Today is April 30, 2026.

• Good morning! First of all, thank you for all your feedback last week about the future of The Spotlight. We’re mulling our options and will post an update very soon.
  

• We’re going to be on the down side of the spring roller coaster for the next week or so, with nighttime lows dropping into the 30s for the next few days, including tonight with a forecast low of 37. All things considered, though, today shouldn’t be too bad: a high of 51 with times of clouds and sun and a passing shower this afternoon. The roller coaster will start going up again soon enough.
  

• THERE’S STILL TIME TO DONATE TO HELP STOW FAMILY RECOVER FROM FIRE: The City of Stow has set up a fire relief collection for a Stow family that lost many personal belongings in an April 17 residential fire that caused extensive damage. Monetary and gift card donations are being collected in the Stow City Hall lobby at 3760 Darrow Rd. from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Friday, May 1. Monetary donations can also be made through the Stow Community Foundation at https://www.smfcommunity.org/donate. For more information, call City Hall at 330-689-2700.
  

• TRAFFIC ALERT: Seasons Road was closed starting April 27 between Hudson Drive and Allen Road for railroad crossing repairs, with the City of Stow saying the closure is expected to last about five days. Detour signs have been posted.
  

• PLAYGROUND ALERT: The City of Stow Parks & Recreation Department reports that the SKiP Playground will be closed for the day on Monday, May 4 for scheduled maintenance, fertilization and a comprehensive safety inspection. The playground, located at 3870 Darrow Rd. in the Stow City Center complex, is expected to reopen Tuesday, May 5, weather permitting.
  

• SILVER LAKE STATE OF THE VILLAGE: Silver Lake Mayor Therese Dunphy gave her annual State of the Village presentation April 20 at Village Hall. To read the mayor’s full presentation, go to this page.
  

• MUNROE FALLS HYDRANT FLUSHING: The City of Munroe Falls will begin its annual fire hydrant flushing Monday, May 4, lasting approximately six weeks. During this time, the city recommends that residents monitor the water coming out of faucets for discoloration or sediment that can be kicked up by the flushing process. This is normal and not a public health concern. Most residents will not see any change in their water. However, if you do see discoloration, allow your water to run until it is clear, and do not launder light-colored clothing until the water has cleared.
  

• MUNROE FALLS STREET CRACK SEALING: The City of Munroe Falls’ 2026 street crack sealing program will get underway Friday, May 1. Crack sealing is the ongoing process of filling cracks in the road surface with an adhesive sealant to prevent the infiltration of moisture and non-compressible materials into the road surface, which helps to extend the life of the road. Go to this page to see which roads are on the 2026 crack sealing schedule.
  

• MAY 5 PRIMARY ELECTION: Early voting for the May 5 Primary/Special Election began April 7 and can be done at the Summit County Board of Elections at 1050 E. Tallmadge Ave. in Akron. Go to this page for the full schedule of early voting dates and hours. For information on absentee voting, go to this page. Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 5.
  

• “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: Stow-Glen development; Sheetz, Chick-fil-A and Panda Express; Stow-Munroe Falls Bulldog Band Tag Day and more local news. Get full access for just $2.99/month.

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Stow

We Are Stow: City plans pep rally for residents ahead of All-America City finals competition

Stow is one of 20 finalists nationwide for the National Civic League’s prestigious All-America City Award, and the City of Stow has a big community pep rally planned to celebrate the honor and state its case for why Stow should win. “This national recognition highlights the strength of our partnerships, the dedication of our residents, and the spirit that makes Stow such a special place to live and work,” the city says.

The “Together We Are STOW: Built by Community” pep rally will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 20 at the Stow City Center campus at 3870 Darrow Rd. The celebration is designed to bring residents, businesses and city leaders together to “visually demonstrate what makes Stow an All-America City Finalist … and is all about showcasing the pride, energy, and stories that define our community,” the city says.

The free family-friendly event will feature:

• Free T-shirts for attendees

• A DJ

• Classic summer food favorites like ice cream and hot dogs

• Attendees forming a giant Stow “S” for a drone photo, which the city says will capture “the unity and energy of our city from above.”

• And residents will be invited to share short video testimonials about why they love Stow. These stories will be compiled into Stow’s official presentation at the national All-America City competition in Denver, Colorado, in June.

Ten winning communities will be named All-America Cities at the conclusion of the national event in Denver.

May Primary Election

Incumbent Skyes’ opponent in 13th District set to be decided in Republican primary

The May 5 Primary/Special Election may not hold a lot of local suspense thanks to an absence of issues and levies in our communities this cycle, but one primary race to particularly keep an eye on is the Republican battle to see who will oppose Democrat incumbent Emilia Sykes in November for the Ohio 13th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Republican primary candidates in the 13th District are Margaret Elizabeth Briem, Carey Coleman, Sanjin Drakovac, Neil Patel and Kevin Siembida.

Skyes, who represents Stow, Munroe Falls and Silver Lake as part of the 13th District, was elected to her current position in 2022 and won reelection in 2024. The 13th District race is considered to be a key battle in the 2026 midterms.

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