Published: June 24, 2009 11:08 pm      

In brief: Progress Fund buys Meyersdale B&B

MEYERSDALE — A Greensburg-based community development financial institution announced it has purchased a 109-year-old Meyersdale mansion, now a bed and breakfast.

The Progress Fund acquired Levi Deal Mansion Bed & Breakfast, 301 Meyers Ave., close to the Great Allegheny Passage trail.

“Lodging is a key to continued increases in visitation to the Great Allegheny Passage,” said David Kahley, president and CEO of The Progress Fund.

“We view this as an opportunity to influence overnight stays along one of the most scenic sections of the trail,” he said.

The restored mansion is a 15-room Chateauesque-style home built in 1900.

WPSU lays off 8, cancels 2 programs

STATE COLLEGE – Penn State University’s public television station is laying off workers and canceling two programs.

WPSU said Wednesday that it is eliminating eight staff positions and canceling the television shows “Scholastic Scrimmage” and “Common Ground Lobby Talks.”

The station says it’s doing so because of financial pressures.

Gov. Ed Rendell’s budget proposal recommends eliminating all funding for Pennsylvania’s eight public television stations.

WPSU says that would be an $850,000 loss of funding.

“Scholastic Scrimmage” was a quiz show for high school students that recently completed its sixth season. “Common Ground Lobby Talks” was a forum with Penn State faculty and special guests in which the public was encouraged to ask questions.

David Price, the host of “Scholastic Scrimmage” and other shows, said he is one of the eight employees who lost a job.

Price said layoffs weren’t a surprise, but the news still felt like “a punch in the nose.”