Today is Oct. 28, 2022.

• We're in for a nice weekend to take us into Halloween on Monday. It's going to be 59 degrees with periods of sun today before dropping to 35 tonight. We'll hover in the mid-60s over the weekend, then on Halloween it'll be cloudy and 64 with a shower. Remember to turn your porch light on for the trick-or-treaters Saturday night!

• How's everybody liking The Spotlight so far? We're only three months in, but we've already published a lot of local journalism. I hope it's been useful and informative. If you have feedback for us, please let me know!

Latest news in brief

Thank you, veterans: City of Stow offering yard signs to honor those who have served

If you're a veteran of the United States armed forces, the City of Stow wants you — to acknowledge your service to your country by displaying a yard sign at your residence as Veterans Day approaches. The program, in collaboration with Western Reserve Hospital, honors the city's veterans for their contributions and sacrifice.

Veterans can stop by Stow City Hall (3760 Darrow Rd.) and pick up a sign from now through Veterans Day (Friday, Nov. 11). If you would like to honor a veteran with a sign, stop by City Hall and pick one up. If you are unable to get to City Hall, contact Teresa at 330-689-2890 and a sign will be delivered to you.

“It’s a chance to reflect on the importance of peace,” said Mayor John Pribonic. “While our military is often thought of in a war context, most veterans will tell you that they risked their lives to defend our fundamental freedoms and that they value peace much more highly than war. Veterans Day encourages all of us to reflect on the value of harmony in our daily interactions and lives.”

More local news:

• Orphan bridges in Stow will be inspected by the Ohio Department of Transportation. Council members heard at their Oct. 27 meeting that there are 11 bridges in the city that used to belong to Summit County when they were part of county highways but are now classified as “orphan.” By joining the Municipal Bridge Inspection Program, state experts can assess the condition of the bridges and ensure they are safe for use. City council unanimously agreed to join the program.

• By this time next week, we'll be getting rid of our Halloween pumpkins. But "getting rid of" doesn't have to mean throwing them in the trash. Fox Den Farm (5117 Young Rd.) in Stow will take your pumpkins and gourds (as long as they're uncarved) to feed the goats and chickens – just drop them off at the farm. Also, you can take pumpkins and gourds (that are not moldy) to 4868 Stow Rd. in Stow for the goats and chickens there as well (just set them in the apron next to the critters).

• Are you ready for some football? Then sign up to play in the Turkey Bowl flag football tournament at the Stow-Munroe Falls High School stadium from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17. Cost is $25 per team, with 4-5 players per team. You can sign up at stowstuco.org/events. Spectators can watch for free, and the winning team gets a turkey dinner.

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Community calendar

📚 Fri., Oct. 28-Sat., Oct. 29: Friends of the Library Book Sale. What: Book sale for the general public at the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library (3512 Darrow Rd.). Dates/times: Oct. 28: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Oct. 29: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (“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. 25-27

Melinda Joyce (Marvin) NasconeMelinda Joyce (Marvin) Nascone, 69, died October 22, 2022.Read more

Margaret (Maggie) WoganMargaret (Maggie) Wogan passed away peacefully at the age of 97 on October 23, 2022. She was visited in her final days by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many dear friends.Read more

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Stow

Orange barrels in our future: $10 million rebuild of Route 91 expected to start in May 2025

You've probably already sat in some traffic due to the construction taking place on Route 91 in Hudson. Well, as the old saying goes, you ain't seen nothin' yet.

A $10 million project to completely rebuild Route 91 throughout its entire length in Stow is already in development, with the digging expected to begin in earnest in May 2025. About $1.5 million, or 20% of the total cost of the project, will fall to the City of Stow.

• The road that became Route 91 was originally built in 1825 by the State of Ohio.

• Prep work that has already begun has revealed Route 91's layers of asphalt, brick, sand and concrete to be something of a time capsule. "It is interesting to find parts of Stow past,” City Engineer Jim McCleary said.

• "This is going to be a major endeavor, but the long-term improvements will outweigh the disruption," Mayor John Pribonic said.

Silver Lake

Black is the new silver in Silver Lake – for village's replacement police cruisers, anyway

The "Silver" in Silver Lake isn't going anywhere. But the traditional silver of the village's police cruisers is on borrowed time thanks to a car crash and supply-chain problems. The village needs to add two cruisers to its fleet, and both replacement vehicles will be black.

• Police Chief Jamie Norris said the incoming cars won't be painted silver to match the others because doing so would be costly for the village.

• "Black is more of a stock color and easier to find," Norris said.

Tom Hardesty's Halloween Special

An eerie encounter at Gettysburg with General James Longstreet: Decades later, I still wonder

For the better part of 10 minutes, my wife Kim and I stood on the battlefield at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, talking with a Civil War re-enactor dressed up as famous Confederate General James Longstreet. Or so we thought.

But when the man walked away and seemed to vanish into thin air, with no cars or people around as dusk descended on the silent battlefield, we were left to wonder who, exactly, we had been talking to next to the statue of ... General Longstreet.

• It was early August 1995, yet "General Longstreet" seemed unfazed standing in the blazing summer heat donned in a thick, heavy Confederate general's uniform.

• He never broke character and even pointed toward the Union lines, saying that's where I belonged when I informed him we were from Ohio.

• Afterward, an employee at the battlefield visitor center, startled to hear of our experience, informed us that there were no re-enactors onsite – and there hadn't been in at least a month.

Read my entire chilling account here.

Mailbox

Reader: No one wants to pay more in taxes, but that fact is that Ohio's unconstitutional school funding model hobbles school districts and leaves them no choice but to ask voters for additional funds. Costs are rising every year and schools can only cut so much before the quality of education really starts to suffer. In 1997, the Ohio Supreme Court declared the State’s school funding system unconstitutional, specifically citing four major flaws in the system, including insufficient state funding for school facilities and a flawed school funding formula. The Court wrote: “A system without basic instructional materials and supplies can hardly constitute a thorough and efficient system of common schools throughout the state as mandated by our Constitution.” Strong public education is essential to a functioning democracy. I encourage everyone to vote yes for strong Stow schools - AND keep the pressure on Ohio lawmakers to correct the laws on school funding that have been ruled unconstitutional over and over again for more than 25 years.

Tom: Thanks for the thoughtful comment! Anyone else have an opinion on the school levy? We'll publish election comments through the end of next week but not on Election Day, so get your letters in.

Reader: Quick reads of sections that I was interested in. And, good information. I like it.

Tom: Thank you! I'm glad you enjoy it. Please subscribe if you're able to!

That's it for today, folks. I hope you enjoyed Volume 26 of The Spotlight as we wrap up our third calendar month of existence. Enjoy your weekend, Happy Halloween and on to November!

Tom [email protected]