For most of us, the year 2020 started out with great promise and quickly turned to unchartered territory with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus introduced to the world. The subsequent pandemic now confronts all nations and communities, including Mentor.
I am glad to say we are meeting this challenge. There is unparalleled cooperation and focus in Lake County among our local communities, health officials, first responders, hospitals, and with our state and federal counterparts. Among populous Ohio counties, Lake is among the lowest in cases per capita and mortality rate. Our collective sympathies run deep for those who are ill, isolated, scared, or who otherwise have had their world turned upside down from job or business loss. We’ve all felt the heavy economic toll and frustration with the partial and full shutdowns, and patience is running thin.
But there is great cause for optimism. In an ever-evolving environment, we’ve seen American ingenuity find ways to keep our businesses afloat, to educate our children, and safely enjoy the company of family and friends. We see the bravery of our police officers, firefighter/paramedics, and so many other public and private employees who go to work every day, despite the risk, to provide for their families and their community.
We are not quitters, and in places like Mentor, Ohio we look to the future as we make the best of today. We continue to seek the balance between protecting public health, always our first priority, and returning to the daily activities we take for granted. We will continue to encourage the application of common-sense health measures, work with our business community on flexible ways to sustain them, and offer the basic services our residents have come to expect. We are preparing for the days, not far ahead, when vaccine distribution within our city becomes the priority. For whatever the next health and safety priority is, you can be confident Mentor will take a leading role.
Americans persevere, Mentorites persevere. 2021 is just around the corner, and I can’t wait!
Kenneth J. Filipiak
Mentor City Manager