Today is Sept. 4, 2025.

• Morning, all! Well, we’re in the last vestiges of summer: Those 80-degree temperatures of the last couple days are going to be replaced by an autumn-like high of 64 degrees today and a low of 50. It’s going to be breezy with intervals of clouds and sun, and expect a couple of showers and maybe even a thunderstorm. The good news: The rain is much-needed due to the recent dry conditions.
  

• GUISE PARK LODGE RIBBON CUTTING: The City of Munroe Falls has announced that a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the renovated Guise Park Lodge will take place at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16; the facility is located at 38 Guise Park Dr. A grand reopening and open house will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 (details in the Community Calendar further down today’s newsletter). And, after being unavailable for use while renovation work was in progress, the city has announced that Guise Park Lodge will be available for rentals starting Wednesday, Oct. 1. Go to this page for some “sneak peak” photos of the new and improved lodge as well as updated rental rates.
  

• 2025 FALL FOLIAGE FORECAST: According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, we can expect the fall colors to start in the latter half of September, with colors peaking around mid-October. But some of the trees in our area didn’t get the memo, because the colors are already starting to emerge in some places. Either way, this season could be a doozy: The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts a cool and dry autumn for Ohio, which can lead to more vibrant colors.
  

• “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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Stow

The new normal? Another week, another round of power outages in Stow

In what seems to be a growing and disturbing trend, Stow experienced yet another series of widespread power outages in the past week despite the fact there were no storms in the area at the time.

The first occurred during the overnight hours of Aug. 30 and lasted about four hours, with power finally restored around 8 a.m.

Just two days later it happened again, with FirstEnergy reporting widespread power outages throughout Stow and Hudson “due to an issue at a substation,” according to Stow Mayor John Pribonic. That outage left over 5,000 customers — including more than 4,000 in Stow — without electricity for about two hours on Labor Day afternoon. Power was restored by 3:15 p.m.

Both outages struck northern sections of Stow, with many of the same people affected both times — and they’re getting fed up with it. Residents’ comments on Pribonic’s Facebook page Sept. 1 reflected their frustration with FirstEnergy’s increasingly unreliable electricity service:

• “Yet FirstEnergy has doubled all of our bills”

• “Seems to be happening more and more. Hope they get this resolved before the cold weather gets here”

• “Just had the same issue Friday night for four hours”

• “Twice in a few days is bizarre”

• “This is getting [too] common”

• “4th outage for us this summer. Fix it or lower prices”

• “This is the 2nd time this weekend. It’s kind of ridiculous at this point”

• “And the bills keep getting more expensive”

Here’s hoping the Year of the Outage comes to a screeching halt.

Stow

Clear your calendar: Stow Harvest Festival coming to Silver Springs on Sept. 27-28

With the Stow Summer Sunset Blast in the rearview mirror and the finishing touches being put on the Stow-Munroe Falls Lions Club’s upcoming Paw Fest extravaganza (set for Sept. 21), it’s time to start gearing up for another big community event: The Stow Historical Society’s 46th annual Harvest Festival. This year’s festivities will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 and Sunday, Sept. 28 in the Heritage Reserve Park section of Silver Springs Park, located at 5238 Young Rd.

The historic houses and museums on the Heritage Reserve grounds, including a one-room schoolhouse, will be open for tours. Other highlights include:

• Old-time demonstrations

• Family activities for children and adults

• Animals

• Over 40 crafters and artisans selling their products (see them inside the Heritage Barn and on the park grounds)

• Homemade food

• Antique cars

• Local musicians providing live entertainment

Admission and parking are free. All proceeds go toward the preservation of local history and education.

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