In this Issue of Mentor Local Buzz 🐝

  ☁️ Weather: Mostly Cloudy - Temps 34-36

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

 📰 Local News: ❄️ City of Mentor Shares Year-End Reminders and Holiday Schedule

 📰 Kirtland Runs Wild to Reach Ninth Straight State Championship Game

🎅🏻 Santa, Songs, and Sparkle: Tree Lighting Returns to Mentor Tuesday

 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Food & Recipes:🦃 One Sandwich, All the Fixings: Post-Thanksgiving Must-Try

 🦃 Leftover Ham Shines in This Creamy Scalloped Potato Casserole

 🏀 Sports: 🏀 Johnson’s Triple-Double Lifts Hawks Over Cavaliers in NBA Cup

 🏒 Mentor lost to Hudson 7-6, despite leading 3-0 after the first period.

 🤔 Trivia Question

 🤣 Something Funny

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

👉 Events in Mentor & the Area! Visit
MentorLocalBuzz.com/Events
Featured Event for Nov 29

See All the Events
MentorLocalBuzz.com/Events

❄️ City of Mentor Shares Year-End Reminders and Holiday Schedule

General FYIs from the City of Mentor

As we head into the final weeks of the year, the City of Mentor has a few important reminders and updates to help residents prepare for the winter season and upcoming holidays.

Final Week for Yard Waste Collection
The city’s 2025 yard waste collection program is coming to a close. The final pickup week is scheduled for December 8–12. Residents are encouraged to place their yard waste curbside by 7:00 AM on their regular collection day during that final week. After December 12, yard waste will no longer be collected until the program resumes in the spring.

City Office Holiday Closures
In observance of the holidays, Mentor City Offices will be closed on Thursday, December 25, for Christmas Day, and Thursday, January 1, for New Year’s Day. Please plan any in-person city business accordingly.

Holiday Trash Collection Schedule
Trash and recycling collection will follow a one-day delay during the Christmas and New Year’s weeks. If your regular pickup day falls on or after the holiday, your service will occur one day later. If a holiday falls on a weekend, service will not be affected. For both 2025 Christmas and New Year’s holidays, plan for the adjusted pickup schedule to begin on Friday of each week.

Snow Emergency Parking Rules
As winter weather approaches, please be aware that no street parking is permitted during a declared Snow Emergency. A Snow Emergency is in effect when the city experiences an accumulation of snow, sleet, hail, or ice that creates hazardous road conditions. Residents will be notified of Snow Emergency declarations through the city's website (cityofmentor.com) and official social media channels on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

Stay safe, stay informed, and enjoy the season!

See cityofmentor.com for more details.

📰 Kirtland Runs Wild to Reach Ninth Straight State Championship Game

Our friends to the south have been a major player in division VI over the years.

Kirtland improved to 14-0 with a 49-22 win over Colonel Crawford on Nov. 28 at Byers Field, earning a trip to its 14th state championship game. The Hornets will face Hopewell-Loudon on Dec. 6 in Canton.

The Hornets scored on every possession but their last. John Silvestro rushed for 229 yards and four touchdowns, setting a school record with 2,088 yards this season. Ty Bledsoe added 155 yards and a score, and Jake LaVerde ran for 51 yards and two TDs.

Kirtland racked up 441 rushing yards, thanks to a dominant offensive line led by returning tackle Jack Turk. The Hornets led 27-0 at halftime, holding Colonel Crawford to 132 yards in the first half.

Colonel Crawford, in its first semifinal, scored three times in the second half behind Connor McMichael and Peyton Baker, but Silvestro’s 60-yard touchdown late in the third quarter ended the rally.

Kirtland will now play for its eighth state title, aiming to finish the job after last year’s runner-up finish.

🎅🏻 Santa, Songs, and Sparkle: Tree Lighting Returns to Mentor on Tuesday

Mentor to Kick Off Holiday Season with Tree Lighting Celebration on December 2

Mentor is inviting the community to ring in the holiday season at its annual Community Tree Lighting Ceremony, set for Tuesday, December 2, 2025. The festive event will take place from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM outside the Mentor Municipal Center at 8500 Civic Center Boulevard.

Guests can enjoy an evening of seasonal cheer as local choirs perform classic holiday songs and Santa makes a grand entrance in a horse-drawn carriage. Families will have the opportunity to take photos with Santa, and light refreshments will be available to help keep spirits bright.

This free, family-friendly event promises a joyful start to the holidays and is open to all members of the community.

Source: cityofmentor.com

🦃 One Sandwich, All the Fixings: The Post-Thanksgiving Must-Try

Ultimate Thanksgiving Sandwich Stacks Up the Holiday Flavors

Few things rival the joy of Thanksgiving dinner—except maybe the sandwich you make the day after. This Thanksgiving Sandwich takes post-holiday leftovers to the next level, layering everything that makes the feast memorable into one delicious bite.

Get the Full Recipe for this Turkey Day leftover sandwich

🦃 Leftover Ham Shines in This Creamy Scalloped Potato Casserole

Leftover Ham Gets a Comforting Makeover in This Cozy Casserole

For families that trade the traditional Thanksgiving turkey for a glazed ham—or simply add it to the spread—leftovers don’t have to be limited to sandwiches. Enter the ultimate comfort food: a hearty ham and scalloped potato casserole that transforms extra slices of ham into a satisfying, oven-baked dish.

Get the Full Recipe for this Cozy Scalloped Potato Casserole

🏀 Johnson’s Triple-Double Lifts Hawks Over Cavaliers in NBA Cup Clash

Johnson’s Triple-Double Powers Hawks Past Cavaliers in NBA Cup Showdown

The Atlanta Hawks clinched a 130-123 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night, fueled by a standout performance from Jalen Johnson, who delivered a triple-double with 29 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists. The win ended Cleveland’s hopes of advancing in the NBA’s in-season tournament.

The game was tight down the stretch until Atlanta surged ahead with a quick 7-0 burst in the final minute. Nickeil Alexander-Walker contributed 28 points, hitting a pivotal three-pointer late in the fourth to widen the gap. Zaccharie Riscaher knocked down the go-ahead shot with just over a minute remaining, and Atlanta’s defense locked in to hold the Cavaliers scoreless for the final 2:03.

Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell poured in 42 points, continuing his hot streak with his sixth 30-plus point game in the last eight outings. Despite his scoring effort, the Cavaliers couldn't close it out, squandering a four-point lead with just over two minutes to play.

Both teams saw momentum swings throughout the first half. Atlanta built a 13-point lead with a 21-4 run in the first quarter, only to see Cleveland erase it with a 14-0 spurt in the second.

The two squads have now split their regular-season meetings, with two more matchups set for April.

Cleveland returns home next to face the Boston Celtics on Sunday.

Read More, See Highlights at espn.com

🏒 Mentor lost to Hudson 7-6, despite leading 3-0 after the first period.

The Mentor Cardinals suffered a tough 7-6 loss to the Hudson Explorers in a thrilling ice hockey matchup that saw momentum shift dramatically across all three periods.

Mentor came out flying in the first, building a commanding 3-0 lead by the end of the opening frame. However, Hudson mounted a strong response in the second period, netting four goals to narrow the gap. Despite the surge, Mentor still held a 5-4 advantage heading into the third.

The final period belonged to the Explorers, who outscored the Cardinals 3-1 in the closing stretch to complete the comeback and secure the win.

Mentor was led offensively by Joe Mackey and Nick Biondolillo, who each tallied two goals and two assists. The Cardinals' attack leaned heavily on their top scorers, while Hudson benefited from a more balanced offensive effort. Nine different Hudson players registered at least one point, contributing to their dynamic and effective offense.

In goal, Luke Palmer took the loss for Mentor. He faced 20 shots and recorded 13 saves.

The Cardinals return to the ice today for a quick turnaround as they face St. Xavier in their next matchup.

Source: Google

🤣 Something Funny 🤣

People are so mean! But it is funny! PG rating on the one short segment.