October 30th, 2013 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings! Well, it's Hump Day. We made it. It's also Gremlin week. That pumpkin that you so lovingly carved  -  gone. You will find it's remnants at a lower altitude. Happy Hallows' Eve to all you ghosts. Boo. Great news ! Our HAVEN friends made the People's Choice Awards Nominee Selections List for Favorite Sci-Fi/ Fantasy Show. Voting for the short list closes TOMORROW. You may vote multiple times. Let's ensure Haven is back next year  - Vote  HERE.

This Week in Chester Friday nights here in the Hamlet are action packed these days with Spain, Italy and Nova Scotia all in the mix this weekend. Read on.... Friday night at 7:30 pm the Chester Playhouse presents Maria Osende with an evening of stunning flamenco dance. Maria's emotional and sultry performances leave audiences breathless and craving more. "From Spain with love" brings the essence of flamenco dance from Spain to Canada, featuring Maria Osende, Miguel Tellez, Caridad Vega and Jose Vega.This thrilling dance-theatre production is full of passion, humour and drama. The Rope Loft  has an Italian menu on their chalkboard upstairs Friday evening. Minestrone zuppa, antipasto, pasta al dente, chicken parmigiano and gelato to finish. Tom and Cynthia Myers will be there to entertain and you may purchase your Italian moustache alla porta. Magnifico! This is a fundraiser for local children in need. You may reserve by calling the Signora @ 275-3430. The downstairs menu is regular fare. The Nova Scotian flavour tonight is on stage at the Fo'c'sle Pub @ 9pm. Darren Arsenault is in town to put you in the dancing mood. Get there early and order up an evening delight from the menu. I saw a waitress buckling under the weight of the Friday night rib special. The annual Lighthouse Food bank Fundraiser will be held downstairs at the Chester Legion Saturday from 10 am onwards. Chinese Auction, 50/50 draws, prize draws and live music starting 4 pm until close. Cover charge $5 at the door from 4pm. All proceeds go to the Food bank. This Sunday from 1:30 to 3:30 pm there will be a 2 hour guided walking tour of the west side of the Gold River Gold Mines, part of the Nova Scotia Gold Rush of the 1860s.  Adults $10 and Children (under 12 years) $5 and Children under 6 years are free.  All proceeds for a new roof on the Chester Train Station. By reservation only @ 275-3718.  Sunday is a day of couch time and eating ! Sunday brunch at the Fo'c'sle, all you can eat brunch at the Rope Loft and the pasture on your plate at Nicki's from 5-8pm.

The Chester Gingerbread Festival is just around the corner. Blow the dust off your oven mitts and start baking. Here's a uTube to show you how. Registration forms must be received by November 24th and entries must be delivered to the Chester Arts Centre @ 60 Queen Street on November 27th or 28th. Details can be found on Face Book "Gingerbread Festival,Chester NS" or @ Chester Arts Centre. The Gingerbread Festival committee is asking if you might loan or donate tree lights, flood lights, extension chords or lighting timers to use for the Christmas tree lighting at the Train Station November 30th. Please send your email to chestergingerbreadfestival@gmail.com or call 275-4638 if you can help. If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular? Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group

HAVEN needs your help! Vote by October 31, 2013!

Great news   HAVEN made the impressive People’s Choice Awards Nominee Selections List for Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show! 

 

In order to ensure it makes the nominee shortlist, we need as many people as possible to vote and vote and vote and vote…..

 

Voting for the short list closes on October 31^st. You can vote multiple times per day – from anywhere in the world!

 

VOTE HERE: http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/nominations/vote.jsp?pollId=130034 

 

Thanks all!

October 23rd, 2013 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings! I had another Thanksgiving dinner on Monday night. Yes, that makes 3 rounds with the turkey bird. Apparently we here in Chester have officially extended Canadian Thanksgiving to a two week celebration. The Gobble and Wobble event is alive and well here in the Hamlet. Lily Pulitzer has left town.The summer pink and greens are all gone. It's just us chickens, because there is certainly no turkey left ! Winter is coming.

This Week in Chester Our artist in residence, Malcolm Callaway, has donated this lovely painting to PRO kids for a fundraising raffle. You may visit it and buy tickets at the Municipal Recreation Office until 4:30pm today. Tickets are for $2 each for 3 for $5. Drawing takes place @ 9 am tomorrow, Thursday, at the Municipal Building. Run Forest, run! The Chester Trust has the ideal Christmas present for those on your list that will last a lifetime and longer - literally! Lightfoot Tower Time Capsules are still available : 12" long @$100 or 6" long @$50 ; both sizes being 4" in diameter.  Size matters. The time capsules are going to be entombed at the base of the soon to be restored Lightfoot Tower, in the garden of Zoe Valle Library, on Regent Street in July of 2014, with strict instructions NOT to be opened until 2064.  Half the fun is choosing what to put inside to amuse future Chesterites, the other half working on how to stay around long enough to see it opened ! Capsules may be purchased from Dolly Hancock at 275 4991/ dollyhancock@mac.com.  She is the official 'sealer' and will guard your treasure until entombment. Deadline for filled capsules is June 31st June 2014. All funds will go to the restoration in progress and future maintenance of the Lightfoot Tower. You can't top THAT at Costco! The Rope Loft is Rolling Out the Barrel... Thursday night they have icy cold draught for $2. Join them for a frosty bevvie and some tasty half price appetizers from 5-8pm. Friday night the Fo'c'sle Pub has FOG (Four Old Guys) on stage at 9pm. Hmm, I wonder how old? Wax museum quality or slightly younger? Get on down there and find out for yourself. Saturday night the Fo'c'sle has bottles of wine on for HALF price to enjoy with your evening meal. What are you waiting for? Nicki's Inn is open for evening meals from Thursday to Sunday every week until December 8th. Get there for your little piece of heaven before your time is up - so to speak. Don't forget carnivore Sundays from 5-8 pm.

Next Monday the Chester Municipal Heritage Society is hosting film maker Colin MacKenzie who will be speaking about "Balakrishnan", the East River elephant, at St. Stephen's Community Hall on Regent Street @7 pm. He welcomes any personal stories or photos you may be willing to share. All welcome.  Our 2013 Gingerbread Festival is almost ready to launch. Gingerbread houses must be delivered for judging by November 28th. There is $$$$ to be won.Turn the oven on and get busy ! Why is "abbreviated" such a long word? Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group

October 16th, 2013 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Sick of turkey sandwiches yet? How many Thanksgiving meals did you attend last weekend? 1... 3?  The beauty of Canadian Thanksgiving is that we are so liberal with the dates. Tim Harris, our man in red, is unloading some "gently used" items: WILL LEND: For 4 years± 4 red button down shirts (worn daily for a month only) 3 red polo shirts (unused, preferred regular shirts) 2 pr red socks (no holes, recently washed) The annual Hackmatack football classic went off without a hitch last Sunday and the Orange Crushers  crushed the opponents. There were no casualties and only a few burnt hotdogs.

This Week in Chester Tonight , Wednesday, the Blandford Community Centre is hosting Vernon Oickle @ 7 pm. Vernon is the editor of the Progress Bulletin and the author of several books. He will be speaking on the tales and legends of the South Shore. Here is a happy little Haven utube video highlighting Chester, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg hosted by our man on the street, Andrew Sheridan. Every Monday starting October 21st, local videographer Dawn Harwood-Jones and Nick Veltmeyer will be working together to create community youth choirs and make a music video. Junior Boys Choir and Junior Girls Choir:  Elementary school students will be met at Chester District Elementary School and walked up the hill to Tuck Hall (beside the Anglican Church - St. Stephen's - on Regent St.) Practice runs from 2:15 to 3PM.  All are welcome with permission from a guardian. Girls Youth Choir and Boys Youth Choir: Middle School Youth: Middle School youth choirs and video classes will start right after school. Kids will learn popular songs, classical songs and help write a song about Chester and make a music video.  Fun is the most important ingredient. Free food. Contact Dawn Harwood-Jones @dawnhj@gmail.com / 275-5005 The work at 63 Regent Street is humming along and you can follow photos of the restoration of the Lightfoot Tower on the Zoe Valle Library blog. The Maggie Smith film series continues Thursday night  at the Chester Playhouse with a screening @ 7:30 of Tea with Mussolini. This is a semi-autobiographical tale from the early life of director Franco Zeffirelli. Pay what you can at the door. On Friday from 12 - 6 pm  the Shoreham Village Volunteer Job Fair will be held at 50 Shoreham Village Crescent. Drop by, bring a friend. Check out the presentations and displays. Ask questions. Explore.For more info call 275-5631 ext. 246. Mike Murley and his septet take the Playhouse stage on Friday @ 7:30 p.m. A native of Nova Scotia, Murley made a name for himself through his lyrical saxophone skills.He returns with his full seven-piece jazz band for what is sure to be an amazing show. The Rope Loft is hosting a "Western Night" Friday evening as a fundraiser for children in need in the community. There will be a silent auction, door prizes and the band "Silver Dollars" will be striking up at 8pm and ohhh so much more. Think of Friday at the Rope Loft as a regular Friday night without the prime rib but with the opportunity to get primed. There will be a special Western menu for those cowboys with a Texas style appetite and a taste of something from south of the border. Jack Daniels ribs, a cowboy sized sirloin, baked beans and Texas buttermilk cornbread to name a few of the menu items. Giddy up! Reserve your table now @275-3430 Also Friday night the Fo'c'sle Pub has the Klunkers on stage @ 9pm. The Klunkers are a village favourite so get there early. On Saturday and Sunday there is a 50% off sale of athletic apparel for a PRO kids fundraiser from 10 am -5 pm at #3802 Highway 3 (Lesley's old Pantry) across from Tim Horton's. Sunday there will be a crib tournament at the Chester Legion starting at 1 pm.

The Chester Garden Club is meeting at St. Stephen's Parish Hall @ 6:30 for 7 pm.  Guest Speaker Cora Swinimer will talk about "Rhododendrons 101". Refreshments followed by monthly meeting.  New members always welcome. Don't forget to get tickets for the French evening meal and fundraiser for the OHC at Julien's Bistro on Tuesday night from 6-8pm. Dial up Rita @ 273-2402 or Claudette @ 275-3876 or pick them up while downloading a croissant at Julien's at 43 Queen Street. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group

October 10th, 2013 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Got the turkey bird yet? An alternative might be one of those Canadian Geese from the paddock down on the Blandford Peninsula. Might be a bit tough though. Add rum. To you. Not the bird. Summer savory: we buy this product at the same time every year and only use 1 tablespoon. I think it's a scam. It's like buying cilantro - you need one sprig and end up with a mitt full of the stuff. Wikipedia:  "Summer savory is a traditional popular herb in Atlantic Canada where it is used in the same way sage is elsewhere. It is the main flavoring in dressing for many fowl ...and is excellent with turkey, goose and duck."  Ok, so it's a Maritime scam. Happy Turducken.

This Week in Chester The Rope Loft has half price appetizers tonight from 5-8 pm. They also have a fall special of a hamburger sandwich & fries - sautéed Spanish onions & peppers with pure Canadian beef smothered in gravy and topped with...what else...peas!  Art's Quick Lunch lives on. Friday is the end of the road for the Chester Seaside Farmer's and Artisan Market for 2013. Get there between 10 am and 2 pm. Buy everything. Friday night the Fo'c'sle has the George Carter Jr Trio on stage at 9pm. Order up the Fred Flintstone size ribs and settle in for the evening. Saturday night @7:30pm, the Chester Playhouse presents Amanda Riley and Banded Stilts in a fundraising concert for ALS  ( Lou Gehrig's Disease.) Amanda Riley is a star on the rise in the Canadian Country Music scene. Amanda and her band "Life of Riley" have impressed many audiences and established a devoted fan base. In July of 2012 Life of Riley was chosen as the opening act for fellow Nova Scotian country music artist, Dean Brody, at the Bridgewater Ex. Malcolm Callaway will present his landscape painting class which runs for five sessions: October 21,  28, November 4th,11th and 18th from 1- 4 pm at the Chester Arts Centre.You will learn about distance, perspective and colouration. Emphasis will be on warm and cool colours, design and observation, plus use of varied brushes and palette knives. Material list will be supplied, and Malcolm is all yours for the bargain basement price of $130. This class is almost sold out, but if there's enough interest, Malcolm is prepared to do a second class. The Lightfoot Tower is undressing. Restoration has begun and the old girl is getting a few new planks. Stop by to see Barry and his team hard at it. On Tuesday evening October 22nd from 6-8 pm the Chester French Club is hosting an evening at Julienne's Bakery in support of the OHC (Our Health Centre). Le club de Français de Chester présente Un Voyage Rapid En France. Un repas en soirée chez Julien's Bistro 43 rue Queen Street (FLFL) Billets à l'avance 50$ par personne ( 25$ reçu pour impôt) Cash Bar Billets disponibles chez Julien's - 275-2324 ou contactez Rita Johnson @273-2402 jusqu'au 18 octobre.

A word about the Mahone Bay Scarecrow Festival last weekend. Hats off to the organizers, participants and residents of Mahone Bay - a superb job ! Congratulations ! I am asking our Chesterites to match the enthusiasm and artistic talent that Mahone Bay has demonstrated by supporting our upcoming Gingerbread Festival which runs from Nov 30th- Dec 14th. Are you up to it? Can we hold a candle to Mahone Bay? Start planning your gingerbread house now. Any cupcake consumed before 9 am is, technically, a muffin.  [seen on the wall @ The Kiwi Café] or should I say #kiwicafé. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group

October 2nd, 2013 Press Release OOPS!

Chester Merchants Press Release

OOPS!  The up coming election is Tuesday, October 8th 2013 and not the 9th as in today's press release.  Also omitted was the upcoming performance by AMANDA MARTINEZ on Friday 4th at the Chester Playhouse at 7.30pm. She brings us hot Latin Jazz that will light a fire in your heart and under your feet! Tickets are $24.00 adult or $20.00 student +HST. Tickets can be bought on line or by calling 275 3933. Apologies, from the Other One for the Chester Merchants Group (maybe it was that glass of wine to the left?!)

        

October 2nd, 2013 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release If you don't know how you're going to vote on October 9th, I hope you read this before 7pm this evening (Wednesday) or otherwise you'll miss the all important MEET THE CANDIDATES forum....... an ALL candidates forum, being held at the Chester Legion from 7:00 to 9:30 pm, co-sponsored by the Chester Municipal Chamber of Commerce and VOCTADA. They anticipate having time for questions from the audience, so get there and query.

This Week in Chester If you don't get to use your voice at the Legion on Wednesday night, you can do so to tunes at the Chester Legion KARAOKE night from 9:00 pm to 1:00 am. Members and guests over 19 years welcome. Put your shower singing to good use....... well, that's debatable... but there promises to be a larger audience than each morning. If you prefer to listen and dance to music, rather than belt it out yourself, the Fo'c'sle has MEMPHIS KNIGHTS performing at 9pm on Friday. On Thursday, the Rope Loft is hosting the ABF (Absolute Bloody FINAL Thursday Race). The race starts at 6pm from the CYC and finishes at the Rope Loft wharf..... after which there will be celebration and prizes. Come cheer them on and join in the fun.   Please note that due to demand and good weather..........The CHESTER ARTISAN & FARMERS MARKET is continuing through to Friday, October 18th after which the vendors will finally remove their tents for this season (if the wind doesn't get them first........Sorry Joan!) On Saturday October 5th, the AL NUNN MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT in support of Chester Minor Hockey is being held at the Chester Golf Club. Registration is $360 for a team of 4 - Carts are to be booked by individual teams and can be paid for on the day of tournament to the Golf Course.  A delicious meal will be provided at the end of the tournament - your choice of either BBQ Steak or BBQ Chicken Dinner. Tournament is a shotgun start at 10:00 am. If you're interested in putting a team in or would like to kindly donate prizes or sponsor a hole, please let Satrina know at 531 2207. They are only able to accommodate 36 teams on the course.    This weekend also marks the closing of the Chester Yacht Club for the season. However, before everything is wrapped up, they are having a TURKEY DOO at 5pm on Saturday (complimentary turkey, fixin's, rolls and dessert) after the Turkey Bowl Race which starts at 1.30pm. This is for CYC members, crew and guests i.e. All are welcome.  If you're into trivia the winter will be a short one for you as TRIVIA TUESDAYS is back at the Fo'c'sle, every Tuesday at 6.30pm. Competition is fierce but fun. Put a team together and see if you can oust the all-time winning team (Sam, Mary, Tom, Anne, Jeff, Monica, Ryan, and Annika) so you too can go home with a shiny trophy and medal in 2014. HAVEN have wrapped filming season 4. There may be less 'road works' around the village or maybe the DOT will actually get some some much needed fixin's done before the snow flies?! (Question for Wednesday?!) The production brings vitality to the village in all shapes and sizes - but no word yet if there is to be a season 5...... as for the missing mascot?...... the investigation is ongoing.

Does anyone know anyone willing to help Miss Suzi Fraser stack her winter wood at the Mecklenburgh Inn? She's got it all into the basement 'toute seule', but might need 'help' stacking it down there as her first free-standing row fell down! This is a paying business opportunity for a young entrepreneur as she's not getting any younger and she'll be burning wood in that stove for years to come..... Her number is 275 4638 and she'll answer if not trapped under a wood pile..........(this is NOT a joke!) The Other One for the Chester Merchants Group