Morning Clouds, then Mostly Sunny - Temps 74-76

Heading to the polls today but need transportation? Laketran is waiving fares for trips to and from voting on its regular Local Routes across Lake County, including routes serving Mentor.

To ride free, tell the driver you're traveling to vote or returning from the polls. No advance reservation is needed for regular Local Routes.

Laketran is also waiving fares on Dial-a-Ride election trips, but that door-to-door service requires reservations made 1–14 business days in advance. Don't count on booking one today if you haven't already arranged it.

Polls are open Tuesday, November 3, from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. You must vote at your assigned polling place and bring an accepted, unexpired photo ID. Anyone in line by 7:30 p.m. may still vote.

One important detail: polling-place hours are not bus-service hours. Check both your trip to the polls and your return ride before you leave. For route questions, call Laketran at 440-350-1000.

⬇️ Before you head out, see our complete local guide to find your assigned polling place, check the Mentor-area routes, and avoid getting stranded without a return ride.

A Lake County jury has returned a mixed verdict in a case involving the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old Euclid man at a Willoughby apartment complex.

On October 30, jurors found Antoine Graves, of Willoughby, guilty of complicity to aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence. However, he was acquitted of complicity to murder and complicity to felonious assault, according to Cleveland 19 News.

The case stems from the September 15, 2025, shooting of Damonte Perry in the 1300 block of Fox Run Drive. Perry died three days later at University Hospitals.

Graves was one of several defendants charged in connection with the shooting. The cases have produced different outcomes, including a life sentence for another defendant, Vance Triplett, who was convicted of complicity to murder and other charges.

Graves is scheduled to be sentenced December 17, 2026. He has not yet been sentenced.

⬇️ Read More in our website article below.

Visitors to Mentor's Garfield Park should plan for a temporary parking disruption this week.

The City of Mentor has announced that the park's lower parking lot will be closed Tuesday, November 3, through Thursday, November 5, for resurfacing work.

The park's loop will remain open during the project.

The city has not specified daily construction hours or whether weather could affect the schedule. Residents planning a visit should be aware of the closure and check for updates before heading out.

A Local Buzz Original Magazine

Two contractors can quote the same home project and offer different work. Here's how to identify what's included, what's missing and what needs clarification before comparing prices.

Two contractor quotes land in your inbox. One is lower, so the choice looks easy—until you notice they aren't describing the same job.

Imagine two estimates to repaint a home's exterior. One lists washing, scraping loose paint, priming bare spots and applying two finish coats. The other says “prepare and paint.” Maybe the work is identical. Maybe it isn't. The price won't settle that question.

Before comparing totals, make four quick checks.

Match materials and quantities. Do both proposals cover the same surfaces and measurements? Are the product type, grade and number of coats or layers clear? “Premium materials” is not a specification.

Find the exclusions. Look for work the contractor says is not included, such as repairs, disposal or permits. Don't mistake silence for an exclusion: if a task is not mentioned, mark it “not stated” and ask.

Clarify preparation and cleanup. Who removes old material, protects floors or landscaping, handles debris and leaves the area ready to use? Those responsibilities affect the job, even when they don't appear in the finished result.

Ask about changes and payments. What happens if hidden damage turns up? Will the contractor explain the additional work and its cost before proceeding? What completed work triggers each payment?

Here's a useful first pass: place the quotes side by side and underline every phrase you can't explain to someone else. Ask both contractors the same questions, then request written clarification of important differences. Keep those answers with the estimates so you can compare what was actually offered.

You are not trying to make every contractor use the same method. You are trying to learn exactly what each is offering.

Only after that should you compare prices. The lower quote may be the better value—but now you'll know what you're comparing.

⬇️ Want to see how two contractor quotes really stack up? Our expanded Home Front guide includes a side-by-side worksheet, a worked example showing what vague estimates can hide, and seven questions to ask before comparing prices.

Lake Catholic Cougars

Boys cross country: Lake Catholic junior Mason Panhorst is headed to state. His 24th-place finish in 16:45.1 at Saturday’s Division III regional meet at Boardman earned him an individual berth—even though the Cougars did not advance as a team.

Panhorst joins Mentor’s boys and girls teams in representing the city at Fortress Obetz on Saturday, November 7. The Division III boys race is scheduled for 2:20 p.m., according to Lake Catholic’s calendar.

Girls volleyball: The Cougars face Firelands in a regional semifinal Wednesday, November 4, at 6 p.m. at Alliance High School. Lake Catholic enters at 21–4, with its postseason run continuing after the district championship sweep of Jefferson Area.

Boys soccer: Following their district championship victory over West Branch, the Cougars turn to Chagrin Falls on Wednesday, November 4, at 7 p.m. Published schedules disagree on the venue, so traveling fans should confirm the location with school athletics before heading out.

Mentor Cardinals

Girls volleyball: Mentor’s next tournament challenge is Strongsville on Wednesday, November 4, at 6 p.m. in Norwalk, according to the posted schedule. The Cardinals carry a 16–7 record into the matchup after rallying past Jackson in four sets to extend their winning streak to five.

Buzz Fact: A small drywall repair can turn into a surprisingly big project. Between patching, sanding, priming, and painting, that little hole may become the most time-consuming square foot in the house.

Yeah, what kind of trap is this??

Got a tip, event or story idea? Email [email protected] or call 440-256-6115.