In this Mentor Local Buzz Issue…

 🌤️ Mentor Weather - Cloudy - Temps 50-52

 🎉 Mentor Live Events - 50+ Live Events. Events Added Daily

 🎄 Brighten a Senior’s Holiday: Giving Tree Program Kicks Off in Mentor

 🎅 Unwrapping Christmas Traditions: Free Holiday Program in Mentor

 🐼 Café Panda Opens in Great Lakes Mall with Unique Asian-Inspired Flavors

 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Special Section: Food & Recipes: 🧑‍🍳 Upgrade Your Sides with Luxurious Slow-Cooker Scalloped Potatoes

 🏈 Cardinals Crush McKinley to Keep Championship Hopes Alive

 🏈 Lake Catholic Falls to Glenville in Regional Semifinal, Ends Season 12-1

 🤔 Trivia Question

 🤣 Something Funny

👉👉 Put Your Local Business in the Spotlight! Click Here

👉 Mentor Live Events 👈
Nov 16

Complete list of events and all the details in the link above “Mentor Live Events”. New Events Added Daily.

See All the Upcoming Events Here at:
Mentor Live Events!
50+ Event Dates

🎄 Brighten a Senior’s Holiday: Giving Tree Program Kicks Off in Mentor

The "Be a Santa to a Senior" giving tree will make its return to the Mentor Municipal Center lobby starting Monday, November 18, 2024, at 9:00 AM. This annual initiative, aimed at supporting local senior citizens in Lake County, invites community members to spread holiday cheer by fulfilling simple gift requests.

The tree will be adorned with tags detailing specific items requested by seniors, including practical essentials such as bath towels, dustpans, toiletries, stamps, and clothing. Each participating senior will also receive a handwritten letter from a local honor society student, a handmade card, and a friendly phone call to brighten their holiday season.

Participants are encouraged to select one or more tags, purchase the requested gifts, and return them with the tags attached to the collection box next to the tree by the deadline on Friday, December 6, 2024. The Mentor Municipal Center, located at 8500 Civic Center Boulevard in Mentor, Ohio, is open for drop-offs Monday through Friday, between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM.

Organized by Home Instead Senior Care, this program offers an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of local seniors. For further details, visit www.beasantatoasenior.com or call 440-729-5888.

Source: cityofmentor.com

🎅 Unwrapping Christmas Traditions: Free Holiday Program in Mentor

Explore the origins of Christmas traditions — from pine trees to poinsettias to plum pudding — during a free program at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5, at Mentor Public Library’s Lake Branch, 5642 Andrews Road in Mentor-on-the-Lake.

Allison Powell, a park ranger from James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor, will share how many cherished holiday traditions began. She’ll also discuss how President Garfield’s family celebrated the holidays in their Mentor home.

This program is open to all, but due to limited space, registration is required. Sign up at www.mentorpl.org or by calling the library at 440-257-2512.

🐼 Café Panda Opens in Great Lakes Mall with Unique Asian-Inspired Flavors

Great Lakes Mall has welcomed a new addition to its food court with the opening of Café Panda, a locally owned café that promises to bring unique flavors to hungry shoppers. The café occupies a cozy 572-square-foot space at the top of the food court, adding to the mall's diverse lineup of dining options.

Café Panda’s menu showcases a blend of Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese-inspired dishes. Shoppers can enjoy savory selections like Japanese onigiri rice balls, Korean corn dogs, miso soup, and tempura matcha. The café also offers a variety of sweet treats, including Korean ice cream and bingsu, a refreshing shaved ice dessert topped with fresh ingredients. One standout item is the brown sugar boba soft serve, a rich dessert featuring caramelized tapioca pearls swirled with creamy soft serve ice cream.

For beverage lovers, Café Panda provides options such as Thai tea, hojicha, and Vietnamese coffee, offering something to complement every meal.

Owner Lynn Nguyen, a longtime resident of northeast Ohio, is eager to share her culinary passion with the community. “I’m excited to share my passion for cooking,” Nguyen said. “I look forward to welcoming everyone to experience the unique flavors and offerings inspired by my culture.”

Café Panda is now open for business, inviting visitors to indulge in its innovative and cultural menu.

 🧑‍🍳 Upgrade Your Sides with Luxurious Slow-Cooker Scalloped Potatoes

Move over mashed potatoes—there’s a new star for your holiday table: luxurious slow-cooker scalloped potatoes. This creamy, cheesy dish swaps the traditional casserole dish for a slow cooker, freeing up precious oven space while delivering perfectly tender potatoes with the caramelized, golden edges you love.

The rich sauce is made with cream, sharp white cheddar, and nutty gruyère, elevating these scalloped potatoes to a whole new level of indulgence. The slow cooker ensures even cooking and allows the flavors to meld beautifully, making this side a standout addition to any meal.

Look at this great recipe from pioneerwoman.com

🏈 Cardinals Crush McKinley to Keep Championship Hopes Alive

The Mentor Cardinals showcased a dominant second-half performance to secure a 31-0 victory over Canton McKinley in the Division I, Region 1 semifinal on November 15, 2024. Despite a sluggish first half that ended with only a 3-0 lead, Mentor found its rhythm after halftime, forcing three turnovers and converting them into touchdowns.

Coach Matt Gray, dissatisfied with the team’s energy in the first half, used the break to refocus his players. The Cardinals responded immediately, with Jackson Farley breaking free for a 20-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. Senior quarterback Scotty Fox followed with two rushing touchdowns, capitalizing on turnovers created by Mentor’s relentless defense. A highlight came in the fourth quarter when Austin VanHuss made an impressive diving catch for a 5-yard touchdown reception, sealing the win and initiating a running clock.

Mentor’s defense was impenetrable, holding a McKinley offense that had averaged 42 points in its previous playoff games to just three trips into Mentor territory. The Bulldogs struggled under the pressure of Mentor’s aggressive blitzes and timely turnovers, which were key to the game’s momentum shift.

The victory extends Mentor’s undefeated season to 13-0 and advances them to the regional championship game against three-time defending state champions, St. Edward. The matchup is a highly anticipated rematch of the 2022 regional final, which St. Edward won decisively.

Coach Gray praised his team’s balanced effort, commending the defense, which has allowed only one touchdown in the postseason so far. As the Cardinals prepare for the next round, they aim to secure their first state semifinal appearance since 2020.

🏈 Lake Catholic Falls to Glenville in Regional Semifinal, Ends Season 12-1

Lake Catholic’s remarkable season came to an end on November 15, as the Cougars fell 28-0 to Glenville in the Division IV, Region 13 semifinal at Riverside. The Cougars, who entered the game undefeated at 12-0, faced a formidable challenge against the defending state champion Tarblooders, whose aggressive defense proved insurmountable.

Lake Catholic’s season had been defined by dominance, with a powerful offense averaging 35 points per game and a stingy defense allowing just 99 points in 12 games. However, Glenville’s defense, led by standout players like linebacker Cincere Johnson, forced six turnovers and shut down the Cougars’ usually potent attack.

The Cougars opened strong, moving deep into Glenville territory on their first possession, but a fourth-down interception in the end zone by Glenville’s Chris Newell shifted momentum. Shortly afterward, Aaron Scales returned an interception 92 yards for a touchdown, giving the Tarblooders a 7-0 lead and putting Lake Catholic behind for the first time all season.

Despite a valiant effort by the Cougars’ defense, including key plays like a fourth-down sack by Jayson Cummings and forcing two missed field goals, Glenville extended its lead to 13-0 by halftime. In the second half, the Tarblooders’ defensive intensity increased, holding Lake Catholic to just 14 total yards and one first down. Offensively, Glenville added two more touchdowns on runs by Romell Phillips to seal the game.

While the loss ended Lake Catholic’s playoff run, the Cougars celebrated a historic season, finishing 12-1 and achieving their first 10-0 regular season since 1996. The senior class, which helped rebuild the program from a 1-9 record in 2021 to an undefeated regular season in 2024, leaves a legacy of resilience and excellence.

Coach Marty Gibbons praised his team’s effort, noting their accomplishments and the strong bond they shared.

Source: colonialwilliamsburg.org

🤣 Something Funny 🤣