In this Mentor Local Buzz Issue…

⛅ Weather: Mostly Sunny - Temps 48-53

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

 📰 Local News: 📰 Sponsorships Available for 2025 Mentor Events – Act Now!

 🚨 Senior Scams Surge in Mentor: Police Issue Urgent Warning

🏠 Ohio Officials Warn Older Adults About Unsolicited Real Estate Offers

 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Special Section: The Pet Corner: 🐈‍⬛ Bird Flu and Your Pets: Prevention and Warning Signs

 🐶 Firefighters Rescue Puppy from Well in Trumbull County

 🏀 Sports: 🐟 ODNR to Stock 85,000 Rainbow Trout Across Ohio Waters

 🤔 Trivia Question

 🤣 Something Funny

 📢 Advertise With Us! 

👉 Mentor Live Events 👈
March 13

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

📰 Sponsorships Available for 2025 Mentor Events – Secure Yours Now!

The City of Mentor is offering sponsorship opportunities for its 2025 event season, which draws over 150,000 attendees each year. With a lineup ranging from high-energy Mentor Rocks concerts to intimate art receptions at Wildwood Cultural Center, these events create a strong sense of community while providing valuable exposure for local businesses.

Most events are free to the public, made possible through corporate sponsorships. Businesses interested in supporting the city's programming are encouraged to review the 2025 Mentor Event Sponsorship Packet for details on available opportunities. Sponsorships are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with commitments due by March 21, 2025, at 5:00 PM and final payments required by May 1, 2025.

For more information or to secure a sponsorship, contact Ante Logarusic at [email protected] or (440) 974-5794.

🚨 Senior Scams Surge in Mentor: Police Issue Urgent Warning

Scams targeting seniors in Mentor have reached an all-time high, with local detectives receiving two to three reports every week. Authorities believe this is just a fraction of the problem, as nearly 87% of scams go unreported due to victims feeling embarrassed.

Recent cases highlight the severity of the issue. One Mentor woman lost over $660,000 after a scammer, posing as a friendly acquaintance, tricked her into a cryptocurrency scheme. In another case, a local couple was defrauded of $45,000 after responding to a fake pop-up warning on their iPad. The scammer, impersonating a bank official, convinced them to withdraw their savings.

Scammers often pose as trusted figures—government officials, bank representatives, or even law enforcement officers. Their tactics involve urgency and secrecy, pressuring victims to act before they can verify the legitimacy of the request.

How to Protect Yourself from Scams:

• Ignore Unknown Calls & Texts: If you don’t recognize the number, don’t answer.

• Hang Up Immediately: Legitimate agencies will not demand secrecy or immediate action.

• Avoid Clicking Suspicious Links: If a pop-up warns of a security issue, run antivirus software or consult a trusted professional.

• Verify Information Independently: Contact businesses or agencies using official contact details, not those provided by the caller.

• Never Pay with Gift Cards or Cryptocurrency: No legitimate business or government agency requests payment this way.

• Protect Personal Information: Avoid sharing sensitive details that could be used for identity theft.

• Trust Your Instincts: If something feels wrong, stop communication and seek help.

If you believe you’ve been scammed, act quickly. Reporting the incident immediately may improve the chances of recovering funds. Mentor detectives warn that many scams originate from out-of-state or offshore sources, making recovery difficult, but swift action increases the odds.

For assistance, contact the Mentor Police Department at 440-255-1234.

🏠 Ohio Officials Warn Older Adults About Unsolicited Real Estate Offers

The Ohio Department of Commerce is warning older homeowners to be cautious of unsolicited real estate offers, as they may involve misleading terms or undervalue properties. Scammers often target seniors with complex financial arrangements that can lead to financial loss.

Key Risks to Watch For:

🔹 Wholesaling Scams:

• Homeowners receive an offer below market value.

• Once the agreement is signed, the buyer resells the home for a profit, pocketing the difference.

🔹 Leaseback Agreements:

• Sellers become tenants in their own former homes.

• Homeowners who previously owned their property outright may now have to pay rent.

Protect Yourself:

The Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing (REPL) can help verify whether a real estate professional is licensed. If approached with an offer, contact them at [email protected] or call 614-466-4100 before making any decisions.

🐈‍⬛ Bird Flu and Your Pets: Prevention and Warning Signs

Avian influenza, commonly known as "bird flu," primarily affects wild and domestic birds but can occasionally spread to other animals and humans. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses, particularly H5N1, are especially concerning due to their severity.

While primarily a threat to birds, HPAI has been detected in various mammals including dairy cattle and cats in the U.S. Pets may become infected by consuming infected birds, unpasteurized dairy, or raw meat.

Warning Signs in Pets:

• Fever and lethargy

• Decreased appetite

• Eye inflammation or discharge

• Respiratory difficulties

• Neurological symptoms (tremors, seizures, coordination problems)

Contact your veterinarian immediately if these signs appear. Unfortunately, there's no specific treatment for HPAI, and recovery is rare for poultry. For other animals, treatment focuses on supportive care.

Prevention Tips:

• Keep cats indoors when possible

• Prevent pets from contact with wild birds or cattle

• Don't let pets eat dead animals

• Avoid feeding pets raw meat or unpasteurized milk

For Backyard Flocks:

• Keep birds enclosed away from wild birds

• Practice good hand hygiene before and after handling birds

• Secure feed, water, and equipment from wild animals

• Limit visitors to your flock

• Monitor for signs of illness

The USDA tracks HPAI outbreaks in wild birds and poultry. Stay informed about local outbreaks through their website. While human infection is uncommon, it can occur through prolonged exposure to infected animals. Those with compromised immune systems face higher risk.

For more information, consult your veterinarian or state animal health official.

Read the Full Article at avma.org

🐶 Firefighters Rescue Puppy from Well in Trumbull County

A 6-month-old pug named Tater is safe and recovering after falling into a seven-foot-deep well in Champion Township, Trumbull County.

The Champion Township Fire Department received a call at 4:50 p.m. on Monday about the incident. According to officials, the well cover had fallen in, causing Tater to slip inside. Fire crews quickly responded and successfully rescued the puppy without injuries.

After being safely retrieved, Tater was reunited with his anxious owner, bringing relief and joy to those at the scene.

Read the Full Story at fox8.com

🐟 ODNR to Stock 85,000 Rainbow Trout Across Ohio Waters

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife is set to release 85,000 rainbow trout into lakes and ponds across 90 locations statewide, beginning this Wednesday and continuing through mid-May. The final trout release is scheduled for May 18 at the Ohio and Erie Canal in Cuyahoga County.

These 10-to-13-inch trout have been raised in state hatcheries and will be available for anglers across Ohio. Anyone 16 or older must have a valid Ohio fishing license to participate. An annual license costs $25, while a one-day license is $14 and can be credited toward an annual license purchase.

For the first seven days after stocking, fishing at state park youth ponds is limited to anglers 15 and younger. After this period, the ponds open to all ages until April 30. Starting May 1, youth ponds return to youth-only fishing for the rest of the year.

Some Northeast Ohio locations and stocking dates include:

Petros Lake (Stark County) – March 26 Blue Heron Preserve Pond (Geauga County) – March 31 Westlake Recreation Center Pond (Cuyahoga County) – April 1 Painesville Recreation Park Pond (Lake County) – April 16 Malabar Farm State Park Inn Pond (Richland County) – April 25 Walker Road Pond (Lorain County) – May 3 A full list of stocking locations and dates is available at ohiodnr.gov/troutstockings. Anglers can also call 1-800-WILDLIFE (1-800-945-3543) for updates, including any changes due to weather.

See the Full Article at ideastream.org

Source: Google

🤣 Something Funny 🤣

Are you wearing a wig?