The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 74

S18 The Pittsburgh Press Thursday. June 28, 1990 They're gambling against slim odds of selling new casino game By Richard Bierck "It's a simple game. Trekara is not intimidating like craps. But, like craps, Trekara has direct involvement. Craps gamblers don't really care so much if they win it's the action they want." Patsy Trello A in If maw 1 4sfc 'v -All fS kt WitMM1 mtmiouamai Si UUUUUPOUDUU ftp a fc I illllMllllittlUDIIIII hi -Hir' Tr i I I WBMMWWIIIHII'III lll if The Pittsburgh Press The game has flash: a highly lacquered wood box festooned with mirrors and lined with Plexiglass panels behind which gamblers would place their bets.

Emblazoned on a golden face plate is the exotic name, Trekara. Two western Allegheny County residents went to Atlantic City earlier this month in an effort to sell casinos on the idea behind this 2-foot-square prototype, the product of their brainstorming over coffee in the morning and beer at night. The trip was one step on the long, untraveled road to get New Jersey gambling regulators to approve a new game for the Eastern capital of cash and chance. If they succeed in placing their creation in casinos, this achievement could be the sale of the century for Patsy Trello, a 3M Co. salesman from Oakdale, and a whopping return on investment for the do-it-yourself skills of Steve Karpa, a crane operator who lives in Kennedy.

Yet the history of gambling devices clearly shows that the boyhood friends from McKees Rocks are tilting at slim odds. Trello and Karpa, both 36, are attempting to alter gambling history with a device they named after themselves. "We thought Trekara sounded more European than said Karpa. He and his partner are touting the game as a blend of craps and roulette. Like roulette, Trekara involves a wheel.

Players throw small balls into the box, to be hit by protrusions from the spinning wheel in the prototype, miniature golf clubs. After bouncing around, the balls come to rest in squares bearing the markings of dice faces. Before spinning the wheel, players predict where the balls will come to rest by placing their bets on the squares that carry corresponding dice numbers. There is one black ball and one white, with corresponding sets of betting squares. a simple game," said Trello, of Hawthorne Village, launching into the same pitch he used on the casinos.

"Trekara is not intimidating like craps. Old ladies like roulette, but won't go near a craps table. But, like craps, Trekara has direct involvement. Craps gamblers don't really care so much if they win it's the action they want." Trello and Karpa, who are seeking a patent on their game, planned the Atlantic City trip as the first concrete step toward a permit from the New Jersey Casino Control Commission to have the game tested in casinos. For New Jersey regulators to consider a permit application, Trello and Karpa must produce written statements from three casinos saying they are "interested in the possibility of a new game and that they would be willing to participate in an experiment," said Carole R.

Jacobson, a staff attorney with the commission. Trello said their meetings went well and that they are still working on getting letters of interest from several casinos. Admitting unabashedly that they are seeking to strike it rich Karpa jokes about a yacht Trello and Karpa maintain that casinos need a new game to excite the gambling public and awaken the casual gambler from the slumber of slot machines. After developing the prototype, they hired a consultant to calculate the games' odds, the myriad sets of figures that casinos thrive on. If the casinos' oddsmakers give the game the green light, goes Trello's sales logic, some casino moguls may be willing to try Trekara to prevent competitors from cornering a potential new market.

Since the Atlantic City casinos opened their doors in 1977 with seven approved games of chance, only one new game has been added. Minibaccarat joined the array in 1986 after the New Jersey legislature permitted it. New Jersey law gives the commission discretionary power to approve new games that are a "variation or composite of existing games," Jacobson said. She said no one has ever submitted a complete application with statements of interest from casinos. "There is a great deal of time and expense involved on the part of the petitioner." Deno Marino, the commission's deputy director of operations, said that in the last 13 years, "many have tried" to get casinos interested in new games.

"They say people love their games. Well, loving it and getting three letters (showing casino interest) is usually a different thing." Trello said he and Karpa are willing to go the distance to make their application work. Essential to this effort is cracking the hard shell of the gambling establishment. "I'm not going in and saying, 'This is the greatest he said. "Instead, I try to be helpful: 'Here is something that will Then, Trello said, he explains how, by enlarging the prototype and installing rubber bumpers, they will produce a version offering player involvement and random action for clinical gambling trials.

Trello and Karpa met playing Little League baseball in McKees Rocks. Trello had come from the Norwood community of McKees Rocks and Karpa from McKees Rocks Bottoms. The friendship that developed survived divergent paths. Trello went off to college and Karpa to a steel mill. It was at one of their frequent restaurant meetings that they came up with Trekara as a scheme to cash in on Trello's aggressive salesmanship and Karpa's mechanical knack.

Karpa made the pages of People magazine in April 1989 for building an 18V2-foot-long pool table. "Steve's the architect," said Trello. Karpa added, "Patsy would give me the ideas and I'd draw them." And so they did, at long breakfasts and midnight drafting sessions. "I did maybe four or five different drawings," Karpa recalled. "We looked at them and refined them.

This had to change, that had to change." Karpa cut the wood and bought the other materials, and the two put them together in Karpa's garage in the Pickford plan off Clever Road in Kennedy. Trello and Karpa say they are by no means locked into the model. "We're willing to work with the casinos to fine-tune it," Trello said. What if they fail? "It was worth a try," Trello said, adding dryly, "It's a pretty good shot for a couple of guys from the Rocks." Al FuchsThe Pittsburgh Press Patsy Trello, left, of Oakdale and Steve Karpa of Kennedy hope to persuade Atlantic City casinos to test their game, a combination of craps and roulette. DEED TRANSFERS South Hills housing NEW LISTINGS Following are year-to-date new listings for houses.

1 1990 2,388 1 1 1989 2.474 1 1 1988 2.651 1 HOUSE CLOSINGS Following are year-to-date house closings. 1 1990 1.224 1 1 1989 1.214 1 1,101 1 1 1988 deed transfer stamps indicate a price of $28,755. Bower Hill at Mt. Lebanon unit at 1160 Bower Hill Road to George L. Balker et no affidavit, although state deed transfer stamps indicate a price of $23,190.

Estate of Dorothy G. Pikulin, house at 227 Cedar Blvd. to Bradley J. and Linda T. Carpenter, $85,000.

Raymond L. Scheib, house at 1262 Folkstone Drive to Christopher J. and Roberta A. Anderson, $195,000. Thomson Homes unit townhouse at 522 Kingsberry Circle to Joseph and Linda J.

Bothwell, $210,000. Joanne Cicala, house at 1112 Lake-mont Drive to Alfred L. Rizzo et al $101,000. David E. and Sharyn N.

Conrad, house at 1058 Lindendale Drive to Stephen B. and Katharine J. Stayduhar, $170,000. David A. Lovejoy et house at 849 Lovingston Drive to Gerard J.

and Angela M. Simon; $115,000. Robert J. and Dorothy M. Peterson, house at 911 Margaretta Ave.

to John T. and Ann Michalak, $72,500. Theresa Catalano, house at 535 Na-vato Place to Richard P. Romig, $48,500. Russell H.

and Constance M. Gowland house at 1010 Osage Road to Thomas L. and Barbara K. Van Kirk, $413,000. Gregory G.

and Laura F. Nalesnik, house at 430 Summit Drive to James C. and Holly A. Humphrey, $107,500. Patricia J.

Mangan et house at 730 Vallevista Ave. to Mark M. and Merry G. Holland, $62,000. David C.

and Joy E. Williams, unit at 750 Washington Road to Dorothy W. Berliss, $93,000. MUNHALL Elmer K. and Barbara E.

Pavasko, house at 413 Uth Ave. to Robert and Sharon P. Hostovich, $14,000. Andrea L. and Robert Kirk, house at 125 Crawford Ave.

to Harold D. Price, $41,000. Anna Spisak, house at 122 Dahlia rear, to Richard A. and Denise C. Moreno, $6,500.

Florence M. Mayor, house at 889 Munn St. to Mark A. and Mary Beth Musati, $19,500. Frederick C.

and Nancy C. Hobbins, house at 3609 West Run Road to Cynthia L. McKeown, $60,500. McKEESPORT Estate of Kenneth G. McManus, house at 2018 Dalton Ave.

to Charles H. and Ella W. Hazel, $20,000. Cityfed Mortgage house at 402 Pine Alley to Mon Valley Speed Boat Club $10,000. Joseph and Rosemarie Matlak, house at 1706 Soles St.

to Joseph and Barbara Sorrentino, $4,000. Samuel A. and Shirley D. Strangis, house at 1612 Versailles Ave. to Mark Novakovich, $20,000.

PLEASANT HILLS Richard 0. and Dorothy L. Beitel, house at 214 Delano Drive to Mark A. and Teresa M. Savolskis, $71,500.

Dale B. and Marcia R. Larson, houi' at 382 Mowry Drive to Arthur J. and Claudia Hroncich, $132,000. Winifred M.

Thurner, property on Terence Drive to Pleasant Hills Office Condominiums, $138,500. PORT VUE Thomas D. and Carole L. Bonner, house at 1001 Burbank Road to Sharon L. Durosko, $37,600.

Avco Financial Services Consumer Discount house at 1813 Port Vue Ave. to John T. Hoak, $5,000. Eileen L. Cole, house at 913 Woodland Ave.

to Brent A. and Christine M. Pomy-cala, $36,000. SCOTT Estate of Lois J. Jacobs, house at 123 Aria Drive to Mary G.

Boyle, $74,900. Estate of Ignatius J. Len, house at 522 Bluff St. to Blanche Jarosz, $21,000. Mary B.

and Joseph Saccone, unit on Robinwood Drive to Ethel P. Carson, $87,000. James C. Rice, unit at 2034 Swallow-hill Road to William T. and Jennifer L.

Patterson, $41,000. Patricia V. Burns, unit at 2034 Swallow Hill Road to Bernadette D. Kortze, $46,000. SOUTH PARK Peter T.

and Linda C. Radzvin, property on Connor Drive to Raymond W. and Elizabeth F. Seddon $25,000. William J.

and Jane A. Riley, property on Connor Drive to Raymond S. and Sylvia M. Raveglia, $25,000. William E.

and Suzanne C. Porter, house at 3104 Jackpine Drive to John E. Jenkins et $83,900. James A. and Patricia L.

Duff, house at 2604 Keats Drive to James G. and Maria Zora, $59,500. Donald G. Spear, property on McEl-heny Road to Harry J. and Elaine M.

Litwin, $32,500. Daniel R. and Mary J. Wahl, house at 1183 Mike Reed Drive to James W. and Kathleen F.

Sipes, $83,000. UPPER ST. CLAIR Metro II, property on Brookhaven Lane to Brian and Elaine W. Fitzgerald, $52,000. Mark Homes Realty property on Brookhaven Lane to Randy G.

and Heather M. Hillier, $254,000. Elm Realty Services property on Heartwood Drive to Mark F. and Vicki A. McKenna, $82,320.

Kenneth R. and Jane E. Buser, house at 1700 Northgate Drive to William C. and Sheila M. Forester, $283,500.

Joseph E. and Dawn F. Mersnik, unit at 1599 Pinehurst Drive to Sharon L. Ammons, $78,300. William J.

and Bernlce B. Schreiber, house at 1251 Satellite Circle to Joseph C. and Maryann Ferneding, $121,000. Thomas Homes house at 1090 Tall Trees Drive to Paul S. and Pamella A.

Callahan, $415,000. Anthony R. and Alice J. Winn, house at 1620 Terrie Drive to Terry H. Lattanzi, $178,000.

Joan M. Grover, house at 1821 Tilton Drive to Gary H. and Helena B. Gunner-son, L.E. Tischler property and house to be built on Tischler Road to Kanwar-pal S.

and Dolly Ahluwalia, $26,000 affidavit, although state deed transfer stamps indicate a price of $184,200. Kenneth and Deborah M. Zemba, house at 2777 Tischler Road to Mark and Mary K. Matty, $108,700. Theodore J.

Taylor III, property on Transit Boulevard to 4M Associates $30,000. BRENTWOOD William M. and Susan L. Rader, house at 2810 Brentwood Ave. to Kathleen J.

Tontala, $45,000. John W. and Frances C. Patterson house at 2952 Brevard Ave. to Daniel C.

Poljak, $45,000. Alberta R. May, duplex at 229 Mary-lea Ave. to Paul J. Vogel, $69,000.

Helen B. Kimmins, house at 3246 Shadyway Drive to Kevin M. and Marilyn McCarthy, $47,000. Leona C. Hoover, house at 3321 Shadyway Drive to Michael D.

Goettler, $35,000. Estate of Catherine A. Buechel, house at 3238 Villawood Ave. to Joyce I. Nolle, $49,000.

John M. and Linda S. Carver house at 3143 Willett Ave. to John J. Vojtas, $59,000.

CASTLE SHANNON Kimberly and Joseph Chiaramonte, building at 304 Hoodridge Drive to Eugenia C. Sciullo, $56,800. CLAIRTON Estate of Anna M. Phillips, house at 309 N. Sixth St.

to Rudolph and Wanda LaValle et $1 affidavit, although state deed transfer stamps indicate a price of $15,000. Amelia M. Bryan, building at 653 Miller Ave. to Walter Steck et $20,000. Ahi-Dodge Associates, house at 57A Soltis Drive to Kimberly Haynes, $8,000.

Dorothy E. Eichler et house at 858 Vankirk St. to Herman W. and Marie E. Sopko, $1.

Josephine Bender, house at 905 Wad-dell Ave. to Margaret Tomasello, $9,000. Bessie Burens, house at 406 Walnut St. to Albert E. Basich et $11,000.

DORMONT John S. and Evangeline Vayanos, duplex at 2630 Broadway Ave. to Michele A. Minnicks, $51,000. Mary A.

Gargotta, house at 1312 Hillsdale Ave. to William E. Rusin $31,000. Alexander and Vera L. Besnak, house at 1308 Mississippi Ave.

to Joseph A. Yoest, $49,000. DRAVOSBURG Secretary of Housing Urban Development, house at 11 Raymond St. to Robert F. and Lynne E.

Pastor, $50,000. DUQUESNE Estate of Veronica Melkon, house at 17 N. Fourth St. to Michael Kasa, $5,000. Carl P.

and Marillyn Keene. house at 826 Catherine St. to Thomas P. Sichel-itiel, $26,000. Robert Fontanesi.

building at 418 The information contained in this list is taken from public records. While every precaution is taken, no responsibility is assumed for errors or omissions in those records. BALDWIN BOROUGH Ray R. and Barbara H. Barone, house at 1628 Carmella Drive to Thomas J.

Erfort III et $66,000. Edward E. and Sandra S. Harris, house at 5017 Dcbra Drive to Robert M. Veith, $89,000.

Robert M. Veith et house at 5099 Dolores Drive to John M. and Linda S. Carver $108,000. Scott G.

and Ranee D. Solbach, house at 5100 Dolores Drive to Richard D. and Colleen R. Dachille, $102,000. Paul and Debbie Kennedy, house at 111 Donahue Drive to James R.

and DeCort et $85,000. Richard A. and Vali D. Cavanagh, house at 1625 Elderslee Road to John A. and Michele C.

Crocco, $66,000. Estate of Elmer and Madeline A. Weiss, house at 3743 Willett Road to Michael J. and Norma J. Andrulonis, $54,000.

BALDWIN TOWNSHIP Nicholas P. and Kathleen G. Lazzaro, house at 512 Crestline Drive to Robert A. and Susan A. Brichacek, $77,500.

BETHEL PARK Teresa P. and Larry W. Bagwell, house at 3345 Altherton Drive to Patrick J. and Lora J. Cunningham, $83,500.

Paul W. Forrest et property on Auburn Avenue to Brian Homes $225,575. Robert W. and Carol A. Teschke, house at 467 Bassett Drive to Richard A.

and Janice F. Zollars, $136,000. Howard F. Leonard et house at 2612 Bethel Crest Drive to Gregory L. and Cheryl A.

Hardy, $126,900. Earl Danielson, property at 154 Blue-stone Drive to James B. and Catherine A. Murdy, $161,625. Kevin B.

and Michele J. Begly, house at 2100 Brady Place to David C. and Maryann T. Wright $55,000. Tom Colella house at 5872 Brian Drive to Dale L.

and Susan L. Cline, $173,500. William J. and Geraldine M. Fazio house at 5451 Brightwood Road to Cyndi Getty.

$31,000. Richard P. Alexander, house at 113 Broughton Road to Robert E. and Patrice M. Reardon, $51,000.

David M. and Sherry L. Hofmeister, house at 5916 Dash wood Drive to W. Carey and Joyce H. Ballbach, $84,500.

John E. and Kathleen M. Popovich, house at 380 Frultwood Drive to Timothy H. and Mary H. Teres, $94,900.

Gregory J. and Donna Hasenfus, house at 5837 Southampton Drive to Tara S. and Manju Baypayee, $87,500. Estate of Laura E. Harty, house at 3265 Sunnyside Road to Anthony J.

Mar-tucci Jr. et $87,000. Hugh F. and Elizabeth F. Deithorn, house at 342 Sunset Drive to Robert G.

and Janice R. Skok, $91,000. 1 UNDER CONTRACT Following are year-to-date houses for which a sale has been arranged, but a closing has not taken place. 1990 1.713 1 1989 1 1,513 1 1 1988 1,465 Seurce: West Penn Multi-List, Feb. 17 Crawford Ave.

to Calvin Stanley, $11,000. David A. and Deborah D. Greso, house at 12 Erwin St. to Laura Vrabel et al, $11,000.

HOMESTEAD A.W. Paull, building at 106 W. 15th Ave. to Kenneth and Dolores Saunders, $6,500. George Ginter, house at 1011 Ann St.

to Richard Yoklm, $4,540. JEFFERSON DeBaldo Construction Co. property on Andrew Drive to Edward E. and Elizabeth A. Guballa, $22,500.

Valerie J. and William J. Rothbauer, house at 515 Gill Hall Road to Michael A. and Elaine G. Buckisco, $112,000.

Patrick J. and Beth S. Kelly, house at 121 MacArthur Road to Paige Compliment, $68,000. Robert G. Hamrock et property on Oakwood Drive to Richard J.

and Lisa E. Buell, S23.900. Gary E. and Sheila S. Staats, property on Orchard Court to Thomas and Debra McDonnell, $36,500.

MT. LEBANON Soleyman and Gloria T. Forouzan, house at 239 Adeline St. to Brett S. and Jennifer M.

Millar, $81,300. Estate of Helen M. Froelich, house at 301 Ashland Ave. to Fred M. and Cynthia A.

Soberg, $70,000. L.A. Vezdel, building at 129 Bay wood Ave. to Timothy J. Cassioli, $35,725.

Michael J. and Janice B. Thomas, house at 146 Baywood Ave. to Eileen Semple, $71,000. Bower Hill at Mt.

Lebanon unit at 1150 Bower Hill Road to Margaret S. Ingold et no affidavit although state deed transfer stamps Indicate a price of $44,525. Bower Hill at Mt. Lebanon unit at 1150 Bower Hill Road to Rochelle et $1 affidavit, although state.