County dog licenses on sale through Jan. 31
Summit County Fiscal Officer Kristen M. Scalise CPA, CFE announced that dog licenses are available for purchase through Jan. 31. The cost for a single-year license is $18, a three-year license is $54 and a permanent license is $180. If a lost dog is brought to Summit County Animal Control wearing a license tag, staff […]
Planning has begun for local semiquincentennial celebration
by Sue Serdinak July 4, 2026, will be the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. The Richfield Historical Society has begun planning to commemorate the historic event and is including the communities of Bath, Broadview Heights, Brecksville and Hinckley. The schools and groups in all of the communities have been enthusiastically accepting the […]
Brewery opened its doors in December to a full house
After waiting almost four years, Richfield Brewing Company opened its doors on December 6 and 7 to soft openings. The following week, the rustic facility with seating for over 200, was packed. People in the crowd were from Richfield and all around Northeast Ohio. Owner Mike Lytz thanked all of the contractors who brought the […]
Snowbird Festival returns on January 26
The Snowbird Festival should bring outdoor fun and warm food and drinks to those who attend on Jan. 26. The event, which is co-sponsored by Richfield Joint Recreation District, Richfield Township and Richfield Village, will take place from 1-4 p.m. Siberian Husky dogs and other winter animals from the Akron Zoo will be part of […]
Planning has begun for local semiquincentennial celebration
by Sue Serdinak July 4, 2026, will be the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. The Richfield Historical Society has begun planning to commemorate the historic event and is including the communities of Bath, Broadview Heights, Brecksville and Hinckley. The schools and groups in all of the communities have been enthusiastically accepting […]
Mayors Column January 2025
Happy New Year! I hope everyone has had a safe and sane holiday season. We look forward to 2025. Please welcome Daniel Eifel, Matthew Fleshman and Brian McClellan as our newest fire medics. As a reminder, weather permitting, we are picking up Christmas trees through the first week of January. In 2024 we repaired, replaced and authorized […]
Increased calls for service becoming a problem for Richfield Fire
by Sue Serdinak Dec. 3 village council meeting The number of emergency calls to the Richfield Village Fire Department continues to drain the department’s budget, while the ability to respond to the calls becomes more difficult. Chief George Seifert said the department frequently gets two calls for service almost simultaneously. He said that a four-person […]
Residents voice concerns over proposed multifamily development
by Dan Holland Dec. 10 planning and zoning commission meeting Nearly one hundred residents filed into Richfield Village hall for a planning and zoning commission hearing concerning a proposed residential development by Petros Development Group that would allow multifamily, senior (55+) rental units to be built along Brecksville Road near Everett Road. The proposal, which […]
Township Corner by Trustee Janet Jankura
Happy New Year! I hope you enjoyed the holidays with loved ones. I am looking forward to an exciting year with new initiatives and people involved in the township. We are pleased to promote Don Rentz as service department foreman, after 18 years of progressive responsibilities in our service department. He leads the team that continues to […]
Revere board rolls out 2025-26 school calendar
by Sheldon Ocker Dec. 3 board of education work session The first day of classes in the Revere School District for the 2025-26 school year will be Aug. 26, 2025; the last day is scheduled for June 4, 2026. Students are scheduled to be in class for 176 days, but teachers are expected to be […]
Trustees prohibit cultivation and sale of cannabis
by Dan Holland Dec. 5 township trustees meeting Richfield Township trustees passed a resolution to prohibit cannabis operators and medical marijuana cultivators, processors and retail dispensaries within Richfield Township. “Back in our May meeting, we had approved resolutions for a six-month moratorium on cannabis operations – both medical and recreational use,” explained Trustee Chair Don […]
Superintendent’s corner
Superintendent’s Listening and Learning Tour I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to our staff, families, students and community members for your enthusiastic participation in the Superintendent’s Listening and Learning Tour. These sessions have been going exceptionally well, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed meeting new people and hearing about what you love about our school district, […]
Treasurer gets contract extension
by Sheldon Ocker The Revere board of education has extended Treasurer Rick Berdine’s contract through the 2029-30 school year. Under terms of the new agreement, Berdine will be paid an annual salary of $146,072. He will be eligible for a 2% annual raise or the value of board-approved raises for other district administrators, whichever is […]
Pedestrian bridge work to start; Friends will continue without an MOU
by Sue Serdinak Dec. 16 Richfield Joint Recreation District meeting In the absence of Chairperson Anita Gantner, Vice Chair Mike Selig ran the meeting. He reported that the Richfield Joint Recreation District is required to complete the projects in 2025 for which the park district was awarded $150,000 from the Ohio Capital Budget. He said […]
Two new courses proposed for Revere
by Sheldon Ocker Dec. 10 board of education meeting Two teachers made a proposal to the Revere Board of Education that would give extra assistance to high school students taking art and English classes. Sarah Zustin, who teaches art at the middle school and high school, explained why Art Connections would be a valuable addition […]
Winter Wonders delighted guests at Richfield Heritage Preserve
by Sue Serdinak The Friends of Richfield Heritage Preserve presented Winter Wonders in the park on Dec. 7. Along with the annual feature of the sale of home-baked Christmas cookies, there were fresh swags, and a grilled lunch with hot chocolate. Richfield Librarian Diane Nagy offered story time and Revere students provided face painting. Ohio […]
Neighborhood celebrates Thanksgiving with tractor race
by Sue Serdinak When all of the homes in a neighborhood have large lawns, tractors are usually an early acquisition for homeowners. The families that live in the Gelding and Creche road neighborhood celebrate their tractors on Thanksgiving Day with a tractor race. Both of the roadways end at a cul-de-sac. The event starts the […]
Safety forces stretched due to construction zone crashes
by Dan Holland For the Richfield Village Fire Department and Police Department, ongoing construction work along Interstate 77 through the municipality has caused a notable increase in safety forces being dispatched to motor vehicle accidents, sometimes including multiple responses within a single day. According to Fire Chief George Seifert, the department has responded to nearly […]
Revere notes
For the past couple of months, Richfield Elementary students have led the Pledge of Allegiance at Revere board of education meetings. In December, the K-2 kids came up with a new approach. Part of the learning process at Richfield is mastering American Sign Language to communicate with fellow students who have hearing issues. In December, Samer […]
Revere grad is latest WNBA coach
by Sheldon Ocker Revere Hall of Fame athlete Karl Smesko is the new head coach of the WNBA Atlanta Dream after a hugely successful run at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers. Smesko founded the FGCU women’s basketball program as a Division II team in 2002 and posted a 30-1 record in his first […]
Children and Civic Organization welcomed the season
The Richfield Civic Organization helped the community officially ring in the holiday season with a festive tree-lighting ceremony. As part of the tradition, the ceremony was held the day after Thanksgiving. RCO members handed out miniature lanterns and Jenny Magistrelli led singing from the stage with the help of many children.Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived […]
Police Beat
Information provided by the Richfield Police Department compiled by Ken Miles Richfield Police Report, January 2025 A box truck making a delivery hooked sagging fiber optic cables at the intersection of Rusticwood and Timberwood trails. The cables held but sheared the roof off the truck, and pulled down the adjacent poles. A nearby resident stated […]
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Team NEO report looks at workforce challenges for future
by Emily Canning-Dean As the population ages, demographics shift and new technology emerges, employers face new challenges when it comes to developing and retaining a talented workforce. For that reason, Team NEO, the region’s economic development partner, has been releasing their annual report, Aligning Opportunities, for several years. The organization recently released its eighth annual […]
Auditions announced for the 2025 season of Tetélestai
Cleveland Performing Arts Ministries announced audition dates for the upcoming season of its musical passion play, Tetélestai. Auditions will be held Jan 11-12 and Jan. 18-19 at Our Lady of Guadalupe, 9080 Shepard Rd., in Macedonia. CPAM is seeking actors/singers and tech crew for this musical presentation. A personal profile must be submitted to be scheduled […]
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Bath-Richfield Kiwanis News
The Richfield Brewery Memorial Walk and Wishing Well was completed in November and memorial bricks will be available to purchase after the brewery opens. December service projects include buying Christmas gifts for a needy family in the Adopt-A-Family program, delivering underwear and shampoo to the Hope and Healing Center, and the annual bell ringing and […]
Revere celebrates veterans with extensive program
by Laura Bednar Revere High School welcomed all veterans through its doors for breakfast, a singing performance by first-grade students and a presentation by former Air Force Col. James McClellan. Members of the high school student council served breakfast to veterans from all branches of the service. The vets were treated to a performance by […]
Long wait for Richfield Brewing Company is about to end
by Sheldon Ocker Four years is a long time to wait for a beer, even a craft beer. A man could die of thirst by then. Thankfully, Mike Lytz is a patient man and has access to fresh drinking water. It was in 2020 that Lytz and his late wife Margaret, who died in 2022, […]
Mayor’s Corner
The holidays are upon us. I wish everyone a very merry and happy holiday season. If you are traveling to another destination for the holidays, please drive safely and sanely. The new water tower will be operational at the beginning of March 2025. With it will come increased water pressure. If you are on the […]
Zoning approval sought for first multifamily development
by Sue Serdinak Nov. 6 village council meeting Richfield Village Council took the first step to allow the construction of multifamily homes in Richfield. They unanimously approved suspending readings and sending to the Village Planning and Zoning Commission a request to change the zoning on the former Constantine’s Garden Center property from commercial to multifamily. […]
Travel centers not invited to village
by Sue Serdinak Nov. 19 village council meeting The Richfield Village Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to return to village council a recommendation to limit the number of travel centers and fueling stations in the village. Councilperson Sue Ann Philippbar, who is council’s representative to the commission, said the appointed body spent several hours […]
Township Corner
News The trustees and residents who live on Summit County roads were disappointed to learn this summer that the county was discontinuing its long-held practice of mowing the roadsides. I am pleased to report that the county will mow twice in the summer of 2025 and will have a transition plan after 2025. Thanks to […]
Trustees select Land Use Plan Committee
by Dan Holland Nov. 7 township trustees meeting Richfield Township trustees approved an 11-person Land Use Plan Committee as a first step toward initiating a study in 2025. “We plan to have an introductory meeting this year, but the majority of the work will be done between January and October 2025,” Trustee Chair Don Laubacher […]
Revere Superintendent’s Corner
Celebrating Fall Traditions While Revere is notably recognized for a tradition of excellence in academics, I’m excited to share some highlights and fall traditions that showcase our students’ talents, creativity, and school spirit. The season’s vibrant colors provide a perfect backdrop for the events that have become cherished traditions that bring our school community together. […]
Revere board discusses therapy dogs, background checks
by Sheldon Ocker Nov. 12 work session Another sign that Revere is no longer your grandfather’s school system: The Revere board of education is deliberating the efficacy of therapy dogs and background checks for school volunteers. Superintendent Dan White explained why the board needed to formulate a policy about therapy dogs, even though the district […]
Middle school girls’ character glows
by Sheldon Ocker November 19 board of education meeting Middle school Principal Bill Conley told the Revere board of education a story of kindness by his girls cross country team that was so touching he was almost brought to tears. The incident came to his attention in an email sent to middle school husband and […]
RJRD board questions need for MOU with Friends
by Sue Serdinak Oct. 28 RJRD board meeting The Richfield Joint Recreation District board is at a crossroads regarding its relationship with the Friends of Richfield Heritage Preserve. A memorandum of understanding between the district and the nonprofit was signed in 2017, two years after Richfield Village and Richfield Township taxpayers approved the purchase of […]
Board reviews past and plans for Richfield Heritage Preserve’s future
by Sue Serdinak Nov. 6 RJRD board meeting The Richfield Joint Recreation District board met to evaluate how the Richfield Heritage Preserve has evolved and how to plan for the future. Board Chairperson Anita Gantner said in the 10 years since the district was formed, the Lodge has succeeded as a wedding venue, the Amity […]
Letter to the Editor
The Richfield Historical Society would like to clear up a point for members of our community. There is a current contest going on until November 30 to name the “Upper” and “Lower” lakes at Richfield Heritage Preserve. The problem is that both lakes already have Historic names of great significance. The upper lake is called […]
Letter to the Editor
Richfield Village Council adopted Ordinance 45-2022 on 12/14/2022 and established the first set of codified cemetery rules for the village as Chapter 945 of the codified ordinances. On 6/4/2024 Council passed Ordinance 37-2024 and adopted amendments to chapter 945. Both sets of rules covered what is and isn’t allowed on graves in the cemeteries, and […]
Nativity set stays in community
A well-known nativity scene that was displayed in front of Constantine’s Garden Center will stay in the Richfield community. John Constantine Jr. donated the life-size pieces to the Richfield United Church of Christ after the nursery closed its doors for good in October. John’s parents, John and Athena, purchased the set from Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland […]
Historical Society seeking ancestral information for 2026 national celebration
The Richfield Historical Society is already gearing up for the 250th anniversary (Semiquincentennial) of our nation in 2026. Plans are in the works for multiple events. At the Richfield Historical Museum volunteers will construct a Wall of Fame to record patriots of the Revolutionary War that are related to members of our community. If you […]
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Coming Events
Epiphany Arts Festival
The Bath United Church of Christ is holding its 25th annual Epiphany Arts Festival. The hours are: Sun. 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Wed. 12-4 p.m. Sat 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
11:30 am
Pinewood Derby
Local Cub Scout Pack 3387 is sponsoring their annual Pinewood Derby for area children on Saturday, Jan. 25.
2:00 pm
AMVETS Wild Game Dinner
The AMVETS and their friends are having a wild game dinner and potluck
4:40 pm