Halesworth’s HighTide Festival has gone from strength to strength since it started in 2007, premiering work from the best local artists and writers

But this year’s festival promises to make even more of an impact as a new play following the life of Apple CEO Steve Jobs gets its first performance at the Cut theatre.

The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs promises to be a real highlight of this year’s festival, and its author, Mike Daisey is tipped as a powerful new voice in British theatre.

The play was inspired by Daisey’s travels in China, where he visited factories which manufactured iPods, iPhones and iPads, and deals with the gulf between the two sides of the Apple empire. Daisey explores how the trendy, good-natured public image of Apple and its hippie-king CEO is undermined by the allegedly exploitative manufacturing practises that have bolstered its success.

With the eyes of Apple and the international business community bound to be turned to the HighTide Festival, this year could see the festival become a national institution. The festival takes place at The Cut, the Rifle Hall and the Printworks from May 3-13 2012, but with tickets expected to sell out quickly, early booking is recommended.

Last year there were concerns that Halesworth’s beloved public library may be under threat due to lack of funding, but now its future is assured thanks to the efforts of Halesworth Town Council.

Local councillor and head of the Halesworth Library working party Dr Andrew Jones told the EDP: “Halesworth Town Council believes that our library is so important a part of the town’s social fabric and educational infrastructure, that it should meet this cost through a small equitable charge on the local rate.”

The investment by the council ensures that local library services will not face cuts, but Dr Jones added that further fundraising may be necessary: “The working party firmly believes that, although fundraising may well become necessary, this should be not to protect the existing service, but to produce something even better.”

Dr Jones will speak at Halesworth Library on the 4th of February, discussing the library’s future, adding: “There is still a lot of uncertainty about the future of library management in Suffolk and it will be an attempt to balance the value of the library and recognise this uncertainty.”

Following a public vote, it looks like a brand new sporting facility could be on the cards for Halesworth, helping to improve local tourism and provide residents with much needed sporting facilities.

Plans were afoot to sell the site, but thanks to its 1952 constitution, residents were given a say in how the land would be used. After the possibility of a new sports complex was tabled, residents greeted it warmly, voting 474 to 29 in favour of the proposal.

A new voluntary organisation, the Halesworth Campus Group, has been formed to oversee the development and will regularly consult with residents to ensure the new centre meets the needs of the community.

This bodes well for Halesworth’s tourism industry, as it provides yet another reason for visitors to choose an East Anglian holiday.

The 2012 Eastern Open Art competition and exhibition has begun, and organisers are searching for the best undiscovered talent from across the Eastern Counties.

Halesworth’s The Cut gallery is the centre for the Suffolk wing of the contest, and if you’re a local artist who wants to enter, it’s the place to get advice and submit your work.

Judges include 20th century design expert, TV presenter, author and applied arts patron of Lynn Arts Centre Mark Hill, freelance curator and director of Fermynwoods Contemporary Art, Yasmin Canvin and Jessica Lack, who has been arts writer for The Guardian for 12 years and is also co-author of Tate Guide to Modern Art Terms.

For further details or for an entry form contact Lynn Arts Centre Galleries on 01553 779095 or send a stamped, addressed envelope to Amanda Goldsmith, 29 King Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 1HA.

So if you’re a keen amateur artist and you think you’ve got what it takes to go head to head with the best the east has to offer, what are you waiting for?

Love Halesworth’s readers used to get to access to Pleasurewood Hills Money Off Codes to save money on entry to the region’s best theme park

Pleasurewood Hills is the fun family theme park located in Lowestoft and just 10 miles South of Great Yarmouth. Love Halesworth used to have one of the best value Pleasurewood Hills Money Off codes to help save our website visitors money off the cost of entry to Pleasurewood Hills Theme Park when you buy tickets online from the Pleasurewood Hills website. However, the new management at Pleasurewood hills have decided not to issue us with

We hope we will be able to offer the 20% Off Full Price Entry to Pleasurewood Hills with a new discount code this season

Fressingfield’s annual New Year’s fundraiser saw 150 people, 50 dogs and even a llama named Clarence take part in a five mile walk in aid of wounded servicemen.

The five-mile circular route gave walkers the opportunity to enjoy one of the Halesworth area’s best beauty spots, and organisers are thrilled with the amount raised.

Carol and Steve Wyatt, who orchestrated the event, told the East Anglian Daily Times “We are still counting the money but we hope to raise a good amount for Help For Heroes. We had very good support this year and it was a beautiful day to hold the walk.”

During its 17 year history, the annual charity walk has raised over £55,000, and Steve Wyatt is thrilled to dedicate this year’s walk to the ex-servicemens’ charity, saying “It is a very important cause and all the money goes straight into projects.”

Dining out on New Year’s Eve can be a stressful time, especially with so many options.

New Year’s Eve in Halesworth this year is no exception, but never fear – we’ve taken a look at the best so you can be sure you’ll see in the new year the way you want to.

First up we have the White Horse Inn, which has a delectable New Year’s Menu featuring the best local produce as well as some tempting exotoc options.

Next The Angel , which is home to Cleone’s Italian Restaurant, is offering some delicious Italian specialities alongside its usual flavoursome local beers. With extended New Year’s opening times, this could be a great place for your New Year’s Eve celebration.

In addition to these, the Halesworth Golf Club Dinner is an established success, and many of the smaller pubs are advertising special dinners, so why not take a look around the town and see what’s on offer?