BALLSTON SPA — “Your happiness is now taken away from you, like my happiness was taken from me. But I have no fear of you anymore. We are moving in different directions.”

The words of the 9-year survivor of a kidnapping and assault that occurred last fall echoed across a packed Saratoga County courtroom April 17, after the reading of her victim impact statement. 

Craig N. Ross Jr., the 47-year-old man who abducted the girl, was sentenced to serve 47 years-to-life in state prison, after pleading to kidnapping in the first-degree, and predatory sexual assault against a child.

Offered the opportunity to express remorse in front of the girl’s family, Ross declined to do so. 

The girl was with her family and enjoying a bike ride in Moreau Lake State Park when Ross approached and asked her to help him find something in his truck.

“What began as an idyllic day on September 30, 2023 turned into a living nightmare,” Saratoga County Judge James A. Murphy III told the packed courtroom where about 100 people wedged into eight long pew-like rows – more than one dozen uniformed members of law enforcement and Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen, among them. 

Once in reach, Ross snatched the girl, taking off with her in his truck and confining her in the kitchen cabinet of his camper after he reached his destination in Milton. 

“Ross began a pattern of sexual, emotional and physical abuse so horrific that this court dare not speak of the details,” Judge Murphy said.

“Because of you I can’t sleep at night. Why did you do what you did?” reads the girl’s victim impact statement. “It bothered me that you took advantage of me being nice.”

Ross was arrested Oct. 2, following the issue of an AMBER alert, and the discovery of a ransom note left in the family mailbox of the abducted girl’s home. Fingerprints on the letter were entered into the New York State database and a match was made involving a DWI in 1999 in Saratoga Springs. 

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The subsequent investigation led authorities to the camper in Milton where the girl was located by state police, and Ross taken into custody. 

“This case drew national and international attention because quite simply it shocks the conscience,” Judge Murphy said, while announcing the 47-year sentence based on the two felony charges. 

The girl’s mother read her own statement inside the courtroom. “There will never be a sentence that will be sufficient for what you did to my daughter,” she said, her voice cracked with emotion, her hands tensely turning over a tissue in her hands. 

“I don’t understand why people like you do the things you do,” the mother continued. “You took something from my daughter that cannot be replaced. And I don’t forgive you for that. You don’t deserve forgiveness.”

Ross, wearing a green flannel shirt and shackles that wrapped around his torso, stared at a fixed spot in the distance where a vacant table stood, visually expressing no emotion and saying little. 

“You probably hope that this will affect me the rest of my life,” reads the girl’s statement. “I was in prison for 2-1/2 days and now you will be in prison for 47 years. You will crumble and I will be standing tall.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS – A collaborative effort between the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation and the recent purchaser of an Excelsior Avenue property is being hailed as a success in preserving the city’s landscaped heritage. 

Located at 182 Excelsior Ave., the property was sold by Louisiana Management, LLC – which acquired the 2.5-acre parcel in 2004, to Excelsior Ave Property Owner LLC for $1.35 million on March 20, according to Saratoga County Land Records. 

The LLC that acquired the property is associated with brothers Brian and Gregory Green, whose initial plans called for wholesale demolition of the historic buildings on the site. 

Upon learning about the plans for demolition and subsequent research of the property, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation reported it learned of the significance of the 1869 Henry Lawrence House beyond its Gothic Revival architecture. After sharing this information with the new owners, they began to re-evaluate development plans to see if it was possible to retain the structures as part of their plan to construct apartments, according to the Foundation. 

“Many developers would have held forth on their original plans or walked away from the project – Brian did not.  He was willing to work on a creative solution that allowed for the development of apartments and the preservation of the buildings,” Samantha Bosshart, Executive Director of the Foundation said, in a statement. 

Henry Haydock Lawrence acquired the Valley of Ten Springs, land that extended from what today is Loughberry Lake to Lake Avenue, in 1829. By 1858, Lawrence’s son, also named Henry, retubed and bottled the waters from Excelsior Spring and was selling them worldwide. In 1869, he built the distinctive Gothic Revival residence at the corner of Excelsior Avenue and Excelsior 

Through a series of meetings, a tentative agreement was made to would allow for key elements to be preserved. It required a reduction in the number of apartments built, significant changes to the site plan, and the subdivision of the property to allow the historic buildings to be made into six condos to make the project financially feasible, to ultimately move the project forward. 

 “We at Green Springs Capital are tremendously excited to begin construction on the new 182 Excelsior Avenue,” Brian Green said in a statement. 

“It has been quite a journey the past two years as our team has worked diligently to carefully design a development that will provide homes with exceptional quality while ensuring we honor Saratoga’s storied history. The process was not without its challenges, but in the end, we believe the project will be a huge success,” Green said. “The Lawrence House will be fully restored with six new condominiums and the newly constructed apartments will be home for 36 families. We are very grateful for this opportunity and look forward to making this vision a reality.”

The Foundation added that it believes the final agreement and Planning Board approval will result in the long-term preservation of the 1869 Henry Lawrence House and its carriage house for generations to come. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS – A collaborative effort between the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation and the recent purchaser of an Excelsior Avenue property is being hailed as a success in preserving the city’s landscaped heritage. 

Located at 182 Excelsior Ave., the property was sold by Louisiana Management, LLC – which acquired the 2.5-acre parcel in 2004, to Excelsior Ave Property Owner LLC for $1.35 million on March 20, according to Saratoga County Land Records. 

The LLC that acquired the property is associated with brothers Brian and Gregory Green, whose initial plans called for wholesale demolition of the historic buildings on the site. 

Upon learning about the plans for demolition and subsequent research of the property, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation reported it learned of the significance of the 1869 Henry Lawrence House beyond its Gothic Revival architecture. After sharing this information with the new owners, they began to re-evaluate development plans to see if it was possible to retain the structures as part of their plan to construct apartments, according to the Foundation. 

“Many developers would have held forth on their original plans or walked away from the project – Brian did not.  He was willing to work on a creative solution that allowed for the development of apartments and the preservation of the buildings,” Samantha Bosshart, Executive Director of the Foundation said, in a statement. 

Henry Haydock Lawrence acquired the Valley of Ten Springs, land that extended from what today is Loughberry Lake to Lake Avenue, in 1829. By 1858, Lawrence’s son, also named Henry, retubed and bottled the waters from Excelsior Spring and was selling them worldwide. In 1869, he built the distinctive Gothic Revival residence at the corner of Excelsior Avenue and Excelsior 

Through a series of meetings, a tentative agreement was made to would allow for key elements to be preserved. It required a reduction in the number of apartments built, significant changes to the site plan, and the subdivision of the property to allow the historic buildings to be made into six condos to make the project financially feasible, to ultimately move the project forward. 

“We at Green Springs Capital are tremendously excited to begin construction on the new 182 Excelsior Avenue,” Brian Green said in a statement. 

“It has been quite a journey the past two years as our team has worked diligently to carefully design a development that will provide homes with exceptional quality while ensuring we honor Saratoga’s storied history. The process was not without its challenges, but in the end, we believe the project will be a huge success,” Green said. “The Lawrence House will be fully restored with six new condominiums and the newly constructed apartments will be home for 36 families. We are very grateful for this opportunity and look forward to making this vision a reality.”

The Foundation added that it believes the final agreement and Planning Board approval will result in the long-term preservation of the 1869 Henry Lawrence House and its carriage house for generations to come. 

ALBANY — The New York State Police announced the opening of applications for the New York State Trooper Entrance Examination. Prospective candidates are encouraged to submit their applications and register for the exam at Become a Trooper.

The recruitment initiative is designed to attract qualified individuals to its ranks. Applications for the Trooper Entrance Examination are accepted until June 3, 2024. The final opportunity to take the Entrance Examination during this campaign will be June 10, 2024.

This year, the exam will be accessible at 60 authorized Pearson VUE testing centers located throughout New York State, extending to 390 locations across the United States, as well as at 101 designated military sites globally. This arrangement ensures applicants have the flexibility to select a convenient time and location for their examination. The computer-based examination allows for a convenient and accessible testing process for anyone interested in becoming a Trooper.

The New York State Police Academy is located in Albany, along with a second facility in Cazenovia. 

Candidates who successfully pass the entrance examination may be afforded the opportunity to proceed to the Physical Ability Testing phase of processing.  This testing will take place at three regional locations, with additional sites being considered to accommodate future examination cycles.

The New York State Police are dedicated to fostering a diverse workforce and is a proud participant of the “30×30 Initiative,” aiming to increase female recruitment to 30 percent by 2030. 

A career with the New York State Police offers significant opportunities for advancement and professional development, with specialized units such as Aviation, Canine, Underwater Recovery Team, Special Operations Response Team, and Bureau of Criminal Investigation, among others. 

Detailed information and the application portal for the Entrance Examination are available at https://joinstatepolice.ny.gov/.  A comprehensive study guide to aid in exam preparation is also available through the website https://joinstatepolice.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2022/10/study-guide-practice-test-for-the-nysp-trooper-examination-updated-for-pv-testing.pdf .

Minimum Qualifications for the Examination: Citizenship: Must be a U.S. Citizen; Must be at least 20 years old and not have reached your 35th birthday at the time of application; The maximum age may be extended one year for each year of full-time active military duty – up to a maximum of 7 years. Education: A high school diploma or equivalent is required.

Starting salary for Academy appointees is $59,612. After one year of service, the minimum compensation rises to $98,300. Full health benefits and a retirement plan.

Applicants are invited to speak with a New York State Police Recruiter for further information by contacting recruit@troopers.ny.gov or dialing 518-485-0855.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Approximately one in four children experience child abuse or neglect in their lifetime, and of maltreated children 18% are abused physically, 78% are neglected, and 9% are abused sexually, according to a May 2023 report from the National Library of Medicine titled “Child Physical Abuse and Neglect.” 

The fatality rate for child maltreatment is the second leading cause of death in children under the age of 1.

Children tend to feel ashamed, almost like the abuse was their fault, and that is why many don’t tell on their abuser,” Rebecca Baldwin, Executive Director of Saratoga Center for the Family, said in a statement. 

Last year, Saratoga Center for the Family’s Harriet M. West Child Advocacy Center (or CAC) provided 275 forensic interviews to children and their families. “Forensic interviews are conducted at our CAC, which is the first step in an abuse investigation. We have specially trained interviewers speak with the child about the abuse.” “Nurses, law enforcement, social workers, a victim advocate, and mental health therapists are all gathered in one location, making the child(ren) and family as comfortable as possible. Once the child is seen, he or she will be a top priority for mental health therapy,” Baldwin said.

On Tuesday, April 23, the Center will host a Brooks Barbecue Drive-Through at 359 Ballston Ave., Saratoga Springs. The event will take place 3-6 p.m. and guests are encouraged to purchase their tickets early to avoid the dinners being sold out. Tickets can be purchased online at www.saratogacff.org/events or by calling 518-587-8008 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

All proceeds will benefit the children and families served by Saratoga Center for the Family and the Harriet M. West Child Advocacy Center.

For more information on Saratoga Center for the Family and their services, visit www.saratogacff.org. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Approximately one in four children experience child abuse or neglect in their lifetime, and of maltreated children 18% are abused physically, 78% are neglected, and 9% are abused sexually, according to a May 2023 report from the National Library of Medicine titled “Child Physical Abuse and Neglect.” 

The fatality rate for child maltreatment is the second leading cause of death in children under the age of 1.

Children tend to feel ashamed, almost like the abuse was their fault, and that is why many don’t tell on their abuser,” Rebecca Baldwin, Executive Director of Saratoga Center for the Family, said in a statement. 

Last year, Saratoga Center for the Family’s Harriet M. West Child Advocacy Center (or CAC) provided 275 forensic interviews to children and their families. “Forensic interviews are conducted at our CAC, which is the first step in an abuse investigation. We have specially trained interviewers speak with the child about the abuse.” “Nurses, law enforcement, social workers, a victim advocate, and mental health therapists are all gathered in one location, making the child(ren) and family as comfortable as possible. Once the child is seen, he or she will be a top priority for mental health therapy,” Baldwin said.

On Tuesday, April 23, the Center will host a Brooks Barbecue Drive-Through at 359 Ballston Ave., Saratoga Springs. The event will take place 3-6 p.m. and guests are encouraged to purchase their tickets early to avoid the dinners being sold out. Tickets can be purchased online at www.saratogacff.org/events or by calling 518-587-8008 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

All proceeds will benefit the children and families served by Saratoga Center for the Family and the Harriet M. West Child Advocacy Center.

For more information on Saratoga Center for the Family and their services, visit www.saratogacff.org. 

Wilton —­ A new 125,000-square-foot medical center and a 130-unit apartment and commercial development are under consideration on Maple Avenue/Route 9 in Wilton. 

The medical center would be sited at 612 Maple Ave. on property featuring 13.66 acres. The proposed two-story building would house multiple medical and surgical practices with a total floorspace of 120,000 square feet – 60,000 square feet per floor. 

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The mixed-use development would stand at 631 Maple Ave. on 15.78 acres and include 17,800 square feet of commercial/retail space and 136 apartment units, according to documents submitted to the town of Wilton Planning Board. 

The project is awaiting final approval from the Wilton Planning Board in the next few months, after a public comment period and final traffic reports, according to a published report by Chelsea Diana, of the Albany Business Review. 

The Wilton Planning Board next meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 17 at the Wilton Town Hall, 22 Traver Road. 

WILTON — A man of many talents, it is his passion as an avid mountain climber for which Wilton resident Ray O’Conor will be featured in a documentary that will broadcastWednesday, April 24.

The film – “An Above Average Day” – tells the story of Ray O’Conor and Joe Murphy, two hikers who after a chance meeting forged a close and lasting friendship that has inspired them on a series of wilderness adventures. 

“My good buddy Joe and I have done a lot of hiking and climbing over the last 15 years. We hiked more than 400 different mountains, most of them together and more than 5,000 miles of trail,” told Saratoga TODAY as the film was nearing its completion last year. 

O’Conor was contacted several years ago by Veda Films company co-founder Katera Kapoor who told him she’d been following O’Conor’s adventures with his buddy and was interested in putting a documentary film together.  Katera and her husband Aviral subsequently began following O’Conor and Murphy on their hiking journeys capturing footage and conducting interviews. 

The film celebrated its debut screening last year at Saratoga Arts Center and on Wednesday, April 24 will be streamed into homes. The broadcast debut will take place at 5:30 p.m. on WMHT/ PBS. 

“If you had told me five years ago that the founders of Veda Films, Katera Noviello-Kapoor and Aviral Kapoor, would produce and direct a film in which my buddy Joe and I would co-star and that it would be broadcast on WMHT / PBS… I wouldn’t have believed it,” O’Conor said. 

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“There are two sides to the story,” O’Conor explained. “One is the adventure side about hiking and mountain climbing. The other is about the relationship between Joe and I,” said O’Conor, whose lengthy  resume includes work as a financial consultant with a Wall Street investment firm,  a United States Border Patrol Agent and a Special Agent with the U.S. Department of Defense, local bank CEO, Wilton Town Councilmember, and author of the book ‘She Called Him Raymond.’

“One of the focal points is the relationship between these two guys who met by chance and spent a lot of time together over the past 15 years on mountains and on trails.”

O’Conor’s fondness for hiking was born during an early morning climb in the late 1980s at the urging of Roy McDonald when O’Conor decided to run for the town board in Wilton, and McDonald – who later would be elected to the state assembly and senate – was town supervisor. 

Since that time he has climbed the 46 high peaks of the Adirondacks, the 32 mountains between the Catskills and the Adirondacks that have fire towers on them, and journeyed to the Lake George 12ster, the Saranac Lake 6er and the Northeast 11, while working his way through the 50 highest points and peaks in the country all across the United States. 

The rewards are many. “It’s as good for the mind and the soul as it is for the body,” O’Conor said. “There’s something special about being out in the wilderness. The Japanese have a term they call it: Forest Bathing. Being out in the woods, on the trail, in isolation. Getting away from all the world’s troubles is magical.

“An Above Average Day,” a Veda Films documentary, will broadcast on WMHT/PBS at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24.