Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Historical Society Open House Tuesday

Join us on Tuesday evening, December 2, at the Exeter Historical Society at 47 Front Street for our annual Holiday Open House. Stop by between 5:30 and 7:30 and enjoy the exhibits, refreshments, music, decorations and good cheer! To set the mood, Mamapella--a 12-woman a cappella group based in Exeter--will be performing from 6 to 6:30 p.m. The Culinary Arts department of the Seacoast School of Technology is catering the Open House, for the fourth consecutive year. Instructor James Collins and his students will create scrumptious treats for all to enjoy. Don’t miss out on what promises to be a delicious kickoff to the holiday season! The event is free and open to the public.

The Exeter Historical Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the research and preservation of Exeter’s past. The Historical Society is open to the public on a weekly basis, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 – 4:30 pm, and on Saturdays from 9:30 am to noon. Exeter Historical Society, 47 Front Street, PO Box 924, Exeter, New Hampshire, 03833, 603-778-2335, info@exeterhistory.org, www.exeterhistory.org.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

NHPR Seeks Citizen Reporters

Help NHPR cover Election Day
We can't be everywhere on Election Day, but voters will be - and we'd like your help in covering the day's events. Were there campaign volunteers at your polling place holding signs? Did you run into a candidate on your way to vote? What are people saying at the polls? Share your experience by clicking below. Remember, all responses are confidential, and we won't quote you without permission.
Tell us about your voting experience
(Not voting this year? Feel free to ignore this message - or forward it to someone you know who might have insight.)
As always, your responses will be kept confidential, and we won't quote you on the air or on the web without your permission. Finally, please pass this note to any friends, family or colleagues who would also be interested in sharing their knowledge and insight with NHPR. Feel free to contact me directly anytime with ideas for news coverage, questions or concerns. Thanks for your time! We look forward to hearing from you soon.Best regards,Brady CarlsonNew Media Coordinator - Public Insight AnalystNew Hampshire Public Radiobcarlson@nhpr.org

Monday, November 3, 2008

People are Riding the Downeaster


Press Release from the train people just came my way:

EXETER__As Amtrak ridership across the country grew last fiscal year, some of the largest increases were seen in routes that travel through New England.
The Downeaster, operating daily between Portland, Maine and Boston, Mass., showed a dramatic 31 percent increase in comparison to passenger counts for the same time period a year ago. Downeaster trains carried 474,492 passengers during Fiscal Year 2008, which ended Sept. 30, 2008. Ticket revenue climbed by over 36 percent to over $6.5 million during the same period compared to Fiscal Year 2007.
“Our continued ridership growth is certainly impacted by the global economy and a growing awareness about the benefits of public transportation,” said Patricia Quinn, Executive Director, Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which funds the operation of the Downeaster service. “But it is also a reflection of the excellent service provided by the Downeaster crews, the efforts we have made to market the service, and our customer focus. People feel good when they ride the Downeaster, and that’s what keeps them coming back.”
Amtrak’s Empire Service, operating daily between Albany, Niagara Falls and Toronto, Canada, also enjoyed a strong year, with ridership levels increasing by almost 23 percent over the previous fiscal year and 19 percent higher than budget. Ticket revenues rose by over 29 percent, a $4.9 million, over FY ‘07. 354,492 passengers traveled along this route in FY ’08, compared to 298,238 a year ago.
The Vermonter, which runs daily between Washington, DC and St. Albans in Northern Vermont, had another impressive year, surpassing last year’s ridership levels by more than 14 percent, 10 percent over budget, carrying 72,655 passengers during FY ‘08 Ticket revenue was up by over 17 percent from the same time period a year ago. The Vermonter, which is run by Amtrak, is also supported by the State of Vermont.
Amtrak system-wide ridership in Fiscal Year 2008 increased to 28,716,407, marking the sixth straight year of gains and setting a record for the most passengers using Amtrak trains since the National Railroad Passenger Corporation stated operations in 1971.
“After another record-breaking year, in which the railroad achieved double-digit growth, Amtrak has solidified its role as a leader in the nation’s transportation network and proven intercity passenger rail’s relevance in today’s world,” said Alex Kummant, President and CEO of Amtrak. “Highway and airway congestion, volatile fuel prices and increasing environmental awareness all contributed to Amtrak’s successful year, as did our continually improving service and on-time performance.”