Today is Sept. 20, 2022.

• It’s like the calendar just knows. Today and Wednesday — the last two days of summer — it’s going to feel summer-like: Partly sunny with a high of 79 and low of 64 today, then up to 88 on Wednesday with thunderstorms. Then, on the first day of fall Thursday, we’re only going to be 62 during the day, dipping to 49 at night, with an 80% chance of rain. Right on cue.

Today’s the day! Let’s see if we can fully fund this project

If you’ve been paying attention to national media trends, then you’ve seen local news crumble before your eyes. National corporations are buying up papers that used to be locally owned. Then they sell them for parts to maximize profits, leaving communities in the dark about what’s happening with their tax dollars or even what’s happening this weekend.

The Spotlight is the antidote to this trend. We want to bring to Stow, Munroe Falls and Silver Lake the model that has worked so well in Portage County with our first publication, The Portager.

Locally owned local news like this is the future, but it can only happen with the consent of communities themselves. Today you’ll decide if The Spotlight keeps going. We can only provide this service if everyone who can afford a subscription buys one today. (Those who truly can’t afford it can request a free subscription, and we will grant all requests.)

If you’re ready to subscribe right now, click the button! 

Or you can go to this page to learn more about our project and get answers to some common questions, like how to request a free subscription or what to do if you already subscribe to The Portager.

Meanwhile, if you have any questions about the business side of The Spotlight, you can reach us at [email protected].

And finally, if you run a small business and would like to reach our 1,300 readers in eastern Summit County or our 6,200 readers in Portage County, just reply to this email for more info.

Latest news in brief

Adults, pack your courage for Haunted Hearth’s bone-chilling stories next to a roaring fire

Spooky stories at Halloween time are usually reserved for the kiddos. But Stow Parks & Recreation’s Haunted Hearth (Stories for Adults) is just what it says: Scary tales (told by the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library) for attendees aged 18 and over. The fright fest for big girls and boys takes place from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Sancturetum at Stow City Center (3760 Darrow Rd.).

Part of Parks & Rec’s Connect with Nature event series, Haunted Hearth features a foggy walk down a lantern-lit walkway to the fireplace in the Sancturetum. There, you’ll hear chilling stories told by library workers and enjoy treats from Stownut Donut & Diner. Cost is $5 per person. Find more information and register here.

Oh, and be ready for a few surprises!

More local news:

• The 2022 NAMI Poker Run will start and end Saturday, Oct. 1, at Acker-Moore Memorial Post banquet hall (3733 Fishcreek Rd.) in Stow. Registration is at 9 a.m., with all motorcycles out at 11 a.m. and all in at 4 p.m. Stops include Sassy’s Bar and Grille in Twinsburg, the Streetsboro American Legion, and Wayside Farm in Peninsula. This National Alliance on Mental Illness event includes music, a 50/50 raffle, and door prizes from Stow merchants Great Clips and Nothing Bundt Cakes, among others. Dinner will be served from 4:30-5 p.m. All vehicles are welcome. Cost: $25 for bike with driver (passenger $15) and $25 for other vehicle driver (passenger $25 each). If you can’t make it to the ride, just show up at 4 p.m. for the other festivities.

• Registration is open now for Stow Parks & Recreation’s elementary basketball leagues for boys and girls in grades 2-6. Practices begin the week of Oct. 24 and go through February/March 2023. Games will be played on Saturdays beginning Dec. 3 at Kimpton Middle School and Lakeview Intermediate School. Click here for more information and to register.

• The Stow-Munroe Falls Community Foundation will hold its 10th Annual Craft Beer Fest on Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Heritage Barn at Silver Springs Park (5238 Young Rd.) in Stow. The event features beer offerings from 12 local breweries. General admission is from 2-5 p.m., with limited-ticket special VIP access from 1-2 p.m. (includes samples, a charcuterie board and a special tasting glass). Musical artist Sammi Butler will perform from 1:30-4:30 p.m., sponsored by Explorer Pediatric Dentistry. Get your tickets.

• The Stow Woman’s Club is inviting women from Stow and surrounding communities to its next meeting at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at Stow Community United Church (1567 Pilgrim Dr.). The meeting will be held in the lower level of the church. Shon Christy of the Stow Schools Foundation will present the program. The club’s mission is to award scholarships to graduates of Stow-Munroe Falls High School. Contact Vivian Smith at 330-322-6941 for more information.

Sponsored by Brandon Heating and Air Conditioning

Community calendar

🎶 Wed., Sept. 21, 6-7:30 p.m.: Concerts on the Green. What: Outdoor concert series sponsored by the City of Stow. This concert features Overboard the Love Boat Band playing music from the 1970s and ’80s. This is a rescheduled concert from July 27, when it was postponed due to inclement weather. Where: Stow City Center Campus (3870 Darrow Rd.). Bring your lawn chair!

🧘 Thurs., Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m.: Sunset Salutations Yoga. What: Free program for adults (families are welcome) featuring yoga under the stars led by Maria Grimm. To register, visit StowOhio.RecDesk.com, click on programs and search for “Yoga.”

📚 Thurs., Sept. 22, 4-6 p.m.: Book Donation Day. What: Bring your good, clean, used books and puzzles to the back door of the library. Curbside pickup service will be available. Materials will be used by the library or sold at the Friends’ Book Sale. Where: Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library (3512 Darrow Rd.). If you can’t make it that day or time, call Joan at 330-388-0355 to schedule an appointment to drop off donations.

🌟 Thurs., Sept. 22, 7:30 p.m.: Sunset Salutations Stargazing. What: Free program for adults (families are welcome) to sit and gaze at the stars under the guidance of local astronomy gurus, who will instruct attendees and highlight celestial objects in their telescopes. Where: Groundhog Hill (near baseball fields) at Silver Springs Park (5238 Young Rd.) in Stow. Bring your own chairs, blankets and telescopes (if you have one). To register, visit StowOhio.RecDesk.com, click on programs and search for “Stargazing.”

👻 Sat., Sept. 24, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.: Halloween Costume Swap. What: Donate unopened makeup and clean costumes and accessories for children, teens and adults at the Checkout Desk beginning Sept. 17. Then, return Sept. 24 to pick new items to take home. Swapping is first-come, first-served. Where: Stow-Munroe Falls Room at the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library (3512 Darrow Rd.). No registration required.

🌽 Sat.-Sun., Sept. 24-25, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Stow Harvest Festival. What: Annual festival sponsored by the Stow Historical Society featuring free tours of three historic houses and a one-room schoolhouse, a blacksmith, apple butter stirring, musical entertainment and more. Art, handmade crafts and food will be for sale both days. Where: Heritage Park (5120 Young Rd.) at Silver Springs Park in Stow. Proceeds from the festival go toward preservation of artifacts and maintenance of archives, and support the history of Stow, Ohio. Email [email protected] for more information.

🌱 Wed., Sept. 28, 7-8:30 p.m.: Planting for Pollinators. What: Judy Semroc, president of the Northeastern Ohio Chapter of the American Butterfly Association, will discuss planting options for attracting and aiding migratory species and late-season pollinators. Where: Stow-Munroe Falls Room at the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library (3512 Darrow Rd.). To register, call 330-688-3295, ext. 4, or visit events.smfpl.org.

🚓 Sat., Oct. 1, 9 a.m.-noon: Touch A Truck. What: Explore large and small vehicles, including a police car, fire truck, construction trucks and more. Attendees can purchase food from a food truck onsite. Where: Parking lot at the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library (3512 Darrow Rd.). Admission is free.

📚 Mon., Oct. 3, all-day event: Acme Community Cashback. What: Donate your Acme receipts to help the library add books to its shelves. Where: Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library (3512 Darrow Rd.). A collection box will be located near the checkout desk, or you can drop your Acme receipts into the book drop. The library has participated in Acme’s Community Cashback since 2002, with Acme donating a total of $18,300 in that time.

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Obituaries for Sept. 16-19

Dr. Nicholas V. Rimedio, Sr.Dr. Nicholas V. Rimedio Sr. went to final rest on Saturday, September 17, 2022, a few months before he planned to celebrate another Buckeye win over arch rival Michigan. Known as “Doc” by thousands, he is best remembered in his many roles as Doctor, Friend, Son, Papa, and Father.Read more

Schools

The state grades are in, and SMF is showing a rapid rebound from the dark days of the pandemic

The Ohio Department of Education released its state report card for the 2021-22 school year Sept. 15, and Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools passed with flying colors. Despite dealing with unprecedented challenges due to Covid-19, SMF is rebounding quickly from major academic setbacks caused by the pandemic — outperforming most other school districts in Summit County.

• SMF schools lost 15 points on their performance index during the pandemic — a precipitous decline — but have already bounced back to within three points of their pre-Covid PI.

• The district scored a 4-star rating (out of a possible 5) from the state in the categories of Achievement and Progress. Four and five stars exceed expectations according to the ODE’s standards.

• You can read the Ohio school report cards here.

Stow

Curious about community theater? Tickets are on sale now for Stow Players’ winter season

Whether you’re a diehard fan of community theater or just want to see what it’s all about, you can get your tickets now for the Stow Players’ upcoming 2022-23 season. Five productions will be staged between November and March at the Players’ home, the Heritage Barn at Silver Springs Park in Stow.

• The new season kicks off Nov. 11 with a youth performance of “Dorothy in Wonderland.”

• Next year marks 70 years since the Players first began staging productions.

Tickets are available here.

Sports

Bulldog Sports Roundup: Another heartbreak: Brecksville’s big rally, late TD stuns SMF, 43-42

It happened again. Two weeks after losing to Solon on a field goal on the last play of the game, the Bulldogs had victory snatched from their clutches Sept. 16 when visiting Brecksville-Broadview Heights scored a late touchdown and 2-point conversion to shock SMF in a wild one, 43-42.

• The Bees’ winning sequence started when they forced a fumble and returned it for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. And that’s only a sampling of things that went wrong at the worst times for the hard-luck Bulldogs.

• “We’ve got to figure out how to win,” said SMF coach Martin Poder, whose team is now 1-4 on the season.

In other Bulldog sports action last week:

• The girls golf team tied the school record for nine holes — just five days after breaking it.

• It was a mixed bag for the boys golf team last week, with senior Ben Skirpac continuing to lead the way for SMF.

See Roger Gordon’s full roundup.

Mailbox

We got a bunch of comments about the new Stow law against feeding certain feral animals to prevent excessive yard pooping. I'll just leave a few of them here...

Reader: I hope not feeding critters also includes wild turkeys. My neighbor feeds them and then they love to come to my house and tear up my flower beds.

Reader: Not gonna happen. I will always try to help animals in need.

Reader: So I can’t feed that platypus that keeps showing up in my yard??

Tom: I don't think turkeys and platypi(?) are what Stow City Council had in mind.

That’s a wrap for volume 15 of The Spotlight. We’ve packed as much local news as we could into those 15 newsletters, and more is coming as we keep growing. Enjoy these last couple days of summer, and I'll see everyone on Friday!

Tom [email protected]