Aug 28, 2016 4 min read

John Goettler’s mini-layout was a maxi-mess. A heavy storm and subsequent flood July 30 wreaked havoc at Red Carpet Miniature Golf in North Strabane.

“We had five feet of water and garbage everywhere,” Gottler said. A lighthouse, windmill, portable restroom and other items were washed up to a mile away.

About a week later, a reporter and TV crew from Pittsburgh came down Route 19 to interview Goettler about the course’s present predicament and uncertain future. The reporter closed the segment by speculating that Red Carpet could be closed the rest of the year.

“I said off camera, ‘We’ll be open in two weeks,'” the resolute owner said.

He proved to be correct. Using his money and muscles, and ably assisted by the strong back of Bob Holmes, Goettler was able to rebuild Red Carpet to the point of reopening Aug. 19.

“Bob and I worked a couple of hours every day to get to this point,” said Goettler, 57, of Brentwood. “I commented on camera, ‘I’ll die before course dies.’ That’s how much I care about this.”

The course is on three-fourths of an acre and is 70 years old, and has been in Goettler’s family for the past 57. An uncle, Norbert Tompel, bought it in 1959 and ran it until his death in 1996. Goettler has been in charge since.

He also owns the Red Carpet complex off Route 40 in North Franklin Township, run by Missy Janco, and has a night job as well, doing inventory for Coca-Cola Enterprises in Houston.

Goettler said there have been flooding issues over time, “but nothing like this.” He said he was denied flood insurance, and blames the incident on construction of a new housing project on the hills above.

Three weeks after the rushing water, the course was in operation again and Goettler is thrilled that it is.

“My wife (Kathy) said to walk away from it, to quit, but I don’t want to give this up. This place puts a lot of smiles on faces and creates good memories.

“A man in his 80s stopped by months ago and said he had his first date here in 1948. He had the scorecard with him. What a guy. He said he had been married (to that woman) for 50 or 60 years.”

Southpointe II’s Town Center is certainly shaping up. And so are employees of the mixed-use park in Cecil Township.

A second fitness facility is in operation in the block that is largely retail and restaurant. FASTER opened Aug. 8 in a 7,500-square-foot space at 1800 Main St., Suite 114. It is across from Crazy Mocha and next to Southpointe Nails.

This is the second location spouses Jason (“Coach”) and Sommer DeRose have launched in the region. The original FASTER opened in 2008 on Campbells Run Road, Robinson Township.

Hours at Southpointe are: Monday and Wednesday, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. For more information, visit performfaster.com.

Another fitness facility, barre3, launched at 1800 Main St. in mid-May.

The Health Club at Southpointe, at 1001 Corporate Drive, closed in late February.

Amy Taylor of Washington has launched a full-service advertising and public relations agency, MINC, which stands for Market, Integrate, Network, Create.

Taylor, who previously was a partner in Creative Visions, said her new endeavor is a full-service marketing firm with an award-winning staff specializing in integrating strategy and business development, planning and creative services “to strategically connect your message with employees, prospects and customers throughout the company and beyond.”

The agency’s clients include those from healthcare, building trades and unions, oil and gas, entertainment, corporate, hospitality, nonprofits, gaming and political campaigns.

For more information, e-mail her at amy@thinkminc.com, or call 1-844-344-6462.