The Valley Today

We pre-recorded today's conversation via Zoom with Ken Slack, VDOT Staunton District Communications Specialist & Ed Carter, VDOT Edinburg Residency Administrator. This was our yearly "VDOT snow show" where we get an update on VDOT 's preparations for winter weather. We talked about the volume of salt used throughout our region, how & why brine works, the order in which roads are cleared and why, p...

We pre-recorded today's conversation via Zoom with Kristen Laise, Executive Director for Belle Grove to get the details about holiday tours and their Kris Kringle Outdoor Market happening on Saturday, December 5, 2020 from 10am - 4pm and Sunday, December 6, 2020 from 1pm - 5pm. The event will feature local artisans and makers on the grounds and upper level of the Beverley B. Shoemaker Welcome Cent...

We pre-recorded today's conversation for The Valley Business Today - Front Royal/Warren County edition - with Niki Cales, President of the Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce to get all the details about the Front Royal Christmas Parade happening on Saturday, December 5, 2020 beginning at 4pm. Niki told us about what went into the decision-making process to proceed with this year's Chris...

We pre-recorded today's conversation via Zoom for Tourism Tuesday - Shenandoah County edition - with Kary Haun from Shenandoah County Tourism and her guest, Tom Eshelman, General Manager for Shenandoah County Fairgrounds to talk about Christmas in the Valley . Christmas in the Valley is a 1.5 mile drive-thru Christmas lights trail featuring holiday scenes and light displays, all viewed from the sa...

We pre-recorded today's conversation via Zoom with Karen Poff, Senior Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences with Virginia Cooperative Extension based in Warren County , but serving all five surrounding counties. Karen also manages the Northern Shenandoah Valley Financial Education Program which provides financial education primarily through informal workshops and classes. Karen has been...

We pre-recorded our conversation via Zoom to get the details about Front Royal Kiwanis Pancake Day happening on Saturday, December 5, 2020 from 7am - 1pm at Warren County High School - as a drive-thru event. Joining me on the Zoom screen today was Melanie Stull, the club's current president; Bill Powers, pancake flipper and sponsorship coordinator; and Richard Hoover, current member & former Lt. G...

We pre-recorded our conversation via Zoom with Billy Whirley, Director of Membership Development for the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber to talk about membership benefits and how the chamber has had to pivot it's offerings to accommodate members during the pandemic. Click here to contact Billy .

We pre-recorded today's conversation via Zoom for Tourism Tuesday - Winchester/Frederick County edition - with Justin Kerns from the Winchester/Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau and his guest, Jim Thompson. Jim is the owner of Union Jack Pub & Restaurant in Old Town Winchester, Yummy Pig BBQ in Leesburg, Wild Geese Pub & Restaurant in Leesburg, and his newest venture: Gringo Gordo Empa...

We pre-recorded today's conversation via Zoom with Lt. Warren Gosnell from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office to have our normal monthly conversation about traffic safety issues. During today's conversation we discussed the time change and COVID to remind drivers that children are still outside during odd hours since schools are only semi-open. Lt. Gosnell also pointed out that the warm weather...

We were live in the studio for today's show as we wrapped up Camping for Hunger week to chat with Andrew Shearer, President & CEO of Royal Broadcasting (our fearless leader) and Larry Elliott from Front Royal/Warren County C-CAP. Andrew told us how the food drive came to fruition over 12 years ago, how it's changed over the years and the importance of continuing it this year even in a pandemic. La...

We pre-recorded today's conversation via Zoom with Susan Lessar, MS, RD, CNSC (certified nutrition support clinician), Director, Valley Health Nutrition Therapy (and Integrated Support Services), and Jessica Watson, MBA, BSN, RN, Director, Valley Health Chronic Disease Resource Center (and Winchester Rehabilitation Center) to discuss nutrition & malnutrition's role in food insecurity and our overa...

We pre-recorded our conversation today via Zoom with Michelle Smeltzer, Community Liaison for Warren County Social Services. Michelle explained her role as community liason, told us about the app she developed for residents to access resources, discussed what she's seen in her role at social services during the pandemic, and gave us an update on the thermal shelter that opened on November 1, 2020.

We pre-recorded our conversation today via Zoom with Elise from United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley to learn about Valley Assistance Network (VAN) - a program of UWNSV. Elise told us about the different ways VAN helps those in our community (see below) and discussed the role food insecurity plays in their overall health and financial stability. She also gave us details for their charity aucti...

We were live in the studio today for a conversation with Larry Elliott from Front Royal/Warren County C-CAP to kick off Camping for Hunter week. Larry gave us some background on his organization and the people they serve. We talked about food insecurities on a national and state level as well as the impact COVID-19 has had on our local community. Larry explained how the food and monetary donations...

We pre-recorded today's episode via Zoom to have a conversation with the movers and shakers in Shenandoah County when it comes to events and small businesses. Kary Haun ( Shenandoah County Tourism ), Olivia Hilton (Community Development Coordinator, Town of Strasburg ), Katie Mercer (Enhancement Coordinator, Town of Woodstock ), and Amber Smoot (Events & Marketing Director, Town of New Market ) al...

Today's episode was a conversation as part of our podcast series LFCC Stories - in partnership with Lord Fairfax Community College. We chatted with Mady Rodriquez . To hear more inspiring and heartwarming stories like Mady Rodriquez, click here to listen/subscribe: https://theriver953.com/lfccstories/

We pre-recorded today's conversation via Zoom with Adam Packham, founder of Heroes on the River - a 501c3 outdoor adventure veteran organization with the mission to bring veterans together through recreational activities and social events. Adam explained the history of the organization and why it was important for him to provide this type of outlet for combat veterans. He told us about the types o...

We pre-recorded our conversation today via Zoom for Tourism Tuesday - Luray/Page County edition - with Edie Emmons from Luray/Page County Chamber of Commerce and her guests Wes & Candice Shifflett from Cruise Planners/Destinations Unlimited. Wes & Candice explained the current state of the travel industry, the impact COVID has had on peoples' willingness to travel and gave us some insight into saf...

We pre-recorded today's conversation via Zoom with Niki Cales from Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce to get the details of the Front Royal Christmas Parade happening on Saturday, December 5 at 4pm with a different, COVID-friendly route this year. If you'd like to participate in the Front Royal Christmas Parade, get the details on the chamber's website: https://frontroyalchamber.com/ Ni...

We pre-recorded our conversation with Mark Sutphin from Virginia Cooperative Extension 's Frederick County office via Zoom to chat about the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF). He told us about it's history, the potential damage it could cause, and what to do if you suspect you have an egg mass or any variation of the pest. Spotted Lanternfly feeds on more than 70 plant species, including grapes, apples, st...

We pre-recorded our conversation from the parking lot at Richard's Fruit Market located at 6410 Middle Road in Middletown to chat with owner/farmer, Eddie Richard. Eddie told us about how the market opened early this year in response to COVID-19, the impact being able to help feed his community had on his customers, and talked about all the new local partnerships he's forged in the last 6-9 months...

We pre-recorded today's conversation via Zoom for The Valley Business Today - Front Royal/Warren County edition - to chat with Niki Cales, President of Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce and her guest, Mike Lock, owner of Play Favorites. Play Favorites is a new toy store that opened several months ago in the Royal Plaza Shopping Center on South Street in Front Royal. Mike told us about...

We pre-recorded our conversation for Tourism Tuesday - Shenandoah County edition - with Kary Haun from Shenandoah County Tourism and her guest, Olivia Hilton (whom I've dubbed the Grand Pu-bah of Fun) for the Town of Strasburg . We have also posted the Zoom video to our YouTube channel so that you can see a few of the things we discussed during the show as well as hear our pre and mid-show chatter...

We pre-recorded our conversation today over Zoom with Robbie Kidd, Shenandoah University professor and Chair of Biopharmaceutical Sciences to talk about Shenandoah University's Pooled Saliva Testing for Novel Coronavirus that will allow the school to expand its surveillance testing. Shenandoah University is conducting its own SARS-CoV-2 surveillance testing through the use of pooled saliva samples...

We pre-recorded today's conversation with Ryan Hall, an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Builder with Staunton Creative Community Fund to learn about Startup Shenandoah Valley . Startup Shenandoah Valley is a hybrid program that combines the strengths of accelerator and incubator models. The program delivers online coaching to identify and address the riskiest parts of each entrepreneur's business model....