Today is Feb. 13, 2025.

• And we’re back. The Spotlight took its planned hiatus last week, but winter certainly did not, hitting us with a couple ice storms that made for some dicey travel on the roads. We get a little bit of a respite today: cloudy and breezy, a bit of snow and rain at times in the morning followed by a snow shower in the afternoon, with a high of 33 and a low of 15. Typical winter stuff — until this weekend, when a powerful storm is forecast to impact the area. Talk about a long, cold winter …
  

• CHANGES TO THE SPOTLIGHT’S COMMUNITY CALENDAR: You’re going to notice that the Community Calendar further down this newsletter looks a lot different — and a lot shorter. In an effort to streamline The Spotlight and make the local events information easier to navigate, we are including the date, time, name and location of each event as we always have. But starting with today’s issue, we are embedding a link to each event in the event name rather than rewriting detailed information that readers can just as easily find by clicking a link. The number of community events listed won’t be affected by the change, and we are still listing events that cover the ensuing two weeks from the day of publication. We will also provide detailed information for an event if no link is available. All of this is designed to make The Spotlight a cleaner, more efficient newsletter for you, the reader.
  

• STATE OF THE CITY: Stow Mayor John Pribonic will deliver his State of the City Address at the Stow City Council meeting on Thursday, March 6. This event is free and open to the public. Also, the Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce State of the Cities event will take place Tuesday, March 18, with both Pribonic and Munroe Falls Mayor Allen Mavrides speaking.
  

• STOW PARKS & REC ANNUAL REPORT: The Stow Parks and Recreation Department has unveiled its 2024 Parks and Recreation Annual Report. If you want to get brought up to speed on everything Parks & Rec has done in the last year and what’s coming up in the future, then go to this page to see where the city’s at with its Parks Master Plan.
  

• STOW SUMMER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES: The Stow Parks and Recreation Department is looking for camp counselors and before-and-after care aides for its 2025 Stow Silver Springs Day Camp. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Deadline for applications is March 14. Go to this page for more details on the timeline and to access the application.
  

• COMMEMORATE YOUR GRADUATING SENIOR: Honor your 2025 high school graduating senior with a commemorative banner that will be displayed outside on the grounds of the Stow City Center complex. Banners purchased through this program will be part of the display through June 30. This program is open to 2025 graduating seniors who are Stow or Munroe Falls residents, regardless of which school they attend. Cost of each banner is $65. Go here for more information.
  

• TAX BILL INCREASES IN SUMMIT COUNTY — WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Yes, our taxes are going up — again. To find out why, read this release from the office of Summit County Fiscal Officer Kristen M. Scalise, courtesy of the Village of Silver Lake.
  

• SILVER LAKE ELECTRIC AGGREGATION PROGRAM: Speaking of going up, so is the price of electricity. If you live in Silver Lake, here’s a look at your Electric Aggregation Program through Dynegy for the April 2025-April 2026 program term.
  

• “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: Silver Lake police, Stow drone study, race for sight, retirement 101 and more local news. Full access is just $2.99/month.

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Stow

“May we find comfort”: Community honors murder-suicide victim Latoia Philpott

The Stow community came together to honor the life of Latoia Philpott with a candelight vigil held Feb. 9 at the new Stow Community & Senior Center on Fishcreek Road. Philpott, 41, was fatally shot inside her home on Meadowlark Trail in Stow on Jan. 27 by her boyfriend, Benjamin Asiedu, 43, of Akron. Asiedu, a Summit County sheriff’s deputy, then shot himself.

“As we mourn the tragic loss of one of our community members, we are reminded of the deep connections that bind us together,” Stow Mayor John Pribonic said in a statement. “In this time of sorrow, let us come together to support one another, honor the memory of the one we have lost, and strengthen the bonds of our community. May we find comfort in unity and hope in the days ahead.”

Counselors were available on-site to provide support during the vigil, and local pastors were present to offer prayers.

The murder-suicide was the third instance of violent crime in the city since last August, with a total of five people, including three Stow residents, losing their lives in the tragedies.

Community

Angel of Hope Children’s Memorial brick orders are available for spring placement

Nearly 800 bricks, all in memory of children, have been placed at the Angel of Hope Memorial in Stow Silver Springs Cemetery since the creation of the memorial in 2001 to help bereaved parents and families who suffer the death of a child. Bricks are sold throughout the year at a cost of $100, with placement in the spring and fall; the brick order deadline for placement this spring is Friday, Feb. 28. The brick ceremony will be held in May.

These special bricks may be purchased in memory of any child, regardless of age or where the child was born or lived. They did not have to be Stow residents. Following placement of the bricks in May, an inspirational ceremony will be held for the families and friends to honor their children who have become part of the memorial.

Brick order forms are available at the memorial in Silver Springs Cemetery at 5080 Stow Rd., at www.stowangelofhope.com, or by calling Christine Moncheck at 330-285-0989.

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