In this Issue of Mentor Local Buzz 🐝

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

 📰 Local News: 📰 Garfield Park to Get it’s New Splashpad & Bathhouse for ‘26

 📰 Lenny Wilkens, Who Left His Mark on Cavaliers and NBA History, Dies at 88

 📰 Join the Cause: Rescue the Needy Food Drive Returns December 5–6

 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Business Spotlight: 🥩 Pub 1812 Opens in Rider’s Inn with Comfort Food and Charm

 🏈 Sports: 🏈 Mentor Faces McKinley in Semifinal Showdown Amid Farley Injury Concerns

 🏈 Glenville, Lake Catholic Meet Again in High-Stakes Semifinal Showdown

 🏀 Toronto Outpaces Cleveland Cavaliers Behind Barnes’ All-Around Effort

 🤔 Trivia Question

 🤣 Something Funny

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📰 Garfield Park to Get it’s New Splashpad and Bathhouse for 2026

Garfield Park to Add New Splashpad and Bathhouse for 2026 Season

As I’m sure you heard, Garfield Park in Mentor is set for a major upgrade, with a new splashpad and modern bathhouse planned to open ahead of the 2026 summer season.

Located at 7967 Mentor Avenue, the project represents a $5.77 million investment aimed at enhancing the park’s recreation offerings. The splashpad will feature interactive water elements for children, creating a safe and fun warm-weather activity for families.

The project also includes a new bathhouse with updated restrooms, changing areas, and improved accessibility for park visitors. Construction will begin once final preparations are complete, with all work expected to finish within 165 days of the official start.

Mentor is now taking bids for the project.

Source: cityofmentor.com

📰 Lenny Wilkens, Who Left His Mark on Cavaliers and NBA History, Dies at 88

Lenny Wilkens, a dual Hall of Famer honored as both a player and a coach, has died at age 88. Over his storied career, he coached several NBA teams, most notably the Seattle SuperSonics—leading them to the 1979 championship—and the Cleveland Cavaliers during the mid‑1980s and early 1990s. Widely regarded as one of basketball’s most respected leaders, Wilkens was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice and remains one of the winningest coaches in NBA history.

See the USA Today for the full article.

📰 Join the Cause: Rescue the Needy Food Drive Returns December 5–6

Mentor Firefighters Host 31st Annual Rescue the Needy Food Drive Dec. 5–6

For the 31st year, the Mentor Fire Department and its supporters will come together to help local families during the Rescue the Needy Food Drive, taking place Friday, December 5, and Saturday, December 6, 2025.

Volunteers will collect cash and non-perishable food near the northeast entrance of the Great Lakes Mall by Barnes & Noble. Collection times are 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Friday and 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Saturday.

All proceeds go directly to the Salvation Army Painesville Corps, serving families in Lake County. Donations remain local, helping residents facing hardship during the winter season.

Since its start in 1994, the event has raised more than $175,000 in food and funds, showcasing the community’s dedication to giving back.

Source: cityofmentor.com

🥩 Pub 1812 Opens in Rider’s Inn with Comfort Food and Charm

Pub 1812 at Rider’s Inn Brings New Flavor to Historic Painesville Landmark

The historic Rider’s Inn in Painesville has reopened with the launch of Pub 1812, drawing early praise for its inviting atmosphere and flavorful menu.

Following recent renovations, the inn blends its classic charm with a renewed dining experience. Guests at the soft opening were welcomed by a friendly staff and a cozy, refreshed interior. But the real highlight was the food.

The restaurant is helmed by Leonard Merriman, known for his former Willoughby restaurant, Knock Offs, which earned a reputation for bold, satisfying dishes. That same approach shines through at Pub 1812.

Dinner started with crisp salads and a tasty appetizer, setting the stage for the standout entrée: a rich and flavorful pot roast served with root vegetables. The dish impressed with its depth of flavor and satisfying portions, paired with warm bread that rounded out the comfort-food feel.

To end the meal, a classic bread pudding impressed with its texture and taste—so much so that it was tough not to sneak a bite on the way home.

Pub 1812 combines historic ambiance with standout food, and if early impressions are any indication, it’s on its way to becoming a new local favorite.

🏈 Mentor Faces McKinley in Semifinal Showdown Amid Farley Injury Concerns

Uncertainty surrounds Mentor as the undefeated Cardinals prepare to face Canton McKinley in the OHSAA Division I Region 1 semifinal Friday night.

Mentor (11-0), the No. 2 seed, rolled past Jackson in the quarterfinals with a 52-6 win, but the victory came at a cost. Star running back Jackson Farley exited early with a knee injury after scoring two long touchdowns. Farley, with 1,465 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns on the season, managed 124 yards on four carries before going down. His status remains unclear for Friday.

In Farley’s absence, Mentor relied on its aerial attack. Junior quarterback Brogan Jones completed 15 of 18 passes for 191 yards and four touchdowns in his first playoff start. Justen Hodge, a Miami (Ohio) commit, caught two scores and finished with 85 yards on four receptions. The Cardinals’ offensive line, led by Ohio State-bound tackle Landry Brede, provided strong protection throughout.

That front will be crucial against third-seeded Canton McKinley (9-2), who advanced with a 30-7 win over Medina. The Bulldogs broke a third-quarter tie by scoring 23 unanswered points, powered by a 279-yard rushing performance. Shad Davis scored three touchdowns, while Kyelin West added 132 yards on 20 carries.

McKinley, in its first playoff run under coach Renzy Parnell, features a physical run game and a defense that limited Medina to just 72 rushing yards. Mentor’s defense has been dominant too, allowing single-digit points in seven of its last eight games. Linebackers Ben Schenk and Carson Wolk lead the charge.

If Farley is sidelined, Mentor is expected to turn to Dominic Burns and Braylon Callahan, who have combined for over 900 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Jones has passed for more than 1,800 yards this season, with Hodge nearing the 1,000-yard receiving mark.

The game kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday at Jerome T. Osborne Stadium. The winner will meet either St. Edward or Toledo Whitmer in the regional final.

🏈 Glenville, Lake Catholic Meet Again in High-Stakes Semifinal Showdown

Glenville and Lake Catholic are set for a high-stakes rematch in the OHSAA Division IV regional semifinals Friday night at Euclid Community Stadium, with a regional final berth on the line.

Last season, Glenville shut out Lake Catholic 28-0. This year, Glenville enters as the No. 2 seed in Region 13, while Lake Catholic holds the No. 3 seed.

The Tarblooders (8-3) dominated Salem 49-0 in their playoff opener, a performance coach Ted Ginn Sr. called their most complete of the year. After facing Division I and II powers like Avon and St. Edward in the regular season, Glenville looked playoff-ready.

C.J. Newell returned to running back and scored three touchdowns on just four touches for 106 yards. Quarterback Arvell Nelson Jr. threw for 196 yards and ran for a score.

Lake Catholic (9-2) advanced with a 16-0 shutout over Streetsboro. Linebacker Marty Loncar had 10 tackles, a sack, and an interception. Michael Barnes added three sacks, and safety Pete Malchesky was in on eight stops. The Cougars held Streetsboro to just 113 total yards.

On offense, junior Danny Zmorowski rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Max Pisano adds a dual-threat option, with Malchesky contributing in the passing game.

Glenville’s defense is led by Ohio State commit Cincere Johnson (112 tackles, 21 TFL, 8.5 sacks) and fellow OSU commit Jamir Perez, a two-way lineman. Newell and Aaron Scales anchor the secondary.

The winner will advance to face either top-seeded Perry or No. 4 West Branch in the Region 13 final.

🏀 Toronto Outpaces Cleveland Behind Barnes’ All-Around Effort

Scottie Barnes powered the Toronto Raptors to a 126-113 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night, delivering an all-around performance just shy of a triple-double. The third-year forward tallied 28 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, and five blocks, leading a balanced Raptors attack that has now won six of its last seven games.

Immanuel Quickley added 25 points, hitting 5-of-7 from beyond the arc, and also dished out six assists. Jakob Poeltl chipped in 20 points and seven rebounds on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting night. As a team, Toronto shot 56% from the field and knocked down 12 three-pointers to keep control for most of the game.

Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 31 points, returning to the lineup after sitting out Wednesday’s win in Miami. He also contributed six rebounds and six assists, while Nae’Qwan Tomlin added 18 points. However, Cleveland was missing key players, including Darius Garland (toe) and Lonzo Ball (rest), and couldn't maintain momentum on the second night of a back-to-back.

The Raptors surged to a 67-54 halftime lead before Cleveland made a push in the third quarter to cut the deficit to five. But a late fourth-quarter burst, highlighted by back-to-back threes from Quickley and a floater from RJ Barrett, stretched Toronto’s lead back to double digits and sealed the win.

Read More, Watch Highlights at espn.com

Source: Google

🤣 Something Funny 🤣

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