In this Issue of Mentor Local Buzz 🐝

🌨️ Weather: Windy, Cold, Snow Showers - Temps 28-29

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

 📰 Local News: 🗳️ One Vote Decides Mentor Council Seat After Recount Confirms Results

 📰 Mentor Senior Center Opens 2026 Membership with Activities, Meals, More

 📰 Mentor Couple Ordered to Repay Over $1 Million After Federal Tax Convictions

 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The Pet Corner: 🐕‍🦺 The Secret to Stress-Free Dog Walks: How No-Pull Harnesses Work

 🏀 Sports: 🏀 Rodriquez Drops 30 as Mentor Girls Roll Past North

 🏀 Mentor Cardinal Boys Dominate Behind Kennedy’s Big Night

 🤔 Trivia Question

 🤣 Something Funny

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

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🗳️ One Vote Decides Mentor Council Seat After Recount Confirms Results

One Vote Secures Mentor City Council Seat in Tightly Contested Election

Well its official. In a dramatic finish to the November 2024 election, the Lake County Board of Elections has confirmed that Brian Cook won an at-large seat on the Mentor City Council by just one vote. The final certified results, announced December 9, followed a hand recount that upheld Cook's slim lead over challenger Annie Payne.

Initially, Payne was ahead in unofficial tallies. However, the addition of late-arriving absentee and provisional ballots shifted the margin in Cook’s favor, giving him a total of 5,554 votes to Payne’s 5,553. The recount confirmed the totals without change, officially securing Cook’s position on council. He will be sworn in on January 3.

Payne acknowledged the recount process in a December 2 social media statement, saying she chose not to concede due to the razor-thin margin but expressed confidence in the election's integrity.

Tuesday’s certification officially concludes Lake County’s election season, highlighting just how impactful every single vote can be.

📰 Mentor Senior Center Opens 2026 Membership with Activities, Meals, and More

Mentor Senior Center Welcomes Seniors to Connect, Create, and Stay Active

Lake County residents aged 55 and older are invited to join the Mentor Senior Center, the area’s largest gathering place for seniors. With a full calendar of activities—from fitness and health to arts, travel, and social clubs—the Center offers a vibrant, welcoming community.

Membership is simple and affordable: $10 annually for Mentor residents and $15 for others in Lake County. For those 65 and older with qualifying Medicare plans, a SilverSneakers membership is included at no cost.

Members enjoy weekday hot lunches made from scratch, as well as hobby groups, educational classes, wellness clinics, and local outings. A newsletter is mailed three times a year, detailing upcoming events, menus, and senior services.

Free door-to-door transportation is available via Laketran for Lake County residents aged 60 and up. To schedule a ride, call (440) 354-6100.

Now is the time to register or renew for 2026 and take full advantage of everything the Mentor Senior Center has to offer.

For more information, call (440) 974-5725 or visit mentorseniorcenter.com.

Read More or Watch the Video at news5cleveland.com

📰 Mentor Couple Ordered to Repay Over

$1 Million After Federal Tax Convictions

Mentor Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Failing to Pay Employment Taxes

A Mentor man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for failing to pay employment taxes owed to the IRS, concluding a years-long investigation into a local home care business.

Michael Roberts, 38, received a 24-month sentence from U.S. District Judge John R. Adams on December 3, following his April conviction for failing to account for and pay employment taxes. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay $322,718.56 in restitution.

Roberts was the executive director and co-owner of Progressive Alternatives, a care provider for individuals with developmental disabilities in Lake and Ashtabula Counties. The business was originally purchased in 2011 by his spouse, Larry Keith Gildersleeve III, 43, also of Mentor.

Federal investigators found that payroll checks issued by Roberts reflected tax withholdings, but the company never actually submitted W-2 forms or made required quarterly payments to the IRS.

The tax issue surfaced in 2017 when a retiring employee learned that the company had failed to make payroll tax payments on her behalf.

Gildersleeve, also involved in the business, was previously sentenced to 24 months in prison after pleading guilty to eight counts of failing to pay over taxes. He was ordered to repay $692,697.50 and serve three years of supervised release.

The IRS Criminal Investigation Division led the case.

Read More at cleveland19.com

 🐕‍🦺 The Secret to Stress-Free Dog Walks: How No-Pull Harnesses Work

Why No-Pull Harnesses Are a Game Changer for Dog Owners

Walking a dog that pulls on the leash can be exhausting, frustrating, and even dangerous. Traditional collars often make the problem worse by placing pressure on a dog’s neck, leading to coughing, choking, or long-term injury. That’s where the no-pull harness comes in — a simple but effective solution designed to gently discourage pulling behavior while keeping dogs safe and comfortable.

Unlike standard harnesses or collars, no-pull harnesses feature a front-clip design that redirects a dog’s momentum toward the handler when they try to surge forward. This redirection interrupts the pulling without pain, making it a more humane and effective tool for leash training. Some models even use a martingale loop that tightens slightly around the chest to enhance control without restricting movement or causing discomfort.

Dog owners and trainers alike appreciate no-pull harnesses for their dual benefits: they reduce pulling and provide a more pleasant walking experience for both dog and handler. They also minimize the risk of injury by distributing pressure evenly across the dog’s chest and shoulders, instead of concentrating it on the neck.

Fit and comfort are also major reasons why these harnesses are favored. Many come with padded straps, multiple adjustment points, and breathable materials, making them suitable for dogs of all sizes and coat types. They’re especially helpful for training puppies, managing reactive dogs, or walking strong breeds that are prone to lunging.

While no-pull harnesses aren’t a magic fix, they’re a highly effective management tool when paired with positive reinforcement. For many, they’re the first step toward stress-free, enjoyable walks — and a more harmonious relationship between dog and human.

Read More at businessinsider.com

🏀 Rodriquez Drops 30 as Mentor Rolls Past North

Mentor Lady Cardinals Dominate North Rangers Behind Rodriquez’s 30-Points

The Mentor Lady Cardinals delivered a commanding home-court victory last night, defeating the North Rangers 60-25 in a non-conference matchup. The win improved Mentor’s record to 4-1 overall (3-0 in conference), while North dropped to 1-3 on the season.

Senior standout Nina Rodriquez led the way for the Cardinals with a career-best 30 points, powering the team to its third straight conference win.

Mentor now sets its sights on Saturday's matchup at home against the winless Euclid Panthers (0-5). Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on December 13.

🏀 Mentor Cardinals Dominate Behind Kennedy’s Big Night

Kennedy Leads Mentor Boys Basketball to 84-67 Victory Over Berea-Midpark

We provided the final score on this game yesterday on not much more. So, we wanted to provide you with the full story on this big game.

The Mentor Cardinals played an impressive game, getting the win by a score of 84-67 over Berea-Midpark. The game highlighted the team’s depth, talent, and youth —particularly sophomore Jack Kennedy, who delivered a dominant performance.

Kennedy earned Player of the Game honors after scoring 32 points on 63% shooting. He went 7-of-8 from the free-throw line, added six rebounds, eight assists, and a steal, showcasing his all-around game. Despite making only one three-pointer, his efficiency and control fueled Mentor's offense all night.

Supporting efforts came from sophomore Tommy Pavicic, who chipped in 12 points, along with three rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Senior Tony Katava made his presence felt in the paint, finishing with 8 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks.

Freshman Mason Sauric was perfect from beyond the arc, hitting all three of his three-point attempts and scoring 11 points. Sophomore Connor Witte added 11 as well, going a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. Sophomore Luke Gerard pulled down an impressive nine rebounds.

The Cardinals, riding momentum, will travel to face Euclid (1-2) on Friday, with tipoff set for 7:30 p.m.

Source: Google

🤣 Something Funny 🤣

Watch out for that dog!