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

📰 Local News: 🌊 Mentor Lagoons Debate Goes Beyond Engineering: What Will Saving the Shoreline Cost?

📰 Lake County Overdose Death Rate Falls 75% Since 2020

🚧 Mentor Moves Forward on South Shandle Storm Sewer Replacement

🐾 Better Pet Living: Measure Your Pet's Food Before Guessing at the Amount

⚽ Local Sports Roundup: ⚽ Cougars Open Playoffs With 7–0 Win; Mentor Draws St. Edward

🤔 Trivia Question

🤣 Something Funny

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

Lake Erie has already washed away an estimated 12 acres of the Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve over about three decades, according to the city. Trails have been moved, and much of the original natural beach is gone.

Now Mentor is trying to keep its shoreline protection planning on track—but a proposed change of engineers has raised a bigger question: What might it eventually cost to protect this public land, and will residents support the solution?

At Tuesday's City Council meeting, a Headlands-area resident questioned why the city wants to replace SmithGroup with Kimley-Horn. He asked whether the eventual result would justify the expense.

City Manager Kenneth Filipiak said key SmithGroup employees left shortly after the firm was hired, raising concerns about project delays. He also explained that the city needs a developed plan before it can reliably estimate construction costs.

The city's approximately $3.5 million engineering and planning program, supported by a $1.75 million federal grant, is not authorization to build a shoreline protection system. Mentor says voters will have an opportunity to weigh in once a plan is developed.

What happened Tuesday? A 4–3 vote to speed up consideration of the engineering change fell short of the required six votes. The switch was not approved.

➡️ Read the full story: What has already been lost at the Lagoons, the two revealing remarks from the meeting, what the money actually pays for, and the questions residents deserve answered before any construction decision.

Lake County has recorded a dramatic decline in fatal drug overdoses, according to a new analysis showing the county's overdose death rate has fallen 75.2% since 2020.

That was the largest percentage decrease among 550 U.S. counties examined.

The analysis, conducted using federal mortality records, found Lake County's rate declined from approximately 40 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2020 to 9.9 in 2025. Ohio's statewide rate fell 53.2% over the same period.

Local officials say the improvement reflects years of cooperation among law enforcement, addiction-treatment providers and recovery organizations.

According to News 5 Cleveland, those efforts include Project Connect, which helps connect people with treatment providers, and a county overdose-response team that follows up with individuals after an overdose.

Expanded residential treatment and recovery housing have also played a role in the county's approach.

The findings offer encouraging news for families affected by addiction. However, officials caution that continued access to treatment and recovery support remains essential.

The figures come from an independent analysis of CDC records, not an official CDC county ranking. The 2025 data are also provisional.

For Mentor-area families, the progress is encouraging—but knowing where to find help remains just as important.

➡️ How do Lake County's recovery programs work, what does the 75% figure really mean, and where can residents find help? See our full report which explains the numbers and provides local recovery resources.

Mentor is taking another step toward replacing deteriorating storm sewers along South Shandle Boulevard, with a proposed $555,000 project aimed at improving neighborhood drainage.

At its October 20 meeting, City Council unanimously approved a resolution allowing the city to pursue state funding for the project, which would replace approximately 1,800 feet of failing, damaged or compromised underground storm sewer.

The proposed work would begin near Warrendale Drive, continue north along South Shandle Boulevard to Hilltop Drive, and extend toward a nearby creek.

According to City Engineer David Swiger, improvements would include new catch basins, manholes, drainage grading, and protective work at the creek outlet. Disturbed pavement, driveway entrances and lawns would also be restored.

The city is seeking a $50,000 grant and $150,000 loan through the Ohio Public Works Commission. Preliminary funding approval has been received, but the final application and funding process remain ahead.

Construction is currently anticipated for fall 2027, meaning residents should not expect immediate construction activity from this vote.

➡️ Want to know which section of South Shandle is included and what the work could mean for nearby homeowners? On our website, we've broken down the proposed route, planned improvements, funding details and next steps on our website.

Your familiar scoop may not tell the whole story. Here's how to get a clearer picture of what your dog or cat eats each day—without changing the feeding routine.

The scoop you use every morning may be familiar, but do you know how much food it actually holds?

When your veterinarian asks how much your dog or cat eats, “about a scoop” leaves out important details. So does naming the food without knowing the amount. A better conversation starts with what goes into the bowl, what gets eaten and what else your pet receives.

Read the calorie statement.

Look for calories listed as kilocalories (kcal) per kilogram and per familiar unit, such as a cup or can. Check the exact product and formula. Similar foods may contain different amounts of energy, and the package feeding chart is only a starting reference.

Measure your usual portion.

For dry food, place an empty bowl on a digital kitchen scale, zero the display and add the amount you normally serve. Record the weight in grams. A standard measuring cup can also help, but an unmarked scoop is harder to interpret.

For wet food, note the exact product, container size and portion offered.

Include everything beyond meals.

Training treats, dental chews, toppers, table scraps and food used to give medication all count. Ask others in the household what they offered, too.

Record what actually happens.

For three ordinary days, write down each feeding and extra. Note the amount offered, anything left behind and any uncertainty about what your pet ate. Don't change portions just to make the record look better.

Bring the record and food labels to your veterinary team. They can consider your pet's life stage, body condition, activity and health before recommending an individualized plan.

You don't need a perfect spreadsheet or a new diet. You need a clearer picture of the food your pet receives each day.

➡️ Want to turn those measurements into something useful? Our expanded Better Pet Living guide includes a downloadable PDF three-day food-and-treat tracker, a simple calorie-label example and 12 questions to help you prepare for a more productive conversation with your veterinarian.

Lake Catholic — Boys Soccer

Lake Catholic saved its highest scoring performance of the season for the tournament opener, defeating Coventry 7–0 at home Wednesday, October 21.

The Cougars improved to 7–6–3 and advanced in the Division IV tournament. Their previous season high was five goals, reached against both Benedictine and Holy Name.

The shutout victory followed a 2–0 loss to NDCL in Lake Catholic’s regular-season finale.

Mentor High School — Boys Soccer

The Cardinals will open their Division I tournament run at home against St. Edward on Wednesday, October 28, at 7 p.m.

No. 7 seed Mentor faces No. 8 seed St. Edward, with the winner advancing to the October 31 district final against either Strongsville or Elyria.

Mentor enters the postseason at 9–8, carrying a five-game winning streak.

Mentor High School — Girls Volleyball

The Cardinals return home to face Archbishop Hoban on Thursday, October 22, at 6:30 p.m.

Mentor improved to 13–7 Tuesday by sweeping Strongsville 25–15, 25–18, 25–15. Thursday’s match gives local fans an opportunity to see the Cardinals following consecutive victories over Pine-Richland and Strongsville.

🐝 Buzz Fact: Cats communicate through their eyes, ears, and body language. Unfortunately, their most recognizable expression still seems to say, “I'd like to speak to whoever is in charge of this household—because it clearly isn't you.”
Answer: Google

As I’ve said many times before… kids are the best. Babies/kids being funny