Ken Laughlin has been elected president of the Butler Farm Show board of directors. He previously was vice president.

Mr. Laughlin has served on a number of committees on the board, including safety and parking. He will be replaced as vice president by Kevin Loomis. Ken Metrick will continue as secretary, Bill Holbein as treasurer.

The farm show board meets on the second Wednesday of every month at its complex on Route 68, west of Butler.

Next year, the annual show is set for Aug. 9-14, 2010.

UPMC Passavant has opened an Austin's Playroom at its Cranberry center on St. Francis Way. The facility, near the emergency room waiting area, was named for the son of retired hockey star Mario Lemieux and his wife, Nathalie. Now a teenager, Austin, 13, joined his mother and other officials for the dedication.

The playroom contains com- puters, games, toys and an aquarium to create a safe, calm and comfortable environment for children and their families.

The playroom was funded with a gift from the Mario Lemieux Foundation, which has built 16 such playrooms in 10 years. The Lemieuxs came up with the idea after making hospital visits for their premature son in 1996.

Shaler North Hills Library will shorten its hours beginning Jan. 4 to cut costs.

The new hours for the library at 1822 Mount Royal Blvd. will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. From September through May, it also will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Library officials said they had to reduce expenses by 7 percent because they expect to lose $83,600 in state and Regional Asset District funding next year.

The library also reduced its collection and supplies budget.

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