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- 📰 Ice Jam Grand River, Mentor School Board Pressure, Mentor Tax Day
📰 Ice Jam Grand River, Mentor School Board Pressure, Mentor Tax Day
Issue #423
In this Mentor Local Buzz Issue…
☁️ Weather: Mostly Cloudy & Windy in the PM - Temps 47-51
🎉 Events: 50+ Live Events. Direct Link to Mentor Live Events
🧊 Ice Jam on Grand River Prompts Closures, Flooding Concerns in Painesville
📰 Sen. Bernie Moreno Pressures Mentor School Board Over Compliance with Education Laws
📰 Mentor Municipal Tax Deadline Approaching: File by April 15
📰 NOACA Seeks Public Feedback on 2026-2029 Transportation Projects
👨👩👧👦 Special Section: Family Fun: 🎈 Enjoy Free Farmpark Admission for Lake County Residents on March 2
⚾ Sports: ⚾ Gavin Williams Flashing Potential Early in Spring Training
🤔 Trivia Question
🤣 Something Funny
Mostly Cloudy & Windy in the PM - Temps 47-51
👉 Mentor Live Events 👈
Feb 28 - March 1
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
🧊 Ice Jam on Grand River Prompts Closures, Flooding Concerns in Painesville
A massive ice jam drifting down the Grand River from Fairport Harbor has led Painesville city officials to close Kiwanis Park at 301 Latimore St. due to the risk of flooding. The blockage, which extends from Fairport Harbor to Painesville, has caused hazardous conditions with large ice chunks and debris piling up along the riverbanks.
The Painesville Fire Department has urged residents to stay away from the river, warning that the situation remains dangerous. A photo posted by the city shows ice and debris pushing against the St. Clair Street Bridge, further highlighting the extent of the jam.
Fire Chief Thomas Hummel stated that emergency crews are closely monitoring the situation. He has been in contact with Fairport Harbor Fire Chief Bob Lloyd, who is coordinating with the Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers, and Lake County Emergency Management to explore options for breaking up the ice, including the possible use of an ice cutter near the mouth of the river.
With more rain expected in the coming days, officials warn that flooding remains a serious concern. In addition to Kiwanis Park, Lake Metroparks has temporarily closed Grand River Landing as a precaution.
What is an Ice Jam?
An ice jam occurs when chunks of ice accumulate and block a river’s natural flow, leading to potential flooding. As temperatures warm and snow melts, rising water levels break apart the ice, causing large pieces to drift downstream and create blockages.
Read More at news5cleveland.com
📰 Sen. Bernie Moreno Pressures Mentor School Board Over Compliance with Education Laws
Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) is pressuring an Ohio school board after a board member appeared to suggest that compliance with laws prohibiting certain educational content was optional.
At a February 11 Mentor Public Schools board meeting, board member Lauren Marchaza questioned the enforcement of a recent Ohio law and a federal executive order aimed at restricting gender and racial ideology in K-12 education. A video of her remarks, which was widely shared online, has sparked controversy.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 29 titled “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling,” which warns that schools could lose federal funding for violating the law. Ohio also passed legislation in early January prohibiting discussions on sexuality without parental consent. Despite these measures, Marchaza suggested there may be legal flexibility regarding enforcement, pointing out that federal law limits the government's role in local curriculum decisions.
Moreno strongly disagreed with Marchaza’s interpretation and sent a letter to Mentor Public Schools board president Maggie Cook demanding clarification. He accused Marchaza of making misleading legal claims and suggested that the board may be disregarding federal and state mandates. Moreno specifically requested answers on whether the district intends to comply with relevant laws. He also questioned why a non-attorney board member was providing legal analysis on the matter.
The senator gave the board five days to respond, emphasizing that Lake County schools receive over $1 billion in state and federal funding.
Read the Full Article Here
📰 Mentor Municipal Tax Deadline Approaching: File by April 15
City of Mentor
The deadline for filing Mentor Municipal tax forms or exemption forms is set for Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Residents can file their taxes, make payments, check refund statuses, and access past payment history through the Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA) website at www.ritaohio.com. The website also provides tax forms for download and secure email communication with RITA representatives.
For those who prefer assistance, RITA offers a drop-off service for tax return preparation. Taxpayers can print an Individual Municipal Tax Drop-Off Sheet from the website, attach necessary documents, and submit them at designated RITA locations, including the Mentor Municipal Center Lobby.
Tax-related questions can be addressed by calling 1-800-860-7482. Self-service phone options are available 24/7 for payments, refund status, and estimates, while live agents are available weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Summary:
Tax deadline: April 15, 2025
File online: www.ritaohio.com
Drop-off service available at select locations, including Mentor Municipal Center Lobby
Customer support: 1-800-860-7482 (self-service available 24/7; agents available weekdays 8 AM – 5 PM)
📰 NOACA Seeks Public Feedback on 2026-2029 Transportation Projects
City of Mentor
Public Input Needed for NOACA's 2026-2029 Transportation Improvement Program
The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) is seeking public feedback on projects included in its Fiscal Year 2026-2029 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Residents of Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, and Medina counties are encouraged to review the proposed plans and share their opinions.
The public comment period is open until April 14, 2025. Community input will play a key role in shaping a more inclusive and effective transportation planning process.
To engage with residents, NOACA will host a public open house in Lake County on Thursday, March 27, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Morley Library, 184 Phelps Street, Painesville, OH 44077. No registration is required to attend.
For more information or to submit comments, residents can visit NOACA’s official website.
🎈 Enjoy Free Farmpark Admission for Lake County Residents on March 2
📸 Photo by Jim Marquardt - Lake County Farmpark
Lake County Resident Free Day at Farmpark
📅 Sunday, March 2 - 9am - 5pm
Lake County residents can enjoy free admission to Lake Metroparks Farmpark on the first Sunday and third Tuesday of each month! Just bring a valid ID for entry.
🚨 Exclusions: Free admission does not apply to groups, school bookings, scheduled birthday parties, or reserved rentals.
📍 Park Info & Hours: goto.lakemetroparks.com/farmpark
See Facebook Event Page Here
⚾ Gavin Williams Flashing Potential Early in Spring Training
Baseball is back… as most of you know, spring training started mid-February and the boys of summer are now in full swing during the spring.
Gavin Williams made a strong impression in his first spring training outing, showcasing noticeable improvements in pitch shape and approach. The young right-hander is a key piece for the Guardians’ rotation, and early signs suggest he could exceed expectations in 2025.
Projections from FanGraphs peg Williams with an average 3.94 ERA, but if healthy, he could outperform that and approach his impressive 3.23 ERA from 2023. The key? Refining his breaking pitches and regaining the elite fastball effectiveness he had two seasons ago.
Williams’ fastball averaged 97 mph in his Arizona debut, up 0.4 mph from last season. More importantly, it gained two inches of induced vertical break, making it a tougher pitch to square up. His slider, which struggled in 2024, has also evolved—dropping 2.4 mph in velocity while gaining eight inches of horizontal break. If properly tunneled, an 86 mph sweeping slider could pair effectively with his high-octane fastball.
Another promising sign was his improved curveball, a true 12-6 breaker that should play better alongside his sharper slider. He also adjusted his horizontal release point, which slightly reduced his extension but could improve command and pitch tunneling—an essential factor in deception.
Williams dedicated the offseason to refining his mechanics and conditioning, even training with Guardians’ pitching coach Karl Willis in North Carolina. If his early adjustments hold up, he could be the difference-maker Cleveland needs to contend for the AL Central crown.
Spring training is just beginning, but this first test drive of 2025 looked promising for the Guardians' potential ace-in-the-making.
Read or WATCH more at coveringthecorner.com
