Anita Gantner, 61
Retired psychologist
Although I was raised on the West Side of Cleveland, Richfield Village was very present in my life growing up. You see, I was a big Cleveland Crusaders fan. So my brother used to drive my friend and me to the Richfield Coliseum so we could watch ice hockey and so I could stare at all-star goalie Gerry Cheevers, who was the love of my life.
Even then, I remember thinking that Richfield Village was the place to be. Then when I was in college, I would visit my friends at Kent and on the drive back to Baldwin Wallace, I would purposely drive along state Route 303 to go through Richfield. Every time I saw a car turn off the highway into the village, I would be jealous because the people in those cars got to live there.
Now I’ve lived in Richfield for 30 years and I get to do wonderful things like spend time in the 336 acres of trails, ravines and waterfalls at the Richfield Heritage Preserve, eat the satisfying chili at Whitey’s Booze N’ Burgers and enjoy pierogies at Olesia’s Taverne of Richfield, which is right by where the Coliseum used to be. So it all comes full circle.
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