Let's Be Friends: An Affair to Remember
The Valley Today
Let's Be Friends: An Affair to Remember Video - Recorded at An Affair to Remember | Walking Mall, Winchester, VA Guests: Ian Rushing — Owner, An Affair to Remember (AATR Video) Brady Cloven — Executive Director, Friends of Old Town Winchester What We Talked About: An Affair to Remember (ATR Video) Located at 39 South Loudoun Street on the Walking Mall Offers media digitization: VHS, 8mm, 16mm, reel-to-reel audio, slides, and more Photo printing on-site — standard sizes up to large format prints Wedding videography with multiple price packages Corporate branded storytelling /...
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Bring Your Wagon: A Guide to Blandy's Garden Fair
The Valley Today
Host Janet Michael sits down with Melanie Mullinax, Communications and Event Manager at , to get all the details on the — one of the Shenandoah Valley's most beloved Mother's Day weekend traditions. Event Details 📅 May 9th & 10th, 2025 ⏰ 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM both days 📍 Blandy Experimental Farm / State Arboretum of Virginia 🎟️ Tickets: $12/car online | $20/car at the gate 🌧️ Rain or shine Buy Tickets: Members & Volunteers Preview Night - Friday, May 8th | 5:00 – 7:30 PM Open to Blandy members and volunteers only (~250 tickets) Includes a charcuterie...
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If You Can't See It, You Can't Be It: Arising Leadership Program
The Valley Today
Host Janet Michael sits down with Missy Spielman to discuss the 's Arising Leadership Program (ALP) — a free, two-week summer program designed to expose local high schoolers to career opportunities right in their own backyard. What You'll Learn in This Episode What the is and how it got started How the ALP differs from the Chamber's Community Leadership Program (CLP) Why exposing students to local industries matters — "If you can't see it, you can't be it" What industries students will explore: manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, government & public safety, nonprofit, and media...
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Liberty, Legacy, and Quilts: What's New at Belle Grove Plantation
The Valley Today
Host Janet Michael chats with Kristen Laise about an action-packed spring and summer season at Belle Grove Plantation in Middletown, Virginia. From a moving community quilt project honoring the enslaved to a traveling American Revolution exhibit, there's something for history lovers, nature enthusiasts, and families alike. Topics Covered Memorial Quilts Two quilts honoring 270 enslaved individuals at Belle Grove, each name hand-stitched on individual quilt blocks Quilt blocks arranged into family trees to symbolically reunite families separated by slavery A three-year project involving 113...
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Opening the Hood: Inside Winchester's Civic Leadership Academy
The Valley Today
In this episode, host Janet Michael chats with Kit Redmer, Communications Director for the , and several of her fellow Civic Leadership Academy (CLA) classmates about their experiences in this immersive, nine-month program designed to connect residents with their local government. What is the Civic Leadership Academy? The CLA is a program run by the City of Winchester that gives civically minded residents an inside look at how their city operates. Participants tour city departments, learn about the budget, meet city staff, and discover ways to get more involved. The program runs September...
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Archery, Horses, and Tie-Dye: 4-H Overnight Camps in the Shenandoah Valley
The Valley Today
Host Janet Michael sits down with Emily Shultz, Extension Agent, to talk about everything you need to know about 4-H overnight camps in the Northern Shenandoah Valley. In This Episode: What 4-H overnight camps are and who they're for Camp dates, locations, and county clusters Age requirements and the 4-H age cutoff explained What a typical camp week looks like (no screens!) Activities offered at camp The teen counselor and CIT (Counselor-in-Training) program Cost, registration, scholarships, and deadlines Why 4-H camp stands out from other overnight camps What kids take home beyond the fun...
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Community Health: Healthy Families NSV
The Valley Today
Host Janet Michael sits down with Jodi Young, Executive Director of , and Tracy Mitchell, Manager of 's Wellness Services and Risk Reduction, to explore a free home visiting program that supports new and expectant parents from pregnancy through a child's fifth birthday — and why April's Child Abuse Prevention Month makes this conversation especially timely. What You'll Learn What Healthy Families is and how the home visiting model works Who qualifies for the program and how to enroll Why the first five years of a child's life are so critical for development How Valley Health supports...
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From Rescue to Resource: Join the Winchester SPCA
The Valley Today
Host Janet Michael visits the — the original home of her own dogs, Briscoe and Miller — for a conversation with Executive Director Lavenda Denney about the organization's growing campus, April membership drive, and the community programs that make them more than just a shelter. Topics Covered The Winchester SPCA Campus — Located at 111 Feathered Lane in Winchester, the campus includes an adoption center, a 10,000 sq. ft. thrift store, a small vet clinic, an intake building, and a free coffee bar (with a second one coming soon to the lobby, courtesy of Timber's Cafe) What They Do...
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Building the Field of Dreams
The Valley Today
Host Janet Michael welcomes back Guy Curtis — wearing his Little League hat this time rather than his one — along with Terra Walker, 's information officer, to discuss the organization's ambitious capital campaign to expand and improve youth sports facilities in the Winchester and Frederick County area. About Frederick County National Little League Established in 1984 Serves Winchester, Stephens City, Middletown, and the southern end of Frederick County Nonprofit 501(c)3, fully volunteer-run organization Currently 25–35 teams per spring season with over 350 active players Fall season...
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Art & History in Clarke County
The Valley Today
Host Janet Michael talks with Nathan Stalvey about the 's spring Art at the Mill show, upcoming VA250 events in Clarke County, and behind-the-scenes updates on the historic . Art at the Mill – Spring 2026 Dates: Saturday, April 18 – Sunday, May 3, 2026 Hours: Sunday–Friday, 12–5pm | Saturdays, 10–5pm Location: Burwell-Morgan Mill, Millwood, VA Admission: $5 adults | $3 seniors | Children 12 & under free Free admission with a show postcard or print advertisement Submissions: 300+ artists, nearly 950 works Media: Oils, acrylics, pastels, pencil, charcoal, glass...
info_outlineIn this episode, host Janet Michael sits down with Winchester City Parks Director Chris Konyar for a wide-ranging conversation about upcoming spring events, facility upgrades, youth programming, and an exciting long-term vision for aquatics in the Winchester area.
Topics Covered
🥚 Flashlight Egg Hunt – March 20th
- A unique twist on the traditional egg hunt held on the turf fields after dark
- Kids use flashlights and headlamps to find eggs
- Pre-hunt activities (crafts, games, music, Easter Bunny photos) begin at 6:30 PM at the War Memorial Building
- Egg hunt starts at 8:00 PM
- Free to attend; optional add-ons available for $4
⛳ Golf Simulator
- Closes for the season on March 26th
- Has grown in popularity throughout the winter
- May return for pop-up sessions during rainy weather
- Plans to continue the program next winter
👧 Youth Programming
- Registration opens Monday, March 23rd — city residents only
- Programs run after school during the school year and full days in summer
- Includes field trips, swim lessons, and access to park amenities
Wee One Wednesdays (Preschool Programming)
- 1st Wednesday of each month: Structured, themed activity (book-based)
- 3rd Wednesday: "PB&J Club" — free play in the gym
- Designed for preschool and toddler age groups
- Parents must stay; no drop-off
🏊 Swim Lessons
- Indoor pool is the only option in the area from Labor Day to Memorial Day
- Now open for registration on the city website
- Free Level 1 swim lessons available for city residents
⚾ Henkel-Harris Field Renovation
- Brand new dugouts, backstops, and steel pole LED lighting
- New press box with office space and new public restrooms (serving both Henkel-Harris and the turf fields)
- Field branded with Handley colors
🛝 New Playground – Opening April 18th
- Replacing "Children's Dream" playground (nearly 23 years old)
- Larger than the existing structure with spongy safety surfacing
- Features swings and slides as top community-requested elements
- Second existing playground remains intact; slated for future replacement
- Grand Opening Celebration – April 18th:
- Partnership with Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum (celebrating 30 years)
- Color walk along the Story Walk trail
- Food trucks, music, face painting, vendors
- Ribbon-cutting ceremony
- Made possible in part by a generous donation from JJ and Kay Smith
🏊 Aquatic Study & Future Pool Plans
- The War Memorial building's older wing (including the indoor pool, installed 1975) is due for renovation around 2029–2030
- City hired Counsilman-Hunsaker (Missouri) to conduct an aquatic study
- Stakeholder interviews completed February 17th (Frederick County, Clarke County, school systems, local swim teams, Shenandoah University, and more)
- Three concepts under consideration:
- Option A: City-only renovation (ventilation, pump room, locker rooms, spectator space)
- Option B: Add a second pool body within the existing footprint
- Option C: Full regional aquatic facility (indoor/outdoor, possible university partnership)
- Take the survey: winchesterva.gov/aquatics
- Open to ALL area residents, not just city residents
- All feedback — positive and negative — is valuable
🚁 Virginia 250th Anniversary Drone Show – May 30th
- Free community event at Jim Barnett Park
- Includes a water safety fair and family activities
- Culminating event: 250th anniversary-themed drone show
- More details to come in the May episode
🌳 Patsy Cline Memorial Park
- Now officially a Winchester city park
- Neighborhood Night – June 5th
- Features an amphitheater; programming details coming soon