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  • 📰 Maple Festival This Week, Dyngus Day Today, Home Reno: Drab to Fab!

📰 Maple Festival This Week, Dyngus Day Today, Home Reno: Drab to Fab!

Issue #475

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In this Issue of: Mentor Local Buzz 🐝

⛈️ Weather: Mostly Cloudy w/ Showers & Thunderstorms - Temps 70-74

 📢 Local Events from Mentor & the Area: MentorLocalBuzz.com/Events!

 📰 Local News: 🍁 Oldest Maple Festival in the U.S. Taps into Chardon’s Heritage

 🥟 Polka, Pierogies, and Polish Pride: Dyngus Day Returns to Cleveland

💻 Mentor Library Hosts Free Tech Classes for All Skill Levels

 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Special Section: Real Estate: 🏠 From Drab to Fab: Home Equity Fuels Renovation Boom

🏘️ Featured New Home Listings for Sale in Mentor, Ohio (44060)

⚾ Sports: 🏀 Ty Jerome Shines Off Bench as Cavs Dominate Fourth Quarter

⚾ Lake Catholic Stays Unbeaten with 4-1 Win Over Shaker Heights

⚾ Manzardo Lifts Guardians Over Pirates in 10th to Complete Sweep

 🤔 Trivia Question

 🤣 Something Funny

Contact Mentor Local Buzz - [email protected] - 440-256-6115

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Mostly Cloudy w/ Showers & Thunderstorms - Temps 70-74

👉 Events in Mentor & the Area!
Visit MentorLocalBuzz.com/Events
Featured Event for April 21

🍁 Oldest Maple Festival in the U.S. Taps into Chardon’s Heritage

maplefestival.com

The Geauga County Maple Festival, the oldest maple celebration in the United States, returns April 24-27 to honor the region’s rich maple syrup heritage. Held annually during the last full weekend of April in Chardon, Ohio, the four-day festival pays tribute to the area's deep-rooted maple production traditions and the sweet flavor of pure Ohio syrup.

The origins of the festival date back to 1926, when Chardon merchant Art Carlson sought to boost awareness and appreciation of locally made syrup, which then sold for just 50 cents a gallon. His idea quickly gained traction, and soon the community launched the first Geauga County Maple Festival. Despite fears of a late-season ice storm, the inaugural event attracted more than 15,000 visitors—triple the expected turnout. The festival has been a beloved annual tradition ever since.

The Maple Festival also hosts the largest maple syrup contest in Ohio, drawing producers from across the state to showcase their finest batches. Attendees can enjoy a wide array of attractions, including amusement rides, arts and crafts, historical exhibits, and the popular Invitational Lumberjack Competition.

Other highlights include the Bathtub Races, Pancakes in the Park, a pancake eating contest, a Royal Pageant, and not one but two Grand Parades. Visitors can also take part in the annual ‘Sap Run’ and witness the ceremonial Tappin’ Sunday event, where the first maple trees of the season are tapped on Chardon Square, offering fresh maple stirs to the crowd.

With delicious maple treats, spirited competitions, and live entertainment, the Geauga County Maple Festival continues to celebrate the sweet tradition that put Chardon on the map.

For More Information see maplefestival.com

🥟 Polka, Pierogies, and Polish Pride: Dyngus Day Returns to Cleveland

Cleveland is gearing up for a lively celebration of Dyngus Day on Monday, April 21the day after Easter—bringing polka music, traditional food, and festive energy to the city.

Now in its 15th year, Cleveland’s Dyngus Day festivities will center around the Gordon Square Arts District, with events running from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The day will feature polka dancing, live music, a pierogi eating contest, and the crowning of Miss Dyngus Day, among other cultural highlights.

Dyngus Day, or Śmigus Dyngus, is a Polish-American holiday that marks the end of Lent and celebrates Easter’s joy. It’s especially popular in Cleveland, Buffalo, and other communities with strong Polish roots.

Local bars and restaurants will also join in, offering themed food, drinks, and entertainment to keep the party going throughout the city.

See the Original Article & Video at fox8.com
For More Information clevelanddyngus.com

💻 Mentor Library Hosts Free Tech Classes for All Skill Levels

Mentor Public Library will offer a new series of free technology classes at its Main Branch from April 29 to May 1. These beginner-friendly sessions are designed to help community members build confidence using computers, Microsoft Office software, and smartphones.

The schedule begins on April 29 at 2 p.m. with “Basic Computers and Internet,” followed by “Word 1” at 6:30 p.m., which teaches how to create documents in Microsoft Word. On April 30, “Learn to Use Your Android Phone” takes place at 2 p.m., and “Word 2” at 6:30 p.m. introduces more advanced Word features like formatting and grammar tools.

May 1 features “Learn to Use Your iPhone” at 2 p.m., and a PowerPoint class at 6:30 p.m. covering presentation basics.

All classes are free, but registration is required and opens two weeks prior. Sign-ups are available at www.mentorpl.org or by calling 440-255-8811 ext. 1. Classes are held at the Main Branch, 8215 Mentor Ave.

Additional free online Microsoft tutorials are also available via the library’s LinkedIn Learning platform.

🏠 From Drab to Fab: Home Equity Fuels Renovation Boom

More than half of homeowners are using their home equity to renovate rather than relocate, according to the 2025 Remodeling Impact Report from the National Association of Realtors. In fact, 54% tapped into a home equity loan or line of credit (HELOC) to fund updates—choosing upgrades over moving amid tight inventory and rising home prices.

Popular reasons for remodeling include refreshing worn-out materials (27%), improving energy efficiency (19%), making a lifestyle change (18%), or preparing to sell within two years (18%). For many, remodeling is a strategic choice—boosting both enjoyment and home value without the stress of moving.

Top projects that deliver the most value when it’s time to sell include replacing a steel front door (100% ROI), renovating a closet (83%), installing new vinyl windows (74%), and updating kitchens and bathrooms (60–71%).

Beyond financial return, renovations can also boost happiness. The report’s “Joy Score” found that adding a primary suite, upgrading a kitchen, or installing a new roof scored a perfect 10 out of 10 for homeowner satisfaction. Other feel-good projects include bathroom remodels and fresh interior paint.

With property values still strong, homeowners have an opportunity to unlock equity for projects that refresh their living space. Whether it's a HELOC, cash-out refinance, or renovation loan, financing is more accessible than many assume.

In the end, turning your current house into your dream home may be just a remodel away.

Read the Full Article at themortgagereports.com

🏘️ Featured New Home Listings for Sale in Mentor, Ohio (44060)

6788 Traub Ter, Mentor, OH. 44060
2 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,855 Sqft. 4,273 Sqft. Lot
Sale Price $499,900
Listed by: Brady Secre Brokered by Exp Realty, Llc.
Link to Property Listing

6728 N Weatherby Dr., Mentor, OH 44060
4 Beds, 2.5 Baths, 2,454 Sqft. 0.43 Acre Lot
Sale Price $424,900
Listed by: Denise Kovatch Brokered by Howard Hanna - Mentor
Link to Property Listing

9200 Orvos Ct., Mentor, OH 44060
5 Beds, 3 Baths, 2,665 Sqft., 0.41 Acre Lot
Sale Price $395,000
Listed by: Lisa Sisko Brokered by Keller Williams Greater Metropolitan Realty
Link to Property Listing

7710 Morley Rd., Mentor, OH 44060
3 Beds, 1 Baths, 1,222 Sqft. 1.62 Acre Lot
Sale Price $329,900
Listed by: Jonathan Kubischta Brokered by Homesmart Real Estate Momentum Llc
Link to Property Listing

8698 Station St., Mentor, OH 44060
4 Beds, 1 Baths, ???? Sqft. 0.74 Acre Lot
Sale Price $165,000
Listed by: Julie Crowley Brokered by Howard Hanna - Mentor
Link to Property Listing

Link to Other Listings in Zip Code 44060

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🏀 Ty Jerome Shines Off Bench as Cavs Dominate Fourth Quarter

The Cleveland Cavaliers opened their Eastern Conference First Round series with a commanding 121-100 win over the Miami Heat at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The game remained competitive through three quarters, with Cleveland maintaining a slim lead for much of the night—but it was the fourth quarter where the Cavaliers turned up the pressure and pulled away decisively.

Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 30 points on an efficient 11-of-19 shooting night. He was supported by Darius Garland, who added 27 points on 10-of-17 from the field. The biggest surprise came off the bench, where Ty Jerome made a huge impact in 24 minutes, dropping 28 points while adding five rebounds and three assists.

Jarrett Allen anchored the paint with a double-double, finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds. While Evan Mobley struggled early—held without a rebound in the first half—he bounced back to grab seven boards and chipped in 9 points. Max Strus contributed 9 points, and Sam Merrill added 6.

De'Andre Hill had a tough outing and was held scoreless.

With a 1-0 series lead, Cleveland will look to build momentum when they host Miami again in Game 2 on Wednesday.

⚾ Lake Catholic Stays Unbeaten with 4-1 Win Over Shaker Heights

Lake Catholic continued its undefeated run with a 4-1 home win over Shaker Heights on Saturday, improving to 8-0 on the season and 4-0 in conference play.

The Cougars jumped out early with a run in the first inning and extended their lead with two more in the third. Both teams added a run in the fifth, but pitching kept the score locked in from there. This was a low-scoring game, and both teams collected just four hits each.

Carson Gilbert sparked the Cougar offense, reaching base three times and scoring three of the team’s four runs. Brayden Mann delivered the big swing of the day with a triple that drove in three runs. AJ Trobenter added a double, while Micah Nytrae chipped in with an RBI.

Lake Catholic’s pitching staff dominated from start to finish. Starter Patrick Radigan earned the win, going five strong innings with 10 strikeouts while allowing just one unearned run on three hits. Frankie Trinetti took over in relief, tossing two scoreless innings with five strikeouts to seal the victory.

The Cougars now turn their attention to a marquee matchup against Mentor today, who enters the game at 8-1. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. at Mentor.

⚾ Manzardo Lifts Guardians Over Pirates in 10th to Complete Sweep

The Cleveland Guardians capped a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 5-4 win in extra innings on Sunday at PNC Park.

Kyle Manzardo drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning with a sacrifice fly, scoring Jhonkensy Noel, who began the inning at second base. Manzardo also homered in the seventh, following a two-out single and stolen base by José Ramírez.

Steven Kwan opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the third after a Brayan Rocchio single, giving Cleveland a 2-0 lead. Pittsburgh closed the gap in the sixth with an RBI double from Andrew McCutchen.

The Guardians led 4-1 going into the ninth, but the Pirates rallied for three runs off closer Emmanuel Clase. Adam Frazier hit a two-run double and Ke’Bryan Hayes tied the game with an RBI single. The rally ended with a double play from McCutchen.

In the 10th, Joey Cantillo earned his first career save after inducing a double play and a flyout to end the game. Cleveland improved to 13-10, while Pittsburgh dropped to 8-15.

The Guardians return home Monday to face the Yankees, while the Pirates begin a road trip Tuesday in Anaheim against the Angels.

Photo by Danny Howe on Unsplash

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