The Newmarket Town Council made its television debut last week.

The town's Jan. 19 council meeting was recorded and later broadcast on Channel 22. Town Administrator Al Dixon said the council's Feb. 2 meeting will be broadcast live. All meetings held in the Council chambers will be recorded and broadcast, he said. The town is also looking to install a camera in the auditorium of the town's offices.

filing deadline for Durham, Exeter elections nears

Friday, Jan. 28 marks the deadline for citizens to file for town offices in Durham and Exeter.

A total of nine slots are up for grabs in Durham. There are three openings for a three-year term on the Durham Town Council. The Durham Library board of trustees has three openings as well, with two three-year term positions and one two-year term position. Also open: town tax collector, town treasurer and trustee of the trust fund. Each of those positions has a three-year term. Elections will be held in March. The town also has vacancies on a number of boards, including the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment, Rental Housing Commission and others.

You can stop by the Durham Town Offices to register. For more information, call the town clerk at 603-868-5571.

In Exeter, there are two openings for selectmen, three openings for library trustees, and one opening each for town clerk, treasurer, trustee of the trust fund, trustee of the Robinson Fund and trustee of the Swasey Parkway. Elections will be held on March 8.

For more information, contact the Exeter town clerk at 603-778-0591.

UNH prof forecasts bright economic future for region

A University of New Hampshire professor said the state's economic forecast looks bright this year, with the greater Exeter area positioned to perform strong, he said.

Ross Gittell, a professor of management at UNH, presented his yearly economic forecast to the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce at a breakfast forum on Tuesday, Jan. 25. Gittell said 2005 will be much like 2004-a year of economic improvement and employment growth.

"There's strong indications that New Hampshire has the strongest economy in the New England area, in terms of employment growth and overall economic activity," he said.

The Seacoast economy is growing stronger from an increase in technology related employment, from software development and computer design to other business and support services, he said. Gittell expects Exeter's economy to perform well.

"The area is attractive to highly educated people who have contributed strongly to the economy in these areas," he said.

AIDS Response Seacoast to host

benefit

AIDS Response Seacoast will host its Red Ribbon Ball on Saturday, Feb. 19 at Wentworth-By-The-Sea in Newcastle. The black-tie event will go from 6 p.m. to midnight and includes cocktails, dinner and dancing, with music provided by the Baby Grand Orchestra.

Tickets are $250 per person, or $2,500 for a table of ten. Proceeds from the event will benefit AIDS Response Seacoast's treatment and prevention programs.

For tickets, stop by Cavanagh and Company on Bow Street in Portsmouth; call

603-430-3722; or e-mail This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it Tickets may also be purchased

directly from AIDS Response Seacoast. Contact Jennifer Moriarty at AIDS-Response Seacoast, 603-433-5377.

gun safety group gives state a bad grade

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the Million Mom March gave New Hampshire a "D-" for its laws protecting families from gun violence.

This is the second year the gun safety group gave the state that grade. The group criticized New Hampshire for failing to stop children from possessing guns; failing to require child safety locks on firearms; and letting concealed weapon permit holders carry a gun in a school.

"New Hampshire can improve its grade next year by banning assault weapons and rapid-fire ammunition magazines, requiring background checks at gun shows, requiring child safety locks to be sold with guns and prohibiting hidden handguns at schools," said Chad Ramsey of the Brady Campaign in a statement on the group's Web site.

The Brady Campaign gave 31 states a "D" or "F" grade this year; six states received an "A."

Edwards to be keynote speaker at state Democratic fundraiser

Former Democratic VP-candidate Sen. John Edwards will be the guest of honor at the New Hampshire Democratic Party's annual "100 Club Dinner" fundraising event on Feb. 5.

Tickets for the dinner, held in the Armory Ballroom at the Center of New Hampshire in Manchester, are going for $100 a person. If you want to sit in on the pre-dinner roundtable reception with Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, expect to shell out $500. For more info, visit the N.H. Democratic Party Web site at www.nhdp.org.

Somersworth gears up for 15th annual Winterfest

Breakfast with Frosty, a fashion show and a talent show are just a few of the events slated for Somersworth's annual Winterfest, happening Feb. 4-5.

The yearly celebration of all things cold kicks off on Friday, Feb. 4 with a bonfire. Later that night, bands will duke it out at a battle of the bands at Somersworth High School, 7-10 p.m. On Saturday, kids can have "Breakfast with Frosty," 8-11 a.m. Other events, including hayrides and ice skating, will take place throughout the day.

For more on Winterfest, call the Somersworth Chamber of Commerce at 603-692-7175, or e-mail This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Seacoast United Way honors local volunteers

The United Way of the Greater Seacoast will honor local volunteers and community leaders at its annual "Thank You Celebration," to be held at the Rockingham Ballroom in Newmarket on March 10.

Local improv group "Rebels Without Applause" will be on hand to provide entertainment, and United Way board members will be there to thank volunteers and donors and present the Volunteer of the Year award.

Tickets for the event are $25. For more information, call the UWGS at 603-436-5554, x12, or visit their Web site at www.uwgs.org.