More details about a car-into-house crash that injured a family, ice arena events are heating up, and mobile coffee truck business gets a big loan to expand. Those items and more in the weekly Mentor city manager report to City Council:

Manager Comments
• On Dec. 9 at 2:51 a.m., the fire department was called to 7044 Comanche Trail for a car into a house. Crews arrived to find a large car had been driven completely into the home, injuring all four occupants of the home. Fire and police personnel entered the house through the large hole in the front wall and a window in the pushed out rear wall to search for the injured. One injured female (home occupant) sitting in the kitchen reported her babies were trapped under the car. She was not trapped, was the least injured and was being guarded by her dog.

Police and Fire entering from the rear of the house located an 18-month-old female in the debris. She was trapped upside down (feet up/head down) in a pack-n-play that was crushed between the front of the car and a smashed couch. Space was made to lift out the baby and she was packaged on a Peds board and removed through the rear window of the house. She was transported by squad to Hillcrest Hospital/Level II Trauma Center because requested helicopters were not yet in the area. She was later transferred to Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital.

Next removed by rescuers who entered from the front of the house was an adult male (home occupant) who was lying beside the passenger side of the car. Debris was removed from him; he was c-collared, back boarded and removed through the front opening. He was transported by squad to Lake West, placed on a helicopter and flown to Cleveland Metro Level I Trauma Center.

The third patient removed was a 3-year-old male trapped under the front driver’s side of the car. Debris was removed to get down to the floor level. The patient was trapped under the car frame and suspension. Airbags were used to lift the car and hydraulic rescue spreaders used to compression the front suspension to free him. He was packaged with a c-collar and Peds board. He was transported by squad to Lost Nation Airport and then flown by helicopter to Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital.

After the dog could be secured and all the more seriously injured had received treatment and transport, the mother was removed from the house and transported to Lake West. After the mother was released from Lake West Emergency Center, fire department personnel transported the mother to Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital to be reunited with her children. The home suffered extensive damage and the fire department worked through the day to shore, board up and secure the residence. None of the occupants of the vehicle reported any injury.

Fire Department
• On Dec. 8 at 11:18 p.m., the fire department was called to 7333 Corporate Boulevard, Metal Seal Precision for a haze of smoke in their large machine shop. Fire crews arrived to find smoke throughout the building, but no fire. All of the machines and air handlers were checked with no source found. It appears that a machine may have malfunctioned. The building was ventilated and plant operations resumed without further incident.

• Public Education continues to promote “hands-only” CPR training with more than 3,000 people receiving training year-to-date. On Dec. 11 and Dec. 13, Public Education Specialist Nate Peters and the Station Crew from Station #5 provided instruction to students at Mentor High School.

Police Department
• The police department is investigating the vehicle-into-a-house accident on Comanche. The Lake Regional Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit was activated for the accident and is conducting the reconstruction part of the investigation. Two other officers are conducting the criminal violation part of the investigation.

• K-9’s Titan and Bo assisted Chardon Police Department with a drug sniff of Chardon High School on Dec. 11. No drugs were found in any of the lockers.

Parks and Recreation Department
• All-Day Skates will be held this week, through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Ice Arena. Programs offered include skating, broomball, hockey, movies, crafts and games, It is open to children 5 years old and up. The cost is $25 per person. Please call the Ice Arena at 440-974-5730 to register.

The Ice Arena will be offering the following programs during the holiday season:
• Holiday Family Skate from 1:30-3:30 p.m., Sunday. Admission is $4.

• Youth Stick and Puck 10:30-11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Saturday and Dec. 26. Admission is $10.

• Free Ice Skating Lessons on Dec. 26-28 from 11:30 a.m.-noon with purchase of admission to the noon Open Skate.

• New Year’s Eve Special on Dec. 31 from 6-9 p.m. All three rinks will be open. Admission is $4.

• The Ice Arena will be celebrating its 30th Anniversary on Jan. 12 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $3. Events for the day include a Pancake Breakfast from 9-11 a.m.; Free Lessons from 11:30 a.m.-noon p.m.; Open Skating from noon-5 p.m.; Hockey Clinics for ages 4-6 from 12:30-1 p.m. and ages 7–12 from 1:30-2 p.m.; and games will be played on the East Rink from 2-5 p.m. There will be exhibitions and prizes throughout the day.

• A new program, “Coffee Club” for seniors only, has begun at the Ice Arena. It is held on Wednesday mornings from 10-11:30 a.m. Enjoy a free coffee and skate rental with your $4 admission.

Economic and Community Development
• The Mentor Economic Assistance Corporation has approved a $25,000 Mentor Small Business Loan to Java Express.  Java Express is a Mentor coffee roasting business that also operates mobile coffee trucks. The loan is to help them acquire the assets of a local bagel shop in order to expand their business into retail and restaurant sectors.

Finance
• A reminder – the Finance Department is in the process of reviewing current year activity and identifying transactions that relate to the current year that are still pending. Please let us know about any items that affect calendar year 2012, especially transactions requiring purchase orders or payments to vendors.

Public Works Department
• Rewiring “City of Mentor” sign at Civic Center and SR 615
• All ARRA funds ($512,200) have now been expended on energy improvement projects
• Received quotes for installation of generator at FS #1
• Stump removal and grading at BBGC driving range
• Storm sewer cleaning  - Bellflower from S curve east
• Storm sewer televising  - Twinbrook, Hodgson, Tortugas
• Storm sewer repairs - Stockbridge, Dallas
• Began drainage assistance project - Carolyn
• Garfield Park recreation center ballroom painting
• Installed golden anniversary banners
• Completed four inlet basin rebuilds and two road slabs on Mercantile
• Completed replacement of 157 STOP signs that had substandard retro-reflectivity
• Provided manpower to cemetery

BScott@News-Herald.com, @ReporterBetsy