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_outlineJanet Michael sits down with Melanie Stull, Administrative Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator for Phoenix Project, to discuss Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the many ways the organization serves survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Front Royal and Warren County. Chamber President Niki Foster then joins Janet to share upcoming Chamber events, including Coffee & Conversation and the Virginia Wine & Craft Festival.
Phoenix Project Segment
What is Phoenix Project? Phoenix Project is Warren County's community response to domestic and sexual violence. All services are free and confidential and include:
- Court accompaniment
- Hospital accompaniment for forensic exams
- Child and sexual assault counseling
- Court advocacy
- 24/7 hotlines
New: Phoenix Project is hiring for a Firearm Intervention Program position — addressing the fact that lethality in domestic violence situations rises 600% when a firearm is involved.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April) Activities:
- Teal ribbon displays along Main Street and at local businesses
- "What Were You Wearing" exhibit — a powerful display challenging misconceptions about sexual assault
- Healing Art Support Group for adults (led by sexual assault advocate Aaliya)
- First-ever Children's Healing Art Group for ages 9–12 (Saturday sessions)
Volunteering with Phoenix Project:
- Hotline support (Level 1 & 2 training provided — all materials included)
- Event support
- Office assistance
- Community outreach and advocacy
- The hotline comes to you — no need to come into the office
Hotline Number: 540-635-2300
- Office line: 540-635-2302
Website: phoenix-project.org
Chamber Segment
- When: First Friday of every month, 9–10 AM
- Where: On Cue Sports Bar, Main Street, Front Royal
- This month's guest: Avery Harper, Executive Director of Phoenix Project
- Open to everyone — not just business owners
Virginia Wine & Craft Festival
- Date: Saturday, May 16th
- Tickets: wineandcraftfestival.com
- Buy online now for $30 (save $10 vs. gate price of $40)
- Ticket includes: wine glass, wristband, and unlimited tastings from 24 wineries
- 100+ artisans and crafters, food vendors, kids' area, live entertainment
- Free general admission for non-wine drinkers
- Great Mother's Day gift idea!
Lead Share Networking Group
- Meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at 8:30 AM
- Location: Front Royal Warren County Chamber office
- Ideal for those looking to build their network in a structured, small-group setting
Chamber Resources:
- Website: frontroyalchamber.com
- Facebook: Front Royal Warren County Chamber of Commerce
Key Topics Discussed
- The dangers survivors face when leaving an abusive situation
- Why "just leaving" is not simple — and why it's the most dangerous time
- The "What Were You Wearing" exhibit and dismantling victim-blaming myths
- Human trafficking in Warren County
- How children are more aware of household violence than parents realize
- The Lethality Assessment Protocol (LAP) hotline in partnership with local law enforcement
- Safety planning for both intimate partner violence and stranger violence