🌱 Patch AM: How a single vote just reshaped Mentor’s council and schools

Coffee in hand, Mentor? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How a single vote just reshaped Mentor’s council and schools
• How one vote and $6 million could reshape Mentor’s future
• How a Mentor care business ended in federal prison time

Also on today's calendar: Brunch with Santa at Tall Oaks and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: What did one tuna say to the other after getting caught stealing files from work? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Colder with snow showers, with a high of 31 and low of 26 degrees.
• Friday: Cloudy and cold with flurries, temps: high: 32, low: 24.
• Saturday: A little snow, up to 1", with a high of 28 and low of 18 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!

📰 News we're reading

1. Single vote decides Mentor City Council seat (cleveland.com) — One vote has decided Mentor’s at-large City Council seat, with Brian Cook officially defeating Annie Payne after a hand recount and certification by the Lake County Board of Elections. The same recount process also locked in three winners for Mentor’s Board of Education, where the final school board seat was decided by just 11 votes.
   

2. Why Ohio's highways won't look like Michigan's when it comes to marijuana ads: The Wake Up for Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025 (cleveland.com subscription) — Mentor residents should know a single vote decided the city’s at-large council race, as final recount results were certified this week. City leaders also approved a nearly $6 million splash pad and bathhouse at Garfield Park to better serve the growing south side, while Lake County officials are seeking public input on watershed improvements that could affect local flooding and water quality.
   

3. Mentor man sentenced for not paying employment taxes (news-herald.com) — A Mentor resident has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for failing to pay required employment taxes while running an in-home care business serving Lake and Ashtabula counties. Prosecutors say employees’ paychecks showed proper withholdings, but the company never filed W-2s or sent the withheld taxes to the IRS, leading to hundreds of thousands of dollars in court-ordered restitution.
   

4. Berkshire's Kelly McCandless, Beaumont's Taryn Kozak selected to United Soccer Coaches Fall All-America (news-herald.com) — Mentor soccer fans can celebrate defender Averie Hull earning United Soccer Coaches all-region honors, highlighting local talent on a big stage. She’s joined by standout players from Berkshire, Beaumont, Kirtland and West Geauga, with Berkshire’s Kelly McCandless and Beaumont’s Taryn Kozak also named All-Americans after prolific high school careers.
   

5. Wickliffe builds its future from its past with new housing development (news5cleveland.com) — Families in Wickliffe who might otherwise move to places like Mentor now have a new option with the fast-selling Old School Village housing development. Built on former school sites, the project adds 36 single-family homes and townhouses, addresses a local housing shortage, and will honor a slain school custodian with a street named after him.
   

📸 Around Mentor

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Mentor

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Friday December 12

• Elf on the Library Shelf In-Person
  Children's Area 2 , Main

Saturday December 13

• Christmas Ornament Making Party In-Person
  James R. Garfield Room , Main
  12:00 pm
• Book Market In-Person
  Village Room , Main
  1:00 pm

Sunday December 14

• Elf on the Library Shelf In-Person
  Children's Area 2 , Main
• Brunch with Santa at Tall Oaks
  9199 Chillicothe Rd , Kirtland
  11:00 am

Monday December 15

• Holiday Bingo In-Person
  Village Room , Main
  6:30 pm

Tuesday December 16

• Elf on the Library Shelf In-Person
  Children's Area 2 , Main
• Library Tuesdays @Concord: 10 Things You Don't Know Mentor Public Library Does In-Person
  Concord Community Center , 7671 Auburn Rd , Painesville
  10:00 am

Wednesday December 17

• Elf on the Library Shelf In-Person
  Children's Area 2 , Main

Sunday December 21

• Brunch with Santa at Tall Oaks
  9199 Chillicothe Rd , Kirtland
  11:00 am

📣 Mentor Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 11

• Candy Land: It's Wild in Ohio
  Penitentiary Glen Reservation , 8668 Kirtland Chardon Rd , Kirtland
  10:00 am
• Deck the Halls Holiday Story Time In-Person
  James R. Garfield Room , Main
  10:00 am
• Thursday Afternoon Prayer & Tea Time
  Painesville United Methodist Church Library , 71 N. Park Place , Painesville
  2:30 pm
• Brushes & Lushes on Canvas
  Grand River Cellars Winery & Restaurant , 5750 S Madison Rd , Madison
  6:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Looking for an attorney to deal with Social Security who owes me back pay from unemployment over two years ago.
  They keep putting me off admitting the records are correct, but the money never comes. (Nextdoor Johnnycake Ridge)

• ACO, Inc. posted a job opening for Polymer Production Operator in Mentor. Apply here.
• Old Navy, Inc. posted a job opening for Seasonal Retail Sales Associate - Points East S/C in Mentor. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Mentor here.

Ok Mentor! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I could get canned for this!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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