Today is July 3, 2025.

• Good morning! It looks like we’re in line for some nice weather for the Fourth of July weekend, although it’s going to get progressively hotter each day. Today we could get a passing shower in the morning; otherwise, it will be mostly sunny with a high of 83 degrees and a low of 60. For July 4th, it’s going to be sunny to partly cloudy with a high of 85 — pretty much perfect for all the festivities and get-togethers. Then things really heat up over the weekend, topping out at 92 degrees on Sunday. Happy birthday, America!
  

• STOW ROAD CLOSURES ON JULY 4TH: The Stow Firecracker Run and the Stow Fourth of July Parade on Friday, July 4 will force the closures that day of Kent Road (state Route 59) and Darrow Road (state Route 91) from approximately 7:15 to 8:30 a.m. and from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Specifically, Kent Road will be closed from Marsh Road in Stow to McCormick Road in Silver Lake, while Darrow Road will be closed from Graham Road in Stow to Pinehurst Road in Munroe Falls. Some businesses in those areas will remain open, and the City of Stow says that employees needing to access their workplaces should use Fishcreek Road to reach Kent Road. For more information, contact the Stow Parks and Recreation office at 330-689-5100, email [email protected], or visit https://stowohio.org/calendar.aspx?EID=1299.
  

• MUNROE FALLS JOB OPENINGS: The City of Munroe Falls has positions available for full- and part-time police officers as well as a part-time janitorial position. For more information and an application, go to this page.
  

• PAW FEST VENDORS WANTED: The Stow-Munroe Falls Lions Club is seeking vendors for its 18th Annual Paw Fest event, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 at Stow’s Bow Wow Beach Dog Park. Interested dog-related businesses, rescue groups and food vendors are invited to contact Marty Dennis at 330-607-2242 or [email protected].
  

• THINGS THAT GO KA-BOOM IN THE NIGHT: We’re in July 4th season, and that means, of course, fireworks — and not just the professional kind. So The Spotlight is asking readers in Stow, Munroe Falls and Silver Lake: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being non-existent and 10 being strictly enforced, what would you say is the level of enforcement for the fireworks ordinance in your town? And what is the level of residents’ compliance with that ordinance? Send us your comments, and we will publish them in our Reader Spotlight section in upcoming newsletters.
  

• “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: Seasons and Allen road work details, summer events for kids, Miller’s Landing ribbon cutting and more local news. Get full access for just $2.99/month.

Sponsored by Brandon Heating and Air Conditioning

Sponsored by Ohio Health Benefits

The Spotlight would like to thank the following benefactors for making our work possible: Brandon Heating and Air Conditioning

Munroe Falls

Opinions wanted: City’s FlashVote survey platform for residents is up and running

There is now a way that Munroe Falls residents can make their opinions known quickly regarding various community topics. It’s called FlashVote, and the platform is live on munroefalls.com.

“It’s short — just a few questions — surveys to get feedback from the community in real time throughout the year to help city council with decision-making. The surveys are only open for 48 hours,” Munroe Falls City Council President Ross Widenor said. “Anyone who wants to be a voice for their community, we’re encouraging them to sign up — it’s free — and become part of the program.”

There is some demographic information that is collected when you sign up, but it is totally anonymous to the city; none of the responses are personally identifiable to a specific resident.

Community

Rock Out for a Cause: Series of CarsonStrong benefit concerts at Blossom will feature Goo Goo Dolls, Styx, Barenaked Ladies and others

Last year, the Stow-based CarsonStrong Foundation put together a benefit concert at the Goodyear Theater in Akron featuring Lou Gramm, the legendary former lead singer of the band Foreigner, a 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee.

This year, the foundation isn’t doing just one local benefit concert, it’s doing several — five to be exact, all of them taking place between Aug. 1 and Aug. 22 at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls. It’s called “Rock Out for a Cause,” presented by the CarsonStrong Foundation and Live Nation, and it consists of a series of benefit events hosted in conjunction with five performances in the MinuteMen Concert Series at Blossom Music Center.

The foundation states in a press release: “Each event will pair legendary rock bands with CarsonStrong’s mission to provide support and respite for families facing cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.”

The concert lineup looks like this:

• Aug. 1: Barenaked Ladies with Sugar Ray and Fastball

• Aug. 8: Toto with Men at Work and Christopher Cross

• Aug. 12: Goo Goo Dolls with Dashboard Confessional

• Aug. 20: Styx with the Kevin Cronin Band and Don Felder

• Aug. 22: The Black Keys with Gary Clark Jr.

Special promotions are available for purchase. Experience Packages begin at $1,000 for two guests and include premium concert seating, premier parking, club access wristbands, a pre-show reception at Blossom Grille (with light bites and an open bar), and select artist experiences such as meet-and-greets or soundcheck access.

In addition to Experience Packages, sponsorships are available starting at $2,500, offering exclusive branding opportunities such as the Reception Sponsor, Parking Hangtag Sponsor, Wristband Sponsor and more. Select sponsorships include access to events, branding on-site and online, and inclusion in CarsonStrong’s donor recognition program.

“Every night features iconic live music and an opportunity to fund the Gift of Time Together program, CarsonStrong’s cornerstone initiative that gives families a chance to step away from treatment and create lasting memories together,” the foundation says.

The Michael Anthony Falsetti Foundation serves as the Presenting Sponsor for Rock Out for a Cause, helping to underwrite the event’s impact and ensure that funds raised go directly toward serving families in need.

Tickets, sponsorships and full event details can be found at www.CarsonStrong.org.

About the CarsonStrong Foundation: The CarsonStrong Foundation was founded in memory of Carson Higgins, a young boy from Stow whose courageous battle with cancer inspired his family to help others navigate the same unimaginable journey. Through its Gift of Time Together program, the Foundation provides families with all-expenses-paid respite experiences focused on joy, connection, and healing.

Reader Spotlight

[Note: The comments below are in response to The Spotlight’s question regarding the enforcement of fireworks ordinances in Stow, Munroe Falls and Silver Lake]

— From Tami Letosky, Stow: “Hello. Live in Stow. … Yes, the fireworks are very pretty but very dangerous and expensive! There are many animals and children that are petrified with the loud sounds and flashes. Even adults that can be frightened. It would be nice to be able to celebrate July 4th without the chaos! Maybe decorate the town all in Red, White, and Blue lights and decor! Picnics galore!!”

— From Bill Sepe, Stow: “Well, you asked for it so here goes.....in my neck of Stow, the enforcement of whatever ordinance that is law is enforced at Level -5 (that's negative 5). Mind you, I am not trying to pour cold water on the pyrotechnics, but they’ve already started with light stuff a few days ago [Bill sent this response on June 29]. And it will amp up from here right through and past July 4th. What really bothers me is that, beyond the fact that the fireworks explosions seem to have an “extended” season, these people have no courtesy for what time of day or night they are setting them off. Often we will hear them go off beyond midnight. Enough already!!! I know these fireworks are also not cheap and with the price of everything going up, where are these people getting the money to literally go “up in a puff of smoke and bangs”? Baffles my mind.”

Subscribe to Premium to read the rest.