In this Issue of Mentor Local Buzz 🐝

☀️ Weather: Mostly Sunny - Temps 75-77

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

 📰 Local News: 📰 Planning Commission Approves South Cedarwood Subdivision, Sheets Gas Station on Heisley

 📰 Thrift Store in Mentor Helps Moms Rebuild Lives with Job Skills and Support

⚾ Whitecaps Dominate Game 2 to Seal Playoff Sweep Over Captains

 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Event Spotlight: 🌮 Taco Festival Set to Bring Flavor, Music, and Culture to Painesville Square

 🏈 Sports: 🏈 Cardinals Aim to Extend Streak Over Blue Devils in Week 4

 🏈 Lake Catholic Seeks Third Straight Win in Road Matchup at Gilmour

⚾ Guardians Stay in Wild Card Hunt With Kayfus’ Eighth-Inning Heroics

 🤔 Trivia Question

 🤣 Something Funny

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📰 Planning Commission Approves South Cedarwood Subdivision, Sheets Gas Station

Planning Commission Approves Subdivision and Sheets Gas Station

At its September 4, 2025 meeting, the Planning Commission advanced two major development proposals: a five-lot residential subdivision at South Cedarwood Road and a new Sheets gas station and convenience store on Heisley Road.

South Cedarwood Subdivision

The developer proposed extending South Cedarwood Road by 185 feet to create five new residential lots on unused land. A wetlands study revealed significant constraints, preventing a connection to Antoinette Drive and reducing the lot count from earlier plans of eight or ten.

City staff supported the plan, citing the improved emergency access and alignment with the 2024 housing study calling for new residential development. Because of wetland-related site limitations, the Commission unanimously voted to waive the requirement for sidewalks under the city’s hardship code. The project will proceed pending variance approvals.

Sheets Gas Station Final Site Plan

The Commission also reviewed the final site plan for a new Sheets gas station at 6010 Heisley Road. Representatives detailed the layout, including their signature “isolated canoe” drive-thru lane. While this configuration is standard across over 70 Ohio locations, city officials flagged concerns about on-site traffic flow and potential congestion near the entrance.

Traffic studies showed the drive-thru would see only about five vehicles per hour at peak times. Commissioners requested added signage and striping to improve navigation and safety. The site will feature 45 parking spaces, propane sales, and outdoor seating.

Residents raised concerns over late-night deliveries, potential traffic backups near Hendricks Road, and the design of the “pork chop” traffic island enforcing right-in/right-out access. Staff noted deliveries must comply with existing noise ordinances and confirmed that the island will meet ODOT standards.

The Commission approved the site plan with 11 conditions, including compliance with the noise ordinance, landscaping enhancements, and final engineering reviews.

📰 Thrift Store in Mentor Helps Moms Rebuild Lives with Job Skills and Support

Hannah’s Harbor, a thrift store on Lakeshore Boulevard in Mentor, officially opened on Sept. 5 as an extension of Hannah’s Home, a nearby nonprofit supporting expectant mothers in crisis. The store provides both affordable items and critical job training opportunities for residents.

The women participate in a structured employment program—a 30- to 120-day path to develop workplace skills. Many enter Hannah’s Home lacking job experience due to addiction, unstable housing, or pregnancy-related complications. The store offers a safe, flexible environment where they can work while receiving support.

Mothers helped prepare the space by painting, organizing donations, and setting up displays. One program graduate has already been hired as a shift lead, and the store expects to employ up to 10 moms regularly.

Hannah’s Harbor also serves as a budgeting classroom—mothers earn credits for meeting goals and use them to “shop” for their and their babies’ clothing. The community has responded enthusiastically, with lines at the opening and donations pouring in.

The store is open Thursday–Saturday, with donation drop-off on select days.

⚾ Whitecaps Dominate Game 2 to Seal Playoff Sweep Over Captains

Whitecaps Sweep Captains, End Lake County’s Season in Shutout Victory

West Michigan ended Lake County’s playoff hopes with a dominant 4-0 shutout on September 11, clinching a sweep in the best-of-three Midwest League playoff series. The decisive win, played in Michigan, followed the Whitecaps' road victory in Game 1 on September 9 in Eastlake.

All four of West Michigan’s runs came in a single fourth-inning surge against Lake County starter Caden Favors. The Whitecaps strung together a pair of RBI singles followed by a two-run double to take firm control of the game.

Lake County struggled offensively, managing just two singles—one each from Nick Mitchell and Ryan Cesarini—and only reached scoring position once. The team struck out nine times in the game and failed to generate any momentum at the plate.

Despite a strong finish to the regular season that saw them overtake Great Lakes for a playoff spot, the Captains' postseason run was cut short. The club had previously captured the Midwest League championship in 2024.

See the Box Score and More at milb.com

 🌮 Taco Festival Set to Bring Flavor, Music, and Culture to Painesville Square

HOLA Ohio to Host Taco Festival in Painesville’s Veterans Park

HOLA Ohio will bring a celebration of food, music, and culture to Painesville on Saturday, Sept. 13, with its Taco Festival at Veterans Park, located at 1 Liberty Street. The free event runs from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and promises fun for all ages.

Attendees can enjoy a wide variety of tacos, from classic steak and chicken to vegetarian-friendly options like cactus, potatoes, and beans. A playful addition—tacos de nada, or “nothing tacos”—will be available as shells with toppings of your choice. Other Mexican favorites like quesadillas, burritos, tortas, and aguas frescas round out the food offerings.

Beyond food, HOLA is offering cultural activities. Artist Rafael Figuera will lead a papier-mâché (cartonería) workshop where visitors can make miniature folk-art figures, a craft rooted in 18th-century Mexican tradition.

The festival will also feature family-friendly activities, including a margarita bar, kids' games, and vendor booths. Highlights include folkloric dance performances at noon and 5:15 p.m., piñatas at 12:30 p.m., and lucha libre (Mexican wrestling) at 4 p.m.

Live music will play throughout the day with The Irish Troubadours at 3 p.m., Los Implacables at 6 p.m., and Grupo Inkieto closing out the evening at 7 p.m.

The event also includes a cultural presentation from the Yaqui people, Indigenous to the Sonoran Desert region, continuing HOLA’s tradition of showcasing Latin American heritage.

With food, performances, crafts, and culture, the Taco Festival offers a full day of community celebration.

See our website for more information, mentorlocalbuzz.com

🏈 Cardinals Aim to Extend Streak Over Blue Devils in Week 4 Showdown

Mentor Aims to Stay Perfect in Week 4 Matchup at Brunswick

The Mentor Cardinals (3–0) take their perfect start on the road tonight (Friday) night to face the Brunswick Blue Devils (1–2) at Brunswick Auto Mart Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM.

Mentor has dominated this Greater Cleveland Conference series in recent years, leading 17–1 all-time and routing the Blue Devils 45–14 in Brunswick last fall. The Cardinals again bring a balanced attack headlined by returning senior back Jackson Farley, who powered key drives in last year’s matchup and give Mentor a physical run game that sets up their quick-strike passing.

Brunswick, meanwhile, is looking to steady the ship after a 1–2 start. The Blue Devils typically lean on a tough defensive front and ball-control offense to shorten games—exactly the formula they’ll need to keep Mentor’s offense on the sideline and the score within one possession late.

What to watch

• Line of scrimmage: If Mentor’s offensive line wins early downs, the Cardinals can dictate tempo.

• Explosive plays: Brunswick must limit chunk gains and make Mentor finish long drives.

• Special teams & turnovers: Field position has swung this series before; one takeaway or return could flip momentum.

The bottom line: Mentor enters as the favorite on form and depth, but a disciplined Brunswick defense and a lively home crowd could make this a tighter GCC test than last year’s scoreline.

🏈 Lake Catholic Seeks Third Straight Win in Road Matchup at Gilmour

Lake Catholic Looks to Extend Win Streak in Road Test at Gilmour

Lake Catholic will aim for its third straight win when it visits Gilmour Academy on Thursday night in a nonconference showdown under the lights at Weber Stadium.

The Cougars (2-1) are coming off a dominant 36-6 victory over Akron Buchtel and appear to be hitting their stride behind a rugged defense and a physical ground attack. On the other side, Gilmour (1-2) is looking to bounce back from a 42-13 loss to a high-powered Hawken squad.

Lake Catholic's running trio of Danny Zmorowski, Michael Valentino, and Giovanni Magistrelli found plenty of success last week, but it’s the Cougars’ defense that has been setting the tone. Led by standout linebacker Marty Loncar, Lake’s unit is known for its toughness and consistency in shutting down opponents.

Gilmour will need a strong response on defense after surrendering over 300 passing yards last week. This time, the Lancers’ challenge shifts to stopping the run. Offensively, quarterback Sean Pitrone threw for 103 yards against Hawken, with a 58-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Santagata and an 87-yard rushing performance from Nate Lennon providing the highlights.

With both teams looking to make a statement, the focus will be on whether Gilmour can contain Lake Catholic’s balanced rushing attack—and whether the Lancers’ offense can keep pace.

⚾ Guardians Stay in Wild Card Hunt With Kayfus’ Eighth-Inning Heroics

Kayfus’ Clutch Homer Lifts Guardians Over Royals

Rookie C.J. Kayfus crushed a two-run homer in the eighth inning to lead the Cleveland Guardians to a 3-2 comeback win over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night, keeping Cleveland in the AL wild card hunt.

The Guardians (75-71) have won six of their last seven and took three of four from Kansas City, remaining three games behind Seattle with 15 to play.

Kansas City struck first with a two-run homer by Vinnie Pasquantino in the opening inning, his 30th of the season. He becomes just the fourth left-handed batter in Royals history to reach that mark, joining Mike Moustakas, John Mayberry, and George Brett.

The Royals went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, missing chances to build their lead. Their best shot came in the sixth, but Cleveland starter Gavin Williams struck out Jonathan India to escape trouble.

Bo Naylor led off the eighth with a single before Kayfus launched a 425-foot blast to right-center off reliever John Schreiber, giving Cleveland its first lead. It was Kayfus’ third homer of the year.

Matt Festa pitched a scoreless eighth to earn the win, and Cade Smith secured his 13th save by working around a hit batter in the ninth.

Read More or Watch Highlights at espn.com

Source: Google

🤣 Something Funny 🤣

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