In this Issue of Mentor Local Buzz 🐝

☁️ Weather: Mostly Cloudy - Temps 50-52

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

 📰 Local News: 📰 Dowling and Kirchner Take Helm as Mentor Council Begins New Term

 📰 Lake County vacancy rose to 3.0%; Mentor’s vacancy climbed to 3.8%.

 📰 Historic Mentor Building Once Visited by President Garfield Still Stands

 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The Pet Corner: 🐈🐕 Cold Weather, Warm Paws: Winter Pet Hazards You Might Be Missing

 🏀 Sports: 🏀 Cougars Struggle Against Padua, Look to Regroup Friday

 🏀 Lake Catholic Girls Fall to Padua, Host NDCL Next

 🤔 Trivia Question

 🤣 Something Funny

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📰 Dowling and Kirchner Take Helm as Mentor Council Begins New Term

Mentor City Council Undergoes Leadership Changes in January Reorganization

Mentor City Council convened for its biannual organizational meeting on January 6, 2026, marking the beginning of a new chapter in city leadership.

Three Councilpersons-at-Large—Janet A. Dowling, Ray Kirchner, and Brian G. Cook—officially began new terms that will run through January 2030. The swearing-in ceremonies were conducted by local officials, with Judge John P. O’Donnell administering the oath to Dowling and Kirchner, and Law Director Joseph P. Szeman swearing in Cook.

Following the formalities, council members selected their leadership for the next two years. Janet A. Dowling was chosen to serve as President of Council, while Ray Kirchner was appointed Vice-President. Both will hold their respective leadership roles through 2028.

Residents seeking more information about Mentor City Council can visit the city's official website at www.cityofmentor.com/city-council .

 📰 Lake County vacancy rose to 3.0%; Mentor’s vacancy climbed to 3.8%.

IMentor’s Industrial Vacancy Rises Slightly in Q4 2025 Report

The Cleveland 4th Quarter 2025 Industrial Market Report from CoStar shows the region’s industrial vacancy rate rising to 4.5%, a modest increase from both the previous quarter and the same time in 2024. The report tracks over 455 million square feet of industrial space across eight counties, including Lake County.

Lake County contains about 39 million square feet of industrial space in 1,341 buildings. Mentor accounts for roughly 14 million square feet, or 35% of the county’s total. The county’s vacancy rate rose to 3.0%, up from 2.6% in Q3 and 2.5% a year ago.

Mentor’s industrial vacancy climbed to 3.8% in Q4, up from 3.6% in Q3 and 2.2% in Q4 2024. Currently, 542,000 square feet of industrial space is available, with the largest listings at 8820 East Avenue (174,550 sq. ft.), 8100 Tyler Boulevard (147,973 sq. ft.), and 7800 Tyler Boulevard (68,838 sq. ft.).

The report was prepared by the City of Mentor’s Planning & Development Department in January 2026.

Read More at cityofmentor.com

📰 Historic Mentor Building Once Visited by President Garfield Still Stands

Gray-Coulton House Stands as a Symbol of Mentor’s Past

At the corner of Mentor Avenue and Maple Street, the Gray-Coulton House remains one of the city's most enduring landmarks. Built in 1868 by Martin Gray, the structure has served many roles—from a seed and general store to a grocery and dry goods shop.

Over the years, it has adapted to modern times, housing antique stores, photographers, and a gun shop. Despite its evolving use, the building remains a connection to Mentor’s rural roots, when shopkeepers often lived above their stores and customers arrived by wagon or on foot.

President James A. Garfield, who lived in Mentor, was known to stop by the store during his time in town.

In 1975, the Gray-Coulton House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Located at 8615 Mentor Avenue, it remains a stop on the Mentor History Trail and a reminder of the city’s 19th-century heritage.

Learn more at www.mentorhistory.com.

🐈🐕 Cold Weather, Warm Paws: Winter Pet Hazards You Might Be Missing

As winter tightens its grip on Mentor and the rest of Northeast Ohio, pet owners are bracing not only for snow and ice but also for lesser-known seasonal hazards that could affect their furry companions. While keeping pets indoors is often the safest bet during bitter cold spells, it's not without its own set of risks.

One of the most overlooked dangers comes from ice melt products. Many common deicers contain harsh chemicals like calcium chloride and sodium chloride, which can irritate or even burn pets’ paws. For safer options, consider using pet-friendly ice melts made from urea or magnesium chloride. After walks, wiping your pet’s paws with a warm, damp cloth can also help reduce irritation and prevent them from ingesting harmful substances during grooming.

Surprisingly, cracked or dry paws can also develop indoors during winter. Heated homes tend to have low humidity, which dries out sensitive paw pads. Pet-safe paw balms or simple petroleum jelly can help restore moisture and act as a protective barrier against both indoor and outdoor elements.

Another concern in the home is space heaters and their associated cords. Pets, especially curious cats and young dogs, may chew on wires or accidentally knock over heaters. This can lead to electrical burns or fires. It’s important to secure cords, keep heaters out of high-traffic pet areas, and opt for models with tip-over shutoff features.

By taking a few proactive steps, pet owners in Mentor can ensure their four-legged family members stay safe, warm, and healthy all season long.

🏀 Cougars Struggle on the Road Against Padua, Look to Regroup Friday

The Lake Catholic Cougars boys basketball team suffered a tough road loss on Tuesday, falling 76-39 to Padua Franciscan on January 6. The Bruins took control early and never let up, using physical play and fast tempo to outpace the Cougars throughout the night.

Lake Catholic struggled to gain offensive rhythm and couldn’t recover after Padua pulled ahead in the first half. The Bruins dominated the boards, grabbing 14 offensive rebounds and converting second-chance opportunities to extend their lead.

No individual stats were available for Lake Catholic.

The loss drops the Cougars to 4-6 on the season and marks their fourth straight defeat to Padua in recent matchups. It was a performance that highlighted areas for improvement as the team enters a key stretch of the winter schedule.

Looking ahead, Lake Catholic will try to bounce back Friday in another road matchup against Villa Angela-St. Joseph. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

🏀 Lake Catholic Girls Fall to Padua, Host NDCL Next

The Lake Catholic Cougars girls basketball team faced a tough test on January 7, falling 75-35 to a strong Padua Franciscan squad. The visiting Bruins took control early and kept up the pressure throughout, making it difficult for the Cougars to gain momentum.

With the loss, Lake Catholic drops to 4-6 on the season. Padua, now 10-3, was led by Izzy Lapp (18 points), Darlene Jaidah (15), and Sophie Spade (12), as they built a steady lead and never looked back.

The Cougars continued to compete but couldn’t close the gap in the second half. It was a learning opportunity as they prepare for the heart of their schedule.

No individual stats were available for Lake Catholic.

The Cougars will look to bounce back at home on January 14, when they host Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Lake Catholic.

Source: Google

🤣 Something Funny 🤣

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