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

📰 Local News: 🪏 Mentor's New Fire Station 3 Takes Shape as $13M Project Moves Forward

📰 Lake County Names New Dog Warden With 20 Years of Experience

🚇 Laketran Offers Free Rides to the Polls for Lake County Residents

🍽️ Dinner Rescue: Before You Wash That Skillet, Try This

🏈 Sports: 🏈 Mentor Cardinals Rebound with 42–3 Rout of Shaker Heights

🏈 Lake Catholic's Winning Streak Ends in 28–7 Loss to Padua

🤔 Trivia Question

🤣 Something Funny

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

Construction is underway on Mentor's new Fire Station 3, and city officials marked the progress Tuesday, October 6, with a ceremonial groundbreaking.

The approximately $13 million project will replace the existing station, built in 1965, with a modern facility at 8091 Plaza Boulevard, near Johnnycake Ridge Road.

When will it open? The city's latest published projection calls for the station to be in service by the end of 2027.

The new facility will feature five emergency vehicle bays, expanded living quarters, a classroom and a four-story tower for specialized firefighter training.

Fire Chief Ron Zak explained during the ceremony that the location better reflects Mentor's growth and emergency call activity on the city's south side, with access toward I-90 and Mentor Avenue.

City Manager Kenneth Filipiak also acknowledged $1 million in state support secured with help from Senator Jerry Cirino and Representative Jamie Callender.

The groundbreaking represents another milestone in a project several years in the making. Once the new station is operational, the existing firehouse near Eleanor B. Garfield Park will be retired.

➡️ But how has the completion timeline changed, what is the city's actual construction commitment, and why is this location important? Explore the project's history, funding details and Fire Chief Zak's firsthand explanation — plus watch the groundbreaking ceremony — in our full report on mentorlocalbuzz.com.

Lake County is bringing experienced leadership to its Dog Shelter, appointing Christian Courtwright as the county's new dog warden.

The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved his appointment October 8. Courtwright officially takes over October 30.

With more than 20 years of experience in humane law enforcement and animal control in Ohio and Texas, Courtwright most recently served as lead humane agent for the Lake Humane Society.

His responsibilities will include overseeing daily operations at the Lake County Dog Shelter and enforcing laws involving domestic dogs throughout the county, including Mentor.

County Administrator Jason Boyd called the position essential to public safety and humane animal treatment, expressing confidence that Courtwright will help improve shelter operations and customer service.

The appointment comes after the county announced an expanded partnership with the Lake Humane Society earlier this year. No immediate policy or service changes were announced with the new appointment.

➡️ What does the dog warden actually handle, and who should Mentor residents contact about lost dogs, dog incidents or adoptions? Our full report explains the shelter's responsibilities, recent animal-welfare initiatives and important information every local dog owner should know.

Getting to the polls just became easier for Mentor and Lake County residents. Laketran is offering free transportation to early voting and Election Day polling locations, removing the bus fare for residents heading out to cast their ballots.

The program covers Laketran's regular Local Routes and its door-to-door Dial-a-Ride service.

Here's how to get a free ride:

Residents taking a regular Laketran bus simply tell the driver they're going to vote or returning from voting. The fare will be waived.

Those who need door-to-door transportation can use Dial-a-Ride, which is available to Lake County residents of all ages. Reservations must be made 1 to 14 business days in advance by calling 440-350-1000.

Early voting is underway at the Lake County Board of Elections, 105 Main Street in Painesville, with the next voting hours beginning Monday, October 12. Free transportation will also be available for the November 3 general election.

For residents without a vehicle, seniors who prefer not to drive, or anyone needing a convenient transportation option, the service offers a practical way to reach the polls.

Planning to vote? Check your transportation options and arrange a ride early, especially if you need Dial-a-Ride.

➡️ Want to make sure your trip goes smoothly? Our website has the complete early-voting schedule, reservation instructions, polling-place lookup, and an important Sunday transportation detail to know before you go.

Two easy dinners show how the flavorful bits left behind after cooking can become the finishing touch that makes the whole plate better.

You know those browned bits left in the skillet after cooking chicken or pork? Before you reach for the dish soap, take another look.

Those little bits can be the beginning of something delicious.

Add a splash of broth, loosen the browned bits, and you've started a simple pan sauce. With a few familiar ingredients, you can give an everyday dinner a finishing touch that makes the meat and sides taste like they belong together.

That's our small skill for this week's Dinner Rescue, and we're putting it to work in two very different meals.

Lemon-Caper Chicken Cutlets: The Bright Choice

Golden chicken cutlets get a light sauce made with chicken broth, fresh lemon, capers and a little butter. It's lively without being heavy, especially alongside rice, orzo or green beans.

Not everyone loves a sharp lemon flavor. This recipe starts with a smaller amount, then lets you add more until it tastes right to you. Capers can be adjusted, too.

Pork Medallions with Mushroom Pan Sauce: The Cozy Choice

Tender pork medallions meet browned mushrooms, thyme and a savory broth-based sauce. Serve them with mashed potatoes or egg noodles, and you've got a comforting dinner without making a separate gravy.

Both meals serve four, take roughly 35–40 minutes and use the same skillet for cooking the meat and making the sauce. Neither requires wine or cream.

Here's the useful part: A pan sauce doesn't need to be thick or plentiful. A few spoonfuls are enough to bring the plate together.

So which sounds better tonight: bright lemon chicken or savory mushroom pork?

We've made choosing easy, with serving suggestions, flexible ingredient options and two complete recipes that explain what to look for as you cook.

One simple skill. Two satisfying dinners. And one less reason to rinse that skillet too soon.

➡️ Explore both dinners, see which one fits your evening, and find the complete recipes and simple pan-sauce guidance in this week's Dinner Rescue.

The Mentor Cardinals bounced back in convincing fashion Friday night, cruising past Shaker Heights 42–3 to improve to 6–2 on the season.

After a disappointing 56–30 loss to Strongsville the previous week, Mentor came out firing, building a commanding 35–3 halftime lead. The Cardinals added another seven points after the break while holding the Raiders scoreless throughout the second half.

It was a welcome defensive turnaround for Mentor, which allowed just three points after surrendering 56 a week earlier. Shaker Heights fell to 1–7.

The victory also extended Mentor's winning streak over the Raiders to nine consecutive meetings and improved the Cardinals' Greater Cleveland Conference record to 3–1.

With the regular season winding down, Mentor returns home Friday, October 16, to host Lorain at Jerome T. Osborne Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Lake Catholic entered Friday night riding the momentum of two straight victories, but Padua Franciscan brought that streak to a halt with a 28–7 win over the Cougars at Jerome T. Osborne Stadium in Mentor.

The loss dropped Lake Catholic to 4–4 on the season, while Padua improved to 4–4.

The Cougars had been gaining momentum after impressive back-to-back wins over Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, 27–13, and Elyria Catholic, 35–0. Friday's matchup offered an opportunity to extend that success, but the Bruins had other plans.

Padua arrived having lost two consecutive conference games and turned things around with a convincing 21-point victory. The result also ended Lake Catholic's three-game winning streak against the Bruins, which included a 30–0 shutout last season.

With just two regular-season games remaining, the Cougars will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for a challenging road trip to close out the schedule.

Lake Catholic travels to Holy Name next Friday, October 16, before finishing the regular season at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin on October 23. Both games kick off at 7 p.m.

🐝 Buzz Fact: Capers have been adding flavor to Mediterranean dishes for thousands of years. That's a pretty impressive career for something most Americans only encounter when a restaurant charges $28 for a piece of chicken and calls it piccata.
Answer: Google

Guy looking for his flip flop - do you see it? bahabaha