Clay auto parts clerk Steven Pieper strangled the life out of his ex-girlfriend last November before dumping her body in a marsh. Now the self-admitted murderer is an inmate at Attica Correctional Facility in Wyoming County.
On March 8, Onondaga County Judge Anthony Aloi sentenced Pieper to 23 years to life in state prison, and on March 21 the 21-year-old killer was received into the state prison system at Elmira before entering the population at the maximum-security Attica prison. He’s inmate No. 11B0825.
Jenni-Lyn Watson, a 20-year-old dance student at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa., was killed by Pieper on Nov. 19. She had been spending Thanksgiving break at her parents’ home in Clay, when Pieper arranged to meet her there alone. After initially maintaining his innocence, Pieper finally admitted to police that, after Jenni-Lyn rejected his pleas for reconciliation, he choked her to death and drove her body to a swampy section of Clay Park Central.
Pieper will become eligible for parole in 2033.
‘Crazy’ Stacey
Another town of Clay criminal, the anti-freeze killer Stacey Castor, digs the music of the rock band Buckcherry, the crude group famous for the misogynistic anthem, “Crazy Bitch.” Castor is incarcerated at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in Westchester County.
Castor, 43, is inmate No. 09G0209. She will become eligible for parole in 2055.
Big bargains
Last weekend bargain hunters descended in droves on the village in search of that special something during the semi-annual village-wide Garage Sale Weekend.
Even bigger bargains will be had this Saturday May 14, when Salvation Army Thrift Store on Route 57 hosts a super sale. Everything in the store will be 50 percent off.
The big thrift store is located at 7595 Oswego Road (Route 57), across the street from the Bayberry Plaza; 652-9978.
Lovely ‘Lullaby’
That was Syracuse Area Local Theater Award-winner Maureen “Moe” Harrington who sang the “Lullaby” at Baby Isabella’s funeral service on March 26 at St. Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Church.
Progressive prose
The Syracuse Peace Council’s monthly Peace Newsletter can be picked up for free at Freedom of Espresso, at the Cornerstone Building at the corner of First and Tulip streets. It’s always good to peruse some progressive prose while sipping a cup of dark-roasted Ethiopian Yirgacheffe.
Retreat repasts
From quiche to calamari, from prime rib to primavera, you can get anything you want at The Retreat, Liverpool’s landmark eatery at the corner of Vine and First streets.
“We’re always tweaking the menu,” said manager John Rodriguez,” but if there’s something someone wants to order that they don’t find on the menu, they should just ask us. If we’re not super busy, we’re always happy to accommodate special requests.”
For instance, John said, if a diner happens to maintain a gluten-free diet, The Retreat chefs will whip up a tasty gluten-free meal, no problem.
Kitchen hours at The Retreat are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 11 p.m. Sunday; 457-6358; retreatrestaurant.com.
Potato pig-out
They’re staging a salt potato eating contest at 2:30 p.m. Saturday May 14, at Paper Mill Island in Baldwinsville. For details, check out carpweek.com.
