The Valley Today

Our conversation today with Samantha Barber, Founder/President of Reaching Out Now gave us background and history about the inception of her organization. We talked about the work they do in our community and the impact it's having. Reaching Out Now supports under-resourced youth to be the best version of themselves with preparedness to face the world with hope, purpose, and optimism. It serves st...

Our conversation today for Tourism Tuesday - Luray Page County edition - with Edison Emmons from Luray/Page County Chamber of Commerce featured Chef Chuck Arnaud from Main Street Bakery. He told us about his baking inspiration, when and why he decided to make a career change, and we talked about all the deliciousness that you can find at Main Street Bakery. He explained his philosophy not just in...

Our conversation today with Stephens City Mayor, Mike Diaz included Gina McIntire, Committee President for the Newtown Heritage Festival. The pair gave all the details for the festival that kicks off at 6pm on Friday, May 26, 2023 in the Newtown Commons area on Main Street in Stephens City. In its 31st year, Newtown Heritage Festival will feature dozens of craft vendors, fair food, live music, and...

Our conversation today with Chris Konyar, Director of Winchester City Parks was full of information about upcoming sports camps, aquatic programs, and a few projects. Chris told us about the sports camps that are gearing up for summer. He talked about the impressive list of instructors for volleyball, basketball, football, wrestling, tennis, and even a camp that features a different sport everyday...

Our conversation today with Sari Carp, Executive Director for Sustainability Matters gave us details for free webinar: What's Up With Recycling? happening on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 from 7pm - 8pm.  The webinar will take a deep dive into the recycling industry. Find out why you can't recycle many plastics or glass anymore, and what you can do to help the situation. Also learn what happens to that ca...

Our conversation today with Guy Curtis from Laurel Ridge Community College included Pamela Neff who was named 2023 Outstanding Graduate for the Middletown Campus, and Theresa Akyaa who was named 2023 Outstanding Graduate for the Fauquier Campus. They both told us their stories about what led them to continue their education and talked about their experience with classes and professors.  The Laurel...

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 Tyrone Logan , CEO and Co-Founder of Obsidian Solutions Group . Obsidian Solutions Group is an analysis, systems in...

Our conversation for Tourism Tuesday - Old Town Winchester edition - with Alex Flanigan, Main Street Program Manager for the City of Winchester took place in the secret garden at Espresso Bar & Cafe on the Old Town Walking Mall. I met up with Alex to get all the details for KidzFest which is happening on Saturday, May 13, 2023, from noon til 5pm. She told us why this event is one of her favorites...

Our conversation today with Michelle Ross, Executive Director of Samuels Public Library and Sharon Fisher, Program Committee Chair for Friends of Samuels Library gave all the details for an upcoming event featuring the VMFA ( Virginia Museum of Fine Art ) on the Road Artmobile. The pair walked through the itinerary of events that will happen throughout the week as well as during the times the Artm...

Today's Strolling Strasburg conversation with Olivia Hilton, Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Town of Strasburg included Carla Wallen from Strasburg Heritage Association and Emily Reynolds representing Strasburg Museum to talk about the newly updated Historic Strasburg Walking Trail. The group explained why the trail needed to be updated and what improvements have been made to make it mor...

Our conversation today for Traffic Safety Thursday with Lt. Warren Gosnell from Frederick County (VA) Sheriff's Office gave safety tips and information about what has to happen behind the scenes for large-scale events such as Shenandoah Valley Apple Blossom Festival and funeral processions for fallen first responders. Goz told us about the role that FCSO plays in transporting and in some cases act...

Our conversation today with Niki Foster from Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce gave us all the details for the 35th Annual Virginia Wine & Craft Festival happening on Saturday, May 20, 2023 from 11am - 6pm in downtown Front Royal. Featuring wine, mead, and cider from all over Virginia, the Virginia Wine & Craft Festival will host:  Bright Meadows Farm , Caihailian Vineyard , Castle Gle...

Our conversation today for Tourism Tuesday - Shenandoah County edition - with Kary Haun from Shenandoah County Tourism featured Shauna Finley from Skydive Shenandoah. Shauna told us about her first jump and talked about her journey to becoming an instructor and now a business owner. We talked about their business - now in it's fifth year - and she gave details about several upcoming events includi...

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. Each month they will encourage and chall...

Our conversation today with Kaycee Childress, CEO of United Way Northern Shenandoah Valley featured Allison Mondell, Director of Development for Seniors First, The Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging. Allison gave us an overview of several programs offered by her organization such as Meals on Wheels , WellTran , senior centers , in-home services , and an ombudsman . She also told us of the new, larger...

Our conversation today with Nancy Silva, Executive Director for the Community Foundation of the Northern Shenandoah Valley gave us all the details about five grants they are offering to local nonprofits. Nancy explained the mission of CFNSV and told us how they got started and the types of grants will be offering in this grant cycle. We talked about who their organization serves and she told us ho...

Our conversation for The Valley Business Today featured Danita Roble, Director of Membership Development for the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber & her guest, Lisa Talbott with Talbott Training Group. Danita explained the transformation of the chamber's leadshare groups to networking community groups and talked about the value of putting relationship-building first when networking within your indu...

Our conversation today for Tourism Tuesday - Winchester/Frederick County edition - with Justin Kerns from Winchester/Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau featured Allison Ritter, owner of The Tea Cart. We recorded our chat at their new location in Old Town Winchester. Allison told us a bit about The Tea Cart which currently operates a tearoom in Berryville. She explained the many opportun...

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's chat featured several community members who have p...

It was Extension Office Friday on the show today with Karen Poff. Karen manages the Northern Shenandoah Valley Financial Education Program for the area extension offices. Our topic today was "How to Complain Effectively."  Karen explained options for making contact, the importance of keeping documentation, and gave us several options of other agencies that could help obtain a resolution. She walke...

As part of our community health partnership with Valley Health , our conversation this month focused on plastic & reconstructive microsurgery. Dr. Neal Topham with Valley Health Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery joined me for the conversation. Dr. Topham explained the term microsurgery and talked about the various reconstructive surgery options that can aid in recovery (both mentally and physically...

Our conversation today with Nathan Stalvey, Executive Director for the Clarke County Historical Association included all the details for the spring Art at the Mill art show. Art at the Mill opens to the public on Saturday, April 22, 2023, and runs through Sunday, May 7, 2023. There will be an artist reception on Sunday, April 30, 2023, from 2pm - 5pm. The show will be open Sunday - Friday from noo...

Our conversation for Tourism Tuesday - Luray/Page County edition - with Edison Emmons from Luray/Page County Chamber of Commerce featured Kris Garrett & Abigail Bullock from Page County Equine Connection.  They told us about their organization and gave details for the Spring Fun Horse Show happening on April 29, 2023, at River's Bend Ranch. We talked about the benefits of having a local arena to h...

Our conversation today with Dianne Klopp, founder & President of Honor Flight Top of Virginia included one of her board members (and a dear friend of mine), Bill North. The pair gave a history of the organization and explained how the Top of Virginia "hub" was formed. Bill told us about his experience on one of the missions where his son accompanied him. Dianne walked us through how the trips work...

For our first ever "weekend edition" of The Valley Today, I met up with Andy Gail, Executive Director for Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area at Four Color Fantasies to get all the details about their fundraiser: Four Color Fantasies Covers Literacy. Joining us was Four Color Fantasies founder, Mike Kwolek and his manager, Erik C. Jones to tell us how the fundraiser started five years ago and give...