The Valley Today

We pre-recorded today's conversation at Lord Fairfax Community College with Amber Foltz, Dean of Students to learn the details about their new G3 program. G3 – Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back – provides "last dollar" tuition assistance to middle- and lower-income students taking classes in five high-demand career areas. It goes into effect July 1. G3 pays for a qualified student's remaining tuit...

We pre-recorded today's conversation for The Valley Business Today with Niki Cales from the Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce and her guest, Meghan Bowers, Director of Humane Society of Warren County to get the details for their upcoming fundraiser Waggin' for Dragons. Waggin' for Dragons in an annual event and in 2021 it's extra special because three non-profits (Humane Society of War...

We pre-recorded today's conversation for Tourism Tuesday with Kary Haun from Shenandoah County's Tourism Office to chat about farm stands, farmer's markets, and country stores that can be found across Shenandoah County. Here's who we discussed: Gore's Meats Crabill's Meats Baker's Farm Fresh Pork J&L Green Farm Swover Creek Farm & Brewery Woodbine Farm Market Mowery Orchard Adam's Apples & Herbs J...

Today's show is a compilation of conversations with various tourism directors and those in the know about what's happening in their community for the July 4th holiday and fireworks display(s). Winchester/Frederick County: https://visitwinchesterva.com/events/ Let Freedom Swing! July 3, 2021 3pm - 9pm: Get your dancing shoes on–it's an all-American block party! Celebrate Independence Day with some...

We pre-recorded our conversation today with Katie Devolites, Director of the Adult Care Center of Northern Shenandoah Valley. The Adult Care Center provides assistance to those with conditions impacting memory and independence for the purpose of enriching one's life story through encouraging and engaging services and activities. Katie explained what this looks like on a daily basis and talked abou...

We pre-recorded our conversation today with Sally Michaels from Frederick County Economic Development Authority to talk about the Worlds of Work Expo (WoW!), the expansion of Manufacturing Week, and the Employer Expo. Worlds of Work is a career exploration event managed by Lord Fairfax Community College Career Pathways Consortium, in partnership with Barrett Machine, Inc., Northern Shenandoah Vall...

We were live in the studio today with Dennis Lynch from Shenandoah Valley Music Festival to learn about the performers coming to their 2021 Summer Concert Series. Dennis told us about who is performing when and in some cases, why. We talked about the impact the pandemic had on last year's season and where you can easily purchase tickets for this year's performances. Visit their website for the ful...

People Incorporated , a Virginia-based nonprofit, recently welcomed Samantha "Sam" Barber as the agency's director of community engagement. We met up over Zoom to chat with Sam about her background, this position, and the various programs and services People Inc. offers. Sam will focus on building partnerships in nine counties and two cities in People Inc.'s northern and central Virginia service a...

We pre-recorded today's conversation for United Way Day with Elise from United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley and her guest, Lorie Noakes Director of Blue Ridge Housing Network. Elise gave us the details for Project Connect which was happening as the show aired at Virginia Avenue Charlotte DeHart Elementary School in Winchester; at the end of the show she also reminded us about the Rubbermaid S...

We were LIVE in the studio today with Lt. Warren Gosnell from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office for our "normal" monthly conversation about traffic safety, new laws and public safety in general. He told us about the new bicycle law that Governor Northam signed into effect on March 31, 2021 HB2262, the Bicyclist Safety Act requires the driver of a motor vehicle to change lanes when overtaking a...

We pre-recorded today's conversation with Cynthia Schneider, CEO of Top of Virginia Regional Chamber to get in the weeds about their purpose, their mission and their vision as it relates to their member programs and services. Purpose: to connect businesses and community resources for mutual success. Mission: Provide Programs and services to meet the business and professional needs of our members....

We pre-recorded today's conversation for Tourism Tuesday - Winchester Frederick County edition - with Justin Kerns from Winchester/Frederick County Convention & Visitor's Bureau and his guest Middletown Mayor, Charles Harbaugh IV. In the first segment Mayor Harbaugh gave us all the details for the 4th of July festivities that will be taking place in Middletown on July 4, 2021. Events include a sof...

Our Strolling Strasburg episode this month took us on a tour of Strasburg's Visitor's Center with Olivia Hilton: Interim (soon to be permanent I hope!) Director of Community Development for the Town of Strasburg and Linda Wooten: Tourism Specialist and Manager of the Visitor's Center. Olivia explained why she chose this location for our visit this month and Linda gave us some background on the typ...

We pre-recorded today's Extension Office Friday conversation via Zoom with Karen Poff , Senior Extension Agent, Family & Consumer Science, Virginia Cooperative Extension office. Karen is based in the Warren County office , but serves all five surrounding counties. She also manages the Northern Shenandoah Valley Financial Education Program. Karen answered a few of the "Quick Money Chat" questions t...

We pre-recorded today's conversation with Dr. Mesfin Shibeshi, a board certified orthopedic surgeon with expertise in total joint surgery with Warren Memorial Hospital and Valley Health Orthopaedics | Front Royal . This is part of our continuing health series in partnership with Valley Health . Every month we have a conversation with someone in the Valley Health system on a wide range of topics fr...

We pre-recorded today's conversation with Niki Cales from Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce to talk about the organization's upcoming events. Niki gave us the details for the New Teacher Reception that will return as an "in-person" event this year on August 4, 2021 from Noon - 2pm. She explained the importance of this event and we talked about the marketing value for local businesses t...

We pre-recorded today's conversation for Tourism Tuesday - Luray/Page County edition - with Gina Hilliard from Luray/Page County Chamber of Commerce and her guest, Tony Higgenbotham from Bear Mountain Ziplines. Tony told us about their zipline experience that includes training before the trip and the safety mechanisms they have in place. He told us about their ropes course and how the pandemic aff...

We pre-recorded today's conversation with Carrie Althouse from Althouse Pottery to learn about her craft, the new things she's created and what her process is like when trying something new. For more information about her Raku firings, the tiny houses we discussed and her upcoming shows, follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/althousepottery and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/al...

We pre-recorded today's conversation during a personal tour of the new Warren Memorial Hospital with Terri Mayes, Vice President of Warren Memorial Hospital and Chief Nursing Officer. We walked through the new building as Terri explained the need and use of many of the rooms, the technology and how it will all improve patient quality of care. See some video from the tour by clicking here . Communi...

We pre-recorded today's conversation with Guy Curtis & Jelise Ballon from LFCC Workforce Solutions to learn the details about their new leadership program: Leadership Basecamp. Leadership Basecamp, a first-level training series for brand-new supervisors and leaders to assist them in their transition into leadership, and develop bedrock skills that will serve them throughout their career and life....

We pre-recorded today's conversation for The Valley Business Today - Luray/Page County edition - with Gina Hilliard from the Luray/Page County Chamber of Commerce. Gina's guests were Kimberly Donohoe, Grants & Finance Specialist & English Henry, Economic Development & Tourism Specialist from Page County Economic Development & Tourism. We learned about their newest grant program that provides up to...

We pre-recorded today's conversation with Kary Haun from Shenandoah County Tourism to get details about several events that are happening up and down Shenandoah County in the coming weeks: Front Porch Fridays in Strasburg: https://www.facebook.com/StrasburgFPF Woodstock ROCS (Riley Outdoor Concert Series): https://www.townofwoodstockva.gov/172/Events Cross Roads Music Fest in New Market: https://w...

We pre-recorded today's conversation with Dawn Devine, Director of Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum and Tammy Stevenson, Director of Development & Marketing for the museum. We talked about their journey through the pandemic, the changes they've put in place and what you can still expect to see when you visit the museum. Tammy gave us the details about their upcoming 25th anniversary gala and tal...

We pre-recorded today's conversation with Dr. Harry Heard & his wife Valerie at their farm market located on 340 between Luray and Front Royal, just outside of Bentonville. They told us how the market came to be, what they hope it grows into and gave us a quick rundown of all the produce, baked goods, flowers/plants, and local products you can find when stopping by Heard's Cedar Hill Farm Market....

We pre-recorded today's conversation with Bonnie Zampino, Workforce Services Director (Northern Region) for Virginia Career Works; Scott Carlson, Employer Network Director/Registered Apprenticeship Coordinator for Virginia Career Works; Coressa Hubbard, Life and Career Coach for Virginia Career Works; Lyle Schiavone from Outlier; and Larry Baker from LFCC Workforce Solutions. The group explained h...