PHS News and Editorial

Should the Old be Removed to Make Way for a Brand-New Baseball Field?

Generally Speaking writer Rose Fiscella visited the Tropicana Resort in Las Vegas in early April.

Article written and photos provided by: Rose Fiscella (class of 2024)

On April 2nd, 2024, I stood outside of the Tropicana Las Vegas, a resort that had been open since April of 1957, and marveled at the history unfolding before my very eyes.

Within the next few hours, the tourists and die-hard fans of the resort would make their final check-out, and by noon, the resort would be closed, with a chain around the entrance.

At 3 am that morning, gambling ceased, leaving only hotel patrons.

As I stood in the Vegas sun, thinking of what was, I began to feel upset, knowing that a piece of history would be demolished within the year.

At 1 pm, after the Tropicana’s closure, I drove the Strip, noticing every resort saying “goodbye” to their old friend. The messages of goodbye lasted fifteen minutes before the screens went back to advertisements.

All of the resorts on the strip paid homage to the Tropicana, the message lasting for just about fifteen minutes.

The Tropicana was one of the last remaining original resorts on the Strip. The Flamingo, which opened in December of 1946, is still in operation.

Surely, there’s more room in the desert for a baseball field. And surely there’s room for the Tropicana to continue, or at least let Vegas history remain intact.

Las Vegas locals and those who have worked at the Tropicana felt a slight bit of grief, explaining that it was an iconic part of old Vegas that was being destroyed for the sake of baseball. Others, however, cheered at the closure, making notes that the new field will bring more tourism, and would create more jobs.

“Vegas is always changing-- It was time for a change,” said one local.

As the final guests check out at the Tropicana, these workers smile and wave goodbye.

It isn’t abnormal for a resort on the Strip to close and be demolished, but one with such a rich history, such as the Tropicana, needs to be remembered.

It was only shortly after the opening of the Tropicana that it was discovered that there were mob ties, as found when Frank Costello was almost assassinated, having receipts from the Tropicana in his pocket.

The casino was also a part of a mob skimming operation in 1978. At the time, Sammy Davis Jr. owned shares in the hotel, becoming the first African American to own a share in a Strip resort.

In 2021, the Oakland Athletics began considering a Las Vegas relocation, with the Tropicana property as a possible site for a stadium.

In May of 2023, after more than a year after negotiations, the Oakland A’s reached an agreement to demolish the Tropicana for redevelopment.

The stadium is set to occupy nine acres, along with Bally’s (current ownership of Tropicana) keeping the remaining land for a new casino resort.

The stadium is set to cost $1.5 billion, and a public financing package for up to $380 million was approved by the state of Nevada in June of 2023. Five months later, the Oakland A’s relocation to Vegas was approved by the MLB. Construction of the stadium is set for April 2025, with completion in January 2028.

In November of 2023, the Tropicana’s original hotel wings from 1957 were closed. They were the oldest rooms on the Strip. As mentioned above, the Tropicana ceased operations on April 2nd, 2024. The casino closed at 3 am, followed by the rest of the property closing at noon. At the time of its closure, the Tropicana had 700 workers, some of whom have worked at the Trop for decades.

Bally's chairman Soo Kim said, "The Trop is obviously iconic, but it is, really, in a lot of ways, economically obsolete. It literally is part of the glitz and glamour of Vegas, but it hasn't been that for decades.”

Demolition of the Tropicana is set for October 2024.

The beautiful Tiffany ceiling at the Tropicana has been under discussion as the date of demolition approaches. There is a petition to save the unique art piece.

That leaves one question;

Should history be demolished to build newer stadiums? Or should we expand where there’s room and allow historic establishments to continue?

To bring this around to our little corner, Pittsfield, there have been talks to renovate Wahconah Park, which is listed as a historic landmark.

Should we keep the old Wahconah Park? Or should we knock it down and build a new one?

Many locals online voice their opinions, many upset at the flooding of the parking lot, the sun delays, and the bleachers. Others, however, see memories of watching baseball with their families, playing a game, or enjoying the history.

Within the next few years, Pittsfield may see a new or refurbished Wahconah Park. However that ends up, we should look at our history and document it for future generations.

A possible solution to line cutting.

Lunch Line Cutters

By: Jack Ressler (Class of 24)

No one likes waiting or having their time seen as invaluable. Nowhere is this more prevalent than in the PHS cafeteria lunch line as we endure a spike in line cutting. To the point where on multiple days I have seen lines for people cutting. So, I have taken the liberty of gathering hard data on the amount of people who cut the lines during lunch. As a quick note, all data used for this was recorded between 9/28/23 and 10/5/23 in the daily meal line at both lunches and I stopped counting people once I got my food.

The average amount of cutters in a line is about 44%, now that looks bad, but who knows, maybe this is how bad lines have always been here at PHS it’s not like anyone has taken this same data from a year ago. Last year, for AP Seminar, I worked on the same data, and from the periods of 5/24/23 - 6/09/23 the average number of cutters in the PHS lunch line was only around 22%, and unlike this year we had days where there were 0 cutters. As long as I can I will link my spreadsheet that includes more information so, if you consider that I am using data from days that have a bad lunch, you can double check that yourself.

It’s important to note that there has been a large increase in student population, because of the size of the freshman class. From what I’ve observed the freshmen also take more time to get their food, I couldn’t place my finger on why exactly, but nevertheless, lower classmen take longer. Furthermore, first lunch is shorter than last year, I imagine because of that, people cut so they can eat within the time allotted.

I’d like to present a solution- that being stanchions. What is a stanchion? Are they effective? Why do I think they’d work? Do they feel love? Stanchions include a series of stanchion posts with ropes in between them to create a continuous barrier. I cannot attest to the potential effectiveness of stanchions at PHS however, I believe that they will help reduce the amount of cutting around the corner of the double doors. Further, the stanchions will help group people in line, stopping people from jumping in line. To be more specific I have included a crude diagram to demonstrate my point.

While writing this article I was given the opportunity to talk to the wonderful student equity team and they gave additional solutions and causes many of which I had used previously. As freshmen are new here at PHS, we could have our link leaders teach them some lunchroom etiquette during an advisory period. Additionally, people in line don’t ask the lunch ladies for specific meals so you’ll see kids waiting for corn to be put on their tray. Another point that the equity team brought up was that the lunchroom monitors don’t take much action against cutting, and they are usually stationed where they can’t see the lines anyway. The equity team suggested that we place the lunch monitors by the doors so the students will cut less due to the fact that there is an authoritative figure by the spot they cut.

I do believe that this will save many people time and sanity. If you have any questions or purposed ways to reduce line cutting, please contact me at 24jressler@pittfield.net, and if you’d like to view my stat table please feel free to look here % cutters stat table .

Being New.

By: Rose Fiscella (Class of 24)

As a senior, I’ve been thinking about the next chapters of my life.

Imagine this:

You were accepted into your dream school, and now you’re moving into your dorm. You may be nervous because you’re a new student, but you brush off the nerves and continue to unpack.

At one point or another, we’re all new. Whether it be moving to a new town, moving schools, or being at a new job, we’ve all experienced the anxiety that comes from being new. It’s not abnormal to feel anxious or to become shy when you don’t know anyone. None of us are immune.

Since everyone has felt this feeling of being new, why does it seem so hard to be new? Some people are natural when it comes to making friends, and it seems like their experience of being new is relatively easy. But for others, it can be difficult to make friends in a new environment, and for most, they become socially isolated.

Here’s My Advice:

Instead of wondering and filling in the blanks, just speak to the new person. Get to know them, and after a little while, you may become friends. By spreading positive remarks about the person, people will start to talk to the new person as well.

Who knows, that may be your next best friend.

Reach out to that new person, because someday you may be the new person waiting for someone to reach out to you.

MCLA Opens New Nursing Program; First in Berkshire County!

Monday, March 13, 2023, Dr. Elizabeth Fiscella enjoys her spring vacation, unaware of what will happen next. She goes to check her phone, only to find that her boss has left her a voicemail.

“We did it. The nursing program is approved.”

For Elizabeth, this has been in the making for just over a year. She worked endlessly through long hours and speed bumps to create a brand-new nursing program for the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA).

There are other nursing programs around the county, but what is so special about MCLA’s is the fact that it is the first Bachelor’s Nursing program in the Berkshires.

As for Dr. Fiscella, here is what she has to say,

“As someone who grew up in the Berkshires, and has worked as a nurse for over 25 years. I couldn’t be more proud of leading this important initiative to address the critical nursing shortage right here in my own community. The MCLA nurse will be grounded in the liberal arts and sciences preparing them to provide the highest quality care in our socially diverse environment. Historically high school graduates seeking a four year nursing degree have had to travel outside of the Berkshires and many times never return. It is our hope by offering this unique program that our graduates will remain in our community to help meet our present and future healthcare needs.”

Freshman pre-nursing students will begin this Fall of 2023. And begin their nursing courses in Fall of 2024.

A History Of Small Businesses - Variety Stores

Article By: Rose Fiscella (Class of 24)

When You Walk Around Pittsfield, You May Notice Buildings That Are Abandoned or better yet, Lost To Time. If we look back however, we can see the bustling streets, and the stores lining every corner.

What happened to our busy little city?

It’s the 1950s, and Pittsfield is a booming city; General Electric is providing jobs for families, and Pittsfield has a growing population of 53,348+!

Driving around town, you’ll notice the corner stores; the five and dime stores, department stores, and even variety stores.

The 50’s through 70’s:

North Street was filled with many stores that are now defunct; Woolworths, England Brothers, Newberry's, Jim’s House of Shoes (which only recently closed in 2020).

Many of these stores held special meanings to many Pittsfield residents, as they can recall plenty of times walking through the doors of the establishments.

But, as time goes by, many of these memories become long forgotten; lost to time.

Perhaps your grandmother or grandfather, or parents remember simple variety stores that were often found on street corners.

When we think of variety stores, many probably think of Palmers, located at 221 Elm St in Pittsfield or Peaslee’s located at 1 Wilson Street in Pittsfield.

These days, variety stores are but a rarity in our “futuristic” society. So, what happened? Why are family owned businesses disappearing?

“I feel that as variety stores disappeared, a certain type of customer service also disappeared. Shopping at a variety store was very different from shopping at a corporate store. Shopping at a variety store felt very personal, and getting to meet the family that owned the store really put into perspective how much work and perseverance it took to run a business. When in a variety store, it felt as though you knew everyone who entered. Today, when you enter a corporate store, you don’t feel that personal touch. When I walk into a corporate store, I don’t think about the perseverance of the owners and how many hardships they have had to face. But when I’m in a variety store, I feel like I owe it to the family to shop. By shopping at a mom and pop store, you’re helping a local family, and despite the prices seeming a little bit higher than a corporate store, you are saving a small business from closing.”

Interior of Tom's Variety (Halloween of 1970) - Photo Credit: Thomas A. Fiscella

What differentiates a convenience store from a variety store?

A convenience store is owned and operated by a national corporation.

A variety store is owned and operated by a family, they are often nicknamed “Mom and Pop” stores.

I interviewed the son of the owner of Tom’s Variety, a family owned store that was created by Thomas G. Fiscella (a veteran of WW2) and mostly run by his wife, Dolores Fiscella on Holmes Road. It was open from the 1960s to the 1980s. The first floor of the building was operating as the store and luncheonette, while the second floor served as an apartment for the family. Now the building is a two story home.

“What Do You Remember Most About Growing Up In A Variety Store?”

“I remember my mother would work while looking after me. There was also a luncheonette, mostly run by my father. My mom would stock shelves and run the cash register. She would also make sure we were ready for school, and then after we left she'd open the store.

We had to manually count change, which in today’s world is done for you by technology. I was able to read every comic book that we sold, and after school I would receive a free candy bar as a treat.

During summer I would make snow cones. At night, I’d get a can of soda and a bag of chips. My friends and I would wait for “Potato Chip Day”, when the potato chip shipment would come. We’d wait in the yard, and then we’d run up to the truck shouting “Free Samples, Free Samples”. The driver would give each of us a small bag of chips.

Monday (or Tuesday) we’d open around one, due to having to pay bills and run errands. Besides that, Tom’s Variety would open at 9 each morning. We weren’t open on Sundays, as we went to church and spent time with family.

During Halloween, we would decorate the store and kids would trick-or-treat, and were allowed to pick out one candy bar.

There was a buzzer on the door, so we’d know when someone came in. We had a hardware section, a “Hostess'' section, toy section, knick-knacks, and magazines. There was another variety store named “Dunks” on Plumb Street and it was only one room. It was the closest to our store, just to put into perspective how many variety stores existed.

Mr. Caroll, our neighbor, would sometimes watch over the store for us when we were out. Occasionally, we would close on certain weekends to head to Jersey to see family. We would always close on Holidays as well.

Personally, the store closed because we were growing up. My father asked if I wanted to run a business and I declined."

“About How Many Variety Stores Do You Remember Seeing During The 60s, 70s, and 80s?”

“I remember that there were a lot of family owned businesses. There was nothing like Market 32, or any other present-day stores. If we needed something, we’d head to a Mom and Pop store. They were everywhere. Every neighborhood had a variety store.”

“Why Do You Think Family Owned Stores Are On The Brink Of Extinction?”

“I feel like big corporations are a BIG reason for the loss of variety stores. Market 32 buys in bulk at cheaper prices, but mom and pop stores pay more for product. In turn, variety stores have to raise the price.”

“How Many People On Average Entered Tom’s Variety On A Given Day? Who Were These Folks?”

“Probably about 50, which was a lot. Many bought penny candy or groceries, while others bought lunch. Most of them were blue-collar workers, and shopped in their neighborhood. 3:30 to 5 in the afternoon was often rush hour. Kids after school would often come into the store and buy candy, soda, chips, comics, and baseball cards.”

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