Today is Aug. 1, 2024.

• Happy August! The Dog Days of Summer haven’t disappointed in 2024, and we’re in line for more of the same today. It’s going to be mostly cloudy, warm and humid, with a high of 89 degrees and a low of 70. We could get a thunderstorm in parts of the area this morning, so be prepared for localized damaging wind gusts. Temps will then drop into the low 80s for the next couple days, but it’s still going to be humid, and that means the chance of more thunderstorms. So the Dogs aren’t finished with us yet.
  

• PAW FEST SEEKING VENDORS, RESCUE GROUPS: Paw Fest 2024, sponsored by the Stow-Munroe Falls Lions Club, is looking for dog-related vendors, food vendors and rescue groups to add to this year's 17th annual event, which will take place Sunday, Sept. 15 at Bow Wow Beach Dog Park in Stow. Interested groups and individuals can contact Marty Dennis at [email protected] for more information.
  

• IT’S SALES TAX HOLIDAY TIME: Ohio’s 2024 sales tax holiday began at midnight July 30 and lasts until 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8. Every year, Ohio sets aside at least three days (which include the first Friday, Saturday and Sunday in August) for consumers to buy certain items without sales tax. The idea behind the state’s sales tax holiday is to help families buy clothing, supplies and other items their children may need for the coming school year, with other purchases eligible as well. Go here for more information on Ohio’s sales tax holiday, including to see which items are or aren’t tax-free.
  

• WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THE SMF SCHOOLS BOND ISSUE? The Spotlight is taking the pulse of the Stow-Munroe Falls community on the upcoming $238 million, 35-year bond issue the school district is putting on the November ballot. Send us your comments on the issue, and we will publish them as we get them in our “Reader Spotlight” feature (detailed below).
  

• “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: What’s next for the Stow-Glen site, John DiAlesandro, traffic signals, Dick’s update, and more local news. Full access is $2.99/month.

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Stow

Thank you, residents: An open letter from Mayor John Pribonic to the community

Mayor John Pribonic posted the letter below to the City of Stow website July 25. A Stow resident and his pet were able to safely evacuate a house fire in the city earlier this month, but the blaze resulted in the total loss of his residence.

The mayor’s open letter to the community reads as follows:

“Dear Residents of Stow,

I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the outpouring of support and generosity you have shown in the wake of the recent tragedy. Thanks to your amazing donations totaling over $3,000, we were able to provide much-needed assistance to a man and his furry friend who lost everything in a devastating fire. Your caring nature and willingness to lend a helping hand truly showcase the true spirit of our community.

Today I, along with the firefighters who assisted with the evacuation and extinguishing of the house fire, was able to present your generous donations as a small token of care and support.

I want to personally thank each and every one of you for your contributions. Your acts of kindness have brought light and hope to those in need, and remind us all of the power of coming together in times of trouble. You are the heart of Stow, and I am so proud to be a part of a community where neighbors truly care for one another.”

Warm regards,

Mayor John Pribonic

Stow

Deja vu: Another Stow resident is a big Ohio Lottery scratch-off winner

It’s happened again. About three months after a Stow woman won $150,000 off an Ohio Lottery scratch-off ticket she had purchased at Marc’s on Darrow Road in Stow, another Stow woman is a scratch-off lottery winner. It’s not as much as the April winnings, which ended up being $108,000 after deductions for state and federal taxes, but it’s still a nice chunk of change.

Here’s what happened:

• The woman, who has not been identified, recently won $20,000 on the Ohio Lottery game Monopoly Cashword 10X, which is a $2 scratch-off game with a top prize of $20,000.

• She purchased the winning ticket at Circle K #5417, located at 750 Steels Corners Rd. in Stow.

• After the mandatory state and federal taxes of 28%, she will pocket approximately $14,400.

The April winner’s $108,000 payday came on a $10 Lady Luck 50X scratch-off ticket.

Stow

9/11 Memorial Ceremony

On Wednesday, Sept. 11, the community is invited to the City of Stow’s 23rd anniversary commemoration of 9/11. The ceremony will take place from 8:30 to 9 a.m. at the Stow City Center Memorial Site, located adjacent to Stow City Hall at 3760 Darrow Rd. The memorial was erected to provide a lasting and meaningful place to honor and remember those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Stow-Munroe Falls

Kiwanis Club Meet and Greet

The Kiwanis Club of Stow-Munroe Falls will host its annual “Meet and Greet” get-together from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23 at the Stillwood Pavilion in Stow, located just south of Kent Road at the Stillwood Estates.

Anyone interested in the Kiwanis slogan, “Changing the world one child and one community at a time,” is invited to spend a few hours sampling various wines, cheeses and other goodies with more than 40 local Kiwanis Club members. Learn about the club and its service projects, fundraisers, diverse donations and many other activities impacting our local communities. Wine, light refreshments and good conversation will be served!

Reader Spotlight

— From Sam Galioto: “I am totally opposed to this [SMF Schools] bond issue. It is overly ambitious and far too expensive. With hyper inflation in the housing market and rapidly rising property tax valuation and taxes, the imposed tax burden will cause severe financial hardship to many in our community. It will force many Stow residents on fixed or limited income to move out of Stow. I urge all Stow-Munroe Falls residents to join me in voting no on this bond issue.”

— From anonymous: “Thank you so much for reporting on the Summit County Sewer snafu since the county hasn’t notified its customers (to my knowledge). I thought it seemed like a quick turnaround for the due date this time! I included the late fee with my payment so I anticipate receiving a credit for next quarter. Also, we will be voting yes on the levy. Have one child and unless it passes this fall he probably won’t reap the benefits of any new school building.”

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