The Valley Today

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 Nana's Blue Greenhouse for a chat with owners and flower...

Our conversation today welcomes Chef Shiv Kumar of Sona Restaurant and Lisa Bell, owner of LK Wine Tours and Sales (and not-so-silent Andy Gail) to discuss an upcoming wine dinner event hosted by Sona Restaurant on July 26th, which features a five-course meal paired with unique wines selected by Lisa. Chef Shiv shares his journey from cooking as a hobby to owning and running Sona Restaurant for ov...

Our conversation with Gina Hilliard from  Luray/Page Chamber of Commerce welcomes Judy Suddith, Manager of Laurel Ridge Luray Page County Center at Jenkins Hall to discuss the upcoming Luray Day event , fall semester registrations, and the services available at the college. Judy highlights the benefits of the open house event, particularly for veterans, and discusses various educational programs,...

Our conversation today at Sinclair Health Clinic features Dr. Mercedes Abbet, the Director of Sinclair Health Clinic, and Jennifer Hall, Director of Community Engagement. The discussion provides an overview of the clinic's extensive history and services for the community. Mercedes shares that Sinclair Health Clinic was founded in 1986 and offers primary care, prenatal care, women's health, and chr...

Our conversation today welcomes back Brandy Boies , Director of Public Relations and Special Events for Laurel Ridge Community College , and retired US Army Major Jason Hatch. The conversation highlights the importance and impact of Laurel Ridge Community College, particularly focusing on the college's recent edition of the Laureate magazine, which honors veterans in its Spring/Summer edition. Bra...

Our conversation for The Valley Business Today welcomes Stephanie Lillard , Director of Community Economic Development for People Inc. Stephanie discusses her role and provides an overview of the community economic development work performed by People Inc. Stephanie explains the aims and functions of People Inc's community economic development program, which includes small business lending and con...

Our conversation today welcomes Nathan Stalvey, the director at the Clarke County Historical Association, to discuss Colonial Kids Day happening on July 13th at the Burwell-Morgan Mill. Nathan shares details about the event, such as its history, growth, and various planned activities. He mentions how the event has become popular, attracting participants from various regions and organizations. Nath...

Today's conversation features Captain Austin Cucciardo from Warren County Fire and Rescue to discuss the new ambulances being integrated into their service. Austin walks through the extensive process from ordering the ambulances to their final inspections. We delve into the specifics of the customizations and the critical safety features that have been incorporated into these vehicles. Some exciti...

Our conversation for United Way Day discusses the operations and initiatives of Winchester CCAP with Executive Director Andrea Cosans. She highlights various aspects of Winchester CCAP's efforts in homeless prevention and community support, including their food pantry, clothing ministry, and financial assistance programs. Andrea explains how Winchester CCAP strives to offer not just immediate aid...

Our conversation for The Valley Business Today - Front Royal/Warren County edition - features Niki Foster from  Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce.   We cover various topics related to the Chamber's activities and events. Niki shares updates on the redesign and redecoration of the Chamber's space, which is being transformed into a cozy and colorful member lounge offering facilities for...

Our conversation today with Kary Haun for Shenandoah County's Tourism Tuesday welcomes Ben & Mindi Burch from Corner Market Farm to Table. Ben and Mindi share insights into their farming operations, partnerships with local farmers and restaurants, and their vision for supporting the local community. They highlight their beef products, produce offerings, and other local goods such as baking mixes,...

Our conversation today features Winchester Fire Marshal , Jeremy Luttrell to talk about firework safety ahead of the July 4th celebrations. Jeremy provides crucial information about what constitutes permissible fireworks in Virginia and emphasizes the importance of using them safely and responsibly. Permissible fireworks are defined by Virginia State Fire Code and state law. They exclude anything...

Today's conversation welcomes Tavan Mair, founder and CEO of Connected Communities. Our discussion covers the organization's efforts in providing mental health services and support to children and families within the Winchester, Front Royal, and surrounding areas. Tavan explains the history and mission of Connected Communities, highlighting various programs such as mentoring, supervised visitation...

Our conversation for Traffic Safety Thursday with Lt. Warren Gosnell from  Frederick County Sheriff's Office shares advice and insight into safety issues while celebrating the upcoming July 4 holiday. He reminds listeners about the consequences of getting behind the wheel after drinking while celebrating. We also talk about fireworks safety, practicing patience, and the importance of not leaving y...

Our conversation for The Valley Business Today included Kaleigh Fincham, Director of Programs & Events for the  Top of Virginia Regional Chamber with all the graduation details for the inaugural Arising 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 & leadership opport...

Our conversation for Tourism Tuesday with Justin Kerns from  Winchester/Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau features Mike Brady, his son Alex, and his daughter Megan Craggs to learn about Carter Hall Farm in Stephens City. The family explains their history with the property, initially purchased in 2019 but with ties dating back to 1961. They share insights into the heritage breeds they r...

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. We discuss the updates and finalizations made to the compr...

Our conversation today is full of details for the 2024 Northern Shenandoah Valley Drinking Water Testing Clinics from Karen Poff , Senior Extension Agent, Family & Consumer Science, Virginia Cooperative Extension office who is based in the  Warren County office , but serves all five surrounding counties. She also manages the Northern Shenandoah Valley Financial Education Program. Hannah Copp , als...

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...