Today is Oct. 25, 2022.

• Welcome to the last full week of October already. It's going to be partly sunny and warm today before we start cooling down the rest of the week. We'll have a high of 74 degrees and a low of 54 today – our last day of temps in the 70s as we drop into the low 60s with rain Wednesday and then into the mid-50s on Thursday.

• On Friday, we published an article on the Stow-Munroe Falls school levy that evoked plenty of response from readers. In particular, you noted we didn't specify whether Issue 6, if passed, would cost homeowners $50 a month per $250,000 of property value or $50 a year. It would cost you $50 per month. We've updated reporter Mark Baxter's story on our website. Mark had also asked the school district what cuts would be made if the levy fails and was told that staffing would be hit the hardest, but they didn't specify who or how many. We will continue to follow up on this point, and if you have any additional questions about the levy, just let us know and we'll make sure to get answers from the school district.

Latest news in brief

After delays, Munroe Falls police expect to have new body cams up and running by January

Police officers in Munroe Falls should be equipped with new body cameras by early next year. Police Chief Steve Dunton told Munroe Falls council members at their Oct. 18 meeting that the manufacturer was experiencing delays in service.

“We cannot get the body cameras and cruiser cameras as quickly as we would like,” said Dunton. “We have got the equipment, but we need Motorola to come and install it, which will possibly not be until January.”

He told council members that video footage the new cameras take will be stored in the cloud and automatically uploaded when an officer docks the camera in a charging station or when a police cruiser is parked in specific spots. Each officer will be able to review any video recordings their cameras take and will be able to review all footage taken by the department.

More local news:

• Archers are once again being given the green light to hunt deer in Silver Lake. Council members heard at their Oct. 17 meeting that the village planned to allow hunters to cull the excess deer population. “The deer cull will start the weekend after Thanksgiving and go to the final day of the season, usually the first weekend in February,” Mayor Bernie Hovey said. Hunters will only be permitted to use a bow-and-arrow in the cull. Council members heard about high numbers of deer sightings in the village, and Police Chief Jamie Norris said: “Silver Lake’s deer population is not a normal urban deer population.”

• The Hudson Players' showing of "Something Rotten" will have a real Stow flair to it when it opens at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28. The production features Stow resident and longtime frequent Stow-Munroe Falls High School musical choreographer Conni Fleming as the show's choreographer, Stow resident Ron Jones as music director, and Stow residents Debbie Schinker and Norene Jones, among others, as cast members. "Something Rotten" will run through Nov. 19 at the Barlow Community Center (41 S. Oviatt St.) in Hudson, with shows each Friday and Saturday night plus two Sunday matinees. Tickets are $15 each, with student and senior discounts available. Go to hudsonplayers.com for more information.

• The Community Church of Stow (1567 Pilgrim Dr.) will hold its Trunk-or-Treat for children aged 2 to sixth grade from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30. Costumes are encouraged, and prizes will be awarded for Best Costume and Best Decorated Trunk. If you are interested in participating, register your trunk at [email protected] or call 330-688-8927. There is no fee to register. Candy is self-supplied, and participants are asked to bring wrapped, store-bought candy to hand out to trick-or-treaters at the event.

• Want to help Stow finish first? Swensons Drive-In Restaurants is having a contest to see which Swensons stand in the Akron area can sell the most quarter-pounders. Stop in at the Stow Swensons (4466 Kent Rd.) and order a quarter-pounder (made how you like it, of course) to support your local Swensons.

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Community calendar

📚 Wed., Oct. 26-Sat., Oct. 29: Friends of the Library Book Sale. What: Four-day book sale at the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library (3512 Darrow Rd.). Dates/times: Oct. 26: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (Patrons’ Sale), 1-4 p.m. (Friends’ Presale), 4-8 p.m. (general public sale); Oct. 27: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (general public); Oct. 28: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (general public); Oct. 29: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (general public “Bag Day”; all books free from 2-3 p.m.).

🎆 Fri., Oct. 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m.: Flannels, Food Trucks & Fireworks. What: Free event presented by the City of Stow Parks and Recreation Department, featuring the rescheduled Stow Summer Sunset Blast fireworks at 8 p.m. Where: Silver Springs Park (5238 Young Rd.) in Stow.

🎥 Fri., Oct. 28, 7:30 p.m.: Community Movie Night. What: The last of four Friday night movie presentations in October, featuring the showing of "Monster House." Where: TGI Fridays (4300 Lakepointe Corporate Dr.) in Stow. Admission is free.

👻 Sat., Oct. 29: Trick-or-Treat: Here are the times for trick-or-treating in our communities: Munroe Falls, 5:30-7:30 p.m.; Silver Lake, 6-8 p.m.; Stow, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

👻 Mon., Oct. 31, 6-8:45 p.m.: Ghost Stories of the Civil War. What: Stow's own Paul Goebbel, a historical reenactor, dresses in 1860s garb to tell stories of first-person accounts of paranormal activity and apparitions at Civil War sites. Audience participation is encouraged. Where: Stow-Munroe Falls Room at the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library (3512 Darrow Rd.). Registration is required (events.smfpl.org).

🩸 Wed., Nov. 2, 1-7 p.m.: American Red Cross Blood Drive. What: Blood drive in the Stow-Munroe Falls Room at the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library (3512 Darrow Rd.). To schedule an appointment time in advance, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

🧀 Sat., Nov. 5, 6-7:30 p.m.: Charcuterie Styling for the Holidays. What: Learn to create your own charcuterie board, courtesy of Jackie Halay from 2 Board Sisters. Bring your beverage of choice as you learn what to include on your board – and add your own personalized touch for the holidays. Where: Leona Farris Lodge (Silver Springs Lodge), 5027 Stow Rd. in Silver Springs Park. Program is for adults 21 and over. Cost is $30 per person. Go here to register.

🎥 Mon., Nov. 7, 1-4 p.m.: Veterans Day Movie: "Midway." What: Watch the classic World War II film "Midway" in the Stow-Munroe Falls Room at the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library (3512 Darrow Rd.). Register online at events.smfpl.org, or call the library at 330-688-3295 ext. 4.

🎥 Mon., Nov. 7, 6:30-8 p.m.: Family Movie: "Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank." What: Bring the whole family to watch this fun, animated movie on the big screen. Popcorn and drinks will be provided, and feel free to bring blankets and pillows for the kids. Where: Stow-Munroe Falls Room at the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library (3512 Darrow Rd.). To register your family members who wish to attend the program, go to events.smfpl.org or call the library at 330-688-3295 ext. 5.

Obituaries for Oct. 22-24

Theodore Gretz MartenTheodore Gretz Marten, 66, of Stow passed away in his home surrounded by his loving family on October 14, 2022.Read more

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Election Preview

Issue 27: Is a Stow charter amendment to mandate a five-year budget plan necessary? Voters will decide

Stow Council President Jeremy McIntire says Issue 27, a charter amendment mandating that the city administration publish a five-year capital spending plan, is necessary because his efforts to implement a similar initiative by going through council were nixed.

Stow Finance Director Jim Costello says Issue 27 is unnecessary because council is already privy to any and all budget information supplied by the administration.

• Either way, Issue 27 is on the Nov. 8 ballot. So it's up to the voters now. “This is just letting the taxpayers know what the priorities for the city are,” McIntire said.

• Said Costello: "This really does not need to be in the charter, it could be in discussions.”

Sports

Bulldog Sports Roundup: Football closes regular season with loss to Hudson; Skirpac takes 11th at state golf tourney

The Stow-Munroe Falls football team tried to make a game of it in the second half against undefeated Hudson, but in the end the Bulldogs just ran out of gas. SMF trailed the Explorers 21-0 at halftime before closing to within two touchdowns twice and having chances to get even closer. But the end result was a 42-13 loss Oct. 21 as the Bulldogs finished the regular season with a 1-9 record.

“That third quarter could’ve been a huge momentum shift for us,” head coach Martin Poder said.

Next up for SMF: a playoff date Friday, Oct. 28, at defending Division I state champion Lakewood St. Edward.

In other Bulldog sports action last week:

• Senior Ben Skirpac closed out his outstanding high school golf career by placing 11th at the Division I state tournament.

• The girls cross country team ran to a runner-up finish at the Division I district meet at GlenOak High School to advance to the regionals.

• The boys cross country team also qualified for the regional meet by finishing in sixth place at the district.

See Roger Gordon's full roundup.

Mailbox

Reader: Confusion (for me) on Stow school ballot language, which says .69 for every $100 of valuation. That is a whole lot more than the $50 stated in the Spotlight article. Are my math skills horrible? Can you get to the bottom of it? It would make a difference in my vote.

Tom: This is a great observation. You're correct about the mills being 6.93. However, levies can't ever raise more revenue than voters approved. In this case, it will raise $7.92 million over 10 years. The actual amount homeowners will pay is variable and depends on the number of homes and the valuations of those homes. The $50-per-month projection is based on the current property situation.

That's a wrap for a Tuesday edition of The Spotlight. Keep the story tips coming (you've been giving us some great feature ideas), and let's do this again Friday!

Tom [email protected]