The Valley Today

Janet Michael
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Documentary
  • Updated Daily

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. 1d ago

    Bringing Dolly's Books to Clarke County

    Imagine a preschooler racing to the mailbox every month, shouting, "It's my book day!" Janet Michael sits down with Beth Williams, Executive Director of the Clarke County Education Foundation, to talk about the foundation's push to bring Dolly Parton's Imagination Library back to every child from birth to age five in Clarke County. Beth shares how a September "Dolly Day" kickoff and two generous gifts put the foundation within reach of its $50,000 goal, what it costs to send a child a free book every month, and why she's set on making the program last for years. She also explains how the foundation has quietly backed Clarke County Public Schools for 35 years, from scholarships to same-week grants that keep teachers from paying out of their own pockets, and shares how you can get involved, from this Friday's golf scramble to next spring's gala. If you love books, kids, or a good small-town success story, this one's for you. LINKS & RESOURCES Clarke County Education Foundation website: ccefinc.org Email Beth Williams: director@ccefinc.org Clarke County Education Foundation on Facebook: facebook.com/ClarkeCountyEducationFoundation Dolly Parton's Imagination Library: imaginationlibrary.com 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

    Bringing Dolly's Books to Clarke County

  2. 4d ago

    Parks, Programs, and Progress

    A rooftop tennis complex on top of a free parking garage at Jim Barnett Park? It's a real proposal, and Winchester Parks Director Chris Konyar is here to walk through the facts. Janet Michael sits down with Chris at Jim Barnett Park for their regular check-in on everything happening at Winchester's parks this fall and holiday season. Chris shares what's ahead on the calendar: Spooky Fun on October 16, the Holiday Parade application deadline, and a Veterans Appreciation ceremony at the park's war memorials. He also covers youth basketball, the indoor golf simulator, swim lessons, and the results of the city's aquatics feasibility study. Then he explains Shenandoah University's proposal to build a 300-space parking garage with tennis courts on the roof: who pays, who manages it, and what happens next. If you've heard the rumors, listen to get the facts straight from the parks director. EVENT DETAILS Native Plant Festival: Saturday, October 3, 10 AM–2 PM, Audubon Arboretum, Jim Barnett Park. Free. Native plants for sale, educational booths, kids' activities, and food from Chick-fil-A. Spooky Fun: Friday, October 16, 5:30–8 PM, Jim Barnett Park (War Memorial Building and grounds). Free admission. Costume contest with prizes, trick-or-treating, touch-a-truck, inflatables, crafts, and food trucks. Boo Bundles (s'mores at the fire pits) are $5 if you pre-register and more at the door, while supplies last. Halloween Cookie Decorating Class: Wednesday, October 28. Holiday Parade application deadline: Monday, November 2. Applications are on the Parks & Recreation website, with a small registration fee. Veterans Appreciation: Friday, November 6, 11 AM ceremony at the war memorials in Jim Barnett Park, followed by lunch for veterans in the social hall. Winchester Holiday Parade: Monday, November 30 (the Monday after Thanksgiving), downtown Winchester, ending with the Christmas tree lighting in Old Town. LINKS & RESOURCES Winchester Parks & Recreation: winchesterva.gov/Parks-Recreation Park events calendar: winchesterva.gov/Parks-Recreation/Park-Events Native Plant Festival: winchesterva.gov/News-Happenings/Events/Native-Plant-Festival Park Advisory Board agendas (including the SU Parking Garage/Tennis Court Proposal in the September 28 packet): winchesterva.gov, under Public Meetings 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

    Parks, Programs, and Progress

  3. 5d ago

    E-Bikes on the Roadway

    That new e-bike in the driveway can hit 20 miles an hour, and Captain Warren Gosnell wants parents to think hard about what that means on a road shared with 6,000-pound SUVs. It's Public Safety Thursday, and Janet Michael is live in the studio with Captain Gosnell of the Frederick County Sheriff's Office for his monthly visit, starting with stories from his 15th-anniversary trip to Las Vegas and a driver who tried to pass him twice on the way in. Then they get into e-bikes, e-cycles, scooters, and other electric rides. Captain Gosnell explains what Virginia law says, why the rules can be hard to enforce, and why Frederick County is working on a local ordinance. He also walks through a simple example of reaction time and speed that shows how fast things go wrong at an intersection. Along the way you'll learn the difference between an "unposted" road and an "unmarked" one. If you have a child on an e-bike, or you're thinking about buying one, this conversation is worth your 30 minutes. LINKS & RESOURCES Frederick County Sheriff's Office: fcva.us/departments/sheriff-s-office Code of Virginia § 46.2-100 (definitions of electric power-assisted bicycles, mopeds, and motorcycles): law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter1/section46.2-100/ Code of Virginia, Title 46.2, Chapter 8, Article 12 (bicycles and e-bikes on the road): law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodefull/title46.2/chapter8/article12/ 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

    E-Bikes on the Roadway

  4. 6d ago

    Out of the Darkness

    A hula lesson, a string of honor beads, and a moment where you realize you are not alone — the Out of the Darkness Community Walk packs all of that into a single Saturday morning at Sherando Park. Janet Michael sits down at the Espresso Bar on the Old Town Walking Mall with returning guests Patricia Brewer and Mandy Foxley, co-chairs of the Stephens City walk, to talk about this year's event on October 10 and the community that has grown up around it. Mandy shares her own story of making it through to the other side and finding the walk through, of all things, a Facebook ad. Patricia and Mandy explain the bead colors and sand ceremony, the memorial photos along the walking path, and why nobody has to finish the walk (or even start it) to belong there. They also cover what the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention funds, this year's $85,000 goal, a tattoo-shop fundraiser, the traveling HOPE sign, and a brand-new AFSP Virginia license plate that needs 400 sign-ups. If suicide has touched your life in any way, this conversation is a reminder that there's a place for you. EVENT DETAILS Out of the Darkness Community Walk – Stephens City, presented by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026 Location: Sherando High School and Sherando Park, Stephens City, VA Registration/check-in: 9 AM Opening ceremony: 10 AM, followed by the walk (a little over a mile) and closing ceremony; usually wraps up by noon Cost: Free to register, online in advance or on walk day Fundraising: Optional but encouraged; raise or donate $150 to earn a walk T-shirt, with more incentive tiers at $250 and $500. Fundraising stays open through the end of the year. All ages welcome: kids' area, the Glimmer Station, community resource tables, and hula lessons before the walk. You don't have to walk to take part. Website: afsp.org/stephenscity LINKS & RESOURCES Stephens City Out of the Darkness Walk (register, donate, contact the co-chairs): afsp.org/stephenscity Find an Out of the Darkness walk elsewhere in Virginia: afsp.org/virginia American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: afsp.org Facebook: Stephens City Out of the Darkness AFSP Virginia license plate: details and sign-up on the walk's Facebook page or at the walk 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988, available 24/7 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

    Out of the Darkness

  5. Sep 29

    More Than Camping

    A haunted trail, campsites decked out for Halloween, and Yogi Bear himself — fall at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Luray is a lot more than pitching a tent. On this Luray-Page County edition of Tourism Tuesday, Janet Michael and Gina Hilliard of the Luray-Page County Chamber of Commerce welcome general manager Bryan Fykes — better known around the park as "Ranger Bryan" — to talk about one of Page County's most popular places to stay and play. Ranger Bryan walks through every way to visit, from day passes and pup tents to deluxe cabins and a five-bedroom house that families book for Thanksgiving. He shares the park's history, how it's coming back stronger after a fire this summer, and how locals can join in on the haunted trail this October. Gina looks back on her first job at the park as a teenager, and wraps up with the chamber's fall calendar — Women in Business trivia, a Golf Classic that funds local scholarships, and a 2027 trip to Croatia. Stick around for the bear puns alone. LINKS & RESOURCES Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, Luray: campluray.com Jellystone Park (all locations nationwide): campjellystone.com Jellystone Park Luray on Facebook: facebook.com/JellystoneLuray Luray-Page County Chamber of Commerce: luraypagechamber.com Also mentioned — Luray-Page County Chamber events: Women in Business Trivia Night — Wednesday, September 30, Coal Ridge Brewery, Stanley  4th Annual Chamber Golf Classic — Wednesday, October 14, Caverns Country Club, Luray; benefits scholarships for Luray High School and Page County High School seniors attending Laurel Ridge Community College Chamber Trip to Croatia — departs March 11, 2027; contact the chamber office for details 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

    More Than Camping

  6. Sep 28

    Unstuck

    "I was stuck. You guys unstuck me." That's what one participant told Winchester CCAP Executive Director Andrea Cosans, and it's the heart of THRIVE, a new two-year program helping local families move from constant crisis to real self-sufficiency. Janet sits down at CCAP with Andrea and Jordan Hurley, Executive Assistant at Connected Communities, to talk about how four local nonprofits are joining forces to offer therapy, mentoring, case management, and job training all in one place. You'll hear how THRIVE grew from a $1,000 pilot into a full partnership, why therapy comes first, and the stories of past participants who now have steady jobs, their own businesses, and rebuilt family relationships. Andrea and Jordan also explain who's a good fit, how referrals work, and why helping one parent can change things for a whole family. If you know someone who's ready for a hand up, this is the episode to share. LINKS & RESOURCES Winchester CCAP — ccapwinchester.org Connected Communities — cciwinchester.com | Facebook, Instagram & TikTok: @cciwinchester I'm Just Me Movement — imjustmemovement.org Horizon Goodwill Industries — horizongoodwill.org United Way of the Northern Shenandoah Valley — unitedwaynsv.org  To ask about a THRIVE referral, contact any of the partners, your current case worker, or Dept of Social Services. 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

    Unstuck

  7. Sep 25

    Adventures in Cheese

    There's a cheese shop on the Old Town Walking Mall where you can taste anything in the case before you buy it, and yes, they make grown-up Lunchables. Janet Michael and Brady Cloven of Friends of Old Town pull up a chair at Fleur de Lis Cheese Shop with owner Terri Boyd, two years after she first joined the show just after opening. Terri explains what "fancy cheese" really means (hint: it's not as scary as it sounds), why an English cheddar tastes different from a New York one, why some cheeses are seasonal, and why your charcuterie board doesn't have to be pretty to taste great. She also shares news about new grazing tables for events and a job opening with a creative twist. Then Brady runs through a busy October downtown, from Oktoberfest and the last First Friday of the season to Hallo-Winchester trick-or-treating, plus a call for a 30-foot Christmas tree. Stick around for the moment Brady found out how one of his cheeses is made. LINKS & RESOURCES Fleur de Lis Cheese Shop website: cheesegoddess.com Fleur de Lis Cheese Shop on Facebook (Cheese School Monday, job posting): facebook.com/15FairfaxSt Visit: Fleur de Lis Cheese Shop, 17 S. Loudoun Street, Winchester, VA (Old Town Walking Mall, a few doors down from Wilkins Shoe Center). Open daily, 11 AM to 4 PM. Friends of Old Town (community calendar for downtown events): friendsofoldtown.org Friends of Old Town on Facebook  Main Street Masterpieces: friendsofoldtown.org/main-street-masterpieces Old Town Christmas tree: OTWHolidays@winchesterva.gov Robby D's Lil Greens: robbydslilgreens.com 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

    Adventures in Cheese

  8. Sep 24

    Hidden Hunger

    For some kids in our area, Friday's school lunch is the last meal they can count on until Monday's breakfast. Janet Michael checks back in with Elise Stine-Dolinar of Bright Futures Frederick/Winchester to talk about the hidden hunger in our local schools, and how neighbors across Winchester and Frederick County are helping more than 1,200 students get fed every week. Elise walks through what goes into a weekend food pack, why fewer kids take the bags home as they get older, and how discreet school food pantries (one uses a clickable "hall pass") are reaching middle and high schoolers who'd rather go hungry than be seen. She also explains why allergy-friendly food matters, which donations are "gold" (and which to keep at home, like pickled beets), and how you can drop off food, shop the wish list, or give a few dollars that go further than you'd think. If you've ever wondered how to help a local kid in need, this conversation is a great place to start. LINKS & RESOURCES Bright Futures Frederick/Winchester website (see the needs lists under "Get Involved"): sites.google.com/fcpsk12.net/brightfuturesfrederickcounty/home Bright Futures Frederick/Winchester on Facebook: facebook.com/brightfuturesfrederickcounty Donation drop-off (donation shed by the first garage door): Bright Futures Distribution Center, 178 Indian Hollow Road, Winchester, VA 22603 Bright Futures phone: 540-667-2490 Bright Futures Amazon wish list: linked from the Bright Futures website and social pages 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

    Hidden Hunger
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5
out of 5
9 Ratings

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
    2.1K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Valley Today
  • Show Website
    The Valley Today