We were joined in the studio today by Kim Walter from Virginia Blood Services for quite an educational show. We talked about the need for blood donations, especially during the holiday season, plus who can donate and who can't. Kim walked us through the process for donating blood and shared several interesting facts, statistics and misconceptions about local blood donation. For more information about who can donate, potential issues with your donation and answers to frequently asked questions, visit their website: http://www.vablood.org/ or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube You can also visit their local blood center in Winchester at 333 W. Cork Street, Suite 200 (in the old Winchester Memorial Hospital building) during their normal hours: Mon - Wed from 11am-6pm or Thurs - Fri from 7:30am - 3pm. You can call them at 540-450-2170.

We were joined in the studio for The Valley Business Today by Rick Novak, owner of Royal Cinemas and Royal Family Bowling Center. We talked about his 25-year business relationship with Front Royal/Warren County including his current ownership of Royal Cinemas and Royal Family Bowling Center. We discussed his business decisions for both entities, how he decides which movies to bring to the theater and a few community promotions happening at both locations during the holidays. For more information about Royal Cinemas, visit their website: http://www.royal-cinemas.com/ and follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoyalCinemas For more information about Royal Family Bowling Center, visit their website: http://www.royalfamilybowl.com/ and follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoyalFamilyBowling

We were joined in the studio for Tourism Tuesday - Winchester/Frederick County edition with Justin Kerns, our Winchester Tourism Guy and his guests, Shannon Ganoe & Jim Taylor from First Night Winchester. We talked about the 30-year history of Frist Night Winchester along with all the activities and musical performances that will be happening on Saturday, December 31st beginning at 10am. The Robbie Limon Band will headline the evening with 3 performances including the last one leading up to the "apple drop" at midnight. Buttons will be available for purchase beginning December 21 and running through December 31st. For 10 days only, you'll be able to buy your buttons for $10 each, children 10 and under are FREE. You can purchase your buttons at the locations below: (Please verify hours with individual locations)

• Apple Blossom Mall Management Office
• Museum of the Shenandoah Valley Gift Shop
• Winchester Book Gallery
• Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center
• First Night Headquarters – The Old Town Welcome Center, located at: 33 E. Boscawen Street (next to City Hall/around the corner from the Apple Drop), will house the First Night Winchester Headquarters on December 31. You may purchase your buttons here from 5-9 pm. Cash, checks and credit cards will be accepted. There is a $2 convenience fee for each button.

For more information about the schedule of events, parking and other questions, please visit their website: http://firstnightwinchester.com/

We were joined in the studio for Municipal Monday by Warren County Administrator, Doug Stanley for the last update of 2016 on what's happening in the county. Doug highlighted the accomplishments of the county which included:

• Bond rating upgrade by Fitch Ratings from a AA to a AA+
• Start of work on Ressie Jeffries roof replacement & parking lot project
• Start of replacement of Morgan Ford Bridge
• Completion of EnerGov Building Inspections and Zoning Software project
• Completion of Eastham Trail Phase III
• Completion of Carson Trail Phase II
• Completion of jail renovation project
• Update of Capital Improvement Plan

We also talked about the lease to the Front Royal Chamber of Commerce of the first-floor space of the former Teledata building, the expansion of Main Street and more.

We were joined in the studio for a fun show with Mark Sutphin, Extension Agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources Horticulture with Virginia Cooperative Extension and his guests, Rich & Bob, Master Gardeners to talk about their upcoming Master Gardeners Class of 2017. Do you enjoy gardening? Love nature? Appreciate the environment? Want to share your outdoor passions with others? Join the 2017 class of Master Gardeners and meet others with your interest(s), update your current knowledge, and help the community grow through your volunteering at education events and programs. Classes meet beginning in early February and finishing in early May. Participants are required to complete a minimum 50 hour course to be followed by 50 volunteer hours to become certified. For more information, attend their upcoming registration/information session on January 17 from 6pm - 8pm at Shenandoah County Government Office Building - Virginia Cooperative Extension Classroom. For more information, download the flyer: 2017 Master Gardener Class or send an email to [email protected]

The Valley Women Today featured our own Lita Robinson, News Director for The River 95.3 and Sports Radio 1450. We talked about her background in radio, what she's working on improving during her news casts plus she shared with us what she needs to expand our news coverage from our listeners, local government, non-profits and community organizations. If you have a news story or press release about an event, award, etc., send them to [email protected].

It was The Valley Business Today - Luray/Page County edition with Katie Long from Luray-Page County Chamber of Commerce and local real estate agents, Beth Waller & Jen Avery from Team Waller Real Estate. We talked about the overlap between Front Royal/Warren County and Luray/Page County from a business perspective and the benefits Beth & Jen receive for Team Waller Real Estate by being a member of the Luray Chamber. We also talked about Team Waller's Open House: Meet in the Middle on Main Street in Front Royal and the community meeting space it offers at no charge to local businesses, community groups and non-profit organizations. Beth & Jen also shared some tips if you're planning to list your home in the coming months to help you get prepared and hopefully, sell your house quicker.

It was Tourism Tuesday - Luray/Page County edition on The Valley Today with Katie Long from Luray-Page Chamber of Commerce and her guest, Liz Lewis from The Mimslyn Inn. We talked about all the holiday activities happening at The Mimslyn Inn over the next few weeks including the Luray-Page Chamber's Business After Hours, Friday Date Nights, Christmas Eve/Day dinner/brunch and of course their New Year's bash. Follow them on Facebook for the most current updates: https://www.facebook.com/MimslynInn Katie also told us about a few other holiday events happening in Luray such as Trackside Theater's production of Magic Treehouse: A Ghost Tale for Mr. Dickens, Breakfast with Santa at the Luray Fire Department & photos with Santa at Mamma Mia's in Shenandoah.

We were joined in the studio today by Shawn Lucas, founder of Bikes for Tikes. We talked about it's inception, the incredible good it does and how it's grown from a "Shenandoah Valley" effort to something that's nationwide. We discussed his partnership with Toys for Tots and Shawn shared some heartwarming stories of donations with us. If you'd like to help in any way, visit their website: http://www.bikesfortikes.net/ for all the details. If you'd like to help them build bikes this Saturday, December 17 at the Front Royal Moose Lodge, click here for all the information.

We super-sized The Valley Today this afternoon to bring you an important message in quite an entertaining way. It was our live alcohol lab where several staff members from The River 95.3 drank in the studio under the careful supervision of Lt. Warren Gosnell, Traffic Division Commander for the Frederick County Sheriff's Department. Lt. Gosnell oversaw the entire experiment where Joe Woodall, our Production Manager drank (4) 5 oz. glasses of wine with 5% alcohol content, Alex Hinton, from our news department drank (4) 1.5 oz. mixed drinks with 35% alcohol content and Lita Robinson, our News Director drank (4) 12 oz. bottles of hard cider with 5% alcohol content. We discussed their drinking patterns & how that affects their alcohol absorption and reaction. Lt. Gosnell debunked several myths to "sobering up" in a hurry, and gave his tips & sage advice about how and why you should avoid getting behind the wheel after even just a few drinks. We also live-streamed the show (including through the commercial breaks) on our Facebook page. You can watch the entire show by clicking here.