Five Things To Know Today, Nov. 1

1.  Today is Tuesday, Nov. 1.  The National Weather Service forecasts mostly cloudy skies, with a high temperature of 53 degrees and a low of 41 tonight.

2.  The Town Council meets at 7:30 p.m. today in the Town Hall Annex, and is expected to vote on whether to schedule public information hearings on a proposed blight ordinance. The plan is to hold hearings to educate residents about the proposal and determine if there's public support for it. In general terms, the ordinance would define blight as unsafe, unsanitary or dilapidated buildings such as those damaged by fire or flooding, and properties strewn with garbage or infested with rodents.

3.  The first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Nov. 9 and will be aired over radio, television and cable simultaneously. The alert was set up to give the President a way to speak to the public in an emergency, and is different from local emergency tests in that it's longer and broadcast over many media at once. The test will last up to three and a half minutes.

4.  Authors will get one minute to promote their books at an event called "Pitchapalooza" from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Nov. 5 at Groton Public Library. At the event, 20 writers will be chosen randomly, then given one-minute to pitch their books to a panel of judges. The panel includes best selling author Dawn Tripp, whose novel won the Massachusetts Book Award for fiction. The winner of Pitchapalooza will be introduced to an agent or publisher. To register for the event, call Groton Public library at (860) 441-6750. A pan

5.  The Noank-Mystic Community Band and Waterford Community Band will offer a free fall concert at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Groton Municipal Building. Adam Williamson and Jay Wilson will be conductors.