Today is Aug. 30, 2022.

• After a hot and muggy weekend and storms Monday, we’re cooling off a bit today, going down to 80 for the high and 61 for the low. But we still have an 88% chance of rain, including a 53% chance of thunderstorms. And it’s still going to be humid because, well, it’s August.

Latest news in brief

Get your tickets now for the 2022 Stow Band Show

Tickets are available for the 2022 Stow Band Show, which will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at Stow-Munroe Falls High School Stadium. Bands scheduled to appear with the SMF band are Kent Roosevelt High School, Mogadore High School, Canton South High School and Painesville Riverside High School.

All tickets must be purchased online prior to the show or at the gate with cash only. Reserved seats (with a back) are $12. For general admission, an adult ticket is $10, seniors/students $7, and age 4 and under free. The deadline to advertise in the band show program is Sunday, Sept. 4. Find more info here.

More local news:

• The City of Stow will hold its 2022 9/11 Memorial Ceremony from 8:30-9 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, at the Stow City Center Memorial Site (3760 Darrow Rd.). The memorial was erected to honor those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

• Munroe Falls will hold its Fall Family Festival & Outdoor Movie Night on Saturday, Oct. 15, at Guise Park (next to City Hall). The event begins at 4 p.m., with the movie starting at dusk (bring your chairs and blankets). The ghost egg hunt starts at 4:30 p.m., and a Halloween costume contest for all ages is at 6 p.m. Also included in the festivities: trick or treat at all booths, goody bags for kids at the Park Board booth, meet members of the Northeast Ohio Ghostbusters, food and craft vendors, a balloon artist, face painting, the Amazing Bravos danger act, meet a local Bandolero race car driver, and chances to win prizes.

• The kids might be back in school and summer nearly over, but camping is still available at Stow Silver Springs Campground (5238 Young Rd.) through Oct. 31. Site fees are $15 a night for Stow residents and $18 a night for non-residents. Go here to book a campsite.

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Community calendar

🩸 Aug. 31, 1-7 p.m. – American Red Cross Blood Drive. Where: Stow-Munroe Falls Room at the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library, 3512 Darrow Rd. To schedule an appointment time in advance, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

🛋️ Sept. 1-7: Furniture and Equipment Silent Auction. Bidding: opens at noon Sept. 1 and closes at 7 p.m. Sept. 7. Item pickup: Sept. 7 after close of sale and Sept. 8-12. Where: Stow Room at the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library, 3512 Darrow Rd. All items are sold as-is.

🗣 Sept. 8, 7;8:30 p.m.: What Not to Say: Dealing with Death, Diagnosis, and Divorce. What: Discussion with Rev. Jill Smith of Serenity Hospice in Stow about best practices for reacting supportively to another person’s bad news and being present with them in their grief. Where: Stow-Munroe Falls Room at the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library, 3512 Darrow Rd. To register, call (330) 688-3295 ext. 4 or visit events.smfpl.org.

🪕 Sept. 14, 7-8 p.m.: Acoustic Night. What: Bring your guitar, banjo, harmonica and more to learn from other musicians and play at this informal jam session. All skill levels are encouraged to attend. Where: Stow-Munroe Falls Room at the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library, 3512 Darrow Rd. Drop-in only, no registration required. For more information, call (330) 688-3295 ext. 4.

Obituaries for Aug. 26-29

Margaret Ellen Kelly HardyMargaret Ellen Kelly Hardy (92 years old) July 9th, 1930 – August 25th, 2022. Beloved wife of Ronald Hardy of Stow.Read more

Paul Joseph StitzelPaul Joseph Stitzel, a beloved husband, father, and friend passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 28 at age ninety-four. Born to Paul Sr and Marie (nee Gill), Paul grew up in Rockville Center, NY graduating from Chaminade High School, served in the Army, and then moved to the Akron area with his parents.Read more

Business

What’s happening with all those empty buildings? Stow’s planning director brings us up to speed

We’ve all seen them: various commercial sites around Stow that used to be hubs of the community now sitting vacant — some for years. Once-bustling properties like Macy’s in the Stow-Kent Shopping Center and the Sto-Kent Family Entertainment bowling alley on Fishcreek Road have been reduced to empty shells, victims of Covid-19 or consumers’ preference for doing their shopping on the internet.

• Nathan Leppo, the City of Stow’s director of planning & development, gives us the lowdown on what’s happening with five of those empty sites.

• Spoiler alert: A big announcement about the Macy’s building could be imminent.

Stow

Now’s your chance to be a star, Stow Players-style

The community theater, now in its 69th year, is looking for actors to fill roles for its 2022-23 season productions. If you’ve always dreamed of being on stage, your first step is to attend the Players’ open house Sept. 11 at the Heritage Barn in Silver Springs Park.

• Techies, makeup artists and set builders are also needed. Actors and directors will be on hand to discuss the inner workings of theater. You don’t need theater experience to be part of the group. Just sign up, and you’re in.

Sports

Bulldog Sports Roundup: Mistakes prove costly in football loss to Barberton

Anytime you’re breaking in a bunch of inexperienced players, growing pains are sure to follow. Exhibit A was the Bulldogs’ 20-0 home loss to Barberton on Aug. 26, a game that saw SMF play solid defense but gift-wrap the Magics’ victory with five turnovers.

“We’re just making way too many mental mistakes right now,” Bulldogs coach Martin Poder said.

Other action last week included:

• Boys golf winning the title at the Green Invitational by six strokes.

• Girls cross country finishing runner-up at the Kenston Invitational.

• Girls golf placing third in two tournaments and rolling past Tallmadge.

See Roger Gordon’s roundup for all the details.

And there’s your snapshot of what’s happening in our communities as we close out August — completing the first month of existence for The Spotlight already. Remember, we love getting those news tips and story ideas, and tell everyone you know about us because the faster we grow, the more news we can cover. Have a great week, and see you Friday!

Tom [email protected]