By Stan Ashbee on February 3, 2021.
Local southern Alberta multi-faceted musician and cowboy poet Noel Burles recently released his very-first poetry collection on CD entitled, “Rhyme ‘N’ Time.” Burles currently resides in Coalhurst, but pre-COVID pandemic, the road was often the vagabond troubadour’s home away from home. Burles’ first spoken word cowboy poetry collection was released a few months ago, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Burles said artists can’t really have a traditional release. “It’s just kind of, well OK, here you go. And if somebody wants to buy one, cool.” “I put 30 poems on this CD. Way more than most people do. I felt, if someone’s going to actually spend the money to buy my work, I’m going to give them their money’s worth or try to anyway,” he noted. “That was my thinking.”
Groundhog Day to be celebrated virtually in 2021
Poll
Yes
By Stan Ashbee on January 27, 2021.
Groundhog Day is a popular North American tradition observed in the United States and Canada on Feb. 2. It’s also a classic comedy starring Bill Murray. Across the U.S. and in Canada, there are many official celebratory mascots, both alive and representative of a community. In Pennsylvania, there’s Punxsutawney Phil. In Bruce County, Ontario there’s Wiarton Willie. And in Alberta, there’s Balzac Billy. Balzac Billy is the “prairie prognosticator” – he predicts weather according to present indications or signs. Balzac area residents, consisting primarily of farmers, have always depended on Billy’s weather predictions for the upcoming growing season. Billy is a gopher – however, that’s his common name. He’s really a Richardson Ground Squirrel – a common species in Alberta. Billy and his family hibernate from September to February. Balzac is a hamlet located 24