In this Issue of Mentor Local Buzz 🐝

☁️ Weather: Mostly Cloudy - Temps 38-40

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

 📰 Local News: 🚧 2026 Brings Major Improvements to Parks, Roads, and Schools

🏘️ From Paper to Place: Building Frank Lloyd Wright’s Last Home in Lake County

 📸 Mentor Library Hosts Free Photo Digitizing and Organizing Workshops

 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Real Estate: 🏘️ Pending-home sales rose 3.3% in November, beating forecasts

🏘️ Featured New Home Listings for Sale in Mentor, Ohio (44060)

 🏈 Sports: 🏈 Garrett’s Historic Sack, Szmyt’s Redemption Give Browns Win

 🏀 Lady Cardinals Improve to 9-1 After Blowout Victory

 🏀 Detroit Overcomes Injuries, Late Scare to Edge Cavs

 🤔 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 Jan 5

See All the Events
MentorLocalBuzz.com/Events

🚧 2026 Brings Major Improvements to Parks, Roads, and Schools

Mentor-on-the-Lake is entering 2026 with a major investment in its lakefront. Overlook Beach Park will receive a brand-new playground and shoreline protection thanks to $300,000 in state grant funding and a $1.2 million revetment project. These upgrades aim to improve both safety and accessibility at the city’s most prominent public park.

In education, Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools are launching a new podcast to strengthen ties between the district and the broader community. The platform will highlight stories from students, educators, and local partners, with a focus on how school programs align with workforce needs.

Meanwhile, Painesville is preparing for over $5.5 million in infrastructure improvements, including road resurfacing and stormwater upgrades, in collaboration with state and regional agencies.

In Perry Village, a $2.1 million project will replace a waterline and expand Green Street, with construction expected to begin by spring. Euclid is finalizing its new Recreation and Wellness Center, which will open this year to serve residents of all ages.

🏘️ From Paper to Place: Building Frank Lloyd Wright’s Last Home in Lake County

Wright at Last: Mother and Daughter Build Architect’s Final Home in Ohio

A long-lost home design by Frank Lloyd Wright, his final residential project, has been brought to life in Willoughby Hills, Ohio, by mother and daughter Debbie and Sarah Dykstra. Originally drafted in 1959 for a second Penfield House, the plans remained unbuilt for over 60 years. In 2023, the Dykstras took on the ambitious task of constructing the home, named RiverRock, staying true to Wright’s Usonian principles. Their journey was chronicled in the Magnolia Network series The Last Wright. Today, RiverRock serves as both a tribute to Wright and a guest home open to overnight stays.

Read the Full Article at ohiomagazine.com

📸 Mentor Library Hosts Free Photo Digitizing and Organizing Workshops

The Mentor Public Library is offering a free two-part program this January to help residents preserve family memories by turning old photos, slides, and film into a well-organized digital archive.

Led by Forever Ambassador Kari Shick, the first session—scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. on January 24 at the library’s Main Branch—will cover methods for digitizing various media formats. Attendees will learn how to convert printed photos, slides, and film into digital files.

The second session, taking place from 1 to 4 p.m. on January 31, focuses on organizing those digital images. It includes tips on tagging files with helpful details for easy searching and creating a sustainable long-term storage plan.

Both programs are free and designed to be taken together. However, space is limited and registration is required. Those interested can sign up at www.mentorpl.org or by calling 440-255-8811, ext. 1.

🏘️ Pending-home sales rose 3.3% in November, beating forecasts

US Pending-Home Sales Climb for Fourth Straight Month, Signaling Housing Market Revival

The U.S. housing market is showing renewed momentum as pending-home sales rose for the fourth consecutive month in November, climbing 3.3% from the previous month. This increase significantly exceeded analysts’ expectations of a 0.9% gain, suggesting that buyer confidence may be returning.

The latest uptick brings the National Association of Realtors' Pending Home Sales Index to 79.2, its highest level since February 2023. This streak of monthly gains now matches the longest run seen during the peak of the pandemic-driven housing frenzy in 2020.

All regions of the country contributed to the increase in contract signings, with the West leading the way, followed by strong growth in the South—home to the nation’s largest volume of home sales. The consistent improvement points to growing activity in the housing market, signaling that potential buyers are re-entering the market amid shifting economic conditions.

Source: The Kobeissi Letter

🏘️ Featured New Home Listings for Sale in Mentor, Ohio (44060)

9119 Boyer Ln., Kirtland Hills, OH 44060
3 Beds, 2.5 Baths, ~3,500 Sqft. 5.42 Acre Lot
Sale Price $699,900
Listed by: Erin K. Giannetto Brokered by McDowell Real Estate
Link to Property Listing

5594 Grove Ave., Mentor, OH 44060
5 Beds, 2.5 Baths, 2,146 Sqft. ??? Acre Lot
Sale Price $429,000
Listed by: Calvin Humphreys Brokered by Homesmart Real Estate Momentum Llc
Link to Property Listing

7671 Aster Dr., Mentor OH 44060
3 Beds, 2 Baths, 3,899 Sqft., 0.40 Acre Lot
Sale Price $424,900
Listed by: Joan Elflein Brokered by Ohio Broker Direct
Link to Property Listing

8698 Station St., Mentor, OH 44060
4 Beds, 1 Bath, 1,587 0.74 Acre Lot
Sale Price $279,900
Listed by: Alyssa Christison Brokered by CENTURY 21 Asa Cox Homes
Link to Property Listing

4974 Wake Robin Rd., Mentor, OH 44060
3 Beds, 1 Bath, 891 Sqft., 6,482 Sqft. Lot
Sale Price $143,000
Listed by: Jennifer Allen Brokered by Keller Williams Grt Cleve Ne
Link to Property Listing

Link to All the Home Listings in 44060 (125 in Total) in Zip Code 44060

🏈 Garrett’s Historic Sack, Szmyt’s Redemption Lift Browns Over Bengals

Browns Close Season with 20-18 Win as Myles Garrett Sets Sack Record

The Cleveland Browns ended their season with a dramatic 20-18 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, highlighted by a pair of defensive touchdowns and a historic sack by Myles Garrett.

Cleveland’s start looked shaky after the Bengals scored early, but the defense flipped the game with two scores on consecutive drives. Linebacker Devin Bush intercepted Joe Burrow and returned it 97 yards for a touchdown. On the very next drive, cornerback Sam Webb scooped up a fumble and ran it back 47 yards for another score, giving Cleveland a 14-6 lead.

The Bengals responded with a touchdown late in the second quarter, but a missed extra point kept the Browns ahead 14-12 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Cleveland’s offense found some footing, driving downfield and setting up kicker Andre Szmyt for a short field goal, extending the lead to 17-12.

As the fourth quarter unfolded, all eyes turned to Garrett, who was on the cusp of breaking the NFL’s career sack record. Midway through the quarter, he finally got to Burrow, cementing his place in league history.

Cincinnati made things interesting with a late touchdown to take an 18-17 lead. But Shedeur Sanders calmly led a late drive, moving the Browns into field goal range. With three seconds left, Szmyt redeemed himself from early-season misses by drilling a 49-yard kick to win the game.

Cleveland finished the season 5-12, but walked off the field with a thrilling win, a record-setting performance, and hope for the future.

Read More, See highlights at dawgsbynature.com

🏀 Lady Cardinals Improve to 9-1 After Blowout Victory

The Mentor Lady Cardinals rolled to a commanding 81-43 win over the Cleveland Heights Tigers in a conference matchup Saturday, dominating from start to finish.

Mentor built a 40-20 halftime lead and never let up, improving to 9-1 on the season. Cleveland Heights dropped to 5-7 with the loss.

Nina Rodriguez led the charge with 21 points on 47% shooting, including three three-pointers. She also tallied six steals, five rebounds, and five assists in a well-rounded performance.

Lyla Willis added 13 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Freshman Ashlyn McKinney contributed 10 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and two blocks in a strong outing.

Mentor now turns its attention to a major conference showdown against Strongsville (9-2) on Wednesday, January 7 at 7 p.m. Both teams enter at 6-0 in conference play, with first place on the line.

🏀 Detroit Overcomes Injuries, Late Scare to Edge Cavs

The Cleveland Cavaliers nearly erased a double-digit deficit late but came up just short in a 114-110 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points — 23 in the second half — as Cleveland trimmed a 13-point gap to just two in the final minutes. Darius Garland's basket made it 108-106 with 1:16 left, but a late tip-in by Detroit and clutch free throws by Daniss Jenkins sealed the outcome.

Jenkins torched the Cavs with 25 points, including 21 in a second quarter where the Pistons scored 47 and built a 10-point halftime lead. Cade Cunningham added 27, and Detroit made all 21 of its free throws.

Garland finished with 16 points but went cold from three-point range, missing all seven attempts. Evan Mobley and Sam Merrill each had 15 as Cleveland’s three-game winning streak ended. The Cavaliers head to Indiana on Tuesday, looking to bounce back.

Read More, See Highlights at espn.com

Source: Google

🤣 Something Funny 🤣

Owen got busted! Too funny!!