In this Issue of Mentor Local Buzz 🐝

⛅ Weather: Sun & Clouds - Temps 73-75

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

 📰 Local News: 📅 Event: How Garfield Rewrote the Rules - Looking Back at 1880

🛠️ Mentor Harbor Channel Restoration Begins with $6 Million State Investment

⚡Mentor Fire and Police Respond to Downed Sparking Electrical Wires

 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Travel & Discovery: 🛣️ Charming Over Crowded: Gen Z Redefines Travel with the 'Townsizing' Trend

 🏈 Sports: 🏈 Browns Finish Preseason with Win: Flacco Leads, Gabriel Shines, Sanders Falters

⚾ Rangers Roll Behind Rookie Ace, Guardians Blanked in Blowout

⚾ Captains Fall Late as TinCaps Rally for 5-4 Victory

 🤔 Trivia Question

 🤣 Something Funny

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 📅 How Garfield Rewrote the Rules of Politics—Free Event Looks Back at 1880 Campaign

Local residents will have the chance to explore the fascinating history of President James A. Garfield’s groundbreaking Front Porch Campaign during a free program hosted by Mentor Public Library. The event takes place at noon on Tuesday, September 10, at the library’s Main Branch, located at 8215 Mentor Ave.

Unlike today’s political landscape, campaigning in the late 19th century followed very different norms. In 1880, it was considered unseemly for presidential candidates to actively travel and speak to voters. Instead, candidates usually let others do the talking for them.

James A. Garfield broke with tradition by inviting the public to visit him at his Mentor home—now the James A. Garfield Presidential Historic Site—where he addressed citizens directly. Over 15,000 people made their way to his farm to hear him speak during his run for the presidency.

The upcoming presentation will be led by Alan Gephardt, a ranger at the Garfield National Historic Site. Drawing from historical materials such as newspapers, personal letters, telegrams, and Garfield’s own diary, Gephardt will delve into how this unconventional campaign approach helped shape the election and modern political strategies.

While the program is free, space is limited and advance registration is required. Those interested can sign up at www.mentorpl.org or call the Main Branch at 440-255-8811 ext. 1.

🛠️ Mentor Harbor Channel Restoration Begins with $6 Million State Investment

Work is officially underway on the long-anticipated restoration of the Mentor Harbor Channel walls, with a major funding boost from the State of Ohio. Local and state officials gathered on August 1 to mark the ceremonial launch of the project, celebrating a $6 million state investment that will help revitalize the nearly 100-year-old structure.

Originally constructed in 1928, the Mentor Harbor Channel provides vital access to Lake Erie for recreational boating, kayaking, and marina traffic. Over the years, the aging walls near the Mentor Harbor Yachting Club have only seen minor repairs and now require critical rehabilitation to ensure safe navigation and protect the shoreline from erosion and wave damage.

The restoration will reinforce both sides of the channel with armor stone along the steel sheet piling, remove a long-submerged barge on the western wall, and add cribbing to reduce wave impact. These improvements are essential for maintaining public access to the lake and preserving local infrastructure.

In addition to state funding, financial support is coming from the Lake County Commissioners, the City of Mentor, and the Mentor Harbor Yachting Club. The Mannik & Smith Group is managing design, engineering, and construction oversight, while Shoreline Contractors is handling the physical restoration work.

Officials from Lake County emphasized the project’s long-term value for economic development and tourism, noting that the enhanced channel will help preserve access to multiple recreational facilities. Construction is slated for completion by December 2025.

⚡Mentor Fire and Police Respond to Downed Sparking Electrical Wires

Emergency crews in Mentor responded quickly to a hazardous situation involving sparking power lines on the morning of August 19. The incident occurred on Casement Drive, where downed electrical wires were reported sparking on the ground.

Police and fire units were dispatched shortly after 9:25 a.m. following a call alerting authorities to the danger. Crews from Mentor Fire Station 5 were among those sent to the scene to assess and secure the area.

Officials confirmed that the wires were actively sparking, prompting a safety response to prevent potential fires or electrical hazards. Power company personnel were also likely contacted to assist with the repair and safe removal of the downed lines.

There were no injuries reported at the scene, and the situation was brought under control shortly after emergency services arrived. An investigation into the cause of the downed wires is ongoing.

🛣️ Charming Over Crowded: Gen Z Redefines Travel with the 'Townsizing' Trend

Gen Z Fuels ‘Townsizing’ Travel Trend, Flocking to Quaint Small-Town Getaways

As summer travel heats up across the U.S., a noticeable shift is unfolding in vacation habits—especially among Gen Z. Rather than opting for crowded cities or exotic international hotspots, younger travelers are embracing what’s being called “townsizing”: choosing charming, small-town destinations that offer a slower pace, aesthetic charm, and affordability.

According to Priceline’s 2025 Travel Trends Report, Gen Z travelers are leading the charge in this movement, increasingly seeking out cozy retreats in lesser-known towns. Destinations like Old Saybrook, Connecticut; North Wildwood, New Jersey; and Cape Cod, Massachusetts have surged in popularity thanks to their blend of coastal beauty and movie-like atmosphere.

The report reveals that Gen Z is 89% more likely than the average traveler to plan a trip centered around a "Nancy Meyers lifestyle"—a nod to the cozy, idyllic settings seen in the filmmaker’s romantic comedies. These towns provide the perfect backdrop for those dreaming of seaside strolls, vintage shops, and leisurely afternoons at family-owned cafés.

More than two-thirds of Gen Z travelers view vacations as a chance to live out their small-town dreams, steering away from conventional itineraries in favor of experiences that feel authentic and serene. This demographic is prioritizing relaxation and nostalgia over the thrill of checking off bucket-list landmarks.

Travel professionals are taking note. In Indiana, small towns like New Baden and French Lick are seeing a boost as travelers gravitate toward destinations they can easily reach by car, where comfort and character go hand in hand. With fewer crowds and lower costs, townsizing also offers practical benefits—especially appealing in a climate of rising travel expenses and ongoing airline hassles.

Rather than focusing on big-ticket sights, these travelers are after moments that feel personal and meaningful: browsing local markets, chatting with shop owners, and savoring the charm of places often overlooked on the tourist map.

Read More at nypost.com

 🏈 Browns Finish Preseason with Win: Flacco Leads, Gabriel Shines, Sanders Falters

The Browns closed out the preseason with a 19-17 victory over the Rams, led by veteran starter Joe Flacco, who played with the first-team offense before giving way to the rookies. Flacco provided steady control of the offense in limited action, setting the tone early.

Rookie Dillon Gabriel then stepped in and delivered an impressive performance, completing 12 of 19 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown. He led two scoring drives, showing poise in the two-minute drill and strengthening his chances to open the regular season as the No. 2 quarterback if Kenny Pickett isn’t ready.

Meanwhile, fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders had a much tougher outing. Playing behind deeper reserves, he went 3 of 6 for just 14 yards, took five sacks, and struggled to sustain drives. Though he flashed some progress earlier in the preseason, he closes camp as the Browns’ fourth quarterback and a developmental project.

Read More or Watch Highlights at cbssports.com

⚾ Rangers Roll Behind Rookie Ace, Guardians Blanked in Blowout

Jack Leiter delivered a career night Saturday, striking out 10 over seven innings as the Texas Rangers blanked the Cleveland Guardians 10-0 in Arlington.

The rookie allowed only two singles, none past first base, and didn’t issue a walk. It was his first scoreless start carried beyond six innings.

Texas broke the game open with three two-run homers. Cody Freeman hit his first career blast in the second, Josh Jung followed with his 12th in the third, and Adolis García launched his 17th in the fifth. Ezequiel Duran added a two-run double and an RBI groundout.

Cleveland’s Logan Allen was tagged for a career-worst nine runs in five innings. The Guardians have lost seven of their last eight, suffering their biggest shutout defeat since 2021.

The series concludes Sunday with Gavin Williams set to face Arizona’s Merrill Kelly.

Read More or Watch the Highlights at espn.com

⚾ Captains Fall Late as TinCaps Rally for 5-4 Victory

The Lake County Captains lost a tight 5-4 game to the Fort Wayne TinCaps Saturday night after a late comeback at Classic Auto Group Park.

Michael Kennedy pitched six strong innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits, with four strikeouts. He left with a 4-2 lead.

Lake County jumped ahead early with a two-run double from Kyle Dernedde in the second and two more runs in the third, including an RBI single by Ryan Cesarini.

Fort Wayne chipped away with runs in the fourth and fifth, then added a solo homer in the eighth to make it 4-3. In the ninth, an RBI single tied the game, and a double gave Fort Wayne the lead.

Xavier Martinez gave up the final two runs and was charged with the loss. The Captains couldn’t recover after the TinCaps’ late surge.

See the box score and more at milb.com

Source: Google

🤣 Something Funny 🤣