Today is Sept. 18, 2025.

• Good morning! We’ve had an extended run of nearly perfect weather to end summer 2025, and it’s not going to stop any time soon. Today it’s going to be sunny with a high of 82 and a low of 56, and the nice weather is forecast to continue for the next several days. We could get a shower or thunderstorm here or there going into next week, but all in all we couldn’t ask for a better lead-in to fall.
  

• GOODBYE, SUMMER: Well, we’re down to our last few days of summer. Fall arrives Monday, Sept. 22, with the autumnal equinox occurring that day at 2:19 p.m. EDT. Wasn’t it just Memorial Day?
  

• SILVER LAKE SURVEY: The Village of Silver Lake is conducting a community survey to gather residents’ feedback on local parks, recreation areas and amenities. This input will help guide future improvements and programming. Go to the Village of Silver Lake’s Facebook page for more information.
  

• MUNROE FALLS JOB OPENING: The City of Munroe Falls has an open position for full-time seasonal Leaf Pick-up Worker. Go here for more information and an application.
  

• STOW HALLOWEEN DECORATION TOUR: The City of Stow’s annual Halloween Decoration Tour, where motorists can drive through the city to see houses and businesses decked out in spooky animations and decorations, will begin Saturday, Oct. 11 and run through Friday, Oct. 31. A map for the Halloween Decoration Tour will be posted at this page. To be included on the map, sign up your house or business by Monday, Oct. 6 at stowohio.recdesk.com or call 330-689-5100.
  

• STOW DAIRY QUEEN TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE: The Dairy Queen Grill & Chill at 3645 Fishcreek Rd. in Stow will be closed for two months starting Nov. 1 for remodeling. The restaurant’s employees will be relocated to other Dairy Queens in the area until remodeling is complete.
  

• BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS GALA FUNDRAISER: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Summit, Medina & Stark Counties will hold its 17th annual Grapes for Kids’ Sake wine and beer tasting gala at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 at the St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church Family Center, located at 3204 Ridgewood Rd. in Fairlawn. This year’s theme is “Friendships That Last A Lifetime.” The Grapes for Kids Sake gala, the signature fundraising event for BBBSSMS each year, brings together community members, partners and supporters for a night of fine wines & beers, food, and silent and live auction items and experiences. For more information, go to https://mentorwithme.org/events/grapes-for-kids-sake-gfks/ or contact Executive Director Kyle Putinski at [email protected]. BBBSSMS has served the Summit County area since the group’s founding in 1972, providing role models and mentors for youth in the county (and later Medina and Stark counties as well) who come primarily from single-parent families.
  

• “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: Megan’s Way Out, School Report Cards, Newcomer Road, fall family events, craft beer fest and more local news. Get full access for just $2.99/month.

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Munroe Falls

National spotlight: Impellizzeri resigns from Munroe Falls City Council following comments about Kirk assassination

By now, you’ve probably heard all about the uproar over Munroe Falls City Council Vice President John Impellizzeri’s Facebook post concerning the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Orem, Utah on Sept. 10. Impellizzeri’s comments about Kirk’s murder, which included “The world is a better place now that he’s gone,” quickly captured national attention, and the firestorm of backlash from people both inside and outside the Munroe Falls community sent Impellizzeri into hiding with his family. He has since resigned from city council.

For all those details, read the Akron Beacon Journal’s reporting here.

Since Impellizzeri’s Facebook account has been deactivated, many people have been wondering, “Well, what did he say?” The story isn’t complete without that context, so we’re sharing his comments below in their entirety. And below that, we’re also sharing a response from the mayor in reaction to the controversy.

“I’m sure that many of my friends and colleagues were waiting for me to respond to today’s events since I’m probably the only true professional politician they personally know. I have studied law, ethics, political science, and many of the players in the current ecosystem of our government. So when I state my opinion, remember that this is very carefully weighed, and in consideration of all events leading up to today’s assassination. To put things in context, you must remember that there have been many recent violent attacks against politicians. In case you’ve forgotten, and I know that you have, in the last 5 years alone:

• Targeted shootings in Minnesota (June 2025): In the same incident in which Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed, Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also shot but survived their injuries. Authorities found a list of dozens of other potential Democratic targets in the suspect's car.

• Arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor's Mansion (2025): Earlier this year, a man broke into the Pennsylvania governor's mansion and set a fire, forcing Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro and his family to evacuate.

• Kidnapping plot against Michigan Governor (2020): A group of right-wing extremists were accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Two men were later convicted for their roles in the conspiracy.

• Attack on Paul Pelosi (2022): The husband of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was attacked with a hammer in their San Francisco home by a man who intended to take the speaker hostage.

• July 2024 (Pennsylvania): While campaigning in Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump was shot in the ear by a gunman. He sustained a non-fatal injury. The shooter was killed by a Secret Service sniper.

Do you see a trend? Let me enlighten you. All of these were conducted by right-wing extremists; including Trump’s. Once is by chance. Twice is a coincidence. Three times is a trend. Five makes it completely obvious which side believes political violence is the answer today.

I also keep hearing that all he did was “Freedom of Speech”. Bullshit. I repeat … total utter bullshit. Freedom of speech is not absolute. It never has been. There are 4 types of speech that are not protected by the constitution. Can you name them? (Think about it a minute then scroll down.)

1) Defamation/Slander

2) Obscenity

3) Child Pornography

4) Incitement to violence, and true threats of violence

Hate speech is protected by the constitution unless it falls into one of the above categories, then it is NOT protected. Mr. Kirk was one of the best at hate speech that incited violence against minorities. He was an outspoken antisemite, anti-LGBTQ, anti-black, anti-women, and anti-muslim. He professed the “Great Replacement Theory” as a basis for his attempting to turn this country from a diverse Democratic Republic into a white Christian Theocratic Dictatorship. He defended slavery, stated that “Muslims are not compatible with western civilization”, glorified a life of subordination for women and girls to men, and even suggested repealing the 19th Amendment. His conversations were not those of healthy debates. They were merely a platform to help distribute his vile male chauvinistic white supremacist aspirations.

Some said that he spoke factually. Bullshit. He quoted obscure laws and supreme court rulings from 100 to 250 years ago; rules and laws that have been since overturned or completely nullified and therefore have no bearing on today’s society. When unable to come up with that, he would answer with complete nonsense that didn’t address the question at all. His fast-talking word-salad charlatan banter has been around since the beginning of time luring suckers in to be taken advantage of. And that’s exactly what he was … a fraud.

All the right-wingers are now calling for blood. And yet I cannot remember seeing a single post by anyone on the right saber-rattling after any of the above attacks versus a Democrat. Not one Republican leader called for action after those attacks. None. “Rules for thee, but not for me”? Really? It’s OK if the persecution and violence happen to other people, and not you? Bullshit. I was taught a long time ago that “if you can’t take it, don’t dish it”, or as your bible says “do to others what you would have them do to you" (Matthew 7:12). Now someone finally did, and you’re all bitching. Tough.

So to all you right-wingers out there I have two things to say to you: 2nd Amendment, and “Thoughts and Prayers”.

The world is a better place now that he’s gone.”

In response to public outcry following Impellizzeri’s post, Munroe Falls Mayor Allen Mavrides posted this written statement to the city’s website and Facebook page Sept. 12:

“Dear Munroe Falls Residents,

Today staff and I have been responding to many calls and emails from residents and individuals nationwide concerned with social media comments made by a Councilmember regarding the passing of Charlie Kirk. These remarks were made through a personal social media account, and were not made through, or on, official city social media. The remarks are the Councilmember’s words alone. They are not reflective of the views of the city’s administration.

“We extend our condolences to the Kirk family members and those affected by the horrible events in Utah. The city’s administration does not condone violence of any kind and regrets any events that cause harm to any individual.

“Our Councilmembers are elected by public vote. As Mayor I do not control City Council, nor its speech. To the residents and individuals who have reached out: your phone calls and emails have been received.”

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