July 11, 2012 Press Release!

Chester Merchants Press Release Summer is officially here. The temperatures are divine,the rug rats are sailing their little mosquito Optis in the bay, Freda's Beach is heaving, the ocean is warm and Kim has a bank of sunscreen lotions at the Chester Pharmacy. This really does make up for the 2 month monsoon we endured last summer.Haven 3 Productions is on break this week but will be back in the village next week. It's wonderful to have them back as they create a great vibe in the Hamlet.

This Week in Chester Tomorrow the Chester Arts Centre is launching their class  "Possibilities - water based media , texture and collage." The three sessions will be taught by Kay Stanfield. She will broaden your art choices and strengthen your work by exploring how other artists solve problems in their work. The dates are July 12, 26 and August 2, 1-4 pm  $100/ person. On Friday the lovely and lyrical Donna Morrissey, author of Kit's Law, Downhill Chance and What they Wanted, returns with another creative writing workshop. Great for beginners or anyone who is stalled and looking for inspiration, She will guide you through some basic techniques in using setting, character, tone and mood to make your story a best seller. $100 per person; 9 - 3 pm. Bring lunch, hell, bring a flask-Donna will join you! The Chester Seaside Farmer's market is camped back at the parade grounds from 2:30-5 pm. Nancy has some lovely soaps that she creates and of course the gardens are now brimming with lettuces and such. Load up with organic goodies for the week to come. Friday evening Paula at Amicus Gallery is opening her "Two Susans" show  at 6 pm. Get there on the dot and place your red dot before the swarm of locusts descend.   At 8 pm the Shawn Hebb Trio strikes up at the Fo'c'sle Pub. Get your espadrilles and happy feet on and do a twirl on the dance floor. On Saturday the annual Mackerel Snappers Picnic is being held at Graves Island Park from 12-6 pm. Rain date is Sunday. $9 / person - a bargain for those little fishy critters!  275-4070. Why not stop by Chez Glass Lass on Duke Street and pick up a piece of their fabulous dinnerware. It is a bright, sun drenched studio filled with happy glassware. Saturday night the Chester Playhouse is opening their 26th annual Summer Theatre Festival with a concert by Alejandra Ribera. Half-Argentinean, half-Scottish, this songstress is on stage with a four-piece jazz band at 8 pm. This Canadian singer 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. Ribera bursts with energy on stage and exudes a deep commitment to her art. Drawing on a vast array of influences, bolstered by an ability to sing in a variety of languages and styles, her show guarantees to be an unforgettable experience. Following the show why not check out Jens Jeppesen at the Fo'c'sle Pub, a New Brunswick native with a folk bent. On Sunday afternoon the Fo'c'sle has Shawn Hebb back to entertain you from 4-8pm. The Bridgewater Fireman's Band will be performing at the Chester Bandstand @ 7 pm. Get your blanket out and park yourself on the lawn. Starting next Tuesday, from July 16th-20th, the Chester Arts Centre is hosting two classes for short and shorter ones. 1) Flip, Spin, and Roll Paint and build:  Using a wide variety of materials we will create hand built games both big enough to spread across a lawn, and small enough to fit in a box.  Artist Heather Wilkinson and her band of inventors will dream up a carnival of games to play and share. 9 am-noon. Ages 4 - 6  $100 2) Pinball Wizards Join artist Heather Wilkinson and explore the world of springs and levers, rails and ruts; we will set energy in motion as we create our own 'old school' wooden pinball machine. Along the way we'll explore the exuberant painted surfaces and game boards of Folk Art and vintage games to inspire our designs; construct simple mechanisms, add 3-D obstacles, and paint boldly to excite players and keep the ball rolling. 1:30-4:30 pm Ages 7 - 10  $100.00

Classifieds: FREE YORKSHIRE TERRIER. 8 years old. Hateful little bastard. Bites! FREE PUPPIES: 1/2 Cocker Spaniel, 1/2 sneaky neighbor's dog. FOUND DIRTY WHITE DOG. Looks like a rat . Been out a while. Want big reward. FOR SALE: Nordic Running Track: Hardly used, call Chubby. JOINING NUDIST COLONY! Must sell washer and dryer. WEDDING DRESS FOR SALE : Worn once by mistake . Call Stephanie. Suzi Fraser for the Chester Merchants Group