Source - news release from Herts County Council on 25 February 2013
A packed programme of more than 20 literary events is being presented by Hertfordshire Libraries throughout March and April.
Litfest ’13 will feature appearances and talks by authors including crime writers Leigh Russell and Howard Linskey, as well as Gulf War hero John Nichol who talks about his book on the RAF attack on Nuremberg in March 1944.
Other events include a talk by the husband and daughter of ‘Call the midwife’ author Jennifer Worth, and an illustrated talk on Jane Austen's London by Louise Allen.
Chris Hayward, Cabinet Member for Libraries, said: “We hope that Litfest '13 will have something for everyone over the coming months. We’ve been very fortunate to be able to offer a whole range of guest events featuring a wide range of authors, covering the full spectrum of literary tastes, interests and themes.
"We hope that the events will attract those people who are not regular visitors to our libraries to come along and see what they have been missing."
Watch out in libraries for posters advertising the events and find details of individual events at: www.hertsdirect.org/services/libraries/Litfest13
More information can be obtained from local libraries or by calling 0300 123 4049. For tickets call 01707 281533.
Programme of events
Lesley Pearse
Enjoy an evening with this bestselling writer
7.15pm Thursday 7 March at Welwyn Garden City Library.
Ware through time
An illustrated talk by local historian David Perman.
7.30pm Thursday 7 March at Ware Library. £2.00
How to start a bookgroup
7.15pm Monday 11 March at Tring Library.
and 6.30pm Wednesday 10 April at Croxley Green Library. Free
Katharine McMahon
Author of ‘Season of Light’ and ‘The Crimson Rooms’.
7.15pm Tuesday 12 March at Watford Central Library.
Jenny Barden
Local author Jenny Barden talks about her debut novel.
7.15pm Wednesday 13 March at Hemel Hempstead.
Jayne-Marie Barker
Local writer talks about the new Inspector Allen mystery.
7.15pm Thursday 14 March at Hitchin Library.
Jane Austen’s London
An illustrated talk by Louise Allen.
7.15pm Tuesday 19 March at Berkhamsted Library.
No Exit Press Crime evening
Three crime writers, Leigh Russell, Howard Linskey and Peter Murphy, discuss their writing.
7.15pm Thursday 21 March at St Albans Library.
Far from the East End
Look at ‘Our Oxhey’ website, free refreshments, followed by Iris Simantel talking about her local book.
6.00 - 7.00pm Our Oxhey, 7.00 - 8.00pm author talk
Monday 25 March at Oxhey Library
£2.00
Espresso, Blind Blake and the amazing world of Jack Reacher
10.45am Tuesday 26 March at Welwyn Garden City Library.
Includes coffee tasting
Catherine Law
Author of three dramatic and haunting wartime novels.
7.15pm Tuesday 26 March at Bovingdon Library.
Be a crime writer
Robert Richardson explains how.
7.15pm Tuesday 26 March at Hatfield Library.
£2.00
Freya North
Talking about how she came to be published
7.15pm Wednesday 27 March at Hoddesdon Library.
Gordon Griffin
Meet an award-winning talking book narrator.
10.45am Thursday 28 March at Kings Langley Library.
From Ladbroke Grove to Borehamwood
A talk by local historian Vic Rowntree.
7.15pm Thursday 4 April at Borehamwood Library.
£2.00
John Nichol
The RAF attack on Nuremberg in March 1944.
7.15pm Tuesday 16 April at Stevenage Central Library
Abraham Lincoln
The Gettysburg Address, 150th anniversary of a memorable speech.
7.30pm Tuesday 16 April at Berkhamsted Library.
Call the midwife
A talk by the husband and daughter of ‘Call the midwife’ author Jennifer Worth.
10.45am Wednesday 17 April at Radlett Library.
and
7.15pm Monday 22 April at Welwyn Garden City.
Leigh Russell
Talks about her fifth Geraldine Steel novel.
7.15pm Wednesday 17 April at Rickmansworth Library.
Roger Moorhouse
The author will examine the Battle of Britain from both sides of the campaign.
7.15pm Wednesday 17 April at Bishop’s Stortford Library.
Mike Carey
Acclaimed graphic novelist talks about his latest work.
7.15pm Tuesday 23 April at North Watford Library.
Peter Murphy
Talking about the first in his series set in 60s London.
7.15pm Wednesday 24 April at Royston Library.
All tickets £5, Concessions £2.50, unless stated otherwise
Monday 25 February 2013
Wednesday 20 February 2013
Wanted: Oxjam Takeover Managers for St Albans
Source - Oxfam news release, Feb 2013
Oxjam is Oxfam’s month-long festival of grassroots music, which raises money to fight poverty and suffering around the world.
Throughout October, volunteers organise hundreds of music events, of all types and genres, across the UK. The centrepiece of the festival is the Oxjam Takeover – vibrant multi-venue gigs happening in towns and cities nationwide, all on one weekend in October. We’re on the hunt for some exceptional individuals to become our most dedicated volunteers – Oxjam Takeover Managers. These amazing people will lead teams of supporters to produce a series of fundraising events, culminating in an Oxjam Takeover in their hometown.
We’re looking for people who are passionate about their local music scene. Applicants will need to have real leadership skills with plenty of enthusiasm. Being an Oxjam Takeover manager is challenging and time-consuming but also highly rewarding and lots of fun. We will provide training and ongoing support from our regional teams.
Find out more and download an application form:
http://bit.ly/oxjamtakeover
Application Deadline: 3rd March 2013.
Please write ‘Takeover Manager’ and then your town/area in the subject line.
Oxjam is Oxfam’s month-long festival of grassroots music, which raises money to fight poverty and suffering around the world.
Throughout October, volunteers organise hundreds of music events, of all types and genres, across the UK. The centrepiece of the festival is the Oxjam Takeover – vibrant multi-venue gigs happening in towns and cities nationwide, all on one weekend in October. We’re on the hunt for some exceptional individuals to become our most dedicated volunteers – Oxjam Takeover Managers. These amazing people will lead teams of supporters to produce a series of fundraising events, culminating in an Oxjam Takeover in their hometown.
We’re looking for people who are passionate about their local music scene. Applicants will need to have real leadership skills with plenty of enthusiasm. Being an Oxjam Takeover manager is challenging and time-consuming but also highly rewarding and lots of fun. We will provide training and ongoing support from our regional teams.
Find out more and download an application form:
http://bit.ly/oxjamtakeover
Application Deadline: 3rd March 2013.
Please write ‘Takeover Manager’ and then your town/area in the subject line.
Find the best routes to school with new online journey planner
Source - news release from Hertfordshire County Council on 20 Feb 13
An innovative, easy-to-use online school journey planner has been launched by Hertfordshire County Council to help parents and pupils find the best way to get to school, which should help to reduce congestion.
Frances Button, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “Is your child starting school this September? Do you know what the travel options are to their new school? The Hertfordshire School Journey Planner is an invaluable tool for parents of children starting school for the first time and for older pupils planning their journeys to new secondary schools.
“Driving – even short distances – is often the choice families make. However, by simply entering your home postcode and your child’s school into the journey planner you’ll be able to compare a range of travel options so journeys can be planned effectively and efficiently.”
The journey planner offers a range of routes either on foot, by bike, by public transport or by car. The planner also shows the approximate amount of calories burned on each route and the amount of carbon emissions produced to help families to pick the best way to get to school.
Stuart Pile, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “The Hertfordshire School Journey Planner finds the quickest and safest routes to school and helps parents to find alternative ways to get to school other than by car. This in turn should help to ease congestion on our busy roads as well as reduce emissions.”
Walking routes take into account unsafe sections of a journey and if possible these will be avoided. For cyclists there are three options to suit the levels of experience and confidence – fastest / quietest / balanced. Public transport options use the up-to-date information from the Traveline web services. Driving routes are also displayed and parents can see potential alternatives to using the car everyday for the school run.
The system is available on your local county council’s website www.hertsdirect.org/mapit There are also other useful online services such as the school locator to find the nearest schools to where you live by entering your postcode and the type of school you want to find.
An innovative, easy-to-use online school journey planner has been launched by Hertfordshire County Council to help parents and pupils find the best way to get to school, which should help to reduce congestion.
Frances Button, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “Is your child starting school this September? Do you know what the travel options are to their new school? The Hertfordshire School Journey Planner is an invaluable tool for parents of children starting school for the first time and for older pupils planning their journeys to new secondary schools.
“Driving – even short distances – is often the choice families make. However, by simply entering your home postcode and your child’s school into the journey planner you’ll be able to compare a range of travel options so journeys can be planned effectively and efficiently.”
The journey planner offers a range of routes either on foot, by bike, by public transport or by car. The planner also shows the approximate amount of calories burned on each route and the amount of carbon emissions produced to help families to pick the best way to get to school.
Stuart Pile, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “The Hertfordshire School Journey Planner finds the quickest and safest routes to school and helps parents to find alternative ways to get to school other than by car. This in turn should help to ease congestion on our busy roads as well as reduce emissions.”
Walking routes take into account unsafe sections of a journey and if possible these will be avoided. For cyclists there are three options to suit the levels of experience and confidence – fastest / quietest / balanced. Public transport options use the up-to-date information from the Traveline web services. Driving routes are also displayed and parents can see potential alternatives to using the car everyday for the school run.
The system is available on your local county council’s website www.hertsdirect.org/mapit There are also other useful online services such as the school locator to find the nearest schools to where you live by entering your postcode and the type of school you want to find.
Tuesday 19 February 2013
St Albans’ pancake races draw the crowds
Source - news release from St Albans City & District Council
Hundreds of spectators turned out to watch the popular pancake races in St Peter’s Street, St Albans on Shrove Tuesday, 12 February.Teams from the public, private and voluntary sectors competed in the St Albans’ Pancake Races 2013, organised by St Albans City and District Council. Fictional characters Kermit the Frog and SpongeBob SquarePants were among the many enthusiastic competitors sporting fancy dress and raising money for charity through sponsorship.
The St Albans’ Pancake Race was won by Oaklands Wolves, a team of students from Oaklands College. A team from Mailings Direct came second and last year’s winners, Billy’s Bar and Restaurant, came third. Competitors in this race ran to designated spots along the course to flip their pancakes.
Parkers Flippers, from Strutt and Parker estate agents, won the Flippin’ Walkers’ Race where participants tossed their pancakes continuously as they walked to the finishing line. A team from Crohn’s and Colitis UK were runners-up in this race.
The winners of both races were presented with a frying pan trophy by Cllr Eileen Harris, Mayor of St Albans City and District. She said: “It was good that so many people came along to enjoy the fun. Congratulations go to all the competitors who joined in the races with so much enthusiasm.”
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