5 Things You Need to Know Today: July 14

1. Search your cellar, garage and cupboards now for the DPW Household Hazardous Waste Collection on Saturday, July 23 from 8 a.m. through 1 p.m. at 83 Wood St. Items should be sealed in their original containers if possible. A list of what will or won't be accepted is here.

2. Having a mortgage crisis? Director of Land Use and Planning Elaine Lazarus would like to notify town residents that the state was awarded $61 million from the federal Housing and Urban Development program to help homeowners who are three or more months behind on mortgage payments due to either unemployment of their income falling by more than 15 percent. Those who qualify may receive a loan of up to two years at no interest. The state expects to help 1,260 owners. More info on the Emergency Homeowners Loan Program is available here. Applications are due July 22.

3. Movie on the Common Friday night at dusk (about 8:30) is the animated PG How to Train Your Dragon. The movie tells the tale of Hiccup, a brainy Viking boy who is the son of a brawny Viking chief. The Vikings' village is beset by dragons, but Hiccup's methods of dealing with them come to be seen as a defiance of Viking tradition.

4. The School Committee is conducting an ongoing public survey in its effort to improve communication with the Hopkinton community. Residents are invited to complete a short survey, available here, through July 22. Hard copies are available at the Hopkinton Public Library and the Hopkinton Senior Center.

 5. 5 p.m. on Sunday on the Common, True West, who call themselves a modern, New England Country band. Laura Pratt, Tommy Greim, Jim Pederson, John Kelly and Aldo Dorr have an extensive repertoire and harmonies sweet as can be.