Events listed here are open to the public and sponsored by nonprofit groups unless otherwise noted. Press releases may be sent to Goings on, Gloucester Daily Times, 36 Whittemore St., Gloucester, MA 01930, sent via e-mail to gdt@ecnnews.com or faxed to 978-281-5748. Please include a contact person's name and telephone number, and send at least two weeks prior to the event.

Trash stickers for seniors

The city of Gloucester trash removal stickers are sold at discounted prices, for seniors only, at the Rose Baker Senior Center. Gloucester residents ages 65 and older may purchase stickers Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Discounted stickers are limited to five per month per household. Seniors may purchase additional stickers at the regular price at other locations.

COA 'Shreddathon' program

The Council on Aging TRIAD Council's "Shreddathon" program, for those 50 and older, will be held Wednesday, Aug. 1, 10 to 11:30 a.m., at the Rose Baker Senior Center. The TRIAD Council will help seniors avoid identity theft by providing a shredder in which to shred important documents before disposing of them in the trash. Call 978-281-9765.

Legal information available for seniors

Attorney Sal Frontiero will offer free legal consultation to Gloucester seniors on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 12:30 to 2 p.m., at the Rose Baker Senior Center. There is no charge for the service. To schedule an appointment, call Claire at 978-281-9765, ext. 14.

Thursday afternoon at the movies

The Council on Aging will show free films this month at 12:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Rose Baker Senior Center. August films are: Aug. 2, "Notes on a Scandal," starring Judi Dench and Cate Blanchette. Aug. 9, "Miss Potter," starring Renee Zellweger. Aug. 16, "Catch and Release," starring Jennifer Garner. Aug. 23, "Daddy's Little Girls," starring Louis Gossett Jr.

Matz family program

The Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library will host a program titled "The Matz Family: A Gift of Art" on Wednesday, Aug. 8, at 7 p.m. Bob Matz, Susan Erony and William Treyes will discuss the informal art colony hosted by Adolph and Eva Matz in West Gloucester. A reception will follow. Admission is free. All are welcome. Call 978-281-9763.

CAMPS 2007

CAMPS (Christ As My Personal Savior), a Catholic/Christian summer camp for high school-age teens, will be held Aug. 12 to 17, at the Geneva Point Center, Moultonborough, N.H. Three hundred teens and staff members from all over New England and beyond will gather for music, talks, campfires, games, tournaments, water sports, worship and personal sharing. For details, call Al Mitchell at 978-281-0536 or e-mail damtam@mac.com. To make a donation to CAMPS, send a check payable to CAMPS Inc. to: Al Mitchell, 30 Webster St., Gloucester, MA 01930.

Moose Lodge family picnic

Cape Ann Moose Lodge 1471 will hold its annual family picnic Saturday, Aug. 11, noon to 5 p.m., at Camp Spindrift. Admission is free for members and their families, $10 for nonmembers.

Family picnic

The Doucette-Lingard Post 1624 Veterans of Foreign Wars will host a family picnic Saturday, Aug. 11, at 2 p.m. The event will include activities for children, food and refreshments. The Ryan DuPont Band will provide entertainment in the lounge at 7 p.m. Members and guests, their families and children are welcome. Admission is free.

AMVETS drawing

AMVETS Post 32 will hold its "Friends of AMVETS, 500-Club" monthly drawing Monday, July 30, 7 p.m., in the function hall, 14 Prospect St. The drawing is open to the public. Cost is $5 per number; more than $1,100 in prize money is awarded each month plus door prizes. Gift certificates are available. All profits benefit AMVETS scholarships. Call Tom Glenn at 978-283-7516 or Pete Tibbetts at 978-281-0681.

Sidewalk Bazaar

The Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the 49th annual Gloucester Sidewalk Bazaar Aug. 2, 3 and 4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Main Street will be lined with bargains from local retailers and more than 50 merchants, nonprofit organizations and food vendors. The event will feature The Hills Mills Clown Band, Hurdy Gurdy Monkey & Me, the Best Dressed Dog Show and Parade and more. For details, call 978-283-1601.

Harbor Loop concert series

The Harbor Loop concert series will present free outdoor concerts for families during the summer months. Concerts take place Thursday evenings on Harbor Loop, off Rogers Street. The series is sponsored by Gloucester's Recreation Department. Upcoming concerts are: Aug. 2, 6 to 9 p.m., Lee Hawkins Band and SugarBlues; Aug. 9, 7 to 9 p.m., Walker Creek Band; Aug. 16, 7 to 9 p.m., Mile 21; Aug. 23, 7 to 9 p.m., Generation Gap; Aug. 30, 7 to 9 p.m., Deja Vooddo and Madhouse; Sept. 6, 6 to 8 p.m., Major Nelson & the Screaming Jeannies; Sept. 13, 6 to 8 p.m., Rocketeers. The schedule is subject to change.

'The Belle of Amherst'

Gloucester Stage, 267 East Main St., presents Academy Award nominee and Gloucester resident Lindsay Crouse as Emily Dickinson in William Luce's "The Belle of Amherst," until Aug. 12. Directed by Eric C. Engel, the show is based on the writings of poet Emily Dickinson. In this one-woman, two-act play Luce uses Dickinson's work, diaries and letters to illuminate the people and events that shaped her life. Performances are at 8 p.m. Aug. 1, 3, 9 and 11; at 3 p.m. Aug. 2, 4 and 8; at 5 p.m. Aug. 5; and at 1 p.m. Aug. 12. Tickets are $35. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, a limited number of half price tickets are available for Cape Ann residents. Advance reservations and proof of residency are required. Following the 5 p.m. performance on Sunday, Aug. 5, audiences are invited to a free post-show discussion with Engel and Crouse. The theater is air-conditioned. For reservations, call 978-281-4433 or visit www.gloucesterstage.org.

Benefit concert

A concert to benefit the student mission trip to Mississippi will take place Saturday, Aug. 4, 7:30 p.m., at the Congregational Church of Lanesville, 1120 Washington St. The concert will feature the music of Jason Harrod. A free will offering will take place. For details, visit www.jasonharrod.com, or contact the church at 978-283-2345 or www.lanesvillechurch.org.

Fundraiser yard sale

A multifamily fundraiser yard sale will take place Saturday, Aug. 4, 8 a.m. to noon, at 416 Washington St. All proceeds benefit Compassionate Care ALS in memory of Patricia "Fears" Carrico. The yard sale will feature designer clothes and accessories, home furnishings, pottery, children's items and a bake sale.

Sunset cruise

The Gloucester Fraternity Club will hold its annual sunset cruise Saturday, Aug. 4, from 7 to 10 p.m. Participants will meet at Captain Bill's Whale Watch on Harbor Loop no later than 6:30 p.m. Cost is $20 and includes a buffet and musical entertainment. In case of rain, the event will take place at the club, 27 Webster St., at 7 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the Gloucester Fraternity Club. All are welcome.

Volunteers sought

The Cape Ann Farmers Market is seeking volunteers for two-hour shifts to assist with set-up, customer and vendor support, manning the information booth, customer surveys and cleanup. For details, contact Sara Young at capeannfarmersmarket@yahoo.com or 978-239-6531.

Youth camp

Holy Family Parish is offering a Song and Praise for Youth camp, for students in grades two through 12, during the week of Aug. 6 to 10. Participants will meet from 9:30 a.m. to noon at St. Anthony's Church. The program will conclude with singing at the 11 a.m. liturgy at St. Anthony's Church on Sunday, Aug. 12. For a registration form, visit www.holyfamilycapeann.org or stop by St. Ann, St. Joachim or St. Anthony churches.

Legion Auxiliary meetings

The Legion Auxiliary meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7:30 p.m. The men's group meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month.

Cell phones sought

The TRIAD Council at the Gloucester Senior Center seeks used cell phones for a program providing free 911 emergency service for seniors. Residents are encouraged to drop off phones (with chargers) at the Rose Baker Senior Center. To arrange for a pickup, call 978-281-1647.

Donations for fireworks sought

Fireworks in Gloucester depend on fundraising efforts and the Gloucester Fireworks Committee is working hard on a spectacular fireworks display for Labor Day weekend. All donations, large and small, are needed to raise the money that will allow all of us to enjoy these festive holiday celebrations. Tax-deductible donations may be sent to: The Gloucester Fund Inc./Fireworks Fund, 45 Middle St., Gloucester, MA 01930 or directly via credit card through the Web site www.thegloucesterfund.org.

Medical insurance help

For seniors and low-income residents who need help with health insurance forms or information, SHINE counselor Sefatia Romeo is at the Rose Baker Senior Center on Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Community Health Center financial counselor Fatima Calisto has office hours at the Senior Center on Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call the Council on Aging at 978-281-9765 to schedule an appointment with Romeo or Calisto.

Knitting, crocheting group

A group meets Tuesdays to knit and crochet items for veterans and other worthy causes, 10 a.m. to noon, at Rose Baker Senior Center. Donations of yarn are always accepted. New members are welcome to join. Stop in or call the Council on Aging at 978-281-9765 for more information.

Free HIV/AIDS testing

Free HIV/AIDS testing is held every Monday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Addison Gilbert Hospital, third floor. Use the Washington Street entrance. No appointment is necessary. Call Mayra Rivera at 978-853-8633.

Gig Rowers fundraiser

The Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center's adult and youth rowers program is selling raffle tickets for a painted 16-foot Gloucester Light Dory with oars. The dory, built in the GMHC boatbuilding workshop by David Brown and assistants, was designed by Phil Bolger. The dory will be raffled off Sept. 8. Unfinished boats will also be for sale for $1,250. Raffle tickets are $5 each, or five for $20. For tickets, stop by the Heritage Center or Bodin Historic Photo, 82 Main St. Tickets are also available from any member of the rowing organization. Proceeds benefit the completion of the Gannet and the purchase of a second trailer.

Homebuyer workshop

The Gloucester Housing Authority, 259 Washington St., will offer a four-night workshop for first-time homebuyers Sept. 10, 17, 24 and 25, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Local guest speakers will talk about legal issues, when to contact a realtor, what is affordable, financing, down payment grants, credit scores, foreclosure prevention, insurance and home inspections. Class size is limited. To preregister, call Kathy Erkkila at 978-281-4770, ext. 110, or stop by the office. Cost is $49 per household. There is a discount for early registration. Full attendance will earn the certificate for MassHousing and MHP loans. All course materials and light refreshments are included. Residents qualify if they have not owned a home in three years.

Cape Ann Farmers' Market

The Cape Ann Farmers' Market will be held Thursdays, 3 to 7 p.m., until Oct. 11, at Harbor Loop. The market will feature a mix of fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants, baked goods and organic products. Admission is free. For details, call Sara Young at 978-281-1222.

Bay State College open house

Bay State College, Gloucester campus, will host an informal open house every Thursday evening through the end of August, 5 to 7 p.m., in the Gloucester High School guidance office. Course catalogs, applications and financial aid information will be available. Bay State College is a private, two-year college offering accelerated associate degree programs. Classes meet Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The Gloucester campus offers programs in business administration, criminal justice and social and human services. Financial aid is available for eligible students. Admissions applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Next term begins Sept. 4. Call Karen Lovasco Rieck at 800-81-LEARN, ext. 9801 or e-mail bscgloucester@baystate.edu.

Vikings registration

The East Gloucester Vikings will hold football and cheerleading registration Aug. 3 and 10, 5 to 7 p.m.; and Aug. 4 and 11, 9 to 11 a.m., in the East Gloucester Elementary School gym. Students in grades two through eight are eligible to play. Birth certificates are required for new players. Cost is $85 per player, with a family cap of $170. For details, call Brian Salah at 978-281-0834.

Nights on the Neck

Rocky Neck Art Colony will host Nights on the Neck, an evening of gallery receptions and entertainment, Thursday, Aug. 2, at 5:30 p.m. Nights on the Neck is held on the first Thursday of every month, through October. For details, call Amanda Nash at 617-417-3777.

GHS gathering

A gathering of retired Gloucester High School staff will take place Wednesday, Oct. 3, at 5 p.m., at the Elks Club. All teachers, administrators, counselors, cafeteria staff, custodians, nursing staff and secretaries are welcome to renew acquaintances. Cost is $20 per person and includes hot hors d'oeuvres and rental of the hall. A cash bar will be available. Anyone interested in attending should notify Roger Parady at 978-283-1635, John Sperry at 978-283-9483 or Joan Waterhouse at 978-283-1570. A deadline of Sept. 15 is requested to allow time to complete preparations for the gathering.

Chargers sign-ups

The Chargers Youth Program will hold football and cheerleading sign-ups at the Scout House, Concord Street, on the following days: Aug. 3, 6 to 8 p.m.; Aug. 4, 9 a.m. to noon; Aug. 10, 6 to 8 p.m.; and Aug. 11, 9 a.m. to noon. Students in grades two through eight are eligible to play. Cost is $65 for the first child, $45 for the second, with a $120 family cap. For details, call Brenda at 978-281-3260 or Fran at 978-283-8128.

Class of 1977

The Gloucester High School Class of 1977 will celebrate its 30-year reunion Aug. 3 and 4. A harbor boat cruise aboard Capt. Bill's will depart at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3. Cost is $15 per person and includes food, beverages and music. A dinner dance will be held Saturday, Aug. 4, 7 p.m., at the Sheraton Colonial, Lynfield. Cost is $60 per person. Special discounted room rates are being offered by the hotel. To RSVP, call Kathy Sinagra Russ at 978-281-3402 or Peter Lane at 978-689-5431 by July 30.

H-Hill Tigers sign-ups

The H-Hill Tigers Organization will hold football and cheerleading sign-ups at the garage at Hampden Hill on the following days: Aug. 3, 5 to 7 p.m.; Aug 4, 9 a.m. to noon; Aug.10, 5 to 7 p.m.; and Aug. 11, 9 a.m. to noon. Cost is $75 per person, with a family cap of $130. New players must bring a birth certificate. Call Janelle at 978-283-6449.

Around Cape Ann volunteers

Planning is underway for the 75th Around Cape Ann 25K Road Race to be held Labor Day morning. The Cape Ann YMCA will also be organizing the Run the Goose 7K and a Children's Fun Run. The event will include an awards ceremony, refreshments and a disc jockey. Volunteers are needed for the following committees: Race Registration, Course Layout/Setup, Awards/Entertainment, Start/Finish and Children's Fun Run. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Barbara Berry at 978-283-0470 or berryb@northshoreymca.org.

YMCA summer swim lessons

The Cape Ann YMCA is offering a drop-in swim program during the summer. Lessons are offered seven days a week and at a variety of times for all ages and abilities. For details, contact Cindy Tarantino at 978-283-0470 or tarantinoc@northshoreymca.org.

Cape Ann Thrift Shop

The Cape Ann Thrift Shop, 70 Middle St., is open Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The shop features small furniture, bric-a-brac, linens, toys, clothing for the whole family and many unusual items. Donations of items are welcome.

Lead paint removal money available

Massachusetts Housing lead paint abatement money is available with a zero percent deferred loan. There are no monthly payments unless you sell, transfer or refinance your home to take money back. Income limit for one or two people is $82,600; limit for three or more in a household is $94,900. Investor-owners may be eligible to receive a loan at or below market interest rates. Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint. MassHousing has money available to get rid of lead paint and will install new windows, doors, exterior siding, etc. Call Stella at Action Inc. of Gloucester at 978-283-7874.

Drop-A-Dime phone number

The Cape Ann Drop-A-Dime phone number is 978-768-7940. All calls are kept confidential and you do not have to identify yourself. Cape Ann Drop-A-Dime needs your help by reporting information on drug activity and other crimes in our communities.

Adult Learning Center

The Adult Learning Center is held in the Gloucester and Anderson rooms of the Sawyer Free Library on the following days: Monday, 6 to 9 p.m.; Tuesday, 9 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m.; Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon, 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m.; and Friday, 9 a.m. to noon.

Second Glance Thrift Shop

Second Glance Thrift Shop, 2 Pond Road, is open Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The shop sells low-cost clothing and household items for the whole family. Proceeds benefit the Cape Ann Food Pantry. Donations are accepted from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

AMVETS meat raffle

AMVETS Post 32 holds weekly meat raffles each Friday at 6 p.m. in the post lounge. The raffle is open to members and their guests. Cost is $5 for three tickets and includes door prizes. Call Post Commander Art McCann at 978-281-5715.

Senior Center seeks drivers

The Gloucester Senior Center needs volunteers to drive local seniors to medical appointments as well as to stores for grocery shopping. This may be done on a monthly basis. Those interested may call Bea Robbins at 978-281-9765.

Cape Ann Food Pantry

The Cape Ann Food Pantry, 28R Emerson Ave., provides emergency food assistance Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon and 3:30 to 5 p.m. The pantry also holds its Buck-A-Bag program Fridays at 1 p.m. Fill a bag with fresh produce and breads for $1. Sells out quickly. For more information, call 978-283-6776.

Seafood Retirees meet

The Seafood Retirees Group will meet Monday, July 30, 1 p.m., at the Rose Baker Senior Center. Call the Council on Aging at 978-281-9765.

Hearing clinic

A free hearing clinic will be offered Monday, July 30, 9 a.m. to noon, at the Rose Baker Senior Center. Joseph Sarofeen, hearing aid specialist at Rogers Hearing Solutions, will offer hearing tests, family counseling and cleaning and repairing of hearing aids at no charge. Appointments are required; call the Council on Aging at 978-281-9765.

Free diploma preparation

The Action Inc. COMPASS youth program offers free general education development preparation for a high school equivalency diploma for anyone 16 to 21 years old. Action Inc., 186 Main St., Brown's Mall basement, is holding open enrollment Monday through Thursday, 5 to 8 p.m. Call Kathy at 978-281-9682.

SeniorCare volunteers

SeniorCare RSVP is looking for volunteers interested in helping nonprofit agencies in the area. Those who are interested in volunteering may call Lydia or Jackie at 978-281-1750.

VNA Care Hospice volunteers

VNA Care Network & Hospice, a nonprofit visiting nurse association, needs volunteers to provide practical and emotional support to terminally ill patients and their families on the North Shore and Cape Ann. Volunteers receive training, supervision and support. Call Susan Smith, volunteer coordinator, at 888-663-3688, Ext. 1402 or visit www.vnacarenetwork.org.

America Reads helps kids

America Reads, a SeniorCare outreach, connects volunteer reading coaches with students in kindergarten through third grade who need help with reading. Coaching is usually done after school in the library. To volunteer, call Margie at 978-281-1750, Ext. 323.

VNA Care Network

VNA Care Network, a nonprofit home health care, hospice and wellness provider, provides stipends to women with breast cancer who need financial assistance for medications, co-payments, transportation to treatment and other things that will help increase their access to treatment and support their recovery. Women must be residents of eastern or central Massachusetts to qualify. This program is funded by a grant from the Massachusetts Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Call registered nurse Joan Schaefer at 888-663-3688, Ext. 1264, or e-mail jschaefer@vnacarenetwork.org.

Rotary Club

The Rotary Club meets every Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. at the Elks Club, 100 Atlantic Road.

Isabel Babson Memorial Library

Isabel Babson Memorial Library, 69 Main St., is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The library, named for Gloucester's first midwife, has books featuring every aspect of family life including maternity, child care and women's health. The library's collection is updated monthly. All are welcome to browse. Call the library at 978-283-5624 for more information.

Cape Race Run Club

The Cape Ann YMCA will offer a Cape Race Run Club with Tom Picariello Saturdays, 8:15 to 9:45 a.m., from now until Labor Day weekend. For details, contact Nicole Bembridge at 978-283-0470 or e-mail bembridgen@northshoreymca.org.

'Stories, Songs and More'

"Stories, Songs and More," a series of storytelling programs at Stage Fort Park, will be held every Tuesday at 10 a.m., July 31 through Aug. 7. Storytellers Lucille LePage and Alicia Quintano present a festive, hourlong program of stories, songs, local history and on-your-feet-fun for children and families. The series is supported in part by the Gloucester Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency; local businesses and the Sawyer Free Library. The program, which is in its 18th season, takes place near the Antonio Gentile Bandstand in good weather and on the porch of the Welcoming Center on rainy or very hot days. Free; all welcome. Participants should bring a blanket or chair. Call 978-281-6304 or 978-281-3524.

Morning at the Museum

Cape Ann Historical Museum will host Morning at the Museum for children ages 6 to 12. Participants will meet Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 to 11:30 a.m. The schedule of programs is: Aug. 9, Jewels from the Sea; Aug. 1 or 16, Teacher and Student; Aug. 8 or 23, In the Garden; Aug. 2 or 15, Small Treasures; and Aug. 22, Capturing the Light. Cost is $10 per person, per class. An additional sibling costs $5 per class. For a brochure or for more information, contact Ann Baylies at 978-283-0455 or annbaylies@capeannhistoricalmuseum.org.

Lane lecture series

The Cape Ann Historical Museum will present a summer lecture series in conjunction with its exhibition titled "Fitz Henry Lane and Mary Blood Mellen: Old Mysteries and New Discoveries," a scholarly exhibition exploring the artistic relationship between Fitz Henry Lane and his most famous student and sometime collaborator, Mary Mellen. The schedule is as follows: Aug. 12, 3 p.m., "Sisters of the Brush: Women Artists in 19th Century America." Aug. 23, 7 p.m., "The American Sublime in Trans-Atlantic Perspective." The lectures will be held at City Hall, 9 Dale Ave. A $10 donation is suggested. For details, call 978-283-0455 or visit www.capeannhistoricalmuseum.org.

Democrats reception

A reception with the new chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, John Walsh, and special guest Congressman John Tierney will be held Friday, Aug. 3, 6 p.m., at the Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main St. Wine and light refreshments will be served. Following the reception, attendees are invited to see the play "The Belle of Amherst" with Academy Award nominee Lindsay Crouse. Tickets are $100 and include the reception and the play. For reservations, rush checks payable to the Massachusetts Democratic Party to: MDP, c/o Brandyn Keating, 56 Roland St., North Lobby, Suite 203, Boston, MA 02129; or pay by credit card at www.massdems.org. For details, call Catherine Bayliss at 978-281-1389. Proceeds benefit the Massachuseets Democratic Party. All are welcome.

Ucita Council anniversary

Ucita Council No. 46 will celebrate its 114th anniversary with a dinner at the Gloucester House restaurant on Tuesday, Aug. 7. Cocktails will begin at 6:30 p.m., and dinner will be served at 7 p.m. The group will honor Sue Gallant GGF, and will give Millie Garland her 50-year certificate and Ruth Murray her 75-year certificate. Cost is $25 per person and includes a choice of baked haddock, roast sirloin or seafood casserole. For reservations, call Vicki at 978-283-4106 before July 31. For details, call Lois at 978-282-5401.

'Annie' performance

The Holy Family Drama Club will present "Annie," directed by Mary Howard, on Saturday, Aug. 4, 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 5, 5 p.m., at St. Ann School auditorium, corner Pleasant and Prospect streets. Tickets are $10.