July 29th, 2015 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings! Well, that's it. That's July done. How did that happen? How did an entire month just disappear? Life is like a roll of toilet paper, the closer you get to the end, the faster it goes. The Lightfoot Tower tea party last week was a great success due largely to the weather and all the folks who showed up. Last weekend the Chester Yacht Club had a "build your own boat" race with hilarious results. Kudos to the organizers and participants.                                                                                                       Cathy Ross Photo

This Week in Chester The Chester Playhouse presents the comedy "God of Carnage" which runs tonight until Saturday at 8 pm with a 2 pm matinee on Saturday as well.The play follows the meeting of a pair of parents following a scuffle between their sons. The parents meet to discuss the issue and while the overtures are polite and civilized, the underpinnings suggest something far less so. As the evening progresses, the discussion deconstructs, resulting in a wickedly funny comedy where the gloves come off. Tomorrow,Thursday, the Chester Garden Club's Annual Flower Show & Tea will be held at the Legion from 1:30 - 5 pm. Tea will be served from 2 - 4 pm. The competition is open to members and the rest of us. Get there early or all those delightful sandwiches with the crusts cut off will be gone. Friday is the weekly Farmer's Market at the old Train Station from 10-2pm. Stop by the Laughing Whale coffee stand and ask that cute boy for a sample of their "Oh la la" blend. It will wake you up with a slap on the face. There is movement afoot for a softball game this Sunday at 11am. The venue is the base ball park at the very end of Lower Grant Road. There is a lake for swimming and a lovely beach so bring your swim suit. All ages and levels of skill are welcome. Those with no level of skill are invited to cook the hot dogs, keep score and cheer when prompted. Bring your own drinks. The more the merrier. For further info contact Katie.    kt-mac@hotmail.com Sunday is the annual Lobster Supper at Bonny Lea Farm from 4 -7 pm.Take-out service is available from 3 - 6 pm. There will be live entertainment, raffle and door prizes. For info/tickets call 902 275-5622 Ext. 221 /  www.bonnyleafarm.ca Sunday evening at 7 pm a group of young fiddlers, "String Fever," will be performing at the Chester Bandstand. Traditional fiddle tunes with a twist. Go check them out. Composer and concert pianist Lucas Porter from Chezzetcook will be showcasing his talents at the Chester Playhouse this Sunday at 8 pm. Enjoy an evening of classical music featuring highlights such as Chopin, Prokofiev and other dead composers. Lucas is the winner of a number of honors and accolades, he has represented Canada in Japan during the 2005 Expo, played for the Canada Winter Games in 2011, and has done a joint concert performance with Symphony Nova Scotia... all while he was under the legal drinking age. Extreme Nova Scotia talent right here on our doorstep. 902-275-3933 to dial up the maestro. Next Tuesday the Duke Street Divas have banded together to sponsor Amanda Riley at the "Picnic in the Park." Chez Lass Glass, Light My Fire and Luna Spa have joined forces to bring this show to you at 6 pm at Lordly Park. Get your picnic basket organized and get over there. Corkscrew? Check. Tomas Kubinek lands on stage at the Chester Playhouse opening next Wednesday. A rip roaring revival of strong man stunts, couples counseling, snake healings,and mass hypnosis that leaves audiences dazed, beaming and in love with life once again. All this from a little fellow who weighs less than 130 pounds and is 98% water. Get tickets now because this show will sell out. The Chester Art Centre is having a celebration at 60 Queen Street next Thursday at 5:30 pm for bubbly and a preview of "A Shade of Grey," an exhibition of contemporary photographic masterworks curated by Christopher Porter. This will be followed by fine dining under the Big Top from Team Tom Connors and their unique, only-in-Chester auction experience.  A week in Blighty? A Villa in Anguilla? All that and more for $125 a person with a tax receipt available. Help support the year round work of the Chester Art Centre offering over 100 classes, workshops and lectures last year. Call 902 275-5789 to reserve. Don't miss out. Brochure

Two geese in a dispute is a pillow fight ahead of its time. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!

July 22nd, 2015 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release                                                                                                 Victoria Mcgregor  photo                            Greetings! This is big news : The Chester Art Centre received a very nice grant from ACOA yesterday. Congratulations to the board and the volunteers for their hard work to make this happen. Yippeee !!! In lesser news...my cat, Jet, slipped into the toilet this morning. No, that is not a euphemism for his demise, he literally slid, front paws leading the way, into the American Standard. Apparently the bowl of water I have for him is not big enough.

This Week in Chester The Chester Playhouse presents the hilarious comedy "God of Carnage" opening tonight at 8 pm and running till Saturday with two matinée performances on Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm. God of Carnage follows the meeting of a pair of parents following a scuffle between their sons. The parents meet to discuss the issue and while the overtures are polite and civilized, the underpinnings suggest something far less so. As the evening progresses, the discussion deconstructs, resulting in a wickedly funny comedy where the gloves come off. Malcolm Callaway is painting - right now- as you read this. His show opens tomorrow night, Thursday, at Amicus Gallery, 20 Pleasant Street from 6 - 8 pm and runs until August 5th when you may pick up your new piece. The paint should be dry by then. Drop down and see what delights Malcolm has created for us this summer. Did someone say wine? Tomorrow, Thursday, Alfred and Zoe Lightfoot invite you to their annual Garden Party in the Zoe Valle Library grounds from 5-7 pm. Refreshments, games and merriment. Dig deep in your closet for something pink to wear. The farmers, fisherman and well, just about everyone, will be at the Market at the Train Station this Friday from 10-2 pm. The fish swam up there themselves. Sunday evening the Mahone Bay Legion Swing Band takes the stage at the Chester Bandstand at 7 pm. Get "In the Mood" for some old jazz and swing tunes and "Get Down" with your bad self. CBC's "Madly Off" Lorne Elliott graces the stage of the Chester Playhouse at 8 pm Sunday night. His performance "The Upside of the Downturn" is a selection of his current monologues and songs dealing with life experiences. Redefining priorities in view of life events, Lorne enjoys shaking the perceived wisdom of the world around him. His one-man show is delightfully foolish, witty and thought-provoking, combining dry humor with musical parodies and skits. I got a ticket and you can too @ 902-275-3933 The opening of "Underneath it All"  was a huge success last Sunday and the exhibit of early undergarments is on display until September at the Lordly House Museum,133 Central Street. Stop in from Tuesday to Saturday to see what "lies beneath." Chester Gold & Silver located under the Tradewinds conglomerate on Queen Street now features a selection of jewelry and other small treasures from around the world, including an 18 karat gold, diamond crested, custom made pin and pendant sailboat. They're also accepting select jewelry on consignment, offering watch battery changes and other repair services. Stop by and see Diana, your local gold and silver expert. Next Tuesday "Picnic in the Park" presents Kevin and the Gypsy Minstrels from 6-8pm sponsored by GN Thermoforming Equipment. This promises to be a great evening of entertainment. Are you interested in getting the most out of your smart phone video app?  Thanks to a grant from the Provincial Government (your tax dollars) the Chester Municipal Heritage Society in collaboration with Pink Dog Productions is offering a two hour workshop on the latest techniques for great videos. The program is free but participants are encouraged to record some oral history of an elder in the region for the Heritage Society's archives.  The workshop takes place from 3 - 5pm next Thursday, July 30th. To register, contact Dawn at dawnhj@gmail.com. There is also an editing workshop this Friday with limited seating at Maple Cottage on Regent Street. Contact Dawn for that as well. How does your garden look this year? Got anything worthy of a blue ribbon? The Chester Garden Club's annual Flower Show and Tea will be held next Thursday, July 30th, at the Chester Legion from 1:30- 5 pm. Tea will be served from 2- 4 pm. This competition is open to all. To enter your prize winning pansy go here. Brochure

The ability to speak several languages is an asset. The ability to keep your mouth shut in any language is priceless. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!

July 15th, 2015 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings! Summer has officially arrived. The SUVs are on the loose, the Labradoodles are on the leash and the Lululemons are on the lam. We are awash in a sea of "Nantucket red" cotton, Land's End "faint blush" linen and LLBean "heritage stone" denim. Ahhh...summer in Chester.

This Week in Chester The Galapalooza last weekend was a knock out ! Congratulations to the Chester Playhouse staff, board and volunteers. I hope you all got to see "Death the Musical." This was a co production of the Chester Drama Society and the Chester Playhouse in memory of Brian Crocker and in support of the Playhouse Foundation. Yeah team ! Brian would be proud. Albert Schultz's "Frankly, Sinatra" is onstage at the Chester Playhouse tonight at 8pm and the rest of the week with a 2 pm matinée on Sunday. Albert is the founding artistic director of Toronto's Soulpepper Theatre Company and is known across the country for his work on the stage and screen. "This show is my open rumination on the life and singular art of this complicated icon. It is a celebration and tribute to the man who defined the classic American songbook." 902-275-3933 for tickets. Light my Fire studio is celebrating their 10th anniversary. Stop by the Duke Street studio and join in the celebration. Judy and Bill have a large selection of unique hand made products and a huge dipping tank where you can create your own candles. With any purchase you may enter in a monthly gift basket draw. Cameron's Antiques is located at 101 Valley Road. Stop in and visit between 10 am - 4:30pm. There is something for everyone here and Wayne is a wealth of knowledge. Group of Seven, Maud Lewis, appraisals and lots of cool stuff. I popped in for a minute and stayed for an hour. Lots to learn here. This is a little gem to be explored. Friday the Farmers in the Dell are back at the Train Station. Go early or the arugula will wilt. Saturday has the annual Chester Garden Tour from 11 am - 4 pm (monsoon or not) featuring seven delightful gardens. Jodi Delong will finish the day with a Q&A at Oceanview Garden Centre. Tickets are available at the VIC (Info Centre) at the train station. Dial up 902 275-4616 or email info@chesterareans.ca for breaking news. Sunday is the opening of "Underneath it All" - mentioning the unmentionables- at Lordly House Museum,133 Central Street. The Heritage Society's guest speaker will be on deck @  2:30 pm at St. Stephen's Hall. A guided tour and opening of exhibit to follow at Lordly House with refreshments. Everyone is welcome visit the early days of Victoria's Secret. Sunday evening The Chester Brass Band will be playing at the Bandstand at 7 pm. Dress up, bring a lawn chair and cocktail shaker.  For more info call 902 857-3943.   On Monday the Chester Garden Club will be demonstrating flower arrangement techniques for the upcoming flower show next month. Join them at St. Stephen's Hall @6:30 for 7:00 pm. Bring a friend. Bring two. Next Monday and the following Monday (July 20th & 27th) the Chester Art Centre presents Anthony Hughes teaching the Fundamentals of Digital Photography. You will learn how to use your digital camera and improve your photography skills. This could open up a whole new world for you and Siri.Through hands-on demonstrations you will discover how to get the most from your digital camera. For more info call 902 275-5789 / www.chesterartcentre.ca Next Tuesday "Picnic in the Park" presents "FOG" (Four Old Guys) from 6-8 pm sponsored by your scribes Dolly and Suzi. Bring a blanket and a picnic basket. Brochure

Tomorrow (noun): A mystical land where 99% of all human productivity, motivation and achievement is stored. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!

July 8th, 2015 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings! I think the thermometer has stayed above 10C overnight all week... at last. Perfect for paint touch ups on these old wooden houses of ours and it certainly helped get the new paint job on the Chester Train Station completed for a number of events this week. It looks mighty smart. Take a peek. Good job all round.

This Week in Chester Thursday July 9 Shelley Mitchell has her opening from 6-8pm at the Amicus Gallery. The bi-weekly openings at the Gallery, now on a Thursday rather than Friday, are a great way to get a culture fix and make the weekend feel longer. Friday, 10-2pm head up to the shiny new Train Station for the Farmer's Market. Along with all the fresh fish, meat, eggs, bread, produce, soap and crafts etc - pick up some of Rukhsana Aslam's curries - spicy and delicious. Saturday, July 11 is busy!: You can start with Breakfast at the Chester Legion from 7:30 to 10:30 am.  Enjoy eggs (any way you like them), French toast, hash browns, beans, bacon, sausage, toast, tea/coffee and juice. Then hurtle up to the Train Station for the Chester Municipal Heritage Society Auction & Flea Market . Flea Market starts at 9:00 am and the Auction at 9:30 am.  For more info/donations, contact 902 275-3826. (Rain date July 12 at 1:00 pm). Then jump on your bike, or in your car and head to Graves Island for the 36th Annual Mackerel Snappers Picnic from 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm. Raindate:  Sunday, July 12. Mackerel Dinner $10 includes: Grilled Mackerel, New Potatoes, Old Fashion Cukes & Cream, Tea, Coffee or Juice and Pie for Dessert. There will also be a canteen with hot dogs, pop, chips and bars.  There will be Musical Entertainment for the whole family, Games of Chance, Merchandise Wheel, Lobster/Scallop Wheel and a Fish Pond. For more info call Della 902 275-2174 or Tammy 902 275-3107. If that's not enough, Saturday evening brings The Chester Playhouse Annual Galapalooza 6:00-9:00pm at the Captain's House in Chester. This year's major fundraiser will be a night to remember. From 6-9 pm they will offer you an evening of exquisite food from Cocoa Pesto Catering, full bar and cocktails, Music with Paul and Eilidh Buchanan, and a special musical showcase from Albert Schultz of Soulpepper Theatre. There will be a large selection of raffle items, a superb golf package auction and some great surprises! Tickets are $150.00 per person and a tax receipt will be issued for a portion of that price. Call 902 275-3393 to see if there are any tickets left. For those still standing on Sunday, the Chester Playhouse are holding a Family Fun Fair on the grounds of the Captain's House, in Chester from 2-6pm. There will be a musical entertainment, BBQ, magician, puppet, bounce around, show, photo booth, a collaborative art project, and various outdoor games. $5 per person at the door. For more info call 902 275-3933. From there, it's just a few short steps to the Bandstand in Parade Square where the Chester Basin Dixieland Band will be playing at 7pm.  Originally a sub-group of Chester Brass, they'll have you whistling Dixie, swinging to Sweet Georgia Brown and imagining the streets of New Orleans. Everyone is welcome. Dress for the weather and bring a lawn chair or blanket. For more info call Payson Rowell at 902 857-3943. Monday through Friday, The Chester Art Centre presents the first of their hugely popular Kids' Art Camps, this one led by the incredibly imaginative Heather Wilkinson. 'If Fishes Were Wishes' is the morning class for four-to-six year olds, and 'Sea Dreams' will activate the imaginations of seven-to-ten year-olds in the afternoons.  For more info call the Centre at 902 275-5789 or visit:  www.chesterartcentre.ca.  This coming Tuesday, July 14th,  JoAnn Wells & friends are playing in Lordly Park for Picnic (and dancing) in the Park 6-8pm. Free admission...Donations for the band gratefully accepted..... sponsored by Chester Building Supplies. If it's raining Tuesday, then we dance on Wednesday, if it's raining Wednesday, we dance on Thursday!  Check www.chester.ca for event cancellation. Finally, catch Albert Schultz's Frankly, Sinatra July 14th-18th at the Chester Playhouse. Tickets are $34 for adults, $20 for youth. Albert does Frank 'His Way' and it's great. Contact 902 275 3933 for tickets. Brochure

Time to give back on Monday, 13th at the Blood Donor Clinic at the Chester Legion from 1-3pm and again from 5-8pm.  For more info call 1-888-236-6283. PS don't forget to keep buying your OHC 50/50 tickets. The Other One for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!

July 1st, 2015 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings! Well, this is it. Summer as we know it, is here. Happy Canada Day ! It's as good a reason as any to open the bar early and start the day off with a bang. Go. Go now. It's 5 o'clock somewhere.

This Week in Chester Tonight at 8 pm the Chester Drama Society presents "Death the Musical: Karaoke at the Afterlife Bar and Grill" at the Playhouse.  It runs until  Saturday, July 4 with a matinee on Saturday at 2 pm. Do NOT miss this.Tonight is sold out so check your dance card for the rest of the week and dial up thePlayhouse @ 902-275-3933 to get your tickets NOW. Tonight is also Canada Day celebration fireworks. Head over to Freda's Beach at 10 pm and prepare to be awed. Several groups in the village have worked together on this, and that alone, is cause for celebration. The upper and lower decks are open at the Rope Loft tonight. It's a bird's eye view of the fireworks and someone will even bring you a drink ! What could be better than that? Nicki's is open from Thursday to Sunday nights with the very special carvery every Sunday from 5-8 pm. Nicki told me to remind you that it is business as usual and she invites you all to come. Friday the farmers are at the Market at the train station from 10-2 pm. Go buy something. It's good for you. Sunday night the Bridgewater Fire Department Band is performing at the Bandstand @ 7 pm. Marches, hymns and toe tapping tunes - this band is fantastic ! Bundle up your little bundles of joy and come down. 902-529-0016.   The Chester Heritage Society Annual Auction and Flea Market will be held July 11th at 9 am at the Chester Train Station.This is  a major fund raiser for the Heritage Society and your support is  needed. Donations of items suitable for auction (gently used I think is the phrase) are gratefully accepted. Donations may be dropped off at Maple Cottage next to Lordly House @75 Regent Street or to arrange a pickup call the Heritage Squad... Gary @ 902-275-5309 / Danny @ 902-275-3718 /Jim @ 902-277-0618 / Carol @ 902-275-3826. Rain date is July 12th beginning at 1 PM. Bring a chair or your legs will never forgive you. Next Monday and Tuesday the Chester Art Centre presents Susan Paterson, leading a class in Still Life Painting in Watercolor. For further info call 902-275-5789. Tuesday, July 7th, Picnic (and dancing) is in the Lordly Park from 6-8pm. The Fo'c'sle Pub has sponsored this evening of Andy and Ariana to sing at the park that night. If you saw Ariana's "Edith Piaf" show at the Playhouse, you won't want to miss this evening of song. Meals for the musicians are generously provided by the Stretch Diner. Free admission...Donations gratefully accepted. If it's raining Tuesday, then we dance on Wednesday, if it's raining Wednesday, we dance on Thursday. www.chester.ca for cancellation info. Also on Tuesday evening the Chester Yacht Club is hosting their annual ladies "Little Black Dress Event" from 6-9pm. This is an evening of wine, hors d'oeuvres, live music and unbridled shopping. Bring your estrogen tablets and join in the fun. 902-275-3747 for tickets. The Chester Playhouse Annual Galapalooza is Saturday, July 11th from 6 -9 pm at the Captain's House. An evening of exquisite food, music, raffle items, a superb golf package auction with some great surprises and booze from Bishop's Cellar. Get your tickets now as this is always a sell out. Brochure

Insanity does not run in my family. Rather, it strolls through, taking its time, getting to know everyone personally. Happy Canada Day ! Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!