Infrastructure, Innovation, and Community Input The Shenandoah Valley's roadways are undergoing a massive transformation. In this episode of The Valley Today , host Janet Michael talks with Ken Slack, Communications Specialist for VDOT's Staunton District , to discuss the ambitious construction projects reshaping how residents travel through the region. What emerged was a fasc...

On this lively episode of The Valley Today , host Janet Michael sits down with Brady Cloven, executive director of Friends of Old Town , and Corporal Rob Sloan, the City of Winchester's dedicated Old Town walking mall officer. Their conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at how visibility, relationships, and everyday interaction help keep downtown safe — and welcoming — for residents, busine...

The Science of Snow Preparation When winter storms threaten the Shenandoah Valley, VDOT's Staunton District springs into action long before the first flakes fall. In this episode of The Valley Today , host Janet Michael speaks with Ken Slack, Communications Specialist for the district, who reveals that preparation begins days in advance, with teams monitoring weather systems and planning for the w...

A Winter Tradition Takes Root Frederick County's beloved Restaurant Week returns for its fifth anniversary, bringing 26 diverse eateries together for a week-long celebration of local flavor. Running from January 26th through February 1st, 2026, FredCo Eats has evolved from a modest 15-restaurant launch into a cornerstone event that strengthens the entire regional food economy. In this episode of T...

When the idea of a community-owned grocery store begins to take root, it rarely starts with shelves and shopping carts. Instead, it starts with neighbors — people who believe food can connect a community more deeply than any national chain ever could. That belief sits at the heart of the Winchester Co-Op Market , a grassroots effort working to bring a member-owned grocery store to the city. During...

A Warm Welcome to Wellness When Marcy Campbell greets newcomers at Downtown Studios Unlimited , she's not just welcoming them to a fitness class—she's inviting them into a family. As co-owner of this Luray-based group exercise studio, Marcy has spent decades transforming the way her community approaches health and wellness. In this episode of The Valley Today , she talks with host Janet Michael an...

A Local Returns to Serve Her Community The Northern Shenandoah Valley welcomes a familiar face to its agricultural community. Cynthia Fairbanks, a Clarke County native who grew up on her family's farm in Berryville, has returned home to serve as the new agricultural extension agent based in Warren County. Moreover, her role extends across the entire five-county region, filling a critical position...

In this episode of The Valley Today Community Health series, host Janet Michael talks with Dr. Kevin Volkema, a board-certified family medicine physician at Valley Health Primary Care Greenwood, about the critical importance of primary care . From Chicago Suburbs to the Shenandoah Valley Dr. Kevin Volkema's journey into medicine began with a simple nudge. Growing up in Wheaton, Illinois, just outs...

Humble Beginnings in a Feed Store Sarah Cohen never imagined she'd spend her life making potato chips in rural Virginia. Growing up in Washington, DC, where she worked in her family's restaurant and hotel business from age 12, she learned work ethic early. However, manufacturing knowledge? That came later—much later. In her twenties, Sarah launched Route 11 Potato Chips in an old feed store in Mid...

A Toast to Community Spirit Winchester's Old Town district is shaking off the post-holiday blues with a spirited comeback. In this episode of The Valley Today , host Janet Michael and Brady Cloven, Executive Director for Friends of Old Town , recently embarked on what they jokingly called "research"—a Friday afternoon bar crawl previewing Old Town on the Rocks , a revived cocktail competition set...

The Red Cross Does More Than You Think When most people hear " American Red Cross ," they immediately think of blood drives. However, as Deborah Fleming, Executive Director of the Greater Shenandoah Valley Chapter , explains to The Valley Today host Janet Michael, disaster relief and recovery represent a massive—and increasingly critical—portion of the organization's mission. Deborah oversees oper...

Why This Year's Influenza Outbreak Demands Your Attention Virginia finds itself in the dark red zone on the CDC's influenza activity map, signaling a "very high" level of flu cases sweeping across the Commonwealth. This alarming development prompts Janet Michael, host of The Valley Today , to reach out to Dr. Jeff Feit for an urgent conversation about protecting communities during this particularl...

Laurel Ridge Community College isn't just accepting applications—it's actively dismantling the barriers that keep people from pursuing their educational dreams. In this episode of The Valley Today , host Janet Michael talks with Guy Curtis, the college's Director of Marketing, and Brandy Hawkins Boies, Director of PR and Special Events, to explore how accessible higher education has become in the...