Friday has been designated as "weed day" at Baden Memorial Library, but no one will be outside yanking dandelions from the lawn.

Between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., more than a dozen members of the Beaver County library system, librarians from neighboring libraries and other volunteers will weed out about 10 percent of the library's 20,000 items.

The collection is so large that it comprises about 7 percent of the county's library system. The cleaning-out process is expected to take several days. Since the library is closed on Friday, the activity will not interfere with operations.

The collection has more than six items per person served - more than twice the state average and almost three times the county average.

Volunteers will thin the collection to alleviate crowding, open up space and build a collection that reflects the community and attracts users from neighboring towns. The process will focus on improving quality while decreasing quantity.

Demographics also will be a factor. About 28 percent of residents are age 65 or older and 22 percent of Baden households have children younger than 18 years old.

Card holders still will have access to more than 250,000 items in the county system.

Most of the reference materials that are removed will be transferred to larger libraries, such as Aliquippa, Ambridge and Beaver Falls, which are able to house large research collections. Some items will be donated to local agencies.

The items that are beyond repair or contain outdated information will be removed. If weather permits, a table will be placed outside for residents to take those items.

The president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition will join energy and government officials in a free public session about Marcellus shale issues in Beaver County from 8 to 10 a.m. Friday in Shadow Lakes Country Club, 2000 Beaver Lakes Blvd., Hopewell.

Speakers from various organizations will discuss topics including water issues, transportation, natural gas rates, impact on local landowners and distribution of natural gas extracted from Marcellus shale. The meeting is sponsored by state Rep. Jim Christiana, R-Beaver.

The Marcellus Shale geographical formation measures more than 95,000 square miles, or 60.8 million acres and holds an abundance of natural gas.

"The safe extraction of this gas will provide thousands of jobs for Pennsylvanians for years to come," Mr. Christiana said in a news release. "I am holding this informational event to ensure that residents in my district are as informed as possible on the Marcellus shale and the involved natural gas extraction process."

To attend, contact Mr. Christiana's office, 724-728-7655. For information about the meeting, visit www.RepChristiana.com.

Traffic is being restricted this week during construction of new sign structures on Routes 22/30 between the Oakdale and Old Steubenville Pike interchanges in North Fayette.

The work is affecting eastbound traffic, which is being reduced to a single lane from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday. The work is being done weather permitting.

Motorists should be prepared for possible delays and changing traffic patterns.

The work is part of the $13.7 million project to improve safety at the junction of Routes 22/30, Route 60 and Interstate 376 (Parkway West) in Robinson and North Fayette.

The project will reconfigure the interchange to make it safer for motorists to change lanes.

Work also includes reconstruction and resurfacing, bridge improvements, wall construction and drainage improvements. Upgrades will be made to guide rail, curbing, highway lighting, signs and more.

Work is expected to be completed by late this year. Gulisek Construction LLC of Mt. Pleasant is the prime contractor.

The interchange project is being funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Curves fitness centers in Kennedy and Green Tree are hosting food drives through March 20 to benefit and replenish food pantries in McKees Rocks and Brookline.

Individuals who bring in a bag of nonperishable food items to either center and wish to join will have the service fee, worth $149, waived. Also, each person will receive a free gift, while supplies last.

Donations brought to the Kennedy Curves fitness center, 500 Pine Hollow Road in Kenmawr Plaza, will benefit and replenish Focus On Renewal's Emergency Food Pantry in McKees Rocks.

Food donations can be dropped off from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays, 8 a.m. to noon and 3 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to noon and 3 to 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 8 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays.

For information, call 412-771-6333.

Donations made at Green Tree Curves, 1333 Banksville Road, will benefit the Brookline Food Bank.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays; 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Fridays; and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

For information, call 412-531-4007.

Downtown stops on four Port Authority bus routes serving West communities have been moved temporarily because of construction work at Smithfield Street and Seventh Avenue.

The change, which started this week, will be in effect for about five months.

Affected are stops for routes 100 West Busway-Oakland, 28K Moon Express, 33X West Busway-All Stops and 28X Airport Flyer.

The work will close one of two lanes on Seventh Avenue near Smithfield Street alongside the Chamber of Commerce Building. The lane will be closed between Smithfield and William Penn Place.

All bus stops in that area will be discontinued and temporary stops have been established.

The discontinued inbound stops are Seventh Avenue at Smithfield (Breugger's) for the 100, 28K and 33X and Smithfield at William Penn Place for the 28X. The discontinued outbound stop is Seventh Avenue at Smithfield (Bruegger's) for the 28X.

The new temporary inbound stops are Seventh Avenue between Grant Street and William Penn Place (Gulf Tower) for the 100, 28K and 33X. The new temporary inbound stop is Seventh Avenue at Smithfield (Center City Tower) for the 28X.

The new temporary outbound stop is Seventh Avenue between Grant and William Penn Place (Gulf Tower) for the 28X.

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