In this day of satellite sports radio and live major league baseball Internet broadcasts, sports fans are turning to all sorts of media to keep in touch with play-by-play coverage of their favorite teams and athletes.

But savvy Gloucesterites looking for up-to-the-minute coverage of last Saturday's governmental seine boat could have picked up at least intermittent play-by-play coverage from yet another source — their police emergency scanners!

Sure enough, mixed in with a few Saturday morning calls about misparked cars and other downtown traffic issues came the voice of police Lt. Joseph Aiello, who was in a police service boat and, with his radio, kept his station colleagues — and anyone else monitoring police radio transmissions — apprised of the racing action.

"Police made the turn first — they've got the Coast Guard by a boat!" he said excitedly as the oarsmen passed the race's halfway point. "Now, it's just going to be who's got the best legs," he added, in true analysts's form.

"It's still police by a boat," came another call, a few minutes later. But, as the race clearly tightened, radio listeners didn't exactly get closure.

"This one might be too close to call, guys," Aiello broadcast, "we've just to watch the bows (when the boats land) on the beach!"

The Coast Guard team was ultimately declared the winner, but Aiello couldn't resist adding a little commentary about the performance of his team's municipal arch-rivals, the rowers from the Fire Department.

"Maybe you'd better notify the (rescue) squad," he said, tongue seemingly so firmly planted in cheek that it came right over the radio waves. "They may need some help in the fire boat. It doesn't look too good for them out there."

The Fire Department, alas, finished a distance third.

There were reports of some sore joints, but no injuries.

Cancer survivors meet

A Gloucester resident and an NBC News correspondent were able to talk about common experience when they met last weekend at a health fair in Boston.

Gloucester resident Paul Richards met with NBC News correspondent and fellow cancer survivor Anne Thompson at the WHDH Health & Fitness Expo. Thompson had stopped by the American Cancer Society booth to meet with cancer survivors and view thousands of hospital bracelets signed by individuals whose lives have been touched by cancer.

Richards, a 15-year cancer survivor from Gloucester, and Massachusetts' lead ambassador for the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network, helped to showcase the bracelets.

American Cancer Society advocacy volunteers have been collecting these signed bracelets with the goal to make sure that members of Congress view health care reform through the eyes of nearly 11 million cancer patients and survivors.

Some 40,000 bracelets collected across New England are expected to be delivered to federal lawmakers this summer.

Head start on auction

Bargain hunters who can't wait for the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce's annual Goods and Services Auction on July 17 to bid on up to $200,000 worth of items can get a running start Monday.

That's the day the online version of the auction kicks off at noon. Potential bidders can preview items for the online and live auctions now through the chamber's Web site at www.capeannchamber.com

New items up for auction are being donated and added daily, chamber officials said. The online auction will continue through Sunday, July 26; the live auction will held Friday, July 17, at Cruiseport Gloucester on the city's harborfront.

Anyone seeking further information may visit the Chamber site, or call 978-283-1601.

Honored veteran

The flag at the Veterans' Center will fly this week in honor of World War II veteran Stephen Joseph Biondo. Born Nov. 24, 1926, he entered the U.S. Navy on Feb. 6, 1945, and served as a fireman first-class with the destroyer escort USS Edgar G. Chase (DE-16) and the 10,000-ton light cruiser USS Cleveland (CL-55).

Biondo was awarded the World War II Victory Medal and the American Area Medal.

Biondo was discharged July 19, 1946, and died Nov. 14, 1997.

The flag was requested to fly in his honor by his wife, Frances Biondo, and family. Anyone wishing to fly a flag in honor of a deceased veteran can call the Office of Veterans' Services at 978-281-9740.