'BRIER HILL, U.S.A.' | A review Back to the old neighborhood

The author is involved with the annual Brier Hill reunion festival.
By GUY D'ASTOLFO
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
"Brier Hill, U.S.A." by By Tony Trolio (Ciao Promotions, $16.95).
Tony Trolio knows Brier Hill was the best place in the country to grow up, and he wants everyone else to know it, too. Trolio, who runs a custom T-shirt business in Poland, shares the history of the Youngstown neighborhood once known as "Little Italy" in a warm and conversational style.
"I've always wondered why nobody before me had undertaken the task of writing a book on Brier Hill," said Trolio.
Memories: Brier Hill was home to thousands of first- and second-generation Italians in the first part of the last century, when the steel mills were going at full steam, and the city had many vibrant ethnic neighborhoods.
The neighborhood has fallen on hard times in recent decades, and few of the original families still live on the Hill. But the flavor of the place lives on in the memories of those who grew up there -- as well as in the pizza of the same name.
Trolio claims to have coined the term "Brier Hill pizza" about the pepper-laden delicacy that is still produced by the good women (and men) of St. Anthony's Church on the Hill, as well as numerous restaurants in the area.
Youth: In the 176-page book, which is peppered with photographs, Trolio recalls his rough and tumble youth with fondness. He, his brothers and some of the streetwise hustlers that were his good-hearted friends, had a few scrapes with the law -- and with some mobsters -- but came through it smiling.
The author includes chapters on the neighborhood's churches and on some favorite sons who made it big in entertainment and politics. In the final chapter, other former residents of the Hill share their reminiscences.
Trolio was assisted in writing the book by Michael N. Varveris, a former area newspaper editor, who wrote "Rocky Marciano, The 13th Candle," about the former heavyweight boxing champion.
The author: Trolio, who owned a car at age 12, and married at age 19, never finished high school, but found success in the business world. In addition to his T-shirt business, he also promotes Italian concerts and spearheaded several regional Italian festivals. He is still involved with the annual Brier Hill Festival, which reunites former residents in the old neighborhood.
His pride in his Italian family, friends and the close-knit neighborhood come through in his series of vignettes in the book.
Trolio sums up his strong passion for the neighborhood: "Call it heritage, call it tradition, call it roots. I'm not sure what it really is. All I know is that my kids were cheated out of the wonderful piece of Italian heritage I've had -- being born and growing up Italian on Brier Hill."
In this day of impersonal suburbs and shopping malls, anyone who reads "Brier Hill, U.S.A." might also feel cheated.
X"Brier Hill, U.S.A." is available at numerous local outlets, including Italian food stores, St. Anthony Church, Plaza Book and Smoke and Twice Loved Books, or by calling (330)757-2779.