Fresh Fridays

JULY 16—The Charm Bracelet Project will host its Fresh Fridays series from 4-6 p.m. at the North Side Farmers Market, Cedar Avenue and East Ohio Stree, North Side. The series will feature cooking demonstrations by local chefs, live performances and family activities. It will run every Friday from now until Sept. 3. For more information, visit www.deutschtown.org.

Day of peace

JULY 17—The Workforce Development Global Alliance will host a Day of Peace at 12 p.m. at West Park, North Side. The daylong event will include a peace march, a peace concert featuring local artists and a peace vigil to honor families who have lost loved ones to violence. For more information, call 412-281-9250.

Brainstorming

JULY 19—The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will host a Community Brainstorming Session from 7-9 p.m. at the Union Project, 801 N. Negley Ave., East Liberty. This session is to discuss what can be done to ensure the library remains operationally and financially healthy. Registration is not required and light refreshments will be served. Kids are also welcome to attend. For more information, visit www.carnegielibrary.org/future.

Resource fair

JULY 22—NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania and the Martin Luther King Reading and Cultural Center will host a Community Resource Fair from 1-7 p.m. at 636 Herron Ave., Hill District. This event is free and open to the public and will include food, entertainment, kids activities and more. For more information, call Ann Callen at 412-281-1100, ext. 124.

Medicare overview

JULY 27—The Andrew Carnegie Library will host “Medicare and the New Health Law-What It Means For You” from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. at 300 Beechview Ave., Carnegie. This is an overview of the Affordable Care Act law and how it will affect individuals with Medicare. The presenters, Ted Zimmer of the Consumer Health Commission and Rachel Steigerwalt of the Allegheny County APPRISE, will give a timeline detailing when some of the new provisions will take effect, the distribution process for stipends and the impact the new law will have on seniors and disabled adults. There will also be a discussion of programs available to reduce prescription costs. Reservations are required. For more information, call 412-276-3456, ext. 2.

Genealogy society meeting

JULY 31—The Afro-American Historical & Genealogy Society Pittsburgh Chapter will host their Monthly Meeting from 1-3 p.m. at the Homewood Branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, 7101 Hamilton Ave., 2nd floor, Homewood. Every last Saturday of the month, historians, genealogist and laypersons of all races and ethnicities come together to trace the histories of families. For more information, e-mail Paul Jacobs at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Baby classes

AUG. 3—Children’s Community Pediatrics will host a Baby Basics Class at 6:30 p.m. at CCP-GIL Pittsburgh, 6343 Penn Ave., Suite 201, East Liberty. These are free classes for expectant parents. Topics will include routine care, feedings, helpful hints, common problems and more. Attendees will receive a free gift bag. Registration is requested. There will be classes at various locations in the area. Call 1-877-449-PEDS.

Black family reunion

AUG. 6—The Community Empowerment Association will host the 7th Annual Black Family Reunion & Cultural Arts Weekend. The celebration will begin with a Peace N the Hood Basketball tournament and slam dunk contest at Kenard Field. There will also be a hip-hop symposium and an African-American film showcase, family activities on Aug. 7 at Schenley Park, a concert with Bobby Valentino, an Old School Cabaret and more. For more information, call 412-371-3689.

ArtCity

ONGOING—The Trust Arts Education Center will host the ArtCity Summer Classes from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at 805/807 Liberty Ave., Cultural District. Participants will have an opportunity to take workshops for playwriting, dance, acting, comics and cartoons. For more information, call 412-471-6079.

Open enrollment

ONGOING—Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Allegheny Intermediate Unit, Pittsburgh Public Schools and Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center will host an Enrollment for their Head Start Program. Children 3-5 years old are provided with flexible programming designed to promote kindergarten readiness. For more information, call 1-866-214-5437 or visit www.alleghenycounty.us/dhs/headstart.aspx.

Counseling

ONGOING—NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania will host a Free Budget & Credit Counseling from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center, 5321 Penn Ave., Garfield. Every Tuesday NeighborWorks certified instructors will give free one-on-one sessions for individuals and families interested in improving their money management skills. Appointments are available. For more information, call Tammy Grzelka at 412-281-9773 ext. 111.

(To have items listed on Community Calendar, send information at least two weeks in advance to: 315 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219; Fax: 412-481-1360 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .)

Robert R. Lavelle, the man who made buying a home a reality for thousands of Pittsburgh’s African-Americans when racism and red­lining made loans from traditional banks and mortgage lenders impossible, who wrote Bible verses on billing statements and who prayed for men who robbed his bank, has died. He was 94.

Lavelle passed away July 4, after having suffered a stroke on Father’s Day while giving the keynote address at Grace Mem­orial Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder, taught Sunday school and led a weekly Bible study for nearly 50 years.

ROBERT R. LAVELLE

The foun­der of La­velle Real Estate and the past president and CEO of Dwelling House Savings and Loan, Robert Lavelle was revered throughout Pittsburgh’s Black community, especially in the Hill District where he lived and ran his businesses.

Lavelle essentially rescued Dwelling House from near ruin in 1957. At that time his real estate company was seeking a mortgage on a nearby property, but was told the loan association could not comply due to withdrawals exceeding liquid assets. Open only a few days of the month, Lavelle suggested they open full time, that they share space with his firm, so they could afford to staff the then Dwelling House Building and Loan Association until it grew.

Church anniversary

Central Baptist Church in the Hill District will celebrate its 119th Church Anniversary July 14-15 and July 18 and is asking for past and present members to join them.

There will be several services featuring preachers from the Pittsburgh area.

Along with the worship services, the church will be producing a documentary about its history and its impact on the Hill District.

“We request and would love to interview past members. We desire that you share your memories in person or by providing copies of historical documents, pictures of Central Baptist Church and past members. If you do not have a copy, we can make a copy and promise to immediately return this to you with care,” said Karen Lockett, Anniversary Committee Communication coordinator.

Anyone looking for information regarding the anniversary or documentary; call the church office at 412-566-1437.

Woman killed in

shootout with

dealers, cops

AP—Allegheny County officials are investigating a Pittsburgh shooting between drug dealers and police that left a 24-year-old mother dead.

Authorities say Arika Haines­worth used her East End apartment to store drugs and money belonging to drug dealers. Police say three men broke into her home Sunday and held her 8-year-old son at gunpoint while demanding money.

Police responded to the scene and a shootout ensued. Haines­worth was shot in the chest and killed. Police do not believe officers killed Hainesworth because of the angle in which she was shot, but an investigation is continuing. One man, Richard Woodward, has been arrested and charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and other charges. They are still searching for two other suspects. The five officers involved in the shooting are on paid leave while the investigation is continuing.

Cautioning

delivery drivers

Authorities are warning delivery drivers to be alert and take precautions after several robbery incidents have occurred within the last week, resulting in two drivers being shot.

The latest was Monday evening, when a 56-year-old driver was shot in the arm while delivering to Second Street in Braddock. He was taken to the hospital. This is just one day after a pizza delivery driver was shot in the Hill District while making a delivery to a home on Bedford Avenue. He was shot in the leg and chest.

Last week, two drivers were robbed in Carrick and Mt. Oliver. No one has been arrested or charged in any of the incidents.

Police have released several suggestions for driver’s safety, which include driving past the address once to check it out for suspicious activity, beware of dark and unlit units, if it is possible, have the customer meet them at the sidewalk of the residence, do not leave vehicles running or doors unlocked and follow one’s instincts.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Pittsburgh Robbery Squad at 412-323-7151.

Still accepting vouchers

Although there is new ownership, the Allegheny County Health Department announced that the Foodland grocery store located in Duquesne Village in West Mifflin will continue to participate in the county’s federally funded supplemental food program, the Women, Infants and Children program.

WIC vouchers will be accepted and are good for items such as formula, milk, eggs, cheese, vegetables, canned and fresh fruit and more. For more information on what stores and locations participate, visit the Health Department’s website at www.achd.net/wic.

With seven out of the eight murders for the month of June being Black and all 30 years old and under, enough is enough. And it’s us killing us. Now, one cannot even attend a birthday party without worrying about getting shot. It is time for action. It’s time to stop talking about it. The vigils, marches and peace talks are fine, but there is a need for us to do more. It’s time to use all the plans and ideas that have been created and put them into action. We cannot afford to lose another person.

As part of an ongoing effort to heighten awareness about the effects of murder in the Black community, the New Pittsburgh Courier will compile a list of homicides in the county each month. It is our hope that as the list of victims grows, so will a true understanding of how these lost lives affect the mental health, economic well-being and self-images of the region’s Black neighborhoods.