Good news! The Boil Water Advisory has been lifted! Folks are advised to flush their systems prior to initial use: To flush your system turn the bathtub tap on cold for ten minutes. Then turn all other faucets on cold for five minutes. #yyccc #yyc

This is very cool and so is the discovery that Calgary's Dr. Karl Tomm is also on this list. I think he has mentored a generation of family therapists!

Just saw this and had to re-post! Come on #abpoli folks, sign up and help Jeremy reach this goal. He is doing some of the best work out there!

If you're here because you're looking for posts about the lesser-known novels of Frances Hodgson Burnett, that's called Coombescrolling

I have a plant called a Christmas cactus. It has not bloomed in a few years. But today, two blossoms! Let's hope that is a good omen for the year ahead. Merry Christmas!

Here's the last post in my Christmas card series. Happy holidays! samhester.substack.com/p/my-christm...

I didn't have time to post today's Christmas card earlier today. It's already dark outside! But maybe that works well for a Christmas card with a picture of a night sky. Have a good night! samhester.substack.com/p/my-christm...

Today's Christmas card post is short and sweet. Unlike the experience of getting a toddler in and out of a snowsuit! samhester.substack.com/p/my-christm...

Today's Christmas card is a painting of the Calgary house where I grew up. Wishing you a happy day, even though the story behind this Christmas card is kind of a sad one! samhester.substack.com/p/my-christm...

Today's Christmas card is from 2001, the year I realized that I didn't have to make a Christmas card. I could write a Christmas comic instead! samhester.substack.com/p/my-christm...

I really had fun making this comic about some of @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social's 2025 highlights. Our great year was made possible by folks who value local journalism. And it's because of your support that I get to make comics about Calgary. Thanks! Looking forward to more comics in 2026!

Today's Christmas card story, from 2000, features an old painting of my Christmas-carolling dad: samhester.substack.com/p/my-christm...

Here's my late-night attempt to get back in the rhythm of posting a Christmas card every day until Christmas! Read about today's card here: samhester.substack.com/p/my-christm...

Today's Christmas card, from 1997, was inspired by my favourite artist, Lyonel Feininger. samhester.substack.com/p/my-christm...

I said I'd post a new Christmas card every day, but instead, it's midnight and I'm posting a card with a medieval ship on it. Well, close enough... I hope! samhester.substack.com/p/my-christm...

Today's Christmas card is a picture with a medieval theme, drawn in 1992! samhester.substack.com/p/my-christm...

Day 2 of my Christmas card collection! This one was made in 1990 while I was on an exchange program in Germany samhester.substack.com/p/my-christm...

'Tis the season, so I thought I'd share some Christmas cards I made in years gone by... starting with this one from 1989. I'll post one every day for the next couple of weeks. Happy holidays! samhester.substack.com/p/my-christm...

Uplifting message for transit fans AND fans of human rights. Take note, #Alberta!

So glad to be at NVRLND boutique in Ramsay to see a show featuring amazing #comics pages from the graphic novel "The Cold Fire," by one of my favourite #yyc artists @rustypincers.bsky.social. The show runs till Nov. 19. Come out & see!!!

If Sarah Kendzior is indeed blocked on @bsky.app, this is a completely unjustified and highly questionable move. Sarah Kendzior is among the best voices of knowledge-based critical journalism in the US. See to it that this is corrected immediately and with an apology, @pfrazee.com!

Every year, my son builds a remote-controlled, candy-dispensing LEGO train for Hallowe'en. I wrote about it here: samhester.substack.com/p/the-hallow...

This Sunday, Nov. 2 from 1-3 PM, let's meet up at Ramsay School! We're chalking the compound with messages of support for teachers! Everyone is welcome! #yyc

The track maintenance train is doing tests for the 2025 Ramsay candy-dispensing #Hallowe'en train! Looks like the track is level. And the weather's looking warm. So far, so good! See you tomorrow night! #yyc

Hello! Here's this week's episode of The Drawing Book (Calgary #comics from my old sketchbook)! samhester.substack.com/p/the-drawin...

I have an election lawn sign that (I hope!!) everybody can agree on. Still just under 4 hours left... lineups are long, so go #vote, everybody! #yyc #yyccc

Today in The Drawing Book, an old #comic about how to vote in the 2013 municipal election. Some of these things are still the same today in 2025! samhester.substack.com/p/calgary-el...

One more note. To pick up a ballot, you need a signed authorization from the person you're picking up for, saying that they're letting you pick up the ballot. & when you request the ballot online, you must give their address, to confirm they're on the voter list. Ok, end of rant, happy voting! 7/7

You’d think that in an election that bodes extremely low turnout, Elections Calgary might want to... TELL PEOPLE it's possible to pick up a ballot? Anytime up until election day, at a fairly central location (1212 31 Ave NE)? Maybe folks could benefit from that info? Ok, my rant's almost done. 6/7

But here’s the weird part. On the Elections Calgary site, this helpful service is referred to as a "Mail-In Ballot," or “Special (Mail-in) Ballot package" (see my screenshots). How is anyone supposed to learn that a pick-up option is available? There's no mention of it! 5/7

If you can’t make it to the polls, you can request a mail-in ballot, which is usually sent to you by Canada Post (or by self-paid courier, if there happens to be a postal strike). However, I was surprised to learn that there’s another option. You can request a ballot, and go pick it up! 4/7

But which continuing care residences actually do get on that list? The Elections Calgary website says that, of the 150-ish residences, 58 are on the list: elections-prd.calgary.ca/for-voters/a... I'm curious about how that list is made! But, that's another story. On to special ballots! 3/7

This year, I was surprised to learn that Elections Calgary was not bringing ballots to the folks at my mom’s continuing care residence. Apparently, a request for ballots had to be issued in June (earlier than usual), so maybe they missed the date, and that’s why they aren’t on the list? 2/7

Hey #yyc! If you can't get to the polls on election day, you can PICK UP a ballot from Elections Calgary anytime until Oct. 20, & bring it back. You have to request your ballot here: sb.calgaryelections.ca I wrote a comic about this for @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social. But I have some more thoughts. 1/7

Hi, Drawing Book readers! I posted some new #comics yesterday, but forgot to share the link here. Just a few more pages from my long-ago travel sketchbook. samhester.substack.com/p/people-on-...

I've been writing #comics about #yyc election stuff for @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social! Sharing today's, because I loved learning about J. M. Miller. I visited his grave at Union Cemetery. His institutional memory must have been incredible! Check out more election comics at sprawlcalgary.com! #yyccc

Big #moon in Ramsay! #yyc

❌ No votes for you! Calgary had a very limited local democracy in its early days… Every day in October, until Election Day (Oct 20), we're sharing a new @calgaryhester.bsky.social comic about Calgary’s election history. Stay tuned for more! #yyccc

TONIGHT! Mayoral candidate forum at the Central Library with 8 candidates, moderated by MRU political scientist Lori Williams and Sprawl editor Jeremy Klaszus. If you didn't snag a seat you can watch the livestream starting at 6:30pm. #yyccc

The #yyc municipal election is coming up soon! I've been working with @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social on some new #comics, to get you thinking about how much your vote counts. Tune in for a new panel every day!

@jvipondmd.bsky.social According to 811, vaccine bookings are available on alberta.ca. If you have an underlying health condition, it's FREE. The list of eligible conditions is broad (ie. ADHD & obesity) & I was told no documentation is needed: it's an "honour system." www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-...

Hi, drawing book readers! I'm back this week to share another newsletter featuring illustrated anecdotes about my long-ago life in Calgary! Here's a picture of me waking up on a couch on top of an Edmonton Trail garage...! samhester.substack.com/p/time-to-ri...

Today, I've been enjoying this new anthology from renegadeartsent.bsky.social full of #comics by a whole bunch of lovely Alberta creators!

Paging @nsousanis.bsky.social ! This is pretty great! 😊

I'm kind of a hermit. But I'm going to try to make it out to this one! See you there, I hope!!

Hello, drawing book readers! Instead of posting comics this week, I wrote about my summer of #gardening, inspired by children's literature! samhester.substack.com/p/gardening-...

Finally getting around to putting some copies of the new @sprawlcalgary.bsky.social #zine in the Zine Box! This one is about the Calgary Brewery!

This week's episode of The Drawing Book, featuring #comics from my old sketchbook journal series: old tunes, new clothes, and some predictions that may or may not have come true... samhester.substack.com/p/conversati...

It's not exactly a headline, but it looks like a good one for paulisci.bsky.social !