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

📰 Local News: 📰 Garfield Statue Captures President as Approachable Statesman

📰 Cooling Help Available for Lake and Geauga Residents Through HEAP

🗓️ Mentor Municipal Board of Building & Zoning Appeals Meeting

🛣️ NEXT STOP: Sunday Drives to Towering Cliffs, Waterfalls & Small-Town Charm

⚾ Sports: ⚾ Late Homer Sinks Guardians in AL Central Showdown

⚾ Captains Rally Past Whitecaps to Stay Close in Second-Half Race

🤔 Trivia Question

🤣 Something Funny

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

Mentor marked its deep connection to President James A. Garfield on July 3 with the unveiling of a new bronze statue outside the Mentor Municipal Center.

The 7-foot, slightly larger-than-life figure was created by sculptor Alan Cottrill and intentionally designed in a more active, approachable pose. Rather than showing Garfield in a stiff presidential stance, the statue reflects his role as the pioneer of the 1880 “front porch campaign,” when he greeted supporters directly from his Mentor home, Lawnfield.

That home, located on what is now Mentor Avenue, is preserved today as the James A. Garfield National Historic Site.

Cottrill, whose body of work includes more than 400 pieces, also created Ohio’s Thomas Edison statue displayed in the National Statuary Hall Collection at the U.S. Capitol.

Despite the hot weather, the ceremony drew a strong turnout and concluded with a community picnic. Tim Garfield, the president’s great-great-grandson, praised the finished work, calling it “a wonderful statue” and noting that while it is not the typical pose expected of a president, it fits.

For Mentor, the statue adds a new civic landmark while honoring the city’s lasting place in American presidential history.

👉🏻 Read More: The story behind that pose adds another layer to the tribute, connecting the artwork directly to Garfield’s front porch campaign and Mentor’s role in presidential history.

Lake and Geauga County residents who need help paying electric bills or staying cool this summer may qualify for assistance through Lifeline’s HEAP Summer Crisis Program.

The program is now underway and runs through Sept. 30. It can help eligible households pay electric bills, receive a fan or air conditioning unit, or cover central air conditioning repairs. Fans and air conditioners are limited and available first come, first served, so residents who may qualify should not wait.

Households must meet income guidelines and have at least one qualifying need. That includes having a household member age 60 or older, having physician documentation that cooling assistance is medically necessary, or having a utility disconnection notice. Qualifying medical conditions may include asthma, COPD or other lung-related conditions.

For a family of four, annual household income must be at or below $57,750. Eligible households may receive up to $500 for regulated utilities or up to $800 for unregulated utilities, such as electric cooperatives or municipal utilities.

Appointments are required for Summer Crisis Program applicants. Residents can schedule by calling 440-381-8230 or visiting app.capappointments.com. Applicants should gather recent energy bills, household income information, proof of citizenship or legal residency, and disability documentation if applicable before their appointment.

👉🏻 Not sure whether your household qualifies? The full guide breaks down income limits, required documents, appointment options and what to do before you apply. Read More Here.

The Mentor Municipal Board of Building and Zoning Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

The meeting will take place in the Mentor Council Chambers at the Mentor Municipal Center, 8500 Civic Center Blvd., Mentor, Ohio.

The board will consider several variance requests involving wall signage, accessory building setbacks, fence height and placement, and garage setback requirements for properties located on Diamond Centre Drive, Whalers Cove, Palmerston Drive, Wildwood Drive, and Broadmoor Circle.

Source: cityofmentor.com

Sunday Drives to Towering Cliffs, Waterfalls & Small-Town Charm

Some weekend escapes feel much farther away than they really are.

About three hours from Mentor, Hocking Hills and Logan offer one of Ohio’s best combinations of outdoor scenery and small-town comfort. Hocking Hills brings the waterfalls, sandstone cliffs, caves, overlooks, and wooded trails. Logan gives the trip a practical home base, with restaurants, lodging, local shops, and places to unwind after a day outside.

That pairing is what makes this a strong weekend drive. You are not just heading somewhere pretty. You are heading somewhere that is easy to turn into a complete overnight getaway.

First-time visitors often build the trip around favorites like Old Man’s Cave, Ash Cave, Cedar Falls, Rock House, and nearby Conkle’s Hollow. Each stop has a different feel, from dramatic rock formations to peaceful forest paths and photo-friendly water features.

The best approach is simple: do not try to see everything at once. Pick two or three major stops, leave room for a relaxed meal in Logan, and save one scenic walk for Sunday morning before heading home.

Why Northeast Ohio travelers love it
🚗 About 3 hours from Mentor
🥾 Some of Ohio’s most scenic hiking areas
🌊 Waterfalls, caves, cliffs, and rock formations
🍽️ Restaurants, lodging, and local stops in Logan
📸 A great Ohio weekend for photos and fresh air

Sunday Drives Tip: Popular trailheads can get busy by late morning on weekends. Arriving early usually means easier parking, cooler temperatures, and a quieter start.

Thinking about making the trip? Visit our website for a first-timer itinerary, trail-planning tips, what to do in Logan, and our ★★★★★ Local Buzz Verdict.

Coming Next Sunday: Two charming river towns with historic downtowns, waterfront views, and locally owned shops.

The Guardians’ push to stay atop the AL Central took a hit Saturday night as the Chicago White Sox rallied late for a 3-1 win at Progressive Field.

Cleveland had opened the series with back-to-back walk-off victories, but Chicago moved back ahead of the Guardians by percentage points in the division race.

The game was tied 1-1 in the eighth when Colson Montgomery drove a solo home run to center off Tim Herrin, giving the White Sox the lead for good. Chicago added another run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Miguel Vargas.

Guardians rookie Parker Messick delivered a good start, allowing just one run over five innings. Austin Hedges provided Cleveland’s only offense with a solo homer in the fifth that tied the game.

White Sox starter Sean Burke quieted the Guardians’ lineup, striking out a career-high 11 batters across seven innings without issuing a walk. Cleveland could not break through against Chicago’s bullpen in the final two frames.

The Guardians, who had three players named All-Stars in Travis Bazzana, Cade Smith and Messick. Cleveland will look to rebound Sunday in the series finale with Tanner Bibee scheduled to start.

See Highlights at espn.com

The Lake County Captains turned a rough start into one of their more important comeback wins of the second half Saturday, beating the West Michigan Whitecaps, 6-5.

Lake County fell behind early after starter Jackson Humphries lasted just one inning, allowing three runs on one hit with two walks and two strikeouts. West Michigan stretched the lead to 4-0 in the second when Patrick Lee hit a grand slam to right-center field.

The Captains did not let the game get away.

Nolan Schubart started the comeback with his 18th home run of the season in the fourth inning. Dean Curley followed an inning later with a two-run single that scored Garrett Howe and Aaron Walton, cutting the deficit to 4-3.

After West Michigan added a run in the fifth, Tyler Howard delivered the decisive swing. His first home run of the season, a three-run shot in the sixth, gave Lake County a 6-5 lead.

The bullpen made it hold up. Luis Flores earned the win, and Kendeglys Virguez recorded his second save.

Lake County improved to 7-6 in the second half and remains just two games out of first place. The Captains wrap up the series at West Michigan today at 2 p.m.

👉🏻 Read the full recap to see how the Captains turned an early 4-0 hole into a win that kept them within reach in the second-half standings. See the box score and more

🐝 Buzz Fact: More than a dozen places around the world have unusual names like Truth or Consequences, Accident, Normal, and Intercourse. Some have become popular roadside attractions simply because of their names.
🦩Answer: Google

When the cats away, the mice will play… well not exactly.