In this Issue of Mentor Local Buzz 🐝

🌧️ Weather: Rain Begins to Develop in the Afternoon - Temp 41-44

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

 📰 Local News: 📰 Mentor Retail Vacancy Holds at 6.6% in Fourth Quarter of 2025

 📰 Mentor Appoints Residents to Key City Boards and Commissions

 📰 Now Hiring: Mentor Police Department Seeks Full-Time Officers

 🥟 Cleveland Pierogi Week Returns Jan. 19–25 With $8 Plates Across the Region

 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Food & Recipes: 🍝 Let the Slow Cooker Do the Work: Easy Chicken Alfredo for Effortless Comfort

 🥔 Comfort in Every Bite: Cheesy Stuffed Baked Potatoes You’ll Crave

 🏀 Sports: 🏀 Mentor and Lake Catholic Boys Fall in Tough January 9 Matchups

 🏈 Browns Sign Local Talent Luke Floriea Among Six Practice Squad Players

 🤔 Trivia Question

 🤣 Something Funny

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

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📰 Mentor Retail Vacancy Holds at 6.6% in Fourth Quarter of 2025

Mentor Retail Vacancy Holds Steady at 6.6% in Q4 2025

Retail vacancy in the City of Mentor remained stable at 6.6% during the fourth quarter of 2025, according to data from the Cleveland Q4 2025 Retail Market Report compiled by CoStar. This rate matches Mentor’s third quarter figure and reflects a 0.4% improvement from the 7.0% adjusted vacancy rate recorded in the fourth quarter of 2024.

The report covers roughly 194 million square feet of retail space across eight Northeast Ohio counties, including Lake County. Regionally, the overall retail vacancy rate decreased slightly to 4.4% in Q4 2025, down 0.1% from the previous quarter and consistent with the same period in 2024.

Lake County’s retail market includes approximately 18 million square feet of space across 1,424 buildings. Mentor represents a significant portion of that, accounting for about 7.6 million square feet—or 42% of the county’s retail space. Lake County’s vacancy rate also declined modestly, dropping to 4.5% in Q4 2025, down from 4.6% in Q3 and 4.7% in Q4 of the previous year.

Among Mentor’s largest available retail spaces are 64,500 square feet at 7721-7723 Mentor Avenue, 41,264 square feet at 7960-8000 Plaza Boulevard, and 24,282 square feet at 7797-7885 Mentor Avenue.

The data was compiled and reported by the City of Mentor’s Planning & Development Department in January 2026.

Source: cityofmentor.com

 📰 Mentor Appoints Residents to Key City Boards and Commissions

Mentor City Council Announces January 2026 Appointments to Boards and Commissions

At its annual Organizational Meeting on January 6, 2026, Mentor City Council confirmed several appointments and reappointments to key city boards and commissions, ensuring continued community representation in municipal affairs.

Three residents were named to the Board of Building and Zoning Appeals for four-year terms ending December 31, 2029. Returning members Lisa Marinelli and Jacob Hailperin-Lausch were reappointed, while Annie F. Payne joined as a new appointee.

Four individuals were selected to the Municipal Planning Commission, also serving through 2029. John Crocker and Richard Thiedemann were reappointed, with Patrick John O'Donnell and Richard M. Zaleski beginning new terms.

The Civil Service Commission welcomed back Diane Pauley and Dan Llewellyn for four-year terms.

Fred Koch was reappointed to the Fair Housing Board for a three-year term ending in 2028.

Two appointments were made to the Tree Commission: Kathryn A. O’Neil will serve a term ending in 2029, and Michael Maggio was appointed to a separate term through 2028.

Lastly, the Income Tax Board of Review saw Kenneth Stopek reappointed and Matthew Duraney newly appointed to two-year terms ending in 2027.

For more information on Mentor’s boards and commissions or how to get involved, visit cityofmentor.com

📰 Now Hiring: Mentor Police Department Seeks Full-Time Officers

Mentor Police Department Now Hiring Full-Time Officers

The City of Mentor is seeking qualified candidates for several full-time openings within its Police Department. This is a call to those looking to serve their community and build a rewarding career in law enforcement.

The department offers a comprehensive employment package, including competitive pay, medical, dental and vision insurance, a retirement plan, and a deferred compensation plan.

Applicants must take the Law Enforcement Frontline National exam through the National Testing Network. Only exam results from tests taken between February 9, 2025, and February 9, 2026, will be considered. The application period opens on Monday, January 12, 2026, and all submissions must be received by Monday, February 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

In addition to testing, candidates must complete the official City of Mentor Police Officer application prior to the deadline. A detailed job requirements fact sheet and a printable application packet—including an EEO questionnaire—are available for download.

For more information or specific inquiries, applicants can contact the City of Mentor’s Civil Service Commission at [email protected].

🥟 Cleveland Pierogi Week Returns Jan. 19–25 With $8 Plates Across the Region

Cleveland Pierogi Week Returns to Warm Up the Winter

As winter settles in after the holidays, Clevelanders have a tasty reason to get out of the house: Cleveland Pierogi Week is back for 2026. Running from Monday, January 19 through Sunday, January 25, the event features local restaurants serving up creative takes on the classic Polish dumpling.

Organized by the team behind Cleveland Burger Week and Pizza Week, the event offers an affordable way to sample the city's pierogi scene. For $8, diners receive a plate of three pierogi at each participating restaurant, with options to add drinks or appetizers. Guests are encouraged to tip generously.

Eateries from all over the Cleveland area are taking part, each offering their unique spin on the beloved dish. The full list is still being finalized, but plenty of spots are already on board.

Mentor and Lake County residents are invited to join in. If you know of a local restaurant participating, head to our Facebook page and share the name—so others can dig in too!

🍝 Let the Slow Cooker Do the Work: Easy Chicken Alfredo for Effortless Comfort

Skip the stovetop mess and let your slow cooker handle dinner tonight with a creamy, cheesy chicken Alfredo that delivers big flavor with minimal effort. This comforting pasta dish comes together with ease, making it ideal for busy weeknights or cozy weekends in.

The slow cooker does all the heavy lifting—from tenderizing the chicken to blending a rich, velvety Alfredo sauce and even cooking the pasta. After just under three hours, you’ll have a hearty, satisfying bowl of pasta that tastes like it came straight from a restaurant kitchen.

With simple ingredients and hands-off cooking, this dish is perfect for anyone craving comfort food without the hassle. Whether you're feeding the whole family or just looking for a low-maintenance dinner option, this slow cooker chicken Alfredo checks all the boxes.

Get the Full Recipe for Chicken Alfredo

🥔 Comfort in Every Bite: Cheesy Stuffed Baked Potatoes You’ll Crave

These stuffed baked potatoes take inspiration from a traditional Alpine dish, blending baked potato with melty cheese, bacon, and cream for a rich, comforting meal. Finished in the oven until golden and bubbly, they’re perfect for a cozy night in.

Get the Full Recipe for Cheesy Stuffed Baked Potatoes

🏀 Mentor and Lake Catholic Boys Fall in Tough January 9 Matchups

Boys Basketball: January 9th Score Recap

It was a tough night on the court for two local boys basketball teams, as both Mentor and Lake Catholic suffered significant defeats in their respective matchups.

In a conference showdown, the Mentor Cardinals struggled to keep pace with the Brunswick Blue Devils. Falling behind by 10 points after the first quarter and trailing 39-23 at halftime, the Cardinals were unable to close the gap as Brunswick maintained control throughout the game. The Blue Devils secured a 77-56 victory, handing Mentor its third loss of the season. The Cardinals now hold a 6-3 overall record and are 2-2 in conference play. Their next game is scheduled for Friday, January 16, when they travel to face the Medina Battling Bees at 7:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Lake Catholic Cougars faced a dominant performance from Villa Angela-St. Joseph. Despite narrowing the margin slightly by halftime after being down 15 in the first quarter, the Cougars were overwhelmed in the second half. The Vikings pulled away with a commanding 86-42 win. Lake Catholic now sits at 4-7 overall and remains winless in conference action at 0-5. They will look to rebound quickly with a home game tonight against the Kenston Bombers, set for 7 p.m. Tip-off.

No individual player statistics were reported for either game.

🏈 Browns Sign Local Talent Luke Floriea Among Six Practice Squad Players

Browns Sign Mentor Grad Luke Floriea to Reserve/Future Contract

The Cleveland Browns have signed six players from their 2025 practice squad to reserve/future contracts, including Mentor High School graduate Luke Floriea.

The contract gives Floriea another shot to compete for a spot on the Browns' active roster through the offseason and training camp. Reserve/future deals secure players for the upcoming season and are often used to retain promising talent from the practice squad. For first-year players, the minimum salary under this contract is $885,000.

Source: Google

🤣 Something Funny 🤣

The guy with the ring… what a save!!!