By Hank Zimmerman
If you’ve driven past the Fort Valley Volunteer Fire Department lately and wondered what all the construction is about, or simply keeping tabs on the building construction progress, here’s the story.
The building that once served as a substation is being converted into living quarters to support Shenandoah County’s move toward 24-hour paid staffing at the station.
According to FVVFD Captain Steve Adams, the county is moving up its timeline: full-time, round-the-clock coverage begins Sept. 5th, with three shifts (A, B, and C), each staffed by a minimum of two paid personnel. The number could eventually grow to three per shift. The renovated quarters themselves aren’t expected to be fully ready for overnight living until mid-September, possibly as late as Oct. 1.
The building will include two bedrooms with two beds each, so it can house both male and female staff at any given time, along with separate shower facilities. New appliances, including heavy-duty washer and dryer units capable of handling bunker gear and uniforms, round out roughly to $13,000.00 of furnishings funding approved for the project.
The work hasn’t gone on without surprises. Crews discovered the building’s sump pump, which lifts wastewater uphill to the septic system, was too deteriorated to reuse and had to be replaced. It was one of several additional costs that came up only once renovation was underway.
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The Fort Valley Ruri-Teen Club meets monthly, will meet on Sept 11, 2026, 6:30 p.m. at the Fort Valley Firehall. All youth and teens (up to 19 yrs old). Parents/guardian participation is encouraged, and parents/guardians are required to stay with younger youth members. The service club promotes goodwill and fellowship while encouraging volunteerism through community service, and is sponsored by the Fort Valley Ruritan Club. Any youth or teen who may be interested in joining, or wants to know more about the club, is always welcome to attend a meeting.
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There's always something happening at the Fort Valley Community Center and Library. Check out the current list of public programs offered there. Most of them are free! Visit our Community page for more information, or call (540) 933-6714..
Focuses on getting you moving! It is adaptable to individual fitness levels and can be done sitting in a chair, standing or a combination of both! Gentle flowing movements are easy to achieve with instructor encouragement upbeat music. Preregistration is required and there is a registration fee. Classes are generally held on Fridays at various times of each year.. Maximum class size:12. Hosted through Shenandoah County Parks & Recreation. In-person registration available at the Parks & Rec office, 600 N. Main St., Suite 108 in Woodstock, Va., by mail at this same address or online. For more information and for the current program schedule, call SCPR at (540) 459-6777.
A group of adults who wish to have more social contact in the community. The group meets every week, on Tuesdays, 10:00 am until... at the Fort Valley Community Center. Their activities agenda is very simple: Crafts, snacks, sending out greeting cards; and games, including dominos and playing cards. GEMS also occasionally hosts group outings. They also are always open to suggestions for enjoying other kinds of fun and fellowship!
Shotokan Karate is a traditional Japanese form of Martial Arts founded by Master Gichin Funakoshi. It develops strength of mind, body and spirit through training. Chief Instructor is Majal Colon-Cammack. Techniques are characterized by deep, long stances that provide stability, coordination, flexibility and strength. Member: International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF). Classes are held on Wednesdays. For more information, call (703) 606-1974 or email mcoloncammack@gmail.com
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