Today is April 9, 2026.

• OK, we’re back! Hey, this is Ben Wolford, publisher, jumping in real quick to explain. I’m sorry we missed you last week, but we had a problem with the newsletter platform that resulted in Tom losing the entire issue right before he was due to send it. There was no way to make deadline, and we wanted to ensure the problem wouldn’t happen again, costing Tom even more hours and frustration. All good now. Thank you for your understanding. And here’s Tom again…
  

• When last we met, we were barely a week into spring. Since then, we’ve had a lot of rain, we’ve had nights down in the 20s, and we’ve been back to the moon. See what happens when you miss a week? As for today, it’s going to be breezy and warmer with a high of 72 degrees; we’ll have sun and areas of high clouds in the morning, then mostly cloudy with a shower in spots late in the afternoon. The low tonight will be 52.
  

• SILVER LAKE STATE OF THE VILLAGE: Silver Lake Mayor Therese Dunphy will give her State of the Village presentation at 7 p.m. Monday, April 20 at Silver Lake Village Hall, located at 2961 Kent Rd. Residents are invited to attend.
  

• SILVER LAKE COFFEE WITH COMRADES: The Village of Silver Lake’s “Coffee with Comrades” event will take place at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 18 in one of the picnic pods at Silver Lake. The community is invited to come meet your fellow Silver Lake veterans. Coffee and donuts will be provided.
  

• ALTERNATE ROUTE TO SMF LIBRARY: Due to some road construction going on adjacent to the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library, getting in and out of the main drive can be a little inconvenient. But there’s a way around it: If you run into closures — or just want to skip the construction altogether — the library advises patrons to use the back entrance off Elm Road instead. The back entrance is “easy to find, with a brand-new illuminated sign thanks to the Library Foundation. Same library. Less hassle,” reads a March 30 post on the SMF Library’s Facebook page.
  

• SMF LIONS CLUB FLOWER SALE: The Stow-Munroe Falls Lions Club will hold its Annual Spring Flower Sale fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 9 in front of Eddy’s Bike Shop at 3707 Darrow Rd. The selection will include hanging baskets and mixed potted plants. Every purchase supports Lions Club programs, including vision services and local community initiatives. Cash, checks and credit cards will be accepted. Be sure to come early for the best selection!
  

• YOU CAN BOOK THE STOW ICE CREAM TRUCK: Nothing says summertime and nice weather like hearing the familiar jingle of the Stow Ice Cream Truck rolling through your neighborhood. But you don’t have to wait for it to come to you, you can reserve the ice cream truck to be on site for anything from birthday parties to corporate events. Event pricing is: $49 booking fee, $150 minimum (per 30 minutes) and 20% gratuity. Limited summer dates are available. To reserve your date, contact [email protected].
  

• STOW SAFETY TOWN: Registration for students and volunteers is underway for the City of Stow’s 2026 Stow Safety Town program. Safety Town is a safety education program for children entering kindergarten in the fall of 2026. Any child who lives in the city of Stow and will be 5 years old on or before Aug. 25, 2026 may attend. Go to this page to register and for more information. Deadline to register is Saturday, May 9.
  

• CITY OF STOW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES: The City of Stow has job openings for the following positions:
  — Amphitheatre Events Coordinator

  — Before- and After-Care Day Camp Counselor

  — Building & Zoning Clerk II

  — Bus Driver

  — Fox Den Snack Bar

  — Income Tax Assistant

  — Lateral Transfer Police Officer

  — Parks and Recreation Director

  — Plans Examiner

  — Recreation Assistant - Events and Programs

  — School Resource Officer

  — Seasonal Fox Den Clubhouse

  — Seasonal Fox Den Grounds

  — Tax Auditor II
  

• SILVER LAKE JOB OPENING: The Village of Silver Lake is looking for a part-time gardener, approximately 24 hours per week, from May 4 through Sept. 6, 2026. Pay is $17/hour. Applications can be obtained at Village Hall at 2961 Kent Rd., or send your interest to [email protected]. For more information, go to this page.
  

• MAY 5 PRIMARY ELECTION: Early voting for the May 5 Primary/Special Election began April 7 and can be done at the Summit County Board of Elections at 1050 E. Tallmadge Ave. in Akron. Go to this page for the full schedule of early voting dates and hours. For information on absentee voting, go to this page. Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 5.
  

• “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: Leissler sentenced, Ace Hardware, internet outage at SMF schools, new spring events and more local news. Get full access for just $2.99/month.

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Stow

Prestigious honor: Stow is named an All-America City finalist; 10 cities will earn top distinction

The City of Stow has been named as one of 20 finalists nationwide for the 2026 All-America City Award, presented by the National Civic League — “one of the most prestigious honors a community can receive,” according to the city’s April 6 press release announcing the honor.

Finalists were selected through a competitive, expert-led review process.

“Being named an All-America City finalist is an incredible honor for Stow and a reflection of the dedication of our residents, community partners, and City team,” Mayor John Pribonic stated in the release. “This recognition highlights the work we’ve done together to build a connected, engaged, and forward-thinking community — and the exciting future we’re continuing to create.”

The release reads, in part: “Stow’s selection as a finalist highlights a decade of transformation driven by strong civic partnerships and meaningful community engagement. Major initiatives include the development of the City’s new Community & Senior Center, reinvestment in parks and public spaces, the creation of a Public Art Master Plan, and the development of a new amphitheater project — designed to serve as a hub for arts, entertainment, and community connection.”

The press release also points to “efforts such as the comprehensive zoning code update, expanded public engagement opportunities, and the work of boards and commissions” demonstrating “Stow’s commitment to ensuring all residents have a voice in shaping their community.”

As a finalist, Stow will advance to the next phase of the competition, where a community delegation will travel to Denver, Colorado, June 26-28 to present its story to a national jury. Ten winning communities will be named All-America Cities at the conclusion of the event.

Stow

Cleveland man killed in motorcycle crash on Route 8

Stow was the site of a traffic fatality April 4 when Robert Salerno, a 77-year-old Cleveland man, was killed in a one-vehicle crash on state Route 8.

According to the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office, Salerno was riding his motorcycle southbound on Route 8 when he struck a guardrail at 9:57 that morning. Emergency personnel transported Salerno to Summa Health Akron, where he died from his injuries at 10:24 that night.

The Stow Police Department said Route 8 southbound was shut down from Steels Corners Road to Graham Road for three hours because of the crash.

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