Today is Jan. 22, 2026.

• Good morning! Well, it’s the calm before the storm. While today’s forecast calls for a high of 29 degrees and a low of 10 with low clouds and breezy conditions, all eyes are on Winter Storm Fern, which will affect much of the nation and is being called everything from massive to potentially catastrophic. We are part of a Winter Storm Watch for northern Ohio that is in effect from 7 p.m. Saturday until 1 p.m. Monday, with total snow accumulations in excess of six inches being forecast. The heaviest snow is expected Sunday, while sub-zero wind chills are expected Saturday night into Sunday morning and again Sunday night into Monday morning. Be safe everyone.
  

• SILVER LAKE RESERVE AREA REOPENS: The reserve area behind Silver Lake Village Hall, including the Mandala Trail, reopened to the public Jan. 1 after being temporarily closed off and designated for authorized deer hunters only. The wooded area south of Crystal Lake Park, however, is still posted as no trespassing and won’t reopen to the public until Thursday, Feb. 5.
  

• ST. STEPHEN PANCAKE SUPPER: St. Stephen Lutheran Church at 3725 Kent Rd. in Stow will host a pancake supper from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17 (Fat Tuesday) in the Fellowship Hall. The all-you-can-eat dinner features plain, buckwheat, chocolate chip and blueberry pancakes, with sausage, juice and coffee included. Anyone is welcome to attend; cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 3 to 11 (under 3 free). Proceeds from the pancake supper will support the Jubellation Bell Choir for its spring trip to the Area 5 Handbell Festival.
  

• “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!

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Silver Lake

More of the same in 2026? Village of Silver Lake says FirstEnergy wants looser regulations on power outages

2025 seemed to be the Year of the Power Outage in The Spotlight’s coverage area. Whether for obvious reasons (bad weather, utility pole strike, etc.) or no apparent reason whatsoever, electricity outages plagued our communities last year at what seemed to be a record pace.

Now comes this Facebook post from Jan. 15 by the Village of Silver Lake, which The Spotlight has decided to publish in its entirety due to its potentially far-reaching impact on residents and businesses across the region:

“FirstEnergy has asked state regulators for permission to allow more outages per customer and to take longer to restore power. For a Village like ours, where we already deal with frequent and sometimes prolonged outages, this proposal is especially concerning.

“Reliable electricity isn’t optional. It affects our safety, our finances, and our quality of life. Instead of lowering standards, we should be pushing for stronger infrastructure and faster restoration, especially for smaller communities that are often restored last.

“PUCO [Public Utilities Commission of Ohio] is now accepting public comments on this case, and every resident is encouraged to share his or her experience. Your input becomes part of the official record and helps ensure our community is heard. Submit your comment here: https://dis.puc.state.oh.us/PublicCommentEfiling.aspx.”

Of course, this doesn’t just affect Silver Lake, it also affects Stow, Munroe Falls and the broader region; therefore, all FirstEnergy customers can submit their comments using the above link. FirstEnergy serves about 2.1 million customers in northern, central and northwest Ohio, including major areas like Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown and Toledo, and covers nearly 11,000 square miles in the state.

Spotlight on the Chamber

Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber announces 2026 Elite Business Awards nominees

By Julie McLain, Executive Director, Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce

The Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the 11 nominees for the 2026 Elite Business Awards, recognizing outstanding businesses and organizations that demonstrate excellence, leadership and a strong commitment to the Stow-Munroe Falls community.

The Elite Business Awards celebrate local businesses and nonprofits that have made a meaningful impact through innovation, service, growth and community involvement. This year’s nominees represent a diverse range of industries and reflect the strength and vitality of the local business community.

“Our nominees truly embody what it means to be an elite business in our community,” Julie McLain, executive director of the Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce, said. “Each of these organizations contributes to the success and quality of life of Stow and Munroe Falls in unique and inspiring ways, and we are honored to recognize their achievements.”

The 2026 Elite Business Awards nominees are:

• Don Coughlin, former mayor of Stow

• Akron Vascular Care

• EMMCO Realty Group

• FOGG Building Methods

• Minuteman Press of Stow

• The Healing Cave

• The Hair Specialist

• Bulldog Bags, Inc.

• Zack Cowan, planning director, City of Stow

• Stow-Munroe Falls Community Foundation

• Western Reserve Hospital

Award recipients will be announced during the Elite Business Awards celebration Wednesday, March 4, bringing together business leaders, community partners and supporters to honor excellence in the local business community.

For more information about the Elite Business Awards or to register to attend the event, visit https://www.smfcc.com/theelitebusinessawards.

About the Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce: For more than 60 years, the Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce has supported local businesses by fostering connections, promoting economic development, and strengthening the community through advocacy, programs and events.

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