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

📰 Local News: 📰 Mentor Commission Finds Compromise After Resident Concern

📊 Mentor Unemployment Edges Up to 3.3% but Remains Among Ohio’s Lowest

🚧 Harbor Drive Repaving to Impact Access to Mentor Lagoons April 14–16

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Food & Recipes: 🍽️ Dinner Rescue: Two Easy Meals That Feel Like Takeout (But Better)

🥍 Sports: 🥍 Lady Cardinals Edged by Gators Despite Fink’s Six Goals

⚾ Sixth-Inning Collapse Sinks Cleveland Against Braves

🏀 Short-Handed Cavaliers Fall to Hawks as Atlanta Clinches Division

🤔 Trivia Question

🤣 Something Funny

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

Mentor Planning Commission Approves Patio Dining, Resolves Parking Dispute

The Mentor Planning Commission approved two key proposals during its April 9, 2026 meeting, focusing on outdoor dining and a parking expansion along Mentor Avenue.

First, commissioners approved a conditional use permit allowing outdoor dining for Senor Masa at 9179 Mentor Avenue. The applicant plans to utilize an existing patio space for additional seating. The approval includes conditions such as enclosing the patio area with fencing to improve safety, particularly for families and children.

The second proposal—at 8666 Mentor Avenue—sparked more discussion. A growing healthcare office requested a reduction in landscape buffer requirements to create additional parking. A nearby resident raised concerns about a proposed dumpster location near his home, specifically his bedroom window.

After extended discussion, the commission worked with the applicant to relocate the dumpster farther from neighboring properties while still allowing for service access. The revised plan preserves parking gains while addressing neighborhood concerns.

Both proposals were ultimately approved with conditions.

Read the Full Article at mentorlocalbuzz.com

Mentor’s unemployment rate saw a slight increase at the start of 2026, rising to 3.3% in January. Despite the uptick, the figure remains lower than the 3.8% recorded during the same month last year.

Across Lake County, unemployment followed a similar trend, climbing to 3.8% in January 2026, compared to 4.3% a year earlier. Even with the monthly increase, both Mentor and the county continue to show improvement over year-ago levels.

Among Ohio cities with populations exceeding 50,000, Mentor ranks near the top for low unemployment. Only Lakewood reported a lower rate at 2.8%, while Cleveland Heights and Parma followed at 3.5% and 3.8%, respectively. Meanwhile, Mentor’s civilian labor force expanded to 25,700.

Statewide, Ohio’s unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in January, up from 4.0% the previous month, but still below the 5.4% recorded in January 2025.

Source: cityofmentor.com

Road work is set to begin next week on Harbor Drive, impacting access to the Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve and Marina. Crews will focus on repaving the stretch that runs from the top of the hill down across the causeway leading into the lagoons.

The project will unfold over three days. Initial milling and preparation are scheduled for April 14 and 15, followed by paving work on April 16. During construction, access along Harbor Drive will be reduced at times, though officials intend to maintain at least one open lane for traffic throughout the duration of the project.

Drivers visiting the preserve and marina should expect delays and use caution while traveling through the work zone.

Source: cityofmentor.com

If your usual dinner rotation is getting stale, these two recipes bring bold flavor and variety—without requiring hours in the kitchen or expensive ingredients.

👉 Recipe for Korean Inspired Ground Beef & Rice Bowl

Why it works: Ready in about 20 minutes using pantry staples like soy sauce, garlic, and brown sugar. It’s savory, slightly sweet, and perfect for busy weeknights when takeout is tempting.

👉 Recipe for Spinach & Feta Stuffed Chicken

Why it works: Feels like a “restaurant meal” but uses simple ingredients. Pair with a quick side (rice, salad, or roasted veggies) and dinner is done in about 30 minutes.

The Mentor Lady Cardinals lacrosse team came up just short in a tightly contested matchup, falling 10-9 to the Laurel (Shaker Heights) Gators.

Mentor produced a balanced offensive effort, highlighted by Sydney Fink’s six goals, accounting for the majority of the team’s scoring. Ava Lee added two goals, while Michelle Frumker contributed another to round out the scoring. Despite the strong output, the Cardinals were edged late in a game that remained close throughout.

Defensively, Mentor recorded seven ground balls and four caused turnovers, showing resilience against a persistent Laurel attack. In goal, Sammy McGinnis faced heavy pressure, making seven saves against 17 shots on goal.

The loss drops Mentor to 2-4 on the season as the team looks to bounce back quickly. The Lady Cardinals return home Saturday afternoon to face West Geauga, with opening draw set for 1 p.m. at home.

Cleveland let a tight game slip away in dramatic fashion Friday night, as a six-run sixth inning by Atlanta sent the Guardians to an 11-5 loss in a matchup of division leaders.

Holding a 2-1 advantage entering the sixth, Cleveland’s pitching faltered as Atlanta’s lineup surged. A solo homer quickly tied the game before a two-run blast gave the Braves the lead. The inning unraveled further with additional hits and another home run, turning a narrow edge into a multi-run deficit in a matter of minutes.

Starter Slade Cecconi was charged with five runs over just more than five innings, absorbing the loss as Cleveland struggled to contain Atlanta’s offense. The Braves piled up 15 hits on the night, including three home runs in their decisive inning.

Earlier in the game, Cleveland showed promise. Kyle Manzardo delivered a towering home run to center field to even the score, while the team capitalized on a defensive miscue to help build its early lead.

The Guardians attempted a late push with three runs in the eighth inning, but the gap proved too large to overcome.

Despite the setback, Cleveland remains atop the AL Central and continues to be one of the few teams yet to lose a series this season. The club will look to bounce back Saturday behind left-hander Parker Messick against Atlanta’s Martín Pérez.

Read More, See Highlights at espn.com

The Cleveland Cavaliers fell 124-102 to the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night, as Atlanta pulled away in the second half to secure the Southeast Division title and a playoff berth.

Despite being locked into the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, Cleveland struggled to keep pace, particularly after halftime. The game shifted in the third quarter when Atlanta turned an 11-point lead into a blowout with a decisive 16-0 run, putting the contest out of reach.

James Harden led the Cavaliers with 20 points, while Jaylon Tyson contributed 15 in his return to the lineup after a 10-game absence. Cleveland, however, had difficulty finding rhythm offensively, shooting just 26 percent from three-point range.

The Cavs were also shorthanded, missing key contributors including leading scorer Donovan Mitchell, center Jarrett Allen, and reserve Sam Merrill due to injuries.

Atlanta was powered by CJ McCollum’s 29-point performance, along with strong support from Dyson Daniels, who posted a triple-double, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jalen Johnson, who each added 18 points.

Cleveland will look to regroup as it prepares for its next matchup on the road against Washington.

Read More, See Highlights at espn.com

Tricky parents vs. Picky eaters… LOL!