The Valley Today

Building the Bends

There's a brand-new trail at Seven Bends State Park — and it took a decade, a federal grant, and a whole lot of volunteer sweat to build it. Janet Michael is joined by Kary Haun (Shenandoah County Tourism) for a bonus conversation with Kyle Lawrence of the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition about the new shared-use trail connecting the park to the George Washington National Forest. Kyle breaks down what actually goes into planning and building a sustainable mountain trail, why hikers and trail runners will likely outnumber bikers on this one, and how e-bikes are opening the sport up to more people. They also talk phase-two plans, trail-use data and heat maps, and where to go if you're just getting started. Plus, a quick rundown of what's happening around the valley this weekend. Links & Resources Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition — svbcoalition.org Shenandoah County Tourism — 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

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Community Health: Vein Care Demystified

6d ago00:18:21Tap to summarize

"Spider veins" was a scary name for a little girl who was afraid of spiders. As it turns out, it's a scary name for a lot of grown-ups too — and one of the biggest reasons people put off getting evaluated. On this Community Health edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael welcomes Dr. Emily Reardon, board-certified vascular surgeon with Valley Health Vascular Surgeons, for a genuinely reassuring conversation about vein health — what varicose veins and spider veins actually are, why they happen, when they're cosmetic and when they're medically significant, and just how minimally invasive today's treatments really are. Dr. Reardon walks through the diagnostic starting point (an in-office ultrasound to check for any deeper reflux), the treatment ladder for both spider veins (sclerotherapy — small injections, no anesthesia, no downtime) and varicose veins (in-office endovascular ablations plus, when needed, small micro-phlebectomy incisions to remove the visible larger veins), and the everyday, non-medical steps that help genuinely: regular walking, compression stockings for long sitting or standing days, healthy weight, healthy diet. She also clears up the single biggest patient misconception — that vein disease is a circulation emergency threatening amputation. It isn't. Varicose veins are a drainage issue in the superficial venous system, not an artery blockage. Plus: what's covered by insurance (spoiler: much more than most people think), the recurrence rate (~10%), why vascular surgery is embracing "less than minimally invasive" techniques, and the open-door policy at Dr. Reardon's Winchester and Front Royal offices — no ultrasound needed for the first consultation. WHAT DR. REARDON WANTS YOU TO KNOW VEIN DISEASE ≠ CIRCULATION EMERGENCY- The single biggest misconception Dr. Reardon hears is that varicose or spider veins mean blockages, poor circulation, or amputation risk. They don't. The arteries in the legs — which carry vital blood flow to the feet and muscles — are a completely different system. Vein disease is about DRAINAGE, not supply. Even severe cases progress to skin problems and slow-healing wounds — treatable, not catastrophic. TREATMENTS HAVE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY - Modern vein care is far less invasive than it was even a decade ago. Most procedures are done in-office with injections or through IV-based techniques. The old "stripping" surgeries have been largely replaced by endovascular ablation and micro-phlebectomies (small incisions to remove larger surface veins). Recovery is fast, downtime is minimal, and most patients don't need to take time off work. TREATMENT PATH AT A GLANCE SPIDER VEINS (small superficial veins) Treatment: Sclerotherapy — a liquid detergent injected via small needles • Anesthesia: None needed • Downtime: None • Insurance: Usually out-of-pocket (unless deeper reflux is found) • Sessions: Typically multiple, to reach full result VARICOSE VEINS (larger, often with deeper feeder veins) Treatment: Ultrasound to check for deeper reflux, then a combination of: Endovascular ablation of the deeper vein (through an IV) and/or Micro-phlebectomy for the visible larger veins (small incisions) • Anesthesia: Minimal (typically local) • Downtime: Minimal • Insurance: Typically covered • Sessions: Usually one treatment per leg EVERYDAY STEPS TO PROTECT YOUR VEIN HEALTH • Walk regularly — even short intervals help • Avoid long stretches of sitting OR standing without moving • Wear compression stockings on long-sit or long-stand days • Maintain a healthy weight • Get evaluated when things look or feel different — a consultation is the fastest way to know if it's cosmetic or medically significant WHO'S A GOOD CANDIDATE Because vein treatments are low-risk, most people are candidates regardless of age or coexisting health issues. There is no minimum severity required to book a consultation — Dr. Reardon has an open door for new patients and often meets first for a conversation before recommending any testing. WHERE TO GO Valley Health Vascular Surgeons offer vein consultations and treatments at two locations: • Winchester Medical Center (main office) • Warren Memorial Hospital (Front Royal — a couple of days per month) LINKS & RESOURCES • Valley Health: valleyhealthlink.com • Community Health archive: thevalleytodaypodcast.com — "Community Health" • Valley Health Vascular Surgeons: https://www.valleyhealthlink.com/our-locations/profile/valley-health-vascular-surgeons/ 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

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Clean, Separate, Cook, Chill: Summer Cookout Survival Guide

1w ago00:22:07Tap to summarize

Your potato salad has been out for how long? On this episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael welcomes back Amanda Johnson, the Food, Nutrition, and Health Extension Agent based in Frederick County (serving all five surrounding counties), for a genuinely useful summer companion to their November food safety conversation. This time the focus is picnics, cookouts, and family reunions — with the same four-pillar framework Amanda teaches: Clean, Separate, Cook, Chill. Amanda walks through what most home cooks get wrong (yes, you need to wash the outside of a watermelon before you cut it; no, you can't tell doneness by looking at a hamburger; no, your macaroni and cheese is not "already cooked" and safe forever). She covers the current Cyclospora parasite situation in Virginia (fewer than 100 cases, potentially linked to leafy greens, and no — washing produce won't kill the parasite; only good hand hygiene stops the spread). She lays out the temperature danger zone (40°F to 140°F), the two-hour rule for food left out (which drops to one hour when it's 90°F or hotter outside), the proper internal temperatures for chicken, ground meat, and steaks, and the smart practical tips that make the whole thing manageable — from separate coolers for drinks and food, to smaller serving bowls that keep the reserve cold in the cooler, to why you should always reheat leftover mac and cheese to 135°F (Janet: "See, I told him"). Plus a Handwashing 101 refresher (20 seconds, out of the water, Happy Birthday twice or the ABCs will do it). THE FOUR PILLARS OF FOOD SAFETY 1. CLEAN • Wash hands with soap for 20 seconds (out of the water), then rinse and dry • Wash all fresh produce under warm running water — including melon and squash exteriors • Sanitize prep surfaces and utensils • No soap needed on produce; just water and a bit of friction 2. SEPARATE • Never use the same plate for raw meat and cooked meat • Use different utensils at the grill for handling raw vs. cooked • Pack raw meat at the bottom of a cooler, sealed • Keep a separate cooler or bag for drink ice — never use the meltwater ice for beverages 3. COOK • Use a food thermometer — visual cues (grill marks, edges, color) are not reliable • Insert the thermometer from the SIDE of a burger, not top-down • Poultry: 165°F • Ground meat (hamburger, ground lamb): 160°F • Whole cuts (steaks, roasts): 145°F • Reheated leftovers: minimum 135°F 4. CHILL • The temperature danger zone: 40°F to 140°F • Hot foods should stay above 140°F while served • Cold foods should stay below 40°F while served • The two-hour rule: food out longer than 2 hours should be discarded • When it's 90°F or hotter outside, the rule drops to ONE hour • Crock-Pots can HOLD hot food but should NOT be used to reheat cold food SMART PICNIC AND COOKOUT TIPS FROM THIS EPISODE • Keep coolers in the shade • Use SEPARATE coolers for drinks and food (drinks get opened way more often) • Serve from a smaller bowl and refill from the cooler as needed — the reserve stays cold • A bowl of ice under your potato salad extends its safe time on the table • Cover food to keep bugs (and inconsistent hands) out • Bring a food thermometer, always • When you get home from a cookout, EVERYTHING gets reheated to 135°F before eating CYCLOSPORA — WHAT TO KNOW RIGHT NOW • Fewer than 100 confirmed cases in Virginia at time of recording • Transmitted through fecal contamination (water contact on produce is one route) • Washing produce does NOT kill the parasite — good handwashing is your best defense • Symptoms: diarrhea, can last weeks or months and can recur • Treatment: antibiotics and hydration • Suspected source under investigation, possibly leafy greens • Amanda's guidance: DO NOT stop eating fruits and vegetables — just be extra cautious with washing and hand hygiene WHO IS AT HIGHEST RISK FROM FOODBORNE ILLNESS • Elderly adults • Children under 5 • Pregnant women • People with autoimmune conditions or compromised immune systems • For these populations especially, all four pillars matter more. LINKS & RESOURCES • Virginia Cooperative Extension — Frederick County: contact your local Extension office for questions about food safety, nutrition, home food preservation, and health • USDA food safety information: fsis.usda.gov • Foodsafety.gov — federal food safety resource • Amanda's earlier appearance on The Valley Today (November) — holiday food safety, thawing turkeys, and safe leftovers: https://thevalleytodaypodcast.com/turkey-talk-avoiding-foodborne-illness-this-thanksgiving 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

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The Mill, The Museum, and The Masterpieces

1w ago00:20:04Tap to summarize

Ten years ago, a Shenandoah University undergraduate history major had an internship project: create a summer kid-friendly program at Burwell-Morgan Mill. This Saturday, that program will draw hundreds of families and host history organizations from across the state. On this Tourism Tuesday Berryville/Clarke County edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael catches up on the Zooms with Nathan Stalvey, Executive Director of the Clarke County Historical Association, for a full-throttle preview of Colonial Kids Day, the fall Art at the Mill submission window, and the VA 250 Mobile Museum's stop at Long Branch. Nathan walks through the growth of Colonial Kids Day — now in its 10th year with sponsorship from United Bank and a Virginia Tourism Corporation grant — and the impressive roster of participating organizations for 2026: the Sons of the American Revolution (with a special Daniel Morgan Beeline March reenactment), New Town History Center, Loudoun Heritage Area Farm Museum, Blandy Experimental Farm, Sky Meadows, Belle Grove Plantation, the Fort Monroe Museum, and the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. Then it's a preview of the fall Art at the Mill call for artists (open now, closes the last Monday of July, $35 to submit up to five pieces, thanks to a significant new marketing grant from the VA Tourism Corporation and continued Tito's Handmade Vodka sponsorship). And finally: the VA 250 Mobile Museum — a genuinely impressive expandable semi-trailer — is coming to Long Branch August 21-23. Plus a delightful mill anecdote about grinding barley for Chilly Hollow Brewing's forthcoming "Carter's Gold," a beer named after Carter Hall. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES CCHA is always looking for volunteers, especially for: • Colonial Kids Day (day-of assistance) • Saturday mill grinds throughout the year — hands-on experience running the historic mill • Special events, art shows, and educational programming LINKS & RESOURCES • Clarke County Historical Association: clarkehistory.org (events, Art at the Mill, artist submissions, volunteer information) • CCHA on Facebook and Instagram: @ClarkHistory • Burwell-Morgan Mill on Facebook 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

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From Peaches to Pemberley

1w ago00:22:33Tap to summarize

A giant peach, a British farce, a Christmas at Pemberley, a Berkeley PTA vaccine debate, a war photographer's homecoming, and a nun-choir tribute to Whoopi Goldberg. On this episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael catches up with Tim Bambara from Winchester Little Theatre to preview the second WLT for Kids show of the summer AND the full 2026-2027 main-stage season — five main-stage productions spanning farce, Regency, contemporary satire, drama, and musical. Tim walks through the current run (James and the Giant Peach Jr. opens July 18 and runs through July 25, with weekday morning and afternoon options for the "kids at home in the rain" contingency), and previews the five main-stage shows opening in September: See How They Run (a WWII British farce), The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley (a Downton-Abbey-vibed sequel to Pride and Prejudice from a servants'-quarters perspective), Eureka Day (a sharp Berkeley PTA satire about a mumps outbreak), Time Stands Still (a Donald Margulies drama about a photojournalist returning from a war zone), and Sister Act the Musical to close out the season. Plus: the reserved-seat season subscription is live (five shows for $115 with your seats picked in advance), a critical PSA about the ticket-reseller scam problem (WLT has moved to receipt-only online sales — no printed or displayed tickets required) and a genuinely delightful reveal: WLT's own podcast, "Sight Lines," is launching this fall, funded by a Winchester-Frederick County CVB grant, and Tim credits Janet as the inspiration. HOW TO BUY TICKETS • PRIMARY: winchesterlittletheatre.org (season subscriptions live now; single-show tickets on sale August 1) • BOX OFFICE (starting August 31, 12 days before opening night): Mondays and Wednesdays 4:00-6:00 PM, and 90 minutes before each performance • DO NOT buy from third-party resellers. WLT tickets are always $25 or less. Any listing above that price is a scam. • Online sales are now RECEIPT ONLY — no printed or phone-displayed ticket needed. House managers check you in by name. • Exchanges: call the box office at least 24 hours before curtain, subject to availability • Passing a ticket to a friend: call the box office with the new name ABOUT THE RESERVED-SEAT SEASON SUBSCRIPTION Now available at winchesterlittletheatre.org. Pick all five main-stage shows AND your specific seats in advance for $115 — a genuine discount over single-ticket pricing, plus the peace of mind of having your seats already reserved. COMING SOON — SIGHT LINES PODCAST WLT is launching a monthly podcast during the season, funded through a Winchester-Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau grant. Backstage conversations with actors and artists across generations of WLT productions. First episodes coming this fall. 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

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The Hidden Cost of Homelessness

2w ago00:26:19Tap to summarize

"Did you know that being homeless is really expensive?" That's the sentence one Family Promise Winchester client said to Chris Brigante recently — and it's the question that anchors this follow-up episode of The Valley Today. Host Janet Michael welcomes Chris Brigante, Executive Director of Family Promise Winchester, back to the show for the deep-dive conversation she promised at the end of their last recording: what actually happens when a family loses their home and ends up living in a motel. Chris and Janet walk through one hypothetical family — mom with two part-time jobs, dad in a factory job, a toddler in daycare, and an elementary-schooler — and follow them through every consequence of an eviction: the storage costs, the $1,800–$2,000 monthly motel bill (nearly doubling to $4,000 for a family with three kids under the four-person occupancy limit), the food economy that forces you to eat out for every meal because you have no fridge, no stove, no freezer, and no cabinet space. The 21-day cycle-out that many people don't know exists (motels legally shuffle guests to prevent them from becoming tenants). The homework problem when your third-grader has nowhere quiet to work and can't invite friends over. The address problem when you're applying for a job or a driver's license. The Scarlet Letter of an eviction record that follows you into your next lease application, complete with double security deposits. And the compounding, invisible cost of shame — which Chris identifies as one of the biggest barriers to a family getting themselves out. The conversation closes with the math that makes Family Promise's work so cost-effective (about $500 per child in direct assistance for permanent, stable housing) and a genuine ask: to donors, to would-be landlords open to working with a vetted family, and to anyone who's ever been quietly judgmental about people living in motels — reconsider what you thought you knew. THE INVISIBLE COSTS OF LIVING IN A MOTEL A quick catalog, drawn from this episode, of the expenses and impacts that pile up on a family staying in a residence motel: DIRECT MONETARY COSTS • $1,800–$2,000/month for a family of four in one room (often more than the rent that got them here) • Up to $4,000/month if the family exceeds the 4-person occupancy limit and needs two rooms • Storage unit fees for all the belongings that don't fit • Restaurant meals for every meal, every day (no fridge, no stove, no freezer) • Laundromat costs, plus transportation to get there • Ride-shares or delivery fees for basic groceries and appointments • Some motels: even toilet paper is a paid add-on • Childcare during work hours (with no car and no support network to fall back on) INDIRECT AND INVISIBLE COSTS • Time — 2 to 3 hours a day just getting around town on foot or by bus • The 21-day cycle-out — packing everything up every three weeks to move to a new room or motel • No mailing address for job applications, drivers' licenses, or utility accounts • No Wi-Fi in some motels — cutting off job applications, online classes, and even phone service if internet-dependent • Loss of privacy — no separate space for a sick child, no quiet homework spot, no adult conversation • Safety exposure — smoke, noise, addiction, domestic violence audible through walls, a single front window as your only barrier MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS • On children — instability itself (not the homelessness) is what harms development; the child knows it's not safe or permanent • On school-age children — hard to focus in class, can't do homework, embarrassed to be honest with peers • On parents — the shame of the situation itself becomes a barrier to problem-solving • On the family unit — crisis mode makes rational, step-by-step planning nearly impossible HOW TO HELP FAMILY PROMISE WINCHESTER • Donate directly at familypromisewinchester.org — the donation link is on the front page • Recurring monthly giving is the most valuable — Family Promise can predict and commit • Any dollar helps: about $500 in direct assistance per child gets a family stably housed • Consider in-kind donations for move-in kits (shower curtains, hooks, toasters, basic household items) • Landlords: reach out to Chris directly. Family Promise families are vetted, financially counseled, and Family Promise stays involved for 90+ days after move-in. • Donate clothing to Winchester CCAP — Family Promise picks up outfits there weekly for their families • Contact Chris directly for a coffee and conversation FAMILY PROMISE WINCHESTER'S SERVICE AREA • Winchester City • Frederick County • Clarke County • Warren County (Shenandoah County is served by a separate Family Promise chapter — the whole region is covered.) LINKS & RESOURCES • Family Promise Winchester: familypromisewinchester.org (donations, applications, contact) • Family Promise Winchester office: 131 South Cameron Street, Winchester, VA 22601 — (540) 323-8038 • Horizon Goodwill (Winchester) — free mailing address service for those experiencing homelessness • Winchester CCAP — clothing donations always welcome • Companion episode: "First Month's Rent: Why Small Investments Keep Families Out of Homelessness" — Chris's earlier conversation with Janet: https://thevalleytodaypodcast.com/first-months-rent 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

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Where Do I Even Start?

2w ago00:24:25Tap to summarize

"I'm the person that calls that number and just pushes zero until a human picks up. I need a Thomas." Brandy Hawkins Boies said it, and it's the truest thing about community college enrollment in 2026. On this Laurel Ridge Community College edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael welcomes back Director of Communications and Outreach Brandy Hawkins Boies, joined by Thomas Monk — Outreach Specialist and Career Coach at Laurel Ridge's Middletown campus, and the actual first human anyone new to Laurel Ridge is likely to meet. Thomas walks through what an outreach specialist actually does — 25+ conversations a week with prospective students of every age (from high schoolers exploring dual enrollment to 50-somethings quietly wondering if it's too late to change careers), a philosophy of "half the hurdle is just getting started," and a way of thinking about the college journey as a baton pass across five different departments that the student experiences as one hour of their time. He explains the biggest questions he gets ("How do I get started?" and "Can I afford this?"), the guaranteed-admission agreements with 37 Virginia colleges and universities, why he starts by asking students what they DON'T want to do, and why he loves being the objective third party in what's often a very personal decision. Plus: the upcoming Laurel Ridge Open House on July 23rd (virtual at noon, in-person at 5 PM), why AI and machine learning is now a real Laurel Ridge program, and Janet's ongoing internal dialogue about what she should go back to school for — with special thanks to her best friend Mary, whose incoming text after this episode is a foregone conclusion. WHERE TO START AT LAUREL RIDGE FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS (any age, any goal) • Ask a question — laurelridge.edu/visit → the top box lets you submit ANY question (dual enrollment, career change, program interest, "I don't even know where to start"). Thomas or a team member replies within 48 hours. • Schedule a meeting — second box on the same page. Book a 30-minute session with Thomas or the outreach team, virtually or in person. • Book a campus tour — outside of events, at your convenience. • Come to an open house — customized, semi-structured, room-based Q&A. WHAT THE OUTREACH TEAM CAN HELP WITH • Application and getting started • Financial aid, scholarships, and G3 funding • Academic advisor matching • Transfer credits from previous colleges or universities • Life-experience credit • Program exploration (academic + workforce solutions + certifications) • Corporate and continuing education • Custom in-person or virtual visits with your group or organization UPCOMING OPEN HOUSE — JULY 23, 2026 Two-session format (attend one or both): • 12:00–1:00 PM — Virtual session (great for a lunch break) • 5:00 PM — In-person session at the Middletown campus Both sessions include a program overview, application help, tour options, and access to specific department representatives. Register at laurelridge.edu/openhouse. 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

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The Healing Volunteers

2w ago00:24:42Tap to summarize

Twenty-plus deployments across the country. Coast to coast. And this month, Elizabeth Quinn was on standby to fly to Guam via Hawaii for a Category 5 typhoon response. On this episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael continues her year-long Red Cross series with Deb Fleming, Executive Director of the Greater Shenandoah Valley Chapter, joined by Elizabeth Quinn — the Disaster Health Services Lead and a retired nurse who leads the volunteer nursing team responsible for the health side of every Red Cross disaster response, from home fires down the street to hurricanes across the country. Elizabeth walks through what the nursing deployment actually looks like: contact within 24 hours of a disaster to help families replace prescriptions, glasses, dentures, hearing aids, CPAPs and BiPAPs, and other health essentials the survivors probably haven't even started to think about yet. She explains the community-based model (RN-led, with physicians serving under nurse supervision — Elizabeth's favorite perk), the streamlined 8.5-hour training (down from 20), and the game-changing option most new nurse volunteers don't know exists: virtual deployments, where a nurse anywhere in the country can serve disaster survivors from their kitchen table for a scheduled shift. Plus a genuinely powerful story from a Mississippi shelter, where a nurse stayed two hours after her shift to help a gentleman who couldn't read reconnect with over $6,000 in back benefits he'd already earned. Deb closes with a national update — home fires, a hydrochloric acid train spill, flooding in Minnesota and Michigan, the Guam typhoon, blood donation shortages, and FIFA World Cup event support — and teases next month's guest: Dave, the volunteer who maintains Red Cross buildings across multiple regions (assuming she can convince him). WHO CAN VOLUNTEER AS A DISASTER HEALTH SERVICES NURSE • Registered nurses (RNs) • Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) • Physicians (serve under RN supervision in this program) • EMTs (locally within the state they are licensed) • Any licensed healthcare professional with a current, active license WHAT DISASTER HEALTH SERVICES ACTUALLY DOES • Contacts families within 24 hours of a home fire or larger disaster • Helps replace lost medications, glasses, dentures, hearing aids, CPAPs, BiPAPs, and other durable medical equipment • Provides emotional support, physical support, and health navigation during recovery • Coordinates with pharmacies, insurance companies, and case managers on disaster overrides and paperwork • Works local, national, and virtual deployments TWO WAYS TO DEPLOY IN PERSON Travel to shelters and disaster sites nationwide (typical two-week commitment). Elizabeth has completed 20+ of these across the continental U.S. Virutally serve clients from your home computer and phone, on shifts scheduled around your life. Same training requirements. Current biggest need. Same client outcomes without leaving home. Perfect for currently-working nurses, retirees who prefer to stay local, and anyone who wants to help without the travel commitment. HOW TO SIGN UP Call 1-800-RED-CROSS, or contact the Greater Shenandoah Valley Chapter directly Complete a short application and interview to identify your interests Nurse applications are routed to Elizabeth for a personal call Complete 8.5 hours of self-paced video training Attend one 90-minute live interactive online class Complete platform-specific computer training with Elizabeth Come onto the schedule — always backed by a seasoned nurse for as long as you need LINKS & RESOURCES • Sign up to volunteer: redcross.org → click "Volunteer" or call 1-800-RED-CROSS • The Greater Shenandoah Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross — contact for local nurse volunteer opportunities • Give blood (currently in national short supply): redcrossblood.org • Last month's episode with Jill Johnson (general volunteer): https://thevalleytodaypodcast.com/red-vest-ready-a-red-cross-volunteers-story 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

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Come Get Grit Faced

2w ago00:23:22Tap to summarize

Some restaurants are worth coming back for. And some people are worth partnering with to make that happen. On this Tourism Tuesday Winchester/Frederick County edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael and Justin Kerns catch up on the Zooms with Cheryl Ash and Drew Braithwaite — the team behind Gypsy Jane's Southern Food Lounge, a brand-new Creole-leaning New Orleans-inspired destination restaurant opening this month in Gore, Virginia. Cheryl is the chef and immersive-experience mastermind behind the beloved Sweet NOLA's Southern Food Lounge (which ran for eight years in Winchester). Drew is a lifelong Sweet NOLA's fan who moved back from Colorado last Christmas and made her food coming back to the area a personal mission. The conversation covers the origin story (a joke at Apple Blossom that became a business), the location (about seven minutes down Route 50 West past Walmart, in a building that's been a truck stop since about 1930, then North Mountain Family Restaurant), the menu (alligator sausage, award-winning shrimp and grits, po'boys with bread flown in from New Orleans, an old-fashioned bottled soda menu presented like a wine service, and a French Quarter Finale dessert menu that includes Bananas Foster pudding, Krispy Kreme donut bread pudding Napoleon, and a country cobbler flight), and the plan (open for lunch first, add breakfast, dinner, and private events as they grow). Plus: why the kids' menu will have real food (with a portion of every kids' menu sale going to Dakota's Dream Animal Rescue), why the walls will be full of hidden plaques honoring the customers who bolstered them, and why "Come Get Grit Faced" is a phrase that got its own shirt. VISIT INFO — GYPSY JANE'S SOUTHERN FOOD LOUNGE 5665 Northwestern Turnpike, Gore, Virginia About seven minutes west of Winchester on Route 50 (past Walmart) Opening target: late July / by August 1, 2026 Initial hours (opening phase): Lunch, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM Coming later: breakfast, dinner, private events Private events available for booking during the lunch-only phase Beer and wine license coming within a month of opening LINKS & RESOURCES • Gypsy Jane's Southern Food Lounge website: gypsyjanes.com • On Facebook: search "GJ Southern Food Lounge" • Visit Winchester events calendar: visitwinchesterva.com → Events (VA250 events continuing throughout the summer) 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

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A Mosaic of Music

2w ago00:27:07Tap to summarize

Every year, a jigsaw puzzle. But this year, the pieces gelled. On this episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael returns to the corporate headquarters of the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival in Woodstock (as always, delighting Dennis Lynch by calling it that) for her annual walk through the summer concert series at Orkney Springs. And Dennis has assembled a genuinely wide-ranging 2026 lineup — Little River Band, The Four Tops, Diamond Rio, a 250th-anniversary big-band night with the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra, Al Jardine of the Beach Boys with Brian Wilson's band, the Bacon Brothers, and Hotel California to close out Labor Day weekend. Dennis walks Janet through each show, the low-ticket alerts (Little River Band has fewer than 100 pavilion tickets left), why the venue is genuinely 5-10 degrees cooler than the valley below, what you can and can't bring (blankets yes, tents no, pets no, food yes), and the audience zones on the lawn ("we have what we call high chairs — that's where we put the babies"). Then the conversation turns to something new: the Community Art Collaborative is bringing a mosaic project into the festival this summer. On four select concert nights (Little River Band, Diamond Rio, Bacon Brothers, and Hotel California — with more possible if demand builds), concertgoers will help assemble a permanent glass mosaic that will travel between Woodstock and Orkney Springs. Plus: the Bacon Brothers' local hero nomination form, the Hot Strings and Cool Breezes free workshop, package deals with Shrine Mont, the "pick six" ticket discount, and a firm warning about third-party ticket resellers. Buy your tickets at musicfest.org — and only musicfest.org. 2026 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AT A GLANCE FRIDAY, JULY 17 — LITTLE RIVER BAND Australian rock legends, 30+ million records sold. Six years of top-10 hits. 🎫 LOW TICKET ALERT — fewer than 100 pavilion tickets remaining. SATURDAY, JULY 18 — THE FOUR TOPS Motown royalty, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees. Ranked #79 in Rolling Stone's most influential bands. FRIDAY, JULY 24 — DIAMOND RIO Classic '90s country. Grammy, CMA, and ACM Award winners. 6.8 million albums sold. SATURDAY, JULY 25 — HAPPY BIRTHDAY USA (LYNCHBURG SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA) Big band classics + patriotic favorites for America's 250th. FRIDAY, AUGUST 7 — AL JARDINE (of THE BEACH BOYS) & BRIAN WILSON'S BAND A Beach Boys tribute night led by one of the two remaining touring Beach Boys, playing with the late Brian Wilson's band. SATURDAY, AUGUST 8 — THE BACON BROTHERS Kevin and Michael Bacon on their People In The World Tour. Nominate a local hero SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 — HOTEL CALIFORNIA (A TRIBUTE TO THE EAGLES) — Labor Day weekend, 7 PM start The OG Eagles tribute band. Every favorite, played the way you remember it. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 — HOT STRINGS AND COOL BREEZES Americana concert at 6 PM, preceded by a free workshop at 4 PM (open to all — you don't need a concert ticket to attend the workshop). VISIT INFO — SHRINE MONT AT ORKNEY SPRINGS Concert venue: Shrine Mont / Orkney Springs, Virginia Ticket price includes parking. Pavilion seating: ~600 covered seats. Lawn: ~1,100 spots. Lawn zones (front to back): blankets, low beach chairs, standard-height chairs. BRING: your own food, drinks within reason, blankets, chairs. LEAVE AT HOME: tents, canopies, grills, pets (service animals under the ADA excepted). Weather note: Trimont is 5-10 degrees cooler than the valley below with a consistent breeze. Tickets purchased in advance come with an email weather update a couple of days out. TICKETING & PACKAGE DEALS • All tickets: musicfest.org (the ONLY official ticket source) • PICK SIX discount: buy 6+ tickets in a single transaction and get $2 off per ticket (call the office to arrange — not available online) • Overnight package: bundled concert ticket + Shrine Mont lodging discount, available through Shrine Mont • WARNING: Third-party ticket resellers regularly list SVMF tickets at 3x the face value. Search results may show them ahead of the official site. Always go to musicfest.org directly. ABOUT THE MOSAIC PROJECT A partnership between the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival and the Community Art Collaborative — a Woodstock-based nonprofit that has installed permanent glass mosaics at Woodstock Cafe, Seven Bends State Park, and (soon) Edinburg. The 2026 SVMF mosaic is designed by John Burns to be portable — moving between the SVMF corporate headquarters in Woodstock and Trimont at Orkney Springs as needed. Concertgoers on select nights can help assemble the piece. Confirmed assembly nights (as of recording): • Little River Band — July 17 • Diamond Rio — July 24 • Bacon Brothers — August 8 • Hotel California — September 5 Anticipated unveiling: Fall 2026 at 238 North Main Street, Woodstock. 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

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