Shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 21, an 18-year-old Mattydale man was walking in the west-bound lane of Second Street in the village, near the 400 block. The teenager, Conner Vittore, was struck by a west-bound 2003 Cadillac Deville driven by 70-year-old Dean Cubic of Liverpool.
Vittore’s injuries were serious. NOVA ambulance transported him to Upstate University Hospital where he died from the next day.
His obituary describes Conner as a skateboarder, a budding poet and a graffiti artist.
No tickets were issued, and the collision remains under investigation by the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, according to Det. Jon Seeber.
Meanwhile, villagers are asking questions.
Why was the teenager walking in the street instead of the sidewalk?
Why wasn’t he walking in the east-bound lane so that he could see traffic approaching him?
What was he doing here at such an early-morning hour? The site of the accident is just a few blocks from the village business district where a few establishments remain open until 2 a.m.
And where was he going? Second Street, also known as Route 370, would not take him anywhere close to Mattydale.
While the questions linger, we anxiously await the answers.
Contributions accepted
Conner Vittore’s funeral took place Saturday, Aug. 29, at Assumption Church on North Salina Street, and his burial was private. Besides his parents, he’s survived by five brothers and sisters.
Contributions may be made to Conner’s family in care of his uncle, Joshua Hollenbeck, 308 Park St., Fulton, NY 13069, or at gofundme.com/sq2g4hg.
Another honor for hurler
Former major-league pitcher Scott Cassidy, a 1993 Liverpool High School grad, is being inducted into the Le Moyne College Gold Wave Hall of Fame during homecoming weekend on Sept. 26. In 2011, Scott was inducted into the Liverpool High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
In his three years as a starter for the Le Moyne Dolphins, Scott notched 14 wins and three 18 complete games. He went on to play in The Show with the Toronto Blue Jays, the Boston Red Sox and the San Diego Padres. Cassidy’s now in his fifth year as the head coach of the Le Moyne baseball program.
For information about the Sept. 26 induction ceremony, call the Le Moyne Athletic Department at 445-4450.
‘Love Stinks!’
Many married couples pick on each other as they fight an endless, but friendly, battle of the sexes. For the most part, they do it in private. But some do it public.
Two of Baldwinsville’s best thespians, husband-and-wife Josh and Korrie Taylor, will poke fun at their own relationship on stage this Friday in DeWitt. Korrie grew up in Liverpool when she was known as Korrie Strodel.
The Taylors call their cabaret show “Maybe You’re Not the Worst Thing Ever,” which gives you an idea of their tongue-in-cheek take on marriage. Among the songs they’ll sing is “Love Stinks,” the J. Geils Band classic that became part of the soundtrack to Adam Sandler’s 1998 movie, “The Wedding Singer.”
The Taylors’ cabaret will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, at the CNY Playhouse at Shoppingtown Mall, near the Macy’s entrance; 885-8960; cnyplayhouse.com. Tickets cost $10 in advance and $12 at the door.
Stott feeling lonely?
Assembly hopeful Dave Stott must be feeling abandoned.
Two prominent Liverpool-area Democrats are supporting Syracuse City Councilor Pam Hunter for the Assembly seat recently vacated by Sam Roberts. Mark Spadafore, a political organizer for 1199 SEIU and Liverpool resident, is supporting Hunter, as is Patrick Foster, the Democratic Party chairman in the town of Salina, where Stott resides.
Stott, a former Onondaga County legislator, is running against Hunter and another city councilor, Jean Kessner, in the Sept. 10 Democratic primary. Whoever wins will face Republican John Sharon in November.
The columnist can be contacted at [email protected].
