🌥️ Weather: Partly Cloudy, Smoke & Haze. Poss. Storms - Temps 85-87°

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

📰 Local News: 💨 Wildfire Smoke Keeps Lake County Under Hazardous Air

🖼️ Willoughby ArtsFest Returns Saturday With 160-Plus Artists

📰 Mentor CityFest Parade Applications Due July 20 at 5pm

📆 Event Spotlight: 🎈 Willoughby’s Oktoberfest in July Returns Starting Today

🏈 Sports: 🏈 Mentor’s Scotty Fox Chasing West Virginia’s Starting QB Job

🤔 Trivia Question

🤣 Something Funny

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

Smoke from Canadian wildfires continued to affect Northeast Ohio on Friday after creating dangerous air quality, gray skies and reduced visibility across the region Thursday.

Lake County remained under a Code Maroon Air Quality Advisory through midnight Friday night. The advisory, issued through the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, also covered Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit counties.

Code Maroon is the highest category on the Air Quality Index and means pollution levels are considered extremely hazardous for the general population. Residents were advised to minimize outdoor activity, follow local emergency guidance and check current readings before exercising, working outside or attending outdoor events.

The advisory followed severe conditions Thursday, when a permanent AirNow monitor in Painesville reported an overall reading in the very unhealthy range. Conditions around the monitoring location reached hazardous levels.

Smoke also affected travel on Lake Erie. A separate National Weather Service Dense Smoke Advisory expired at 4 a.m. Friday after warning that visibility could fall below one nautical mile across nearshore and open waters. The low visibility made navigation difficult and prompted boaters to use extra caution.

Residents can help limit exposure by keeping windows closed and using central air conditioning when available. Ohio EPA recommended a MERV-13 or higher filter when the home’s system can safely accommodate one.

Because conditions can change during the day, residents should check AirNow before making outdoor plans.

👉🏻 Read the full story for what Code Maroon means, how conditions can vary across Lake County and the steps residents can take while the advisory remains in effect.

Downtown Willoughby will become an open-air art gallery Saturday as the Willoughby ArtsFest celebrates its 35th year.

The free festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday, July 18, along Erie and Center streets, part of Euclid Avenue and Wes Point Park. More than 160 juried artists are expected to display paintings, photography, jewelry, ceramics, sculpture, glass, woodwork and other original pieces.

Visitors can also enjoy live entertainment, children’s art activities and more than 20 food choices. The Cleveland Breakfast Club is scheduled to perform from noon to 2 p.m. at the Kilbourne Family Entertainment Gazebo.

Admission and parking are free. Laketran will operate a shuttle from Willoughby South High School, with drop-off near Second Street and Clark Avenue. Parking will also be available at Todd Field and Willoughby Municipal Courthouse. City Hall parking opens at 12:30 p.m.

Because Erie and Center streets, part of Euclid Avenue and Wes Point Park will be closed for the festival, visitors who do not need to park downtown may find the high school shuttle to be the simplest option.

The event is family-friendly and takes place rain or shine. Comfortable shoes, sun protection and a plan for carrying any artwork home may make the day easier.

Plan ahead: Visitors can view the official 2026 Willoughby ArtsFest map before leaving home to find artist booths, entertainment areas, food vendors and other festival features.

👉🏻 For parking details, festival highlights and a link to the official event map, read our full ArtsFest guide on the Local Buzz website.

Mentor businesses, civic groups and community organizations have until Monday, July 20, at 5 p.m. to apply for a spot in the 2026 Mentor CityFest Parade.

Participation is free. The parade steps off at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, from Shore Middle School and follows Hopkins Road, Center Street and Civic Center Boulevard before ending near the Mentor Civic Amphitheater.

An estimated 100 groups take part each year, with thousands of spectators lining the route. This year’s theme is “America 250! Candles, Cheers, and 250 Years!”

Awards will be presented after the parade in categories including Best Float, Best Community Spirit and Best Use of Theme.

Applications must be fully completed and returned to the Mentor Senior Center by the July 20 deadline. Completed applications must be returned by 5 p.m. Monday, July 20, to the Mentor Senior Center, 8484 Munson Road, or emailed to [email protected]

Questions may be directed to [email protected] or 440-974-5725.

The parade is part of Mentor CityFest, which returns to Mentor Civic Center Park on Friday, Aug. 14, from 5 to 11 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 15, from noon to 11 p.m. Admission and parking are free, although wristbands will be required for some activities.

👉🏻 Read the full story for application details, parade information and a preview of what’s planned for Mentor CityFest 2026.

Immaculate Conception Parish will hold its 46th annual Oktoberfest in July from Friday, July 17, through Sunday, July 19, at 37940 Euclid Avenue in Willoughby.

The three-day festival will feature live music, children’s games, inflatables and a large menu of German, Italian and American food prepared by parish volunteers. Featured performers announced by organizers include Abby Normal and the Detroit Lean on Friday, Three Day Weekend on Saturday and Disco Inferno on Sunday.

Families can visit the children’s gaming area and purchase wristbands for inflatables and other activities. Sunday’s schedule traditionally includes the Baby Derby, Toddler Trot and children’s dance contests beginning at 5 p.m.

Monte Carlo games will be offered Friday and Saturday evenings in the basement of St. Joseph Hall. Participants must be at least 21 and present valid identification.

The festival will also include a Chinese auction with more than 70 prizes and a raffle offering a $10,000 grand prize. Raffle tickets cost $5 each, and the winner will be drawn Sunday night. ATMs will be available on the grounds.

Admission is listed as free. Friday’s hours are listed as 5 to 11 p.m.; complete Saturday and Sunday hours had not been posted at publication time. Visitors should check the parish website before attending because the official schedule remains subject to change.

Planning to attend? Our full event guide breaks down the food, entertainment, children’s activities, raffle details and what to know before you go.

Former Mentor quarterback Scotty Fox is entering his second season at West Virginia with a chance to win one of the most visible jobs in college football.

Fox emerged as the Mountaineers’ starter down the stretch in 2025 after injuries and inconsistency reshaped the quarterback room. The true freshman appeared in 10 games, completing 101 of 170 passes for 1,276 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions. He also rushed for 201 yards and three scores.

His best performances showed why West Virginia remains confident in his future. Fox threw for 301 yards against TCU and set a school freshman record with 353 passing yards against Arizona State. He also helped the Mountaineers earn wins over Houston and Colorado.

Now the Mentor High School graduate is competing with Oklahoma transfer Michael Hawkins for the starting role. Coach Rich Rodriguez expects the competition to continue through preseason camp before West Virginia opens its season Sept. 5 against Coastal Carolina.

Fox says his biggest offseason lesson has been learning when not to force a big play. After experiencing both success and difficult mistakes as a freshman, he has focused on understanding the offense and making the routine decision.

For Mentor fans who watched him develop with the Cardinals, the next step carries special meaning. A hometown quarterback who once led the local high school offense is now competing for the chance to lead a Big 12 program.

👉🏻 Read the full story on our website to learn how Fox overcame early setbacks, stayed committed through a coaching change and put himself in position to compete for West Virginia’s starting job.

🐝 Buzz Fact: Cosmetics have been around for thousands of years—proving that “getting ready in five minutes” has probably never been historically accurate.
Answer: Google

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