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

📰 Local News: 🚧 Temporary Closure: SR-306 to I-90 WB Ramp Shut Down Set for Feb. 5

🚨 Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty in $4.4M Jewelry Theft Ring Tied to Mentor Mall

✍🏻 Mentor Opens 2026 Food Vendor Applications for Upcoming City Events

💇‍♀️ Local Salon Owners: Struggling to Stay Consistent on Social Media?

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The Home Front: 🏠 From Vinyl to Typewriters: How Analog Rooms Are Bringing Back Low-Tech Joy

🏒 Sports: 🏈 Browns to Introduce Head Coach Todd Monken in Tuesday Press Conference

🏀 Lake Catholic Girls Basketball Ends Skid with Victory Over Kirtland

🤔 Trivia Question

🤣 Something Funny

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

Drivers in Mentor should prepare for a temporary closure affecting the SR-306 on-ramp to I-90 westbound. The Ohio Department of Transportation has announced that the ramp will be shut down on Thursday, February 5, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM to allow for necessary tree removal work in the area.

During the closure, a posted detour will guide motorists to I-90 eastbound, where they can exit at SR-615 and re-enter the highway heading west. Commuters are encouraged to allow extra travel time and consider alternate routes during this period.

Source: cityofmentor.com

A New York man has pleaded guilty to his role in a multi-state jewelry theft ring that included two break-ins at the Great Lakes Mall in Mentor. The operation, spanning six states, caused over $4.4 million in losses and was investigated by local and federal authorities.

Salim Sakal, 55, of Brooklyn, admitted to conspiring to sell and receive stolen goods. From his business, Ramoun Jewelry in Corona, New York, he purchased stolen jewelry at discounted prices and resold it, sometimes to individuals who melted down the gold.

The thefts were carried out by a group of Colombian nationals between May 2023 and April 2024. Two of the incidents occurred at Howard Jewelers in Mentor—once in December 2023 and again in November 2024. Mentor Police worked closely with the FBI’s Transnational Organized Crime Task Force on the investigation.

Sakal faces up to five years in federal prison and has agreed to pay over $2.47 million in restitution. None of the stolen jewelry has been recovered.

The City of Mentor is officially welcoming food vendors to apply for its 2026 events calendar. These popular community gatherings, which collectively draw over 100,000 attendees each year, range from intimate neighborhood functions to large-scale concerts and festivals—many of which are free to the public.

Planning for the upcoming year is already in motion, and local organizations and vendors are encouraged to get involved. Food vendors interested in participating are invited to download the 2026 application and submit it to the Mentor Recreation Department for consideration.

These events offer a prime opportunity for vendors to reach a wide and diverse audience in a vibrant, community-driven setting.

For more information or questions, interested parties can contact Kevin Cindric at [email protected] or (440) 974-5720.

Between clients, staff, and daily chaos, posting on Instagram and Facebook often falls to the bottom of the list. I get it — and that’s exactly why we created something to help.

I’m a Lake County marketer, and I just built a 100-post social media kit system made specifically for hair salons. It includes ready-to-post graphics with captions, a posting plan, and more so you always know what to share. We also include templates and a ChatGPT prompt to help you create new content on the fly or prep for the coming week.

To launch it locally, I’m offering a Founder’s Deal — 50% off lifetime access for a small number of salons.

In exchange, I just ask for:
• A short testimonial
• Permission to share before/after screenshots
• Your salon listed as a Founding Partner

I’m also giving away a free mini pack (3 posts) to salon owners who want to preview the content.

👉 Own or manage a salon — or know one who does? Email us at [email protected] for the details or the promo code.

Analog Rooms Gain Popularity as Homeowners Seek Screen-Free Sanctuaries

As the digital world continues to dominate everyday life, a growing number of homeowners are turning to “analog rooms” to reclaim a sense of calm and connection within their homes. This rising trend, focused on screen-free spaces, offers a retreat from constant notifications, doom-scrolling, and binge-watching culture.

Unlike the sleek features of smart homes, analog rooms embrace nostalgia and tactile experiences. These rooms are intentionally tech-free and filled with items that promote mindfulness and low-tech leisure — think board games, books, record players, typewriters, and even landline phones. They're designed either as quiet solo sanctuaries or cozy gathering spots for family bonding.

The trend is backed by a noticeable cultural shift. In 2025, online searches for “how to reduce screen time” hit an all-time high, reflecting a collective desire to disconnect from devices. Social media, ironically, has helped fuel the movement. The hashtag #AnalogLife gained traction on TikTok, where users shared their journeys into unplugged living, showcasing simple pleasures like vinyl records and handwritten letters.

Designing an analog room doesn’t require a massive overhaul. Experts suggest starting small, incorporating items like analog clocks, magazine racks, or houseplants. Some homeowners dedicate the space to music, filling it with instruments and albums, while others transform it into creative nooks with vintage typewriters and curated libraries. The key is to design a space that encourages presence and limits digital distractions.

This lifestyle has already been embraced by notable figures like Erin and Ben Napier of Home Town, who included analog zones in their home long before the trend took off. Their screen-free spaces are filled with books, radios, and meaningful accessories that foster deeper family connections.

As 2026 continues, analog rooms are expected to become an essential part of mindful living — offering homeowners a comforting, creative antidote to our tech-saturated lives.

Read the Original Article at People.com

The Cleveland Browns are set to formally introduce Todd Monken as their new head coach during a press conference on Tuesday, February 3 at 12 p.m. ET. The event will take place at the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus and marks Monken’s first appearance before the media since being named the franchise’s 19th full-time head coach.

Joining Monken at the podium will be Managing and Principal Partner Jimmy Haslam and Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry, who will help usher in this new chapter for the team.

Browns fans will be able to tune in live to the press conference via the team’s official X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube accounts, as well as the Browns mobile app, presented by LECOM.

The Lake Catholic Cougars girls basketball team broke their recent slump with a 42-30 win over the Kirtland Hornets in a non-conference clash. The victory puts an end to their losing streak and lifts their overall season record to 5-13.

With a renewed sense of momentum, the Cougars are now setting their sights on a challenging upcoming matchup against the Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin Lions, who currently hold a 10-9 record. That game is scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 7th at NDCL in Chardon, with tip-off slated for 1 p.m.

While individual player stats were not available, the team's strong defensive performance and improved offensive execution helped secure the much-needed win.

I can’t get enough of these…. I’m crying… hahah