September 24th, 2014 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings! A group of us went to Little Tancook on Monday. A place that time forgot - in a good way. At $5.25 (return), this is the cheapest cruise you will ever take. We were allowed on the ferry as we numbered under 45. Big meetin' on Big Tancook today regarding the ferry service. FYI, the # to call for road conditions or ferry service in the province is 511.

This Week in Chester The OHC is selling 50/50 tickets throughout the village for a weekly draw. Buy now...buy often. The winner this week's draw was Jill Jeddrie, who walks (or runs) away with $655. The winning ticket was sold at the Chester Pharmasave. Friday the farmers are back at the market at the Train Station. Get it, bottle it, put it in the basement. Winter is coming. Saturday evening there is a Fish Fry at the Chester Baptist Church at the usual South Shore dining hours from 4:30 - 6:30 pm.  Enjoy pan fried haddock, mashed potatoes, vegetables, coleslaw, rolls, dessert, tea/coffee.  Adults $12, Children (6-12) $6 and under 5 years are free. Their silent auction includes handmade items and gift baskets.

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group

September 17th Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings, Last weeks newsletter quoted Melanie Ryan referring to Chester as a beautiful little seaside village. The appearance and form of buildings and development in every community is controlled by "Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaws." These documents are now up for review. This is your chance to stand up and be heard. Whether you want the village that Melanie remembers to continue, or if you think an improved economic climate in the village lies in changes to the planning strategy which could result in taller buildings and higher density usage of lots - that is up to you. Please consider applying to join the committee or at least, stay informed, attend the meetings, and make your views known. Don't moan about it after the fact if you've ignored your chance to influence planning decisions.

This Week in Chester Don't forget to buy your OHC 50/50 tickets at local retailers. This week's prize was $746.  Take THAT to the Fo'c'sle and ring the bell ! Next weeks draw will be Monday at the Chester Pharmasave at 4pm... just in time for Happy Hour. Thursday night at 7:30pm the Chester Playhouse serves up the 1994 Australian comedy-drama "Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert." The story follows two drag queens and a transsexual woman across the Australian Outback. The trio travel in a tour bus they have named "Priscilla" and along the way they encounter both supportive and judgmental individuals. The film won an academy award for best costume design and a whack of other awards. It is fabulous, hilarious, poignant and the music is kick ass ! I loved this movie so much I bought a VHS copy which cost a bomb back in the day. Do not miss this - you will dream in technicolour. Friday the farmers are back at the market at the Train Station from 10 - 2pm and our farmers include Cindy and Glenn Higbee. They've had a rough week - please buy some of their lovely produce. Friday night the Chester Playhouse has singer/songwriter/guitarist Ian Janes and his 6 piece band on stage at 7:30pm. His songs are rooted in soul music; a genre defined by a simmering rhythm section punctuated by the sting of horns. Ian will be joined by Nicholas D'Amato on bass, Jeff Hennessy on piano, Geoff Arsenault on drums, Rick Waychesco on the trumpet and Chris Mitchell on Saxophone. Opening the evening will be Morgan MacDonald from Chester Basin. Morgan's new single  "I Surrender" has been just released with a folk, roots rock, and country music genre which create a sound that is truly his own. This weekend take a drive out to Graves Island and check out "Blue Shutters Antiques." There is something for everyone and all pocketbooks. Lots of groovy stuff to clutter up the vestibule. While you're down by Graves Island, why not take a rubbish bag and walk the beach. This weekend celebrates International Coastal Cleanup Day. If everyone fills a bag, our coastline will be just that much cleaner. Take a few weenies and the hibachi and make a day of it.You can sit on newly acquired wing back and roast marshmallows. Next Monday there is a 'Musical Friends' benefit @ 7pm at St. Stephen's Church hosted by the man in tweed, Malcolm Callaway. You will experience the premiere of two local music videos and local talent. The 'Musical Friends' choir will perform along with the Studio Singers doing such classics as 'In the Still of the Night'. Special guests including Blake Bignell, Amy Vinnedge and David Findlay. Mary MacInnis, who won the right in a charity auction, will front for the Studio Singers with a song that you won't forget. The culmination of the evening is the Premiere of the music video 'So This is Chester' involving more than 100 people from Chester and area. Food and transportation will be provided. There will be a free-will donation collected during the concert - additional donations for charitable receipts are also encouraged. The Chester Art Centre wants you to draw the town red or any colour you like. Jennie Carton will show you how to draw town scapes in "Getting Around Town," Tuesday mornings from September 23rd through October 21st from 9:30 -12:30pm. Each class will have an objective and each week a drawing will be completed. All levels of skill are welcome. Cost is $130. You are invited to join weekly line-dancing / exercise classes beginning next Wednesday from 11- 12:30pm at the Chester Baptist Church Hall. The class is taught by Jacki Fletcher and costs $10 per class drop-in fee. Each week they revisit dances from previous weeks, so you can drop in when you want. All ages and rhythm-challenged are welcome. (902) 277-2042 They were lined up 300 deep for "Haven's" charitable Breakfast Program Benefit event last Saturday... well past "Haven Joe's" AKA Able Engineering The annual Meerkat Family photo

On a train from London to Manchester to watch the cricket, an Australian was berating the Englishman sitting across from him in the compartment. "You English are too stuffy, you set yourselves apart.You think your stiff upper lip makes you above the rest of us. Look at me. I have Italian blood, Greek blood, a little Irish blood, and some Aborigine blood. What do you say to that?" The Englishman replied, "Awfully sporting of your Mother, old chap!" Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!

September 10th, 2014 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings! Just when you thought we were disappearing into obscurity... here's a quote from July's "Real Simple" magazine. The question posed was: "What is the most beautiful place you have ever visited?" The second place mentioned was Chester. "Chester is a little seaside village with a dense, deep-green elm and chestnut forest on one side and the dark blue ocean on the other. I used to summer there regularly, and I still remember the glorious sunsets and the delicious blueberries...."    Melanie Ryan, Rochester, Minnesota. Page 23 in case you're interested. There you go Tim, real estate prices will sky rocket. Keep the faith brother.

This Week in Chester Tomorrow,Thursday, is cadet registration for returning recruits and newbies at the Chester Legion from 7- 8pm. Polish your boots and get over there with all your forms in triplicate. While the kids are at the Legion, sneak off to the Fo'c'sle for "Crafty Thursday." $3 off a pitcher of draught to wash the winglets down. Friday is the Farmer's Market at the Train Station from 10-2pm. It was PACKED there last week- they were 3 deep at every stall. Get there early. Saturday holds great promise - there are a bunch of "foodies" coming to the Chester Playhouse for the day from 9-4pm. Rustik Magazine is pleased to announce Canada's first-ever festival celebrating food and words "Alimentary Ideas." It's $50 for the day and you can register here . Plan to arrive with a knife, fork and bib. Join Rustik for a conversation with Mark Singer, staff writer from The New Yorker, and Scott DeSimon, deputy editor of Bon Appétit. They will anchor a day that has leading food entrepreneurs and renowned chefs attending from across North America.That divine chef from "Raymond's" resto in St John's is enough to make one want to attend alone. For all you twitter birds out there, here's the hash tag #foodandwords The After School Drama Program starts next week. Under the direction of Cynthia Myers and with support from Arts Nova Scotia, the price is $100.00/student. The three shows will be staged in December at the Playhouse. Contact the Chester Playhouse to register your next Laurence Olivier. Next Monday, the Chester Art Centre kicks off Annika Junger's workshop "Knitting to Felt" which runs September 15, 22 and 29 from 7- 9 pm. Annika will cover all the knitting basics from casting on and off, knitting in the round and so on - but the real fun is knitting an impossibly oversized garment and then shrinking it down to size. In short, turning your knitting into felt. For info contact annika.junger@gmail.com. Also on Monday SCANS (Seniors' College Association of Nova Scotia) will host an information and registration session at St. Stephen's Hall from 2 - 4pm for their two sessions this fall: Modernism in Literature and Glimpses of Georgian and Victorian England. Gripping. For more info call (902)444-7588 or visit SCANS. Next Tuesday there will be a FREE introductory Tai Chi Class from 10-11am at St Stephen's Hall. Their 12 week beginner class starts Tuesday, September 23rd. For info/to register call Sandy @ (902)275-3249 Winter is coming. Make yourself a toque in Annika's class.

You only need two tools in life - WD 40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and should, use WD 40. If it shouldn't move and does, duct tape is the answer. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!

September 3rd, 2014 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings!   Things are certainly quietening down in Chester now that it's September, but those in the know vote it their favourite month. Hot sunny days, longer shadows, ripe gardens and parking spaces on Pleasant Street. Who could ask for anything more?! I was horrified this morning, though, to get an email from VV to say that Halloween items were now available... and then I received an email from a magazine with snowflakes on it reminding me to 'Give the Gift....' FAR, FAR too early, I say. It's still gorgeous here in Chester! Everyone is moving at a slower, more gentle, pace and there are goodies in all the shops... so take a wander.... Look for antique treasures at Blue Shutters Antiques after a walk on Graves Island.... Get your autumn planting, spring flowering, bulbs from Oceanview Garden Centre and suffer a sore back for a short while planting them - with the promise of a jolly spring.... Grab a new throw for the outside couch/hammock from 31 Westgate Seaside for the chillier evenings.... buy a pearl from The Village Emporium... a posy from Flowers, Flowers, Flowers... a candle at Light My Fire. The list is endless....

We have new signage in the village if you haven't noticed.... We  can now find our way around the village and direct others responsibly by pointing to signs rather than mention road names that no one, even the oldest in the village, actually goes by or could place! All pulled together with great community partnership (and the hard work of our own Trudi Curley) involving Bluenose Coast, the Municipality, Merchants, The Sign Guy, and Nova Scotia Tourism Agency. Kudos to all. It ain't easy... and 'sign' is no longer a four letter word! This Week in Chester The Chester Artisan and Farmers Market is in full September swing on Friday, 10-2pm, up at the Old Train Station. Nicki's is still open Wednesday through Sunday and offering oodles of delicious food. Her famous carvery on Sunday night leaves everyone a vegan for the rest of the week. No holds barred - it's the best! Also, back by popular demand is Sushi Night at the Fo'c'sle on Saturday 6th. They will be offering a platter of 3 different types of sushi (24 pieces in all). The gastronomic event will begin at 5pm. Not to be forgotten is their half price wine by the bottle with food purchase, so see how adept you are at handling chopsticks and a full wine glass simultaneously and go 'exotique' for a change from their delicious fish and chips. Seems to be all about food this week?! Why not?! The BBQ at home is exhausted isn't it? So are you. Give it a rest and walk down the street.... After all that, if you think your arteries are up for it, consider giving up some of your red 'gold' at the Blood Donor Clinic. At the Chester Legion on Monday 8th, they will be ever so appreciative despite your bad summer habits. For more info call 1-888-236-6283.

The Other One for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!