Route 303 and Brush roads to have short-term closures
State Route 303 will be closed Aug. 30 and 31 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. in both directions, under the I-77 overpass near White Pond Drive. If the work is not completed, the road may also be closed on Sept. 3 and 4. Brush Road will be closed in both directions on Sept. 3 […]
Local farm is sanctuary of last resort
by Wendy Turrell When Terri and Denny Flanagan bought their dream property on Broadview Road in 1988, they did not imagine that it would become a refuge of last resort for abandoned and neglected farm animals. Their first “rescue” happened soon after they moved in. Terri was in the yard with their two small sons, […]
Community treated to great weekend following days of turbulent weather
by Sue Serdinak Community Weekend started on Friday, Aug. 9, with a lively and noisy parade, capturing the mood of the bystanders. The Masons organized the parade, which landed at Richfield Woods where the Swizzle Sticks entertained with live music. The Masons and Sons of Amvets served a record number at their Saturday steak fry, […]
Tornado rips across corner of township on Aug. 6
by Sue Serdinak A storm barreled through Northeast Ohio on Aug. 6 causing massive power outages and structure and tree damage. The national weather service confirmed that an EF-1 tornado touched down in the northeast corner of Richfield Township and moved east into Peninsula. It stayed on the ground for about five minutes, twisted and […]
Mayor’s Corner by Mayor Michael Wheeler
Both Route 303 and Brush Road will be closed by ODOT for 90 days due to the widening of Interstate 77. Colonial Pharmacy will be at Village Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 18, from 9-11 a.m., administering flu shots for the 2024-25 season. No appointment is necessary. Bring your health insurance card. I want to thank […]
Sewer rates will increase following months of deliberations
by Sue Serdinak Aug. 6 Richfield Village Council meeting After Finance Director Sandy Turk provided data showing escalating expenses, Richfield Village Council voted unanimously at the end of a long meeting to increase the charge for handling sanitary waste on properties connected to the sewer system. Owners of properties discharging into the system have been […]
Sewer district to help pay for Grant Street Paving
by Sue Serdinak Aug. 20 village council meeting With Mayor Michael Wheeler on vacation and council President Ralph Waszak as acting mayor, Richfield Village Council made quick order of handling routine business. Council suspended readings and accepted a reimbursement grant of about $200,000 from the Community Cost-Share Program of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District […]
Township Corner by Trustee Don Laubacher
It has been confirmed that a tornado touched down in Northeast Richfield Township on Aug. 6, doing considerable damage on Columbia Road. We are fortunate that no one was hurt and that most buildings were unscathed. Many large trees were lost, and the clean up was substantial. Thanks to the residents for pitching in, and […]
Township receives grant for culvert and resurfacing work
by Dan Holland Aug. 1 township trustees meeting Richfield Township trustees announced that the township recently received a $176,400 grant for road resurfacing and culvert work on Farnham and Stubbins roads and Hecker Drive to resolve drainage problems. An application for a similar grant for $154,000 filed in June, 2023, through the Ohio Public Works […]
Revere Superintendent’s Corner by Dan White
It has been very exciting to officially start serving in my new role on Aug. 1 as superintendent of Revere Local Schools! During my first few weeks, I spent time at our transportation office with our Transportation Supervisor A.J. Neitenbach, who took me on a tour of the bus garage. I met our Assistant Supervisor […]
New plan in place to transport Revere athletes
by Sheldon Ocker Aug 13 board of education work session A new plan to transport all Revere sports teams to road games on school buses has shown positive results. Revere schools Treasurer Rick Berdine and the transportation department staff began testing the idea last spring when all but two spring sports trips (postponed by rain) […]
Improving guest experiences for Amity House lake front
by Sue Serdinak July 29 RJRD meeting The lakefront behind the Amity House has become a popular location for marriage ceremonies. Richfield Village Park Director John Piepsny told the Richfield Joint Recreation District board that the park district’s two golf carts are very old and not suitable for transporting older guests to Amity House and […]
1890’s shop replica will be on display Sept. 7 only
As a nod to the past, Rob Hiler has built a working replica of an 1890-era steam-driven machine shop. The master machinist made the intricate diorama in his home, but is sharing it for one day with visitors of the Richfield Heritage Preserve. Hiler made the machinery accurate down to the last boiler-room pressure gauge. […]
New private school set to open Sept. 3
by Dan Holland Richfield will soon welcome a new private school to the area on Sept. 3 when Pioneer Academy – an Acton-affiliated school – opens at 4131 W. Streetsboro Rd. According to the school’s website, the institution follows a learner-driven philosophy of education, tailored to develop each students’ talents and abilities. Husband-and-wife team Mike […]
Bus route is driving force in Revere family
by Wendy Turrell In the 23 years that Revere school bus driver Jim Karpen has been on his route, he has served two generations of Bath and Richfield students, including his son, daughter and now one of his grandsons. Although that seems a long tenure, Karpen said, “I don’t hold any records for longest driver. […]
The Grapevine
Congratulations to Richfield resident Mike Morel, who played for and managed the Buckeyes baseball team. The team won a silver medal in the 55+ Division of the Pan-American Master Games. More than 4,000 athletes from 79 countries participated in the Master Games, which were held in Cleveland. The final medal game was played at historical League Park. […]
Tennis prodigy makes immediate impact at Revere
by Sheldon Ocker Finn Keenan might not like being labeled a tennis prodigy, but it’s difficult to ignore that his mastery of the sport is far beyond the norm for someone his age. Straight out of middle school, Keenan won the No. 1 singles spot on the Revere High tennis squad last school year. The […]
Police Beat
Information provided by the Richfield Police Dept. and compiled by Ken Miles A woman watching her son’s baseball game behind the town hall reported being attacked by a 10-month-old French bulldog. The dog’s leash was staked to the ground next to its owner’s chair. As the woman walked by, the dog lunged, pulled the stake […]
Storm victims eligible for tax relief
Summit County Fiscal Officer Kristen M. Scalise announced that real estate tax relief is available to residents who have sustained damage to their property in the wake of the Aug. 8 storm. The filing deadline is Dec. 31. Scalise stressed the importance of filing this application as soon as possible. Any deduction from value will […]
Richfield Civic Organization
The Richfield Civic Organization proudly hosted its inaugural Corny 5K and Family Trail Run/Hike on Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Richfield Heritage Preserve. There were popcorn and fresh corn giveaways and participants and families enjoyed corn hole, coloring, hula-hoops, stomp rockets and sign making. The event, which brought together 85 participants, was fiscally sponsored by […]
Richfield Senior Center
We are a come-as-you-are social club for anyone over the age of 55. Our members vary in age and interests. We offer many activities from everyday coffee and conversation to handcrafts, exercise like yoga and tai chi, line dancing, games, our very own band, bus trips, breakfast and lunch, and special event parties. Look for […]
Bath-Richfield Kiwanis
Bath-Richfield Kiwanis received a $3,700 grant from the Ohio District Kiwanis Foundation to be used to help pay for materials to build a patio at Shelter Care’s Safe Landing youth Shelter in Akron. In the photo putting the finishing touches on the patio are (l-r) Terry Bennett, Mike Marks and Jeff Sprongl. Thanks to all […]
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Community comes together for a full and fun weekend
by Sue Serdinak Friday Parade There is nothing like a parade to get a party started. Community Weekend will be ushered in with a parade from Town Hall to Richfield Woods Park on Aug. 9. All are invited to be in the parade. Simply show up at Town Hall by 6 p.m. Parade participants and […]
Community Garden and honeybees thrive together at Eastwood Preserve
by Chloe Leng The Richfield Community Garden has been flourishing since 2008 when it was created in the Eastwood Preserve by the village, at the request of the park board and then-recreation director Ruth Jocek. Located at 4712 W. Streetsboro Rd., the garden has become a community in and of itself, with gardeners from across […]
Mayor’s Corner by Mayor Michael Wheeler
I hope everyone is enjoying this mild summer. Community Days are here again. We will hold the Community Day parade on Friday, Aug. 9. We will assemble behind Village Hall starting at 6 p.m. and step off promptly at 6:30 p.m. The parade will end at Richfield Woods as usual. Please stay at the park […]
Council debates advisability of electric vehicle stations
by Sue Serdinak July 16 village council meeting Richfield Village Council passed Ordinance 27-2024 in April to enforce a six-month moratorium on accepting applications to open gas stations and truck service centers. Councilperson Marty Kruszynski initiated the effort and cited the resources these facilities require of the safety forces. Kruszynski said in six months, between […]
Mayor’s Court is a ‘Win, Win, Win’ for village says Mayor Wheeler
by Sharon Fell In January 2021, the city of Akron advised Richfield Village that they had undercharged the village for adjudicating Richfield cases in Akron Municipal Court. The Village was sent a bill for $132,000 to rectify the mistake. Having been sworn in for his first term as mayor, Michael Wheeler said it was time […]
Township Corner by Trustee Don Laubacher
News We met with Cody Beshire, Cleveland Metroparks’ new park manager for our Rising Valley Park. The park looks great, and he confirmed that a future connecting trail to Richfield Heritage Preserve is probable. Construction should begin this fall on the Summit County fiber optic ring for better connectivity. In our township, it will go […]
Trustees begin looking ahead to five-year projection
by Dan Holland June 20 township trustees meeting During a rescheduled meeting, Richfield Township Trustee Chair Don Laubacher expressed a desire to begin discussions with trustees on producing a five-year projection of the township’s general fund. “It’s hard to adequately talk about a number of issues without having a five-year projection of our general fund,” […]
Volunteers stabilizing Garfield Hall, replacing famous springs
by Sue Serdinak June 24 RJRD meeting The Richfield Joint Recreation District board held a short meeting with no committee reports, but the Friends of Richfield Heritage Preserve had a lot of information to share regarding their stabilization and restoration of Garfield Hall. At their May 20 meeting, the RJRD board approved a 90-day plan […]
Revere Superintendent’s Corner by Dan White
Meet our new administrators As we are preparing for the 2024-2025 school year, I am pleased to introduce our community to three administrators who are new to the Revere team. Their diverse expertise, dedication and passion for education will be invaluable as we continue to strive for excellence and support our students’ growth and success. […]
Community speaks out on mental health and religious academy
by Sheldon Ocker June 25 board of education meeting The Revere board of education welcomed three new administrators, two who are replacing outgoing building personnel and one who is filling a new position. Tiffany George will work under a two-year contract beginning Aug. 1 as assistant principal at Revere High School, replacing Doug Faris, who […]
Anti-Lifewise residents keep the heat on Revere board
by Sheldon Ocker July 16 board of education meeting Two dozen residents of the Revere community crowded into the small administration building boardroom to protest the board of education’s April decision to allow students to leave school to take religious training. It has become the norm the past three months for parents of Revere students […]
Honor someone with a memorial tree or bench
Efforts to remember someone after they have passed often seem inadequate. Planting a tree that can grow for decades, or providing a bench that can offer a quiet place of reflection, provides a nice option. Richfield Village has a program in which someone can purchase a tree or bench and the village will install it […]
Rumpke warns of hazards of battery disposal
Rumpke, the waste hauler for Richfield, reminds residents that battery-related fires pose a significant and unnecessary safety risk to waste management employees and first responders. Lithium-ion batteries power rechargeable devices like cell phones, power tools and laptops. The chemicals within the batteries are highly flammable and are considered hazardous household waste. During transportation or processing, […]
Tour Cleveland Veterans Memorial Bridge
The iconic Veterans Memorial Bridge in Cleveland will be open for two upcoming dates for “Take a Hike Tours.” Knowledgeable guides will take hikers along the streetcar level, from West 9th to West 25th streets, to be greeted by actors dressed as historical Clevelanders with stories of the city’s past. The Take a Hike Walking […]
New agent looks forward to serving community
by Dan Holland For new State Farm agent Jay Springer, who opened his business July 1 in the ScripType Building at 4300 W. Streetsboro Rd., it’s all about building relationships with clients and the community. After considering a number of different locations, the North Royalton resident decided to make Richfield his new business home. “When […]
Angel Accents plans move to former rec center building
by Emily Canning-Dean As soon as they can iron out some logistics, the folks at Angel Accents day care will be excited to welcome their students and families to their new facility, which will provide double the space of their current location. Angel Accents currently offers daycare and preschool services to roughly 60 children at […]
The Grapevine
Congratulations to the following residents who were awarded degrees from Miami University of Ohio: Aidan Blakely, Joey Cifani, Roman Jakubowycz, Jackson Mabee and Nikki Yadavalli. Also congratulations to Maggie Gerber who graduated magna cum laude from Baldwin Wallace University. Earning the Dean’s List from BW were Ava Kusek and Kaley Lanza. When Sophie Vasilopoulos turned […]
Former Revere football player eyes new career after back injury
by Sheldon Ocker Conor Head lived the dream as a high school kid at Revere: star offensive lineman on the football team, grade point average well above 3.0, member of the Revere High Leadership Council, school record holder in the shot put and recipient of a prized athletic scholarship from Division I University of Toledo. […]
Police Beat
A resident on Route 303 called 911 to report that her cat, valued at $2,000, was a victim of a hit and run. She said the feline was hit while the woman was standing in the roadway waving her arms at approaching traffic. She alleged a silver grey Honda, of which she knew the driver, […]
Friends of Richfield Heritage Preserve
Join the Friends of Richfield Heritage Preserve on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 7-9 p.m., for their quarterly membership meeting. This free event will be held in The Lodge at Richfield Heritage Preserve, and is open to the public. Various park partner groups will give brief presentations and provide handouts about what they do and their accomplishments […]
Bath-Richfield Kiwanis
The Bath-Richfield Kiwanis has sponsored the annual Richfield Community Day since 1987. Join the festivities from noon to dusk at Richfield Woods Park on Sunday, Aug. 11. Listen to the music, enjoy the food, entertain the kids and have fun meeting up with old friends and neighbors. As usual, Community Day will climax with a […]