The Richard King Mellon Foundation has awarded $500,000 to Focus On Renewal for the Father Ryan Arts Center capital campaign.

The gift raises the campaign total to $3.4 million. The campaign launched in 2004 to renovate a former furniture store at 420 Chartiers Ave., McKees Rocks, into a $4.2 million state-of-the-art, multilevel arts center providing artistic education, enrichment and entertainment.

The latest $500,000 contribution in support of Focus On Renewal's newest initiative was awarded in two installments including an unrestricted $250,000 grant for operating support and completion of the cultural arts center.

This is the Richard King Mellon Foundation's third major gift to the Father Ryan Arts Center. Previous gifts include a $1 million donation in 2006 and a $500,000 challenge grant in 2007 for renovation and construction efforts, which was matched by another foundation.

The center will have performance space and seating, an outside courtyard, on-site gallery, cafe, office space for administrative staff, lobby space, commercial kitchen, recording studio, dance studios, music rooms, computer graphics lab, pottery studios, visual and performing arts rooms and a private meeting room for sponsors, entertainment and rentals.

Focus On Renewal has received major funding pledges totaling $164,867 toward another challenge, including contributions from Massey Charitable Trust, anonymous donors, United States Steel Foundation, Gordon Terminal, Clearview Credit Union, McDermott Funeral Home, Mancini's Bakery, Musmanno's Funeral Home and John Baverso Architects.

To join, contact Patricia Moran, Father Ryan Arts Center director, 412-771-3052, or e-mail pmoran@forstorox.org.

The Joe Grkman Polka Band will hold a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the final show of the Penn State Beaver Brodhead Cultural Center's 32nd summer season at the J. P. Giusti Amphitheater, Brodhead Road, Center. The rain date is Aug. 28.

The Mill Creek Valley Historical Association will offer free tours of the Baker-Dungan Museum on the hill above the amphitheater. The museum, which is free and open for one hour prior to the shows, contains a variety of local historical artifacts, tools, furniture, clothing and other displays.

For information, call the Brodhead Cultural Center, 724-773-3610, e-mail rxm70@psu.edu, or visit www.beaver.psu.edu.

Traffic will be restricted to alternating single lane from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays through mid-September during repairs to a slide on Chapel Road in Aliquippa.

The work involves slope stabilization, erosion control and drainage improvements between Hall Road and Michael Road. Flag crews will control traffic flow.

There will be traffic restrictions this week during maintenance by state Department of Transportation crews on these Beaver County roads:

• Kennedy Boulevard, Aliquippa -- Patching between Brodhead Road and Franklin Avenue.

• Ohio River Boulevard, Ambridge and Freedom -- Sewer flushing between Freedom and the Allegheny County line.

• Shippingport Bridge, Shippingport -- Patching between Shippingport and Industry.

• Shivler Road, Raccoon -- Slide repairs between Frankfort and Gibbs roads.

• Sunflower Road, New Sewickley -- Pipe replacement between Virginia Avenue and Tulip Drive.

• Watts Mill Road, Darlington -- Paving between Blackhawk and Cannelton roads.

Crews also will be patching various roads in Economy, North Sewickley and New Sewickley and sweeping roads in Economy, North Sewickley, New Sewickley, Franklin, Rochester, Potter, Raccoon and Center.

The Karl Lukitsch Polka Band will play at 7:30 p.m. today in the final free performance of this year's summer concert in the park series presented by Crafton Performing Arts in Crafton Park, Steuben Street.

The Allegheny Brass Band will present a free concert as part of the family fun night program at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow