Today is July 4, 2024.

• Happy 248th birthday, America! Here’s some great news on the weather front for the Stow Firecracker Run, Fourth of July Parade and your family gatherings: Today’s forecast is warm and humid with some sun, then turning cloudy — and only a 25% chance of rain. The high will be 87, with a low of 68 tonight. We’re going to dodge the weather by one day: Friday will bring showers and heavy thunderstorms that could produce flooding downpours, hail and damaging wind gusts. All things considered, we’ll take that trade-off.
  

• ATTENTION MUNROE FALLS & SILVER LAKE RESIDENTS: If you’re thinking about shooting off some fireworks tonight, this weekend or any other time, don’t. Mayor Allen Mavrides tells The Spotlight that there is “no use of fireworks in Munroe Falls” according to the city’s codified ordinance, which reads in part: “No person shall discharge, ignite or explode any fireworks in this Municipality.” The same holds true in Silver Lake, whose codified ordinance reads in part: “No person shall possess fireworks in this Municipality or shall possess for sale or sell fireworks in this Municipality.” But you don’t have to go far to see some great professional fireworks displays: Check out last week’s edition of The Spotlight for a list of fireworks shows in Summit County.
  

• STOW SAFE DRIVING CAMPAIGN: The City of Stow is relaunching its “Slow & Steady: Keeps Stow Safe” campaign to promote safe driving practices in the community. Residents can pick up yard signs at Stow City Hall at 3760 Darrow Rd. as a reminder to drive safely and reduce accidents.
  

• BIGGEST TREE IN STOW CONTEST: A reminder that there’s still time to register your nomination for the 2024 City of Stow Big Tree Contest. If you think you have the biggest tree in Stow, fill out this nomination form before Wednesday, July 31. Any tree qualifies. The top three winners will receive recognition and gift cards for first place ($100), second place ($75) and third place ($50). Go here for more information.
  

• The Spotlight has a new feature called “Reader Spotlight,” where you can send us your comments, concerns and suggestions on anything going on in our communities of Stow, Munroe Falls and Silver Lake. Send your email to [email protected], put “Reader Spotlight” in the subject line, and please include your name and town. We will publish comments as we receive them.
  

• If you just subscribed or missed something in an earlier newsletter, don’t fret: Subscribers have access to every edition of The Spotlight at www.stowmunroefalls.com. Check out back issues to catch up on everything that’s going on in our communities — you never know what you might have missed!

⭐ Several stories in this issue are only available to premium subscribers: School district bond measure, Munroe Falls tunneling under the Cuyahoga, Silver Lake lead line replacements, dance signups, power outage and more local news. Full access is $2.99/month.

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Community

Big Steels Corners Road bridge project starts in less than two weeks; eastbound will be closed until mid-October

We’re used to sitting in traffic on Steels Corners Road, particularly on concert nights at Blossom Music Center.

But prepare for more traffic backups than usual this summer. The $1 million Steels Corners bridge renovation project will close the bridge to eastbound traffic for 90 days beginning Monday, July 15. The bridge sits just west of the Route 8 interchange on Stow’s border with Cuyahoga Falls and goes over Mud Brook. It spans 1,000 feet, making it Summit County’s longest bridge.

Repairs to the bridge will include replacement of the bridge expansion joints, overlaying the bridge deck with concrete, and replacing the approach guardrail. The project is funded through a Local Major Bridge Program grant awarded to the Summit County Engineer’s office.

Traffic patterns will be disrupted while the project is underway:

• While westbound traffic on East Steels Corners Road will be maintained at all times, eastbound traffic will be detoured north to Seasons Road.

• Motorists will still be able to access Wyndham Ridge Drive.

• Access to businesses and homes will also be maintained.

Motorists should watch for detour signs that will be posted throughout the project.

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