Good morning, Schenectady.

The Schenectady Foundation is rolling out an update to its food action plan today after investing $4.5 million in programs to help about 20,000 county residents who rely on SNAP, aiming to improve access to healthy, affordable food for people without reliable transportation.

The Chamber of Schenectady County honored local businesses and individuals for their community contributions at an awards event (this week), recognizing finalists in categories like small business and nonprofit leadership.

SUNY is waiving application fees through Nov.

2 so New Yorkers can apply to up to five campuses for free on the SUNY site or the Common App. Chancellor John B. King urged students to file the FAFSA to see if they qualify for federal student aid.

Crews battled a wildfire that began Sunday in the Town of Berlin and spread into northwestern Massachusetts, burning about 198 acres and reaching 50% containment Monday evening; firefighters from New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont used two New York helicopters and long hikes to reach the remote blaze (officials asked the public to avoid the Taconic Crest Trail).

Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara has introduced a bill that would require banks to sell foreclosed homes within six months or put them up for public auction to get vacant properties back on the market, and the measure may be added to a larger housing package in Albany.

The state Department of Labor will take its online and phone unemployment system offline starting Monday, Nov.

2 at 5 p.m. for a nine to 12 day upgrade to the new Unemployment Services platform (claimants cannot file or certify during the shutdown), so file or certify before the cutoff.