In this Issue of Mentor Local Buzz 🐝

☔ Weather: Rain early, then Cloudy - Temps 62-64

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

 📰 Local News: 📰 Mentor Council Approves Major Infrastructure Projects, Welcomes New Member

 🚧 Mentor Infrastructure Improvements Continue with New Phase of Roadwork

 📰 Pinkerman Appointed to Mentor’s Ward 3; Term Runs Through 2026

 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The Pet Corner: 🐈 Bowling Green’s Secret Weapon? A Cat Named Pudge Is Stealing the Show

⚾ Sports: ⚾ Guardians Capitalize on Red Sox Mistakes to Snap Losing Streak

⚾ Captains Crumble Late After Early Deficit in 11-5 Loss to Loons

 🤔 Trivia Question

 🤣 Something Funny

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 📰 Mentor Council Approves Major Infrastructure Projects, Welcomes New Member

The September 2nd meeting of the Mentor City Council brought both new leadership and movement on several projects. Charles “Chuck” Pinkerman was sworn in as the new Ward 3 council member, filling a vacancy and joining council for his first official session.

Council focused heavily on infrastructure. TC Construction was awarded an $829,650 contract for the full reconstruction of Mercantile Drive, set for completion in June 2026. Phillips Paving secured a $412,700 contract to repair and resurface pavement at the Wildwood Cultural Center, Recreation Center, Mentor Cemetery, the Marina, and Harbor Drive. Council also approved funding reallocations to support updated police radios.

Momentum continues in the Old Village commercial corridor, where council approved the first reading of an ordinance declaring several long-vacant parcels economically distressed. The designation opens the door for redevelopment that would combine ground-floor retail with upper-level apartments. A public hearing will be scheduled before the plan moves forward.

Two resolutions also passed: one setting the city’s 2026 tax levies, and another ensuring the city can be reimbursed by the state for road and sewer projects funded through OPWC grants.

City Manager Ken Filipiak reported that Corduroy Road resurfacing begins September 9, with Hoose Road and Cannon Ridge Drive set for completion by September 22. Lakeshore Boulevard repairs are nearly done, and the long-awaited removal of a sunken barge in the Mentor Marina Channel is expected mid-September.

As fall approaches, council reaffirmed the city’s bagged yard waste collection program. In place for over two decades, the service is viewed as more efficient and stormwater-friendly than curbside leaf pickup. The program runs through December with extended limits to support autumn cleanup.

Council also formally adopted findings to support its earlier denial of a conditional use permit for a proposed car wash, ensuring legal compliance if appealed. Members closed the meeting by celebrating the success of the 2025 “Mentor Rocks” concert series, which again attracted strong community turnout and regional visitors.

The next city council meeting will include the second reading of the Old Village redevelopment ordinance, marking the next step in Mentor’s downtown revitalization.

Read the Full Article at mentorlocalbuzz.com

🚧 Mentor Infrastructure Improvements Continue with New Phase of Roadwork

Mentor Moves Forward with Key Road and Infrastructure Projects as Fall Nears

As summer winds down, road construction projects throughout Mentor are progressing on schedule, with several major efforts nearing completion and others poised to begin in the coming weeks.

Progress on Annual Street Repairs
Mentor’s annual City Street Repair Program, which targets around 30 local streets each year, is wrapping up for the season. All asphalt street work has already been completed, while remaining repairs on concrete streets—including Kellogg Creek, Snowberry Court, Brandywine, and Munson Road—are expected to be finalized within the next few weeks.

Lakeshore Boulevard Resurfacing Nears Completion
The Lakeshore Boulevard Resurfacing Project has moved past its major structural phases. Milling, asphalt base repairs, and intermediate paving are finished. Crews are now focused on adjusting castings and completing necessary concrete repairs. The final surface layer is slated for installation in the coming weeks, with the full project scheduled for completion by September 30.

New Civic Center Parking Lot Progressing
A new 150-space parking lot at the Mentor Civic Center is well underway. After installing curbs and light pole foundations, workers are set to begin asphalt paving this week. Substantial completion is expected by early October.

Hoose Road Project Set to Begin
Work on Hoose Road is scheduled to commence the week of September 8. With an expected duration of two weeks, the project will maintain traffic using flaggers and is anticipated to be substantially completed by September 22.

Cannon Ridge Repairs Start Soon
Concrete repairs on Cannon Ridge will also begin September 8, lasting approximately three weeks. A temporary one-way northbound traffic pattern will be in place for the duration of the work.

Residents seeking further information about ongoing or upcoming infrastructure efforts can contact the city’s Building & Engineering Department.

Source: cityofmentor.com

📰 Pinkerman Appointed to Mentor’s Ward 3; Term Runs Through 2026

Mentor City Council appointed Charles “Chuck” Pinkerman to the vacant Ward 3 seat during its Sept. 2 regular meeting, with five members voting in favor and Council Member Matthew Donovan absent. Pinkerman was sworn in by Law Director J. Peter Szeman and will serve through Dec. 31, 2026. Per city ordinance, the Ward 3 seat will be on the November 2026 ballot to fill the remainder of the term ending Dec. 31, 2027.

Pinkerman brings extensive public service and building-safety experience to council. He joined the Mentor Board of Building and Zoning Appeals in 2008, became vice chair in 2010, and chair in 2017. Earlier in his career, he volunteered as a firefighter in Mentor-on-the-Lake and worked three decades as a chief electrical inspector and building inspector in Willoughby. He emphasized a commitment to serving as a responsive liaison between council and Ward 3 residents.

He succeeds Mark Freeman, who resigned effective Aug. 14 due to family obligations. Freeman’s resignation was announced at the Aug. 19 council meeting.

🐈 Bowling Green’s Secret Weapon? A Cat Named Pudge Is Stealing the Show

Pudge the Cat Becomes Unofficial Mascot for Bowling Green Football

At Bowling Green State University, a new face has stolen the spotlight from coaches and players alike—but it has fur and a purr. A three-year-old exotic shorthair Persian cat named Pudge has become a beloved figure within the Falcons football program, delighting fans and players while making waves online.

The feline phenomenon began when wide receiver Finn Hogan shared a TikTok video of Pudge lounging around the locker room at the Sebo Athletic Center. Since then, Pudge has gone viral, with his online presence growing rapidly and even earning national attention on “Good Morning America.”

Pudge made his sideline debut during Bowling Green's Thursday night game against Lafayette, which the Falcons won 26-7. Cameras caught him donning a custom jersey as he roamed the field area, including a cameo appearance on ESPN.

The cat’s owner, long snapper George Carlson, originally brought Pudge to the athletic center to lift team morale during an off day. His goal was simple: to bring a little joy to his teammates. That gesture quickly turned into a team-wide obsession and a campus-wide phenomenon.

Now a certified part of the football culture, Pudge has his own Instagram account and a name-image-likeness (NIL) deal that includes merchandise featuring a cartoon version of him wearing a Bowling Green helmet. T-shirts and other items are now available, fueling his growing fan base.

Despite some initial hesitation—particularly from head coach Eddie George, who has cat allergies, and cornerback Jalen McClendon, who had a bad experience with a cat as a teen—Pudge has won everyone over. His hypoallergenic breed has kept him in the good graces of even the most reluctant teammates.

From campus walkways to national television, Pudge has not only become a symbol of team spirit but also an unexpected mascot bringing fun, camaraderie, and a bit of feline flair to the Falcons football season.

Read More: apnews.com

⚾ Guardians Capitalize on Red Sox Mistakes to Snap Losing Streak with 8-1 Win

Guardians Dominate Sloppy Red Sox to Avoid Sweep with 8-1 Win

The Cleveland Guardians broke out for six runs in the second inning and rolled to an 8-1 win over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, avoiding a three-game sweep.

Gabriel Arias hit a two-run homer — his 10th of the year — to ignite the rally. Cleveland took advantage of Boston’s miscues, including two errors, a catcher’s interference, and a wild pitch, to build an early 6-0 lead.

Steven Kwan had three hits and scored twice, while José Ramírez added two RBIs. The Guardians struck first when Kwan doubled, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on a groundout.

Boston, which leads the majors in errors, struggled defensively again. A misplayed flyball in left field added to their troubles.

Rookie Joey Cantillo pitched six strong innings for Cleveland, allowing one run on five hits with seven strikeouts to earn his fourth win.

Boston’s lone run came in the fourth on Nick Sogard’s RBI single. The Red Sox still took the season series 4-2 despite the lopsided loss.

Read More & Watch Highlights at espn.com

⚾ Captains Crumble Late After Early Deficit in 11-5 Loss to Loons

The Lake County Captains fell short in a high-scoring matchup against the Great Lakes Loons, losing 11-5 at home. Struggles on the mound plagued the Captains early, with starting pitcher Jackson Humphries exiting after recording just one out. Humphries was charged with five runs on four hits—two of them home runs—along with two walks and one strikeout. The bullpen couldn’t contain the damage, allowing six more runs on six additional hits throughout the game.

Great Lakes jumped out to a commanding lead in the top of the first, sparked by a run-scoring single and a pair of home runs that brought in four more runs. Despite the early deficit, the Captains clawed their way back. A pair of doubles in the third and fifth innings helped Lake County tie the game at five by the end of the fifth, with a wild pitch allowing the tying run to cross the plate.

Momentum shifted again in the top of the seventh when a fielding error allowed the Loons to reclaim the lead. Patience at the plate and timely hits helped Great Lakes break the game wide open, scoring five more runs over the next two innings. A daring steal of home in the eighth added the final blow, sealing an 11-5 defeat for the Captains.

See the Box Score and More at milb.com

Source: Google

🤣 Something Funny 🤣