Film Focus on New London, Football, Travel Woes, and Will Government Shut Down?

1. Dire predictions of the possibility of a major storm hitting us right about now seem to have blown over. The forecast for this week promises to be as lovely as last week was, with www.weather.com predicting temperatures in the mid- to high-70s and overnight lows in the mid- to high-50s. 

Monday will be on the cooler side, with a high of 69 degrees and an overnight low of 52 degrees. There's also a 20 percent chance of rain today, although it should sunny and dry from Tuesday until Thursday, when there's a 10 percent chance of rain. 

2. This week's commute is going to be as messy as last week's if you're heading to and from New York. Metro North is running at half capacity during peak morning times starting Monday, and that could continue over the next few days. Rail riders are being advised to drive instead, which is adding to what is pretty awful traffic on I-95 through New Haven and Fairfield County at the best of times.

3. Meetings This Week in New London

• Monday, Sept. 30: Education Parks & Recreation Committee meets at 5:30 p.m.; Finance Committee meets at 6:30 p.m., both meetings will be held in Council Chambers.
• Tuesday, Oct. 1: Police Community Relations Committee meets at 6:30 p.m. at Riozzi Court.
• Thursday, Oct. 3: Planning & Zoning Commission meets at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers.

4. New London will be featured on camera in a variety of ways this week. The fifth annual Whaling City Film Project, a filmmaking competition based in New London and sponsored by Neff Productions in association with SECT Film, and the New London Film Commission, gets underway on October 4.  

CPTV-Sports will also be focusing on New London this week with live coverage of the New London vs. Ledyard Football game at the High School on Friday at 6:30 p.m., with a special half-time feature on Mr. G's restaurant.

Don't forget this week's big football game at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, when the Coast Guard Bears face Western New England University on October 5. During this special "Celebrate New London" event, New London students will be recognized and all New London School District students and their families are invited to attend free of charge!

5. The State Legislature's task force on victim privacy will hold its first public hearing in Hartford on Tuesday. The goal of the group is to gather information and recommend ways to protect information relating to victims and their families when sharing it with the media and public.

Will the Federal government shutdown on October 1? That's the threat and it could result in furloughs for 800,000 federal government employees. Here's what else it would affect.