YOUR WEEKENDER

The majestic hardwood in the middle of The Old Burial Ground,where some of Chester's earliest settlers rest.

MINOR ENERGENCY

Queen St. Fri.evening-Chester Volunteer Fire Department responds to what a neighbour said was an oven fire at a local residence.The call did not last long with no injuries and little if any damage.The bigger concern here is once again the conditions of our streets.Still no sand since this morning.One fireman said that the truck he was on was sliding on a hill he came down.He also pointed out that that our street conditions are the worst that he has seen for the last three years in a row.Let's see;three fire trucks on the call worth about $900,ooo to $1,050,ooo.Not to mention what the firemen's lives are worth.Things could have been much worse if the fire would have had a chance to spread.A load of sand is worth about $200-300 and let's estimate another $300 or so to spread it.You do the math.Civilian vehicles are one thing to replace,insurance or not.But if a firetruck gets wrecked you cannot just go out and buy one the next day.Besides ice and snow,other issues are heaved pavement,eroded shoulders,overgrown trees and brush and severe potholes that cause year round problems for both firemen and residents alike.

A SIMON AND GARFUNKEL MORNING

Slip sliding away,slip sliding away You know the nearer your destination,the more you slip sliding away..................Dec.28 Pig Loop and Nauss Point Rd.-After a winter storm this vehicle was actually heading up the hill but ended up coming back down the hard way.Lucky for the driver there was no damage.With no sand on the Village streets,even a four wheel drive vehicle is no match for our icy hills.And brakes are useless as well.As chesterns.ca showed you after our first winter storm,it has been taking 24 t0 48 hours to have sand applied to the Village streets.The problem is supposedly related to a shortage of staff to run the sanding trucks.Until the problem is rectified,travel very carefully on our streets.Especially on slopes and at stop signs.

New Additions to ChesterNS.ca

Hello,

Thanks as always for visiting ChesterNS.ca - Your source for all things Chester.

In an effort to better serve our audience we've made the following improvements to the site:

1. You can now post your business in the business directory automatically, without the need for me to do any work manually (I really like that!).

Check it out here

2. You can now post your classified ads automatically, without the need for me to do any work manually. Hopefully this will get people using the classifieds section on regular basis.

Check it out here.

Have a Happy New Year and thanks for your support in 2007!

Cheers,
Ben

CHESTER CHRISTMAS MORNING

A village icon at sunrise.
The Village as seen from the Peninsula at about 8:30 a.m.
Sunrise from Freda's Beach on Christmas morning.This post is mostly for the summer residents and any others who could not be here for Christmas.Enjoy your Holidays wherever you may be. chesterns.ca

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

The creators of chesterns.ca would like to wish all of our webmates a very merry Christmas and peace and good fortune to you and yours this holiday season.Here are a couple of fun and interesting sites to check out.www.noradsanta.org and www.flw.com/merry.htm.

LOBSTER CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN

Here comes Lobster Claus,here comes Lobster Claus right down Chester's lanes.With a boat load of Goslings Black Seal rum to ease all aches and pains.Lobster Claus just launched from the North Pole and waves hello to all the good little sailors in Chester.He is on his way and should arrive in Chester for Christmas Eve.Unless of course he comes down a chimney with a boiling pot of water in the ol' fireplace.In which case someone will still get a nice present.Lobster for Christmas dinner.[Editor's note:The crustacean in the above photo was in no way harmed or mistreated during the shoot.]As for dinner later that evening.....................

YOUR WEEKENDER

Perhaps an appropriate title for this photograph would be "Echoes Of A Summer" to borrow a line from the title of one of the first movies to be filmed in Chester.The Chester Yacht Club sits basking quietly in the late November afternoon sun.Atlantic Canada's sailing mecca rests for another season.Chesterns.ca would like to thank the Club's Commodore for mentioning our site to all CYC members and we in turn hope you enjoy the site and find it informative and useful.For anyone interested, here is a little more trivia on the movie,"Echoes Of A Summer".It was filmed in 1975 on location throughout the village.Written by Robert L. Joseph,it starred a young Jodie Foster as Deirdre Striden.A girl suffering a serious illness.Richard Harris played her father,Eugene Striden.Robert L.Joseph appears in the film as the druggist.Many locals,especially children were used as extras in the production.

STEEPLEJACKS AT WORK

Dec.21,King and Regent Streets----------A few workers at St.Augustine's Church were a little closer to heaven this morning than most mortals as they conducted repairs to the steeple tower.[Click on photo to enlarge.]

IT IS WINTER......

First light
Dec./21/07 8:50 a.m. one minute after sunrise.
The final show of light on the morning of the eve of The Winter Solstice 2007.Winter officially arrives at 1:08 a.m.on Dec.22/07.Freda's Beach still looks somewhat inviting.

DON'T WEIGHT BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE

Dec.19'th/07 Victoria St.---------Several months ago a group of citizens came up with the idea to take measures to preserve the historic stone arch bridge on Victoria St.It took awhile but they did get some results.One obvious no-brainer solution would be to restrict heavy vehicles from using the structure,as their weight and vibrations over time would tend to cause stress on the old bridge.Keep in mind it is 127 years old.The moving van in the photo is a far cry from the traffic that the bridge saw in the horse and buggy days.It was parked there for about 2 hours today.Some of us in the original preservation group are going to continue the fight to have weight restrictions imposed on the structure.Your support is encouraged.Please write your Council,MLA and the Dept. of Transportation and Public Works if you wish to support the cause.This bridge is one of only two left in the province and is the better example.Another feature that is unique to the Village of Chester.

HIGH "YULE" TIDE AT CYC

Victoria McGregor decorates Chester Yacht Club
The Chester waterfront on a cool brisk day is given a warm and welcoming look thanks to an enthusiastic member of CYC.After Victoria's efforts today,the club does not look so bleak and forlorn as it hibernates in wait for spring.

YOUR WEEKENDER

LYNCH BELL IN THE AUTUMN------------A familiar race mark and a waypoint on the trip to the Tancooks.

THE BEST WESTERN CHRISTMAS

THE SET AWAITS ACT 1
Bob Elliott as Doctor Drood -------------------------22 Pleasant St.Chester: Regardless of the weather, you can always tell that Christmas isn't far away in Chester with The Chester Drama Society's presentation of their annual Christmas play.Written and directed by Malcolm Callaway,these productions typically have little if anything to do with Christmas as most would interpret it.However,if you like farce,satire and dark humour you won't be disappointed by this year's production,"And Eight Tiny Reindeer".Opening night presented a fantastic set designed by Bob Elliott.Enter the cast in excellent costumes and some incredible acting skills and the recipe for fun and exciting theatre was ready to be "baked".Just about everyone in the cast and behind the scenes are seasoned amateurs in community theatre.There were a few professionals as well.The first act seemed to be a little slow,judging by the audience reaction but almost immediately in Act 2,things really took off.One of the highlights of the show was Linda Elliott's character fused with her energy and talent.This and her interaction with the other performers took you back to the days of your old school play.When you were having nothing but fun and that was all that mattered.Jamie Junger and Cynthia Myers must be commended for their rendition of "Desperado"with Jamie on guitar and Cynthia's beautiful voice.If you like puns,twisted word plays and satirical references to old TV shows then you will realize that Callaway outdid himself when you see this year's play.Some other important points that need to be made about these productions are that many volunteers make these events work,both on and off the stage.There are many local businesses that give supporting donations as well.It is also a major fund raiser for the Drama Society and the Playhouse.It is also a great inspiration to others to see this many people come together to have fun promoting live theatre in a small community.Everyone from the Chair of the Playhouse board of directors,the lighting technicians at the Playhouse to local residents put in an incredible amount of volunteer time to make it work."And Eight Tiny Reindeer" runs thru to Dec.15'th.Ticket sales are brisk.Reserve your seat and don't be disappointed.

A DEEP PURPLE MORNING

"Smoke on the water and fire in the sky.............."A cold snap on a sunny day with winter just around the corner.It will be a long haul 'til race week when life on the water will once again peak.Slow news day or not chesterns.ca will be attempting to post a picture pertinent to Chester on the weekends.It could be old or new,scenics,people or objects.You, the site user are welcome to contribute an item or tell us about an idea and we can post it for you in most cases.We hope you will enjoy it. chesterns.ca staff

THE RUMOUR IS OFFICIAL [An Editorial]

So the Nova Scotia Liquor Commission is considering acquiring the old Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment on Duke St.How ironic when one considers the historical and present duties of the Mounties in terms of dealing with alcohol as a substance and the spin-off problems it causes.And now the school kids can protest about not being able to go there for lunch as well.Location,Location,Location! Another great irony as one enters the Village.On your left,the halls of academia;the symbol of a promising future.On the right,the symbol of a possibly alcoholic future.A great philosophical conundrum.What's that,you say? The old RCMP property is zoned residential? You can't run a commercial operation there.Not to worry,The Municipality Of The District Of Chester, Chester Village Area Revised Secondary Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law is a bullet proof document that would never allow this travesty to occur.So sit back and relax,pour yourself a drink and don't worry about a thing. captainkidd

LET'S HOPE IT'S NOT A TREND

Little Pig,Little Pig,Let Me In !
Right Wall Down
And Now The Left
Look Closely,That's One Less Chimney For Santa This Christmas
And Now The Back Wall Must Tumble
That Is One Tough Window
And There It Was,Gone !
The Alien-like Machine Works Away Into The Darkness Dec.05/07 112 Queen St. is no more.The building,that is.Due to its age and structural issues the owner really had no other choice than to take it down.With the Church Hall project happening around the corner and up the street,timing was everything to take advantage of the equipment needed for the job.Originally a small store located on King St.[coincidentally,almost diagonally opposite the Church Hall that just came down] that some think was moved in the 1940's to the Queen St. location.Change is inevitable.It will be interesting to see what fills this newly created void on the east side of Queen St.

CHESTER MUNICIPAL CHAMBER of COMMERCE SOCIAL

MEMBERS SOCIALIZE . Dec.4/07 Linens For Life,East Chester: The local Chamber of Commerce held their monthly Business After Hours social.It was a well attended function where members gave donations to the local food bank as an admission fee.The highlight of the evening was the introduction of Angela Jessome as the new Executive Assistant for the Chamber.Members had the opportunity to meet and have a chat with her and also catch up on news and views with their counterparts.Elaine and Maurice,the proprietors of Linens For Life, provided great refreshments.And Butch Heisler's hot meatballs were very tasty indeed.

THE LATEST STORM

CHESTER VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT. RUSHES OFF TO A CALL
At the corner of South and Victoria Streets somebody was very lucky. Snow plus rain equaled slush around Chester.Surprisingly,the roads were not so bad as temperature aided road maintenance crews who were out in a very timely manner for this storm.There were several minor accidents in the area mainly due to hydroplaning and slush build-up.Schools were canceled.All in all we got off easy with this one.

RAZED AND LOWERED

THE MONSTER PAUSE
HISTORY GETTING HAULED AWAY 1840-2007 One hundred and sixty-seven years of history are now gone from the Village.On a grey December day old St.Stephens Hall ended its reign as a venue for both Church and other events and functions.A handfull of parishioners and residents huddled across the street in wind and light snow to watch and witness.As sad as it may have appeared there was a glimmer of enthusiasm,as now the first crucial step in the construction of their new hall was carried out.In death there is life.Along with humans,on a religious level,this holds true for architecture as well.A great irony in this particular case.NOTE:A photo essay follows in the next news item.The pictures speak for themselves.

IT'S HALL GONE NOW

THE DESTRUCTIVE TENANT MOVES IN
TEAR DOWN THE WALLS !
THE WRECKERS CONFER
MOVING RIGHT ALONG
ATTIC ATTACK
DESTRUCTION AT ITS PEAK
SPLINTERS AND DUST
HALFWAY THROUGH
EXIT THE ENTRANCE
A TRIO OF PARISHIONERS LOOK ON WITH GRIM FASCINATION

CHESTER LOSES A LANDMARK

Regent and King Streets,Chester: It is always sad when a building comes down or is destroyed for whatever the cause or reason.We have heard that it was going to happen for quite some time and now the wreckers are about to pounce.From Sunday school classes to wedding and funeral receptions along with many other community meetings and events,St. Stephens Hall saw it all.As unfortunate as this may sound,the old structure was beyond renovating to todays standards for the purpose of the Church's use.One can only hope that the structure replacing it will have as much or more character and pleasing architecture.In this day and age it is great to see St. Stephen's growing when many churches are closing or cutting back on their work and activities.If all goes according to schedule after Tuesday there will be a hole in the architecture of Chester,but construction of the new hall will begin immediately according to a spokesperson for the Church. PHOTOS:1] The little wooden plaque is still warm and welcoming. 2] The monster of destruction waits quietly. 3] The view up King St. 4] The view down Regent St. 5] From the corner of Regent and King Streets.

ALL ABOARD FOR CHRISTMAS !

The Olde Train Station,Chester:The spirit of Christmas was in the air as about 20 vendors displayed their wares and craft work for the discerning buyer of handcrafted Christmas gifts.From local author Claudette Sapp's book to decorative painting creations from Me And The Cat you could be sure to find a gift for anyone on your list.Or a selfish present for yourself.Other artists included Cynthia page,folk artist and Klaus Gehrig painter and glass etchings.Creations from Quilty Pleasures included tea cozies and nautical flag tote bags.Local rug hooker Myrna Reeves featured her mats and rugs.Gail Smith's tole painting could be purchased as well.The organizers said that they had a a good sale this year in terms of sellers and buyers.A portion of the sales is commissioned to the Chester Municipal Heritage Society as a fund raising effort.There were more vendors this year with some new ones participating, compared to last years event. PHOTOS: 1]Claudette's book 2]A sign for the season 3] Santas and a nun walking sticks 4]Tea cozies and other items 5]Tree of ornaments for sale 6]Cynthia Page at her display.

A DAY LATE AND A DOLLAR SHORT

Dec.02,Any street in the Village: Well it is finally winter in Chester.At least in terms of weather conditions, if not the calender date.Since Saturday morning the road conditions have been treacherous with packed frozen snow rapidly turning to ice.Hills and intersections were particularly dangerous.Pedestrian and vehicle alike faced the same problems when navigating the streets of Chester.And no sand being spread to aid in traction.On Sunday morning, five vehicles were observed skidding and sliding sideways down Barry's Hill on Duke St.Several residents had commented on the conditions and lack of sanding.One could say that "You can always tell when it's winter in Chester because there is less sand on the streets than there is in the summer".Finally from about 10:30 a.m. onward,sand was starting to be applied to the streets.To their credit,the sidewalks crew had been at their task on Sat. and today in a timely manner. A call to the local DOT [DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS] offered the explanation that their winter maintenance schedule does not start until next weekend.No road condition patrols or workmen for this kind of weather are readily available until then.In terms of safety this is a poor excuse.With good weather forecasting and knowing that winter doesn't start by turning on a switch,one would think that problems like this could be handled in a better fashion.The gentleman taking calls at DOT said to call the Supervisor on Monday with any concerns.Others say to call MLA Judy Streatch as she is our Provincial represenative with "a strong voice at the Government table".In case you didn't realize,we have a new Minister of Transportation and Public Works,the Honorable Murray Scott.Perhaps under his tenure we will see an improvement in maintenance and repairs to our roads and streets.The previous Minister certainly didn't handle things well.This has been a major issue in Chester for the past 3-5 years if not more. PHOTOS 1] Queen St. and #3 Hwy 2] End of Queen St. 3]Top of Barry's Hill at Duke and Main Streets {NOTE:The glare is from ice,not water.} 3] Car coming down Barry's Hill.