November 26th, 2014 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings! We are knee deep in Gingerbread this month ! We are all about our little molasses men and the 14 Gingerbread house creations that will be on display at the Chester Train Station this weekend. Our "flat men" are turning up on properties all over the village this week with some interesting twists. Come and have a look at the new displays. Eric Harding, our Tradewinds Realty gingerbread "man on the street" was the poster boy last weekend at the Gingerbread Fair at CDS, to the delight of all the attendants. Thank you Eric !

This Week in Chester The Merchants have banded together to make a gift basket valued at over $1000 which you can win. We encourage people to spend their shekels here in the Hamlet then everyone wins.This campaign runs from Friday until December 21st. You may enter the draw when you "shop local." The Chester Playhouse Annual Poinsettia sale is   b a c k !  They are all red this year so you won't have to agonize over a choice of colour as to what will match the sofa, and they are available for the bargain basement price of $20. Order today (and I mean TODAY) and your little red bundle of joy will be available for pick up or delivery next Saturday. "The Cynthetics" are hip to the Christmas scene this season with cocktail music to celebrate. You may book them for your staff party, house gathering, huge blow out event or dinner for one. Visit their Facebook page then dial up those dulcet tones directly @ 902-233-4781 Thursday is the opening of the annual Victorian Christmas Show and Sale at the Lordly House at 133 Central Street. They have over 20 vendors with a wide selection of items including wooden bowls, knit and crochet items, glass, jewelry, soaps, hooked mats, quilts, specialty vinegars, and a whole bunch more. The show runs daily from 10-5pm until Sunday and it costs a loonie to get in the front door. One fifth of all proceeds will be donated to the Chester Municipal Heritage Society for restoration work in the village. 902-273-2176  -  knowledge at your fingertips. Friday night kicks off our Gingerbread festival with Christmas tree lighting at the Chester Train Station. Plan to arrive at 6:30 pm and take part in the Efficiency (oxymoron) Nova Scotia Holiday Light Exchange. Santa will jet in at 7pm for the tree lighting. Music, hot chocolate and cookies await. Food Bank donations are welcome. This is a big weekend of Christmas celebration on the South Shore. The Hubbards Market is back from 8am - noon on Saturday in the Barn. The Gingerbread Houses are on display at the Chester Train Station Saturday from 10-4pm and Sunday from 12-4pm and Father Christmas is in Mahone Bay all weekend so there is something for everyone here on the Bluenose Coast. Sunday is the last mine tour of the season down at Gold River. For more info/reservation (a must) call 902-275-3718. Chester Playhouse presents "The Gingerbread Man" next Tuesday evening at 7 pm. Theatre students from 5-8 years old are on stage. I actually attended one of these "short one" productions and was pleasantly surprised with the talent. GN Thermoforming is the top supporter of the Chester Playhouse and it is because of their help these programs are possible. The Annual Chester Brass Band Christmas dinner will be held next Sunday, December 7th at  Atlantica Hotel in Western Shore. For reservations dial up the maestro @ (902) 275-3453 Tickets are flying out the door so hurry and book your seat/ table now ! Merchant Gift Basket

I have shared these tips before but I think it is worth revisiting as the holiday season approaches... Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the holiday spirit. If you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls. Drink as much eggnog as you can. Who cares that it has 10,000 calories? Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!

November 19th, 2014 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings! It's that time of year to pull your little brown flat man out of the basement, sweep off the cobwebs and maybe make him a new 2014 outfit. Show him off to the neighbours. We have 14 entries for the Gingerbread Competition. Wahooo ! They will be on display next weekend at the Train Station.

This Week in Chester Don't forget to buy your OHC 50/50 ticket this week. Buy now, buy often. You may now purchase your tickets online . Remember that every Wednesday the South Shore Library Bus is at the Chester Legion from 1- 4:30 pm. This is free for all to join and they have a great selection of books, magazines and videos. Don't miss the blue bus when it comes to the village as there is something for everyone. It is Christmas Craft Fair weekend in the Hamlet.... EVERYWHERE ! This Saturday the Gingerbread Craft Fair will be held at the Chester District School from 9 - 1 pm. Crafts, food, live music and family fun. Support the Lighthouse Food Bank and bring a can of food!  For info: paterson.amandajane@gmail.com There is a Craft Fair at the Chester Baptist Church from 10 - 3 pm on Saturday as well. There will be a variety of items to choose from; jams, knitted goods, willow baskets, sea glass jewelry, fudge, stuffed children. Free admission. St. Stephen's Community Centre is hosting their Annual Christmas Bazaar on Regent Street and the  doors open at 11am with goodies such as books, Christmassy things, wreaths and a baking table. Lunch will be served from 11:30am -1:30pm. Adults $8, Children under 10 years $5. Soups, homemade bread, apple crisp and tea/coffee. I think a flask is in order here. Three craft fairs in one day? Something's got to give. Saturday evening Alejandra Ribera, the Argentinean/Scottish songstress is onstage at the Chester Playhouse with a three-piece jazz band in tow at 7:30 pm. Alejandra 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. Alejandra plays anything from jazz ballads, to Mexican folk tunes to alternative pop. Never satisfied to sit still, Ribera bursts with energy on stage and exudes a deep commitment to her art. Her show sold out here in 2012 so get your tickets today ! I heard her on CBC yesterday afternoon. I actually waited by the radio till the end to hear who was singing. Don't miss this girl. The Gold Mines Tour is this Sunday - a 2 hour guided walking tour of the West Side of Gold River Gold Mines, part of the Nova Scotia Gold Rush of the 1860s, from 1:30 - 3:30 pm. For more info/reservation (a must) call 902-275-3718. Sunday night there is a Gospel Concert at the Chester Baptist Church @7 pm with Rev Dan Green leading the way. All are welcome. Great music with Hymn Sing starting 6:30 pm. On Monday there is a blood donor Clinic at the Chester Legion from 1 - 3 pm and again from 5 - 8 pm. For more info dial up the vampires @ 1-888-236-6283. It is in you to give - so give it up !

CDO is like OCD but all the letters are in alphabetical order. As they should be. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!

November 12th, 2014 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings! The girls' send off last Wednesday was epic. The Fo'c'sle was almost as packed as New Year's Day ! The decibel level at the PO next door is a bit lower these days. I will now need to invest in an alarm clock to get out of bed. Your gingerbread entry form must be received by 5 pm Saturday to be eligible for the competition. $$$ to be won! Start your ovens now ! Local talent abounds this week. Read on.

This Week in Chester Don't forget to buy your OHC 50/50 ticket this week. More buyers result in bigger winners. You may now buy your tickets online . Friday night Old Man Luedecke is on stage at the Chester Playhouse at 7:30pm. Chester's own award-winning roots singer-songwriter's latest album "Tender Is The Night," songs are playful, coy, and soul warming. Chris's music is rich in metaphor, heart and instrumentation...this is a show not to be missed. Saturday evening is loaded with options but you may pick only one as they are all at the same time. Local boy Ryan Emms CD Release Party "Couldn't Be Better" is happening at Atlantica Oak Island Resort from 4 - 6 pm. Donations to IWK for Sick Kids.  www.facebook.com/rtemms. The Chester Baptist Church is hosting a Kohl Canon supper from 4:30 - 6:00 pm. Get over there right after lunch. "After, Even After - with a Twist" is a dinner theatre presentation by the Accidental Actors sponsored by the Shoreham Village Ladies Auxiliary at the Chester Legion. Doors open 5:30 pm and the play starts at 7pm. Roast piglet is on the menu.Tickets are $25 and are available at Shoreham Village office, Bank of Nova Scotia or Gerri Allen @ 902-275-3817. On Sunday the Gold River Gold Mines Tour is happening from 1:30 - 3:30pm. A two hour guided walking tour of the West Side of Gold River Gold Mines, part of the Nova Scotia Gold Rush of the 1860s.  All proceeds in support of Chester Municipal Heritage Society. For more info/reservation (a must) call 902-275-3718. Pat and Angela await you at the Village Emporium on Pleasant Street. A delightful shop with something for everyone from books to jewelry to clothing and everything in between. Think Christmas and think "Shop Local." Monday there is a Chester Garden Club meeting at the St. Stephen's Hall at 6:30pm. Guest Speaker Svenja Dee will demonstrate how to make a seasonal wreath and a seasonal centerpiece. Refreshments followed by AGM. New members welcome. Tuesday evening at 7pm the "Friends of Nature" will hold their AGM at the Baptist Church Hall. Guest Speaker Rosemarie Lohnes will speak on her Living Shorelines Project. Rosemarie has been working with the Ecology Action Centre on ways to minimize coastal erosion without destroying the living ecosystems of our shorelines. Mary-Frances Lynch will provide an update on the South Canoe Wind Farm; Jamie Simpson will speak on the latest developments in sustainable harvesting practices in Nova Scotia. All are welcome.

"Energizer Bunny Arrested: Charged with Battery." Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!

November 5th, 2014 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings! Today is a day of celebration for Susan and Christine at the Post Office. The girls have only been counting down the days for 3 years now and today is IT ! Join them at the Fo'c'sle Pub after 5 pm when they slam the doors behind them at the PO for the last time. It's also Guy Fawkes Day so feel free to unleash your inner Pyro. On the topic of retirement we would like to thank Doctor George Jollymore for all his years of untiring service to the village and we wish him all the best.                                                                                                                   Dolly Hancock photo

This Week in Chester We were invited to partake in a full moon sauerkraut making day last week which was a wonderful learning experience. This is an all day event as one needs to allow time to drink beer. Don't forget to buy your OHC 50/50 tickets at participating retailers. Vast sums to be won ! How's your gingerbread creation coming along? Burnt any yet? To enter the Gingerbread competition email art@amicasgallery.ca for an entry form, or pick up a form at the Chester Pharmasave . Mail completed forms to Gingerbread Competition, P.O. Box 508 Chester NS B0J 1J0 or email information required to art@amicasgallery.ca . Registration must be received by 5pm Saturday, November 15th. You must register to enter. Today is also the last day to enter Going Coastal's One-of-a-Kind Christmas Show. They are looking for artists and artisans that create one-of-a-kind limited edition Christmas/winter art, crafts, home decor and giftware. Send up to 10 images of your work to be considered to goingcoastal@hotmail.ca complete with name and a small bio. First come first served juried show, artists will be notified of results by email. Accepted works to be dropped off at the gallery 41 Queen St. Chester by November 12th. The show will run November 15th-December 22nd. Friday is Prescription Drug drop-off at the Chester Pharmasave from 10 am to 3 pm. Turn in your expired, unused prescription drugs, it prevents medications from falling into the wrong hands. Jazzette are playing at the Kiwi Café Sunday from noon until 2pm. Get there early to assure a seat and get your order in for Lynda's yummy eggs benny...and maybe a brownie to go? This Sunday the Chester Municipal Heritage Society is holding their second two hour guided walking tour of the West side of Gold River Gold Mines from 1:30 - 3:30 pm.  Adults $10, children (7-12) $5 and under 6 years are free. For more info/reservations (a must) call 902 275-3718. Next Tuesday is Remembrance Day. Get to the Cenotaph before 1100 and share in the very moving ceremony.

Irony. The opposite of Wrinkly. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!