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

📰 Local News: 🎤 Community Voices Sought for Mentor’s America250 Video Celebration

🚴🏻‍♂️ Mentor Police Offer Low-Cost Bike Helmets to Promote Bicycle Safety

🧶 Mentor Shore Middle School Crochet Club Draws Dozens of Students

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The Pet Corner: 🐾 What’s Really in Your Dog’s Bowl? Study Sparks New Questions About Pet Food

🏀 Sports: 🏀 Cardinals One Win From State: Mentor Edges McKinley in Regional Semifinal

🤔 Trivia Question

🤣 Something Funny

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

The City of Mentor is inviting residents to share their perspectives as part of a community video project celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.

The initiative encourages residents, students, families, veterans, and local leaders to record short videos reflecting on what America means to them. Participants are asked to submit a personal message highlighting themes such as freedom, opportunity, community, equality, or meaningful family stories connected to the nation.

Videos should be between 30 and 90 seconds and recorded horizontally in at least 1280-by-720 resolution. Organizers ask participants to avoid adding logos, text, or music, as the city will handle editing to create a consistent presentation.

Submissions are due by June 15 and can be sent to [email protected]. Those who prefer assistance with recording can schedule an appointment at the Mentor Municipal Center during special drop-in sessions planned for May 5 and May 21 from 3 to 6 p.m.

Selected videos will be featured on screens at the Mentor Civic Amphitheater during the city’s Independence Day celebration on July 4. They will also air on the Mentor Channel throughout July and be posted on the city’s YouTube channel.

Source: cityofmentor.com

With warmer weather arriving, many residents are preparing to ride bikes, tricycles, and scooters again. Safety officials remind riders that wearing a helmet is one of the most effective ways to prevent serious injuries while cycling.

Research shows that a properly fitted bicycle helmet can reduce the risk of severe head injury by more than 85 percent. Because crashes can happen unexpectedly, riders of all ages—not just children—are encouraged to wear helmets every time they ride.

To promote bicycle safety, the Mentor Police Department has partnered with the Greater Cleveland Safe Kids Coalition and Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital to offer helmets to residents at a reduced price.

The name-brand helmets exceed safety standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials and the American National Standards Institute. Sizes range from toddler to adult extra-large, and each helmet costs $12.

Residents can print and complete a bicycle helmet order form from the City of Mentor website and mail it with a check or money order payable to the City of Mentor to the Crime Prevention unit at the Mentor Police Department, 8500 Civic Center Blvd., Mentor, Ohio 44060.

Customers will be notified by phone when their helmets are ready for pickup, typically within two weeks. Anyone with questions can contact the Mentor Police Department’s Crime Prevention unit. 🚴‍♂️🪖

Source: cityofmentor.com

A new Crochet Club at Mentor Shore Middle School has quickly become one of the school’s most popular after-school activities.

The club launched for the 2025–2026 school year after staff were invited to create new student clubs. Teachers Piper Greenlee and Megan LaGanke introduced crochet, a craft LaGanke had practiced for several years. Organizers expected about 15 to 20 students, but nearly 60 attended the first meeting, requiring the group to move from a classroom to the larger art room.

Attendance has remained strong, with 35 to 50 students regularly attending meetings held on alternating Thursdays after school. The club includes sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students with participation from both boys and girls.

Students can use crochet hooks and yarn provided by the club, with additional supplies donated by the school’s PTSA.

Participants range from beginners learning basic stitches to experienced students creating sweaters, scarves, blankets, and stuffed animals. Meetings focus on learning new techniques and working on projects together.

Source: news-herald

What’s Really in Your Dog’s Food? New Study Raises Questions for Pet Owners

Many dog owners assume the food they pour into a bowl each day is carefully balanced for health. However, new research is prompting some pet experts to take a closer look at what’s actually inside common dog food products. 🥣

Recent studies examining popular pet foods found that some products contain measurable levels of contaminants such as heavy metals and other environmental compounds. These substances can enter the food chain through ingredients like fish, grains, and meat byproducts used in many commercial recipes. 🔬

Researchers note that the levels detected are generally within regulatory limits, but the findings are encouraging more transparency about ingredient sourcing and manufacturing practices. Pet nutrition specialists say the results highlight the importance of understanding labels and choosing brands that emphasize quality control and clearly identified ingredients.

For dog owners, the takeaway isn’t necessarily to panic—but to stay informed. Experts suggest looking for foods that list whole protein sources first, avoid excessive fillers, and provide detailed sourcing information.

Veterinarians also recommend discussing diet options during routine visits, especially for dogs with allergies, digestive problems, or chronic health conditions.

As awareness grows, the pet food industry may face increasing pressure to improve labeling standards and ingredient quality. For now, informed choices remain one of the best tools pet owners have to support their dog’s long-term health. 🐕

Source: ewg.org

Mentor’s first regional final since the 2008–09 season as the program pursues its first state tournament berth since 1997.

Mentor’s girls basketball team moved one step closer to a return to the state tournament with a hard-fought 44–40 overtime victory over Canton McKinley in a Division I regional semifinal on March 4 at Barberton.

The decisive moment came with six seconds remaining in overtime when senior guard Nina Rodriguez, battling a painful ankle injury, stepped to the free-throw line and split two shots to extend Mentor’s lead and secure the win.

The Cardinals improved to 24–1 and advanced to the regional championship game on March 7 against Wadsworth, which defeated Massillon Jackson earlier in the evening. The appearance marks Mentor’s first regional final since the 2008–09 season as the program pursues its first state tournament berth since 1997.

Mentor had built a 40–28 lead late in regulation, but McKinley rallied to tie the game at 40–40 and force overtime after the Cardinals went scoreless in the final three minutes.

In the extra period, Mentor’s defense took over. Keira Coleman scored on a coast-to-coast layup to give the Cardinals the lead, and Rodriguez added key free throws as Mentor controlled the ball late to run down the clock.

Freshman Ashley McKinney led Mentor with 15 points and 21 rebounds, playing through the fourth quarter and overtime with four fouls. Rodriguez finished with 11 points, while Haley McClintock scored six and Coleman and Lyla Willis added five each.

Canton McKinley was led by Mya Taylor with a game-high 23 points, but the Cardinals held the Bulldogs scoreless in overtime to clinch the victory.

Mentor will now face Wadsworth with a state tournament berth on the line.

One of the funniest I’ve ever… haha!!