The Valley Today

Our conversation today with Arline Link from Explore Art & Clay Studio/Explore Art & Clay Gallery was somewhat of an ambush. She didn't know until I showed up at the studio that we would be recording a radio show. She told us about how she came to have a passion for pottery and the role art has played throughout her life as a homeroom mom and business owner. We talked about the paint your own pott...

Our monthly conversation with Elise from United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley also included Kelly Bobar, Director for Child Safe Center - CAC. Kelly told us about her agencies and the programs and services it provides to children who have been in abusive situations. She explained the types of therapies they employ, the impact of the pandemic and told us about their graduation ceremonies. For m...

Our conversation today with Tom Crosby, board member for Winchester Host Lions Club included a bit of history about the club and the details for how and why the new sensory trail came to existence. It will open officially on Sunday, September 26, 2021 in Jim Barnett Park.

Kory Campbell, Director of Marketing & Communications for the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber joined me for a conversation about the 2021 Valor Awards that took place on September 2, 2021. He told us about the awards and shared some audio from Sgt. Sean O'Connor's speech. He also gave us the details for upcoming chamber events and programs: Young Professionals, Business After Hours, and the Marij...

Today's conversation for Tourism Tuesday - Luray/Page County edition - featured Christine Caldwell, owner of Studio 31.13. Christine told us how the idea for opening a crafting studio became a reality. She highlighted several of the projects available for visitors to create and talked about the ability for group projects, girls nights and fun evenings out for all ages and crafting abilities. Get m...

Our community health segment today – a partnership with Valley Health – focused on brain & spine surgery. Our guest was Dr. Lee Selznick. Dr. Selznick is Chief of Neurosurgery at Winchester Medical Center, Co-Director/Founder of Virginia Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, and a Neurosurgeon at Virginia Brain & Spine Center | Valley Health. We talked about his path to becoming a brain surgeon and all...

oday's conversation with Jason Hatch is part of an ongoing podcast series in partnership with Lord Fairfax Community College. We recorded it in April 2021. Jason Hatch , a 2020 Lord Fairfax Community College graduate talks about his career path & those experiences that took him around the world. He explains how he came to LFCC looking to build a foundation in the arts as he began a new journey in...

Our conversation today with Dr. Jeffrey Feit, Valley Health's Population Health and Community Health Officer focused on COVID-related issues. Dr. Feit explained the uses & history of Ivermectin and how it became part of the narrative for preventing/treating COVID-19. We talked about the studies surrounding the efficacy of it's use. We also chatted about boosters and he explained the difference bet...

Our conversation for Tourism Tuesday – Shenandoah County edition with Kary Haun from Shenandoah County Tourism included a chat with Libby Rocco, Entertainment Chair for the Edinburg Ole Time Festival. Libby gave us a bit of history on the festival and told us about all the activities, history demos, craft vendors, food, parade & live music that will be happening throughout the 3-day event that run...

Our conversation with Nathan Stalvey, Director of the Clarke County Historical Association was full of details about upcoming events. Nathan told us about the Fall edition of Art at the Mill happening October 2-7, 2021 - you can now purchase items online; a history talk "The Other Half" happening on September 25, 2021; plus he explained their new name and talked about the need for young mill volun...

Our conversation today with Jan Bresch, Director at Special Love and Lizi Lewis, their Communications Manager was all about the great work their organization does for children (and their family members) suffering with cancer. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month so we talked about the special programs, events and activities offered by Special Love - including those at Camp Fantastic. We l...

Our conversation today with Niki Cales from Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce included a chat with Michelle Ross, Director at Samuels Public Library. Michelle explained why the library recently made the decision to postpone their Sami-Con event and told us about a survey they're asking the community to complete. We talked about several other services the library offers including audio...

Our conversation today for Tourism Tuesday was a bonus episode featuring Shenandoah County. We talked with Katie Mercer, Director of Marketing/Events for the town of Woodstock about their upcoming WoodsTACO event happening on Saturday, September 11, 2021. For more details, visit their website: https://www.townofwoodstockva.gov/532/WoodsTACO-Street-Taco-Festival In the second segment, Kary Haun fil...

We pre-recorded our conversation today with Cindy Moody & Joanne Poplar from Narrow Passage Daughters of the American Revolution to learn about the role their organization will play in the partnership with Wreaths Across America to put wreaths on veterans' headstones in 2 Shenandoah County cemeteries. Mt. Zion Lutheran Church in Woodstock, Virginia, will be joining in the effort to support the mis...

We pre-recorded today's conversation with Elise from United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley to learn all the details about Day of Caring that will happen on Wednesday, September 15, 2021. One hundred projects will be completed by over 800 volunteers in Frederick, Clarke, Warren, Page & Shenandoah Counties as well as the City of Winchester.

We caught up with Chris Konyar, the new director at Winchester Parks & Recreation for a cup of coffee at Espresso Bar & Cafe on the Old Town Walking Mall in downtown Winchester to learn about his new position, upcoming programs & events and generally give each other a hard time. He talked about their aquatics program & pool renovations, the dog park, their after school program and, of course, base...

We pre-recorded our conversation today for The Valley Business Today with John Fox, Executive Committee Chair for the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber and his guest, Dr. Jason Van Heukelum, Superintendent of Winchester Public Schools. We talked about the partnerships between the chamber, their committee members and the school systems in our area that happen to support workforce development in our...

We pre-recorded our conversation today for Tourism Tuesday - Winchester/Frederick County edition - with Justin Kerns from Winchester/Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Justin's guest was Katherine Solenberger from Homestead Farm at Fruit Hill Orchard. Katherine told us the history of her farm, the generations that came before her and how she & her daughter have partnered to breathe new...

We pre-recorded out conversation today with Kristen Laisse, Executive Director for Belle Grove Plantation to get all the details about Wine Fest (plus) that's happening Saturday, August 28 from 11am - 6pm. Kristen gave us a rundown of the wineries who will be present and told us about the local craft breweries and cideries that will also be on-site throughout the day. We talked about the food truc...

We pre-recorded today's conversation for "Extension Office Friday" via Zoom with Carol Nansel, a Shenandoah County extension agent focusing on 4-H youth development. Joining us on the Zoom screen was Lindsey Rigby, Lindsey Hamrick, Chad Biby & Emily Bowman to talk about the Shenandoah County 4-H/FFA Livestock Show & Sale happening Saturday, September 4, 2021. The Shenandoah County 4-H/FFA Livestoc...

We pre-recorded today's conversation as part of our monthly Community Health Partnership with Valley Health to talk about nursing and "The Year of the Nurse." The World Health Organization and American Nurses Association deemed 2020 Year of the Nurse , then extended it through 2021 in recognition of a uniquely challenging year. Joining me for the conversation: Anne Whiteside, Chief Nursing Officer...

We pre-recorded today's conversation with Michael Lindsay , Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative . Mike gave us some background about his experience and told us why he chose to service on the REC board. He also explained that while he represents Region 1 (the counties of Frederick, Shenandoah & portions of Page, Warren & Rappahannock) of REC's territory, he...

We pre-recorded today's conversation for Tourism Tuesday - Luray/Page County edition with Edie Emmons from Luray/Page County Chamber of Commerce and her guest, Ann Heck - owner at Fort Valley Ranch. Ann told us how they came to be the new owners of Fort Valley Ranch - in the pandemic - and what steps they've taken to ensure guest safety. She also told us about their cabins, their campsites and the...

We pre-recorded our stroll of Strasburg with Olivia Hilton, Interim (soon to be permanent, I hope!!!) Director of Community Development for the Town of Strasburg to chat with Kelly Sager from Sager Real Estate . Kelly gave us a bit of history about the agency that her father started in 1969. We talked about the local real estate market and the importance of using an agent - in particular one local...

We pre-recorded today's conversation for Farm Market Friday in person from the kitchen of Eddie Richard, the farmer at Richard's Fruit Market located at 6410 Middle Road in Middletown, VA. He gave us a bit of history of his farm property & told us how the market was started by his parents. The farm is a century farm and is now five generations deep in it's operation. We talked about the various fe...