July 25th Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Another stellar weather week! Adam Connolly has taken full advantage of the week and is carving the Post Office tree into a sculpture. He is donating his time and expertise as a gift to the village. Stop by, say hello and drop off a donation for PRO kids. This funding supports kids who might not otherwise be able to finance their goals. Yesterday was "Big Garbage" - never a finer example of recycling-lots of gems on the street scape. I hope someone took Timmy's couch as I would loved to have had it if I had a truck. If you missed week A, relocate all your recycled wares to a friend's "Week B" property next Monday night.

This Week in Chester Last night was the fabulous opening night of "Broadway without Borders" at the Chester Playhouse; a musical tale of two Maritimers goin' down the road to...New York ! with all the trials and tribulations that go with it. A must see. On Thursday "Music in the Air"  is the theme of this years 2012 Flower Show and Tea  hosted by the Chester Garden Club at the Chester Legion on Duke St from 1:30 to 5pm. Friday is BIG. The Seaside Farmer's market is back at the Parade Square from 2:30-5pm. Remember in the 70's when your mother posted the Canada Food Guide on the fridge? Well, the market supplies all 4 food categories. Stock up here and you will live longer if you dial down that rum habit. Another delightful fresh foodie stop that is open daily is The Green Grocer at 44 Queen Street. Shannon has many fabulous organic goodies on the shelves and the lovely butcher's style fridge is brimming with fresh produce. Don't trip over Campbell on the way in - she is the delightful Lab that is the shop's mascot. Amicus Gallery is opening Malcolm Callaway's exhibit from 6-8pm Friday evening. Malcolm's shows always draw a crowd so get there early with cheque book in hand. Also Friday evening @1800 hours there is a centennial birthday celebration for  Hayseed IV with a sail past salute at the Chester Yacht Club. There will be Classic yachts docked on the wharf for viewing during cocktails and hors d'oeuvres and the Chester Brass Band will be serenading you from the band stand. Yachting friends are encouraged to join the sail/motor past to salute Hayseed and her classic girlfriends. There will be fireworks to follow by Chester's own pyrotechnic, Kerry Keddy. Follow up all this excitement and dance off your energy with "Peter Grant and Three for Now" at the Fo'c'sle Pub. If you missed the hors d'oeuvres at the Club, the kitchen is open until 10pm. Why not stop by the Rope Loft for Saturday brunch from 11-2pm? Delightful dining on the waterfront. Saturday night has "Saucy Jack" at the Fo'c'sle at 8pm, a fun cover band with great dancing tunes that also have "Farewell to Nova Scotia" in their repertoire.Here's a little utube clip of the Fo'c'sle. Sunday evening @7 pm "Brass Impact" will be playing at the Chester Bandstand. Always a crowd pleaser, these concerts attract followers from far and wide. Rug rats are welcome to come dance on the grass. 634-4435. Link Nicoll offers a three-session class in Chester Street Photography from Monday July 30th/August 1st and 3rd from 9-11am. It's one of the oldest genres of photography and Link will help you explore the work of well-known street photographers while offering the technical and artistic guidance to help you create a small portfolio of Chester street images ready to be submitted to the photography competition sponsored by the Chester Municipal Heritage Society. Bring your brownie.

The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven is estimated to be $16,400, which is still much less than professional therapy. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group

July 18th, 2012 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Dear Angela, Well, what a wonderful sun filled week it was ! I spoke with a friend this week in Antigua- it was hotter here than there. Caribbean North. Can we market that? The Hamlet is heaving with pink and green. I look out my front door at 0700 and see joggers in the latest LuLu Lemon attire gracefully cantering down the street with designer dogs by their side. In winter the only people I see on the street at that hour are wearing the same gear I saw them in the previous night at the Fo'c'sle.                                                                       Life on Queen Street is never dull. This Week in Chester Tomorrow, Thursday, Suzanne Grenager and Leigh Milne invite the girls to Suzanne's complimentary wine & cheese book launch at the Sadhana Center from 5:30 to 7pm. Suzanne will read from her wild and woolly new book "Bare Naked at the Reality Dance." What it takes to strip down and step up to being all we can be, which Suzanne says women had better hurry up with. RSVP @ 273-YOGA. On Friday the Chester Market is back at the Parade Square from 2:30-5pm to fuel your fridge for the forthcoming fortnight. Friday night SWIG is onstage at the Fo'c'sle Pub AKA "Chester's living room." A three piece celtic ensemble, SWIG will lift your kilt while you lift a brew. Saturday afternoon activities abound: There is a yard sale beginning at 9am for the Chester United Baptist Church at the lot across from NiLu Gym on North Street. Funds raised will support the Summer ministry. Praise the Lord and pass the peanut butter. Stop by Cameron's Antiques on Queen Street under the Tradewinds Realty office and see Wayne's wide selection of Georgian era treasures. A delightful little shop showcasing items from people who no longer file tax returns. Why not stop by "Light my Fire" candle studio on Duke Street. Some very interesting and intricate candles and other gems await. Lesley's Pantry is having a "Christmas in July" sale. All things ho ho ho are 10-25% off. Fruit cake anyone? The Chester Municipal Heritage Society is hosting local artists by showcasing their works at the newly established Train Station Gallery from 10-4 daily. The Teddy Bears Picnic is at Lordly Park from 11-1:30 pm. Raindate- Sunday. Organize your bear, basket and blanket and get on down there. Games, food and fun for the whole family. A picnic, a teddy bear scavenger hunt and much more!  All ages are welcome.(Children must be accompanied by an adult). Drop-in fee $2/ child. No Bunch, you cannot bring Bear as he is technically - not a bear. Saturday evening the Chester Playhouse is hosting their annual Gala from 5-7pm. The Playhouse is an integral piece of the fabric of our community and needs your support. Come join the fun and swill some champagne. Divine decadence with a cause. You can dance off the champagne bubbles and Peggy's hors d'oeuvres at the Fo'c'sle Pub later that evening. Darren Arsenault, our village favourite, is on stage at 8 pm. If you missed the Gala goodies, order up from the kitchen- the food, service and presentation is fabulous. On Sunday Shawn Hebb is back at the Fo'c'sle from 4-8 pm to sing you through supper. Nice easy listening- you can still talk to the missus across the table without texting. Sunday evening at 7pm The Chester Brass Band will be back at the Bandstand. Children are welcome to dance on the grass. Adults may want to bring a lawn chair and an adult beverage. On Monday and Wednesday the Chester Arts Centre is holding Kate Church's highly popular Basic doll making class. Learn to use polymer clay to create your own doll and get the basics in pattern making so you can design and sew cloth bodies and costumes. Bring your curiosity, style and inventiveness. Bring lunch too as this class runs from 10 - 3 pm both days. $130 per person, with most materials supplied.There are still a few spaces left so dial them up and book your space. The Arts Centre is also pleased to announce the return of Trudi Curley's touching and emotional "Donald Curley - A Personal View" on Monday evening- it's free.This is a  mini-retrospective of one of Chester's most fascinating artists. You will be deeply moved by the breadth and depth of Curley's art and insight. Also free on Monday is Dr Erin Balodis, Naturopath at the Sadhana Centre at 71 Duke Street from 5:30-7pm, for an information session about Naturopathic Medicine and Health Optimization. During this talk you will learn the principles behind Naturopathic medicine, what types of treatments and what conditions can be treated. Erin will also share some tips on how to further improve your health. This is an informal evening and you will have the opportunity to ask questions as to how Naturopathic medicine may help you. RSVP @ 273-9642 Follow up your naturopath rehab with the Studio singers and Calgary's Westwinds Music Society Choir for an evening of song with special guests Laura Smith & Pat Watson at St. Stephen's Church, 64 Regent Street @ 7:30 pm.  Tickets $10- Students/Seniors- $5 available at Chester Variety (Max) & Chester Pharmasave (Kim).Pat Watson can belt out a tune ! This woman has an incredible voice. On Tuesday at the Chester Arts Centre Jude Caborn looks at non traditional grounds for watercolour July 24th and 31st, 9:30 - 3:30. Some papers are new - Yupo and Terra Skin (?) - while other papers are stretched. You will also have a chance to work with canvas and masonite. All finished works are finished with an acrylic sealer and made watertight so no glass is required for framing. Some watercolour experience required. $120 / person, material list to be supplied. Tuesday night is the kickoff for the Summer Theatre Festival of the Chester Playhouse.  Directed by Artistic Director Mary Lou Martin, with musical direction by Scott Taylor, "Broadway Without Borders" was conceived and written by Stuart Hiseler and Karen Myatt, who also star in this musical production. Stuart Hiseler and Karen Myatt bring a classy cabaret evening of great Broadway tunes interspersed with tales of two Maritimers' adventures studying, living and working in The Big Apple. Hilarious, slightly irreverent and sometimes heartbreaking we experience the joys, obstacles and realities of dreaming big. Good seamanship is knowing how to get yourself out of a situation that a better sailor would never have gotten into in the first place. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group

July 11, 2012 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Summer is officially here. The temperatures are divine,the rug rats are sailing their little mosquito Optis in the bay, Freda's Beach is heaving, the ocean is warm and Kim has a bank of sunscreen lotions at the Chester Pharmacy. This really does make up for the 2 month monsoon we endured last summer.Haven 3 Productions is on break this week but will be back in the village next week. It's wonderful to have them back as they create a great vibe in the Hamlet.

This Week in Chester Tomorrow the Chester Arts Centre is launching their class  "Possibilities - water based media , texture and collage." The three sessions will be taught by Kay Stanfield. She will broaden your art choices and strengthen your work by exploring how other artists solve problems in their work. The dates are July 12, 26 and August 2, 1-4 pm  $100/ person. On Friday the lovely and lyrical Donna Morrissey, author of Kit's Law, Downhill Chance and What they Wanted, returns with another creative writing workshop. Great for beginners or anyone who is stalled and looking for inspiration, She will guide you through some basic techniques in using setting, character, tone and mood to make your story a best seller. $100 per person; 9 - 3 pm. Bring lunch, hell, bring a flask-Donna will join you! The Chester Seaside Farmer's market is camped back at the parade grounds from 2:30-5 pm. Nancy has some lovely soaps that she creates and of course the gardens are now brimming with lettuces and such. Load up with organic goodies for the week to come. Friday evening Paula at Amicus Gallery is opening her "Two Susans" show  at 6 pm. Get there on the dot and place your red dot before the swarm of locusts descend.   At 8 pm the Shawn Hebb Trio strikes up at the Fo'c'sle Pub. Get your espadrilles and happy feet on and do a twirl on the dance floor. On Saturday the annual Mackerel Snappers Picnic is being held at Graves Island Park from 12-6 pm. Rain date is Sunday. $9 / person - a bargain for those little fishy critters!  275-4070. Why not stop by Chez Glass Lass on Duke Street and pick up a piece of their fabulous dinnerware. It is a bright, sun drenched studio filled with happy glassware. Saturday night the Chester Playhouse is opening their 26th annual Summer Theatre Festival with a concert by Alejandra Ribera. Half-Argentinean, half-Scottish, this songstress is on stage with a four-piece jazz band at 8 pm. This Canadian singer is known for her wild vocal range and eclectic writing style and has been compared to artists like Edith Piaf, Tom Waits and Joan Armatrading. Ribera bursts with energy on stage and exudes a deep commitment to her art. Drawing on a vast array of influences, bolstered by an ability to sing in a variety of languages and styles, her show guarantees to be an unforgettable experience. Following the show why not check out Jens Jeppesen at the Fo'c'sle Pub, a New Brunswick native with a folk bent. On Sunday afternoon the Fo'c'sle has Shawn Hebb back to entertain you from 4-8pm. The Bridgewater Fireman's Band will be performing at the Chester Bandstand @ 7 pm. Get your blanket out and park yourself on the lawn. Starting next Tuesday, from July 16th-20th, the Chester Arts Centre is hosting two classes for short and shorter ones. 1) Flip, Spin, and Roll Paint and build:  Using a wide variety of materials we will create hand built games both big enough to spread across a lawn, and small enough to fit in a box.  Artist Heather Wilkinson and her band of inventors will dream up a carnival of games to play and share. 9 am-noon. Ages 4 - 6  $100 2) Pinball Wizards Join artist Heather Wilkinson and explore the world of springs and levers, rails and ruts; we will set energy in motion as we create our own 'old school' wooden pinball machine. Along the way we'll explore the exuberant painted surfaces and game boards of Folk Art and vintage games to inspire our designs; construct simple mechanisms, add 3-D obstacles, and paint boldly to excite players and keep the ball rolling. 1:30-4:30 pm Ages 7 - 10  $100.00

Classifieds: FREE YORKSHIRE TERRIER. 8 years old. Hateful little bastard. Bites! FREE PUPPIES: 1/2 Cocker Spaniel, 1/2 sneaky neighbor's dog. FOUND DIRTY WHITE DOG. Looks like a rat . Been out a while. Want big reward. FOR SALE: Nordic Running Track: Hardly used, call Chubby. JOINING NUDIST COLONY! Must sell washer and dryer. WEDDING DRESS FOR SALE : Worn once by mistake . Call Stephanie. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group

July 4th, 2012 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Perfectly formed ice cubes fell from heaven and were delivered to my front AND back door Monday afternoon. There IS a God - and he delivers ! The timing was perfect for the first "bloody" of the day.  Well, it WAS a holiday. Kerry Keddy pulled out all the stops and displayed his magic with fireworks on Canada Day. It was spectacular ! Thanks Kerry ! Happy July 4th to all of our American friends. Welcome back !

This Week in Chester "Ruby Zwicker's Recipe for Hodgepodge.... and things you can do with a fish!"  is on stage this week at  the Chester Playhouse July 5, 6, & 7 at  8 pm, and also a 2 pm matinee on Saturday. A mix of Nova Scotia folklore, ghost stories, jokes and local expressions combine to make a very entertaining event.This show has been touring the county over the past month in support of local charities. Come out and show them YOUR support. Check out Jill's new studio at 211 Pig Loop Road. Jill's imagination and skill will take your home to a higher level of warmth and coziness. The lovely feline "Dora" awaits you to help you with your choices.275-2004 Chester Yacht Club will be holding Adult Sailing Courses open to both members and non-members.  The course will be divided into Advanced and Basic Sailing.  Classes will be held on Saturdays throughout July and August starting at 1000 hrs at CYC.  July 15th/ July 21st, & August 11th. Barkhouse.finlay@eastlink.ca The Village Emporium holds many delightful treasures.Check out their clip and see what's in the store. The farmers market is back at the parade square on Friday at 2: 30 pm. The fresh lettuces are superlative and the chat that comes with it is unparalleled. "Swig" is on stage at the Fo'c'sle Friday evening. Darren Arsenault and friends are on stage Saturday evening. 8 pm is the launch pad for both nights. The Train Station Gallery presents "Brute Strength" by Sharon Boyd. The nautical based works depict coastal images that remind the viewer of the raw brute strength needed to tame the forces of Mother Nature. Show runs July 8-14 daily from 10 am.                        Sunday evening at the Chester Bandstand the Bridgewater Firemen's Band is on stage. This promises an evening of marches, hymns and toe-tapping tunes. Sandy Morash is hosting her annual "Little Black Dress" event at the Chester Yacht Club Tuesday, July 10th 6-9pm. Wine tasting, networking, fabulous vendors, hors d'oeuvres, door prizes, silent auction, Photo Booth, and live music - $25.00/ticket. Reserve by Friday, July 6th. s.morash@ns.sympatico.ca

Psssst... Humpty Dumpty was pushed. Happy July 4th ! Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group