By Marie Elium
Jim and Sharon House don’t work for the Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce — not officially, at least.
The Houses are at home in Mentor, the place they’ve lived all their lives and where they raised their son, Jeff. They can’t imagine living anywhere else — or any better, for that matter.
Jim, 74, and Sharon, 68, said the city’s senior-friendly services, tax rates and abundant natural resources make it a place they want to stay, and they encourage others to join them.
Their love of nearby Lake Erie (they live just two miles from the shoreline) is reflected in their email, which has “Walleye” in the address. When Jim retired from Lincoln Electric in 2009, both he and Sharon had more time for walks at Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve & Marina and Mentor Headlands State Park, and fishing at Veterans Memorial Park.
“We mostly just sightsee and go down to the lake and smell the water,” Jim says.
Lots to Do
With more time on their hands, the Houses quickly discovered The Mentor Senior Center and its many activities. The vibrant, busy center has more than 5,000 members and dozens of programs, trips and classes.
The Houses teach American Sign Language at the center, a popular class that draws 8-12 people each session. Jim shoots pool at the center almost daily; Sharon takes exercise classes. They recently went on three trips offered through the center, to Hartville, Columbiana and Medina. The convenience of letting someone else plan and trip — and do all the driving — can’t be beat.
Mentor is an especially friendly city for older adults. People over 60 get free admission to high school games, something Jim enjoys attending. From their yard, they can see the fireworks in the summer.
“The services are good, the streets are beautiful, the sidewalks are clear. We have Laketran if we need a ride,” he says.
Laketran, which serves Lake County, is the region’s third-largest transit system, offering inexpensive and convenient transportation by bus. It’s one of several services available to older adults.
Through the senior center, members can get free tech help. Students from Mentor High School are there several times a month to troubleshoot smartphones, tablets, computers and other devices.
In conjunction with the Cleveland Food Bank, the Mentor Senior Center sponsors a monthly produce distribution for limited-income seniors. Also, the City of Mentor and Waste Management offer walk-up collection services for those who are unable to move their garbage or recycling containers to the curb on collection day.
Go to the center’s website, mentorseniorcenter.com, to learn more about its support groups, volunteer opportunities, daily lunch program, classes and more.
