Wednesday, September 25, 2013

September 25th, 2013 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release

    
Greetings!

There's been a 'napping in the 'hood.
Rum fueled Race Week thieves have absconded with Haven's mascot.
The area has been taped off and there is a chalk outline of the crime scene in front of "Haven" production offices on Duke Street. The perps did leave a fin behind. Maybe too dicey to balance it on the getaway skateboard.

Audrey Parker couldn't crack the case so the Havens have asked us to get the word out.
        
This Week in Chester

Tonight @ 1830 the Rope Loft presents sommelier Wally Fraser pairing some international wines with matching presentations from the chef. Dial up the Rope Loft to book your seat now. 275-3430.

Tomorrow night, Thursday, the Chester Playhouse is offering up the first installment of  their Maggie Smith film series with " A Room with a View." Maggie Smith is a British icon and a woman with attitude - her performances are world class. If you haven't seen this classic, or even if you have, it's a great flick to re visit!

Friday is Market Day at the Chester Train Station from 10-2 pm. This may be the spinach swan song for the season so hop in your chariot and pick up the last goodies of the harvest before the meat and pie boys board a plane for Cuba. Nancy has some lovely bars of soap that look like fudge. Pick up some to dry out over the winter.

The Fo'c'sle has SWIG on stage Friday night @ 9 pm. SWIG has become a Fo'c'sle favourite over the years - stop by and you will understand why.
A big thank you to Bob and Audrey for bringing in the First Saturdays musicians on the street. It was a pleasure to hear the players and it certainly generated a happy buzz in our Pleasant Street neighbourhood.
On Saturday Chester Pro Kids are having a Yard Sale at the Stretch Diner on Route 3 East from 10 - 3pm.  Clean out your closets for a good cause!  To donate an item, book table space or volunteer help, call George @ 279-1955.  Rain date is Sunday, Sept. 29.  All proceeds will go to PRO Kids.  A good way to de-clutter your house and help a great cause at the same time. This is almost as exciting as big garbage day !

After you've acquired your "new to you" duds, wander down to the Chester Bandstand @ 3 pm. The Valley Community Concert Band will be belting out some new and old tunes from Standards through to jazz.
 
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Biology students were taking their final exam.
"Name 7 advantages of mothers' milk."
The question was worth 70 points or none at all.

One student was hard put to think of all the advantages but he soldiered on...

It is perfect formula for a child
It provides immunity against diseases
It is always room temperature
It is free
It bonds child to mother and vice versa
It is always available

And then the student was stuck. Finally in desperation, just before the bell he wrote...

It comes in two attractive containers and is high enough off the ground where the cat can't get it.

He got an A.

Suzi Fraser
for the Chester Merchants Group

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

September 18th, 2013 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release
calm
    


Did you find your wellington boots in time for Tropical Storm Gabrielle last weekend? Hope so. She came swooping down, bringing torrential rain that at least filled the wells and soaked the parched flower beds.......

September storms, though, always make the late summer days seem even more glorious.......So get out and enjoy them to the fullest! Then put on a sweater and check out what's happening in the village for those cooler nights.... LOTS of music this week:
 
  sunset row       
This Week in Chester

The Fo'c'sle has PETER GRANT & 3 FOR NOW performing on Friday and THE KLUNKERS on Saturday. Cosy up, eat a warming meal and then sweat it out on the dance floor to warm up after the surprise suntan from the September sun. 9pm showtime for the bands.

LANA GRANT is performing at the Playhouse on Saturday 21st September at 7.30pm. Lana is a singer/songwriter from rural Nova Scotia who recently had a cookbook published with Granite Records, entitled, "Musicians, Memories & Morsels ~ An East Coast Story Cook Book". The cookbook is a collaborative effort between over 40 well known Atlantic Canadian musicians sharing their favourite food memories and recipes. Through the book, they hope to raise awareness about mental illness. Also appearing at the Playhouse during the evening are Norma MacDonald, Kev Corbett, and Asif Illyas.

If you're seeking a different venue and genre, there's a GOSPEL CONCERT at the Chester United Baptist Church, 84 King Street on Sunday 22nd, with BRENT REID of Cornerstone. Everyone's welcome to come and sing along from 6:30 pm onwards after which, Brent will take the stage at 7pm. Fellowship (tea and coffee etc) will follow the concert. 
 

valverde
If you haven't had a chance to visit José Valverde's gallery yet this summer, you have two more weeks to do so as they will be closing on September 29th. Doreen and José will still be selling artwork over the internet and one can make an appointment to view artwork on the premises, but they will no longer be having a gallery for impromptu viewing with established gallery hours.

Now that most of the family and guests have gone back to school, or wherever they came visiting from, if you haven't already, why not treat yourself to a gourmet dinner at NICKI'S INN?  You've barbequed enough all summer and eaten copious amounts of green salad. Her risotto is to die for and with the change of season there are different treats on the menu. Check out that blackboard. Sunday's Carvery is still as extravagant and delicious as ever - just skip breakfast and lunch to find room to fit it it all in. The true champions are those that can still find room for dessert. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 5pm-8.30pm.

A sure sign of fall, there are only two more Fridays to get to the ARTISAN AND FARMERS MARKET in 2013. Held at the Old Train Station/VIC on Hwy 3 in Chester, it's open from 10am-2pm promising bushels of autumnal bounty, baked goods, coffee and crafts.

Look at the size of Dan's marrow! How's yours looking?!
marrow
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What occurs once in autumn, twice in summer and never in spring or winter?     

"M"
 
The Other One
for the Chester Merchants Group

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

September 11th, 2013 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release
    


It's September 11th again. A day of remembrance.
And Otto's birthday !

I went to the blood donor clinic at the Legion on Monday. I am ashamed to say I have never ventured down that red road before. I was quite excited with my shiny new badge and bandaged pricked finger. It all went south when I was told I wasn't eligible after answering a question about living outside the country. All that aside, I would highly recommend this experience. I got to catch up with friends who were there donating and was offered cookies despite the fact I didn't produce the goods. 1-888-2 DONATE
        
This Week in Chester

Why not stop by Jim Smith's Fine Pottery Studio on Water Street. A finer selection of cooked clay you will not find.The studio's home is the old "Corner Grocery" and Jim still has the exquisite piece that showcased the best penny candy in the world.

On Thursday evening the Friends of Nature AGM  will be held at the St. Stephen's Hall, 54 Regent Street, @ 7 pm.  Guest speaker Hillary Dionne will give an illustrated talk about life and birding on Tancook Island. Have you met Carolyn of Carolyn's Café fame on Tancook? Now that's a rare bird. All are welcome to attend.                                     

Friday night the man with long fingers and big feet is back in town. Michael Kaeshammer, one of Canada's best known jazz pianists, returns to the Chester Playhouse for his third show. Michael invites you in with his music, not simply playing at you, but immersing you in the musical experience.  Don't miss this.

Wander over to the Fo'c'sle Pub after the show and hoist a few bevvies to the cover tunes of Jason MacDonald.
The Chester Playhouse is kicking off their After School Program with registration on Saturday from 4-6pm for an interactive night of theatre. Bring your child prodigy and sign them up. You can check out the makeup for stage workshop, see what back stage and the mysterious Green Room look like and learn lighting tech with Bob Elliott. You can watch two actors rehearsing a scene from Shakespeare and play some improv games. This is a free event for short ones.

On Saturday night there are two music venues for your auricle canals:

Kathryn Green, Jamie Junger, and the Hupman Brothers are playing at the Magical Musical Shed at 35 Union Street @ 8 pm. Admission is 15 clams. Bring your flask and a chair.

The Fo'c'sle has Good Rockin' Dan on stage at 9 pm. A guest dropped her bags at the house last night before racing out the door in hot pursuit of the Cobb Salad at the Fo'c'sle so you might want to try that out before dancing with Dan.

The Chester Garden Club is meeting at St. Stephen's Hall @ 6:30 pm Monday evening. Guest Speaker Joanne Jellett will do a practical demonstration on saving seeds...one may wonder what kind. Refreshments to follow. New members welcome.

Next Wednesday evening from 7-9pm the Chester Arts Centre presents Annika Junger instructing on the finer points of knitting. The class is a 3 night event, the latter two being September 25th and October 2nd. Annika will show you the basics of knitting, knitting in the round on four needles, or flat on two. If you know something about knitting you will understand what that actually means. annika.junger@gmail.com.
Winter is coming. Your toes might be quite happy about this class.
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Life's little mysteries:

Why does pizza come in a square box?
Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then pay to see what's on the ground?
Why, when you blow in a dog's face he is annoyed, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?
Why do we press harder on the remote when we know the batteries are going dead?
Why do banks charge for "insufficient funds" when they know there is not enough money in the account?
Why do people feel the need to check when you say the paint is wet?
Why is there never a day that mattresses are not on sale?
Why do we return to the fridge in hopes that something new has materialized?
Why do we keep running over a thread with the vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?
Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the correct end at first try?
And
Why is it when you try to catch something falling off a table you always knock something else over?

Suzi Fraser
for the Chester Merchants Group

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

September 4th, 2013 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release
     


There was a mass exodus last week of many of our summer friends so now it truly feels like fall. Yup, pitch black at 8 pm. Oh la la. Winter is coming. You can smell it in the air.

The tiny yacht "Athos" pictured above, rolled into Deep Cove on Monday. Nice to see we're keeping up with the Jones'. Apparently there was a traffic jam on the Blandford Peninsula with everyone stopping to have a gawk.
        
This Week in Chester

This Saturday is a "First Saturday" and the merchant's are offering special experiences to celebrate it.
Light My Fire on Duke Street is offering a "Wax and Water Candle" workshop. Build an under sea scene in your candle for $15/ candle.The workshop is on a drop in basis from 9-6pm for this first Saturday.

The Rope Loft is celebrating First Saturday by introducing their newest girl  in town and on tap "Garrison Hop Yard." So hop down into a deck chair and try out the new suds.

The Senior College Association of Nova Scotia is hosting an open house at Saint Stephen's Community Centre, 54 Regent Street, Chester from 2:30pm onwards.  Meet professors Roland Lewis and Alan Griffiths, who will preview their Fall courses in "Selected Topics in Microbiology" ie: Super Bugs and Antibiotics (October 2 to November 6) and "Currents and Ideas in 20th Century Photography" (October 1 to November 5), a witty presentation of an interesting subject. For more info or to register visit  SCANS.
The Chester Arts Centre @ 60 Queen Street  is presenting a workshop with Jennie Carton on September 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 9:30 - 12:30pm. Using varied drawing materials you will work to finish drawings in each class, concentrating on compositions, colour and enhancing mood using varied contrast.

Also at the Arts Centre this week is a Lettering Workshop, a one day class September 7th from 10am- 3pm with Micheline Courtemanche. It opens with a discussion on the anatomy of letters exploring different ways to manipulate their style and change their character. Bring out the pencils, pens, paints, scissors and explore different tools and techniques. By the end of the day, you will have created a unique snail mail letter to send before Canada Post goes under. Hurry!

The Rope Loft is offering half price appetizers Thursday evening from 5- 8 pm with double martinis for 4 clams. You'll be seeing double in no time flat.
Friday night they have prime rib on the plate until the last slab goes down.

Friday has the Artisans and Farmer's Market back at the Train Station. It's harvest season so there will be lots of fresh goodies to stock up on and the meat and pie boys will be flogging da wife's pickles too.

Friday evening the Fo'c'sle Pub has John Cole Porter and the Handsome Devils on stage @ 9pm. With a handle like that how could you pass this up?
Saturday night the George Carter Jr. Trio is on deck at the same time. Reclaim your seat from the previous night.
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The above article was in a British newspaper last week.

You do not need a parachute to skydive. You need a parachute to skydive twice.

Suzi Fraser
for the Chester Merchants Group