While the pandemic shut down many events and delayed numerous other activities this past year, 2020 still offered some significant news in the area.
Below is a noncomprehensive list of some notable highlights â and lowlights â from the past 12 months.
January
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The biggest local crime story of the year was right at the beginning: a double homicide in Concord Township.
Blake Sargi of Concord Township, left, sits with his attorneys Brad Wolfe and Ian N. Friedman Jan. 14 during a probable cause hearing. Sargi is accused of murdering two people in the township Jan. 3. News-Herald file
Blake E. Sargi of Concord is accused of shooting and killing Euclid residents Heavenly Goddess Murphy-Jackson and William Larondez Jackson on Jan. 3.
Mentor experienced several significant developments in 2020, some of which werenât even related to the coronavirus.
City Council President Bruce Landeg listed among the highlights passage of the Lagoons charter change at the polls. Marina improvements may now proceed without waiting for â and relying on â a referendum vote by residents.
âVolunteers spearheaded a grassroots and web-page campaign,â he said. âThe residents strong affirmation of more than 73 percent voter support for this change was a big accomplishment after several previous efforts.â
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Voters also overwhelmingly approved a boardwalk project improving access to the Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve.
But many noteworthy achievements were related to rebounding in the face of the pandemic, Landeg said.