Week in Review

Families Raise $15,000 at "Forever" Walk
More than 200 people attended Angel Names Association's (ANA) annual Memorial Walk at the Saratoga Spa State Park. Attendees raised more than $15,000 to help bereaved families across the country. Jovanni Mosca, the youngest fundraiser at just 7 and-a-half years old, raised $400 for the organization via his own online fundraising page. ANA was founded in memory of his brother, Nicholas, and Jovanni's goal was "to raise money to help other families whose babies die."
Memorial Walk sponsors (the Adirondack Trust Company, Ashley Rosenbrock Photography, Balet Flowers & Design, Corinth Merchants Association, Freihofer's, GA Bove Fuels, the Kaelan Fund, and Michael and Linda Toohey) helped to ensure the walk's success.

Saratoga Springs Police Attempt to Locate Laken Smith
The Saratoga Springs Police Department is presently attempting to locate a 17 year-old female by the name of Laken Smith. Laken was last seen in the Saratoga Springs area on the morning of October 30th, 2009 as she entered the school bus near her house. Since her disappearance Laken has had minimal phone contact with family members but has not revealed her location. She is  5'6, 150 pounds; she has black hair and hazel eyes. Smith has friends and family in the Glens Falls, Saratoga and Lake George area. Police do not believe she is in any danger but are asking for assistance in locating her. If anyone has contact with her or knows where she might be, please contact the Saratoga Springs Police Dept., 584-1800. 

Saratoga County
Hiring Freeze
At a budget hearing on Monday, November 9, the Saratoga County law and finance committee voted to deny a request to create 11 new County jobs and increase pay for seven current positions. In total, the new jobs and changes to current jobs requested by a handful of Departments would have cost the County $586,484. These requests were denied as part of the "no layoffs, no tax increases" initiative for battling the County's budget deficit.
Search Continues
After skull and jaw fragments were uncovered on October 26, and  identified as the remains of Jennifer Hammond, Saratoga County police are still working to connect the 18 year-old girl to the cause of her death. Police are currently treating the case as a homicide; however, Hammond's death remains a question mark until further evidence is located. Officials returned to the scene on Wednesday, November 11; however, no updates have been reported. Anyone with information regarding Jennifer Hammond should contact the Saratoga   County Police Department.

Tortured Dog Found in Providence Woods
 On Wednesday, November 11 a group of Saratoga County hunters found Daisy, a four-year-old beagle, bound with duct tape and wrapped in a garbage bag in the woods off of Drager Road in Providence. Although she survived, Daisy suffered ear injuries and severe weight loss. Police are still looking for the person responsible for the act of animal cruelty.