Today is Feb. 26, 2026.

• Good morning! Can you feel it? It’s still winter and we just had some snow accumulation a couple days ago, but we’re slowly but surely transitioning to spring in a two steps forward, one step back kind of way. Today will be one of those steps forward: a high of 36 and a low of 25 with clouds giving way to some sun. Not exactly the middle of May, but we’re starting to round third.
  

• STOW FIRE RELIEF COLLECTION: The City of Stow is still accepting donations to help support a Stow resident who suffered a house fire on Valentine’s Day. Monetary donations are being collected from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Friday, Feb. 27 in the lobby of Stow City Hall at 3760 Darrow Rd. Monetary donations are also being taken through the Stow-Munroe Falls Community Foundation or by scanning the QR code at this page. Contact Stow City Hall at 330-689-2700 for more information.
  

• TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE NEXT WEEK: If you’re a night owl, you’ll probably be up anyway; but if you’re an early bird, you might want to set your alarm. Because, just like last March, a total lunar eclipse is going to be visible in the early morning hours next week. Here’s the timing according to NASA:
  — The eclipse, which will occur on the night of March’s full “worm moon,” will begin at 3:44 a.m. Tuesday, March 3.
  — The first “bite” will appear in the moon’s disk at 4:50 a.m. as the partial eclipse begins.
  — Totality, when the moon turns red (aka the “blood moon”), starts at 6:04 a.m. and ends at 7:03 a.m., with maximum eclipse occurring at 6:33 a.m.
  The eclipse will end at 9:23 a.m. — but we won’t make it that far. Unlike the March 2025 total lunar eclipse which took place in the middle of the night, this one will start in dark skies but eventually run into sunrise, which means you will need a clear view of the western horizon to see the final, darkest stages of the eclipse before the moon sets (sunrise is at 6:57 a.m. that morning). This will be the last total lunar eclipse visible from North America until New Year’s Eve 2028, so put on some coffee Tuesday morning, grab your coat and enjoy the celestial show — weather permitting, of course.
  

• “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.
  

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Silver Lake

Conservation & free water: Reserve your spot at the Silver Lake Rain Barrel Seminar

As water rates continue to rise, here’s something to consider: Get some free water — and do your part to help the environment — by installing a rain barrel outside your home.

Silver Lake residents can learn all about these low-cost, eco-friendly water conservation devices by attending the Silver Lake Watershed Commission’s upcoming rain barrel seminar, which will be held at the village’s service department at 2961 Kent Rd. The date of the seminar hasn’t been finalized (don’t worry, we’ll publish it as soon as it’s released), but if you want to find out how to get a lifetime supply of free water — and lower your bill — by capturing and recycling rainwater, you won’t want to miss it.

The seminar will include:

• Information on how stormwater collection can benefit the community.

• Experienced Watershed Commission members who have helped assemble diverter kits at previous seminars.

• And about those kits: The village says it intends to buy 55-gallon rain barrels and diverter kits and make them available to residents at cost, which the village estimates to be around $75 to $85.

To reserve your spot at the Silver Lake Rain Barrel Seminar, call Village Hall at 330-923-5233 no later than Monday, March 16. Once signup is complete and the final cost has been determined, the village says you will be notified and payment will be collected prior to ordering the rain barrel equipment.

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