I had a wonderful two weeks off. And when I say off, I mean off.

I read books. I went for runs. I sat outside. I had a glass or two of wine. I spent time with the people I love and, for perhaps the first time in a very long time, I didn’t do much of anything.

Castle Mountain Resort will celebrate three decades of one of its largest summer traditions when the Huckleberry Festival returns Saturday, Aug. 22.

The Regional District of East Kootenay Board has voted 12-3 to stop changing clocks twice a year and remain on Mountain Daylight Time year-round.

Fire restrictions have eased within the Crowsnest Pass urban service area, but residents travelling into neighbouring jurisdictions could still face campfire and off-road vehicle bans.

For the next two weeks, the Pass Herald office will be quiet. The phones won’t be ringing, there won’t be another Wednesday deadline staring me in the face and, for the first time in months, I’ll be able to slow down just a little.

Crown Mountain Resources says it is preparing a revised environmental assessment application for its proposed steelmaking coal mine near Sparwood after completing a major stage of the provincial review.

One day in English class in 1967 someone slipped me a small book of poems. It was entitled “I’m a Stranger Here Myself” and happened to be one of about 20 books of poetry that humorist poet Ogden Nash had written during his remarkable career. He was, hands down, probably the best humorist poet in the United States ever. Make that the world.

Canada is truly an amazing country. Everyone can find something that they love here. For me it is the lilac bushes blooming in spring, and my favourite berry, the Saskatoon, ripe and ready for pies.  As one who loves to cook, locally made pierogi and cabbage rolls are also way up there on my list .

Council authorized a five-year lease valued at $38,794.06 and changed the Highway 3 service boundary and simplify backyard fire pit permits

Sparwood council has authorized public notice for zoning variances connected to proposed fourplexes on six lots along Elder Drive.

After more than 20 years of bringing vendors and visitors together, the Coleman Community Market will return to the curling rink area at the Sportsplex on Aug. 1.

Sparwood will consult arena user groups before deciding whether to replace its 60-day cancellation requirement for prime-time ice with a tiered refund policy.

Every council says it wants public input. They hold surveys. They organize town halls. They encourage residents to share their thoughts on everything from taxes to recreation to economic development.

The stories, traditions and people of the Crowsnest Pass will take centre stage this summer as the annual Crowsnest Pass Heritage Festival returns from July 30 to Aug. 3.

The Regional District of East Kootenay is recruiting election officials to help staff voting places during this fall’s general local election.

Alberta voters can now apply to cast a mail-in ballot in the provincewide referendum scheduled for Oct. 19.

Before you complain about Alberta’s health care, spend a week in Saskatchewan. Albertans spend a lot of time complaining about our health-care system. We criticize emergency room waits, physician shortages and overcrowded hospitals. Much of that criticism is justified.

A new bulk water station will be constructed at the end of Sparwood Drive after Sparwood council approved a $308,288 contract for the project.

Sparwood council has advanced changes to its fire services bylaw intended to reduce administrative work, allow controlled use of department equipment and improve cost recovery for emergency responses along Highway 3.

The president of the Crowsnest Conservation Society says the region’s limited mountain headwaters and remaining wildlife habitat are central to the organization’s opposition to open-pit coal development.