The Valley Today

For today's show, I met up with Winter Brooks at Espresso Bar Cafe to have a conversation about the Stephens City Out of the Darkness Community Walk . Winter serves as the co-chair for this year's suicide prevention walk, now in it's ninth year, as well as Executive Board Team Chairperson for the Virginia chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention . She gave us details about the wal...

Our conversation for Traffic Safety Thursday with Lt. Warren Gosnell from  Frederick County Sheriff's Office covered several different topics. He recently attended a conference in Tennessee where he earned a certification through the University of Tennessee's Master Public Information Officer course. He explained what types of things they covered during the class and gave some insight into the pro...

Our conversation for The Valley Business Today with Niki Foster from Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce included James Jackson and Catherine McKay from Bungalow Furniture & Home Decor. The pair recently opened their shop on Main Street in Front Royal and gave us a bit of background about how the idea happened and what types of things you can find in their shop. We talked about the journ...

Our conversation today for Tourism Tuesday with Kary Haun from Shenandoah County Tourism featured Janel Laravie, owner and proprietor of Wolf Gap Vineyard & Winery. Janel explained how she & her husband came to own the nearly 20-year-old vineyard and told us about the experience they've had so far. We talked about the grapes they grow which produce the outstanding wines they offer. She told us abo...

Our conversation today with Cori Pence, Communications Specialist with Northwestern Community Services Board Prevention & Wellness Services is part of a year-long partnership with Northwestern Community Services Board highlighting eight different dimensions of wellness. Their "Rooted in" campaign is in its third year with 2023's message: Rooted in Wellness . They encourage community members to get...

Our conversation today with Sandi Webster, Board President for Family Promise Northern Shenandoah Valley and Robin Russell, program coordinator, gave some insight into the homeless family crisis in our community. We talked about the need, learned the organization's history, how we can help individually and as a community, and got details for their upcoming Night Without a Bed . Family Promise NSV...

Our conversation today with Chris Konyar, Director of Winchester City Parks took place under the pavilion at Christianson FamilyLand. Chris talked about the six new pickleball courts recently completed and opened in the FamilyLand area. He explained the popularity of the sport and the need for additional courts in the park. Chris also gave an update on the Preston Field construction and talked abo...

Our conversation for The Valley Business Today with Top of Virginia Regional Chamber 's CEO Cynthia Schneider included Melinda Topham from JustServe.org to talk about the upcoming Community Connect & Serve event happening on Thursday, September 28, 2023, from 5pm - 7pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints located at 399 Apple Pie Ridge Road, Winchester. Cynthia gave us a recap of a f...

Our conversation today for Tourism Tuesday - Winchester/Frederick County edition - with Renee Bayliss from Winchester/Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau also included Dave Cole, Deputy National Commander of the North-South Skirmish Association. Dave told us about the organization and explained the shooting competitions they host. There are national competitions twice a year in addition...

Our conversation today with Andy Gail, Executive Director for Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area gave us an update on several of their adult learning programs as well as details about the wide variety of topics they cover through classes and tutoring. Andy also gave a few statistics about how many books they're sending to children in the city of Winchester, Frederick & Clarke Counties through the...

Our conversation for United Way Day with Kaycee Childress, CEO of United Way Northern Shenandoah Valley featured Cindy Marzullo, Development Director for The Laurel Center . Kaycee gave us a few details about Day of Caring which was underway as the show aired with over 800 volunteers working on dozens of projects across the Shenandoah Valley for non-profits and their clients in need. Learn more ab...

As part of our community health partnership with Valley Health , this month, we talked with Dr. Devin Flaherty , Director of Surgical Oncology for Valley Health, and Dr. Jorge Posadas , a general surgeon with Valley Health Surgical Partners to learn more about their use of the da Vinci® Xi™ Surgical System.  The pair explained the vast and various types of surgeries that are being performed at Val...

Our conversation today with Katie Mercer, Director of Marketing & Events for the Town of Woodstock gave all the details for competing in their upcoming WoodsTACO Street Taco Festival. The event will take place on Saturday, September 23, 2023 from 11am - 4pm in downtown Woodstock. Katie explained how the competition works - there are professional and amateur competitions - that feature five differe...

Our conversation for Tourism Tuesday - Luray/Page edition - with Edison Emmons from Luray/Page Chamber of Commerce took me to Main Street Flavors to meet owner, Tydel Wilson. Tydel gave us a bit of background for how he came to be the owner of the ice cream shop that features Hershey's Ice Cream as well as several flavors from local creamery, Smiley's in Bridgewater, VA. He told us what his first...

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. Today, Tyler and I talked about Chapter One: Historic, Cul...

Our conversation today for Extension Office Friday featured Karen Poff , a Senior Extension Agent with Virginia Cooperative Extension who manages the NSV Financial Education Program , and Hannah Copp , an Associate Extension Agent in Family and Consumer Sciences, focusing on foods, nutrition, & health. Hannah told us how she landed in a career with extension and talked about how much she learned i...

Our conversation today with Guy Curtis from Laurel Ridge Community College included Vivi Meder , TRIO Director to tell us about the program, qualification requirements, and what those accepted can expect from the program. Vivi explained the community that has formed among students in the program and gave details for how to qualify. Plus, she told us a few stories about students who've been success...

Our conversation today is part of an ongoing partnership with the US Small Business Administration highlighting small businesses as well as offering advice and resources to small businesses. My co-host today was Carl Knoblock , Virginia District Director for the SBA. Joining Carl was Ti'Juana & Lawrence Gholson, owners of FamMat (Family Matters) Services based in Williamsburg. The couple was recen...

Our conversation for Tourism Tuesday - Old Town Winchester edition - featured Jenny McDonald from the City of Winchester to give all the details for Fiddles & Fifths - a Bluegrass & Bourbon Festival happening on Saturday, September 16, 2023, in Old Town Winchester. Headlining this year is Grammy award-winning Nashville phenomenon The SteelDrivers , supported at the mainstage by local powerhouse Lo...

Our conversation today with Cori Pence, Communications Specialist with Northwestern Community Services Board Prevention & Wellness Services is part of a year-long partnership with Northwestern Community Services Board highlighting eight different dimensions of wellness. Their "Rooted in" campaign is in its third year with 2023's message: Rooted in Wellness . They encourage community members to get...

Our conversation today with Cynthia Morris gave SO many details about the 53rd Annual Bluemont Fair happening Saturday/Sunday September 16-17, 2023, from 10am - 5pm. She gave the history of how the event started and talked about how it's grown over the decades. She described the magical 200-year-old village nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains that is Bluemont. The event spans most...

Our conversation for Traffic Safety Thursday was live in the studio with Lt. Warren Gosnell from Frederick County Sheriff's Office . It was not without it's glitches: the computer wouldn't play my intro music so Goz played HIS intro music from back in the day. But, as I listened to the recording, the mic didn't pick it up either. Regardless, it was as always, a great conversation full of solid inf...

Our conversation for The Valley Business Today - Front Royal/Warren County edition - with Niki Foster from the Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce featured Ryland Greenhouse and Melania Castegnaro, owners of Melania's Gourmet. Melania's Gourmet is a P astry Shop, Chocolaterie, and Boho Cafe opening September 7, 2023, at 104 South Royal Avenue in the historic district of Front Royal, VA o...

Our conversation for Tourism Tuesday - Shenandoah County edition - with Kary Haun from Shenandoah County Tourism also featured Darrell Wood, Director of Operations at Shenandoah Downs. Darrell gave us bit of history for harness racing in Woodstock and quite an education on how it works, the terminology, and the entertainment value it provides to visitors, families, and residents across the Shenand...

Our conversation today with Nathan Stalvey, Executive Director for Clarke County Historical Association gave us details for several upcoming events and programs. Nathan told us about the return of Trivia Nights at Barns of Rose Hill. They are held the first Tuesday in September, October, and November beginning at 6:30pm. Categories include History, Movies, Literature, Science, and more. Local area...