August 30th, 2017 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings! Tomorrow is the last day of August ! How did THAT happen? Get out on the water before it snows again. Dial up Piers at the Kayak Shack on Water Street and get out and explore the bay. The water is warm and by all reports, there is no hurricane expected here this week. This Week in Chester  Today is the last Wednesday to drop in at Lordly House at 133 Central Street from 1:30-3:30 pm. Enjoy a glass of lemonade or iced tea, help with handcraft projects, stories and join the conversation. This Friday is the weekly Chester Farmers' and Artisan Market at the Chester Visitor Information Centre AKA the old train station. Stock up for the long weekend. The Village Emporium on Pleasant Street is having a sale on their classic Chester Pictorial History Books. $25 will buy you a very interesting read. Why not pick up a few?  Christmas is coming. This Labour Day weekend there is a sale at Blue Shutters Antiques and Art Gallery located at the entrance to Graves Island Park in East Chester. They are offering 10-20% off all inventory and artwork. The Kiwi Café has a new addition - the Kiwi Pantry. This new space is bursting with goodies to take home: frozen entrees; local products; "Taste of Mauritus" spice blends; jams; honey; linen tea towels  - a veritable buffet of things to take away.                                                                                                             Lynda Flinn photo Next Saturday, September 9th, Chester will be alive with the biggest pARTy of the year. "Canada 150 Chester Creates !"  Art, music, and fun and ... it's FREE ! This event kicks off at 10 am and runs through till 4 pm, so get out and pARTicipate. Grab an ART Map at the Chester Art Centre at 60 Queen and follow the ART map to events sprinkled throughout the village. Watch Holly Carr paint a work on silk at Lordly Park, or practice your graffiti art with Bryan Reid up at the Skate Park. Make a driftwood sculpture with Lisa Aiken at Freda's Beach, or try your hand at batik with Rosi Robinson at the Art Centre. You will find Gwen Dueck, Malcolm Callaway and Dawn Harwood-Jones at the bandstand, and scattered on street corners, artists like Allan Carver, who works with soap bubbles, world-renowned chalk artist Dave Johnston and jugglers and stilt-walkers from Atlantic Cirque. Join Simon Copas and Michel Gerard Doucet as they paint plein air on the Blockhouse Hill, just up from the Tancook Ferry wharf. Try your hand at clay art with Teresa Bergen at Lordly Park or collage work with Lynda Shalagan at the Art Centre. Don't forget to throw in a round of the Colour Games at Blockhouse Hill and Lordly Park. There will be music too. Folk, country, contemporary, Celtic and Acadian with performers like The Blue Lane, Collage, Jeanne Nash, Know Issue, Jim Kovalcik, Paul and Eilidh Buchanan and Samba Nova and more. There will be special meal offerings on the menus from the eateries around the village. In the event of rain, all events will be held at the Chester Rink. 902-275-5789 for further inquiries / chesterartcentre@ns.aliantzinc.ca Brochure A doctor, a dentist and a lawyer were in a boat together when a wave came along and washed them all overboard. Unable to get back into the boat, they decided two would hold on to the boat and the third would swim to shore for help but they realized there were hundreds of sharks between them and land. Without a word the lawyer stared swimming. As he swam the sharks parted to make way. The dentist yelled, "It's a miracle!" "No," said the doctor, "professional courtesy." Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!

August 23rd, 2017 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings! Well, the lid came off the blender last week. There were so many people at the Yacht Club last Friday night the crowd literally picked you up and moved you along - no footwork required. I felt like I was at Times Square on New Years Eve. Here's a little drone action from last week. This Week in Chester  This week is the Coveside Classic Horse Show at Coveside Stables located at # 273 Haddon Hill Road from today, Wednesday, until Sunday. You can't miss the monster gates as you drive into the hamlet from exit 8. Now in its 9th year, this show is the largest and most prestigious horse competition east of Quebec. There are over 170 entries and you are invited to the show. You gotta see this venue to believe it - it is out of this world. Bear in mind that horses are unpredictable so keep an eye on the short ones and please respect the parking signage. Tonight, Wednesday, the Chester Playhouse presents 'Bring the Piano' with Randy Vancourt, an award winning composer and performer who has appeared across Canada and the US touring as a musician, playwright and comic. Vancourt has written numerous successful musicals and has been the musical director for dozens of stage productions. Randy will be performing his one man musical comedy about the travails of a traveling musician - from masquerading as a philatelist in the Yukon to narrowly avoiding a South Pole sinking.The show runs tonight at 8pm until Saturday with a 2pm matinée Saturday. The Farmers' and Artisan Market is open for business this Friday from 10 -2 pm (rain or shine).  The gardens are exploding with produce so get over there and load up. Strap on the water wings as this Friday the Lido Pool is celebrating its 50th birthday ! Everyone is invited to come by from 12:30 - 2:30pm for cake and celebrations. The pool was built by Chester Municipality in 1967 to commemorate Canada's Centennial and now 50 years later they are celebrating Canada's 150th. The Lido is open from late June until early September with lifeguards on duty during operating hours. Bring your noodle. Light My Fire Candle Studio on Duke Street is having a dip and cut class this Saturday from 11-3pm. All ages are welcome to dip and cut for  $20/person - take home your new candle for the love of your life or your cat. I have a recipe to share with you. You can throw all that greenery you bought at the market on top of this dish to offset the carb factor. This is the cheesiest, creamiest pasta you will ever have. 2 cups dry pasta 3 cups milk 1 cup shredded sharp/old cheese - not store bought. Get the grater out and shred it yourself  - this will not work if you use that pre shredded plastic crap 1 tsp salt 1 tsp dijon fresh ground pepper Put dry pasta and milk in a sturdy saucepan. Bring to simmer then reduce to low and cook for 20 minutes. Make sure the pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot. Stir often and don't let it boil. Cook till al dente. Remove from heat. Add cheese, salt and mustard and stir. Let sit 5 minutes. Stir again. Add more milk if necessary. It's like adult Kraft Dinner.   Next Tuesday is the final Picnic in the Park of the summer season. This event is sponsored by All Outdoors Landscaping. Jamie Junger and friends will be on stage at 6 pm so grab the rug rats, load up the cooler and go fishin' for some pickles. Brochure OK. Okay. Okaaaay ! Here are the answers to last weeks quiz: 1 The one sport in which neither the spectators nor the participants know the score or the leader until the contest ends: Boxing. 2 North American landmark constantly moving backward: Niagara Falls .. The rim is worn down about two and a half feet each year because of the millions of gallons of water that rush over it every minute. 3 Only two vegetables that can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons: Asparagus and rhubarb. 4 The fruit with its seeds on the outside:    Strawberry. 5 How did the pear get inside the brandy bottle? It grew inside the bottle. The bottles are placed over pear buds when they are small, and are wired in place on the tree. The bottle is left in place for the entire growing season. When the pears are ripe, they are snipped off at the stems. 6 Three English words beginning with dw: Dwarf, dwell and dwindle... 7 Fourteen punctuation marks in English grammar: Period, comma, colon, semicolon, dash, hyphen, apostrophe, question mark, exclamation point, quotation mark, brackets, parenthesis, braces, and ellipses. 8 The only vegetable or fruit never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form but fresh: Lettuce. 9 Six or more things you can wear on your feet beginning with 'S': Shoes, socks, sandals, sneakers, slippers, skis, skates, snowshoes, stockings, stilts. After much research, experimentation and consideration, I have decided that adulthood is not for me. Thank you for the opportunity. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!

August 16th, 2017 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings! I went to "Motown: The Musical" this spring. There was a large sign posted at the ticket booth that said "Please refrain from singing along at the show." I laughed and thought to myself "Who would do that?" Well, the guy directly behind me, that's who. He belted out every Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and Supremes tune he knew. I "heard it through the grapevine" the entire night. I feel a bit like that about the kid's show this week. No, it's not Motown - it's Robin Hood. I have listened to them practice next door at the Legion for the past month and I know all the words by heart. The enthusiasm these kids are bringing to the stage for this show is palpable. The camaraderie, the new friendships - this is a "must see" performance. I will sit at the back and promise not to sing along.

This Week in Chester  Tonight, Wednesday, at 7pm and running until this Saturday, the Chester Playhouse Summer Theatre School will be presenting Robin Hood The Legendary Musical Comedy. There is also a matinée on Saturday at 2 pm. The play was originally created by Halifax's Shakespeare By The Sea and tells a hilarious tale of the impossibly handsome Robin of Locksley returning from the Crusades expecting a hero's welcome but instead finds that Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham have taken over and are taxing the poor. Robin then must join an unlikely band of outlaws to seek revenge, correct bad grammar and right the wrongs of society. This irreverent musical features comedic lyrics and amusing twists on the familiar legend. Tickets are available here or by Ma Bell @ 902-275-3933. The On-Line Fish Guys will be heading back to the books soon so it's time to think about stocking up with fresh fish and frozen seafood. Race Week sandwiches, picnics and parties are so much better with fresh fish and seafood. Order now and have it delivered right to your door or boat. They have haddock, halibut, salmon, fish cakes, bacon-wrapped scallops, shrimp, individually frozen scallops and lobster meat.  info@onlinefishguys.com Today is the kick off of Chester Race Week. This is the week to park your moral compass and change your name. There are three great food trucks on the grounds at the CYC to complement the beer consumption. The Yacht Club is open to all comers this week so drop down and watch the races. The Hopping Penguins will open and close Chester Race Week on Wednesday and Saturday, Party Boots will be on stage Thursday night and Friday they have one of Atlantic Canada's finest dance bands "Asia NuGruv."  It's Oyster Fest time at White Gate ! To celebrate Chester Race Week 2017, White Gate Restaurant at 28 Pleasant Street will be serving up oysters on the deck all week. Starting at 5pm today, Wednesday, through Saturday drop by and slurp some oysters...and why not stay for dinner? White Gate is open this week from 5 - 9pm for dinner tonight through Saturday, with lunch on Saturday from 11:30 am and brunch on Sunday from 11:30 -2 pm and dinner Sunday from 5 - 8 pm. Reservations recommended 902-275-4400. Bob is serving up breakfast at the Fo'c'sle this week and every week at ohhh 7:30 AM. Maybe just spend the night with your toothbrush? It's zucchini season. I cannot grow anything but oddly I excel at zucchini. If you don't like zucchini perhaps a stay at the Mecklenburgh Inn this month is not for you. The Chester Farmers and Artisan Market is at the the old train station this Friday from 10 - 2 pm rain or shine. I bet they have zucchini too. This Friday the Chester Legion at 14 Union Street is celebrating Canada's 150 with a complimentary BBQ from 4-7 pm. You do know what complimentary means ?! This Saturday there is high tea with Mrs. Lordly at the Lordly House Museum starting at 2:30 pm. Finger sandwiches and sweets / $8 per person. The highlight of this tea is a meet and greet with Carol Nauss. Carol is a wealth of knowledge and can answer any questions you may have about the history of Chester. This Sunday the Bandstand Summer Concert Series presents the Chester Brass at 7pm. Get there early as this event is always packed. Children are welcome to dance on the grass, or what's left of it after Race Week. Adults might want to bring a lawn chair with drink holder and a donation for the performers  902- 529-0016. Next Tuesday is Picnic in the Park at Lordly Park from 6-8 pm. The Sons of the Sea will be performing and they are sponsored by Hawboldt Industries of Chester. Pack up your basket and dancing shoes and get over there. Brochure

Here's a pop up quiz to keep your brain from turning to mush this week ... 1. Name the one sport in which neither the spectators nor the participants know the score or the leader until the contest ends. 2. What famous North American landmark is constantly moving backward? 3 Of all vegetables, only two can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be replanted every year. What are the only two perennial vegetables? 4. What fruit has its seeds on the outside? 5. In many liquor stores, you can buy pear brandy, with a real pear inside the bottle. The pear is whole and ripe, and the bottle is genuine; it hasn't been cut in any way. How did the pear get inside the bottle? 6. Only three words in standard English begin with the letters ' dw' and they are all common words. Name two of them. 7. There are 14 punctuation marks in English grammar. Can you name at least half of them? 8. Name the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form except fresh. 9. Name 6 or more things that you can wear on your feet beginning with the letter 'S.' Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!

August 9th, 2017 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings! Just to get you in the mood for the upcoming sailing week, here's a video that will raise the hair on your neck. Trust me...this does not end well. Head on over to the Zoé Vallé Library this afternoon for their annual garden party from 4-6 pm.

This Week in Chester  The annual Chester Opti Jam runs today and tomorrow. Come down to the harbour and watch those "cute as a bug's ear" optis out on the water. Friday afternoon is the kick off  of the annual Chester Classics Weekend. They need a few more volunteers to help with the race committee. If you are prone to sea sickness, this gig may be for you as you won't be "at sea" - you'll be on a dock. No yachting experience necessary. A brain is all that is required. If you would like to be involved in this historic event please email twurts@mac.com In other sailing news, the Chester Yacht Club needs beds for their volunteers from next Wednesday until Sunday, August 16th- 20th. If you have a spare room to offer please contact cycmanager@chesteryachtclub.ca Stop in at Amicus Gallery tomorrow, Thursday, to celebrate Canada's 150th with their final show of the season "Chester 150." Walk down memory lane aided by a glass of wine or three from 6-8pm.      "I'm Your Man," the songs of Leonard Cohen is continuing this week at the Chester Playhouse from Thursday, August 10th - Saturday 12th at 8 pm with a matinée this Saturday at 2 pm. For the songs of Leonard Cohen, Cliff LeJeune IS your man. Cliff's journey with the darkly beautiful songbook of Leonard Cohen has traversed more than 25 years and arrives at this juncture; Cohen shuffled off this mortal coil last year but his light will forever glow in his brilliant body of work. The Farmers and Artisans are at the old train station Friday. You should walk or bike there - the traffic last week was crazy. I think the chickens were tying up the intersection. As it is coming into tomato season I have included a handy little tomato storing tip below. For guaranteed success below decks next week or to take your mind off the smelly socks and wet sails - Light My Fire studio on Duke Street is having a beeswax candle making workshop this Saturday from 11- 3 pm. Learn how to roll your own. Allow 45 minutes to make your lava lamps. For groups call Candle Control @ 902-275-5800. Saturday night plan to repair to the Red Shed at 8 pm at 35 Union Street. $10 to hear two interesting genres and dynamic music. Inspired by Bob Dylan, Tyler Messick leads his band with strong guitar work, close harmonies and upbeat Americana Pop rock - all in a vintage, yet original style. Expect to hear a cross between psychedelic T-Rex, lyrical Dylan, Jangly Byrds and Simon and Garfunkel harmonies. The second half of the evening is "Shadow Folk" with a blend of rock and roll, psych and folk. The band has 1960s British invasion vibes, harmonic layers, bluesy runs, '70s freakishness, experimental distortion, audio and pop nostalgia. What's not to like about this? See you there. Next week  from Monday to Friday the Art Centre has a couple children's programs on the boil. Check out their website, march the short ones out the door and then make a cleansing caesar. Next Tuesday is Picnic in the Park at Lordly Park. The band is Short Notice sponsored by Chester Auto Supplies (NAPA.) Next Wednesday is the start of Chester Race Week. There is "Art on the Deck,"  a rock painting workshop for ages 14+ at the Yacht Club presented by the  from 1:30 - 3pm. Cost $10.  To register call 902-275-5789 From next Wednesday until Sunday there is an indoor Yard Sale at the Baptist Church from 9 am - 2 pm each day. Proceeds to pay outstanding balance owing on the organ audio upgrade completion.  For more info call JoAnne 902-275-4049. Brochure

Observations on Growing Older: The five pounds you wanted to lose is now 15, and you have a better chance of losing your keys than the 15 pounds. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!

August 2nd, 2017 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Greetings! If you missed the opening of Malcolm Callaway's show at Amicus Gallery there is still time to view these works. Sadly, you missed the wine and cheese, but hey, there's always next week. We're counting down to Race Week. Two weeks to go ! This Week in Chester  Tonight, Wednesday, the Chester Playhouse presents  "I'm Your Man - The Songs of Leonard Cohen" starring Cliff Le Jeune, joined by Lisa St. Clair and the Blue Engine String Quartet. This production showcases Le Jeune's journey with the darkly beautiful songbook of Leonard Cohen. Currently the executive director of Dance Nova Scotia, Le Jeune says nothing has matched the intensity and satisfaction of singing Cohen's songs and that he is humbled by the extraordinary reverence audiences have for Cohen's work. Cliff's interpretations are driven by his passion and deep understanding of this lush material. The show opens at 8 pm and runs until Saturday August 12th. Check with the Chester Playhouse for matinee times and pricing. 902-275-3933. The Village Emporium is having a 25% off sale on all summer dresses and tops during the month of August. A new frock for Race Week? Stop in at the Emporium on Pleasant Street to find a new infusion for your summer wardrobe. They also stock books, souvenirs, soaps, toys, gift ware, home decor, jewellery and ohhh so much more. Tomorrow, Thursday, the Chester Art Centre at 60 Queen Street is throwing open their doors for an evening extravaganza called Un-Still Life.  Fruit on the fly.  Remember that Friday is market day in Chester. Get to the old Train Station after 10 am and before 2 pm or you will miss out on all that spinach. Park yourself on the deck at the Rope Loft this weekend and test drive an order of their fresh mussels, oysters or lobster. Wash it down with a craft beer on tap. Ahhh, summer in the Merry Times. This Sunday is the Lobster Lovers' Feast at Bonny Lea Farm from 4 - 6:30 pm. The take-out window is open from 3-6 pm.  Turf is also available but limited, so you should call ahead to order up your steer. To purchase tickets in advance call 902-275-5622. The Chester Bandstand Summer Concert Series presents blues legend Morgan Davis on guitar starting @ 7pm. The "Bright Lights of Chester" await you there.  902- 529-0016 for info. This week at White Gate Inn and Restaurant on Pleasant Street chef Kyle Nelson is launching weekly specials starting off with some lovely fresh halibut. Check out their link above or the menu board posted outside the restaurant for more information every Wednesday. Evening dining Wednesday through Sunday, lunch on Saturday and brunch on Sundays. In Chester Tennis Club news ... Every Monday evening until the end of August from 6:30 - 8 pm there are adult tennis lessons - $20/ session. Get your Lulu's on and get over there - all levels of players are welcome. Tuesdays until the end of August there will be pickle ball at the courts starting @ 7pm. The cost is  $5 per person. Wednesday evening is doubles night starting at 6:30 pm - mix and match. Free for members, $5 for non members. For info / to register for any or all of the above events or to just to reach out and say hello to Lesek, dial up @ 902-273-2308 or email  chestertennisclub@gmail.com.   Monday evening the Blood Donor Clinic is back at the Chester Legion from 4:30 - 8:30 pm. Roll up your sleeve. 1-888-236-6283.   Next Tuesday "FOG"  (Four Old Guys)  will be performing for Picnic in the Park at Lordly Park at 6 pm - sponsored by the Chester Area Pharmasaves. Meals for the musicians are generously provided by the Stretch Diner. Next Wednesday from 4-6 pm is the Annual Garden Party at the Zoé Vallé Library on Regent Street. This is a fund raiser for exterior restoration of the Zoe Library. Casual dress with pockets. Brochure Back by popular demand... Classifieds: FREE YORKSHIRE TERRIER. 8 years old, Hateful little bastard. Bites! ___________________________________________ FREE PUPPIES 1/2 Cocker Spaniel, 1/2 sneaky neighbour's dog. ________________________________________________ FREE PUPPIES. Mother is a Kennel Club registered German Shepherd. Father is a Super Dog, able to leap tall fences in a single bound.. _______________________________________________________ COWS, CALVES: NEVER BRED. Also 1 gay bull for sale.  _______________________________________________________ JOINING NUDIST COLONY! Must sell washer and dryer $200. _____________________________________________________________ WEDDING DRESS FOR SALE. Worn once by mistake. Call Stephanie. ___________________________________________________________ FOR SALE BY OWNER. Complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica, 45 volumes. Excellent condition, $200 or best offer. No longer needed, got married, wife knows everything. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group Join Our Mailing List!