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President John F. Kennedy’s speeches have transcended decades.
When he declared “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” in his 1961 inaugural address, he inspired generations of Americans to seek public service.
Nearly three years later, days before his assassination, he wrote a proclamation aimed to unite a divided nation.
He wrote: “Today we give our thanks, most of all, for the ideals of honor and faith we inherit from our forefathers — for the decency of purpose, steadfastness of resolve and strength of will, for the courage and the humility, which they possessed and which we must seek every day to emulate.”
Today, we republish Kennedy’s words, with an introduction by Editor Chris Quinn.
Happy Thanksgiving! The Wake Up will be off through Monday, Dec. 2.
— Laura
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Rain, snow return to forecast
Kennedy’s message: We come to Thanksgiving 2024 as a country beset by anxiety about conflicts foreign and domestic. Some despair our current state. Others fear what’s ahead. On this traditional day of peace, family warmth and good will, we turn to a message from President John F. Kennedy in Thanksgiving 1963, which was written weeks before his assassination.
Basheer Jones: Federal prosecutors former Cleveland City Councilman Basheer Jones used his sway and connections to funnel some $135,000 straight into his and his girlfriend’s pockets. Prosecutors say he failed at another scheme that would have added $65,000 to the total, Adam Ferrise reports.
Today in Ohio, the daily news podcast of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.
Today in Ohio: Ohio House legislation would require Cleveland and other cities to kick in more money to police pensions for the first time in decades. On Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast, we’re talking about how many millions cities could be on the hook for.
DraftKings fine: Ohio gambling regulators have slapped DraftKings with a $425,000 fine for inappropriately allowing residents to bet on individual college athletes’ game performances and permitting people to deposit money in their accounts by paying cash to local retailers. Jeremy Pelzer reports the fine was part of a settlement with the Boston-based online sportsbook giant that was approved by the Ohio Casino Control Commission last week.
Election results: Cuyahoga County has finalized its election results: A total of 587,282 ballots were cast out of the 894,091 registered voters in the county, a voter turnout of 65.7%, reports Zachary Smith.
Council redistricting: In a stunning speech on the floor of Cleveland City Council chambers Monday night, Councilwoman Rebecca Maurer blasted council’s redistricting process as “gerrymandering” and accused President Blaine Griffin of targeting her home in particular. Courtney Astolfi reports the accusation came hours after Maurer, of Ward 12, said she saw the draft maps Griffin intends to propose for new ward boundaries.
Thanksgiving snow: If snow occurs on Thanksgiving night, it will be the first time it has snowed more than trace amounts on the holiday since 2014, reports Zachary Smith. That year, 7 inches of snow fell, the most snow ever in Cleveland on Thanksgiving.
Holiday driving: Troopers with the State Highway Patrol will spend the Thanksgiving holiday focusing on impaired drivers and those who fail to wear seatbelts, reports Olivia Mitchell. Last year, troopers arrested 326 people across the state for impaired driving. Troopers also responded to 12 crashes in which 13 people died.
This sign warns pedestrians to steer clear of the sidewalk in front of this building on the Shaker Heights/Cleveland border.Thomas Jewell, special to cleveland.com
Shaker facade: Shaker Heights City Council on Monday approved spending up to $100,000 to build a protective barrier around the historic former First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association headquarters at the corner of Lee Road and Scottsdale Boulevard. Cory Shaffer reports the city declared the building a nuisance on Sept. 13, the day the city became aware of a piece of masonry that fell from the century-old building’s parapet.
Gardening catalogs: The winter flood of gardening catalogs has begun. They likely are filling your inbox as well as your mailbox. Lois Rose aims to prime you for ordering and to encourage you to do it as soon as possible.
Vaccines: So far during this year’s winter virus season, more Americans have gotten the flu and COVID-19 vaccines than at the same time last year, reports Julie Washington. About 35% of adults got a flu shot, while 18% received the updated COVID-19 vaccine by early November, a CDC report said.
15-year-old killed: Police say a 15-year-old girl died two days after she was shot Saturday on the city’s East Side, reports Olivia Mitchell. Shilynn Alford suffered a gunshot wound to the head.
Officer sentenced: A former Akron police officer was sentenced Tuesday to 24 to 28 years in prison for making and distributing child pornography, reports Lucas Daprile.
Lorain shooting: Leonard McCall Jr., 39, was fatally shot near a residence in the 400 block of West 14th Street, reports Olivia Mitchell.
Clinician stabbing: An Independence man was sentenced to 11 years in prison Tuesday for repeatedly stabbing a clinician in April. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Cassandra Collier-Williams called Jason Halasz’s attack so horrible that she said the maximum sentence on the attempted murder charge was necessary.
Ask Yadi: If you haven’t heard anything about an annual holiday party you usually attend, is it OK to ask? If you see or speak to this individual on a regular basis, Yadi Rodriguez writes that there is nothing wrong with asking “Are you hosting your annual party this year?”
Museum of Art: Entryways at the Cleveland Museum of Art – the East Boulevard main entrance and lower-level lobby area levels, respectively – have officially reopened, reports Peter Chakerian. Newly renovated Horace Kelley Art Foundation Lobby and Susan M. Kaesgen Education Gallery and Lobby spaces serve as the finishing touches on a renovation-expansion project that began in 2005.
MIX: Show your Cleveland Cavaliers spirit at the December MIX party at Cleveland Museum of Art. Themed “The Art of the Game,” the party celebrates the museum’s collaboration with the city’s NBA basketball team to design a new Nike NBA City Edition jersey, reports Paris Wolfe.
Cleveland Orchestra: The Cleveland Orchestra attendance has returned to pre-pandemic numbers, reports Joey Morona. This year’s 106 performances drew 254,000 guests and nearly a quarter of the concerts were sold out.
Music sale: The “Music & Friends Garage Sale – Holiday Edition,” the rock and roll flea market with a local twist, will land at the Music Box Supper Club on Saturday, showcasing all things popular music past, present and future, reports Peter Chakerian.
Cirque: Cirque du Soleil’s “‘Twas the Night Before…” premiered in 2019, reports Joey Morona. Featuring everything you’ve come to expect from a classic Cirque production, the family-friendly spectacle makes its Cleveland debut on Dec. 4 with a 12-day run at Playhouse Square’s KeyBank State Theatre.
Don’t forget, you can always find the latest Cleveland news by visiting cleveland.com. If you value the hard work of Cleveland journalists, consider becoming a cleveland.com subscriber.
— Curated by content director Laura Johnston with contributions by by Cliff Pinckard.
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