In this Mentor Local Buzz Issue…

 😎 Weather: Lots of Sun - Temps 26-28

 🎉 Events: 50+ Live Events. Direct Link to Mentor Live Events

 📰 Local News: 💘 Romantic Date Ideas for Valentine’s Day in Northeast Ohio

 🚀 Mentor Student Wins National Kindness Contest, Heads to Super Bowl

 📅 Mentor City Council to Hold Public Meeting on February 4

 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Special Section: Food & Recipes: 🍮 Master the Perfect Chocolate Soufflé – Easier Than You Think!

 💘 Nothing Says “I Love You” Like a Beef Wellington

 🏀 Sports: 🏀 Mentor Defeats Shaker Heights 86-67 in a Conference Showdown

 🏀 Lake Catholic Dominates Second Half to Defeat Elyria Catholic, 63-49

 🤔 Trivia Question

 🤣 Something Funny

 📢 Advertise With Us!

👉 Mentor Live Events 👈
Feb 1-2

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

💘 Romantic Date Ideas for Valentine’s Day in Northeast Ohio

Looking for a special way to celebrate Valentine’s Day without traveling far? Northeast Ohio offers a variety of unique and romantic date options, from stunning floral displays to cozy igloo dinners.

Orchids in Bloom at Cleveland Botanical Garden

The Cleveland Botanical Garden will be in full bloom for its annual "Orchids: Love in Bloom" display, opening on February 14. Guests can walk through vibrant arrangements of over 3,000 pink, purple, and yellow orchids, with heart-shaped displays and romantic backdrops. For an extra special evening, an after-hours date night experience includes live harp and guitar music, craft-making, and custom chocolate boxes from the café.

Smooth Jazz at Music Box Supper Club

Enjoy a night of live jazz along the waterfront at the Music Box Supper Club in The Flats. On February 15, the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Lou Armagno, and Evelyn Wright will perform a tribute to Frank Sinatra and George Gershwin, bringing classic romance to the stage. Guests can also reserve a table for dinner during the show.

A Date at the Zoo

For animal lovers, both the Akron Zoo and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo offer Valentine’s-themed events. The Akron Zoo’s "Paw-Some Valentine Party" on February 15 features animal-themed crafts and special treats for the animals. Meanwhile, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo hosts Winter Wonder Weekends, offering shuttle services, free carousel rides, and educational keeper talks.

Glassblowing in Ohio City

For a hands-on date, couples can take a private glassblowing workshop at the Glass Bubble Project in Ohio City. This local studio, celebrating 25 years in Cleveland, offers classes where guests can create their own glassware, including wine glasses and beer mugs. Reservations are required, and workshops take place every Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m.

Exploring the Cleveland Aquarium

The Cleveland Aquarium is hosting "That’s A-Moray Weekend" from February 14-17, featuring a romance-themed “I Spy” challenge, oversized Valentine’s Day cards, and fun facts about animal courtship. On Valentine’s Day, the aquarium will extend its hours until 7 p.m. with a cash bar available for guests 21 and older.

A Night in Playhouse Square

Playhouse Square offers a variety of romantic performances during Valentine’s weekend. On February 15, the KeyBank State Theatre hosts Cleveland's Valentine Love Jam, featuring The Whispers, Con Funk Shun, and Lenny Williams. Additional performances include the Tony Award-winning musicals Parade and Peter and the Starcatcher, along with Fat Ham and Lloyd Knight - The Drama.

Dinner Inside a Heated Igloo

For an intimate dining experience, several Northeast Ohio restaurants and wineries offer heated igloo rentals throughout the winter. These cozy, private spaces provide a warm and unique setting for a romantic meal.

Mini Golf with a Twist

Birdietown Mini Golf and Lounge in Lakewood combines dining, craft cocktails, and mini golf for a fun and relaxed date night. The venue, which opened in January, features indoor courses and a full-service bar, making it a perfect mix of entertainment and romance. Guests 21 and older are welcome after 7 p.m.

The Cleveland Orchestra Plays John Williams

For movie and music lovers, the Cleveland Orchestra will perform a tribute to legendary composer John Williams at Severance Music Center from February 14-16. The concert will include famous scores from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, and more, conducted by Keith Lockhart.

Outdoor Adventures

Couples who love the outdoors can explore scenic spots like the Solstice Steps at Lakewood Park or Brandywine Falls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. For winter activities, Lock 3 in Akron offers ice skating and bumper cars, while ski resorts like Boston Mills, Alpine Valley, and Brandywine are open for the season. For a thrill, the toboggan chutes at Mill Stream Run Reservation in Streetsboro offer 700-foot runs through late February.

Cupid’s Undie Run

For an unconventional Valentine’s event, couples can participate in the annual Cupid’s Undie Run in downtown Cleveland on February 8. This one-mile fun run raises money for neurofibromatosis research and ends with a lively dance party.

Whether you're looking for a cozy indoor date or an adventurous outdoor experience, Northeast Ohio has something special for every couple this Valentine's Day.

See the Full Article Here with Links

🚀 Mentor Student Wins National Kindness Contest, Heads to Super Bowl

A Shore Middle School student in Mentor is about to experience the thrill of a lifetime after winning a national contest promoting kindness. Twelve-year-old Mary McMahon and her family are preparing to attend Super Bowl LIX after she was selected as the grand prize winner of the "Kickoff for Kindness" video contest.

The contest, organized by the Values-in-Action Foundation in partnership with the NFL Foundation and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, encouraged students nationwide to submit videos inspiring others to spread kindness. Thousands of students from over 650 schools participated, but only one could win—and that honor went to Mary.

The big reveal happened during her music class last Friday when Stuart Musynski, CEO and Co-Founder of Values-in-Action Foundation, made a surprise visit to announce her victory. The unexpected news left Mary in shock and excitement.

“I had no idea. It’s just really surprising, and I’m so excited,” she shared.

Her mother, Jamie, was equally stunned but overwhelmingly proud of her daughter’s initiative. Initially, Mary had her sights set on the contest’s smaller prize of a shopping spree, never expecting to land Super Bowl tickets.

The Values-in-Action Foundation has been fostering kindness and respect in schools for 30 years, with programs like Kindland aimed at empowering students and communities. The organization has maintained a strong relationship with Mentor Schools for two decades, applauding their commitment to fostering a culture of kindness.

As Mary gears up for the big game, she’s cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs—and hoping for a glimpse of Taylor Swift while she’s there.

WATCH or Read the Full Article at news5cleveland.com

📅 Mentor City Council to Hold Public Meeting on February 4

The Mentor City Council is scheduled to convene on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the council chambers on the third floor of the Mentor Municipal Center.

Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting, which is open to the public. For those unable to attend in person, the meeting will be broadcast live on the Mentor Channel, Spectrum 1024, U-Verse 99, and through the city's official app, available on Roku, Apple, Android, and Amazon Fire. Rebroadcasts will be available throughout the following week.

The meeting agenda and related documentation are accessible online via Google Drive.

🍮 Master the Perfect Chocolate Soufflé – Easier Than You Think!

Decadent Chocolate Soufflé Made Easy

Feeling fancy? A rich, airy chocolate soufflé might seem like a restaurant-exclusive dessert, but it's surprisingly simple to make at home. With just a few key ingredients and the right technique, you can create an elegant treat that will impress even the most discerning guests.

What You’ll Need? Check out the Recipe at allrecipes.com

💘 Nothing Says “I Love You” Like a Beef Wellington

This classic dish features a tender beef fillet coated in English mustard, wrapped in a layer of mushroom duxelles and Parma ham, then encased in a golden, flaky puff pastry. The result? A perfectly cooked, pink-centered masterpiece that’s both elegant and indulgent.

🏀 Mentor Defeats Shaker Heights 86-67 in a Conference Showdown

The Mentor Cardinals boys' varsity basketball team secured a convincing 86-67 victory over the Shaker Heights Red Raiders in a Friday night conference game on the road.

Mentor established control early, jumping to a 24-11 lead in the first quarter and extending their advantage to 45-23 by halftime. Shaker Heights attempted to rally in the second half, but Mentor’s offensive firepower and strong rebounding effort kept the Red Raiders at bay.

Leading the way for the Cardinals was Kobe Frasure-Azzano with 24 points, while Tony Katava added 15 and Olulami contributed 13. Mentor controlled the boards with 42 total rebounds, six of them from Ayo Olulami. Jack Kennedy helped facilitate the offense with five assists.

Shaker Heights was led by John Horn, who posted 20 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Jacire Eaddy also reached double figures with 12 points. The Red Raiders struggled in the first half but found some rhythm in the final quarter, outscoring Mentor 23-14.

Mentor hit seven three-pointers and converted 11 of 18 free throws, while Shaker matched their opponents from deep but attempted fewer shots at the line, making six of seven.

With the win, Mentor improves to 11-4 overall and 5-3 in conference play. The Cardinals will look to continue their strong form when they travel to Strongsville on February 4 for a key matchup against the 13-3 Mustangs.

🏀 Lake Catholic Dominates Second Half to Defeat Elyria Catholic, 63-49

Lake Catholic’s boys basketball team earned a solid home win Friday night, defeating Elyria Catholic 63-49 in a North Coast Conference matchup.

The game was even after the first quarter, with both teams tied at nine points. However, the Cougars found their rhythm in the second, outscoring the Panthers 16-7. A dominant third-quarter performance, where Lake Catholic put up 22 points, helped seal the victory.

The Cougars had a balanced offensive attack, led by Ace Peterlin, who finished with 16 points, including three three-pointers. Aiden Webb contributed 15 points, also hitting three shots from beyond the arc. Cross Nimmo added 14 points, making a strong impact at the free-throw line by sinking eight of nine attempts. Brody Bohr provided an additional boost with eight points.

With this victory, Lake Catholic improves to 10-6 overall and 4-3 in conference play. The team looks to carry this momentum into their next matchup later today at 6pm when they take on University School (Hunting Valley, OH) (9-6).

Game Recap:

Lake Catholic 63, Elyria Catholic 49
Quarter Breakdown:
Elyria Catholic: 9 | 7 | 15 | 18 — 49
Lake Catholic: 9 | 16 | 22 | 16 — 63

Source: Google

🤣 Something Funny 🤣

Dad and child, when mom isn’t home