⛈️ Weather: Windy, Showers & Thunderstorms Likely - Temps 65-68°

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

📰 Local News: 📰 Former Sears Site Faces Redevelopment as New Fire Station Targets Late 2026 Opening

🧳 New Terminal at Lake County Executive Airport Nears Finish Line

⛵ Ambitious Plans, Historic Setbacks: The Story Behind Mentor Lagoons

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Wellness Wednesday: 💆 Beyond Relaxation: How Therapeutic Massage Improves Your Health

🏈 Sports: 🏈 Browns Continue Offensive Line Overhaul with Jenkins Signing

🤔 Trivia Question

🤣 Something Funny

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

A long-vacant Sears property near Great Lakes Mall in Mentor is drawing renewed attention as city officials and a local developer evaluate potential redevelopment opportunities for the roughly 20-acre site at 7875 Johnnycake Ridge Road.

The property was purchased in early 2024 for $1.5 million by developer Sam Petros, through Mentor Revitalization LLC. The parcel had been owned by a company managing former Sears properties and historically operated independently from the rest of the mall, a common arrangement in older mall developments where anchor stores owned their own land.

The developer is conducting market and feasibility studies to determine the most viable use for the site. Early possibilities discussed include a mixed-use development featuring residential units, apartments, or townhouses alongside commercial space, although no official redevelopment plan has been approved.

The property remains zoned B-2 General Business, meaning residential development would require a zoning change or special approval from Mentor’s Planning Commission and City Council. Local officials continue to emphasize the importance of maintaining the Great Lakes Mall corridor as a key retail center while remaining open to future diversification of uses.

While the main Sears building’s future remains uncertain, a nearby portion of the former Sears footprint is already being redeveloped. The former Sears Auto Center, located on a 2.7-acre parcel at Johnnycake Ridge Road and Plaza Boulevard, has been demolished.

That site will become Mentor Fire Station 3, replacing a 60-year-old station near Garfield Park. Design work is expected to begin soon, with the new station projected to be operational by the end of 2026.

For now, demolition activity and site preparation at the Sears property appear to be positioning the land for future redevelopment while city officials and developers continue evaluating long-term possibilities.

Multiple Sources: News-Herald, Cleveland.com, mentorlocalbuzz.com & more
Read the Full Article at mentorlocalbuzz.com

The Lake Development Authority approved two change orders for the new terminal building at Lake County Executive Airport in Willoughby, bringing the project closer to completion.

A $38,590 change order allows Marous Bros. Construction to relocate a transformer and protective bollards to meet FirstEnergy safety requirements. Another $37,599 change order addresses balcony issues at the building.

Construction is expected to wrap up by the end of the month, with interior work and furniture installation continuing through July. The new terminal will include flexible space designed for visitor greetings and meetings.

Airport officials are also working with federal partners to restore flight approach procedures. Runway 23 is currently open for daytime approaches, while additional checks continue on lighting and systems.

Officials are also exploring plans for a snow removal equipment building and pursuing federal workforce grants to encourage local students to pursue aviation careers.

The area now known as Mentor Lagoons traces its roots to early settlement along Lake Erie. One of the first settlers, Daniel Parker, established a community south of the lagoons near today’s Hopkins Road and Lake Shore Boulevard.

By the late 1800s, the marshland attracted development interest. Proposals as early as the 1870s called for dredging the basin to create an inland harbor.

Around the turn of the 20th century, industrial leaders considered building a major steel plant there. The plan collapsed when landowner Peter Hitchcock refused to sell his 52-acre property—an event remembered as “Hitchcock’s Holdup.” The steel project ultimately moved to Lorain.

In the 1920s, Cleveland investors formed the Mentor Harbor Club and planned an upscale waterfront community called the “Venice of the North,” with luxury homes, private docks, and a nearby golf course.

The harbor was dredged and dock walls installed, but after more than $1 million was invested, the 1929 stock market crash halted the project.

In later years, part of the property became the Mentor Harbor Yacht Club while the rest evolved into the Mentor Lagoons Marina. The land changed owners several times as ideas such as a boatel and a harness racing track were proposed.

The City of Mentor purchased the property in the 1990s and preserved it as public space. Today, the 450-acre Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve features marshes, forests, and a natural beach popular with hikers, cyclists, boaters, and birdwatchers.

Source: cityofmentor.com

Beyond Relaxation: The Science and Art of Therapeutic Massage

Imagine the weight of a long, stressful week finally melting away as tension leaves your body. While many view it as a simple luxury, massage therapy is actually a sophisticated holistic health practice. By applying precise pressure to the body’s soft tissues, practitioners can unlock a variety of physical and mental health benefits. 

Whether you are looking to reduce pain, improve circulation, or simply promote deep relaxation, there is likely a specific technique tailored to your needs. Some of the most common types of massage include:

Scientific observation has shown that regular massage therapy can impact almost every system in the body. For your mental well-being, it is highly effective at reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Massage helps boost the immune system and increases overall flexibility for physical recovery. In terms of pain management, it can provide relief for headaches, menstrual cramps, and stiffness in the neck and back. With so many people focusing on improved vitality, it is great to know that regular sessions can lead to better sleep quality, improved digestive function, and enhanced athletic performance.

For those struggling with chronic discomfort, massage and therapeutic bodywork offer several biological advantages:

While therapeutic bodywork is not a "cure" for pain, it is a highly effective tool for improving your overall quality of life. If you are ready to incorporate this into your wellness routine, ensure you seek out a qualified therapist who is properly licensed or certified.

Browns general manager Andrew Berry continues to move quickly in rebuilding Cleveland’s struggling offensive line.

The latest addition is veteran lineman Elgton Jenkins, who agreed to a two-year, $24 million contract with $20 million guaranteed. The 30-year-old spent his entire career with the Green Bay Packers before being released Tuesday with a failed physical designation.

Cleveland expects Jenkins to be ready for the start of the season despite a serious injury that ended his 2025 campaign. After moving from guard to center last season, he fractured his lower leg and suffered ligament damage in November.

Jenkins brings valuable versatility, having played guard, center and tackle during his career. A second-round pick in 2019 out of Mississippi State, he earned Pro Bowl honors in 2020 and 2022 while primarily playing guard.

His signing continues a busy stretch for the Browns, who recently traded for right tackle Tytus Howard, signed free-agent guard Zion Johnson, and re-signed guard Teven Jenkins.

The moves signal a major effort to rebuild a line that struggled throughout the 2025 season.

Jenkins could compete for several roles depending on how the line develops. If he plays center, he would replace Ethan Pocic, who suffered a ruptured Achilles in December and is currently a free agent. Luke Wypler is another option at the position.

The Browns are also awaiting a decision from All-Pro guard Joel Bitonio on whether he will return for a 13th season.

Cleveland may still address left tackle in the upcoming NFL Draft, where the team holds the No. 6, No. 24 and No. 39 picks.

With multiple veteran additions already in place, the Browns have taken significant steps toward strengthening their offensive line heading into the 2026 season.

Read More cleveland.com