Summer isn’t complete without at least one round of mini-golf.

Fortunately, Tussey Mountain is giving Centre Countians another option with its planned construction of a new putt-putt course.

“It’s going to be an 18-hole course, with a waterfall, two river systems and a couple of fountains,” said Mike Codman, the owner of Big Sky Miniature Golf Construction, the company hired to install the course.

Construction started a week ago, Codman said, and the course should be ready to open by early August.

It will also include play-through logs, a hole with a jump, a couple with wooden bridges, and plenty of local rocks to serve as obstacles.

The first nine holes will be handicapped accessible.

For those looking for a more physically demanding challenge, Tussey has announced plans to host what it’s dubbing the Hardcore Mudd Run, to take place at 8 a.m. Oct. 13, 2012. The 5.5- to 6.5-mile run, certain to include mud puddles and another 20 or so mystery obstacles, is similar to the increasingly popular Tough Mudder or Warrior Dash.

Tussey hopes to expand on the event to include four races in separate locations in 2013.

Lawyer sets up shop

Laura Robbins spent the past seven years of her life providing legal services to those who couldn’t afford them, and that experience has inspired her to start her own law office.

Robbins worked at MidPenn Legal Services, a nonprofit providing legal services to low-income residents and survivors of domestic violence in 18 counties in central Pennsylvania.

The work was rewarding, Robbins said, but the organization’s strict qualifying criteria left many people outside its umbrella.

“I saw how they struggled and floundered. They had no idea what they were doing in court,” Robbins said of those who didn’t qualify. “I could only imagine how terrifying that could be, to be facing a life decision and not knowing what to do, even how to address the judge, to prevent their unemployment from being taken away.”

With the idea of serving that clientele, Robbins will open her own law firm Monday at 315 S. Allen St., Suite 217.

“What my firm strives to do is provide high quality legal assistance at (an) affordable cost,” Robbins said. “What that means is, I’ll still charge a professional rate, however, I’ll try to be more empathetic in my costs. I’ll provide my clients with options, so they choose what type of representation they would like — maybe they just want some advice, or maybe if they want full-on litigation, I’m here for them, too.”

Robbins said she will explain her fees to clients “in great detail,” and will provide advice on how to keep her total bill low.

“I’m not going to try to sell them services they’re reluctant to take, so they can still get high-quality representation without having to shell out a lot of money,” she said.

The key, Robbins said, is that clients know what to expect.

“I’ll let them know when and how they’re running up the bill, and I plan on collecting my fees up front,” Robbins said. “My hope is that I'll build a reputation for not overcharging and for delivering on my promises.”

To learn go to www.laurarobbinslaw.com or call 234-1550.

Shredding to go

Automated Records Centre, a local records and information management company, has added a mobile shredding truck to its stable of services. The company now provides on-site shredding for all of Centre County.

“We’ll bring the shredding to you, as opposed to you finding us,” President Mike Sullivan said.

Pennsylvania’s red flag law requires all businesses that function as creditors safely destroy all private information they collect.

“That includes any business that has ever accepted a job application — about 40 percent of businesses,” Sullivan said. “But now with ID theft emerging as a larger issue, even more companies should consider destroying private information before they get rid of it.”

Automated Records Centre can provide businesses and individuals information about what they’re required to do under the red flag law and paperwork legally verifying destruction services have been performed.

The new truck is designed to broaden the company’s reach to smaller businesses and even residences, Sullivan said.

“We’re still trying figure out the best model to help us cultivate more business, but we know it’s going to be a great tool for us,” Sullivan said.

A correction

Stylized, a hair salon being opened by Michelle Mannino, which I wrote about on July 3, will be at 235 Northland Center, Suite 3 — between Cartridge World and Wise Eyes, down from the Giant supermarket.

Also, I should have noted that Mannino has 20 total years of professional experience, the past nine of which were at Boalsburg’s Portfolio Salon.

Cliff White can be reached at 235-3928.