Today is Oct. 18, 2022.

• And so it begins ... Expect a coating to an inch of snow today along with rain and wind. We'll have a high of 43 and a low of 36, setting up a week where lows will be in the mid-30s until Friday. The fall color peak combined with some snow should make for some dazzling scenery.

• Remember: The Portager Holiday Gift Guide is open to Summit County businesses, too! We want people to shop local this year, and we'll be promoting this guide throughout Northeast Ohio. Learn more here.

• Keep your eye out on Friday or next week for our election previews. We'll be filling you in on some of the key issues that will appear on your ballot Nov. 8. Thanks for your support that enables us to produce this important coverage.

Latest news in brief

Get your rake out: Curbside leaf pickup in Stow starts on Halloween

The City of Stow's curbside leaf pickup program will start Oct. 31 and end Dec. 9, split among three zones within the city. Leaf pickup for District 1 (north of Graham Road and east of Route 91) goes from Nov. 7-11 and again from Nov. 28-Dec. 2. Leaf pickup for District 2 (north of Graham Road and west of Route 91) runs from Nov. 14-18 and Dec. 5-9. Leaf pickup for District 3 (south of Graham Road) is Oct. 31-Nov. 4 and Nov. 21-23.

Residents are asked to have their leaves placed no more than five feet off the edge of the pavement so that the leaf collection tube can reach the piles. Leaves will need to be in piles or rows that can be vacuumed with the equipment by 7 a.m. on Monday the week of your pick-up. There will be only one pick-up per week.

For a district map or more information, visit the city website at StowOhio.org or call the Leaf Hotline at 330-689-2927.

More local news:

• Mulberry Gardens Senior Living (395 S. Main St.) in Munroe Falls will host a charitable chili cook-off at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19. Entry fee is $5, and 50% of the proceeds go to the winner. The other 50% will be donated to the Walk to End Alzheimer's disease. If you want to enter your chili, today is the last day to RSVP. You can do so by calling 330-634-9919 and giving your name and phone number.

• The Stow-Munroe Falls Schools Foundation's Spooky Car Wash will take place from 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at United Auto Wash (884 E. Steels Corners Rd.) in Stow. The free car wash will also include a costume contest, with first, second and third place receiving a future car wash prize at United Auto Wash. The SMF Schools Foundation will be accepting donations for senior scholarships and teacher grants.

• Spots are still available to decorate your own Jack-o'-lantern DQ Cake from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23, at Dairy Queen Grill & Chill (3645 Fishcreek Rd.) in Stow. Each family will receive one free six-inch Original DQ Cake (colored orange) along with green icing, black gel, and Halloween sprinkles for decorating. A cake decorator will be on hand to assist. One free cake per family, and additional six-inch cakes will be available for $12 each. Call 330-678-3025 to reserve your spot.

• Team Kini Bini is sponsoring A Night at the Races on Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Stow Youth Baseball Hall (4157 Hudson Dr.) to support Lifebanc Organ Donation while honoring the memory of Keira Nicole Christie (aka Kini Bini). The event will feature a buffet dinner, drinks, betting, side boards and, of course, horse racing. The actual races are videos of nine past live events. Attendees can buy and name a horse and even sponsor a race. Winning horse owners will receive a trophy and a $40 prize. Tickets are available for $40 per person at TeamKiniBini.com. A special couple’s package includes two tickets plus the purchase and naming rights of a horse for $100. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., dinner is at 6:15, and races start at 7. Complete information is available at TeamKiniBini.com.

Sponsored by Brandon Heating and Air Conditioning

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Community calendar

👻 Tues., Oct. 18, 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Halloween Family Trivia Night. What: Families will compete for a chance to win prizes. Where: Stow-Munroe Falls Room at the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library (3512 Darrow Rd.). To register your family, call 330-688-3295 ext. 5, visit events.smfpl.org, or stop by the library. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

👨 Tues., Oct. 18, 7-8 p.m.: Meet the Mayor. What: Meet Mayor John Pribonic as he discusses his vision and goals for the city of Stow. Where: Conference Room at the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library (3512 Darrow Rd.). To register, call (330) 688-3295, visit events.smfpl.org, or stop by the library.

🗳️ Thurs., Oct. 20, 6-7 p.m.: Community Conversations. What: In-person event where residents can learn more about the Issue 6 school levy that will be on the Nov. 8 ballot as well as make their own voices heard to school district officials. Where: Stow-Munroe Falls High School (3227 Graham Rd.).

🧶 Thurs., Oct. 20, 7-8 p.m.: Community Craft Supply Swap. What: Bring your gently used craft supplies to exchange, pick up some new ones for your collection, and mingle with other craft enthusiasts. Where: Stow-Munroe Falls Room at the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library (3512 Darrow Rd.). Registration is not required.

⛳ Fri., Oct. 21, 6:30-9:30 p.m. & Sat., Oct. 22, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Library Mini Golf Foundation Fundraiser. What: Play miniature golf inside the library to benefit the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library Foundation. Where: Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library (3512 Darrow Rd.). Cost: $20 per person in advance and $25 at the door on the first day; $5 for ages 13 and up, $3 for ages 5-12, and attendees aged 4 and under are free on the second day. Go to www.smfpl.org/golf to purchase tickets in advance online.

🎥 Fri., Oct. 21, 7:30 p.m.: Community Movie Night. What: The third of four Friday night movie presentations in October, featuring the showing of "Hocus Pocus." Where: TGI Fridays (4300 Lakepointe Corporate Dr.) in Stow. Admission is free.

👻 Sat., Oct. 22, 2-4 p.m.: Trunk-or-Treat. What: Event hosted by the Stow-Munroe Falls High School Drama Club featuring free candy, crafts, games, and trunk-or-treat bags. Where: Stow-Munroe Falls High School (3227 Graham Rd.). Contact [email protected] or [email protected] for more information.

👻 Sat., Oct. 22, 7:30-8:30 p.m.: Haunted Hearth (Stories for Adults). What: Gather around the Sancturetum fireplace and listen to scary stories told by the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library. Event is for attendees aged 18 and over. Where: Sancturetum at Stow City Center (3760 Darrow Rd.). Treats provided by Stownut Donut & Diner. Cost is $5 per person.

📚 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).

Obituaries for Oct. 14-17

Barbara Jean CarrollBarbara Jean Carroll, 87, died October 11, 2022, at home surrounded by her loving family. Read more.

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Silver Lake

Time is running out to get your paver as Veterans Tribute Garden starts to take shape

With construction already underway on Silver Lake's Veterans Tribute Garden, the time to order an engraved brick paver to honor a veteran is now. The village will stop taking paver orders shortly, and when it does, no additional orders will be accepted.

• About 170 pavers have been ordered so far at $100 each.

• Work began on the garden in September, and foundations and a core concrete ring have been constructed.

• "Most of it will be finished this year, and people can use it to come and pay tribute to veterans and their families,” Mayor Bernie Hovey said.

Check out the full story by Mark Baxter.

Sports

Bulldog Sports Roundup: Fourth quarter bites SMF football again in loss to Twinsburg

The Stow-Munroe Falls football team has battled just about every opponent on even footing through the first three quarters of games this season. But the final 12 minutes have not been kind to SMF, and it happened again in a 32-14 loss at Twinsburg Oct. 14.

The Bulldogs trailed just 12-6 after the third quarter, but the Tigers outscored SMF 20-8 in the fourth quarter to win going away. The Bulldogs fell to 1-8 overall and 0-5 in the Suburban League National Conference.

"When we get to the fourth quarter, we’re just not improving our execution when it matters the most," Stow-Munroe Falls coach Martin Poder said.

In other Bulldog sports action last week:

• Senior Ben Skirpac qualified for the Division I boys golf state tournament by placing fifth at the Pine Hills District in Hinckley.

• The boys cross country team held off Hudson to capture the program's first Suburban League National Conference championship.

• Junior girls cross country standout Jayla Atkinson cruised to the individual title at the National Conference Championship Meet.

Read Roger Gordon's weekly roundup.

Mailbox

Reader: Very much enjoy getting local current news and information!

Tom: It's my pleasure to write this newsletter! Thanks for reading. And don't forget to send us your news tips.

And that's it for today. Enjoy the peak of the fall foliage, stay warm, and see you Friday!

Tom [email protected]