The Valley Today

Janet Michael
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The Valley Today is a radio show and podcast dedicated to shining a light on the vibrant community leaders and local events that make the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia truly special. Insightful conversations, engaging stories, and event details connect listeners with the heart and soul of the valley, showcasing its unique culture, initiatives, and people. Guests are recorded (mostly) in advance in local coffee shops, at local businesses, and during local events. The radio program airs just a few minutes after noon every weekday on The River 95.3 and Sports Radio 1450.

  1. Murals, Main Streets, and Hot Dogs

    2 days ago

    Murals, Main Streets, and Hot Dogs

    Neither of us is actually in Old Town today — but as Brady put it, we're there in spirit. On this Friends of Old Town edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael catches up with Brady Cloven (Executive Director, Friends of Old Town Winchester) via Zoom while he's at a tourism conference in Pennsylvania, pitching bus tours on coming to Winchester. The conversation is released just minutes before Brady cuts the ribbon on the South End Literacy Mural at the splash pad — the year-long project with United Way, the John and Janice Wyatt Foundation, and the Winchester Campaign for Grade-Level Reading that's already doing what it was designed to do (drawing kids and parents to a previously quiet end of the walking mall). Brady walks through Friends of Old Town's recent three-award sweep from Virginia Main Street — including milestone recognition for crossing 40,000 volunteer hours (about $1 million in volunteered time) and 10,000+ building projects across 40 years — plus the upcoming Friends of Old Town public art initiative at Taylor Pavilion (37 artist applications, narrowed to a top six). Then it's a full preview of the July 4th VA250 Downtown Jubilee — 12-to-10 PM with Made in Virginia vendors, two live music acts at Taylor Pavilion, the reading of the Declaration of Independence, a Cheerwine relay chug, a Snow White slider eating contest, and a laser-light show to close out the night. Plus details on the August 22 Dog Days of Summer Hot Dog Crawl, a teaser for the Monty Python pub crawl on July 17, and a friendly reminder that the parrot in the mural is wearing a pirate hat for a reason — though Janet is more than willing to take credit on Brady's behalf. EVENT LINEUP — JULY-AUGUST IN OLD TOWN WINCHESTER FIRST FRIDAY — Friday, July 3 • All That of Winchester at Taylor Pavilion (6:30–8:30 PM, with a break) • Artist Alley on Boscawen — curated by Tin Top in June; new partner each month • Sip and Stroll active throughout • Then head to Jim Barnett Park for Red, White & Boom fireworks VA250 DOWNTOWN JUBILEE — Saturday, July 4 • 12 PM–10 PM • Made in Virginia vendor fair (10–15 vendors throughout the mall) • Rebecca Porter (Americana/country) — Taylor Pavilion, 12–3 PM • Reading of the Declaration of Independence + presentation of colors (Sons & Daughters of the American Revolution) • Melissa and the Mothmen (honky-tonk) — Taylor Pavilion, 5–8 PM • Cheerwine relay chug race • Snow White slider eating contest • Laser-light show at dusk (between 9:00 and 9:30 PM) • Sip and Stroll active throughout MONTY PYTHON PUB CRAWL — Thursday, July 17 • Joint fundraiser with Friends of Old Town, United Way, Blue Ridge Cares, Winchester CCAP, and ARE. Costumes encouraged. Details via partner organizations. DOG DAYS OF SUMMER HOT DOG CRAWL — Friday, August 22 • 12:00–6:00 PM $30 ticket gets unlimited hot dogs at 8 participating Old Town businesses (plus a surprise import). Score the dogs, crown a champion, music at Taylor Pavilion. Best Dressed Hot Dog competition for costumed attendees. Limited tickets — buy early via the event page on Facebook (Eventbrite link). TAYLOR PAVILION MURAL — coming September 2026 • The next Friends of Old Town mural, going on the Mountain Trails building and the stucco above the wine room patio. Selected from 37 artist submissions. LINKS & RESOURCES • Friends of Old Town: friendsofoldtown.org (community calendar — events from across Old Town) • Friends of Old Town on Facebook (event pages for every gathering) • Friends of Old Town on Instagram: @friendsofoldtownwinc • Mural partners: United Way of the Northern Shenandoah Valley, John and Janice Wyatt Foundation, Winchester Campaign for Grade-Level Reading THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations. New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon. Subscribe and listen at thevalleytodaypodcast.com — available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a rating or review — it helps more listeners find us. Connect with us: Facebook — facebook.com/ValleyTodayFanPage Instagram — instagram.com/thevalleytoday

    25 min
  2. From Drones to Donuts: Summer at Jim Barnett Park

    3 days ago

    From Drones to Donuts: Summer at Jim Barnett Park

    Three hundred drones, eleven minutes, and an entire park's collective gasp. On this episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael sits down at Jim Barnett Park's Active Living Center with Winchester City Parks Director Chris Konyar to recap the city's first-ever drone show (the Winchester logo perfectly drawn in the sky, the animated Patsy Cline, the Apple Blossom bloom, all to celebrate the VA250 anniversary) and to preview Red, White & Boom — Independence Eve at the park on Friday, July 3rd. Chris walks through the full Red, White & Boom lineup: a pool DJ, the Fun Zone with a dozen inflatables and water slides on the turf, a magic show at 5 PM, three live music acts starting at 6 PM (a bluegrass band led by Zach Townsend, a patriotic cover band, and a tribute band), a Winchester Royals home game against the New Market Rebels with free admission, food and craft vendors, and a slightly bigger-than-usual fireworks finale shot from Bodie Grimm. Then the conversation turns to everything still ahead this summer — Parks and Rec Month in July, the Fun in the Sun pool event on July 18th, additional sports camps (soccer, volleyball, tennis, the new softball camp, the sport sampler), continued swim lessons through July and August, junior lifeguard and junior counselor programs, and the increasingly popular drop-in turf passes now that the season has wound down for everyone else. Plus a recurring theme worth a podcast all its own: thank a Parks employee. RED, WHITE & BOOM (INDEPENDENCE EVE)  Friday, July 3, 2026 Jim Barnett Park • Pool opens at noon (regular admission) • Fun Zone (inflatables, water slides) opens 12:30 PM • Food and craft vendors throughout the afternoon on Hinkel-Harris field • Magic show — 5:00 PM • Live music — 6:00 PM until fireworks (Zach Townsend bluegrass, patriotic cover band, tribute band) • Winchester Royals vs. New Market Rebels — game starts around 5:00-5:30 PM, free admission • Fireworks at dusk, shot from Bodie Grimm WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING THIS SUMMER AT JIM BARNETT PARK POOL & AQUATICS (open daily 12:00–6:30 PM) • Swim lessons — multiple July and August sessions, weekday morning, weekday afternoon, and Sunday • Adult lessons available • Aqua fitness classes and other fitness classes • Fun in the Sun pool event — Friday, July 18 (with regular pool admission) • Indoor pool available year-round SPORTS CAMPS (July and August) • Soccer (July session) — led by the Shenandoah University soccer coach and college players • Volleyball (August session) • Tennis camp • Softball camp — new this year, run by the Handley softball coach • Girls and Boys Sport Sampler Camp (July) — try-everything camp for younger kids • Drop-in turf — significantly more availability now that league seasons are over LINKS & RESOURCES • Winchester Parks and Recreation: winchesterva.gov/parks (online registration, full activity guide, schedules) • Summer Activity Guide — available online and in print • Monthly e-newsletter — sign up via the Parks website for highlights of upcoming events • Winchester Royals: winchesterroyals.org (schedule and game info) THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations. New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon. Subscribe and listen at thevalleytodaypodcast.com — available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a rating or review — it helps more listeners find us. Connect with us: Facebook — facebook.com/ValleyTodayFanPage Instagram — instagram.com/thevalleytoday

    29 min
  3. First Day to Graduation: Arising Leadership Program

    4 days ago

    First Day to Graduation: Arising Leadership Program

    A week and a half ago, they walked into a radio station they didn't know existed. This week, they were standing on a stage at the HIVE at Shenandoah University with graduation certificates in their hands, telling a room full of parents and business leaders how the experience changed them. On this follow-up to the June 10th episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael returns to the students of the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber's Arising Leadership Program — this time to find out whether the sessions they thought they were most looking forward to actually were their favorites, and what surprised them along the way. Janet catches up with six of the students at graduation — Amoni Hill, Emily Ramirez, Jack Bruns, Nyomi Coates, Lucy Gluszack (returning as an intern after participating last year), and Cole Stockli — plus parents Whitney and Amy, Carmeuse local leader Logan Thompson, Chamber program director Missy Spielman, and Chamber CEO Cynthia Schneider. You'll hear the two student speeches given that evening — Nyomi quoting Ratatouille on the soul, Amoni honoring "the orange lady" — and a really moving observation from a fire marshal: that this group had bonded in three days the way another group hadn't in nine months. Plus: Cynthia's reveal that two of these students already have business ideas they want to launch. (She is, predictably, ready for next year's class.) QUOTABLE MOMENTS FROM THE STUDENTS • "I will never forget the orange lady — as we called her — with her bubbly personality. She taught us to speak confidently, always looking for new opportunities if we prepare." — Amoni Hill • "You must not let anyone define your limits because of where you come from. Your only limit is your soul." — Nyomi Coates (quoting Gusteau, from Ratatouille) • "I had no idea this is what the program was gonna be. I thought maybe we'd just go inside businesses and talk for a little bit. But I was super excited when we started doing more hands-on stuff." — Emily Ramirez • "If you guys are looking for free certifications, maybe consider applying." — Jack Bruns • "It was just really personal. She gave us her business card. It was just really great." — Cole Stockli WHAT THE PROGRAM DOES (IN THE STUDENTS' OWN WORDS) This year's class confirmed what the previous two classes have shown: the Arising Leadership Program isn't just about exposing students to careers. It's about helping them rethink what's possible in their own backyard, building cross-school friendships across former rivalries, and shifting their sense of identity from "student" to "leader." By graduation, every student in this year's class had moved their Post-it Note from the "not yet" column to "I am a leader." ABOUT THE ARISING LEADERSHIP PROGRAM A career exploration program for rising high-school juniors and seniors across the Top of Virginia region. Over a week and a half, students rotate through industries in their own backyard — radio, aviation, healthcare, law and public safety, mining and engineering, agriculture, hospitality, culinary, events and floristry, financial services, and more. Coordinated by Missy Spielman through the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber. The program is free for participating students thanks to founding sponsorship from Carmeuse and additional community partners. LINKS & RESOURCES • Top of Virginia Regional Chamber: regionalchamber.biz (Arising Leadership Program applications and info available for next year's rising juniors and seniors) • Listen to the first-day episode (June 10): thevalleytodaypodcast.com  • Featured host businesses mentioned in this episode: The River 95.3, Valley Health, Carmeuse, Weber's Nursery, The Ivy Room, Edward Jones, Frederick County Courthouse, Frederick County Sheriff's Office, and many more • Interested employers, host businesses, or potential sponsors can contact the Chamber directly through regionalchamber.biz THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations. New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon. Subscribe and listen at thevalleytodaypodcast.com — available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a rating or review — it helps more listeners find us. Connect with us: Facebook — facebook.com/ValleyTodayFanPage Instagram — instagram.com/thevalleytoday

    26 min
  4. Summer in Shenandoah County

    5 days ago

    Summer in Shenandoah County

    A string of pearls runs along Route 11 — and every one of them is built for summer. On this Shenandoah County Tourism Tuesday edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael is joined on the Zooms by Kary Haun and Brittany Clem-Hott for a conversation devoted to the best of summer in Shenandoah County, from Strasburg to New Market and everywhere between. Three Valley League baseball teams, a county full of ice cream stands, fireworks displays, summer music series in nearly every town, the river walks of Seven Bends State Park and Lake Laura, dozens of outdoor-dining patios, and an underground 55-degree cavern for the days when the heat just won't quit. Whether you live in Shenandoah County or you're just a drive away, this episode is a complete summer planning guide. SUMMER IN SHENANDOAH COUNTY — AT A GLANCE BASEBALL (Valley League — collegiate, community-hosted, family-affordable) • Strasburg Express • Woodstock River Bandits (Central High School stadium) • New Market Rebels (Rebel Park) • Schedules, scores, rosters, stats: valleybaseballleague.com ICE CREAM (a few favorites mentioned on the show) • Katie's Custard — Route 11, near the Woodstock games • Sugar Creek — Route 11, Woodstock (now near the Food Lion; still bright pink) • Ice Cream Depot — downtown Strasburg • Peep's Ice Cream Stand — New Market • Smiley's Ice Cream — Basye (with putt-putt and gem sluicing) • Edinburg mini golf and ice cream — right off Route 11 FIREWORKS — JULY 2026 (VA250) • New Market — Thursday, July 3 • Woodstock — at the fairgrounds (July 4) • Strasburg — town display (July 4) • Bryce Resort — fireworks on the slopes (July 4) MUSIC SERIES THIS SUMMER • Strasburg — Front Porch Live (Thursday evenings) • Woodstock — Woodstock ROCS at the community park • New Market — Crossroads Fest at Rebel Park • Vineyards, breweries, and wineries across the county host live music throughout the summer (full list on the events tab at visitshenandoahcounty.com) RIVER & WATER WALKS • Seven Bends State Park (Woodstock) — three-mile riverside loop with kayak rentals from the Hollingsworth side to the Lupton side • Strasburg River Walk — near the town municipal park • Lake Laura (Bryce) — 2.5-mile loop, paddle boats, paddle boards OUTDOOR DINING (a sampler from the show) • Box Office Brewery — Strasburg • Bean's Barbecue — Edinburg (mostly takeout; perfect for a picnic) • Miller Grill — New Market • Woodstock Cafe — front and back patios with strung lights • Flour to Fork — alleyway summer dinner series, plus pizza Wednesdays and dinners Fridays • Swover Creek Farms — wood-fired pizza, sausages, dog-friendly, kid-friendly • Woodstock BrewHouse — patio with Thursday live music • Pale Fire — pizza and beer, Basye • The Burn Barrel — Basye WHEN IT'S TOO HOT TO BE OUTSIDE • Shenandoah Caverns — guided one-hour tours, 55° year-round, exceptionally family-friendly LINKS & RESOURCES • Shenandoah County Tourism: visitshenandoahcounty.com (Events tab for the full summer calendar; search bar to look up any business or attraction) • Valley Baseball League — schedules, scores, rosters, and YouTube replays: valleybaseballleague.com • Seven Bends State Park: dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/seven-bends THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations. New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon. Subscribe and listen at thevalleytodaypodcast.com — available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a rating or review — it helps more listeners find us. Connect with us: Facebook — facebook.com/ValleyTodayFanPage Instagram — instagram.com/thevalleytoday

    25 min
  5. Red Vest Ready: A Red Cross Volunteer's Story

    6 days ago

    Red Vest Ready: A Red Cross Volunteer's Story

    She saw the commercial — the one with the Red Cross volunteer in the red vest, hugging someone, handing over a blanket — and told her husband, "When I retire, I want to be that person." On this episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael continues her year-long Red Cross series with Deb Fleming, Executive Director of the Greater Shenandoah Valley Chapter, who brings along volunteer Jill Johnson — a retired teacher who has now been deployed five times (three nationally, two locally) and is on standby for another deployment as the conversation is happening. Jill walks through the surprisingly simple sign-up process at redcross.org, how the certifications stack (sheltering, feeding, and more), and the dual paths she's chosen: Prepare with Pedro, a K-2 disaster preparedness program she teaches in local schools, churches, and scout groups, alongside national deployments to Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, the Southern California floods and mudslides, and Hurricane Helene in Asheville. She shares what it actually looks like inside a shelter — bearded dragons, dancing parrots, Tide trucks doing laundry, FEMA tents holding a thousand people for dinner — and why the Red Cross changed its pet policy after recognizing that families won't evacuate without their animals. Plus: Deb's good news that the chapter has already hit its volunteer recruitment goals for the year because so many people stepped up in unexpected ways. ABOUT THE GREATER SHENANDOAH VALLEY CHAPTER The American Red Cross Greater Shenandoah Valley Chapter serves the region with disaster response, blood services, military family support, health and safety education, and community preparedness programs. The chapter has met its 2026 volunteer recruitment goals — including a recent reduction in target numbers based on how well the local chapter has performed. ABOUT PREPARE WITH PEDRO A free Red Cross disaster preparedness program designed for children in grades K-2. The program uses books, videos, songs, and hands-on activities to teach kids the basics of home fire safety — including escape plans, meeting places, smoke alarm checks, the "get low and go" technique for smoke, and coping/breathing exercises that apply to disasters and everyday stressful moments. Available free to classrooms, scout groups, church groups, and any setting with children. Schools and groups can request a visit through their local Red Cross chapter. WAYS TO VOLUNTEER (THERE'S MORE THAN YOU THINK) • Direct disaster response — sheltering, feeding (local and national deployments, two-week commitments) • Disaster preparedness education — Prepare with Pedro, hands-only CPR, home fire safety • Smoke alarm installation in partnership with local fire departments • Behind-the-scenes — logistics, supply, planning, weather tracking, government operations coordination • Blood services support • Military family support (armed forces programs) • Local events and community outreach • Set your own schedule — volunteer as much or as little as your life allows LINKS & RESOURCES • Sign up to volunteer: redcross.org → click "Volunteer"  THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations. New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon. Subscribe and listen at thevalleytodaypodcast.com — available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a rating or review — it helps more listeners find us. Connect with us: Facebook — facebook.com/ValleyTodayFanPage Instagram — instagram.com/thevalleytoday

    30 min
  6. Don't Deworm Everything: The Science Behind FAMACHA Certification

    19 Jun

    Don't Deworm Everything: The Science Behind FAMACHA Certification

    Deworm every animal every time, and pretty soon the dewormer stops working. On this Extension Office Friday edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael is back on the Zooms with Elizabeth Mullins Baldwin (Page County Extension agent) and Cynthia Fairbanks (Warren County Extension agent) to talk about herd health for the region's growing population of small-ruminant producers — and a hands-on FAMACHA certification workshop coming up at the Warren County Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 11th. The conversation starts with a friendly reality check for anyone thinking about getting into sheep or goats — yes, they're a great entry point into farming, but also yes, "do your homework before you go to the sale" is the single best piece of advice the Extension office can give. Then Cynthia and Elizabeth walk through what FAMACHA actually is — a science-based, color-card system developed in 1990s South Africa by Dr. Faffa Malan that helps producers decide which animals actually need deworming and which don't, based on real-time signs of anemia from the barber pole worm. The result: less money wasted on dewormer, less resistance built up in parasites, and healthier animals. Workshop attendees get hands-on practice, a FAMACHA certification, fecal egg count demonstrations, and the science-backed answers to all the "but I heard you can just feed them a Christmas tree" home remedies floating around. EVENT DETAILS — FAMACHA CERTIFICATION WORKSHOP Saturday, July 11, 2026 • 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Warren County Fairgrounds • $30 per person (flat fee, regardless of farm size) • Breakfast included • Open to producers from any county • Pre-registration required WHAT YOU'LL LEARN AND LEAVE WITH • FAMACHA certification (with certificate) • Hands-on practice scoring real sheep and goats with the FAMACHA color card • Demonstration of proper fecal sample collection (Elizabeth) • Live microscope demo of fecal egg counts (a powerful tool for measuring dewormer resistance) • Science-based review of internal and external parasites common in Virginia • A look at popular herbal/home remedies — and which ones research actually supports • Direct Q&A with Extension agents WHO IT'S FOR • Current sheep and goat producers • New producers building up their first herd • Anyone considering sheep or goats in the future who wants to know what they're getting into • Camelid (llama and alpaca) owners — newly included this year • Producers concerned about dewormer resistance and rising input costs HOW TO REGISTER • Online registration - click here or get the flyer here.  • In person at your local Extension office (cash or check) • By phone — call either Extension office directly A NOTE ON FAMACHA FAMACHA was developed in South Africa in the early 1990s by veterinarian Dr. Faffa Malan, in response to widespread blanket deworming that was creating costly dewormer-resistant parasites. The system uses a color card matched to the eye mucous membrane of the animal to score anemia on a 1-5 scale — a real-time, non-invasive proxy for packed cell volume (red blood cell concentration). It's specifically designed to detect the effects of the barber pole worm (Haemonchus contortus), the most common and damaging internal parasite for small ruminants in the southeastern United States. The goal: only deworm animals that actually need it, preserve the effectiveness of the few approved dewormers we still have, and save producers money in the process. LINKS & RESOURCES • Page County Extension on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PageCountyVCE • Warren County Extension on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WarrenCountyVCE  • Your local Extension office can answer questions on herd health, soil testing, pest management, and more (calls are free and welcome — Extension agents in Frederick, Clarke, Shenandoah, Warren, and Page counties serve the whole region) CONNECT WITH VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION VCE – Clarke County: 540-955-5164 VCE – Frederick County: 540-665-5699 VCE – Page County: 540-778-5794 VCE – Shenandoah County: 540-459-6140 VCE – Warren County: 540-635-4549 THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations. New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon. Subscribe and listen at thevalleytodaypodcast.com — available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a rating or review — it helps more listeners find us. Connect with us: Facebook — facebook.com/ValleyTodayFanPage Instagram — instagram.com/thevalleytoday

    23 min
  7. Community Health: Planning to Live

    18 Jun

    Community Health: Planning to Live

    Palliative isn't a synonym for terminal. On this Community Health edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael welcomes back Dr. Jim VanKirk, board-certified palliative care specialist and Medical Director of Valley Health's Palliative Care Program, joined by team social worker Rachel Schwartz, to clear up one of the most persistent misconceptions in medicine — and to make the case for thinking about palliative care as a living tool, not an end-of-life one. Dr. VanKirk walks through what palliative care actually is — symptom support, treatment planning, and team-based care for patients with serious illnesses who are still receiving aggressive treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation, and ICU care — and explains the research showing that earlier palliative intervention actually correlates with patients living longer. Rachel talks through the role of a palliative social worker, the kinds of grief families navigate along the way of a progressive illness (not just at the end), and the concept of "substituted judgment" when a patient can't speak for themselves. Plus: a thorough, practical conversation about advance directives — what they are, why every adult needs one starting at age 18, why April 16th is the easiest day to remember to update yours, and the family stories (including Dr. VanKirk's own) that show why having "the document" isn't the point — the conversation that leads to the document is. ABOUT VALLEY HEALTH'S PALLIATIVE CARE PROGRAM A specialized medical service for patients with serious or life-threatening illnesses, working alongside primary treatment teams to provide symptom management, treatment planning support, and goals-of-care conversations. The team works across the hospital — including with ICU patients and patients still receiving aggressive treatment like chemotherapy or radiation — and partners with chaplains, music therapists, speech therapists, physical and occupational therapists, and bedside nursing teams to provide whole-person care for both the patient and their family. ABOUT ADVANCE DIRECTIVES An advance directive is a document that expresses your wishes for healthcare, especially if you become unable to speak for yourself. It typically has two parts: (1) the designation of a healthcare agent — the person empowered to make decisions on your behalf, and (2) specific wishes about what care you would or would not want in certain situations (sometimes called a "living will"). KEY POINTS FROM THIS EPISODE • Every adult — starting at age 18 — should have an advance directive. Car accidents don't wait for a diagnosis. • The conversation matters more than the document. Your healthcare agent needs to know how you think and what's important to you. • Tell your designated agent first. Tell other close family and friends the document exists. • Update your directive periodically — life changes, designated agents pass away or move, your wishes evolve. • Virginia and West Virginia have different legal requirements. Know which state's form you need. • Don't store it in a lockbox. Your agent, your primary care physician, and your hospital should all have copies. • April 16th is the easy day to remember — the day after Tax Day. Take care of the government on the 15th; take care of yourself on the 16th. • If a loved one is diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's, complete legal documents IMMEDIATELY. Capacity can be lost faster than families expect. LINKS & RESOURCES • Valley Health Palliative Care Program: https://www.valleyhealthlink.com/patient-visitors/for-patients/advance-care-planning-advance-directives/ (click Your Visit → Patient Resources for advance directive information, FAQs, state-specific forms, and a number to schedule a facilitator appointment) • Every Community Health conversation in one place: thevalleytodaypodcast.com (click Categories → VH Community Health)  THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations. New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon. Subscribe and listen at thevalleytodaypodcast.com — available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a rating or review — it helps more listeners find us. Connect with us: Facebook — facebook.com/ValleyTodayFanPage Instagram — instagram.com/thevalleytoday

    23 min
  8. When a Job Isn't Enough: The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank on Modern Hunger

    17 Jun

    When a Job Isn't Enough: The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank on Modern Hunger

    The federal poverty line for a family of four in America is $33,000 a year. In Virginia, a single person needs to earn more than $50,000 just to meet their basic needs. On this episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael welcomes back Les Sinclair, Communications and PR Manager at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, for a candid conversation about why hunger and unemployment have "decoupled" since the pandemic — and why the people now showing up at food pantries are increasingly working, employed, and earning more than the federal poverty level. Les walks through the MIT Living Wage Calculator and what it really costs to live in places like Winchester versus Warren County, the math that makes a $3 donation worth nine meals, and the stories behind the statistics — including a bus driver who was living in her truck and saved enough through a mobile food pantry to put a down payment on an apartment, and the HVAC family that sold their kitchen table to buy food before discovering a partner pantry. Plus: the realities of summer hunger when 56,000+ children in the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank's service region lose access to school meals, why USDA donations are down and the food bank is now spending hundreds of thousands on protein, and how the Supper Club provides the kind of reliable monthly support that keeps shelves full. UNDERSTANDING MODERN HUNGER — THE NUMBERS • Federal poverty level for a family of four (2025): $33,000/year • Virginia basic-needs income for a single adult: over $50,000/year (MIT Living Wage Calculator) • Virginia unemployment rate: below 4% • Blue Ridge Area Food Bank monthly guest visits: ~177,000 • Children among guest visits: 1 in 3 • Children food-insecure in Virginia: 1 in 7 • SNAP-to-charitable-network meal ratio: 9 to 1 • Emergency food box size: ~30 pounds of food per person • $1 donated = ~3 meals provided ($3 = 9 meals) HOW TO HELP • Donate at https://www.brafb.org/ — every dollar provides about three meals • Join the Supper Club — recurring monthly donations the food bank can rely on (as little as $10/month) • Volunteer — locally with the food bank, with a partner pantry, or with local school-food programs  • Use the Food Finder — for yourself or to help a neighbor (search by location, with hours and directions) • Support local food-pantry partners and summer feeding programs in your community LINKS & RESOURCES • Blue Ridge Area Food Bank: https://www.brafb.org/ (Food Finder tool, Supper Club, donations) • Blue Ridge Area Food Bank on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn • MIT Living Wage Calculator: livingwage.mit.edu (search your city/county) • Feeding America — the national network of food banks • Bright Futures Winchester/Frederick County — summer food bus program (Elise's organization, mentioned) • Winchester CCAP and other local food pantry partners across the Blue Ridge service region THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations. New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon. Subscribe and listen at thevalleytodaypodcast.com — available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a rating or review — it helps more listeners find us. Connect with us: Facebook — facebook.com/ValleyTodayFanPage Instagram — instagram.com/thevalleytoday

    25 min
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About

The Valley Today is a radio show and podcast dedicated to shining a light on the vibrant community leaders and local events that make the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia truly special. Insightful conversations, engaging stories, and event details connect listeners with the heart and soul of the valley, showcasing its unique culture, initiatives, and people. Guests are recorded (mostly) in advance in local coffee shops, at local businesses, and during local events. The radio program airs just a few minutes after noon every weekday on The River 95.3 and Sports Radio 1450.

Information

  • Creator
    Janet Michael
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    2k
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Valley Today
  • Show Website
    The Valley Today