Good morning, Schenectady.

A late-night fire on August 17 severely damaged a two-story bungalow on Baker Ave in Niskayuna, leaving it unlivable as firefighters contained heavy flames within 45 minutes — residents escaped without injury though a cat died and neighboring homes were lightly damaged while investigators review the cause.

Namere Thompson, 33, pleaded guilty to arson in the second degree for deliberately setting fires in his multi-family apartment building on University Place on January 23—residents evacuated safely and he will be sentenced on October 15 with a potential 7-year prison term.

Schenectady County is hosting a series of summer events, including the Savor Schenectady dining pass—offering secret menu items and a chance to win a $50 gift card—and the Art of the Brick exhibit, which is open until the end of October.

In the fall, Rockin the Dome will begin Saturday, August 23, while the Autumn Glow Festival will run from September 4 to November 2 and several festivals plus a concert at Mohawk Harbor will take place on September 6.

The Schalmont Central School District reopened Woestina Elementary for a new pre-kindergarten program when community members toured updated classrooms, the library, and a gym on Monday night—its first open house in over a decade—while the school now has three classrooms for 54 students and plans to expand before classes begin on September 10.

High school students take the digital SAT on a laptop or tablet, which shortens the exam to just over two hours and adjusts question difficulty based on their performance.

Prep Expert advises using scratch paper — to write out math and reading answers — so that students can think clearly during the test.

Schenectady and Niskayuna are under a voluntary water conservation advisory after a water main broke Monday morning behind an apartment complex in Rotterdam.

Crews will work on repairs—expected to take 48 hours—as officials assure residents that water quality is not compromised while urging reduced non-essential water use.