FREE! OCTOBER 2015 Vol. 12, Issue 5
messengerpaper.com LOCAL EVENTS
Monongahela Valley Hospital Offers Free Breast Cancer Education Program
Bethel Park Holds Two Dedication Ceremonies to Honor Gilliam Family Miner’s Park Basketball Court Dedicated to Late NBA Player Armen Gilliam Food Bank Named After Basketball Star’s Father, Pastor James T. Gilliam
Monongahela Valley Hospital and the Charles L. and Rose Sweeney Melenyzer Pavilion Regional Cancer Center will present a free Breast Cancer Education and Screening Luncheon on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 1 p.m. in the hospital’s Anthony M. (Continued on page 51)
The New Messenger Bus Hits the Road! The Gilliam family, gathered around Armen Gilliam's memorial stone
By Colette Dell
The new Messenger bus will be easy to spot as it approaches onlookers while it drives down Route 88 several times a day.
(See page 18 for complete story)
On August 15, family and friends dedicated the Miner’s Park basketball court in Bethel Park, to the late NBA player, Armen Gilliam, and on August 16, his mother, Alma Gilliam, dedicated her food bank to her husband and Armen’s father, the late Rev. James T. Gilliam. Armen played basketball for Bethel Park high school and for UNLV in his college years. In 1987, he went pro with
the NBA and played for the Phoenix Suns. He later went on to play for the Charlotte Hornets, the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Utah Jazz, and the New Jersey Nets. Armen ended his career with the NBA in 2000, playing professional for a total of 13 years. From 2001-2005, he coached basketball for Penn State and in 2005 he returned to the court to play for Pittsburgh Xplosion for one year. Armen passed away suddenly in 2011 (Continued on page 24)
The Shiloh Food Bank has been re-named after James T. Gilliam