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Mentor families could learn next week which school buildings are being proposed for consolidation, but no final closures were approved at Tuesday's school board meeting.

At its November 10 meeting, the Mentor Board of Education voted 5–0 to hire Finding Leaders to recruit the district's next treasurer and chief financial officer, according to Lakeshore Views & News.

The firm will receive a $7,900 consulting fee, plus advertising expenses. However, a permanent hire may not arrive until March or April.

That presents a potential challenge. Interim Treasurer Todd Puster's current arrangement ends in January, meaning the district may need another temporary financial leadership arrangement.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Craig Heath said administrators are finalizing special-education space requirements as they evaluate different school-building combinations.

He hopes to have the consolidation plan ready around the middle of next week, approximately November 18. That is a target, not a confirmed announcement date.

The district plans to implement consolidation for the 2027–28 school year and expects approximately $3.4 million in annual savings. Those reductions remain part of its financial plan regardless of Issue 5's final election outcome, which is awaiting certification.

For families, the biggest unanswered question remains which buildings and students will be affected.

⬇️ What grade-level changes have already been discussed, how do the search firms' costs compare, and what should parents look for when the consolidation plan is released? Our full report breaks down the proposals, financial timeline, and five important questions families should ask.

Mentor is seeking contractors for the next phase of irrigation improvements at Black Brook Golf Course, with construction costs estimated at $600,000.

The Phase 3 project calls for an upgraded automatic irrigation system serving all 18 holes, with centralized controls and water supplied by a new pump station.

Bids are due Wednesday, November 25, at 11 a.m. The city expects installation to begin in fall 2027, with completion targeted for April 17, 2028. Those dates remain subject to negotiation.

The project is another planned investment in the city-owned public golf course. However, the $600,000 figure is only an estimate. No Phase 3 construction contract has been awarded.

The city's specifications also address how crews must maintain irrigation during installation.

What could the work mean for golfers, and how will the course stay watered during construction? We break down the timeline, requirements and unanswered questions in our full report below:

In the 1970s, becoming a firefighter was challenging enough. For Connie McCullough, even finding protective equipment that fit was an obstacle.

One of Ohio's first certified female firefighters, McCullough entered a profession where women were rarely seen in the firehouse. She faced skepticism, resistance, and equipment designed primarily for men.

Tonight, she'll share her remarkable journey during a special presentation at Mentor Public Library's Lake Branch in Mentor-on-the-Lake.

Her program, "No Gear in My Size: Becoming One of Ohio's First Female Firefighters," offers a firsthand look at the determination it took to overcome barriers and earn a place in the fire service.

It's a chance to hear an important chapter of Ohio history from someone who lived it.

Event Details

Discover the story behind her groundbreaking career and find registration details in our event listing.

A Local Buzz Original Magazine

A simpler feeding setup can give the slower eater time—and keep each meal with the right pet.

One pet finishes dinner and heads straight for the other bowl. The slower eater steps aside, and suddenly you’re supervising a meal you thought you had already served.

If that sounds familiar, start with where they eat.

For pets comfortable in separate rooms, a closed door can make dinner simpler. Put each pet in its own space before setting down the bowls. Give the slower eater time to finish, then check for leftovers before letting them back together. Otherwise, the faster one may simply arrive for the second course.

Two bowls side by side still leave both meals within reach. Moving one a few feet away may not stop a determined visitor.

Cats that nibble throughout the day need a different arrangement. Their food needs to stay somewhere the other pet cannot reach, while remaining easy for them to get to. A room with a suitable barrier may work for a cat living with a dog. For two cats, a feeder that opens for one animal’s microchip can be worth considering. Introduce it gradually and watch both cats around it before relying on it.

Keep serving each pet’s appropriate food. Dogs and cats have different nutritional needs; age and health conditions can also matter. If one eats a prescribed diet, ask your veterinarian how strictly meals and treats need to stay separate.

You don’t need a feeding spreadsheet. Just make sure everyone serving dinner knows which food goes to which pet and where each eats.

And don’t try to teach the arrangement by withholding food. If a pet stops eating or eats noticeably less, contact your veterinarian.

Start with the next meal: give each pet room to eat, keep the other out of its bowl, and check what’s left. Dinner should be easier for them—and for you.

⬇️ Find a feeding arrangement that fits your home, with examples for two dogs, a dog and cat, or cats that eat at different speeds.

Lake Catholic’s girls volleyball team is one win from the Division IV state championship match.

The Cougars face Ottawa-Glandorf tonight—Thursday, November 12—at 6 p.m. at Wright State University’s Nutter Center. www.ohiovarsity.com

Lake Catholic earned its place with a five-set regional victory over Elyria Catholic. Facing elimination at 14–13 in the deciding set, Ahnna Bergant delivered three consecutive kills to keep the Cougars’ season alive. Ryann Schneider led the attack with 16 kills, followed by Bergant with 14. www.ohiovarsity.com

Tonight, the Mentor-based Cougars have a chance to turn that dramatic finish into a trip to the championship match.

🐝 Buzz Fact: Some wild animals spend hours every day grooming their fur. Meanwhile, some of us consider it a major accomplishment if we leave the house without our shirt being inside out.

Little man put little sister in timeout. LOL

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