NEOhio Daily Briefing — July 12, 2026

Good Sunday morning — mid‑July is here and the backyard projects are in full swing. Grab a cup of coffee and a moment: today’s briefing covers city planning decisions, a seven‑figure property sale, and a couple of practical how‑tos for summer projects. In Stow, city council had a busy meeting. The long‑vacant Parasson’s Italian Restaurant site at 3983 Darrow Rd. is slated for new life after council approved zoning for a family‑run restaurant to move into the spot that closed in 2024. That approval comes amid a contentious session that also saw council reject a proposed density increase — one of the night’s more debated items — while advancing charter changes and moving forward on several personnel shifts, including the appointment of a new fire chief and planning director. Council also cleared the way for two additional school resource officers, decisions that reflect ongoing community safety and staffing priorities. Commercial real estate in the region made headlines as well: the Giant Eagle property in Northfield sold for $10.7 million. The buyer remains unnamed as the wider Kroger‑Giant Eagle market changes continue to play out in the background, a notable transaction for northeast Ohio retail property owners and investors. On the home‑life front, two practical pieces from our Nordonia Hills coverage are timed for the season. If you’re dreaming of an outdoor kitchen, our guide walks through layout, utilities, materials and maintenance to help you create a functional, inviting space that holds up to Ohio weather. And for houseplant lovers, a primer on grow light schedules explains how to supplement natural sunlight so indoor plants keep thriving through seasonal shifts — an especially handy read if you’ve moved plants indoors on cooler summer nights or want stronger growth through late summer. There were no new community bulletin board notices overnight. That’s the snapshot for this morning — we’ll keep watching council decisions, commercial deals and local lifestyle stories, so stay with NEOhio.news for updates throughout the day.