In this Issue of: Mentor Local Buzz 🐝

🌤️ Weather: Mostly Sunny - Temps 63-65

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

 📰 Local News: 📰 Mentor to Honor Veterans with Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony on Today

🏊‍♀️ Mentor Recreation Rolls Out 1,200+ Programs for Summer 2025

 🦟 Midge Madness: Swarms of Tiny Insects Descend on Northeast Ohio

 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Real Estate: 🏠 Who Qualifies as a First-Time Home Buyer in 2025? You Might Be Surprised

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

⚾ Sports: ⚾ Tigers Blank Guardians Behind Skubal’s Historic Shutout

⚾ Mentor Outlasts Hoover in Extra Innings for Fourth Straight Win

 🤔 Trivia Question

 🤣 Something Funny

 📢 Advertise With Us! 

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

👉 Events in Mentor & the Area! Visit MentorLocalBuzz.com/Events
Featured Event for May 26

See All the Events
MentorLocalEvents.com/Events

📰 Mentor to Honor Veterans with Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony on Today

The City of Mentor invites the community to gather in remembrance during its annual Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade, today, Monday, May 26, 2025. The tribute will begin with a solemn parade at 9:30 AM, stepping off from Memorial Middle School at 8979 Mentor Avenue and proceeding north to the Mentor Municipal Cemetery.

The formal ceremony will commence at 10:00 AM at the cemetery’s Memorial Promenade, located at 6881 Hopkins Road. The event will feature participation from city council members, administrative officials, and county and state representatives, alongside veterans and local civic organizations.

For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be recorded and rebroadcast at a later time, allowing all residents an opportunity to honor the sacrifices of military service members.

Download the program for the event

🏊‍♀️ Mentor Recreation Rolls Out 1,200+ Programs for Summer 2025

Whether you’re looking to get active, explore the outdoors, or try something completely new, Mentor Recreation has something for everyone this summer—over 1,200 programs, to be exact!

From fitness classes and art workshops to kayaking tours, golf instruction, hockey leagues, day camps, and senior trips, the department offers year-round fun for all ages and interests. It’s all part of the city’s commitment to building a vibrant, connected community through recreation.

The Mentor Recreation Summer 2025 Program Guide will begin arriving on residents' doorsteps this week, but for those eager to plan ahead, the full guide is already available online for download.

Registration for summer programs opens April 7, 2025, for Mentor residents and members. Non-residents and non-members can register starting April 8, 2025.

With so many choices, there's never been a better time to jump in and play in Mentor.

Download the Mentor Recreation Summer 2025 Program Guide.

🦟 Midge Madness: Swarms of Tiny Insects Descend on Northeast Ohio

Northeast Ohio residents are once again contending with a seasonal nuisance: swarms of midges have returned in full force. These tiny insects, resembling mosquitoes but harmless to humans, have been spotted in massive numbers, coating cars, homes, and just about any outdoor surface. Large clouds of the bugs can even be seen drifting through the sky, creating an eerie visual across the region.

Midges typically emerge from Lake Erie in late spring, with another wave often appearing in late summer or early fall. Though they don’t bite, their sheer numbers can be overwhelming. Social media has already lit up with local residents posting videos and photos of the insect invasion, including thick clusters of midges blanketing the sides of houses and vehicles.

With each bug living only about five to seven days, the midges won’t be around long—but for now, they’re making their presence well known.

WATCH or Read this story at fox8.com

🏠 Who Qualifies as a First-Time Home Buyer in 2025? You Might Be Surprised

Becoming a homeowner for the first time can be an exciting and rewarding milestone—and the good news is, the definition of a "first-time home buyer" is more inclusive than many might expect. In fact, individuals who haven’t owned a primary residence in the past three years may still qualify for the same benefits as someone who has never purchased a home before.

This broader definition allows many hopeful homeowners to take advantage of financial assistance programs, favorable loan terms, and down payment support—even if they’ve previously owned a home under different circumstances.

Who Qualifies as a First-Time Home Buyer?

You may be considered a first-time home buyer if you haven’t owned or had your name on the mortgage of a primary residence in the last three years. This applies whether you've been renting, living with family, or simply staying out of the housing market.

The range of people who can qualify is wider than expected:

• Renters: Those who have consistently rented for the past three years often qualify for first-time buyer programs that ease the transition into homeownership.

• Single Parents and Caregivers: Individuals who previously co-owned a home with a spouse or took time off to care for family members may still qualify—even if their name was on a previous deed or mortgage.

• Investment Property Owners: Owning a rental or investment property doesn’t disqualify someone—provided they haven’t owned a primary residence in the last three years.

• Mobile Home Owners: Those who own a mobile home not affixed to a permanent foundation may be eligible, as such ownership is viewed differently from traditional homeownership.

• Veterans and Service Members: Those who have served in the military may benefit from special loan options, including those with zero down payment and no private mortgage insurance.

• Public Service Professionals: Teachers, law enforcement, EMTs, and firefighters often have access to unique programs that offer deep discounts or more lenient loan requirements.

• Buyers in Target Areas: Purchasing a home in certain revitalization zones can bring additional perks, such as relaxed credit requirements and reduced purchase prices.

Basic Requirements for First-Time Home Buyer Programs

Even for those who meet the primary definition, there are still several financial qualifications to meet:

• Down Payment: Many programs allow down payments as low as 3%, and some government-backed loans even eliminate the requirement entirely.

• Debt-to-Income Ratio (DTI): Ideally under 43%, though some programs accept higher ratios based on compensating factors.

• Credit Score: A score of 620 is often the baseline for conventional loans, but FHA loans may accept scores as low as 580 with a minimum down payment.

• Credit History: Lenders will evaluate your credit behavior, including payment history and debt levels.

• Employment and Income Stability: Most lenders prefer a consistent employment record over the past two years with steady income.

• Income Limits: Some assistance programs are tailored for low- and moderate-income families and base eligibility on the Area Median Income (AMI).

If you're considering taking the leap, connecting with a lender to verify your eligibility is a smart first step.

See the Full Helpful Article at themortgagereports.com

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

6346 Meadowbrook Dr., Mentor, OH. 44060
4 Beds, 4.5 Baths, 3,500 Sqft. 0.34 Acre Lot
Sale Price $599,900
Listed by: Megan M. Dawson
Link to Property Listing

7626 Ellington Pl, Mentor, OH 44060
3 Beds, 2.5 Baths, 2,801 Sqft. 0.50 Acre Lot
Sale Price $499,900
Listed by: Shawne T. Tagliarina Brokered by McDowell Real Estate
Link to Property Listing

7413 Hollycroft Ln, Mentor OH 44060
3 Beds, 2.5 Baths, 2,242 Sqft., 0.45 Acre Lot
Sale Price $399,900
Listed by: Linda Lione Brokered by Howard Hanna - Mentor
Link to Property Listing

8180 Conover Ct., Mentor, OH 44060
3 Beds, 1.5 Bath, 1,574 Sqft. 0.28 Acre Lot
Sale Price $289,900
Listed by: Denise Kovatch Brokered by Howard Hanna - Mentor
Link to Property Listing

8233 Midland Rd., Mentor, OH 44060
3 Beds, 1.5 Baths, 1,722 Sqft. 9,618 Sqft. Lot
Sale Price $259,900
Listed by: Robert Ponti Brokered by Keller Williams Grt Cleve Ne
Link to Property Listing

Link to Other Listings in Zip Code 44060

⚾ Tigers Blank Guardians Behind Skubal’s Historic Shutout

Tarik Skubal delivered a dominant outing Sunday, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 5-0 shutout over the Cleveland Guardians and snapping a three-game losing streak. In the series finale, Skubal allowed just two hits over nine innings, striking out 13 and walking none.

The performance marked the first complete game of his career, achieved with just 94 pitches—qualifying as a “Maddux,” a term for a shutout under 100 pitches. Skubal set a new record for the most strikeouts in a “Maddux” and now leads the American League with 92 strikeouts. His final pitch clocked in at 102.6 mph, the fastest recorded by a starter since tracking began in 2008.

Detroit’s offense erupted in the fourth inning. Zach McKinstry hit a two-run homer, followed by an RBI double from Gleyber Torres and a run-scoring single from Andy Ibáñez. A throwing error allowed a fifth run to score.

Cleveland starter Logan Allen lasted just 3 2/3 innings, giving up five runs (four earned) on six hits and four walks.

With the win, Detroit moved to 34-20, extending its AL Central lead to 3.5 games. Cleveland fell to 29-23, dropping to third place.

⚾ Mentor Outlasts Hoover in Extra Innings for Fourth Straight Win

The Mentor Cardinals boys varsity baseball team continued their hot streak with a 4-2 extra-inning victory over the Hoover Vikings on Saturday in North Canton. The non-conference win marked Mentor’s fourth straight and improved their season record to an impressive 20-5.

The Cardinals struck first with a run in the third inning, but Hoover responded with two in the bottom half to take the lead. Mentor tied things up in the sixth, and the game remained knotted until the tenth, when the Cardinals plated two decisive runs to secure the win.

Jacob Gunvelson delivered a strong start on the mound, going five innings without allowing an earned run and surrendering just one hit. Consistently dependable, Gunvelson has now gone 14 straight outings without issuing more than two walks.

Offensively, Tyson Cendrowski played a key role, going 2-for-5 with a stolen base, two RBI, and a run scored—his best RBI output since April. Austin Vanhuss also contributed, collecting two hits and scoring twice.

The win was Mentor’s fifth straight on the road, thanks in part to solid pitching that has limited opponents to an average of just 2.4 runs over those games. Hoover, meanwhile, dropped to 14-12 after suffering their fourth loss in five games.

Both teams now look ahead to postseason play. Mentor is set to face St. Edward at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday in what could be a low-scoring battle, as both teams have averaged fewer than 4.2 runs allowed per game. Hoover will meet Normandy at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

Source: Google

🤣 Something Funny 🤣

Who knew you could have so much fun with a small little horn…