There's a helicopter on its way to downtown Winchester right now — and it's landing on a rooftop. Janet sits down with Dawn Devine, Tammy Stevenson, and Taylor Wilmoth of the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum to talk about the museum's boldest exhibit yet: a real helicopter, craned onto the Sky Level rooftop, that kids will be able to climb into and "fly."

From the four-year journey to get city approval, to the September 21st block party where the community can watch the helicopter get lifted into place, to the September 26th "Passport to Discovery" gala where grown-ups get the first look — this episode covers how a wild idea turned into a hands-on, ADA-accessible, community-funded exhibit built to give kids a perspective on flight most of them will never otherwise get. Plus: what else is happening on that rooftop, who's footing the bill, and why the helicopter isn't even leaving anytime soon.

EVENT DETAILS

Soar & Explore Block Party — Helicopter Rooftop Lift

• Date: Monday, September 21
• Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Location: Loudoun Street walking mall area, downtown Winchester (museum and adjacent street closed)
• Cost: Free to attend (block party portion)
• Presented with: Friends of Old Town
• Highlights: Helicopter craned onto the rooftop (expected ~10:30–10:45 AM), vendors and kids' activities on the walking mall, guest speakers (crane company representative, an airport/aviation guest, a wildfire-response helicopter speaker), a Valley Health helicopter flyover, and a DJ-hosted dance party
• Note: The museum's exterior rooftop area is expected to remain closed to the public into October while ADA-accessibility and structural work is completed

"Passport to Discovery" Gala

• Date: Saturday, September 26
• Location: Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum
• Dress: Encouraged "travel" attire — think favorite destination or dream trip
• Highlights: First opportunity to see the helicopter up close; food and drink stationed by floor; live band; silent/live auction (auction opens online September 12, ahead of the gala)
• Tickets & Auction: Available now at discoverymuseum.net

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.

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Hob Nob in the Valley is back — and it's still the most refreshingly nonpartisan political event you'll attend all year. Host Janet Michael sits down with Cynthia Schneider (CEO) and Taylor Coumes (Director of Event Management) from the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber, along with Brandon Lorey, President and CEO of Bank of Clarke, the event's presenting sponsor, to preview this year's Hob Nob happening Thursday, September 10th at Chilly Hollow Brewing Company.

They dig into the 20-plus-year history behind the event, why barbecue and beer make for better civic conversation than a podium ever could, what a ticket actually gets you, and how the Chamber's Public Policy Committee works to connect small businesses with the legislators shaping their future. Whether you're a candidate, a curious neighbor, or just someone who wants to meet your elected officials somewhere other than the grocery store, this episode has everything you need to know before you register.

EVENT DETAILS

• Event: Hob Nob in the Valley, presented by Bank of Clarke
• Date: Thursday, September 10, 2026
• Time: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
• Location: Chilly Hollow Brewing Company, Clarke County, VA
• Presenting Sponsor: Bank of Clarke
• Food: All-you-can-eat barbecue from beef raised on Chilly Hollow's own farm, plus custom salads; cash bar for beer/wine
• Pricing:
• Candidate / political party / government agency table: $35 (includes a 6-foot table, chair, and event admission)
• Exhibitor booth — Chamber members: $100
• Exhibitor booth — non-members: $150
• General admission — Chamber members: $50
• General admission — non-members: $60
• Registration: Top of Virginia Regional Chamber website → Signature Events → Hob Nob in the Valley → Register as a guest
• Open to all: Not a members-only event — nonprofits, government agencies, and community members are welcome; early registration requested for catering counts

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Top of Virginia Regional Chamber — regionalchamber.biz
• Hob Nob in the Valley event page — regionalchamber.biz/hob-nob-in-the-valley
• Bank of Clarke — bankofclarke.bank

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

New Market is having a moment — a new gelato shop is moving in, a grab-and-go cafe is on the way, and a furniture store is still going strong after 37 years. It's Shenandoah County Tourism Tuesday, and host Janet Michael catches up with Kary Haun from Shenandoah County Tourism, Savannah Smith from the Town of New Market, and Karla Kokkonen from The Home Store.

From the soon-to-open Battlefield Gelato Shop to the Home Store's decades of family history and New Market's packed fall festival calendar, this episode is full of reasons to plan a trip. Grab your walking shoes — and maybe save room for gelato.

Links & Resources

• Shenandoah County Tourism — visitshenandoahcounty.com
• Town of New Market — https://www.newmarketvirginia.com/
• The Home Store — rhomestore.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

When Juli Ferrell's own mother could no longer drive herself to doctor's appointments, a low-cost transportation service called WellTran became a lifeline — now, just three weeks into her new role as Executive Director of Seniors First, Juli is bringing that same personal understanding to an organization that serves thousands of seniors across the Northern Shenandoah Valley.

Janet sits down with Juli at the Seniors First offices in Front Royal to unpack everything the organization does — Meals on Wheels, WellTran transportation, senior centers, Medicare counseling, and scam prevention — across six jurisdictions. They talk food insecurity, an aging-population wave headed for Virginia by 2030, and how the upcoming Valley Venture Scavenger Hunt fundraiser could help shrink Meals on Wheels wait lists. Whether you or a loved one might need these services someday, or you're just looking for a new way to give back locally, this is a great primer on a nonprofit quietly doing a lot of heavy lifting.

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Seniors First: seniorsfirst.info
• Seniors First on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn (search "Seniors First")
• Valley Venture Scavenger Hunt — Saturday, October 17; $30/person, teams of two or more, all six jurisdictions; ends with a barbecue and basket auction in Warren County

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

NW Works is throwing its 11th annual Farm to Table dinner on September 12th — and for the first time in years, tickets to the general admission event are still available. Janet talks with communications coordinator Morgan McIntosh and CFO Todd Devine about what makes this Middletown street dinner one of the valley's most beloved fundraisers, from the locally sourced menu to the neighbors-turned-business-partners sitting elbow to elbow at the table.

Beyond the wine, live music, and farm-fresh food, Morgan and Todd dig into the real mission behind the event: NW Works' employment services for people with disabilities. They explain how the nonprofit works alongside employers and employees alike to build lasting, successful job placements — plus a new way to sponsor a seat at the table for one of their own team members. Listen in for ticket details, event logistics, and a closer look at why this dinner means so much more than a meal.

EVENT DETAILS

• Event: 11th Annual Farm to Table, hosted by NW Works
• Date: Saturday, September 12
• Time: 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM
• Location: Church Street, Middletown, VA
• Cost: $100 for general admission
• Tickets: Available at nwworks.com (VIP reception is sold out; general admission still available)

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

It's Community Health Day, and Janet sat down with Dr. Nick Restrepo, Valley Health's Chief Quality and Patient Safety Officer, to unpack some huge news: Valley Health has just been named one of the nation's top 15 health systems by Modern Healthcare and Premier Inc.

Dr. Restrepo breaks down what the award actually measures, why it took five years of data (not a lucky year) to earn it, and why he insists the real winners are the people at the bedside — not the administration. Along the way, they talk about new facilities on the way, a remarkable jump in employee engagement, and the sobering reality of violence against healthcare workers. It's a conversation about what "top 15 in the country" really means for the patients walking through Valley Health's doors right here in the Shenandoah Valley.

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

With National Senior Citizens Day landing this Friday, Janet sits down with Les Sinclair, Communications and PR Manager for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, to talk about a group that's too often overlooked in the conversation about hunger: our senior citizens. About one in five people the food bank serves are seniors living on fixed incomes that just can't keep pace with rising gas, housing, and grocery prices — and in a rural region like the Shenandoah Valley, that's compounded by isolation, limited public transportation, and a shortage of nearby grocery stores.

Les breaks down the numbers behind the need — including a record-setting year for the food bank — and walks through the specific programs built for seniors, from Reach Boxes to the USDA's Commodity Supplemental Food Program. He also digs into why so many eligible seniors never apply for SNAP benefits, the added strain on grandparents raising grandchildren, and how the "Food is Medicine" approach helps people manage chronic illness through better nutrition. It's a conversation full of practical ways to help, whether that's your time, your dollars, or your voice.

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Blue Ridge Area Food Bank — brafb.org
• Advocacy resources — brafb.org/act-now
• Blue Ridge Area Food Bank on Facebook and Instagram

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

Shenandoah Sips is back at Belle Grove, and it's bigger than ever — six wineries, four distilleries, a cidery, and a full lineup of non-alcoholic options, all in one very sippable location. Janet catches up with Kristen Laise (Executive Director) and Paige Ulevich (Festivals Coordinator) about how this former Wine Fest transformed into the Shenandoah Valley's favorite beverage festival.

From the returning mocktail bar and new Sober Sips Pass to a chef's market full of local makers, live music from Dan James Band and Low Water Bridge Band, and access to Belle Grove's historic manor house, this episode covers everything you need to plan your day at the festival on Saturday, August 29th. Tune in for ticket details, vendor highlights, and a few insider tips on beating the weather.

EVENT DETAILS

• Event: Shenandoah Sips
• Date: Saturday, August 29
• Time: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Location: Belle Grove, Middletown, VA
• Cost:
• Tasting Ticket (advance, by 5 PM Friday, August 28): $35
• Tasting Ticket (at the gate): $40
• Sober Sips Pass (advance or at the gate): $20
• Children 12 and under: Free
• Rain or shine event
• Free bag check available on-site
• No outside food/drink (except small children's items); no pets

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Tickets & event info: bellegrove.org (spelled out on air: B-E-L-L-E-G-R-O-V-E dot O-R-G)
• Belle Grove on Facebook and Instagram

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

A free medical, dental, and vision clinic that asks nothing of you but showing up — no insurance, no income screening, no residency requirement. On this episode, host Janet Michael talks with Gina Hilliard, President of the Luray-Page Chamber of Commerce, and Ben Dolewski, Executive Director of the Page Free Clinic, about the clinic's fifth annual Remote Area Medical (RAM) Clinic coming to Luray High School on September 26th and 27th.

Ben breaks down how the Page Free Clinic serves Page County residents year-round, why the RAM event throws its doors open to anyone from anywhere, and what a day at the pop-up clinic actually looks like — from midnight parking-lot lines to walking away with a free pair of glasses. Gina also shares what's new at the Luray-Page Chamber, including a new member portal and a full slate of August events. It's a conversation about removing every possible barrier to healthcare, one weekend at a time.

EVENT DETAILS

What: 5th Annual RAM (Remote Area Medical) Clinic — free medical, dental, and vision care, including free eyeglasses for those needing a vision correction

When: Saturday, September 26 – Sunday, September 27

Where: Luray High School, Luray, VA

Format: Walk-in, first come first served — no appointment or reservation needed

Parking: Lot opens at midnight the night before (Friday, September 25, ahead of Saturday's clinic day); doors/registration begin around 6:00 AM

Cost: 100% free — no income, insurance, or residency screening required; open to anyone from anywhere

To volunteer: Register at ramusa.org (search for the September 26 Luray event)

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Page Free Clinic: pagefreeclinic.org
• Page Free Clinic phone: 540-743-1054
• Page Free Clinic address: 250 Memorial Drive, Luray, VA (on the Page Memorial Hospital campus); open Tuesdays 4:00–7:00 PM
• Luray-Page Chamber of Commerce website: luraypagechamber.com
• Chamber phone: 540-743-3915

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

Turning down your water heater by a few degrees, switching one bulb at a time, and slicing up a $2 pool noodle can add up to real savings on your electric bill — and Karen Poff is back to show you how. Janet Michael welcomes local Extension agent Karen Poff, who manages the Northern Shenandoah Valley Financial Education Program, for a bonus conversation packed with practical, low-cost ways to trim your energy costs as the seasons turn.

From cleaning dryer vents and refrigerator coils to hunting down phantom power drains with a switched power strip, Karen and Janet walk through room-by-room tips anyone can start using this weekend. They also cover thermostat habits, lighting upgrades, water heater settings, and where to find help if paying the energy bill is a struggle. Tune in for tips you can put to use before the next bill arrives.

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Northern Shenandoah Valley Financial Education Program: https://warren.ext.vt.edu/programs/nsvfep.html
• Virginia Energy Sense: https://www.virginiaenergysense.org/ - Virginia Energy Sense is Virginia Energy's consumer education initiative that helps residents reduce energy use, lower utility costs, and make informed energy decisions. The website offers practical energy-saving tips, information on home energy efficiency improvements, guidance on available incentives and rebates, and tools to help households improve comfort and manage energy expenses year-round.
• Federal Energy Programs: https://www.energy.virginia.gov/ - The federal Home Energy Rebates programs created through the Inflation Reduction Act are being implemented and administered by individual states. Virginia is currently developing and finalizing its program requirements and enrollment processes. Residents can find the most up-to-date information about program availability, eligibility, and application procedures through the Virginia Department of Energy (Virginia Energy).
• U.S. Department of Energy Home Energy Rebates Program: - https://www.energy.gov/cmei/scep/home-energy-rebates-program - Offers an overview of the federal Home Energy Rebates programs, including program goals, eligible upgrades, and state implementation guidance.
• Virginia Home Energy Rebates FAQ (Virginia Energy): https://www.energy.virginia.gov/energy-efficiency/HomeEnergyRebatesFrequentlyAskedQuestions.shtml - Provides the latest information on Virginia's Home Energy Rebates programs, including eligibility requirements, qualified improvements, and implementation updates.
• Virginia Energy Connect: https://energy.virginia.gov/connect/residential - A one-stop resource for Virginia residents to explore available energy efficiency incentives, connect with Energy Ambassadors, and learn about clean energy and cost-saving opportunities. The site reflects currently available programs and will be updated as new rebate programs become available.
• Virginia Energy Sense: Energy Providers Tab: https://www.virginiaenergysense.org/incentives-and-rebates/ - The Energy Providers section of this web page allows Virginia residents to search for rebates, incentives, and energy-saving programs offered by their electric or natural gas utility. By selecting a utility provider, consumers can identify programs that may help reduce the cost of energy efficiency upgrades, home energy assessments, weatherization improvements, and other energy-saving measures available in their service area.
• Weatherization Assistance - Community Housing Partners Weatherization Program: https://www.communityhousingpartners.org/energy-solutions/weatherization/ - Provides weatherization services and energy-saving improvements for eligible households. Complete the online program survey to determine which energy assistance and weatherization programs you may qualify for.

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