We were joined in the studio today by co-host, Kary Haun from Shenandoah County Tourism and her guest, Katie Mercer from the Woodstock Enhancement Committee. Katie told us about Halloween on Court Square happening in Woodstock on Saturday, October 29 from 11am - 1pm. There will be trick or treating, tons of kids activities, a petting zoo and MORE. Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/woodstock.enhancement/ to stay up to date on all their events & promotions. We talked about all the great Halloween activities happening throughout Shenandoah County including Ghost/Graveyard Tours on October 29, 2016 from 6pm - 9pm hosted by Strasburg Heritage Association & Trick or Treat on Congress Street happening on Monday, Octber 31st in New Market. We also talked about Shenandoah Uncorked at the Yellow Barn in Quicksburg happening on November 12 & Bryce Resort announcing that their Bike Park will remain open until the first snow!

We were joined in the studio today by Chris Konyar, Superintendent of Recreation & Tony Baker, Marketing Coordinator from Frederick County Parks & Recreation to talk about all the great events they have coming up over the next several months. We talked about the Battlefield Half marathon coming up on November 5th, how to register and all the good that is accomplished with the money raised for WATTS. We also discussed their Thanksgiving Day 5k, the most recent opening of Rose Hill Park along with Youth Basketball registrations and Winter Wonderland at Clearbook Park. For more details about the marathons, visit their website: http://www.RunAtTheTop.net/

We were joined in the studio today for an informative conversation with extension agents, Mark Sutphin & Karen Poff. We discussed their upcoming drinking water testing clinics and the importance of having your well, spring or cistern water tested. We talked about the health risks of consuming poor quality water, the process to have it tested and what you can expect at the initial clinic meeting as well as the explanation you'll receive when your results are returned. If you're interested in registering for one of their upcoming clinics (listed below), please call 540-665-5699. To download the flyer for the event which includes a schedule of the clinics and registration form, click here: 2016-drinking-water-flyer You can find each extension office via their website: VCE - Frederick County: http://offices.ext.vt.edu/frederick/ VCE - Warren County: http://offices.ext.vt.edu/warren/ VCE - Clarke County: http://offices.ext.vt.edu/clarke/ VCE - Page County: http://offices.ext.vt.edu/page/ VCE - Shenandoah County: http://offices.ext.vt.edu/shenandoah/

We were broadcasting live from the Byrd School of Business at Shenandoah University in Winchester for The Valley Business Today with our co-host, Dr. Miles Davis, Dean of the Byrd School of Business and Professor of Management at Shenandoah University. Irv Shendow from Bell's Fine Clothing was his guest today. We talked about business longevity, changing with the times and the importance of knowing when it's time to scale back your business to become more profitable.

We were joined in the studio for today's edition of Tourism Tuesday by Justin Kerns, our "Winchester Tourism Guy" and his guest, Jennifer Bell, Winchester Downtown Manager. We talked about the dozens of great things happening in and around Winchester/Frederick County and Jennifer filled us in on all the great events happening in downtown Winchester. For a full list of events, visit the Winchester - Frederick County Visitor & Convention Center's website: http://www.visitwinchesterva.com/events For more information about what's happening in downtown Winchester, visit their website: oldtownwinchesterva.com

We were joined in the studio for Municipal Monday by Doug Stanley Warren County Administrator & Front Royal Town Manager Steve Burke. Doug updated us on the following County projects: Warren County Annual Residential Cleanup/Household Hazardous Cleanup Day to be held on Saturday, October 29, 2016 from 8am - 2pm. For details about what and where items will be accepted for the residential clean up, click here to view the flyer: residentialcleanupflyer_2016. For details about what and where items will be accepted for hazardous cleanup, click here to view the flyer: householdhazardouswasteflyer_2016. Doug also gave us an update on the following construction projects: the second middle school, Skyline Soccerplex, Ressie Jeffries Elementary, VDOT/South Fork Bridge, VDOT/Myers Drive Recreational Access Project/Shenandoah Farms Boat Landing, Eastham Trail/Phase III & the Morgans Ford Bridge replacement. We also talked about the Warren-Clarke MicroEnterprise Assistance program that the County closed out on September 29, 2016. Over the three years of the program, they were able to close eight loans totaling $320,000 and create approximately 45 new jobs for businesses such as C&C Frozen Treats and Joe's Steakhouse. Steve updated us on the following Town projects: The Downtown Revitalization Management Team continues to meet to develop the program that will focus on parking, branding, and façade improvements in the Town's downtown area through a CDBG grant. The project architect for renderings is Frazier and Associates. Darwin Concepts has been selected to conduct the branding effort. An interactive "Immersion Workshop" for public input and participation in the brand development has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 25th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Warren County Community Center at 538 Villa Avenue. For more details on this project, click here to view the flyer: branding-flier_meetings-starting-october-25thcorrected. We also talked about Commerce Avenue Reconstruction in the southbound lanes of Commerce Avenue between Main Street and South Street at night from 8 pm to 6 am beginning October 24th through the 28th. Steve also gave us an update on the following: leaf collection, hydrant flushing, police headquarters, Main Street extension, Leach Run Parkway, as well as the Town auction which will be conducted Saturday October 22nd. The Town is still competing for the title of Top Adventure Town in the Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine completion against Frankfort KY. Results will be provided with the October/November issue. Hometown Halloween, The Town will sponsor the safe Halloween event on Main Street on Monday October 31st from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The Chamber of Commerce will sponsor a costume contest at the Gazebo beginning at 6:00 pm. We will also have a pumpkin carving contest for thirty participants. Rural King will provide pumpkins to participants. The pumpkins will be showcased in local business storefronts and on the Town's Facebook page. Voting for your favorite pumpkin will be done on the Facebook page. If you are interested please contact Tim Smith our Visitor Center Manager at (540) 635-5788.

We were joined in the studio today by Middletown Mayor, Charles Harbaugh to talk about the 152nd Battle of Cedar Creek Reenactment happening this weekend in Middletown. We discussed the importance of history, the sights and sounds of the event along with other great things happening in Middletown. Below is a full schedule of events for the weekend. For more details about tickets or the event activities, visit their website: http://ccbf.us/ Saturday, October 15 9:00 AM – Gates open to public 9:00 AM – Belle Grove opens – (Belle Grove) 10:00 AM – Meet The Generals – Lee's Lieutenants – (Symposium Tent) 11:00 AM – Artillery demonstration – (Field) 11:30 AM Speaker, "Black Confederates" – Gregory Newson – (Symposium Tent) 12:00 PM – Concert – Susquehanna Travelers – (Symposium Tent) 12:30 PM – Infantry Demonstration – (Field) 1:00 PM – Speaker, the "Battle of Tom's Brook"- Bill Miller (Symposium Tent) 2:00 PM – Speaker: "Remembrance, Reunion, And Reconciliation" – Jonathan Noyalas – (Symposium Tent) 2:30 PM Cavalry Demonstration – (Field) 2:30 PM – Spectators must leave reenactor camps 3:00 PM – Reenactment: First Battle of Winchester – (Field) 4:00 PM – Belle Grove Manor House Closes 6:15 PM – Candlelight Tour of the Confederate Camps – (Meet at the Symposium Tent ($5 fee)) 6:30 PM Lighting of Luminaries through Middletown – (Town of Middletown) 7:00 PM – Night Firing of Cannons and Signal Corps Demonstration – (Field) 8:00 PM Gates close to public Sunday, October 16th 9:00 AM – Gates open to Public 9:00 AM – Belle Grove opens – (Belle Grove) 9:00 AM – Catholic Mass Service – (Symposium Tent) 10:00 AM – Non-Denomination Gospel Service – (Symposium Tent) 11:00 AM – Speaker: "Amazing Legacy of James Hanger" – (Symposium Tent) 12:00 PM – Artillery Demonstration – (Field) 12:30 PM – Speaker: "Sheridan's Ride in War and Memory" – Jonathan Noyalas – (Symposium Tent) 1:00 PM – All Spectators must leave Camps 1:30 PM – Reenactment: Battle of Cedar Creek – (Field) 3:00 PM – The aftermath of Battle – Lee's Lieutenants – (Symposium Tent) 4:00 PM – Belle Grove Manor House Closes 5:00 PM – Gates close to the public

We were joined in the studio today by Brandy Boies, Director of Marketing and Outreach for Lord Fairfax Community College and Tina Putman LFCC's Director of Surgical Technology to talk about the benefits of their Surg-Tech program. Lord Fairfax Community College Surgical Technology Program prepares graduates to work in operating rooms, in hospitals and outpatient surgical centers. Admission to the program is limited and competitive and is based in part on standardized entrance test results. Priority enrollment is given to residents of the LFCC service region. Qualifying graduates of an accredited Surgical Technology Program will sit for the National Certifying Examination. The Surgical Technology Program of LFCC is provided in cooperation with Winchester Medical Center and other area hospitals. The 12-month certificate program is academically rigorous and offers educational components in the classroom and clinical laboratory environment. For more details about Lord Fairfax Community College, visit their website: http://lfcc.edu/whylfcc For more details about the Surgical Technology program, including contact information for Tina Putman, click here: https://lfcc.edu/areas-of-study/certificates/health-professions/surgical-technology/

We were joined in the studio for The Valley Business Today by co-host Katie Long from the Luray - Page County Chamber of Commerce and her guest, Dorothy Welch from Blue Ridge Bank. We talked about the importance of local community banks, the various community events (see below) that Blue Ridge Bank is involved in as well as some of their services such as Jackpot Savings. Dorothy also gave us some tips of preventing fraud and identity theft .

We were joined in the studio today by Mr. Pat Younk with C-CAP to talk about the services that C-CAP offers to over 200 people in need each month in our community. C-CAP (The Congregational-Community Action Project) is a volunteer-operated, non-profit, tax-exempt corporation that provides emergency food, clothing and limited financial aid to local families in need serving the Front Royal - Warren County, Virginia area. C-CAP's "safety net" helps families who are not eligible for support elsewhere, or where existing support is not adequate due to special circumstances. All activities are accomplished by about 50 unpaid volunteers. They are supported primarily by donations from local churches, civic groups and organizations, individuals and businesses. Monetary donations, non-perishable food items, paper products and personal hygiene items are always in great demand. C-CAP accepts donation each weekday from 9am - Noon at the office located at 316 N. Royal Avenue in Front Royal. Joe Woodall with The River 95.3 also joined us to talk about the kickoff to our Food Drive: Camping For Hunger. For the eighth consecutive year, The River 95.3/WZRV will be hosting 'Camping for Hunger,' from Monday, November 14th through Saturday, November 19th to raise food, monetary donations and awareness of hunger in the northern Shenandoah Valley. Staff members Randy Woodward, Lonnie Hill, Joe Woodall, Al McGilvray, Alex Hinton and station owner, Andrew Shearer along with other staff members will each spend at least one night camping in a stripped-down school bus at the Royal Plaza Shopping Center on South Street in Front Royal. During the week-long campout, The River 95.3 broadcasts live asking for community support and donations for Front Royal/Warren County C-Cap's food pantry. Production Manager Joe Woodall came up with the concept in 2009, "The community support for this event makes the chilly evenings and long days worthwhile, knowing that they are behind us in the cause of easing the hunger of their neighbors. Each year, the event grows with more food partners, community support and additional activities." The River 95.3 is committed to continuing to serve the community through direct-involvement events and activities. For more information about how you can participate or contribute to the Camping For Hunger campaign, contact Janet Michael at the station: 540-635-4121; via cell/text: 540-409-6703; email: [email protected] or visit theriver953.com.