Today is April 17, 2025.

• Good morning! We’re coming off another night of temperatures threatening to drop below 30 degrees — but maybe, just maybe, spring is about to turn the corner once and for all. Starting with today’s forecast: Warmer with times of clouds and sunshine, with a high of 61 and a low of 49. The Easter forecast for Sunday is looking pretty good, too: Clouds and sun with a high of 63, although a shower is possible. All in all, it looks like spring has finally made it.
  

• ATTENTION SILVER LAKE RESIDENTS: Did you miss Mayor Therese Dunphy’s recent State of the Village presentation? If so, don’t worry, you can still get all the information on what happened last year and what’s coming this year by viewing the Silver Lake Village Annual Report 2025.
  

• STOW PLANNING & ZONING FEEDBACK REQUEST: The City of Stow is seeking community feedback on the proposed zoning districts as part of the city’s Planning & Zoning Code Update. Go here to use the interactive online map to compare the current zoning with the proposed changes. The map will also be available at the Stow Planning Department Open House on Tuesday, April 29, which will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Community Room at the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library, located at 3512 Darrow Rd.; residents are invited to stop by to learn more and share their thoughts in person. If you’re ready to share your feedback now, you can do so by going to this page.
  

• DEA TAKE BACK DAY: From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 26, residents can drop off their unused or expired prescription medications at the Stow Police Department for proper disposal as part of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Take Back Day 2025. Inhalers, gummies and liquids will not be accepted. Stow PD states that “unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue. Proper disposal of unneeded drugs saves lives and protects the environment and our overall community.” The Stow Police Department is located at 3800 Darrow Rd.
  

• SMF LIONS CLUB FLOWER SALE: The Stow-Munroe Falls Lions Club will conduct its 31st annual Flower Sale Fundraiser on Saturday, May 10 in front of Eddy’s Bike Shop at 3707 Darrow Rd. in Stow. The sale begins at 8 a.m. and goes to 4 p.m. or until all flowers are sold. The sale will feature many hanging baskets with several varieties of flowers (impatiens, geraniums, begonias, fuchsias, petunias, verbena, ferns), along with combination baskets and large/mixed flowers within patio/porch pots. Prices are the same as last year; cash, check or credit cards will be accepted. Come early for the best selections!
  

• SILVER LAKE VETERANS TRIBUTE GARDEN BRICK ORDERS: The Village of Silver Lake is now accepting new brick orders for the Veterans Tribute Garden at 2961 Kent Rd. The Silver Lake Veterans Tribute Garden is a place to honor, remember and pay tribute, with dignity, to veterans of the United States armed forces and their families. A minimum requirement of 25 bricks must be reached in order for the village to place the engraving order; therefore, the village is only accepting order forms and not payments for the time being. The village will contact you for payment once it reaches the 25 bricks for the order. Bricks are $100 each. To order your brick, go to this page or stop by Village Hall at 2961 Kent Rd. Orders will be accepted through Friday, May 30.
  

• SMF LIBRARY ORGANIZATIONS RAISE THOUSANDS: The numbers are in, and the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library reports that the Friends of the Library raised $7,500 during their recent Spring Book Sale, money that will be used to support fun and educational programs at the library for adults, teens and kids. But there’s more: The Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library Foundation raised $11,000 through its Gift Basket Online Auction, with that money earmarked to fund outdoor improvements at the library. Go to this page for details on donating and volunteer opportunities at the SMF Public Library.
  

• MAY 6 PRIMARY ELECTION: Early voting for the May 6 Primary Election began April 8 and runs through Sunday, May 4 at the Summit County Board of Elections Early Vote Center, located at 500 Grant St. in Akron. Regular business hours for the Summit County Board of Elections are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; voting hours Sunday, May 4 are 1 to 5 p.m. Polls will be open on primary day May 6 from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Go to this page 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: Munroe Falls downtown, fishing derby, road project update, new roofer, garden cleanup and more local news. Full access is just $2.99/month.

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Stow

Ready to get down and dirty? Team Up 2 Clean Up registration for 2025 is underway

It’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work beautifying Stow — and that means registering for the city’s annual Team Up 2 Clean Up program for 2025.

Each year, the City of Stow invites residents to volunteer for Team Up 2 Clean Up and assist with trash pickup along major roads in the city. Not only does collecting trash along our roadways beautify Stow, it also helps prevent pollution from entering storm drains that lead to our local rivers, streams and lakes.

Here’s how Team Up 2 Clean Up works:

• You will work with a small group and be assigned an area to pick up trash along the city’s streets and sidewalks.

• If you helped last year, dig out your green safety T-shirt; if you’re new to the group, choose your preferred T-shirt size when registering.

• There are three dates to pick from: Saturday, May 17; Saturday, June 21; and Saturday, Aug. 23. Work hours each of those dates are 8 to 11 a.m.

Go here for more information and to register.

Silver Lake

“Tree champions”: Village of Silver Lake earns 2024 Tree City USA honor

The Arbor Day Foundation announced April 14 that it has named the Village of Silver Lake a 2024 Tree City USA in honor of the village’s commitment to plant, grow and maintain trees to benefit the community.

To earn Tree City USA recognition, a municipality must uphold four core standards: a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry, and participating in an Arbor Day celebration.

“Silver Lake residents appreciate the mature trees we enjoy throughout the Village,” Mayor Therese Dunphy said. “These trees enhance our streets as well as reduce stormwater runoff to our lakes and river. The Service Department provides excellent care of our street trees, and the Shade Tree Commission provides helpful best-practice management tips for residents to preserve and protect trees in their own yards.”

In cities and neighborhoods, trees are proven to help mitigate the urban heat island effect, reduce stormwater runoff, improve air quality, and boost mental and physical health. When the right trees are planted in the right places, they can also reduce traffic noise, increase property values, and lower energy costs for homeowners.

“We all have a role to play in shaping our future, and tree champions like the Village of Silver Lake are leading the way,” Michelle Saulnier, vice president of programs at the Arbor Day Foundation, said. “Trees are critical infrastructure, building resiliency and fostering good health in our nation’s cities. We’re proud the Village of Silver Lake is among the Arbor Day Foundation’s growing network of communities dedicated to creating positive impact through trees.”

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global non-profit organization with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. The foundation’s Tree City USA program is operated in partnership with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service.

Reader Spotlight

— From Mark Stransky, Munroe Falls: “Since Route 91 will be closed for 6 weeks when the bridge deck over the Cuyahoga River is replaced in 2026, has anyone thought about using this time to also repair the Route 91 railroad crossing? This could eliminate closing the road down for a week in the future.”

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