In this Issue of Mentor Local Buzz 🐝

🌥️ Weather: Windy & Cloudy, Clouds & Sun in the Afternoon - Temps 25-28

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

 📰 Local News: 🚶🏻‍♀️Winter Trails Beckon: Discover Mentor’s Parks in the Winter

💰 Slower Increases, Bigger Savings: What Ohio’s New Tax Laws Mean for You

📚 Lake County Imagination Library Seeks Support to Keep Books Flowing

 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Travel & Discovery: ✨ No Travel Stress, Just Together Time: Cozy Holiday Mini-Getaways Near Mentor

 🏀 Sports: 🏀 Mentor Holds Off Shaker Heights in Tight Conference Battle

 🏀 Rodriguez, McClintock Power Mentor Girls to Dominant Road Win

 🤔 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 Dec 21

See All the Events
MentorLocalBuzz.com/Events

🚶🏻‍♀️ Winter Trails Beckon: Discover Mentor’s Parks in the Snowy Season

Winter Walks Await in Mentor’s Scenic Parks

Winter brings a peaceful beauty to Mentor, Ohio, and its parks offer the perfect place to enjoy the season. With over 1,200 acres of parkland and nature preserves, there's a trail for every pace—from easy strolls to more challenging hikes.

For relaxed winter walks, paved trails are available at several parks. Edward R. Walsh Park has a 1.5-mile loop past woods and a pond, with open fields and a year-round playground for family fun. Springbrook Gardens Park features 1.7 miles of paths and a boardwalk overlooking a pond in a restored prairie, home to local wildlife. The Mentor Municipal Complex trail winds through Civic Center Park and connects to courts, a playground, and nearby neighborhoods.

For more rugged terrain, head to Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve. Over three miles of trails offer views of forest, marsh, and Lake Erie. The Marsh Rim and Overlook trails provide sweeping vistas best seen in winter.

The Zimmerman Trail, part of the Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve, begins at Morton Community Park. This four-mile round-trip route winds through swamp and upland forest, crossing streams and offering scenic views—perfect for birdwatching.

All trails are open year-round from dawn to dusk. The quiet, snowy scenery offers a fresh way to enjoy the outdoors. Whether you prefer a peaceful walk or a heartier hike, Mentor’s winter trails are ready.

More details and trail maps can be found at cityofmentor.com/parks.

💰 Slower Increases, Bigger Savings: What Ohio’s New Tax Laws Mean for You

DeWine Signs $3 Billion Property Tax Reform Package Aimed at Homeowner Relief

Ohio changed its property tax rules to make tax bills more predictable and affordable for homeowners.

Here’s the big picture:

• Homeowners get more help. If you own and live in your home, the state will now cover a larger share of your property tax bill.

• Rentals get less help. Tax breaks that helped landlords were removed to pay for homeowner relief.

• Automatic tax hikes are slowed. Property taxes can still go up, but they can’t rise as fast when home values spike.

• School tax rules were adjusted. Some school taxes now count differently, which helps prevent future increases.

• Local officials get flexibility. Counties can lower certain taxes if they decide too much money is being collected.

Bottom line:
Most homeowners should see slower increases and lower property tax bills over time, with some changes starting soon and others showing up in 2027. The goal is to stop sudden tax spikes and make bills easier to plan for.

See the original article at cleveland.com or wkyc.com

📚 Lake County Imagination Library Seeks Support to Keep Books Flowing

Lifeline, Inc. has relaunched its holiday fundraising campaign for the Lake County Imagination Library, aiming to raise $8,000 to provide free books to young children in January. The program, started in 2020, mails one new book each month to children under 5 at no cost to families. It currently serves over 7,000 children in Lake County—about 65% of those eligible.

The initiative, part of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, supports early childhood literacy, helping kids build strong language skills before kindergarten. Research shows children with books at home tend to stay in school longer and are better prepared for future learning. Lifeline covers half the program’s cost and relies on donations to keep it running year-round.

Visit the website for the Imagination Library

 ✨ No Travel Stress, Just Together Time: Cozy Holiday Mini-Getaways Near Mentor

Last-Minute Christmas Magic: Easy Mini-Adventures Near Mentor for Couples

If your calendars are full and your energy is running low, this is your reminder that you don’t need plane tickets or packed itineraries to feel a little holiday magic. Some of the best moments this time of year come from slowing down and sharing something simple — especially close to home.

For couples in Mentor, the days leading up to Christmas are perfect for quick, meaningful mini-adventures that don’t require much planning. Start with a quiet walk along Lake Erie. Winter brings a peaceful stillness to the shoreline, and there’s something grounding about watching waves roll in while bundled up together. Add a thermos of hot cocoa, and suddenly it feels like a scene from a movie.

Another easy option is a short evening drive. Lake County and nearby communities still glow with holiday lights, and turning the radio to a favorite station or holiday playlist makes the experience feel intentional — even spontaneous. No destination needed. Just drive, talk, and enjoy the glow.

If you’re craving warmth, seek out a cozy café or dessert stop. Sharing a pastry, lingering over coffee, or simply sitting without rushing can feel like a gift in itself. These small pauses are often what couples remember long after the holidays pass.

For something slightly more adventurous, consider a nearby small-town stroll. Many charming downtowns within an hour of Mentor still have decorations up, twinkling lights overhead, and shop windows dressed for the season. It’s low effort, but high on atmosphere.

The beauty of these last-minute moments is that they don’t compete with holiday obligations — they complement them. No reservations. No pressure. Just time together.

As Christmas approaches, give yourselves permission to keep things simple. Sometimes the most meaningful travel isn’t about going far at all — it’s about choosing to be present, together, right where you are.

🏀 Mentor Boys Hold Off Shaker Heights in Tight Conference Battle

The Mentor Cardinals boys basketball team secured a hard-fought road win Friday night, edging out Shaker Heights 71-65 in a competitive conference matchup. With this victory, Mentor improves to 4-1 on the season, while Shaker Heights drops to 1-5.

Mentor’s offense found its rhythm in the second half, scoring 23 points in each of the final two quarters to outpace a strong push by the Red Raiders. The Cardinals were led by a standout performance from Jack Kennedy, who poured in 26 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Tony Katava also delivered a solid showing with 13 points, while Logan Lynch added 11.

Shaker Heights fought back after a slow start, trailing by seven at the end of the first quarter. They narrowed the gap in the second and put up 27 points in the third quarter, briefly swinging the momentum. Kingston Seals led the Red Raiders with 16 points, while Dillon Slaughter added 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

Mentor’s accuracy at the free-throw line made a significant difference, converting 18 of 26 attempts compared to Shaker’s 8 of 16. Both teams knocked down seven three-pointers, but Mentor’s ball movement and rebounding advantage proved pivotal down the stretch.

The Cardinals will return to action after the holiday break on Tuesday, January 6, with a road matchup against Strongsville. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

🏀 Rodriguez, McClintock Power Mentor Girls to Dominant Road Win

The Mentor Lady Cardinals dominated from start to finish on Friday evening, delivering a commanding 60-17 victory over Shaker Heights in a conference road game. The win boosts Mentor’s record to 7-1 overall and a perfect 5-0 in conference play, while Shaker Heights falls to 1-8 on the season.

Mentor set the tone early with relentless defense and balanced scoring, holding the Lady Red Raiders to just 17 points for the entire game. Nina Rodriguez led the offensive charge with 16 points, while also contributing on defense with 4 steals and a blocked shot.

Hayley McClintock posted a career-high 7 rebounds and an impressive +19 efficiency rating—also a personal best. Addi Keeper matched her on the boards with 7 rebounds of her own, while Keira Coleman dished out 4 assists to keep the offense flowing.

The Lady Cardinals showcased hustle on both ends, highlighted by a drawn charge from Peyton Willis and strong defensive plays across the board. Julia Eisert and Rodriguez each tallied a block in what was a complete team effort.

Mentor will look to continue its winning streak at home when they host the Solon Comets on Tuesday, December 23, with a noon tip-off.

Source: Google

🤣 Something Funny 🤣

Grandpa’s paying!