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

📰 Local News: 📰 Mentor Approves New Ambulance and Police Vehicle Purchase

🧱 Why Old Shoreline Walls Are No Longer an Option for Mentor

🎭 Arts and Culture Take Center Stage at Wildwood Immersive Art Night

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The Pet Corner: 🐾 How Residents Can Make Outdoor Time Safer for Pets

🏀 Sports: 🏀 Cavaliers Storm Back in OT to Beat Pistons, Take 3-2 Series Edge

⚾ Angel Martinez Sparks Guardians to Series Sweep of Los Angeles

⚾ Lake Catholic Sweeps NDCL Behind Strong Pitching Performances

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MENTOR, Ohio — In the Mentor City Council meeting, Mentor approved major public safety vehicle purchases during its May 5 meeting, authorizing upgrades for both the fire department and police department fleets.

Council approved the purchase of a new 2026 Ford F-550 4x4 ambulance chassis along with the rehabilitation and remounting of the city’s existing 2019 ambulance patient compartment. Fire officials said the current ambulance has approximately 150,000 miles, but the patient compartment remains suitable for refurbishment despite corrosion and structural wear.

Under the agreement with Penn Care Inc., the existing ambulance box will be stripped down, repaired and mounted onto a new chassis backed by a 150,000-mile warranty. Officials said the remount approach will save the city roughly $95,000 compared to purchasing a completely new ambulance.

The total ambulance project cost came in at approximately $226,000.

Council also approved the purchase of six new police vehicles through a contract with Classic Ford. The order includes five 2026 Ford Police Interceptor SUVs and one Ford F-150 Police Responder truck.

Police officials said four of the vehicles had already been budgeted for this year, while two additional units will replace police vehicles involved in accidents during 2025.

The total police vehicle purchase cost is approximately $275,790.

City officials noted that pricing from multiple state contract vendors was reviewed before selecting the lowest bidder for both vehicle types. Both ordinances passed unanimously as emergency legislation.

MENTOR, Ohio — As erosion continues eating away at Mentor’s shoreline, city officials say doing nothing is no longer a realistic option — but rebuilding the traditional stone walls used decades ago is no longer allowed under current environmental regulations.

During an April 7 council work session, officials warned that sections of the Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve shoreline are eroding by as much as 11 feet per year, raising concerns about collapsing bluffs, public safety risks, loss of parkland, and eventual threats to nearby marina infrastructure.

The city is now studying a large-scale shoreline stabilization project that could eventually exceed $30 million, though officials hope future grants and federal funding could offset a significant portion of the cost.

Council members questioned why Mentor cannot simply continue extending the revetment walls previously installed near the marina. Engineers and city staff explained that state and federal agencies now discourage or deny permits for traditional hardened shoreline walls because they can worsen sand depletion and create erosion problems farther down the Lake Erie coast.

Instead, regulators are pushing communities toward broader coastal restoration approaches that combine shoreline stabilization, beach nourishment, and ecological improvements.

Consultants told council that while the proposed modern approach is more complicated, the cost per linear foot is expected to be similar to a traditional revetment wall.

The project remains in the planning and engineering phase, with additional funding discussions and possible future voter approval still ahead.

MENTOR, Ohio — The Wildwood Cultural Center in Mentor will host “Wildwood Immersive Art Night” on Saturday, May 16, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Presented with the Federation of India Community Associations (FICA) of Cleveland, the event will feature interactive arts and cultural experiences throughout the historic Wildwood estate.

Guests can enjoy an Asian Indian dance performance, artist demonstrations, live steel drum music, and a temporary art installation. The evening also includes a hands-on public art project, tours of the Manor House, and opportunities to meet artists participating in the Wildwood Art Post Project, whose works are displayed in the site’s native wildflower garden.

The program highlights regional artists and cultural education focused on the Asian Indian community. Local wine will be available for purchase, and light appetizers will be served.

Tickets are $25 per person. Guests may purchase tickets or create an online account through the City of Mentor by calling the Wildwood Cultural Center at 440-974-5735 or registering online through the city recreation portal.

The Wildwood Cultural Center is located at 7645 Little Mountain Road in Mentor.

Source: Facebook Post

For many pet owners in Mentor, letting the dog outside into a fenced backyard feels safe and routine.

Wildlife experts say suburban Northeast Ohio is changing — and some pet owners may need to adjust old habits.

Coyote sightings have become increasingly common across Lake County neighborhoods, especially near wooded areas, parks, creek corridors, and retention ponds. While coyotes generally avoid people, small dogs and outdoor cats can become vulnerable during early morning, dusk, and nighttime hours.

The good news: experts say most wildlife-related pet incidents are preventable.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that a fenced backyard automatically guarantees safety. Coyotes can jump some fences, and many encounters happen during brief unsupervised outdoor trips after dark.

Instead of panic, wildlife professionals recommend awareness and routine changes.

For smaller pets, owners should consider accompanying animals outside during evening hours rather than letting them out alone. Motion lights, trimmed landscaping, and keeping pets closer to the home can also reduce risks significantly.

Food sources matter too.

Pet food bowls left outside, unsecured garbage, fallen bird seed, and feeding stray animals can quietly attract wildlife into residential areas. Removing those attractants helps discourage coyotes and other animals from lingering near homes.

Experts also say human presence is one of the strongest deterrents. A backyard with activity, lighting, and supervision is far less appealing to wildlife than a quiet yard with unattended pets.

Coyotes remain an important part of Ohio’s ecosystem and rarely pose direct risks to people.

But as wildlife continues adapting to suburban neighborhoods, many Mentor-area pet owners are learning that safer outdoor habits may now be just as important as the fence itself.

The Cleveland Cavaliers mounted a dramatic comeback Wednesday night, defeating the Detroit Pistons 117-113 in overtime to grab a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

James Harden scored a playoff-high 30 points and Donovan Mitchell added 21 as Cleveland erased a nine-point deficit in the closing minutes of regulation. The Cavaliers trailed by 15 in the first half and were still behind 103-94 with just over two minutes left before rallying.

Cleveland tied the game at 103 after Evan Mobley made two free throws with 45.2 seconds remaining. The Cavaliers then extended a 13-0 run that carried into overtime, holding Detroit scoreless for five minutes.

Mitchell hit a key three-pointer with 2:39 left in overtime to put Cleveland ahead by seven. Cade Cunningham, who finished with 39 points and nine assists, cut the deficit to two with 25 seconds remaining, but Harden sealed the victory at the free-throw line.

Max Strus scored 20 points with six three-pointers for Cleveland, while Mobley added 19 and Jarrett Allen finished with 16 points and nine rebounds.

The win was Cleveland’s first road victory of the postseason and gives the Cavaliers two chances to clinch a spot in the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks.

Game 6 is Friday night in Cleveland, while a potential Game 7 would return to Detroit on Sunday.

See Highlights at espn.com

The Cleveland Guardians completed a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with a 4-2 win Wednesday at Progressive Field.

Angel Martinez sparked Cleveland with a leadoff home run in the first inning, his first career leadoff blast, while filling in for resting All-Star Steven Kwan. David Fry added a run on a groundout later in the inning, and Chase DeLauter’s sacrifice fly pushed the lead to 3-0 in the third.

Rookie left-hander Parker Messick improved to 5-1, allowing two runs on four hits over 6 2/3 innings.

The Angels cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fifth on Zach Neto’s two-run homer, but Daniel Schneemann answered with an RBI single in the sixth.

Eric Sabrowski and Cade Smith each struck out the side over the final two innings, with Smith earning his 13th save. Cleveland improved to 30-4 at home against the Angels since 2015.

See Highlights at espn.com

The Lake Catholic Cougars earned two conference wins over Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin this week, defeating the Lions 5-3 on Monday and 3-1 on Tuesday to improve to 14-8 overall and 6-5 in conference play.

On Monday, NDCL scored three runs in the first inning, but the Cougars responded with runs in the first, second and fifth innings to take control. Josh Howman pitched five innings, allowing two hits and striking out 12. Ben Mitchell added 1.2 innings of relief with five strikeouts.

Quinn Stayer went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Howman finished 2-for-4 with an RBI. Mitchell, Pete Malchesky and Patrick Martin also drove in runs.

Lake Catholic completed the sweep Tuesday behind a complete-game effort from Tyler Hribar, who allowed one run on six hits while striking out eight over seven innings.

The Cougars scored single runs in the third, fourth and sixth. Stayer and Brayden Mann finished 2-for-3.

Lake Catholic returns home today to face Hawken at 5 p.m.

Any memories happenin’ right now??!! Grand dad is diggin’ it. 🎶🎶