Headlands BeachFest 2014 returns to Headlands Beach State Park on Saturday, July 26. This free, family-friendly event, blends the arts with the elements of wind, water and sand for one truly unique day at the beach. From Noon to 8 p.m., the skies above the mile-long lakefront will be filled with colorful kites, while kayaks and paddleboards splash through Lake Erie. Many of the other activities will take place on land include sand castle building for families, music, dancers, acrobats and performance artists. There will also be organized beach games, art projects, face painters and a cartoon portrait artist. The state’s concessionaire, Lakeside Snacks, will offer traditional beach fare including hot dogs, burgers, fries, ice cream and beverages. Other food choices will include Fired Up Taco Truck, Lou’s Classic Kettle Corn and fruit beverages from Realfrut. Nearly two dozen arts and craft vendors will line the paved path selling items related to wind, water and sand.

Three professional sand sculptors will compete in what will be Ohio’s first Master Sand Sculpting Competition. World Champions, Greg Grady of New Hampshire, Suzanne Altamare of Florida and Ohio’s own Carl Jara will each build a sand sculpture and visitors will decide the winner.

Entertainment includes kite making workshops and flying demonstrations by members of the Ohio Society for the Elevation of Kites, amateur sand castle builder and author Doug Smith, Cleveland Museum of Art performance artists under the direction of Robin VanLear and the Calypso Gypsies Steel Drum Band. Joining the line-up are musicians Ricky & the Rockets, musical explorer Hal Walker, The Good Knights, RED, the fire dancer, aerialist performers Jasmine Dragons, and students from Andrews-Osborne Academy’s multicultural dance troupe, Nach Ballet Bailar. Organizers have also added a Kid Zone on the beach with Inflatable Bumper Balls, Seaweed the Sea Monster Slide and a Wax Hand Art Cart.

This day at the beach is presented by the City of Mentor and Headlands Beach State Park with activities provided by Mentor Recreation, Lake Metroparks, Andrews-Osborne Academy, Mentor Public Library, and Great Lakes Mall’s Kidgits Club. Sponsors include Great Lakes Publishing, Lake Health, Lake County Visitors Bureau Arts & Culture Fund, The Ohio Arts Council, The News-Herald, STERIS, Classic Auto Group, radio stations MIX 97.1, Cougar 93.7 and Magic 102.5, Lake National Bank, Laketran, Mentor Economic Assistance Corporation, Best Western Plus – Lawnfield Inn & Suites, Macaroni Kid and Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce. The event will also be one of the stops on the Lake County #InstaTour, a new activity organized by the Lake County Visitors Bureau offering weekend deals for families.

The event will be held rain or shine. Call 440-974-5794 or visit HeadlandsBeachFest.com for complete festival details.

The Family Fun Day and Picnic will be on Sunday, July 13, from Noon to 4 PM at Wildwood Cultural Center. Bring a picnic (grilling is not permitted), and enjoy live music from The Larry Smith Express, along with children’s crafts, pony rides and a petting zoo.

Family entertainment includes a juggler, magician, face painting, a balloon artist and inflatable games. Children won’t want to miss Outback Ray’s Amazing Animal Show at 2 PM.

Kids of all ages will enjoy participating in lawn games including badminton, hula hoops, jump rope, hopscotch, beanbag and ring toss, no point darts, horseshoes, potato sack races and croquet.

Spend a lazy Sunday afternoon at the historic Wildwood Estate, take a tour of the Manor House, and enjoy free family entertainment. Wildwood Cultural Center is located at 7645 Little Mountain Road. Additional refreshments are available for purchase from 32 Degrees. Admission and parking are free.

On Friday, July 4th,  at approximately 9:50 PM, the City of Mentor will be having its annual fireworks display at Civic Center Park. As always, a large crowd is expected around the Civic Center Complex. To help protect visitors to the event and to assist with traffic before and after the event there will be several temporary road closures and traffic control signs in the area. We ask that drivers be patient and adhere to the directions given to them by officers and as posted on traffic signs. Three significant road closures are as follows:

• Munson Road between Hopkins Road and Civic Center Blvd will be closed from approximately 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
• Center Street will be closed to northbound traffic at Tyler Blvd from the end of the fireworks display (about 10:15 p.m.) until about 11:45 p.m.
• The eastbound and westbound exit ramps from Route 2 to Center Street will be closed from approximately 10:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Again we ask everyone attending the event to be patient with other people as they are leaving the Civic Center area after the fireworks display. We want it to be a pleasant event for everyone who attends. Should a rain out occur, the rain date is Saturday, July 5^th and the same closures will be in effect.

The City of Mentor and the City of Mentor Police Department will hold a public auction on Saturday, June 28th,  at 10:00 a.m. at 8500 Civic Center Blvd. (behind the Police Department).

Unclaimed property, evidence and surplus City property offered to be sold “as is” include: bicycles, tools, cell phones, “new” clothing, and other miscellaneous items.

Items may be viewed the day of the auction beginning at 9:00 a.m.

The auction will be held in accordance with Ohio Revised Code 2933.41

On the evening of June 21, 2014, to coincide with the start of summer and graduation parties, The Mentor Police Department conducted a detail targeting areas stores selling alcohol to underage persons. The following stores in Mentor were found selling alcohol to underage persons and the clerks were cited:

Speedway, 7340 Lakeshore Blvd.

Convenient, 4680 Corduroy Rd.

7/11, 5711 Heisley Rd.

Speedway, 7745 Reynolds Rd.

Sheetz, 7777 Reynolds Rd.

Convenient, 7488 Mentor Ave.

There were eighteen stores that complied with the law and did not sell alcohol to underage persons. The Mentor Police Department wants to remind everyone that selling or furnishing alcohol to underage persons is a serious crime and violators will be cited.

Mentor residents should have received their copy of the summer edition of “Special Edition,” the city’s quarterly newsletter. You can also read it here, or pick up extra copies at City Hall, 8500 Civic Center Boulevard.

Inside the newsletter, was the 2013 Annual Report, which featured the major accomplishments of 2013 and outlined major plans for 2014.

Sealed proposals will be received at the Purchasing Office, 8500 Civic Center Boulevard, Mentor, Ohio 44060 until NOON (local time), June 18, 2014 and will be opened and read immediately thereafter for the following:

• Purchase of Glock Handguns with Accessories
• Sale of Police Kimber Duty Weapons and Police Property Guns
  

Bidder must be current holder of a Federal Firearms License.

Bids must be in accordance with specifications and on forms provided below, or RFP’s will be available for pick-up at the Purchasing Office for cost of printing. Bidders shall be responsible to check for Addenda and obtain same from the website.

Kenneth J. Filipiak, City Manager

Bid Packet for Purchase and Sale of Police Handguns and Property Weapons

Addendum 1 Revised Purchase-Contract Form

With the capital budget recently signed by Governor Kasich, Ohio State Parks received an unprecedented investment that will allow for repairs and upgrades to many park facilities.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is asking for your help to identify and prioritize these projects. As residents of Ohio, these parks are here for you, so who better to offer suggestions?

They seeking input on projects that will include restrooms & shower houses, lodges, campgrounds & cabins, marinas, trails, beaches, shelters and pools. If the project you are most interested in is not on this list, let them know.

Fill out the form at http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/improvements to have your opinion considered.

The City of Mentor has a vacancy on the Municipal Planning Commission for an unexpired 4-year term ending 12/31/14. Mentor residents interested in the position must submit with a resume a completed City supplied Application for Commission/Board Appointment/Reappointment form and a City supplied consent form for a felony and misdemeanor criminal and civil judgment background check. Deadline for submission is May 16, 2014 at 5:00PM. For more information, contact the Clerk of Council @ limestahle@cityofmentor.com or 440-974-5754.

Click here for Commission Appointment Application

Click here for Background Investigation Form

Chagrin Valley Paving, Inc. will begin work on the Morton – Headlands Trail II Project the week of April 21, weather permitting.

The project consists of widening and resurfacing Jordan Drive from Corduroy Road to South Rambler Drive. The existing roadway will be widened from 22 to 32 feet. Five foot bike lanes will be constructed on each side of the road. Storm sewer improvements and utility adjustments will also be included as part of the project. Two-way traffic will be maintained on Jordan Dr., but delays should be expected.

The work will be performed between the hours of 7 AM and 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday. The project is expected to be completed by the end of October, 2014.

Please call the City of Mentor Engineering Department at (440) 974-5785 with any questions.