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

📰 Local News: 🗳️ School Spending Debate Intensifies After Levy Rejection

📰 Mentor Resident Video Leads to Resignation From City Appeals Board

📉 Mentor Unemployment Rate Falls to 3.6% in March

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Event Spotlight: 🚶🏻‍♀️‍➡️ Celebrate Mother’s Day With Guided Nature Hike at Mentor Marsh

🏀 Sports: 🏀 Pistons Take Control of Series, Fourth-Quarter Surge Sinks Cavs

⚾ Guardians Beat Royals 8-5 Behind Late Blast From Naylor

⚾ Captains Split Twinbill After 15-13 Slugfest

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

MENTOR, Ohio — Mentor voters rejected the Mentor Public Schools 4.9-mill operating levy Tuesday, with unofficial final results showing the measure failed 54% to 46%.

The levy would have generated about $13.5 million annually to help fund daily operations including staffing, transportation, safety services and building maintenance. District leaders said the request was necessary because Mentor Schools has been using reserve funds since 2021 to cover ongoing budget deficits.

Now, school officials say reductions are coming.

Superintendent Craig Heath told families Wednesday that the district must begin making cuts to align spending with available resources. School leaders previously warned the levy’s failure could trigger about $3.4 million in reductions for the 2026-27 school year. Possible impacts include larger class sizes, staffing cuts, transportation reductions and higher extracurricular fees.

The district is also already planning another $4.2 million in cuts connected partly to retirements and position eliminations.

School board President Maggie Cook acknowledged many residents support Mentor Schools but are also struggling financially amid rising household costs and inflation. She said district officials are preparing immediate reductions of more than $3 million while considering whether another levy could appear on the November ballot.

Critics of the levy say voters were signaling frustration with district spending priorities. Former board member Annie Payne argued the district should focus more heavily on administrative costs and internal spending reductions before asking taxpayers for additional funding.

The levy was placed on the ballot in a 4-1 vote by the school board, with board member Rose Ioppolo voting against the measure.

Residents should expect more discussion in the coming weeks as district leaders outline where cuts may occur and whether another levy attempt will move forward later this year.

Source: cleveland.com

MENTOR, Ohio — A member of Mentor’s Board of Building and Zoning Appeals resigned Monday after a social media video showing her using a racial slur triggered widespread backlash.

Kathy Miller submitted her resignation the same day city officials announced that Mentor City Council intended to remove her from the volunteer board position.

The controversy began after a cellphone video circulated online showing Miller confronting a resident while removing driveway marker stakes from a front yard. During the exchange, Miller used a racial slur after the person filming said he planned to contact Mentor police. The video also showed Miller demanding the footage be deleted.

City officials publicly condemned Miller’s conduct, stressing that board members serve in unpaid, non-elected roles and do not represent the city’s views.

Officials said the behavior shown in the video was unacceptable and did not reflect the values of the Mentor community.

MENTOR, Ohio — Mentor’s unemployment rate fell to 3.6% in March 2026, marking a 0.4% decrease from the previous month and an improvement over the city’s 3.8% rate recorded in March 2025.

Lake County also saw gains in employment, with its unemployment rate dropping 0.6% to 3.9% in March 2026. One year earlier, the county’s rate stood at 4.2%.

Among Ohio cities with populations exceeding 50,000, Lakewood posted the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 3.2%. Columbus and Kettering followed at 3.5%, while Mentor and Cleveland Heights tied for the third-lowest rate at 3.6%. Cuyahoga Falls ranked next at 3.7%.

Mentor’s civilian labor force grew to 25,800 during the month.

Statewide, Ohio’s unemployment rate declined 0.7% to 4.0% in March 2026, compared with 5.1% during the same period last year.

Source: cityofmentor.com

MENTOR, Ohio — Families and nature enthusiasts can celebrate Mother’s Day outdoors during a guided wildflower hike at Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve on Sunday, May 10.

The “Mother’s Day Wildflower Walk” will take place from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Carol H. Sweet Nature Center, located at 5185 Corduroy Road in Mentor.

Participants will explore spring wildflowers blooming throughout the marsh’s wooded trails and native landscaping areas while learning about the role these plants play in supporting pollinators and local ecosystems.

The event is free to attend, though advance registration is requested. Organizers describe the hike as family-friendly with a moderate activity level depending on weather conditions.

Visitors are encouraged to bring binoculars, cameras, hand lenses or other nature observation tools, along with weather-appropriate clothing and waterproof footwear for off-trail walking.

The Detroit Pistons continued their playoff momentum Thursday night, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 107-97 at Little Caesars Arena to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 25 points and 10 assists, while Tobias Harris added 21 points. Duncan Robinson contributed 17 points and hit five three-pointers as the Pistons secured their fifth straight postseason win.

Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points for Cleveland, and Jarrett Allen added 22 points and seven rebounds. However, the Cavaliers struggled offensively late, missing all 11 of their three-point attempts in the fourth quarter.

James Harden finished with just 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting and committed a costly turnover in the final minute as Cleveland attempted to rally.

Detroit built an early double-digit lead before Cleveland briefly moved ahead early in the fourth quarter. The Pistons answered with timely defense and outside shooting, including a key three-pointer from Robinson and a late dagger from Cunningham that pushed the lead to nine with just over two minutes remaining.

Daniss Jenkins added 14 points off the bench for Detroit, while Cleveland played without injured reserve guard Sam Merrill.

The series shifts to Cleveland for Game 3 on Saturday.

See Highlights at espn.com

Bo Naylor hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning Thursday to help the Cleveland Guardians defeat the Kansas City Royals 8-5 and split their four-game series.

Cleveland took control early with a three-run first inning highlighted by Kyle Manzardo’s two-run double. Petey Halpin added his first career RBI in the third and later scored on a passed ball in the sixth to extend the lead to 5-1.

Naylor’s home run provided insurance after Kansas City rallied with late homers from Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino.

Slade Cecconi earned the win after allowing two runs over 5 1/3 innings, while Cade Smith recorded his 10th save.

Chase DeLauter extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a double, and every Guardians starter recorded a hit.

See Highlights at espn.com:

The Lake County Captains split Thursday’s doubleheader against the Great Lakes Loons, winning the opener 15-13 before falling 7-2 in Game 2.

Game 1 turned into an offensive shootout after Great Lakes built a 7-3 lead in the fourth inning. Lake County answered with nine runs in the bottom half, highlighted by a two-run homer from Jace LaViolette and a go-ahead RBI double by Ryan Cesarini.

The Loons later tied the game 12-12 and briefly took a 13-12 lead in the eighth inning before Jeffrey Mercedes delivered a three-run homer to give the Captains the win.

Cesarini also homered for Lake County in the opener.

In Game 2, Great Lakes scored early and pulled away with a five-run sixth inning capped by Jose Izarra’s three-run homer.

Luke Hill accounted for both Captains runs with an RBI double and a solo home run.

See additional details here: game 1 & game 2

Toddler missed his grand.. wait, what? haha