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Good morning and HapPy Monday!

Happy new month and happy Monday! 🎉 Welcome to June—can you believe we’re already halfway through 2025? I hope you had a great half-term break! Schools are back this week, so expect a busier commute. If you did something fun over the break, hit reply and let me know—I'll publish the best stories in Friday's edition!

Big news: it's been six months since launching the Hertstown Newsletter, and we’ve just surpassed 1,000 active readers! Thank you so much for your amazing support—your feedback and encouragement keep me going.

Some updates for you:

• 🗞️ Starting this month, the newsletter will be sent twice weekly—news on Mondays and events plus foodie finds every Friday.

• 📝 Editorials will still come once a week, though timing may vary.

• 💎 I’m excited to announce a paid version coming soon! Premium members will get exclusive editorials, behind-the-scenes interviews, podcast access, discounted tickets, and more.

Your feedback is important—I’ll be sending a survey soon so you can share your thoughts on what you'd like to see improved.

Here’s what’s making headlines in Hertstown today:

✨ Council Leader outlines new priorities
🚭 Council leads on the Vape Ban
🎨 North Herts Museum stars Martin Brown Show
🏡 Eco-Friendly Homes Launched at Hazel Park
…and much more!

A warm welcome to all our new subscribers—thanks for joining the Hertstown community! Have thoughts or story ideas? We want to hear from you. Let’s make Hertstown your trusted source for everything local.

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A warm welcome to all our new subscribers—thank you for joining the Hertstown family! Got thoughts or suggestions? We’d love to hear from you. Let’s make Hertstown your go-to for everything local!

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News at a Glance

Hertfordshire County Council Leader Outlines Key Priorities

New council leader Steve Jarvis has set out Hertfordshire County Council’s top priorities, with a strong focus on supporting vulnerable children, improving roads, and promoting sustainability.

Cllr Jarvis highlighted the urgent need for more foster carers, launching the ‘HELP’ campaign to recruit families for the 1,000 children currently in care. He also committed to better support for children with special educational needs and to trial new, faster pothole repairs across the county.

Sustainability remains a key goal, with further efforts planned to reduce the county’s environmental impact. Jarvis called for cross-party cooperation to deliver on these important initiatives.

Notably, local government devolution was not mentioned among the council’s immediate priorities. With ongoing discussions about potential structural changes in Hertfordshire’s local government, many residents are keen to be involved in any decisions that may affect how their communities are governed. Residents are encouraged to stay informed and share their views on any future proposals put forward by the county or district councils.

For more information, visit hertfordshire.gov.uk.

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Single-Use Vape Ban Now in Force Across Hertfordshire: Council Urges Safe Disposal

From this Sunday, the sale and supply of single-use vapes is banned across the UK, including Hertfordshire, as part of a national push to reduce youth vaping and cut down on environmental waste. Only rechargeable and refillable e-cigarettes remain legal for sale.

Residents are urged to dispose of vapes safely to avoid fires in bins, collection trucks, and recycling facilities. All county recycling centres now have clearly signposted bins for vape recycling.

• Return used vapes to the shop where you bought them or use official recycling points.

• Never put vapes or batteries in household waste or general bins.

• All Hertfordshire recycling centres accept vapes—find your nearest at: hertfordshire.gov.uk/recyclingcentres

• Retailers must now remove single-use vapes from sale and arrange for proper recycling of unsold stock.

The council also advises using reputable sellers if you purchase a reusable vape and to follow all safety instructions.

For more information, visit the council’s website or your nearest recycling centre.

COMMUNITY UPDATE

NORTH HERTS

Martin Brown Brings Horrible Histories Fun to North Herts Museum

North Herts Museum is celebrating the opening of “The World of Martin Brown: Horrible Histories and Other Dazzling Drawings” with special events led by illustrator Martin Brown.

On Saturday 7 June, families can join a live drawing session at 2pm filled with tips, stories, and interactive fun. At 6pm, adults are invited to “ink and drink” with Martin, enjoying a drink while sketching along.

The exhibition, running until 21 September, showcases Martin Brown’s iconic Horrible Histories artwork and other dazzling illustrations. Museum entry is free; workshop tickets are £5 for families and £12 for adults (drink included). Book at www.north-herts-museum.arttickets.org.uk.

EAST HERTS

Affordable, Eco-Friendly Homes Launched at Hazel Park, Near Walkern

East Herts Council and Paradigm Housing Group have unveiled 63 new affordable homes at Hazel Park, Gresley Way, a Redrow-built development in Aston, near Walkern.

The scheme includes 36 one- and two-bedroom maisonettes for affordable rent and 27 two-, three-, and four-bedroom houses for shared ownership. Eight affordable homes are already complete and ready for new tenants, with the remaining homes due by November.

All properties feature high energy efficiency and Vaillant Air Source Heat Pumps, supporting the council’s sustainability goals.

Cllr Joseph Dumont praised the progress and commitment to sustainable, affordable housing for local residents. Paradigm confirmed plans to deliver even more homes in East Herts by 2028.

WATFORD

Watford Springboard Programme Celebrates First Cohort of Local Entrepreneurs

Sixteen local entrepreneurs have completed the first-ever Watford Springboard Programme, a six-month business accelerator launched by Watford Borough Council and the University of Hertfordshire, with support from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.

Participants received expert-led training, one-to-one mentoring, peer networking, and £1,500 in seed funding, helping them build critical business skills and scale their ventures. The programme wrapped up with a showcase event where entrepreneurs pitched their businesses and received encouragement from Cllr Clara Ansong.

The initiative highlights the council’s commitment to supporting business growth and local economic development. For more information on business support in Watford, contact [email protected].

THREE RIVERS

Three Rivers to Celebrate Local Volunteers with Special Networking Event

Three Rivers District Council, in partnership with Watford & Three Rivers Trust and Croxley Business Park, will celebrate Volunteers Week by hosting a community volunteer networking event on Tuesday 3 June, from 1pm to 3pm at the Barn in Croxley Business Park.

The event will honour local volunteers and bring together community groups to network, share services, and explore future partnerships. Highlights include a talk from Three Rivers Museum, live music by Good Vibrations CIC, and information from Go Vol Herts about promoting local volunteering opportunities.

Council leader Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst called volunteers “the backbone of our community,” while organisers encouraged all interested groups and individuals to get involved.

Contact [email protected] for event details or visit www.govolherts.org.uk for volunteering opportunities.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

Upcoming Adult Learning & Employment Workshops in Hertfordshire

Step2Skills offers affordable adult learning and employment support across Hertfordshire, with taster sessions from just £5. Their upcoming workshops and courses include:

• Public Speaking & Presentation Skills: Starts Wednesday 4th June

• Boost Your Confidence: Thursday 5th June

• Online Job Search & Applications: Monday 9th June

• Introduction to Digital Marketing: Starts Wednesday 11th June

• Improving Skills in Microsoft Excel: Starts Wednesday 11th June

• Protecting Children Online: Thursday 12th June

• Setting Up Your Own Business: Starts Thursday 12th June

• Introduction to Mental Health & Wellbeing: Starts Thursday 12th June

• Staying Safe Online: Thursday 12th June

• Smart Living with AI: Thursday 26th June

Step2Skills empowers adults to upskill, improve employability, and build confidence in a friendly learning environment.

MONDAY WEATHER 🌦️ 

WELWYN GARDEN CITY

20°C 🌡️ 9°C | 🌤️ Sunny interval rain showers and a gentle breeze | ☀️ Sunrise 04:47 Sunset 21:11

STEVENAGE

19°C 🌡️ 9°C | 🌤️ Sunny interval rain showers and a gentle breeze | ☀️ Sunrise 04:47 Sunset 21:11

HERTFORD

19°C 🌡️ 9°C | 🌤️ Sunny interval rain showers and a gentle breeze | ☀️ Sunrise 04:47 Sunset 21:11

LETCHWORTH GARDEN CITY

19°C 🌡️ 9°C | 🌤️ Sunny interval rain showers and a gentle breeze | ☀️ Sunrise 04:47 Sunset 21:11

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Wishing you a fantastic rest of your day!

Cheers,
Editor-in-chief | Emeka Ogbonnaya

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