Lake Metroparks Extends Hours For Most Of Its Parks

Veterans Park and several others will now be open until 11 p.m.

Lake Metroparks -- with a few exceptions -- is extending the hours of its parks until 11 p.m. “We already patrol the parks during these extended hours so very little change will be required on our end,” said Paul Palagyi, the Lake Metroparks Executive Director. “It is a very cost effective means to provide more opportunities to enjoy the parks.” The parks with extended hours are: The parks whose hours are unchaged are the Farmpark, Pine Ridge Country Club, Erie Shores Golf Course, Environmental Learning Center and the Children's Schoolhouse Nature Park. Similarly, the hours of the Nature Center at Penitentiary Glen Reservation and Pine Lodge Cross-country Ski Lodge at Chapin Forest Reservation will remain unchanged. In unrelated news, …

• Photos (5)

Sears Helps Family Of Local Soldier With Holiday Gifts

Sgt. Daniel Lewis has six children with a seventh on the way; he has struggled to find a job since returning from Iraq last year

There are some things that civilians just don't know about military life. And one of the biggest things they don't realize is how much all of the civilian support means to the people in uniform, Army Sgt. Daniel Lewis said. Lewis, whose family lives in Painesville, received several gifts from the Heroes at Home program Monday at the Sears store in Great Lakes Mall. Sears gave them several kitchen tools, including a mixer, coffee maker, bakery ware and toaster oven, as well as a $500 gift card to the store. "The people back home will never understand how much it means to us to have this support," Lewis said. Lewis has served six deployments. He joined the Marines in 1997 and served in the Army afterward. He also has a wife Michelle, six …

•  2 Comments
• Videos (1)

Mentor Celebrates Veterans Day

Residents and city officials gathered in front of the flags on Civic Center Boulevard to honor veterans

A group of residents and city officials gathered on Civic Center Boulevard Sunday morning to honor veterans for their contributions to the country. The VFW and American Legion hosted the city's brief Veterans Day ceremony. Doug Koman, Commander of American Legion Post 352, helped organize the event and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Bob Zonneville spoke in front of the flags on Civic Center near Center Street. Who do you want to recognize on Veterans Day? Let us know.

• Photos (5)

Proud of a Veteran? Show Your Appreication by Uploading a Photo

Show your favorite veteran how much you appreciate their contributions this weekend by sharing a photo of them on Mentor Patch

Veterans Day, Santa Arrives & Football: A Weekend Planner

Consider attending these events in Mentor this weekend

Editor's note: This article was updated at 2:20 p.m. Here are a few events going on in and around your city this weekend: 1. SANTA PHOTO EXPERIENCE & BREAKFAST WITH SANTA Where/When: Great Lakes Mall, Dillard’s south concourse, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday. These hours will continue through the holiday season, Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Why Go: The holidays will be here before you know it, and a photo with Santa could be a good way to begin your celebrations. If your family is full of early risers, you can line up outside the food court at 8 a.m. to catch Santa arriving at the mall on horse-drawn carriage. The mall will also host a special Santa breakfast. Pricing: Seeing Santa is free, but breakfast menu …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (1)

Saying 'Thank You' Is Not Enough

Veterans Day Observance Speaker Bob Zonneville says we must continue to work to make sure our veterans are taken care of, especially those who were wounded in combat

Simply saying thank you to a veteran is not enough, said Bob Zonneville, who addressed Mentor’s Veterans Day Observance at the Mentor Senior Center Friday evening. Zonneville of Mentor was wounded twice in World War II in Europe and received two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and other military honors. Following the war, he worked as a professional truck driver, worked his way up the corporate ladder, and retired as a president of a subsidiary of Landstar Corp., a logistic company. “All Americans, regardless of their political persuasion or attitude toward ongoing wars, should express their appreciation to all veterans whether they served in WWII, Vietnam, the Gulf War, or veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan,” Zonneville said before…

• Photos (4)

Photo Gallery: Veterans Day At Mentor Schools

The schools in the Mentor district -- from elementary to the high school -- commemorated Veterans Day in their way

Several schools in the Mentor district commemorated Veterans Day Friday. Fairfax Elementary students invited family members who are veterans to their school for a special assembly in the morning. At the assembly, several of those students were able to thank their grandparents and parents personally for their service. "Thank you for the sacrifices you made for me, my family and everybody else," Ryan Jacoby told the veterans, including his grandfather, Army BFC Private Frank Koncilia, who is a World War II veteran. Meanwhile, at Mentor High School, Army Capt. Kevin Kleber -- a Mentor High and West Point graduate -- talked to the students about their own responsibility in maintaining the country's freedom. He said it was not enough to thank …

• Photos (10)

Veterans Day, The Civil War & Pre-Thanksgiving Parades: Weekly Planner

Check out some of the fun and useful events in the area this weekend

1. VETERANS DAY EVENTS Where/When: Mentor Senior Center, 7 p.m., Nov. 11; Mentor Public Library main branch, 6 p.m. Nov. 10 Why Go: There are several events for and about veterans around Mentor this upcoming weekend. The city of Mentor is holding an observance ceremony to celebrate the courage and sacrifice of all veterans at 7 p.m. this Friday at the Mentor Senior Center. The guest speaker is Bob Zonneville, a Mentor man who served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He has received two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and numerous other awards. All veterans and the general public are invited to the ceremony. Also, the senior center will be hosting a special breakfast for all veterans Saturday morning. The breakfast is free for veterans and…

• Photos (1)

Mentor Observes Veterans Day This Week

The speaker at the annual ceremony will be Bob Zonneville, a Mentor man who has won two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and numerous other awards

Several Mentor organizations will commemorate Veterans Day this week. The city of Mentor is holding an observance ceremony to celebrate the courage and sacrifice of all veterans at 7 p.m. this Friday at the Mentor Senior Center. The guest speaker is Bob Zonneville, a Mentor man who served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He has received two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and numerous other awards. All veterans and the general public are invited to the ceremony. Also, the senior center will be hosting a special breakfast for all veterans Saturday morning. The breakfast is free for veterans and $4 for guests. Finally, the main branch of the Mentor Public Library is hosting a brief celebration for veterans 6 p.m. this Thursday. The event …

• Photos (1)