October 29th, 2014 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Photo: Suzi Fraser Greetings! This past week has been shocking and solemn for Canada. In Quebec, Ontario, and here on Nova Scotia's Hwy 103, we tragically lost 3 good people. 3 people left home in the morning and never made it back again. All seem senseless and so very sad.  Be thoughtful. Live each day with purpose and appreciation.

This Week in Chester Friday, of course, will bring all the wee rug rats out at dusk as they trick or treat around the village. Be prepared for some excellent costumes that may be darting about in a sugar frenzy. Drive carefully if en route to your Friday night out.... which could include a Halloween Party at the Fo'c'sle with prizes for the best costumes (We'll miss George this year :( ) It's the usual Rib Night special and regular menu but The George Carter Band will be playing from 9-1pm. Just around the corner Hog the Covers are playing at the Chester Legion from 9:00 pm to 1:00 am. $5 cover. Prizes for costumes too, but if your face is covered you have to 'expose' yourself to the bartender for a drink... Sounds scary. Members and guests over 19 years welcome.  For more info call 902 275-3315. On Saturday, there's a Roast Beef Supper at the Chester United Baptist Church from 4:30 to 6:00 pm.  Enjoy roast beef, mashed potatoes, vegetables, dessert, tea/coffee.  Adults $12 and Children under 12 years $6. Take-outs available. Sponsored by the Masonic Clarke Lodge #61. All just in time for catching Carlton Stone, Dylan Guthro and Breagh MacKinnon at the Chester Playhouse at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 adult/$16 student and available by calling 902 275-3933 or online at www.chesterplayhouse.ca.Three outstanding, singer songwriter musicians under one roof. Quite a treat! Or start November in '70s style at the The Galley's inaugural Disco Ball.  Squeeze into your favorite bell-bottom catsuit, don the platforms and dance the night away. Doors open at 8pm. Tickets are $15 or $25 per couple, which includes a comp 70s cocktail, light snacks, music and 'almost 70s drink prices' - reserve today at 902 273 3463.  à la carte snack menu will also be available. On Sundays throughout November (there are 5 of them and the first one is this Sunday 2nd) The Chester Municipal Heritage Society are holding two-hour guided walking tours of the West side of Gold River Gold Mines, part of the Nova Scotia Gold Rush of the 1860s. These are from 1:30 to 3:30 pm.  Adults $10, children (7-12) $5 and under 6 years are free. For more info/reservation (a must) call 902 275-3718. Light my Fire Studio are currently stocking up for the upcoming Big season and are open daily until after Christmas - then shortened hours until spring. (Check their answering machine 866 739 5800 or 902 275 5800 for exact hours). They will also be showcasing their wares at the Nova Scotia Designer Craft Show at the Cunard Centre in Halifax November 21-23. So get in there before it all goes. Going Coastal are looking for artists, artisan, and craft people that are making one-of-kind limited edition Christmas/ Winter Art, Crafts, Home Decor and Gift Ware for their annual Christmas show that runs from Nov 15 to Dec 22 '14. Full details of this juried show can be found here. Deadline for submissions is Nov 5. I had help with my Halloween decorating:

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October 22nd, 2014 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings! I decided to go for a walk the other day and had the misguided idea to ask my friend to take her dog with me. How hard could it be to walk a dog? Monumental I discovered. The retractable leash was beyond my capabilities as the dog dug his paws in with 70 lbs of canine determination while I dragged him backwards. I returned and was issued a short leash and was shown how to wrap it around his middle for more control. The end result was dragging him sideways. I pulled him two blocks to the beach and found some friends trying to get a boat off the rocks. Mental dilemma : what to do with the dog while I try to help. Clipped the dog to the  picnic bench, waded into the water and pushed and pulled. We were at this for 15 minutes or so when someone realized the dog had chewed through his leash and was wandering around. AAACKK ! Left the friends and the boat still on the rocks, grabbed the dog, tied the leash bits together and headed back.The return trip wasn't as fraught as he knew it was the homeward stretch. I show up on my friend's doorstep squish, squish, squishing in my sneakers, soaked to my thighs with the chewed leash in tatters. The look on her face was priceless.       Next time I am taking my cat.

This Week in Chester Remember to buy your 50/50 tickets for the OHC lottery. Big money to be won here and all for the right reasons - your health. Calling all Gingerbreads. Get your oven mitts on and start your engines. Your entry form must be received by November 15th and your sugary split level must be delivered to the Train Station on November 27th. We have a new partner on the block ! The Chester Gold and Silver Company is located at 34 Queen Street under the Tradewinds building. Their grand opening is this Friday and they will man the shop until Christmas. Stop in and welcome the new kids to the 'hood. Saturday night the Spinney Brothers are on stage at the Chester Playhouse @ 7:30pm. Heralded all over North America as champions of traditional bluegrass music, the Spinney Brothers are proud to be home, touring in support of their new CD "Tried & True."  The Spinney boys believe in the freshness and excitement of traditional bluegrass music. Brother duet singing, backed by supportive and complimentary instrumentation, is the foundation of their recognizable sound. Please note that Nicki's Inn is now open from Thursday to Sunday until the first week of December. Monday the Fo'c'sle is changing tacks and will feature a soup and sandwich special to launch you into the work week. Monday night the Chester Municipal Heritage Society is hosting a Paranormal evening at St. Stephen's Parish Centre, 54 Regent Street, Chester starting 7:30 pm.  Featuring ghost stories by Gail Smith and Sharon Houghton, with an opportunity for participants to share their own stories.  Special guests from the Paranormal Society will deliver very interesting results of their investigations of the former Train Station in Chester. (902) 275-3826 / 275-3718 for info. Boo !

"The most powerful antidepressant has 4 paws, fur, and a wagging tail."  Yeah, right. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!

October 15th, 2014 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release t Greetings! What a phenomenal Thanksgiving weekend it was. The weather was better than anything summer offered ! Yesterday's big garbage was an event in it's own right. That purging feeling is terribly liberating. The beauty of it is... it's like recycling. As soon as something is on the street, it disappears - before the truck even rolls into the village at daybreak.

This Week in Chester Tonight is Big Pitcher Wednesday at the Fo'c'sle Pub. $3.00 off pitchers to accompany your pasta special of the day. Not for the gluten faint-of-heart but there are other menu options. Don't forget to pick up a few 50/50 tickets for this week's OHC draw. There's usually a pretty good pot by the time of the draw. Think of it as our own local QE II lottery without the King's Wharf condo. Stop by "Flowers, Flowers, Flowers" on Pleasant Street this week and see what Robin has in the fridge. This is a delightful little shop with a truly delightful owner. Pick up a bouquet of posies for your loved one, or the cat. The Gingerbreads are coming ! Yes, it is that time of year to think about your ground ginger creation. This year has expanded to include "Boats, Barns and Buildings." Your molasses mansion must be delivered to the Chester Art Centre by November 27th. Click their website for details and entry form. Thursday evening the Chester Playhouse is screening "Gallipoli" a 1981 Australian film directed by Peter Weir starring Mel Gibson and Mark Lee as young men from rural Western Australia who enlist in the Australian Army during the First World War. They are sent to the peninsula of Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire (modern-day Turkey) where they take part in the Gallipoli Campaign. During the course of the movie, the young men slowly lose their innocence about the purpose of war. Mel in his prime...before it all went south. Lennie Gallant returns to the Chester Playhouse stage on Saturday at 7:30 pm with two supporting musicians. This prolific songwriter needs no introduction with ten albums to his credit (eight in English and two in French), which have won him a host of awards and nominations from both the JUNOs and East Coast Music Awards. This tour celebrates his newest CD "Live at the Carleton." Sunday morning recovery may come in the form of "Hail Caesar Sunday" at the Fo'c'sle with $1.50 off Absolut caesars from 11-3 pm to augment the eggs bennie. Cocktails before noon? Never in Chester. We're all in church. If you missed the turkey bird last week at Nicki's, you can catch something hot out of the roasting pan with all the trimmings this Sunday night from 5 - 8pm. Trivia Tuesdays resume next week at the Fo'c'sle Pub. Be there at 6:30pm sharp with your wits. Malcolm Callaway's art class this month is now full but take heart, the Master will be offering another class in the Spring.

Da wife had been after me to paint the seat on our toilet. I finally got around to it one day while she was out, then left for the hardware store for supplies. She returned before I could alert her of my manly capabilities around the house. She sat on the toilet only to realize she had become glued to the not-quite-dry epoxy paint when she tried to stand up. When I returned home, I heard the call for help and went to the rescue. We both pushed and pulled to no avail. In desperation I undid the toilet seat bolts and wrapped her in a sheet and we drove to the ER. Da wife tried to lighten the embarrassment of it all by saying, "Well, Doctor, I'll bet you've never seen anything like this before." The Doctor replied, "Actually, I've seen lots of them... I've just never seen one mounted and framed." Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!

October 8th, 2014 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings! So what's up with the WHITE pumpkins? That takes the good right out of fall harvest colours. Everyone knows there is no white allowed after Labour Day. Our Gingerbread Festival is imminent. Start thinking about your creation to enter in the contest.   Summer drove away in Kerry's truck last week

This Week in Chester This Friday is the LAST Chester Farmer's Market of the year. Get to the Train Station and load up your environmentally friendly satchel because this is it. There is more than just food here..how about stocking up on a few gifts? The garlic grater man has some very useful items, the wood turning guy has some beautiful pieces or some brownies from Kate to see you through the weekend (or morning.) A reminder to buy your OHC 50-50 tickets. Next week's draw will take place Tuesday at the Hubbards Pharmasave @ 4pm. Next Tuesday is the OHC public meeting at the Baptist Church on King Street @ 7 pm. Malcolm Callaway will be teaching "Painting in the Fall" classes at the Chester Art Centre starting next week. He will guide you through the mysteries of palette, composition, paint handling and various brush and knife techniques through demonstrations and hands-on tutoring. You will go away with a finished painting by the end of the five-week session. Classes are Thursdays from 1- 4pm October 16th, 23rd, 30th and November 6th and 13th. You may register through their website. I caught up with Paula MacDonald at Amicus Gallery this week. A delightful gallery on Pleasant Street showcasing Nova Scotia artists and artisans. Pottery, art work, wood creations, jewelry, stain glass, sweaters and so much more. Stop in and check it out. Irony at Bayer's Lake

An elderly gentleman lay sprawled across three seats in the movie theatre. An usher came by and whispered to the old man, "Sorry sir, but you're only allowed one seat." The old man didn't budge. The usher became impatient. "Sir, if you don't get up I'm going to have to call the manager." Once again the old man just muttered and did not move. The usher returned with the manager. Together the two of them tried to move him but with no success. Finally they summoned the police. The officer surveyed the situation briefly then asked, "All right buddy, what's your name?" "Fred," the old man moaned. "Where ya from Fred?" asked the officer. With a terrible grunt in his voice and without moving, he replied..."the balcony." Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!

October 1st, 2014 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings! Helllooo October! Month No. 10: The one that starts as summer's best and ends with goblins and candy. Last weekend was glorious, one of the best all summer. Only this time of the year has those clear morning skies that turn that deep, deep blue in the afternoon that can't be matched any other season. Hopefully there will be more of the same to come (but not today)... Raking leaves yet? If so, you must have a horse chestnut. It's good practice for the rest of fall.

This Week in Chester Please note: The OHC (Our Health Centre) public meeting planned for tonight, Wednesday, has been rescheduled for Tuesday October 14th @ 7pm at the Chester United Baptist Church, 84 King St. Chester. In the meantime, keep buying their 50/50 tickets at a slew of places in the Municipality; the more tickets sold, the bigger the pot at the weekly Monday draw. I can't believe my name hasn't been pulled yet?! Friday morning, 10am-2pm, the Chester Farmer and Artisan Market still holds fort at the Old Chester Train Station. Not long now until the goodies to be had won't be there anymore. Check it out and hoard what you can while we still have the opportunity. On stage at the Playhouse, Friday night, is Ray Bonneville at 7.30pm. An intimate performance of Blues and folk. Tickets are $22 adult and $18 student. Or lubricate your pipes for Karaoke at the Chester Legion from 9:00 pm to 12:30 am.  Members and guests over 19 years welcome. If you're fast, you can take in both. Saturday morning is the Chester Minor Hockey Associations Annual Golf Tournament in Memory of Al Nunn at the Chester Golf Course. Shotgun Start 10:00 am. Registration $360 for a team of 4 golfers with a hot meal provided and prizes to be won at the end of the day. To register please email Satrina at: satrinaswinemar@eastlink.ca.  After all that exercise, change the outfit for a Bingo with Bling Evening at the Chester Legion from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. Refreshments, games, live music. Cost $25 per person. Cash Bar. Sponsored by St. Augustine's Guild for outreach activities. There's a group in our midst that drop everything at a moment's notice to risk life and limb to save others, namely our volunteer firefighters. Sunday brings a chance to thank them and show your support. They'll be 'Meeting & Greeting' at the Chester Shore Mall, Hwy 3 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. See the Fire Apparatus and Equipment up close; hands-on Fire Prevention for Kids & Adults; learn about Fire Prevention in your home; enjoy a BBQ & refreshments, there's a chance to win a Fire Extinguisher or a Smoke Alarm. In case of rain, join them at the Chester Fire Hall, 149 Central Street, Chester.

"Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused" The Other One for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!