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. 14h ago

    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

  2. 3d ago

    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

  3. 4d ago

    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

  4. 5d ago

    Road Work Ahead

    New lanes on I-81, a brand-new bridge at Exit 313, and longer turn lanes on the roads you drive every day: VDOT's Ken Slack is back with the latest on the road work around the Northern Shenandoah Valley. Janet Michael checks in with Ken, communications specialist for VDOT's Staunton District, on the big highway projects that make headlines and the smaller fixes that change your daily drive. Ken explains the traffic shifts coming to the I-81 widening at Strasburg this October and November, and what drivers should expect as the Millwood Pike/Millwood Avenue project gets underway this fall. He also covers turn-lane work on Route 340, safety upgrades on Route 55, and the maintenance crews who keep the valley's roads, bridges, and ditches in shape all year. If you drive through Winchester, Strasburg, or Front Royal, listen for what's changing on your route and how to get around the work zones. (There's even talk of a "Janet lane.") LINKS & RESOURCES VDOT Staunton District projects: vdot.virginia.gov/projects/staunton-district Interstate 81 Strasburg-area widening (mile markers 295.4 to 299.6): vdot.virginia.gov/projects/staunton-district/interstate-81-strasburg-area-widening-mile-markers-2954-to-2996 Frederick County – Route 17/50/522 (Millwood Pike) bridge over Interstate 81: vdot.virginia.gov/projects/staunton-district/frederick-county--route-1750522-millwood-pike-bridge-over-interstate-81 City of Winchester – Millwood Avenue (Route 17/50/522): vdot.virginia.gov/projects/staunton-district/city-of-winchester---millwood-avenue-route-1750522 Town of Front Royal – South Street Improvements: vdot.virginia.gov/projects/staunton-district/town-of-front-royal---south-street-improvements Improve 81 (I-81 Corridor Improvement Program): improve81.vdot.virginia.gov VDOT Customer Service Center (report potholes and road concerns): my.vdot.virginia.gov or 800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623) 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

    Road Work Ahead

  5. 6d ago

    Medieval in the Mountains

    North Mountain Vineyard & Winery's first Ravenwood Faire is almost here — and owner Jill Edlich says getting a 90-vendor medieval festival ready on a working vineyard has been its own kind of harvest season. Janet Michael and Kary Haun catch up with Jill for Shenandoah County Tourism Tuesday, checking in on everything that's changed since February: a new accessible walkway, a horse arena, and a vineyard now just months from hosting its biggest event yet. Jill talks through surviving an April frost scare, why Ravenwood Faire leans medieval instead of Renaissance, and what two full weekends (October 16–18 and 23–25) of jousting, vaulting, turkey legs, and handmade crafts will look like at its new home. She also opens up about the Ravenwood Foundation, the nonprofit behind it all that sends kids to camp and keeps them off their screens. Then Kary runs down everything else happening around Shenandoah County this fall — from Autumn Fest to a 50th-anniversary toast at one of Virginia's oldest wineries. EVENT DETAILS - Ravenwood Faire — presented by the Ravenwood Foundation Dates: October 16–18 and October 23–25, 2026 Hours: Fridays 3–9 PM, Saturdays 10 AM–7 PM, Sundays 10 AM–5 PM Location: North Mountain Vineyard & Winery, Maurertown, VA Tickets: Online presale (currently $5 off), tickets also available at the door; children 7 and under free; 2-day, 3-day, and 6-day (season) passes available Website: ravenwoodfaire.us LINKS & RESOURCES North Mountain Vineyard & Winery: northmountainvineyard.com Ravenwood Foundation: ravenwoodfoundation.org Shenandoah County Tourism (events calendar): visitshenandoahcounty.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

    Medieval in the Mountains

  6. Sep 21

    Valley Venture Scavenger Hunt

    Grab a team, grab a driver, and get ready to venture across the Northern Shenandoah Valley — for a good cause. Janet is back on the Zooms with Gina Hilliard, president of the Luray-Page Chamber of Commerce, and Greg Stockton, development director for Seniors First, to talk about the Valley Venture Scavenger Hunt, an app-based fundraiser happening October 17th across six counties. Greg walks through how the app-based hunt works, why it's flexible enough for competitive teams and casual friend groups alike, and where the money raised goes to support homebound seniors across the Valley. Gina also shares what's coming up on the Luray-Page Chamber's own event calendar this fall. Tune in for all the details on how to register, what to expect on event day, and why this might be the most fun way yet to explore your own backyard. EVENT DETAILS Valley Venture Scavenger Hunt Date: Saturday, October 17 Time: App-based challenges open 10:00 AM–5:00 PM; celebration dinner at 6:00 PM Location: Teams can start anywhere across the six-county footprint (Page, Clarke, Frederick/Winchester, Warren, and Shenandoah counties); closing celebration is at the Warren Senior Center in Front Royal Format: Teams of two or more (must include a licensed adult driver), using the Eventzee app; teams choose their own challenges and order  Cost/Fundraising: Register free with a peer-to-peer fundraising commitment, or pay a flat per-person registration fee  Evening celebration: Barbecue dinner, a live auction (donations accepted through event day), and highlights from the day's team videos and photos Registration: bit.ly/valley-venture, or via the Givebutter fundraising link at seniorsfirst.info LINKS & RESOURCES Seniors First: seniorsfirst.info Seniors First — Donate: seniorsfirst.info/donate Luray-Page Chamber of Commerce: luraypagechamber.com/   Eventzee app: eventzeeapp.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

    Valley Venture Scavenger Hunt

  7. Sep 18

    Planting Seeds, Harvesting Change

    The Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association is bringing back its fall symposium after a pandemic-era hiatus — and this year it comes with a theme, a full slate of local experts, and a challenge for every gardener in the room. Janet talks with Candace DeLong, Frederick County's Virginia Cooperative Extension agent, and Chris Jorgensen, president of the NSV Master Gardener Association, about what's in store on November 14 at Laurel Ridge Community College. This year's theme, "Planting Seeds, Harvesting Change," has speakers covering everything from gardening for birds to backyard meadows to the bugs in your beds — and each one is sending attendees home with a concrete action item. Janet, Candace, and Chris also dig into what the symposium's ticket sales actually fund, from seed lending libraries to children's garden programs, and preview the 2027 Master Gardener training class for anyone thinking about getting more involved. It's equal parts education and pep talk for anyone who's ever wondered why their garden isn't quite working yet. Event Details Fall Gardening Symposium — "Planting Seeds, Harvesting Change" Date: Saturday, November 14 Location: Laurel Ridge Community College, Middletown campus — Corron Community Development Center Doors: 8:00 AM (breakfast items available) | Sessions: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Cost: $65 per ticket, includes breakfast, snacks, and a pre-orderable boxed lunch (Panera; gluten-free/vegan options available) Incentive: Free coffee mug for the first 50 registrants Registration: nsvmga.org, or via NSVMGA's Facebook page (search "Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association") 2027 Extension Master Gardener Class Info session: Tuesday, October 12, 6:00 PM, Shenandoah County Extension office (Woodstock) Class runs Feb. 15 – May 12, Monday and Wednesday nights, 6:00–9:00 PM, at the Shenandoah County Extension office Space limited to about 20 people; registration open now at nsvmga.org ("Join Us" tab) 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

    Planting Seeds, Harvesting Change

  8. Sep 17

    Community Health: Mobile Mammograms

    A brand-new, 36-foot pink mobile mammography unit just rolled into the Shenandoah Valley — and Janet Michael is sitting right next to it on the Winchester Medical Center campus to find out what it means for local women's health. On this Community Health episode, Janet talks with Jenny Grooms, Executive Director of Valley Health Foundations and Jason Craig, Senior Director of Community Health about the new unit that will bring full-quality 3D mammograms directly to workplaces, churches, schools, and community spaces across the region. They dig into who made the unit possible, why transportation and time off work are two of the biggest barriers to getting screened, and how the van — donated through Valley Health Foundations' Stronger Together campaign — will target the Valley's most rural corners first. Jason also shares the rollout timeline, what a screening day looks like, and how local employers, faith communities, and schools can request a stop. It's a fun, heartfelt conversation with a serious payoff: more women getting screened, closer to home. Links & Resources Valley Health: valleyhealthlink.com Give to Valley Health Foundations: valleyhealthlink.com/giving Stronger Together campaign: valleyhealthlink.com/stronger 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

    Community Health: Mobile Mammograms
See All (2.1K)

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