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Michael Jackson reportedly told a staffer at a store in the Luxor that he was thinking of buying a house in Las Vegas.
Associated Press File Photo
| Monday, August 26, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal COLUMN: Norm! Slot winnings send message to couple at tribute to 9-11 victims
Was it luck or something else? Lisa and Sal Pipitone of New York City were visiting Las Vegas over the weekend as guests at a ceremony honoring her brother, a 9-11 victim at the World Trade Center. As the Pipitones walked past a row of red, white and blue all-7 slot machines at Green Valley Ranch on Friday, Lisa, who was born on July 7, later told friends she felt strong vibes to play the slots. Her brother, Don DiFranco, was among six New York TV transmitter engineers who died when the twin towers collapsed. The Pipitones were among 17 family members who were guests Saturday at the Nevada Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame dinner, which included a tribute to the engineers. Lisa, in retelling her story, said she knew what machine she wanted to try, but the next seat over was taken, so she decided to return when she and her husband could sit side by side. They came back later, found her machine, and the two started playing. Almost simultaneously, they hit jackpots. They took their winnings to the cashier cage and were stunned when a cashier told them they had just won a total of $911. "Lisa believes absolutely that it was a sign from her brother,'' said Bob Fisher, president and CEO of the Nevada Broadcasters Association. A to-die-for gift Michael Jackson, it seems, can't get enough of Las Vegas. Museums, magic shows and rare animals. He's spending so much time here with his kids that you'd swear he was house hunting. Maybe he is. Jackson, who was in town again this weekend, still has 'em buzzing at the Luxor resort and casino from an earlier visit. Seems M.J. made another one of his late-night museum requests. One of his handler's called and asked if Jackson could get a 1:30 a.m. tour of the Luxor's King Tut museum. When he finished his tour, he noticed a locked high-end retail store and asked to see that, too. While touring the store, which features expensive Egyptian re-creations of artifacts, he saw something he had to have. A week later, he returned and bought a $27,000 sarcophagus, an exact replica of the gold-plated burial casket that was found in King Tut's tomb. During the purchase, according to an Eye Spy, Jackson told a staffer in the retail store that he was thinking of buying a house in Las Vegas. It was staged Cupid scored again in the City of Romance. Near the end of the Scintas show at The Rio on Saturday night, Frankie Scinta went into the audience and stopped at a table where talk show host Alan Stock of KXNT-radio, AM 840 was seated with friends. After introducing Stock to the crowd, Scinta asked, "Who's with you tonight?" and put the microphone in the face of Cheryn Bialkin, 27. Then, it was her boyfriend's turn. Michael Serenco, 29, took the mike and turned to Bialkin and asked, "Cheryn, will you marry me?'' "Always and forever," Bialkin replied, to a roar of applause. Alan and his wife, Rhoda, met Bialkin's parents, Leslie and Neil Bialkin of Summerlin, two years ago and discovered they were married on the same day and at the same hour on Sept. 1,1968 -- the Stocks in Long Beach and the Bialkins in New York City. Sightings Mike Tyson, in a white suit, fitting in perfectly in the all-white environs of the Palms ghostbar Saturday night. ... Michael Jackson, at Wayne Newton's show (Stardust). ... Elvira, at "Bottom's Up" (Flamingo) on Friday to see old pal Breck Wall. ... Former Miss USA Ali Landry (the Doritos Girl), Friday in ghostbar and Rain, the Palms dance venue. Also on Friday, male model Tyson Beckford. ... Petri Hawkins Byrd, who plays the bailiff for Judge Judy, taking in the Groove Factory at the House of Blues (Mandalay Bay) Saturday night with Trejo, morning deejay at KFMS-radio, FM 101.9. The two were co-hosts of a radio show in Sacramento, Calif. The Punch Line "She speaks five languages and can't act in any of them." -- John Gielgud, referring to Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.
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