MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio — In June of 2008, The Cleveland Plain Dealer made major cutbacks, later on reducing home delivery. They were not alone — all across the country newspapers have shed staff and deemphasized print. But a Northeast Ohio paper, the Cleveland Jewish News, has remained intact, continuing to tell local stories.
On Tuesday, the Cleveland Jewish News celebrated 60 years of business.
"The support we've received from not just the Jewish community but global Cleveland is just beyond overwhelming," said Kevin Adelstein, the paper's publisher for the last 11 years.
At an anniversary celebration Wednesday, Landerhaven in Mayfield Heights was filled with about 800 of the paper's supporters.
"If you look around at the people, we've got generations that probably were here 60 years ago when this started," said Mark Bogomolny, who chairs the paper's board of directors.
Cleveland Jewish News has also covered major stories, including the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, where 11 Israeli athletes were taken hostage and then murdered.
David Berger, a weightlifter for the Israeli Olympic team and American with dual citizenship died in that massacre. He grew up in Shaker Heights. He is buried in Beachwood. Jewish News dedicated an entire front page to Northeast Ohio's favorite son. The paper continues to follow the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas.
County Executive Chris Ronayne spoke of the integrity of the paper and how it matters "when we need truth, when we need connection, when we need community."
Indeed, a community celebrating 60 years of news mattering most.