🌱 Patch AM: How will Mentor’s $6M Garfield Park splash pad change summer plans?

Hey hey Mentor! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How will Mentor’s $6M Garfield Park splash pad change summer plans?
• How did one vote reshape Mentor City Council’s future priorities?
• How will Mentor’s Old Village change with this $10 million project?

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

Today's riddle: What did the alien say to the puzzle? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Windy; snow and rain, with a high of 42 and low of 24 degrees.
• Thursday: Colder with snow at times, temps: high: 31, low: 26.
• Friday: Cloudy and cold with flurries, with a high of 32 and low of 26 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Mentor approves $6M splash pad for Garfield Park (cleveland.com) — Mentor City Council has approved nearly $6 million to build a new splash pad and bathhouse at Garfield Park, aimed especially at serving the city’s growing south side. Families who now drive to Civic Center Park or Headlands Beach will eventually have a closer place for kids to cool off, though officials haven’t announced a construction timeline yet.
   

2. Cook wins Mentor City Council seat by one vote after recount, certification (news-herald.com) — A razor-thin recount has made Brian Cook the winner of a Mentor City Council-at-large seat by just one vote, 5,554 to 5,553. Cook, a longtime planning commission member, says he’ll focus on vacuum truck leaf pickup, restoring storm water drainage assistance, and reimagining the Great Lakes Mall area as a true downtown-style district.
   

3. Mentor moves forward with mixed-use development to revitalize old village area (news5cleveland.com) — Mentor officials have approved a $10 million mixed-use project to transform the Old Village area with new apartments, shops, and restaurants plus amenities like underground parking and a fitness center. Led by Geis Companies and Uptown Mentor LLC, construction is expected to begin in spring 2026 and is intended to spark further redevelopment in this historic part of the city.
   

4. Mentor man sentenced to federal prison for failing to pay quarterly employment taxes to IRS (cleveland19.com) — A 38-year-old Mentor resident has been sentenced to two years in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $322,000 in restitution for failing to turn over employment taxes from an in-home care business serving Lake and Ashtabula counties. Prosecutors say payroll withholdings were misrepresented and required IRS payments were never made, with an employee discovering the problem while preparing to retire. The owner’s spouse, also from Mentor, previously received a similar prison term.
   

5. Division IV and V Football All-Ohio Teams Announced (neosportsinsiders.com) — Several Mentor Lake Catholic football players earned spots on the Division IV All-Ohio teams, including first-team honors on the offensive line and at linebacker. The statewide list, based on regular-season performance, highlights standout athletes from schools across Ohio in Divisions IV and V. It’s a strong recognition year for Mentor-area high school football talent.
   

📸 Around Mentor

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Mentor

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Wednesday December 10

• COOKBOOK CLUB: Holiday Edition In-Person
  Village Room , Main
  6:30 pm

Thursday December 11

• Elf on the Library Shelf In-Person
  Children's Area 2 , Main
• Deck the Halls Holiday Story Time In-Person
  James R. Garfield Room , Main
  10:00 am
• Let's Cook - 5 Spice Peanut Chickpeas In-Person
  Village Room , Main
  6:30 pm

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

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

Wednesday December 10

• Candy Land: It's Wild in Ohio
  Penitentiary Glen Reservation , 8668 Kirtland Chardon Rd , Kirtland
  10:00 am
• Castaways In-Person
  Beryl B. Paulson Room , Mentor-on-the-Lake
  10:30 am
• Tai Chi for Health In-Person
  Beryl B. Paulson Room , Mentor-on-the-Lake
  3:15 pm
• Yarn N Yak ~ Madison Public Library
  Eastern Lake County Chamber of Commerce , 6111 Middle Ridge Rd , Madison
  5:00 pm

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

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Not sure if anyone is missing a medium size bike.
  I have seen an abandoned bike was wondering if anyone is missing one. Maybe stolen. If so describe it. Let you know where it is at. (Nextdoor Mentor Garden Estates)
• "This is the final week for yard waste pickup in Mentor for those who receive curbside service.
  Residents place up to 25 units at the curb on trash day. " (Nextdoor Weatherby Park)

• DoorDash posted a job opening for Restaurant Delivery - Sign Up and Start Earning in Mentor. Apply 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 come in peace. You come in pieces.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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