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Today is Dec. 4, 2025.

• We’re back! But while we were gone, winter blasted in over Thanksgiving — and it looks like it’s here to stay. Today it will be mostly cloudy, breezy and cold with a snow shower — watch for slippery spots early (we’re under a Special Weather Statement until 8 a.m.) — and a high of 28, with tonight’s low dropping to a frigid 10 degrees. Technically winter doesn’t arrive until Dec. 21, but let’s face it, it’s here.
  

• HERE’S HOW TO ASSIST STOW FIRE VICTIMS: To help the four Stow families who lost everything in a devastating house fire last weekend that gutted a fourplex at the corner of Friar Road and Independence Circle, the City of Stow has launched a “Boots of Hope” program to collect monetary donations and gift cards to directly support the families. From 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. now through Monday, Dec. 15, donations can be placed in the firefighter’s boot in the lobby of Stow City Hall at 3760 Darrow Rd. to help the families recover and rebuild.
  

• EXERCISE CAUTION DURING DEER HUNTING SEASON: With Ohio’s deer hunting season getting underway Nov. 28 and continuing through Dec. 31 in Silver Lake’s Van Sise Nature Reserve and Feb. 1 at Crystal Lake, the Village of Silver Lake is urging residents to avoid those areas during these dates. The public is not permitted to walk the trails in those areas at this time, with the village posting Nov. 25 that anyone found on the trails during this period will be cited.
  

• ALL QUIET AT BOW WOW BEACH: The City of Stow has announced that Bow Wow Beach Dog Park is officially closed for the season. Weather permitting, the park will reopen for the 2026 season sometime around mid-March.
  

• FBI COMING TO SILVER LAKE: FBI Agent Kurt Dirker, who serves as the Supervisory Senior Resident Agent for the Akron FBI Office, will present a scam seminar for Silver Lake residents at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 18 at Silver Lake Village Hall at 2961 Kent Rd. Agent Dirker will detail current scams being used, how to identify them and how to prevent yourself from falling victim to them. The seminar is free and open to the public. Go here for more information.
  

• HOW TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM ONLINE SCAMS AND EXPLOITATION: The City of Stow will present an Informational Community Program detailing how to protect kids from online victimization from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18 in Council Chambers at Stow City Hall, located at 3760 Darrow Rd. The program is free and open to the public. Go here for more information.
  

• STOW INTRODUCES WATER INTERRUPTIONS MAP: The City of Stow now offers residents a real-time Water Utility Service Interruptions map. It’s an interactive tool that the city says will be updated with both planned and unplanned disruptions — including water main breaks that occur overnight as reported by the Stow Water Department. The map will also show hydrant flushing activity and feature a clear legend that identifies each type of notification. In the case of boil water alerts, the affected area will be highlighted on the map so residents can see if their household is impacted.
  

• LAST CHANCE FOR LEAVES: The City of Munroe Falls reports that to ensure final leaf pickup, leaves must be raked to the curb no later than Friday, Dec. 5.
  

• STOW CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING: The Stow Urban Forestry Department reports that when the holidays are over, residents can drop their fresh-cut trees at the city’s Christmas tree drop-off area at 5070 Stow Rd. near the community gardens. Once it is dropped off, Stow’s Urban Forestry employees will chip the tree into mulch. This mulch is then made available for free to Stow residents on a first-come, first-serve basis at the city’s brush drop-off site. Go here 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: Jim Iona’s passing, murder-suicide, new burger join, coffee, another water line break and more local news. Get full access for just $2.99/month.

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Schools

Revolving door: SMF seeking fourth treasurer in six years following resignation of Goclano

Patrick Goclano has resigned as treasurer of Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools and accepted the same position with the Olmsted Falls school district. Goclano, who has been with SMF schools since 2023, will officially start his new position at Olmsted Falls on Jan. 1.

Goclano replaces outgoing Olmsted Falls Treasurer Brett Robson, who is retiring.

“Olmsted Falls truly stood out to me as a district where people care deeply about students, each other, and the broader community,” Goclano stated in a Nov. 20 news release from Olmsted Falls City Schools. “I know I am stepping into big shoes following Brett Robson, whose work has helped position the District for success. I’m excited to continue that momentum by building strong relationships and supporting staff with transparent, student-focused financial leadership.”

In a Nov. 24 news release from Stow-Munroe Falls Schools, Superintendent Felisha Gould said of Goclano: “We are grateful for his service and wish him continued success in Olmsted Falls.”

Goclano’s departure means SMF will be looking for its fourth treasurer since 2019:

• Kristy Stoicoiu, the current treasurer for Cuyahoga Falls City Schools, was hired as SMF’s treasurer in 2017. It was a two-year contract, which the Stow-Munroe Falls Board of Education voted in February 2019 not to renew.

• That situation turned ugly. Stoicoiu sued the SMF school board for breach of contract, retaliatory discharge and wrongful termination, and the case is still making its way through the courts.

• Trevor Gummere, who is currently the treasurer with the Strasburg-Franklin Local School District, was hired to replace Stoicoiu as SMF’s treasurer on Aug. 1, 2019, serving in that capacity until December 2022.

• Goclano then replaced Gummere as treasurer.

“We are excited to welcome Patrick Goclano as our next treasurer/CFO,” Olmsted Falls Board of Education President Phil Eckenrode said in the Nov. 20 news release. “Mr. Goclano comes to Olmsted Falls City Schools with an impressive background in school finance, exceptional communication skills, and a commitment to transparency that make him an excellent fit for our district. His leadership experience and operations knowledge will be a great asset to our district and its continued financial strength.”

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