July 17th, 2013 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Recently I came across a couple of young cousins, fishing up a storm for squid on a glorious evening. The excitement, freedom and camaraderie reminded me of the simple pleasures one can have - right in your own backyard or off the government wharf. Summer is when that freedom is extended and your antics become the stories you recount in winter and for years to come.......shortening the 'distance' between family and friends.

This Week in Chester Talking of memories, take a 'trip down Memory Lane in Plaid style'. "FOREVER PLAID" is opening on Wednesday 17th at the Chester Playhouse at 8pm. Featuring many '60s hits such as Moments to Remember and Love is a Many Splendored Thing....... Why not dress the part too? It runs through Saturday 8pm each evening with a matinee at 2pm on Saturday, and the same the week after. Friday marks the 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHESTER CONNECTION TRAIL. Come meet the friendly staff from the Municipality of Chester Recreation Department at the Chester Visitor Information Centre at 10:00 am and enjoy a leisurely walk along a small section of the trail. Gord Tate will be available to give an intro to Geocaching and you will have a chance to win some prizes. All ages welcome.  (If you're in to geocaching, and the idea of hidden treasures tickles your fancy, you may want to mark you calendar for the Chester Trust's upcoming Time Capsule project that will be launched on July 31st at their Garden Party........... Stay tuned. Info next week.) To complement this blistering heat, on Friday night, "Lucky Dog Blues" are playing at the Fo'c'sle and Saturday night "Memphis Knights". Bands start at 9pm. Dance till you drop...... Saturday 20th heralds the return of the CHESTER GARDEN TOUR (RAIN OR SHINE) from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Hosted by the Chester Municipal Chamber of Commerce, this is a one day multi-destination, self guided tour of beautiful private gardens in and around Chester. Enjoy Niki Jabbour for a question and answer period, music, and a house tour. Advance tickets $30/person ($35 day of event) and includes a picnic lunch. For more info email Admin@ChesterAreaNS.ca - LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE. On Sunday, 21st, The 351 Llewellyn Sea Cadets are fundraising for their trip to Chester, England in August 2013. So consider getting over to the Chester Legion for their Chinese Auction, Cold Plate Lunch and Bake table and give them your support. 10 - 3pm. Sunday at 7pm, THE CHESTER BRASS BAND will be playing at the Chester Bandstand. For more info contact Evelyn Ernst at 634-4435. Also on Sunday, make sure to get front row seats at the 8pm screening of 'Seducing Dr. Lewis' at the Playhouse in aid of Our Health Centre. Brought back by popular demand, it's a great film with lots of laughs as residents of a tiny fishing village scheme to secure a resident doctor. Sound familiar?! Dan Cox will host the evening as half his family is in the film, having been shot in his home town in Quebec.   With the promise of more cooperative weather, the second PICNIC (and dancing) IN THE PARK is on Tuesday with "Makeshift" from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in Lordly Park. Free admission. Bring your family, your picnic, and your dancing shoes. Donations for the band gratefully accepted. Sponsored by Premiere Self Storage. Raindate: Tuesday, August 27.  For cancellation notice go to www.chester.ca.    Lots is going on at the Chester Art Centre: check out their website for more information on 'Intro to Playwriting Workshop' (July 19-24) with Griffin McInnes and 'Polymer Clay Figurative Workshop' (July 22-23) with Kate Church. She won't do it herself, so I'm going to plug The Mecklenburgh Inn - home away from home, right in the heart of the Village. Wonderfully casual and cosy - if you've got troublesome guests that tend to overstay their welcome, let Suzi sort them out! Her breakfasts are so good that next time they consider a visit, you might find them booking in there first....!

When was the last time you went to the Chester Golf Club for a meal? Treat yourself to the dining room with the best view in Chester, just a short stroll from the hustle and bustle of 'downtown'. There's always a glorious breeze.....so soak up the stunning sunset with cocktail in hand, eat to your heart's content and voila!, no dishes to do...... Have fun in this exceptional summer heat...... we'll be complaining of the cold again in no time! The Other One for the Chester Merchants Group

July 10th, 2013 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release What a weekend ! Everyone basting themselves at the beach - I saw an oil slick of Coppertone off Freda's on Saturday. Everyone looked liked cooked lobsters. Speaking of lobsters, I was telling a European guest about buying Clearwater lobsters at the airport to ship home. He wasn't sold on the idea of having his next meal languishing in the cargo hold on a long transatlantic flight. I said "fine, buy him a seat, feed him some champagne, give him a headset and he will be happy as a clam before you stick him in a pot of boiling water, because he has to get there somehow and he ain't walking to your dinner table." He did get the irony of the scenario.

This Week in Chester Why not stop in at Flowers Flowers Flowers on Pleasant Street and pick up a bouquet for your better half. Robin has some fabulous stems in her fridge awaiting your call. 275-5707 In keeping with the flower theme, on Thursday there is a children's garden/flower arranging workshop at the Chester Legion. Email cynthia@spraggs.ca for info. Thursday night is half price appetizers from 5-8pm at the Rope Loft. Picture your good self in one of those lovely deck chairs all propped up with a cocktail and your grazing goodies laid out before you while the yachts race in the bay. No finer place to be. Thursday is also the beginning of the weekend run for dinners at the Kiwi café on Pleasant Street. Friday is market day. Get up to the Train Station between 10 and 2 pm to get your veggies, meat, fish, pies, soaps and ohh so much more. Load up for the week. Friday evening Shelley Mitchell is showcasing her new works at Amicus Gallery at 6 pm. Be prompt or you'll miss out on the goods and I am told there is wine at these events.... Friday night is prime rib night at the Rope Loft. Belly up to the bar for a sneaky martini and settle in. Also on Friday night SWIG is onstage at the the Fo'c'sle Pub at 9pm. Always a house favourite at the pub, so get there early with your dancing shoes. Saturday there is a boating scavenger hunt and BBQ at the Chester Yacht Club for "Our Health Centre." It is open to all comers and registration is from 8.30 - 9.30 am at CYC Saturday morning. The Mackerel Snappers Picnic is at Graves Island Park from noon - 6 pm. Raindate: Sunday, July 14.  Get your mackerel fix here. For more info call Jenny @ 275-4070.  Saturday evening Ian Campbell will be playing for your entertainment at the Rope Loft from 5-8 pm. Saturday night is also the big Chester Playhouse - no holds barred - Galapalooza from 5-8 pm. An annual fundraiser for the Playhouse, this promises to be an evening of decadence and merriment. Entertainment will be provided by The Mike Cowie trio, food by celebrity chefs Michael Howell and our own Peggy Wilson, accompanied by a fine array of beverages from Bishop's Cellar. One of the many auction items include a one week's stay at an ocean front villa in Nevis. Shuttle service is available from Chester Yacht Club. For info/tickets, call the Playhouse @ 275-3933. More music awaits you at the Fo'c'sle Pub. The George Carter Trio take the stage at 9 pm. Sunday evening at 7 pm the bandstand lights up with the Chester Basin Street Dixieland Band. Dust off your CBC kazoo and join in.

In other breaking flower news, the Chester Garden Club will meet at St. Stephen's Hall Monday night @ 6:30 for 7 pm. March your green thumb over there and learn how to prepare your blue ribbon entry for the upcoming Flower Show.New members welcome. Art Centre News: Sally Warren returns with "Figure Drawing with Flare" July 15 and 16. A wide range of exercises, techniques and knowledge of human body structure that will help you bring the people in your art work to life. Suitable for beginners and more experienced artists like yourself. 10am - 3pm. Pack a lunch. The NSLC sell those nice little mini 'pichets' of wine by the checkout for an occasion just like this. Stock up and stick one in your Snoopy lunch pail. Heather Sayeau is at the Art Centre July 17 &18. "Create Dynamic Art with Simple Techniques"  will help you explore acrylic colour, underpainting, composition, scale and various tools used with brushes. 9am - 4pm. Restock Snoopy as above. When a woman says "What" it's not that she didn't hear you, but that she is giving you the opportunity to change what you said. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group

July 3rd, 2013 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release I thought we needed the above smiley sun to jog our memory......... The few seconds of sunshine that we've had this week, have had people momentarily blinded, frantically rummaging for their forgotten sunglasses, only to realize, 5 seconds later, that the umpteenth cloud had reinstalled itself over the stranger. She promises to be back on a more permanent basis by the weekend though...... so get prepared.

This Week in Chester Want a great way to start your weekend? How about siding up to John Cole Porter & the Handsome Devils at the Fo'c'sle Tavern on Friday night. With a name like that, how can you resist...?! You never know what treasures you'll find at the Chester Municipal Heritage Society's Annual Auction & Flea Market, Saturday 6th July, at the Chester Train Station, 20 Smith Road (VIC). Flea Market starts at 9:00 am. Auction 9:30 am. Bring a generous spirit, lots of cash, your cheque book and a chair to recuperate on between the exhausting bidding. Raindate: July 7 starting 1:00 pm.  Saturday is also a First Saturday on the South Shore with special events and offers....... perhaps you should take your newly acquired auction item over to Cameron's Fine Art Antiques and get a verbal appraisal of your item for only $5 per item (normally $25). You never know..... After all the excitement, stroll on over to the Chester Playhouse for a concert by Roberto López Afro-Colombian Jazz Orchestra - multi-instrumentalist Roberto López, along with his virtuoso friends, leads us to a unique encounter between the wind ensembles of Colombia's Caribbean coast and North-American Jazz Big Bands. The magic starts at 8pm. If you want a change of pace, The Stolen Tones are playing at the Fo'c'sle Tavern from 9 onwards. Can you fit it all in? It's worth a try......... On Sunday, The Bridgewater Fireman's Band will be playing at the Chester Bandstand starting 7:00pm. Children are welcome to dance on the grass. Adults may want to bring a lawn chair. Concerts may be moved or cancelled in heavy rain at the discretion of the performer(s). For more info contact Evelyn Ernst at 634-4435. Tuesday 9th July heralds the first "Picnic (and dancing) in the Park" at Lordly Park. These free concerts will be held every other Tuesday from 6-8pm, starting with local favourite Jamie Junger, joined by friends Tom Myers and Lucas Reeves. Think summer of '67 in San Francisco and bring a picnic supper, your children, grandparents and your dancing shoes. As well as providing Lordly Park, the Chester Municipal Heritage Society is making the Maple Cottage washrooms available........ so no excuses! For more information see the poster below or contact Erin at gore275@eastlink.ca or 275-5864.     If you have a budding actress/actor in the younger part of your family (9-18 years old) who has potential to bloom on the boards, there are still places in the Summer Theatre Drama School at the Chester Playhouse whose production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe will make you proud on August 17th. Call 275 3933 for more information and enrollment. At the Train Station Gallery, a new collection of beautiful work by talented South Shore artists is on display for July. Chester's own Paula Booher, our featured artist, is displaying her fun and colourful work. Bring a friend and view the variety of creativity. Hwy #3 Chester. Open daily 10-4pm. PS If you didn't make it to last week's "Burning of the Young Teazer"... Chester's Suzanne Conrod hooked a spectacular representation which hangs in the Founder's Gallery of the Hooked Rug Museum of North America, which celebrated its grand opening June 15th.

Enjoy the return of sunshine with a swim and shakedown on Freda's Beach like Frankie. The Other One for the Chester Merchants Group

June 26th Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Monday's deluge was pleasant - a nice little wash down to relocate the pollen and Tuesday was superlative.Today...mmm not so much. I was at the government dock yesterday getting a lesson on squid jigging and how they move.They can swim in forward and reverse. They're everywhere- go down and have a look.

This Week in Chester Tonight, Wednesday, cousin Wally is hosting a scotch tasting at the Rope Loft @7pm. Several scotches on the menu and also a selection of amuse-bouches from the chef. Dial up the Rope Loft to assure yourself a seat. 275-3430. In 2010, 34 bottles of Scottish whisky were shipped overseas every second. Summer Yoga Classes at Chester Harbour Yoga & Massage Therapy, 71 Duke Street, begin Tuesday July 2nd through August 16th. Seven classes a week, there is a class for every level from total beginner through to Intermediate. Special Orthopedic class; individualized programs for those with low back, knee, or other joint conditions, systemic conditions etc. Registered Massage Therapist and Naturopathic Doctor available by appointment. Call to register for classes or for more info 902-273-9642. The Lordly House Museum at 133 Central Street throws open their doors Thursday for the summer. They are celebrating this with a show "Through His Lens;" The Edward Rutherford Photographic Collection, from 4 - 5:30 pm. Don't miss this, Edward's photos are legendary. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the burning of the Young Teazer and the Rope Loft is marking the occasion Thursday evening @ 7pm. Folklore has it that on the anniversary of the explosion, a flaming ship appears on the horizon between Big Tancook and Meisner's, so the Rope Loft is a perfect vantage point for viewing. Join them for some live Maritime music with Art Cole, enjoy 1/2 price appetizers,and Teazer drink specials while awaiting the ghost ship to return.  BOO ! The Chester Farmers & Artisan Market opens for the season on Friday. Please note NEW TIME and NEW LOCATION: Every Friday 10 am - 2 pm at the historic Old Train Station (Visitor Information Centre) on North St. Your favourite vendors will be there along with many new vendors and great musicians! While at the market, stop by the Train Station Gallery and the Oak Island Display. Friday has the season opener at Amicus Gallery on Pleasant Street from 6-8pm. Zehava Power will be showcasing her new work. Dust off the aqua marine sweater, rinse out the Sperrys and get there early as it IS the first dust up and there will be wine and hors d'oeuvres. This just in from Russell Smith's column in the Globe and Mail: "Here we are talking about a weekend-at-Chester kind of look, with tennis or deck shoes and a short-sleeved linen or polo shirt." Once you've purchased the new piece for the parlour, head next door to the Chester Playhouse at 7:30 pm to hear the musical talents of Mary Jane Lamond & Wendy MacIsaac. Both women have music in their blood and bring together their strong Celtic roots, musical talents and warm personalities that will charm you. Mary Jane enthralls with her incredible Gaelic vocals, and Wendy entices with her skill on the fiddle. The Playhouse is offering dinner packages this year with the Rope Loft and The Galley. The package includes one adult ticket to any performance and a two course dinner at your choice of either restaurant. Gratuity included. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance. 275-3933 Catch the sounds of The Klunkers at the Fo'c'sle Pub after the performance. They will be on stage at 9 pm. Saturday night the Rope Loft is continuing the Teazer celebration with the music of Ian Campbell from 4-8pm on the wharf, or if it's raining, by the fire. Also on Saturday night the Fo'c'sle Pub is hosting the band "Cut, Split and Delivered" for your dancing pleasure. Wow, it must be summer. We've gone from a winter of Netflix in bed with a bowl of popcorn and the cat, to ohhh so many ways to spend your weekend. Sunday the Chester Brass is back at the bandstand @ 7 pm. Drag the lawn chair out of the family Buick and settle in. Monday is Canada Day ! Yippee !!! Get your flag out and show the red and whites. Here's a little Rick Mercer humour on being Canadian. Kerry, our resident pyro, is getting the match out for Canada Day. Get down to the waterfront at dusk and see what Kerry is igniting for your visual pleasure.

Next Wednesday the Chester Arts Centre is hosting freelance writer and broadcaster Philip Moscovitch for a one-day Creative Writing Workshop designed to help you find ideas and turn them into stories, both non-fiction and fiction. When in doubt, predict that the present trend will continue. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group

June 19th Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release I was at a meeting for Gingerbread Festival this week. Yes it's coming. November 30th - mark your calendar. A friend very kindly brought coffees for all of us at the meeting. I declined as I don't drink caffeine.Trudi from the Bluenose Coast looked up from her notes and without missing a beat said "Why not, it seems you can drink everything else." We Chesterites are revving up for the season and here's what's in store for you this week.

This Week in Chester Tonight (Wednesday) the Chester Playhouse After School Drama Program presents "Word," a new play written by Cynthia Myers. If you watch Glee, High School Musical, or if you are a student of any age - you will relate! It's a cast of cheerleaders, and hockey players, exchange students, geeks and band-tards all under the guidance of one very disturbed principal with a dark secret. The actors are in the 10-13 year age bracket - a hormonal symphony to be sure. Shows are at 6pm and 7:30 pm. Why not stop by the train station gallery and check out the latest paintings by south shore artists. They are on display from 10-4 pm daily. The Chester Municipal Relay For Life will take place at the Chester Area Middle School from 7:00 pm Friday to 7:00 am Saturday.  Join the fun and help make a difference!  For info call Sheila @ 275-5720 or Lynn Hatt @ 275-3263. Summer solstice is Friday, June 21st when the tilt of a planet's semi-axis in the northern hemisphere, is most inclined towards the sun. Earth's maximum axial tilt toward the sun is 23° 26'. So that elusive yellow ball will be at it's highest point in the sky and, while I hate to point out the hard, cold facts...it's all downhill from here. Head on down to the Fo'c'sle Pub and celebrate your own axial tilt with Memphis Knights. The band fires up at 9pm, but the kitchen extinguishes their fire at 9, so get there earlier to assure yourself some ribs. Check in with Light My Fire studio on Duke Street and see what they've pulled out of the wax vats over the winter. More than just candles here: a delightful array of a variety of artisans work and other groovy goodies. Remember the green bins are now a weekly celebration of compost relocation, so drive your little green gremlin to the curb every week until September. Saturday night has Kevin Koloff and his Gypsy Minstrels on stage at the Fo'c'sle Pub. John Lennon will be there. There will be a gospel concert at the Baptist Church, 84 King Street @ 7 pm with the Son's of Thunder from Bridgewater Baptist Church. Get out your best "Sunday goin' to meetin' hat" and sing along. Monday the vampires are back in town at the Chester Legion from 1-3 pm and 5-8pm.  For info call 1-888-236-6283. Lose a pound while giving the gift of life. Summer kicks off at the Chester Art Centre June 25th with Nancy Dunaway, past chair of the art department at Henderson State University in Arkansas, doing a three-day multi-media workshop called Artist's Soup. Explore a number of techniques including collage, layering, stamping, stenciling and using found objects. Nancy will also chronicle her artistic life in a lecture called "Without a Map... Following the Heart" on Wednesday, June 26th.

A huge thank you to Angela at the Village Emporium for making this seamless. Angela does all the "behind the scenes" work from entering emails, feeding me information, editing releases and ohhh so much more.... If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group

June 12, 2013 Press Release!!

Chester Merchants Press Release Tropical Storm Andrea has come and gone and the Lido is probably a little less salty thanks to all that rain...... so run on down and register for swimming lessons, Wednesday June 12th, 6-8pm at CAMS. Lessons start June 24th for 3 weeks. Cost $40. For more info call Viola 275-3465. It's turning out to be a rather wet June so far, but what's lousy for the painters, is marvelous for the gardens and wells..... and for some consumer therapy.  Check out all the new inventory in the Village shops. Everyone's been busy all winter.....

This Week in Chester Friday night has Late Nite Lover playing at the Fo'c'sle. The band starts at 9pm. They cover songs that everyone loves and there's plenty of room to dance. Hilarious hillbilly theatre, "Hide and Shriek",  will get your toes tapping at the Chester Legion on Saturday night. Doors open 6.30pm with the show starting at 7.30. $10 advance (at the Legion or Feaver & Co in Chester or Pharmasave, Bridgewater) or $15 at the door. This is presented by Riverfest and Have a Laugh Players in support of Riverfest 2013, a not for profit 3 day music festival which supports local south shore charities.   Don't forget that it's FATHER'S DAY on Sunday. Treat the old man like a king for the day with a hearty brunch/lunch at either of the Village's fine establishments. Then whisk Dad to the 'Voices of Spring' concert at the St Stephen's Anglican Church. Chester Brass Band and South Shore Chorale will raise the roof at 3pm. Admission is $15. No time for Dad to mow the lawn today - even better, do it for him - and win some brownie points. This June the Train Station Gallery is exhibiting a new and wonderful selection of work by South Shore artists. Come check out work by featured artist, Sharon Boyd. The Kiwi is now open in the evenings on Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 9pm, featuring new local wines from Petite Rivière and Luckett wineries. The wines are younger than the 10 years since Lynda opened the Kiwi, but a great way to celebrate.

Just a reminder that as the summer is hotting up, weekly green bin collection starts June 11th. You can now eat copious amounts of lobster once a week rather than every two....... "My son wants 50% of my Father's Day gifts. He says, if it weren't for him, I wouldn't even be a father....." So buy double, buy local! Submitted by 'the other one' for the Chester Merchants Group

June 5th, 2013 We're BACK!

Chester Merchants Press Release We're  B A C K  ! While it does not actually look as if summer is around the corner, historically it happens about this time every year, so be patient. Relocate the resident spider family from your mower, chase the mice out of the BBQ and make sure your ice tray is full. We are thrilled to report Haven is back in town filming Season 4 so expect to see a bit of Hollywood when you drop by.

This Week in Chester The Hamlet is waking up and we have plenty in store for you. José Valverde is creating new canvasses and you may visit the gallery on King Street from Thursday to Sunday each week or at other times by appointment. Paula at Amicus Gallery on Pleasant Street is just back from a horse trek in Scotland and is showcasing all the delightful artisans that she represents. More than just pottery and paintings here. A true treasure trove of exquisite works. Friday evening the Fo'c'sle Pub has Swig on stage at 9 pm. Get there early, order up a meal and stake your territory as the place is usually heaving by 10 o'clock. Songstress Laura Smith will be on stage Saturday night @7:30 pm at the Chester Playhouse with her brilliant new album "Everything is Moving." When Laura performs, she takes the audience on an emotional journey. The music she plays cuts to the core and expresses what it is to be human. Dial up the playhouse or book online through their site. Tickets are going fast. The Rope Loft has a new weekend face... Wally Fraser is behind the bar Thursday and Friday evenings to deliver your cocktail of choice. Wally is a sommelier and can educate you on any wine region in the world, with a cheeky grin and a really loud Hawaiian shirt to go with it. New this year at the Rope Loft : A Sunday buffet from 1100-1400; omelettes made to order and other brunch goodies, all for $15.95. Yes please. Nicki's Sunday evening roast is back on the menu from 5- 8:30 pm. Everything on all fours on your plate. Regular evening dining hours are Wednesday - Sunday.

Miss Dolly Hancock, one of our resident artistes, has been coerced (kicking and screaming) into doing some press releases for us this summer. Stay tuned. To err is human. To blame it on someone else is even more human. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group