Mentor Recreation Program Manager Jill Korsok reports that, since the beginning of this year, the Recreation Department has seen a dramatic increase in the use of the online registration option.

"Compared to last year, we have seen a 43 percent increase in online registration," she says. "This can be directly attributed to our response to our customers by offering free online registration."

This year, the department also began permitting residents to renew swim passes online, to save them the time and effort of coming to the Recreation office in person. So far this year, 25 percent of the renewals have taken place online.

In other Mentor recreation news, the Just Kids Garage Sale is Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon at Garfield Park. This annual event draws hundreds of bargain hunters to the park. For the best deals arrive early and be ready to barter, recreation officials say.

-- Betsy Scott, BScott@News-Herald.com