☁️ Weather: Mostly Cloudy, Possible Rain, Warm - Temps 80-82°

📢 Local Events from Mentor & the Area: MentorLocalBuzz.com/Events!

📰 Local News: LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL - Interested in a Skilled Career? Here's Where to Start Locally

🏫 Mentor Schools Names Experienced Interim Treasurer

📢 A Good Week for Local Business: Three Grand Openings Celebrated

🐕 Better Pet Living: Pet Dental Care: Which Home Habit Is Worth Starting?

🏃🏻 Sports: ⛳🏐 Local Sports Roundup

🤔 Trivia Question

🤣 Something Funny

Contact Mentor Local Buzz - [email protected] - 440-256-6115

You've explored the careers. You've thought about which one might fit. Now it's time to figure out where to start. In Part 3 of our Life After High School series, we're bringing the search home to Mentor and Lake County — with apprenticeships, career-tech programs, training options and local resources that can help students and families turn career interest into an actual next step.

After two days discussing overlooked careers and how to find the right fit, there's one question left:

What should a Mentor or Lake County family actually do next?

The good news is that students don't have to travel far to start exploring.

Mentor High School's current Career Academies provide hands-on career programs, while Lake Shore Compact opportunities include construction, welding, automotive, robotics/engineering and other technical fields.

For electrical work, IBEW Local 673 and the Mentor Electrical JATC are on Munson Road in Mentor, offering a paid apprenticeship pathway. Applicants must meet age, education, algebra, testing and driver's-license requirements.

Auburn Career Center offers adult training in HVAC, welding, machining/CNC and industrial electrical work, while Lakeland connects career-tech students with college credit, credentials, internships and additional education.

OhioMeansJobs Lake County provides free job-search assistance, skills reviews, employment counseling and local hiring information.

The biggest takeaway from our series may be simple:

Don't wait until senior spring to discover that these options exist.

Our complete local roadmap shows families where to start — whether their student is 14, 17 or already graduated.

👉🏻 Ready to turn interest into action? Our complete local roadmap shows where Mentor and Lake County students can start — including apprenticeships, career-tech programs, training resources and the key questions families should ask before choosing a path. See the Local Career Roadmap.

Mentor Public Schools has named Todd Puster as interim treasurer/CFO, bringing in a veteran school-finance administrator while the district begins the process of finding its next permanent financial leader.

The Mentor Board of Education unanimously approved Puster’s appointment Tuesday evening. He begins Thursday, Oct. 1, following Bill Wade’s final day with the district on Wednesday. Wade announced in August that he was leaving Mentor Schools after accepting another professional position. Mentor Public Schools

According to the district, Puster brings more than 30 years of public-school finance experience. He most recently served for 10 years as treasurer/CFO for Orange City Schools and currently works with the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio Shared Services Alliance, assisting school districts with financial and leadership matters.

The transition comes at a significant point in the district’s financial planning. Mentor voters will consider Issue 5, a five-year, 3.5-mill operating levy, in November, while the district is also working toward school consolidation and additional cost reductions for the 2027–28 school year.

The board says its search for a permanent treasurer/CFO will begin in the coming weeks.

👉🏻 Why does this leadership change come at such an important time for Mentor Schools? We break down the financial decisions already underway, what Puster inherits on Day 1 and what happens next in the search for a permanent CFO. Read more on mentorlocalbuzz.com.

New locations, new businesses and new chapters made for a busy few days on Mentor’s business scene.

Three grand-opening celebrations were held within a five-day stretch, according to the Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce calendar.

Powers Roofing & Exteriors kicked things off September 25 by celebrating its larger headquarters at 8828 Tyler Boulevard. The locally owned company isn’t new to Mentor — it previously operated from another Tyler Boulevard location — but moved into the larger facility earlier this year as the business continued to grow. The new headquarters also gives Powers room for expanded employee training and customer service, with plans underway for an interactive product showroom.

A day later, Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard celebrated its new shop at 7652 Mentor Avenue, bringing another food-and-treat option to one of Mentor’s busiest commercial corridors.

Then on September 29, Chagrin River Chiropractic marked its grand opening at 7511 Mentor Avenue, where the practice is now serving patients from its Mentor office.

The three celebrations weren’t identical — one represented an established local company expanding into a larger home, while others marked newer additions to the city.

But together, they made for an encouraging five-day snapshot of business activity in Mentor.

Sometimes good local news is simply seeing more doors opening — and local businesses growing — around town.

Before buying another chew, brush or dental additive, start with a simpler question: What will actually work for your pet?

The best dental habit for your pet may not be the fanciest chew, powder or water additive. It may be the one your pet can comfortably tolerate, you can realistically maintain and your veterinarian says fits the condition of your pet’s mouth.

For many dogs and cats, regular tooth brushing is the most effective home-care tool for controlling plaque. But “start brushing” is not always the right first step. If gums are already inflamed or the mouth is painful, brushing can hurt and create resistance.

A better place to begin is with one question: What does my pet’s mouth need right now, and what home care is realistic for us?

Your veterinary team can help determine whether your pet is ready for brushing or whether tartar, gum inflammation, a damaged tooth or another problem should be addressed first. Home care helps manage plaque between visits; it does not remove established calculus or replace professional dental evaluation and treatment when those are needed.

If brushing is appropriate, make the first goal comfort — not a perfect cleaning. Start with brief, calm face and muzzle handling. Progress gradually to lifting the lip, touching the outer teeth and eventually introducing a pet-safe toothbrush or other recommended tool. Keep sessions short and positive.

If your pet pulls away, becomes distressed, shows pain or suddenly resists handling, stop and ask how to adjust the plan.

And if brushing simply is not workable? Evidence-based alternatives may include dental diets, chews, wipes, gels or other products. The Veterinary Oral Health Council maintains lists of products that have met its standards for plaque or tartar control.

The simplest framework is this: mouth first, pet second, product third.

Start with what your pet actually needs, then choose the habit you can safely and consistently maintain.

👉🏻 Not sure whether brushing, a dental chew or another option is the right place to begin? Explore our home dental-care starting guide for five questions to ask your veterinarian, a gentle four-step introduction plan and the warning signs that mean it’s time to stop and reconsider the approach.

Mentor’s boys golf season will continue after the Cardinals earned a Division I district berth Monday at Quail Hollow Country Club.

Mentor shot a team score of 337, tying Madison but finishing third following the tournament’s tiebreak procedure. St. Ignatius won with a 296, University School finished second at 297, and Madison claimed the fourth qualifying spot.

Junior Aiden Curtis led Mentor with an 82, followed by Matthew Andres at 83, Carter Briskey at 84 and Zac Reilly at 88.

The Cardinals now advance to the Northeast Division I district tournament Monday, Oct. 5, at Pine Hills Golf Club.

Source: Baum’s Page

Lake Catholic junior Mao Edwards is moving on in the postseason after earning an individual district berth at Monday’s Division II girls sectional at Punderson.

Edwards shot a 91, earning one of four individual qualifying spots available to golfers whose teams did not advance.

Lake Catholic finished fifth as a team with a 423, just outside the four team qualifying positions, but Edwards’ performance keeps the Cougars represented in postseason play.

She will compete in the Division II district tournament Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Good Park Golf Course.

Source: Baum’s Page

Lake Catholic volleyball keeps rolling.

The Cougars earned their third consecutive victory Tuesday, sweeping Holy Name 25–22, 25–19 and 25–15 to improve to 13–3.

According to submitted match statistics, Ahnna Bergant finished with 11 kills, 16 digs and two aces, while Lola Loncar added 12 digs and three assists.

Lake Catholic returns home Thursday, Oct. 1, for another conference matchup against Elyria Catholic.

Source/Stats: MaxPreps

👉🏻 The postseason picture is getting interesting. See all five Mentor golf scores, where Mao Edwards finished among the sectional field, when both district tournaments take place, and what’s next for Lake Catholic volleyball in our complete Local Sports Roundup.

🐝 Buzz Fact: Horses can sleep while standing up, thanks to a special arrangement of muscles and ligaments in their legs called the stay apparatus. Which means a horse can basically fall asleep without even getting off its feet — a skill most adults over 40 would happily trade several streaming subscriptions to acquire.
Answer: Google

I never saw this episode of Cops. 😁