Today is June 13, 2024.

• Good morning! It’s going to be warm today with a high of 86 and times of sun and clouds, with a low of 68 tonight. But then dangerous heat is on the way, starting Monday when the mercury is forecast to hit 95 degrees, and we’ll still be in the low 90s for most of next week — right on cue for the start of summer next Thursday.
  

• Sorry we’re coming in slightly late today. Our newsletter software provider is having some issues with their servers that caused images not to load properly. If you continue having issues with images, that’s why. Please let us know if you have any feedback. Thank you!
  

• SERVICE MEMBERS WANTED FOR FOURTH OF JULY PARADE: The Acker-Moore Memorial Post in Stow is inviting service members who are either coming home on leave or currently serving to walk up front in its color guard in the Stow Fourth of July Parade. Contact Bryan Roberts if you know of someone who might be interested. The Fourth of July Parade steps off at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 4.
  

• NEW PASTOR, FAMILIAR FACE AT HOLY FAMILY: On June 2, Father Michael McCandless was installed by Bishop Edward Malesic as pastor of Holy Family Parish in Stow. Holy Family was Father McCandless’ childhood parish, and many of his friends and family members attended the installation Mass. Father McCandless has served as Holy Family Parish administrator since the previous pastor, Father Paul Rosing, retired in January 2023. Read the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland’s coverage of Father McCandless’ installment as pastor here.
  

• TRAFFIC ALERT: Here’s some road work that’s going to affect just about all of us: Construction began June 10 on the South Main Street (State Route 91) bridge over the Brandywine Creek tributary near the Yours Truly restaurant in Hudson. The project, managed by the Ohio Department of Transportation, will maintain two-way traffic throughout most of the construction period. However, beginning Monday, July 8, State Route 91 will be closed at that location for 16 days. Anticipate potential delays as work on the deteriorating bridge is completed. Visit www.hudson.oh.us/SR91CulvertBridge for more information.
  

• MOSQUITO AND TICK SEASON IS HERE: Mosquito and tick season has officially begun in Summit County, and Summit County Public Health is reminding residents to take every precaution to eliminate the risk for mosquito bites that can carry West Nile virus and Zika virus and tick bites that can transmit Lyme disease. In Ohio, ticks are most active from April through September, and mosquitoes are most active from May through October, according to the Ohio Department of Health. Go here for ways you can protect against mosquitoes and ticks.
  

• The Spotlight has a new feature called “Reader Spotlight,” 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. 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!

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Stow

Welcome back, old friend: Joshua Stow Festival returns to Heritage Park on June 22

After a hiatus of several years, the Joshua Stow Festival is back in 2024.

The free community event, sponsored by the Stow Historical Society, will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 22 at Heritage Reserve Park, located at 5120 Young Rd. in Silver Springs Park. The festival celebrates the founding of what was to become Stow Township by Joshua Stow, William Walker, William Wetmore and their families in the early 1800s.

See Stow’s history come to life and celebrate with:

• Over 30 craft vendors and artisans

• Old-time craft demonstrations

• Homemade ice cream and kids activities

• Raffles

• Tons of food

• Alpacas and other farm animals

• Entertainment from two local bands, Ethan Jo and Rock, Salt & Nails

Attendees can also visit three preserved historic buildings — the Minnie Darrow House, Mary Starr House and Stewart School — that are filled with period pieces from the 1800s and 1900s.

Funds raised from the event will go toward the restoration of the Heritage House Museum, which was badly damaged by fire last October.

The Stow Historical Society is a volunteer organization dedicated to preserving the history of Stow. Follow the SHS on Facebook and its website at www.stowhistory.org.

Stow

Celebrating a century of learning: SMF Library will introduce its new bookmobile as July 4 parade grand marshal

In honor of its 100-year anniversary, the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library will serve as this year’s Stow Fourth of July Parade Grand Marshal. And to celebrate its centennial, the library will unveil its new bookmobile while leading the parade.

“The introduction of our new bookmobile is a milestone that reflects our ongoing commitment to outreach and accessibility,” Gale Koritansky, director of the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library, said. “We are committed to bringing the joy of reading and learning to a wider audience and supporting our community’s access to reading.”

The bookmobile and redesigned van are equipped with a wide selection of materials for adults and children. The initiative comes as part of the library’s mission to extend its reach and foster literacy and learning within the community. For more information about the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library, visit www.smfpl.org or call (330) 688-3295.

The Fourth of July Parade, titled “A Century of Stories: Honoring our Past, Inspiring Our Future,” will step off at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 4 from the Stow Community Shopping Plaza parking lot. The parade will travel west down Kent Road and end just past Holy Family Church.

Stow-Munroe Falls

Calling all pups: The Lions Club’s Paw Fest 2024 is now just three months away

The three-month countdown is on!

The Stow-Munroe Falls Lions Club is continuing its preparations for one of the city’s most anticipated events: Paw Fest 2024, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15 at Bow Wow Beach Dog Park, located at 5027 Stow Rd. in Stow’s Silver Springs Park.

All rescue groups, food vendors and dog-related vendors are invited — contact Lions Club Chair Marty Dennis at [email protected] to be part of a day of fun for hundreds of canines!

This year’s 17th edition of Paw Fest will include:

• Contests

• Speakers

• Rescues

• Food trucks

• And more

There is no charge to attend the event, just $1 per car for parking or a pair(s) of used eyeglasses to help the Lions Club’s efforts to assist those in need. Bulldog Bags, Inc. will be available to collect non-perishable foods to help the community’s schoolchildren.

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