Good morning, Schenectady.

Chefs will compete today at the Wing Walk in downtown Schenectady—top cooks will create wing flavors to win awards for Best Sauce, Most Creative Flavor, and Overall Favorite.

The event will offer local fans a fun food experience that showcases creative recipes.

Union’s professor Elena McGrath has become a favorite teacher since fall 2020 as she teaches Latin American history and studies local revolutions—she will serve as assistant dean and New York Six Mellon Fellow from 2025 to 2028 while studying community history and leading local groups.

D. Catherine Walker was inducted into the Eating Disorder Research Society and presented three research posters with students and alumni, earning recognition for her leadership—Andrew Burkett delivered a talk on John Constable’s landscape paintings in Germany and had his article published, while Deidre Hill Butler presented research on Black women’s leadership at a national conference. Jennifer Fredricks also shared her teaching methods in a blog post.

Union College reconfigured its Modern Languages and Literatures department to create a separate Spanish and Hispanic Studies Department this fall — the change was announced on April 28 following discussions and an external review, and the Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Russian sections remain together.

Governor Hochul announced a temporary statewide burn ban that has been in effect since October 2 and will end on October 15 — the ban stops most outdoor fires to reduce fire risks from dry conditions while allowing small backyard fire pits and contained cooking fires.

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that social media companies must submit biannual reports on their content moderation policies under the Stop Hiding Hate Act, which went into effect October 1.

The law applies to platforms earning over $100 million and may impose fines of up to $15,000 per violation per day—ensuring greater transparency on handling hate speech and misinformation.

Schenectady County will adopt a $460.6 million budget that does not raise property taxes for 2026—continuing its trend of no tax increase.

Rotterdam-Princetown Fire District No. 5 received an $821,192 FEMA grant through the SAFER program to boost its recruitment efforts.

The funding will help the district hire more staff—improving its ability to respond to emergencies.

Union’s new hockey arena at M&T Bank Center hosted its debut women’s game on September 26 at 6:01 p.m., introducing upgraded food, seating, transportation and security features that raised ticket and concession prices compared to Messa Rink.

Fans were advised to arrive early—using shuttle buses for better parking access—while students benefit from free entry and a dedicated seating section.

Bills vs Patriots Tailgate

5-8 p.m. — Centre Street Pub — Free entry — Gather for food, drinks, and football camaraderie before the big game.

Tom Rush Concert

7:30-11:30 p.m. — GE Theatre at Proctors — Tickets from $95 — Experience an unforgettable night with legendary performer Tom Rush.

The Thorn

7-8:30 p.m. — Proctors Theatre — Tickets start at $159 — Experience an unforgettable performance at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady.

Saratoga Fall Festival

12-3 p.m. — Jacob & Anthony's American Grille — Free entry — Experience the ultimate fall street festival with music, games, food, and seasonal fun.