🌨️ Weather: Cloudy with Scattered Snow Showers - Temps 31-32°

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

📰 Local News: ❄️ Northeast Ohio Braces for Snowy, Windy Stretch

🚧 Bridge Repairs on SR 283 in Mentor to Begin in March 2026

📰 Laketran Launches Recruitment for March Driver Training

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Travel & Discovery: ✈️ Top 3 Meaningful Getaways Defining Travel in 2026

🏀 Sports: 🏀 Lady Cougars Shock No. 8 Warriors with 24-6 Closing Run

🏊🏻 Mentor’s Collins Claims 200 IM District Crown

⚾ Cleveland’s Bats Come Alive in Cactus League Opener Victory

🤔 Trivia Question

🤣 Something Funny

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

Snow Showers, Falling Temperatures Return to Northeast Ohio

A wintry pattern has settled back into Northeast Ohio, with scattered light snow showers starting last night and continuing into Sunday morning. The snow showers will linger through Sunday, temperatures hovering near freezing may limit daytime accumulation.

Conditions turn more impactful Sunday night as colder air moves in. Snow showers continue, and heavier bands or squalls could affect the Monday morning commute.

Snow persists Monday before tapering to the snow belt later in the day. Most areas can expect 1 to 3 inches, while snow belt communities may see 3 to 6 inches. Gusty winds up to 40 mph and falling temperatures near 20 degrees will add to the chill.

A major bridge repair project is set to begin in Mentor next month, bringing extended lane restrictions to a busy intersection in the city.

The Ohio Department of Transportation has announced that work on the State Route 283 (Lakeshore Boulevard) bridge over State Route 44 will get underway during the first week of March 2026. The project will address repairs to the bridge structure and is expected to continue through June 2027.

Drivers traveling along State Route 44 beneath the SR 283 overpass should prepare for various lane restrictions starting Monday, March 2, 2026. Those restrictions will remain in place throughout the duration of the project.

Restrictions will also impact traffic on SR 283 over SR 44 beginning Monday, March 9, 2026. Motorists using either roadway are advised to expect changing traffic patterns and possible delays as construction progresses.

Officials say more details about the project and traffic impacts will be released as they become available.

Read More cityofmentor.com

Laketran Hiring 20 Full-Time Paratransit Drivers

Laketran is looking to hire 20 full-time bus drivers for its upcoming Paratransit Driver Training class, with applications due by Feb. 27.

The paid training program begins March 30, and a commercial driver’s license is not required to apply. Applicants must pass a background check, drug screening and Ohio Department of Transportation physical, and must be available to work any shift during Laketran’s hours of operation.

The position offers a starting wage of $23.90 per hour, with a pay increase after a 120-day probationary period. Benefits include medical, dental and vision coverage, participation in the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System, paid leave, free uniforms, a shoe allowance and paid CDL training opportunities.

More information is available at Laketran’s website or on Indeed.

Travel: The Most Inspiring Trips of 2026

Winter in Ohio has a way of making us reflective. And in 2026, travelers aren’t just chasing sunshine or landmarks — they’re chasing meaning.

Industry insights show a powerful shift: Americans are prioritizing emotional resonance over checklist tourism. Instead of “How many places can we see?” the question has become, “How will this make us feel?” The most inspiring trips this year center on connection, renewal, and perspective.

Here are three destinations leading that movement:

Few places in America feel as grounding as Sedona. Surrounded by towering red rock formations and quiet desert beauty, travelers come here to reset. Whether hiking Cathedral Rock at sunrise, joining a guided meditation experience, or simply unplugging beneath vast star-filled skies, Sedona offers space to breathe — something many of us crave during winter.

Charleston delivers emotional richness through history, storytelling, and Southern hospitality. Walking its cobblestone streets, touring preserved historic homes, and dining in locally owned restaurants creates a deep sense of place. It’s not just sightseeing — it’s understanding the layers of American history and culture in a meaningful way.

For travelers seeking humility and wonder, Glacier is transformative. Towering peaks, glacial lakes, and wildlife encounters remind visitors how vast and beautiful our world truly is. Even planning a summer 2026 visit during winter can bring anticipation and inspiration.

In 2026, the most powerful journeys won’t just fill your camera roll — they’ll fill your heart. And sometimes, the best destination isn’t the busiest one. It’s the one that changes you.

Lake Catholic Stuns Fairview in First-Round Upset

Records meant little Saturday night as No. 21 Lake Catholic defeated eighth-seeded Fairview, 50-41, in the opening round of the Division V girls basketball tournament.

The Cougars, who entered at 6-15, closed on a decisive 24-6 run over the final nine minutes to overtake a Fairview team that finished 16-6. Battle-tested by a demanding Crown Conference schedule, Lake Catholic showed poise down the stretch.

Fairview led 35-26 late in the third quarter after free throws by Mia Gargiulo, but the Warriors scored just six points the rest of the game as Lake Catholic’s defense clamped down.

Ella Zampedro and Lizzie Bammerlin fueled the comeback, combining for 35 points. Zampedro scored 19 and went 8 of 12 from the free-throw line, while Bammerlin added 16, including two fourth-quarter 3-pointers. The Cougars regained the lead midway through the fourth and finished strong, outscoring Fairview 12-4 the rest of the way.

Claire Dahler led the Warriors with 10 points, and Gargiulo added nine. Fairview, which has no seniors and a roster heavy with underclassmen, will return much of its lineup next season.

Lake Catholic advances to face ninth-seeded Girard on Feb. 24.

Mentor celebrated a breakthrough performance at the Division I district meet as sophomore Marian Collins captured the 200-yard individual medley title in 2:09.57, earning an automatic berth to the state championships. Her victory marked the Cardinals’ first girls individual district crown since 2014. Collins relied on a strong backstroke leg and closed with authority to secure the win.

Elisabeth Davis added to Mentor’s success with a runner-up finish in the 100 backstroke (56.86) to qualify for state and placed fourth in the 100 freestyle. The 400 freestyle relay surged to fifth overall, keeping at-large hopes alive. Mentor finished third in the team standings with 180 points, showcasing depth and momentum heading into Canton.

Guardians Rally Late to Top Brewers 9-6 in Cactus League Opener

The Cleveland Guardians opened Cactus League play Saturday with a 9-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Fields of Phoenix, using a mid-game offensive surge to take control.

Trailing 4-3 entering the fifth inning, Cleveland’s lineup responded with back-to-back three-run innings in the fifth and sixth to flip the game. The rally highlighted the club’s depth and ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities early in camp.

Milwaukee had grabbed the lead in the fourth when Tyler Black and Brandon Lockridge singled, executed a double steal and scored on a double by David Hamilton. Lockridge also delivered a 440-foot solo home run in the second inning to give the Brewers an early spark.

The afternoon also featured one of spring training’s evolving elements. In the second inning, Guardians catcher Austin Hedges successfully used the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System to overturn a called ball into a strike, resulting in a strikeout. Seven challenges were made overall, with five calls reversed.

Another notable moment came when brothers Jackson and Jaison Chourio shared the field in the lineup for the first time. In the fifth inning, Jackson singled to center with Jaison positioned there defensively.

Cleveland’s steady production in the middle innings ultimately proved decisive, giving the Guardians a strong start to their 2026 spring schedule.

Read the Full Article at sports.yahoo.com

People definitely having a worse day than you… haha