The Valley Today

Today's conversation with Karie Griffin, Market Manager for Clarke County Farmer's Market was the official kickoff to our summer series: Farmer's Market Fridays. Each month (maybe more!) we'll highlight a local farmer's market, fruit stand, or farmer on the show. Karie gave us all the details for the opening season - 27th - of Clarke County Farmer's Market. The market will open at 8am on Saturday,...

We recorded today's conversation on location in the Active Living Center in the War Memorial Building at Jim Barnett Park to chat with Winchester City Parks Director, Chris Konyar and Maggie McCampell Lien their Public Information Officer. The pair explained their current undertaking: surveying city residents to get feedback about the parks in their neighborhoods. There are nearly 16 neighborhood...

We were on the screen for The Valley Business Today with Christine Kriz, Director of the Lord Fairfax Small Business Development Center to chat about their business counseling services and a new program they're offering through a partnership with the Loudoun County Small Business Development Center . Christine told us how the name change that Lord Fairfax Community College is currently undergoing...

We traveled to Geraghty's Micro Farm & Market for our conversation today with Justin Kerns from Winchester/Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau . Joining us for our Tourism Tuesday chat was Dayna Geraghty, co-owner (with her husband Josh) of Geraghty's Micro Farm & Market. Dayna explained the concept of homesteading and how their farm started off as a way to simply feed their family in a...

Our conversation with Tyler Hinkle, Shenandoah County's Planner is part of an ongoing series following the work on Shenandoah 2045 - Shenandoah County's comprehensive plan. Joining us to talk about the collaboration that happens between the localities was Erick Moore, Director of Planning & Development for the town of Mount Jackson and his counterpart in Woodstock : Jill Jefferson, Urban Designer...

We were on the screen for United Way Day with Elise from United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley and Kim Herbstritt from Blue Ridge Habitat for Humanity . Kim gave us some background on her organization and explained how their affordable housing program works. She talked about the types of families they're looking for and their transition from being an affordable home builder to an affordable hom...

We were on the screen today for a conversation with Dr. James VanKirk , Director of Palliative Care for Valley Health , based at Winchester Medical Center about advance medical directives . This is part of an ongoing community health partnership with Valley Health where I talk every month to physicians, administrators, nurses, etc. from Valley Health about a wide range of topics regarding healthca...

We recorded today's conversation for The Valley Business Today on location at Shaffer's BBQ & Market in Middletown. Shaffer's owner, Matt was recently named the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber's Small Business of the Year at their Greater Good Awards which took place on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at Shenandoah Valley Golf Club. Vanessa McAllister, Director of Programs & Events for the chamber was m...

Our Tourism Tuesday conversation today with Edison Emmons from Luray/Page County Chamber of Commerce featured Jen Jenkins from Luray Parks & Recreation. Jen gave us details for a few upcoming events: Arbor Day Celebration happening on Saturday, April 23, 2022 at Lake Arrowhead beginning at 1pm at the Ruritan shelter. The event will feature presentations, free tree seedlings, community tree plantin...

We recorded today's conversation on location at Front Royal United Methodist Church to chat with Jeff Alban, Artistic Director and a few choir members with Blue Ridge Singers. Jeff gave us the details for their upcoming Spring Concert series: How Can I Keep From Singing. All concerts are free of charge with a freewill offering requested. Their performance schedule: Friday, April 22, 2022 at 7:30 p...

Our conversation today with Joanne Royaltey - aka the Spotted Lanternfly Lady - from Virginia Cooperative Extension ( Frederick County office ) was full of information about the invasive pest including practical ways that you can "remove" it from your property. She gave us a bit of history for how the SLF came to this country and then our area. She told us about the danger it poses to trees, crops...

Our conversation today with Guy Curtis , Director of Marketing for Laurel Ridge Community College included details for several upcoming virtual information sessions and open houses planned in the coming months. Joining us for the chat was Michelle Cribbs , Director of Outreach for the college. We initially talked about the name change for the school and the opportunity changing the name from Lord...

Our conversation for The Valley Business Today with Edison Emmons from Luray/Page County Chamber of Commerce was full of information about upcoming chamber events & some insight into chamber membership. He explained how membership worked, talked about the priority the chamber places on member success, and encouraged residents to consider being a patron member of the chamber. More information about...

Our conversation for Tourism Tuesday - Clarke County edition - with Nathan Stalvey, Director at Clarke County Historical Association gave us all the details for their Spring Art at the Mill show. The show will run April 23rd - May 8th and be open to the public on Saturdays between 10am - 5pm; and Sunday through Friday between 12pm - 5pm. There is a $5 admission fee. Nathan told us about the record...

We were on the Zoom screen for a conversation today with French Price, Value Chain Coordinator for Virginia Cooperative Extension's Buy Fresh Buy Local program. French explained how the program worked and told us how important & far-reaching farming is to our communities. Buy Fresh Buy Local Shenandoah Valley supports local farms, retailers, restaurants and food businesses by promoting local farm...

Our strolling took Olivia Hilton from the Town of Strasburg and me to Preslee Real Estate for a conversation with several committee members planning Mayfest. Joining us for this episode of Strolling Strasburg was Abby Walters , chairperson of the Mayfest committee; Wendy Williams who coordinated the pageant; and Jaynelle Bowers, board member for the Shenandoah County Chamber of Commerce. Jaynelle...

We weren't in the studio for a live conversation today with Lt. Warren Gosnell from Frederick County Sheriff's Office because I needed to help at The Widget Cup ( find out more about that here .) We talked via Zoom from Goz's "mobile studio" about the behind the scenes things that happen to make Apple Blossom safe. He explained the role of the sheriff's office and talked about the "perks" he's had...

We recorded our Valley Business Today conversation with Niki Foster from Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce via Zoom to learn details for two upcoming events. The Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce will host a Valor Award Program to recognize members of the Front Royal Police Department, Warren County Fire & Rescue, and Warren County Sheriff's Department. The event will be he...

We recorded today's Tourism Tuesday conversation on location at Muse Vineyards with Kary Haun from Shenandoah County Tourism. Her guests were Christi Manning from Rev3 Endurance & Katie Mercer, Director of Marketing & Events for the Town of Woodstock. We learned the details for the upcoming Seven Bends Adventure Race that will happen on Saturday, April 9, 2022. Christi explained the concept of adv...

We were on the Zooms for our conversation today with Sari Carp, Executive Director at Sustainability Matters. We talked about how small things can make a big impact on sustainability and she offered a few tips for things that any person can do to reduce their carbon footprint. Sari gave us an update on their "Making Trash Bloom" project and talked about upcoming partnerships with Rappahannock & Fa...

We recorded today's conversation on location to chat with the owners and makers of Old Town Cider in Winchester. Joining me in their office for the conversation was David & Philip Glaize, co-owners of Old Town Cidery, cidermaker Stephen Kelly, and Tasting Room Manager Kelley Kinsey. They gave me some history for how the dream of making cider from their family apples became a reality. We talked abo...

We recorded today's conversation at Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area with their Executive Director Andy Gail and Matt Peterson, Director at the John & Janice Wyatt Foundation. Matt told us a bit about the Wyatt Foundation and their long-term goals to support children and their families in our communities. The John & Janice Wyatt Foundation is a 501c(3) non-profit, grantmaking family foundation...

We recorded today's conversation on location in the conference room at Frederick County Economic Development Authority to chat with Business Retention Manager, Shayla Rickard. Shayla gave me all the details for the Widget Cup which happens on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Established in 2015, the Frederick County EDA's regional Widget Cup® event is an annual competition for high school teams drawn from...

We recorded today's conversation on location at the Rustic Hare Spring Market happening Friday, April 1 (12pm - 6pm), Saturday, April 2 (10am - 5pm), and Sunday, April 3 (12pm - 4pm) at 197 E. Court Street in Woodstock. Kary Haun from Shenandoah County Tourism joined me for the conversation along with Jennifer Luvaas and Tracey Martin to explain how the pop-up shop started last year and told us a...

Our conversation with Tyler Hinkle, Shenandoah County's Planner is part of an ongoing series following the work on Shenandoah 2045 - Shenandoah County's comprehensive plan. Joining us to talk about Chapter One: Historic & Cultural Resources were Zach Hottel, the county's historian & archivist for Shenandoah County Library; Brad Swank, CAC member serving District 3; and Bill Wine, local historian....