Today is March 19, 2026.

• Happy Spring Eve! We’re in our last full day of winter, and it’s been a rough one (more on that shortly). Considering what we’ve been through in the last week or so, today doesn’t look too bad: Low clouds and a brief shower or two, with a high of 48 and a low of 33. We’ll keep warming up until topping out at 70 on Sunday, before things turn colder early next week. The spring roller coaster is about to climb the first hill.
  

• HELLO, SPRING!: It’s been a long, cold winter, but it’s finally almost over. Spring officially arrives at 10:46 a.m. Friday, March 20. Next stop: summer.
  

• STORM-RELATED BRUSH COLLECTION ASSISTANCE FOR STOW RESIDENTS: The windstorms that battered the area in recent days have caused significant tree and brush damage for many residents. To help with cleanup efforts, the City of Stow Service Department will provide a one-time curbside collection for storm-related brush. Residents may place sticks, limbs and partial trees at the curb for pickup. But you’ll have to act fast: Materials need to be at the curb by 7 a.m. THIS MORNING. Pickups will be today and Friday, March 20. Go here for more information.
  

• AND TO THAT END … : The Summit County Fiscal Office has announced that real estate tax relief is available to residents who sustained property damage in the recent windstorms. Go here for details and an application form.
  

• NEW GAS AGGREGATION PROGRAM FOR MUNROE FALLS: All residents and small businesses enrolled in the City of Munroe Falls Natural Gas Aggregation Program will be supplied by IGS Energy starting with the April 2026 reads. The 2-year fixed rate is $4.95/mcf for gas used from April 2026 through March 2028. Residents who are not enrolled may opt in at any time by calling IGS at 1-877-353-0162. The city’s previous gas aggregation supplier was Constellation Energy at a rate of $3.933/mcf; that program expires with the April 2026 reads. Go here for more information.
  

• “Reader Spotlight” is a forum 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 (recommended but not required for publication). 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: Bigfoot sightings, 91/59 Project update, Silver Springs day camp, spring events and more local news. Get full access for just $2.99/month.

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Spotlight on the Chamber

Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber celebrates 2026 Elite Business Award winners

By Julie McLain, Executive Director, Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce

The Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated the winners of the 2026 Elite Business Awards, honoring local businesses, organizations and individuals who exemplify excellence, innovation and community impact in Stow and Munroe Falls. The event was held March 4 at The Center: Events and Catering in Stow.

This year’s award winners are:

• Legacy and Leadership Award – Don Coughlin, former mayor of Stow

• Munroe Falls Mayor’s Award – Preferred Vascular Care – Akron Vascular

• Stow Mayor’s Award – Coldwell Banker Commercial, EMMCO Realty Group

• Economic Development Driver Award – Fogg Building Methods

• Business of the Year – Minuteman Press of Stow

• GoLocal Small Business of the Year – The Healing Cave (Munroe Falls) and The Hair Specialist (Stow)

• Good Neighbor Award – Bulldog Bags, Inc.

• Emerging Leader Award – Zack Cowan, planning director, City of Stow

• Spirit of Service Award – Stow-Munroe Falls Community Foundation

• President’s Award – Western Reserve Hospital

The Elite Business Awards recognized those who not only achieved business success but also contributed to the vitality and growth of the local communities. Winners were selected based on innovation, leadership, community involvement and overall impact on the Stow-Munroe Falls business landscape.

The awards gala brought together local business leaders, community members and Chamber supporters. Attendees helped the Chamber raise nearly $3,000 for the Presidents Club Scholarship Program, supporting local students pursuing higher education.

“The Elite Business Awards highlights the outstanding achievements of our local business, individual and community organization leaders. This is such an honor and outstanding achievement for all nominees selected,” Julie McLain, executive director of the Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce, said. “We are grateful to our sponsors and attendees for celebrating these remarkable businesses while giving back to our community through the scholarship program.” 

Our sponsors for the event included: BFG Federal Credit Union; Great Lakes Honda; Fogg Building Methods; Reserve Management Group; TTR Shipping; Thomas C. Loepp Law Offices, Co., LPA; BBB Akron; Ron Marhofer Auto Family; The Healing Cave; MapCuts; Redmon Funeral Home; At Your Service Roofing; Western Reserve Hospital; Nothing Bundt Cakes; and Daisy Pops.

The event also featured local Stow Arts Commission artists Care Hanson, Laura Rath, Tina Myer, Janelle Hershberger, Leila Griffiths, Andrea Schepis and Lavonne Fawcett. A performance painting was created by local artist todd v, music was provided by jazz musician Joe Leaman, and floral centerpieces were created by The Budding Tree and Oregon Corners Florist. In addition, local photographer Steven Lentini of Ohio Real Estate Pics captured all of the moments. Awards are one of a kind and were designed and created by MapCuts. 

For more information about the Elite Business Awards or the Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce, visit www.smfcc.com or contact Julie McLain, executive director, at 330-688-1579 or at [email protected].

About the Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce: For more than 60 years, the Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce has supported local businesses by fostering connections, promoting economic development, and strengthening the community through advocacy, programs and events.

Stow

From the Stow Environmental Commission: Commercial solar tax credits mean savings for businesses, landlords

The newly formed Stow Environmental Commission is off and running. Chair Cari Orris tells The Spotlight that the commission “had a good first meeting March 11. In addition to working on goals, we voted to share … information with local media and the Chamber of Commerce” on how to receive a commercial solar tax credit.

The commission’s initial press release states: “Reminding all Stow businesses and landlords with LLCs: If you’ve ever thought about adding solar panels to your business, now might be the time to look into that. And save 30% of the cost.”

Those savings come in the form of a Federal Investment Tax Credit, which is available for commercial solar projects that:

• Start construction before July 4, 2026, with no deadline as to when the project is placed into service; or

• Finish construction by Dec. 31, 2027, with the project placed into service by the end of 2027.

Businesses with projects that qualify can get a federal tax credit good for 30% of the solar project cost. To learn more, consult with your tax advisor and a solar installation company.

Space

One for the books: Meteor that exploded over Northeast Ohio on St. Patrick’s Day caused sonic boom that rattled homes — and nerves

Did you see it? Hear it? Feel it?

NASA confirmed that a 7-ton meteor streaked through Earth’s atmosphere on St. Patrick’s Day and exploded over Northeast Ohio, with the fragments of the space rock falling onto Medina County. The cosmic spectacle featured a spectacular fireball that lit up the morning sky, accompanied by a loud sonic boom that shook houses and rattled windows across the region.

The event startled residents, with many thinking something more terrestrial – like their home – had either exploded or been struck by a large vehicle.

Here are some details:

• NASA said the meteor, about 6 feet in diameter, was first detected at 8:57 a.m. March 17 at an altitude of 50 miles above Lake Erie near Lorain.

• The space rock traveled 34 miles through the upper atmosphere in a southeasterly direction before exploding 30 miles above Valley City, located in the northwest corner of Medina County, and dropping meteorites all over that county.

• According to NASA, the meteor’s explosion unleashed energy equivalent to approximately 250 to 350 tons of TNT, resulting in the sonic boom that was heard and felt throughout Northeast Ohio and as far away as Pennsylvania and New York.

• Witnesses in Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and the District of Columbia also reported seeing the fireball.

No injuries or damage have been reported.

What did you see, hear or feel? Let us know by emailing [email protected] and we will publish your experience in our Reader Spotlight section.

Weather

And another one for the books: Winds near hurricane force wreak havoc as two storms rip through NE Ohio in one weekend

The brutal winter of 2026 just can’t seem to let it go. We’ve endured snow piling up, icy roads and extended stretches of temperatures below zero. And as a little kiss goodbye before heading out the door, Old Man Winter delivered not one but two fierce windstorms over last weekend that downed trees and power lines, damaged homes and knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of residents across Northeast Ohio — some for days. Utility crews worked around the clock to restore power and clear debris from roadways as communities across the region continue cleanup efforts.

It seemed like the winds would never stop howling:

• The first storm — on Friday the 13th, of course — was the worst of the two, with the peak wind gust across Northeast Ohio measuring at a record 85 mph at Burke Lakefront Airport in downtown Cleveland, according to the National Weather Service.

• The Greater Akron area endured sustained winds of 45 miles per hour, with gusts over 70 mph.

• The high winds overturned a semi on state Route 8 southbound at Seasons Road, forcing lane closures that backed up traffic for miles.

• More than 346,000 customers across Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan were left without electricity at the peak of the storm.

• The second windstorm hit Sunday and Monday and featured wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph and higher in some cases — exacerbating the situation and disrupting recovery efforts from Storm No. 1.

All of that was followed earlier this week by some snow along with temps that plunged into the mid-teens in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. Good riddance, winter.

Reader Spotlight

— From Marie Dugan: “Very bad bumpy road on Fishcreek Rd. A tiny bit was done but most is very bad! Parts of Stow Road is very bad too.”

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