September 21st, 2016 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings! We are a village of dry wells. Has your trout succumbed? If so, fill out this form. Graves Island is the new Fountain of Youth, or at least a watering hole. Water refills and showers are available there. The Rope Loft and Fo'c'sle Pub have suds. Forget your water woes and have a beer ! This Week in Chester  Light My Fire studio is getting a facelift. They are doing an exterior renovation over the next few weeks. Feel free to stop by, check out the progress and tell them how you would have done it. The Chester Farmers' and Artisan Market is at the train station this Friday from 10 - 2 pm. Just in the nick of time, the Chester Drama Society is having a costume sale next Saturday, October 1st,  from 10am - 2pm at the Old Train Station. Create your own Halloween costume from their hand-me-downs. Erin Gore, Master Dresser for the Chester Playhouse will help you with advice and instruction. Got a job interview? Knock them out with your vintage look. Maybe a little racy number for your witness protection program meeting on Monday? Clothing from the 50s, 60s, 70s & 80s, Men's & Women's Accessories, Children's Apparel, Shoes & Boots, Hats & Gloves, Fabric, Costumes. Bring cash. Proceeds from the sale will go toward future purchases or rentals for upcoming productions for the Drama Society.                                                                Every Monday from now until eternity, it's "Musical Monday." All programs are free and are held at St. Stephen's Hall @ 54 Regent Street. Sessions will be cancelled if there is no skool (holidays / snow days). 1:00 pm: Vintage Voices -  For anyone who loves music from the 30s to the 60s. 2:00 pm:  Musical Friends Choir -Students from Chester District are walked from the school, given a snack, and learn popular songs both old and new. 3:00 pm: "Last summer at Band Camp...."  Older elementary youth are joined by Middle School students and learn guitar, bass, piano and drums. Occasional guest teachers include violin and other specialties. 4:00 pm: Tuneful Tots -  ie - short ones. For more info call 902 275-3804. The Chester Playhouse is excited to welcome back Dave Gunning next Saturday, October 1st, at 7:30pm. Dave has the gift of captivating audiences by painting pictures through his heartfelt stories and compelling songwriting, humorous lyrics and stunning musical arrangements. Over the past 20 years Gunning has earned a shelf full of music industry awards including eight East Coast Music Awards, two Canadian Folk Music Awards and a 2012 JUNO award nomination for Roots & Traditional Solo Album of the Year. Get your tickets now as Dave always sells out here in the Hamlet. Brochure A man asks a farmer near a field, "Would you mind if I crossed your field instead of going around it as I have to catch the 4:23 train." The farmer replied, "Of course, go right ahead. If my bull sees you, you might even catch the 4:11." Your scribe is taking next week off. Check the P O notice board for breaking news. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!

September 14th, 2016 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release                                                                                             Dr John Curry Photo                                                        Greetings! The morning temperatures have dropped and there is wood smoke in the air. Autumn is here. This is the time of year we all wait for. Summer-mania is over. It's time to chill. Why not test out our new blue ferry? Take a ride over to Big or Little Tancook. Pack a picnic and make a day of it. This Week in Chester  The Chester Farmers' and Artisan Market is at the train station this Friday from 10 - 2 pm. Get there early or you will miss out on the tomatoes. Your little Green Gremlins are now back to their biweekly routine. Don't wheelie your green bin out when it's not your week, unless you plan to drive it around town to an alternate week A or B location. The Tim Horton's "Smile" cookie campaign is on now until Sunday. When you purchase a Smile Cookie for one dollar, 100% of the proceeds from every morsel sold will help support OHC. Buy now, buy often. The Chester Playhouse presents Zuppa Theatre's 2012 hit show "Slowly I Turn" this Friday. The curtain goes up at 7:30pm. Alternating between contemporary conversation and vintage vaudeville sketches and songs, "Slowly I Turn" is a metaphorical love letter to theatre and family.                                                            Chester is a super venue for Pokémon Go players. For those of you who don't know - the GO means doing a lot of walking and visiting Pokéstops located at points of interest in the village. Our tree lined streets dotted with delightful shops and restaurants are an easy walk to get your Poké groove on. We have 12 Pokéstops and 2 Gyms all within easy walking distance. Saturday afternoon there will be lures throughout the village. Make us your weekend destination. Happy hunting! Next Monday at 6:30pm the Chester Garden Club presents Andrew Breen from the Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation. Andrew will discuss their progress with the endangered Atlantic Whitefish, past, present and future at St. Stephen's Hall at 54 Regent Street. All are welcome. This has absolutely nothing to do with Chester but I saw this clip last night. It is a vignette of the history of the Volvo Ocean Race. It will remind you how nice it is to be home.                                                                    Sometimes smoking does save lives                                                                   Brochure You matter. Unless you multiply yourself by the speed of light. Then you energy. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!

September 7th, 2016 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings! Well that was a lovely longish weekend and the weather cooperated i.e. no hurricane. We've turned the corner and are marching into leaf season. The Hamlet is having a little hangover nap before it gears up for autumn. Breathe deeply. Repeat.

This Week in Chester  The Chester Farmers' and Artisan Market is at the train station this Friday from 10 - 2 pm. You can buy absolutely everything you need there, except maybe a fridge. This Saturday is breakfast at the Chester Legion from 7:30 - 10:30 am. Eggs (any way you like them), frog pain grillé, hash browns, beans, bacon, sausage, toast, tea/coffee and juice. Why not make tracks this weekend to the latest QE2 Grand Prize Cottage Lottery viewing at Skipper Hill Estates and Marina in Chester Basin. The cottage is open from 11am- 6pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This could be yours for a hundred bucks ! Here's another kick at the can for a $100 piece of real estate..."Chester is having its first Real Estate auction. The owner of a luxury property at East River Point is sending it to auction without a reserve price." It will all happen 'online' September 22nd at 10am. There is a daily open house from 1 - 4pm until Sept 21st.  Get out your Sir Robert Borden and see where it takes you.                                                                  Forman Hawboldt Industry, circa 1950 If you're a fan of Poppy Balser's watercolours she'll be giving a class in "Planning a watercolor from start to finish," next Monday and Tuesday at the Chester Art Centre from 9 am - 4 pm. $140, material list supplied. Bring your Snoopy pail. SCANS is a non-profit organization that offers non-credit courses taught by Seniors for Seniors. Experience the joy of learning without the pressure of exams or assignments.You will meet new friends and open your mind to new possibilities in our ever changing world. There is a registration and information session next Tuesday, September 13th at St Stephen's Hall @ 2pm. Courses start October 11th and 12th for 6 weeks: "Ethical  Issues in the  Media"  with Kevin Cox; Judicial Progressivism in the Supreme Court of Canada with Fred Vaughan. The $155.25 yearly membership fee entitles you to attend any number of courses for one year. There are three semesters and courses are offered in Chester, Mahone Bay, Liverpool, HRM and Truro. Brochure

Mixed feelings: Watching your mother - in- law backing up to the edge of a cliff in your new BMW. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!