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

📰 Local News: 🗳️ Early Voting Continues Through Sunday in Lake County

🚣🏻‍♀️ Mentor's Katie Spotz Prepares for 10,000-Mile Solo Pacific Row

💧 Got a Lake County Lead Pipe Letter? Here's What “Unknown” Means

🐈 Better Pet Living: Does Your Cat’s Litter Box Work for Your Cat?

🏆 Local Sports: Lake Catholic Wins District Crown; Mentor Reaches Final

🤔 Trivia Question

🤣 Something Funny

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

Mentor and Lake County residents have a few more opportunities to vote early before the November 3 general election, including extended weekday hours and weekend voting.

Early in-person voting takes place at the Lake County Board of Elections, located at 105 Main Street, Suite 107, in Painesville.

Remaining early-voting hours:

Sunday is the final day to vote early. There is no early in-person voting on Monday, November 2.

Among the local measures on the ballot is Issue 5, a proposed five-year, 3.5-mill operating levy for Mentor Public Schools.

Voters must bring an acceptable, unexpired photo ID, such as an Ohio driver's license, Ohio state ID or U.S. passport.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, with polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at assigned polling locations.

For official voting information, sample ballots and polling locations, visit the Lake County Board of Elections.

Six to eight months alone at sea. A potential world record. And 200 letters from home.

Among the supplies Mentor native Katie Spotz plans to take across the Pacific Ocean are something no survival checklist could replace: 200 letters written by her mother.

Those little pieces of home will accompany Spotz on an extraordinary journey—rowing approximately 10,000 miles alone from Lima, Peru, to Cairns, Australia.

The crossing could take six to eight months. If successful, Spotz hopes to become the first woman to row solo from South America to Australia.

Her departure is planned for December 2026 or January 2027, depending on weather and final preparations.

For Spotz, this isn't her first major endurance challenge. She crossed the Atlantic Ocean alone in 2010 and previously swam the Allegheny River to raise awareness about clean water.

This time, the mission is even bigger.

Spotz hopes to raise $1 million to help provide safe drinking water to 100,000 people in Fiji, supporting water filtration systems and community education.

In an October 27 interview with News 5 Cleveland, Spotz shared the story of her mother's letters—a touching reminder that even an adventure halfway around the world can carry a connection to home.

Follow Katie’s progress, and learn more about her fundraising efforts at katiespotz.com

A letter about lead water pipes can sound alarming. But if your Lake County Utilities notice lists your service line as “unknown,” that doesn't mean lead was found. It means the pipe material hasn't been confirmed.

Lake County is asking customers, including those in Mentor and Mentor-on-the-Lake, to help identify the pipes connecting their homes to the water system. Better records help officials determine which lines need further investigation or replacement.

A penny may help. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers a guide using a penny or key and a magnet to identify common pipe materials. Copper has a penny-like color, while lead often appears dull gray and reveals shiny metal when gently scratched.

However, checking one visible section doesn't establish what's underground. Never dig into or dismantle plumbing to identify a pipe.

Lake County maintains an online service-line inventory. A federal regulatory deadline of November 1, 2027, applies to updated utility inventories and replacement plans—not to homeowners completing a pipe check.

➡️ Want to check your own home? Our website guide explains where to look, how to recognize different pipe materials, what the results mean, and how to report your findings to Lake County.

An inconvenient entrance, a noisy appliance or another cat in the doorway can matter. So can a health problem.

The litter box fits neatly beside the washing machine. It is out of sight and easy to clean. From your cat’s perspective, though, the arrangement might have a few drawbacks.

Getting there may mean climbing stairs, stepping over a high edge or passing another cat that controls the doorway. A useful check starts before your cat reaches the litter.

First, keep the health boundary clear. New bathroom habits—including accidents—deserve prompt veterinary advice. Repeated straining with little or no urine requires immediate veterinary attention. A urinary blockage can be life-threatening, especially in male cats. Do not wait to see whether fresh litter solves it. www.vet.cornell.edu

For everyday setup, follow your cat’s route. Is the door always open? Is the location quiet, away from startling appliances and separate from food and water? Can your cat enter comfortably and turn around? Older cats may need a lower entrance and a box on their usual floor. www.merckvetmanual.com

In homes with several cats, count locations as well as boxes. One box per cat, plus one extra, is a useful starting point. Spread them among separate locations. Three boxes together still require every cat to approach the same area. catfriendly.com

Watch for quiet tension, too: staring, blocking a doorway or waiting for another cat to leave. There does not have to be a fight for access to become uncomfortable.

Scoop at least daily. Many cats prefer fine, unscented litter, but preferences vary. Offer an alternative while keeping a familiar option available instead of changing everything overnight. www.aaha.org

If an accident happens, skip punishment. Record what you noticed and discuss changes with your veterinarian. “Stopped at the doorway when the other cat appeared” is more useful than “being stubborn.”

A better setup begins with a simple question: can your cat reach a clean, comfortable box—and leave without trouble?

➡️ Use our room-by-room litter-box guide to find hidden obstacles, choose a practical improvement and know which changes call for veterinary care.

Lake Catholic girls volleyball is headed to the regional tournament after sweeping Jefferson Area 3–0 Wednesday to win the Division IV district championship.

The Cougars controlled the match 25–13, 25–11 and 25–14, winning every set by at least 11 points and extending their winning streak to seven matches.

MacKenzie Smith led Lake Catholic with nine kills, Emily Dunavant had 12 assists, and Maddie Summers added three aces.

The Cougars now advance to the Division IV regional semifinals, where they’ll face Firelands next Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m., with a spot in the regional championship on the line.

Mentor boys soccer is one win away from a district championship.

The Cardinals defeated St. Edward 3–0 Wednesday night, breaking open a scoreless match after halftime and recording another postseason shutout.

The victory was Mentor’s sixth straight and improved the Cardinals to 10–8.

Next comes a rematch with Strongsville Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Northeast 1 district final at Amherst Steele. Strongsville edged Mentor 1–0 when the teams met during the regular season.

🐝 Buzz Fact: Dogs use their teeth to protect the house. Cats use theirs to bite the hand that feeds them. Both expect dinner at 5:00 sharp, and neither has ever contributed a dime toward the mortgage.
Answer: Google

I promise! LOL