Today is Sept. 13, 2022.

• We’re in the last vestiges of summer, and today it’s going to feel like it. Expect a morning shower and then partly sunny with a high of just 69 degrees, then down to 58 tonight. We’ll be a little warmer on Wednesday and Thursday, but we’re not expecting temps to crack 80 again until the weekend. Summer, we hardly knew ye.

• Big news! We're about ready to launch our paid subscription drive within the next week or so. Based on what you told us in our recent survey, we've decided to reduce our pricing to $10/month or $110/year, which will give you access to all our news stories and our Mailbox feature. Briefs, the community calendar and obituaries will continue to be free. And the news will be free to anyone who truly can't afford a subscription. (You'll simply write to us and we'll give you access, no questions asked.) We're going to need a high percentage of our subscribers to make that $10/month investment in The Spotlight to keep it running. In the interest of full transparency, I'll share more details about that when we officially launch. Stay tuned. And thank you for reading local news.

Latest news in brief

Our recent series on school safety and security hit too close to home

After The Spotlight’s recent series on school safety, our neighbors down Route 59 are dealing with that very issue. Theodore Roosevelt High School and Stanton Middle School in Kent were placed on lockdown the morning of Sept. 12 and a student was detained. It was the second straight school day of disruptions caused by threats of violence against the Kent City School District.

The lockdown lasted less than 20 minutes. “We were able to do a quick investigation and lift the lockdown so classes could resume,” Superintendent George Joseph said.

More local news:

• Summit County Public Health’s Environmental Health Division will spray for mosquitoes Sept. 14 in west Stow and north Silver Lake. Spraying will begin at approximately 8:30 p.m. and continue until completed. In the event of inclement weather, the spray schedule may be modified. An updated schedule will be available by noon the following day by calling 330-926-5667. The spray schedule and spray maps can be viewed on Summit County Public Health’s website. For questions or concerns regarding SCPH’s Mosquito Control program, call 330-926-5669.

• The Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library will hold a “Get Your Library Card Party” from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 15. Attendees can sign up for a library card (or renew your existing card), get your picture taken with Stow Mayor John Pribonic and Spike the Library Turtle, and enjoy free ice cream at this drop-in event. If you plan to sign up for a library card, you'll need to bring: a photo ID with proof of your current address if you’re over 16; a utility bill in your name along with a photo ID if you’ve just moved to the area; or a parent or guardian's signature to get a card if you’re under 16.

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Community calendar

🪕 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.

🎺 Sept. 17, 7 p.m.: Stow Band Show. What: High school band performance featuring Stow-Munroe Falls, Kent Roosevelt, Mogadore, Canton South and Painesville Riverside. Where: Stow-Munroe Falls High School stadium. Check here for tickets.

🐕 Sept. 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: 15th Annual PAW Fest. What: Stow-Munroe Falls Lions Club fundraiser featuring dog vendors, rescue groups, raffles, dog contests, food vendors and more. Where: Bow Wow Beach Dog Park (5027 Stow Rd.) at Silver Springs Park in Stow. Fee: $1 donation for parking or donation of used eyeglasses. For more information, contact 330-607-2242 or [email protected].

🎶 Sept. 21, 6-7:30 p.m.: Concerts on the Green. What: Outdoor concert series sponsored by the City of Stow. This concert features Overboard the Love Boat Band playing music from the 1970s and ’80s. This is a rescheduled concert from July 27, when it was postponed due to inclement weather. Where: Stow City Center Campus (3870 Darrow Rd.). Bring your lawn chair!

🧘 Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m.: Sunset Salutations Yoga. What: Free program for adults (families are welcome) featuring yoga under the stars led by Maria Grimm. To register, visit StowOhio.RecDesk.com, click on programs and search for “Yoga.”

📚 Sept. 22, 4-6 p.m.: Book Donation Day. What: Bring your good, clean, used books and puzzles to the back door of the library. Curbside pickup service will be available. Materials will be used by the library or sold at the Friends’ Book Sale. Where: Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library (3512 Darrow Rd.). If you can’t make it that day or time, call Joan at 330-388-0355 to schedule an appointment to drop off donations.

🌟 Sept. 22, 7:30 p.m.: Sunset Salutations Stargazing. What: Free program for adults (families are welcome) to sit and gaze at the stars under the guidance of local astronomy gurus, who will instruct attendees and highlight celestial objects in their telescopes. Where: Groundhog Hill (near baseball fields) at Silver Springs Park (5238 Young Rd.) in Stow. Bring your own chairs, blankets and telescopes (if you have one). To register, visit StowOhio.RecDesk.com, click on programs and search for “Stargazing.”

👻 Sept. 24, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.: Halloween Costume Swap. What: Donate unopened makeup and clean costumes and accessories for children, teens and adults at the Checkout Desk beginning Sept. 17. Then, return Sept. 24 to pick new items to take home. Swapping is first-come, first-served. Where: Stow-Munroe Falls Room at the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library (3512 Darrow Rd.). No registration required.

🌽 Sept. 24-25, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Stow Harvest Festival. What: Annual festival sponsored by the Stow Historical Society featuring free tours of three historic houses and a one-room schoolhouse, a blacksmith, apple butter stirring, musical entertainment and more. Art, handmade crafts and food will be for sale both days. Where: Heritage Park (5120 Young Rd.) at Silver Springs Park in Stow. Proceeds from the festival go toward preservation of artifacts and maintenance of archives, and support the history of Stow, Ohio. Email [email protected] for more information.

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Stow

Now you see it, now you don’t: Beef ‘O’ Brady’s becomes the latest business to close its doors

Businesses seem to be coming and going in the blink of an eye lately, and now Stow has another commercial space to fill following the closing of Beef ‘O’ Brady’s on Sept. 9. The family-style Irish restaurant and pub on Darrow Road had been in business for 12 years.

• Owner Bob Frangos has been unable to sell the restaurant, citing difficulties with the building’s landlords. “I have brought five people to them and I have a sixth who is trying to negotiate, but I don’t think it will happen,” he said.

• Frangos said he made the decision to unload the restaurant three years ago with retirement looming.

Schools

Open Board of Education seat headed to probate court after tie vote on final candidates

The Stow-Munroe Falls City School District will have to wait a little longer to fill its open seat on the Board of Education. A vote of the board at the Sept. 12 meeting ended in a 2-2 deadlock between the final two nominees, Michael Daniels and Kari Suhadolnik. Board members Lisa Johnson-Bowers and Jon Leissler voted for Daniels, while board member Dr. Pamela Wind and board president Nancy Brown voted for Suhadolnik.

• Per BOE bylaws, the matter will now be referred to Summit County Probate Court Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer, who will appoint the new board member. A timetable for the appointment has not been set.

• “Judge Stormer can choose from any registered voter in Stow or Munroe Falls. She is not bound to choose between Daniels or Suhadolnik or the 14 other applicants we interviewed,” Brown said. “All of the applicants were qualified and would be great additions to the board.”

Sports

Bulldog Sports Roundup: SMF football swarmed under by Bees’ aerial onslaught

It’s one thing to know what your opponent is going to do. It’s another to stop it.

Unfortunately for the Stow-Munroe Falls football team, while it was no secret that host Medina liked to throw — a lot — there simply was nothing the Bulldogs could do about it. The Bees overwhelmed SMF with 456 yards passing en route to a 55-21 victory Sept. 9 in Medina.

“They’re good at what they do,” SMF coach Martin Poder said.

In other Bulldog sports action last week:

• Jayla Atkinson captured first place as the Stow-Munroe Falls girls cross country team won the Walsh Jesuit Pat Ritchie Invitational Division I race.

• Girls golf set team and individual records in a victory over Kent Roosevelt.

• Girls volleyball went 3-0 at the Massillon Jackson Tournament.

Read the whole roundup here.

Mailbox

Reader: Thank you for information on birds at Brust Park, and the story about the lost and found engagement ring.

Tom: You got it! Thanks for being with us.

Reader: We need a nice new restaurant. I went to this restaurant when it was the Triple Crown. It was my parents favorite. Looking forward for the opening.

Tom: This comment refers to our story last week about the planned re-opening of the Triple Crown. We got lots of supportive comments from readers. Let's cross our fingers and hope the owners can sort out their permit issues.

Well, another issue of The Spotlight is in the books. It’s amazing how much is going on in our communities, and we’re having a blast bringing local news to you. Spread the word to help us grow, and we can cover even more of that news for you. Enjoy the next few days, and I’ll see everyone Friday!

Tom [email protected]