On the morning of Sept.30'th this empty tender conveys the solemn news of learning of the passing of local yachtsman Hume Wells.
The first boat I ever raced on was Hume Wells' Jacana during the summer of either '79 or '80.As fortune would have it,we were first across the line in that particular race. I don't recall where our handicap actually placed us but it was great to brag about being the first boat across. I mentioned this to another skipper who I was working for as a student at the time and he said that was it. As there was some healthy rivalry between my employer and Mr. wells,I would sail with my boss from then on. Over the years I was not surprised as to how my introduction to sailing in Chester unfolded as Hume Wells was a major organizer of the junior sailing program at Chester Yacht Club. He was a past Commodore of CYC. In 1969 he and his crew were gold medal winners at the Canada Games in Halifax. He sailed in several Marblehead to Halifax yacht races with his own boat or on friends' boats. Hume was an avid golfer. Having summered in Chester all of his life,the community provided the best of both sporting worlds for this active gentleman. He loved his work in the finance and securities business and was an active volunteer in the Chester and Halifax communities.
chesterns.ca's Birthday Party Charity Benefit Concert
Here is Steve Read at his day job. He will be bringing us some of his music this Saturday night at the chesterns.ca 1'st Birthday Bash at The Chester Playhouse. Ships keeper by day,he is an accomplished musician by night.We look forward to introducing you to him and him to Chester. So come on down to The Playhouse this Saturday evening from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Tickets are $15.00 and proceeds will be divided among four Chester charities. Two charities will be chosen by your vote on our latest poll link on the chesterns.ca home page. Please bring a non- perishable food item for the local food bank. Stay tuned for more info on the other performers in the line-up.
Chester Area Family Resource Centre AGM-A chesterns.ca exclusive
CAFRC Board members (left to right) Brian Jackson,Bill Hilchie,Chair Phil Ellwood,Jehad Assaff,Traci Morrisey,Wynand Baerken,John Carroll (retiring),Kelley Burgoyne and Building Committee member Lara Parsons who will be joined by John Carroll.Missing:Danny McCoul and Annette Zinck.
Sept.29'th,Church Memorial Park-------------------------What else can be said of CAFRC's past year other than they have come a long way in a short time with a few downs before finishing with a tremendous up. Evicted from their longtime digs on Tremont St.,they were forced to take up temporary sanctuary in the Chester United Baptist Church vestry followed by their latest home above The Chester Curling Club at Church Memorial Park. Chairman of The Board Phil Ellwood thanked these two community groups sincerely as the CAFRC was very grateful for being accommodated on such a short notice. The big news for CAFRC was the recent awarding of a grant to them from Community Services in the amount of $706,950.00. During the challenges faced by the group earlier in the year they were able to retain their fantastic staff and their enrollment actually increased. With shrewd business decisions and support from private and government donors,the CAFRC's financial position improved. In the coming year the board is preparing to build a modern full service daycare in the Village. It appears that the site for the building will be at Church Memorial Park in a mutually cooperative partnership between both organizations. Chairman Ellwood thanked the staff and his fellow board members for staying the course during some rough sailing. John Carroll was thanked for his term on the board and praised the organization and its staff in his remarks. He will now serve on the building committee. Watch this project grow and interact with the community.It is a good thing for Chester.
This stretch limousine was slowing down to make a left turn on to Water St.
OOPS ! Someone is just a little above the posted speed limit.
The professional driver in this courier van would naturally tend to obey the posted speed limits.
Sept.29'th,Duke St.----------------------------------This handy dandy little device was parked at the foot of Barry's Hill on Duke St. this morning and remained there for much of the day. While you don't get a real ticket if it records you above the posted speed limit,it certainly gives you a "psychological" one. The speed of vehicles has been a concern of late in the Village,especially in this area as there is a fair bit of pedestrian traffic and scooters for the mobility challenged. Perhaps the shiny new pavement lures motorists to increase the RPM's. Many communities and their Police forces use these devices and for the majority of drivers they are an effective way to keep one's speed in check. Just about any preventive measure will not help the chronic speeder or the youngsters with the "souped up" little cars that are popular with them nowadays. It is not known if this mobile stand alone speed trap was strictly part of the community policing initiative or if it is the result of recommendations from community groups.It was an idea discussed at one of V.O.C.T.A.D.A.'s meetings.In any case it is good to see modern technology being applied to an age old problem.The safety of our pedestrians and drivers is paramount to life and harmony in the Village of Chester.
This small power boat appeared to be the only major victim of Kyle's wind and waves along Chester's shores.
There were a few small limbs down such as this example on Central Street.
"Power pole." With several power outages in the Village last night, Eastlink technicians were busy keeping their systems running with emergency generators for back-up power.
Barry's Hill,Duke St. These fallen pine needles may have an eerie beauty but they are extremely dangerous to motorists if you have to stop or accelerate suddenly. Drive careful!
Sept.29'th,Around The Village--------------------------Chester was lucky this time as Hurricane Kyle passed nearby up to westward. Only minimal damage appeared to be the result of Kyle's wind,rain and waves. A few power outages were about the only major inconvenience for residents of the area. There were the usual scattered pieces of lawn furniture,small tree branches and leaves strewn about.Some folks may be glad to know that at least one RCMP officer was patrolling the Village during the height of the first power disruption.
This is a reminder to go on our poll link and VOTE TO SUPPORT YOUR FAVORITE CHARITY at chesterns.ca'sBIRTHDAY BASH at The Chester Playhouse on Oct 4'th 2008 at 8:00 p.m.Four Chester charities will benefit from the admission proceeds. Please vote, chesterns.ca
The prudent owners of these boats moved them to shelter on the lee side of the wharf today.
Sept.28'th,Chester Government Wharf------------------The above photo was taken around 3:30 p.m.this afternoon. By 6:00 this evening the rain was falling heavily and at 8:08 p.m. our station recorded a wind gust of 36.5 knots although there was likely heavier gusts down on the water. Around 9:00 p.m. there appeared to be only one small boat in trouble at a wharf on The Peninsula. Nova Scotia Power was busy dealing with 2 or 3 power outages in the Village as winds persisted.
Hear and see Kevin Koloff (above) and his band of gypsies. They will take you "one giant leap" backwards on a musical odyssey ...featuring in no sensible order,Bob Mac Isaac,Jim Todd and Dave Theriault.
Dave Theriault on the skins,yeah !
On Oct.4'th 2008 chesterns.ca marks a milestone.Our first birthday on The World Wide Web. To celebrate,we are presenting a community benefit variety show at the ol' Chester Playhouse.We aim to promote local talent with a surprise or two from farther afield.There will be something for everyone.Music,theatre,and readings.Something old and something new. Tickets are $15.00 at the door. Proceeds will go to FOUR local charities.chesterns.ca has chosen two of them.Our viewers will choose the other two by voting online.We will be encouraging you to vote throughout the coming week. We also ask that you bring along a non-perishable food DONATION for the LOCAL FOODBANK.Or a cash donation will be gladly accepted. chesterns.ca is all about community.To celebrate a successful year of promoting Chester's people,scenery,activities and businesses on the web,the creators decided to put on this event to give back to the community.So come on out to The Chester Playhouse on October 4'th at 8:00 P.M. and support great local talent and the community.We promise you a great show ! We will be mentioning more in the days to come.
MORE BOAT FIRE COVERAGE FROM AN AVID CHESTER MARINER
Flames engulf the cabin of Misty Moon II.
Chester Volunteer firefighters begin their attack.
Another view of efforts to extinguish the blaze.
This one is stubborn considering the small area involved.
Firemen discuss the possibility of towing the burned out hulk to port with one of the boaters at the scene.
About an hour later,Coast Guard Cutter Sambro puts water on the second flareup. All above photographs by David Goudge,courtesy of David Goudge.
Sept.26'th,Waters of Mahone Bay off Chester----------------------One of Chester's most active boaters ,Dave Goudge was heading out on one of his many voyages on the bay when he saw a fire truck heading to the Municipal (aka King's) Wharf. Quickly putting two and two together, Dave scanned the waters and saw smoke on the western horizon. With a fast boat he was on the scene before the Fire Boat and got the above photos. chesterns.ca would like to thank Dave for taking the time to get the photos and forwarding them to us. There are a few extended season boaters around Chester and it is good to know who they are and that they are out there if you see or have trouble on the water. The Chester Volunteer Fire Department is to be commended for their response and efforts at the scene.There were times that the Fire Boat was a somewhat controversial item but for the last few years it has proven its worth as a valuable safety asset.Especially when one considers all the boating activities in the area and the many island homes around Chester.
The fire is well underway as the Chester Volunteer Fire Dept.'s Fire and Rescue Boat heads to the scene.(click to enlarge)
The firefighters begin to hose water on the flames.
In this shot the firemen prepare to board to finish the battle with the flames.
The job is done so the firemen head back to port.
A close up of the wheelhouse area of The Misty Moon II.
The Canadian Coast Guard cutter Sambro finishes battling the flames from a second flare-up.
Sept.26'th,The waters off Chester------------------------------------Firefighters from Chester Volunteer Fire Dept. responded to a call for a fire on board a 40 foot Cape Islander style wooden boat at approximately 10:00 a.m. this morning near Apple Island and Oak Island on Mahone Bay. No one was injured. The skipper and anyone else on board were taken ashore by another boat before the Fire Boat arrived. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. The owner was offered the opportunity to have the boat towed in but refused the offer.Probably just as well as the flames flared up again about 30 minutes after the Fire Boat left.The Coast Guard cutter Sambro was dispatched from near Halifax and arrived about an hour after the Fire Boat left so it doused the remaining flames.The boat,Misty Moon II is owned by a man from the Gold River area. Below is a short video of the Sambro's crew at work fighting the second fire.
Police and firefighters respond to the accident scene and control traffic.
One bus on the road,one bus off.
From the front.
From the rear.
Sept.25'th,Gold River--------------------------------At around 10:30 a.m. this morning a South Shore Regional School Board school bus left Highway #103 at the 230km West marker near The Beech Hill Rd. overpass. According to witnesses at the scene,a heating line ruptured and caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle. While suffering burns from the leaking fluid the driver was able to reasonably control the vehicle,keeping it upright as it left the highway and careened through a muddy ditch. The driver was helped by some of the passing motorists and was treated by paramedics and taken to hospital. There were no children on the bus at the time. Firefighters from Chester Basin Volunteer Fire Dept. and Western Shore Volunteer Fire Dept. responded to the scene. The major concern appeared to be fluids leaking from the vehicle and traffic control. RCMP also responded to the scene with an impressive complement of officers to direct traffic and investigate the mishap. With the tragic ambulance accident near exit 6,this is the second accident in less than ten days involving not your average single vehicle.
The Chester Municipal Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting & Dinner Members, Friends & Guests
Guest Speaker
Sarah Dennis
Sarah Dennis is Vice President and a director of The Halifax Herald Limited, publishers of The Chronicle Herald and The Sunday Herald, the largest independently owned newspapers in Canada.
Location: Oak Island Resort & Spa Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2008 Reception: 5:00PM – 6:30PM AGM: 5:30 PM
Dinner: 6:30PM
"All members are encouraged to attend and participate in the AGM. Attendance of the meeting is free and the dinner follows.
Tickets for the dinner are $50.00/person and available for purchase at The Visitor Information Centre or by phone VIC @ 275-4616 and chamber office @ 275-4709"
Moving on up.Paving crew at work on Barrys Hill,Duke Street.
"Steam" roller.
Laying the asphalt the fast way.
If all the trucks on the job were this size,the project would be done in no time.
Sept.22,Duke St.----------------------------------Other than tuning up street intersections and installing gravel on the shoulders,the paving work in the Village will soon be completed. It will now be possible to drive through the core area of Chester over decent roads. That is the Duke St./Pleasant St./Queen St./Valley Rd. route. At another function in the Village last week,MLA Judy Streatch assured chesterns.ca that the work is part of a four year plan for the streets of the Village. She also confirmed that the reason it took so long to get this done was that the "local" government i.e. Council did not ask for it. So how bad does it have to get? It is believed that the recent efforts of a local community group gave the project the final push it needed. With the Municipal election not far off,one should carefully consider the candidate you vote for as we do not need a backward slide into the indolent treatment that we suffered through in the past. Lately there is a push on for sustainability. While planning for the future needs of our community is admirable and important,the present state of our infrastructure and other common needs requires immediate attention. Right now,many things are improving for Chester. Let's keep it moving lest we start the backward slide into oblivion. It is 2008,people. Forget the politics of denial and use some common sense to improve our lot in life. Take care of a community and it grows happily. Ignore the needs of a community and its spirit withers away.
Runners get a workout doing "hill practice" as they sprint up Main St.
Sept.22,Main St.-----------------------The Chester District School cross country running team was out for a morning practice run with Coach Gail Mitchell. Mitchell commented that there is a strong team this year especially in the girls division. It's that time of year again as this sport gets under way. It is a far more enjoyable running sport for many as you typically get to run through woods and fields instead of around a level boring track. But then there are the hills.
It is only a matter of time before a frost will take these flowers away at Freda's Beach.
Sept.21'st,Freda's Beach----------------------------It looks like it will be a warm sunny day for the last full day of Summer '08. Get out in the boat,go for a walk or do some gardening and enjoy the weather. Tomorrow,over lunch hour, the Autumnal Equinox happens. Thus ushering in the Fall season.
Open house at mister scallop's place . A great look at the shell's exterior texture.
Aquaculturalist Duncan Bates with some of the results of his work.
"Mussel man" Gary Rafuse mends a net bag for storing another succulent mollusc that is farmed in the waters off Chester.
Sept.20'th,Chester Government Wharf--------------------------While driving along Water Street this morning,a once familiar face on the waters of Chester was parking his truck near the wharf. It had been awhile since chesterns.ca had spent time with Duncan Bates. He farms scallops off Chester and also used to fish lobster. Awhile ago Duncan took up a position as a research technician with Dalhousie University in Halifax. He still has the scallop farm but another local aquaculturalist,Blaine Bond, tends it for him as Duncan cannot get out as often as he used to. The scallops in the above photos were harvested by Blaine and his assistant Gary. Blaine also farms mussels and fishes lobster. Along with the Tancook ferry service, Blaine's and Duncan's Cape Islander fishing boats make the Government wharf a year round working wharf. If you get a hankering for some tasty scallops to bake or mussels to steam, you can usually get a feed on Friday afternoons right off the boat at wharfside. We lucked out and got some fresh scallops this morning. chesterns.ca encourages you to buy local and support local business people like Duncan and Blaine.
Actor Christian Murray in a scene from the play,Underneath The Lintel. (photo courtesy of Chester Playhouse)
Another scene from the one act play,Underneath The Lintel. (photo courtesy of Chester Playhouse)
Sept19'th,Chester Playhouse------------------------------As The Chester Playhouse winds up its theatrical offerings for the year, they are not missing a beat in bringing world class professional drama to their stage. When one first hears about a one act play about about a librarian's efforts to track a book overdue for 113 years you may roll your eyes and give a great yawn. Under no circumstances should you be mislead by such thoughts. chesterns.ca skeptically thought that this performance was a must see. We were pleasantly surprised.With strong writing and an excellent actor,the 75 minute show races along. Captivating and humourous,there is a lot for the audience to follow here so you need to stay with the actor on this one. There is ingenious use of images projected on a screen and great music to convey the story. Is it the story of an over zealous librarian's efforts to retrieve a long overdue book or is it about him finding himself? Perhaps it is the tale of his journey into madness over an obsession. A very strong but simple set with excellent lighting(c/o The Playhouse's Bob Elliot) helps the audience keep their eyes on the stage. Playwright Glen Berger,Actor Christian Murray ,Director Mary Vingoe,Set Designer Stephen Osler,and Lighting Designer Ingrid Risk are to be commended for their talents in bringing this piece of quality theatre to the stage."Break a leg",guys!
Community Services Minister Judy Streatch announces childcare funding.
Minister Streatch and some of the kids at CAFRC are all smiles after a thank-you presentation to the Minister.
The BIG cheque for a big project.
After presenting a financial building block to CAFRC's Board Of Directors,Minister Streatch takes a minute to play with some real building blocks with one of CAFRC's participants.
CAFRC AGM notice.
Sept.19'th,Church Memorial Park-----------------------------Chester Area Resource Centre and its Board of Directors are a big step closer to realizing a new daycare facility with the Provincial Government's announcement of $10,000,000.00 to create more daycare spaces and facilities around the Province. Chester's share of the funding amounted to $706,590.00. CAFRC can now get on with expanding their daycare. There is still some additional fundraising to be done. This latest round of money was aided by funding from the Federal Government to assist the province in its 10 year,200 million dollar Early Learning and Child Care Plan. If you would like to learn more about Chester's Daycare plans or to get involved or donate,come on out to The CAFRC AGM on Sept. 29'th 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
Below is a video clip of Minister Streatch's presentation.
The convoy of DOT yellow dump trucks line up on the Chester Government wharf.
The trucks back up on to the stand by barge ferry.
One more truck to go.
The regular ferry,William G. Ernst waits to escort the car ferry with its load of loaded trucks.
Sept.18'th,Chester Government wharf------------------------For the last few days there has been some unusual activity and traffic along Water St. as DOT dump trucks haul loads of gravel to a waiting ferry for transport to Tancook Island. It has been many years since major repairs and improvements have been made to Island roads. With the storms and heavy rains that recently occurred the dirt roads no doubt suffered damage.
Laying the blacktop on Valley Road at the intersection of Queen St.
The steam roller provides the finishing touch.
Sept.17'th,Queen St.-----------------------------After years of neglect and poor maintenance,a few Chester streets are being brought up to 20'th century standards much to the joy of Village residents and drivers. According to our MLA, Minister Judy Stretch, it is the start of a 3 to 4 year program to bring Village roads and streets up to snuff. The work is expected to be completed by the end of October so respect the work crews and choose routes carefully for your driving convenience.
South.Queen St.business district and the waters of Mahone Bay.
Northeast.Queen St. with Chester District School in the distance.
The best Bed and Breakfast in Chester,The Mecklenburgh Inn at 78 Queen St. with many tiny chairs to curl up in.
Sept. 17'th,Queen St.-------------------As the Masonic Lodge Clarke 61 was getting a new coat of paint,chesterns.ca took the opportunity to climb on up and bring you another perspective on the Village of Chester.
Sept.17'th,Chester Yacht Club-------------Retiring Commodore Collin Finlay (left) poses with the new Commodore B. Spahr after the CYC annual general meeting. After a great year of racing it looks as if things will sail along smoothly with Commodore B. and his new slate of officers. Don McAlpine,Vice Commodore;Randy Stevens,Rear Commodore and returning secretary-treasurer,Fay Aiken.
And ended here as the photos above and below show.
The Life Flight chopper arrives.
The EHS pilot leaves his aircraft,as the extrication of one of the victims will take awhile.
A surreal image of the scene.
A Mountie's eye view.
Loading the patient.
Life Flight takes off for QE II Hospital in Halifax.
RCMP Sgt. Mark Gallagher is briefed by EHS and one of his fellow officers.
Hubbards Volunteer Fire Dept. Chief Hans Stokkeskog (l) and HRM District Chief Paul Hopkins (r) were in charge of the rescue and recovery operations.
The wrecker waits.
Sept.17'th,near Hubbards---------------------------Tragedy struck for the crew of an EHS ambulance at around 11:00 this morning near Exit #6 on Highway #103. For reasons unknown the vehicle left the highway,crossing the centre line as it headed west carrying a patient to Bridgewater's South Shore Regional Hospital. The only fatality was the patient. A 53 year old female whose name was being withheld until next of kin were notified. The driver suffered serious but not life threatening injuries and was airlifted to hospital from the scene. The attendant suffered scrapes and internal injuries believed not to be serious. There were one or two witnesses that Police will interview as well as the EHS crew when they are able.The ambulance will be overhauled in an investigation of the accident.The vehicle's black box and maintenance records may also aid in determining the cause. Responding to the the scene were police,fire and ambulance personnel. At any given time there were 5 to 8 squad cars on the scene,3 to 4 ambulances,the Life Flight helicopter,2 EHS Supervisors vehicles and 4 fire department vehicles and two wrecking/recovery trucks. There were about 30 to 40 professionals on site;with police,fire,EHS and accident recovery workers. There were also 5 or 6 bystanders who either volunteered or were pressed into service by police,firefighters and ambulance personnel.The highway was closed for several hours while the investigation and salvage operation were carried out.Chester Volunteer Fire Dept. responded through Mutual Aid to assist Hubbards Volunteer Fire Dept. Another important part of this story is the care and teamwork of all the people involved. Many of these people work together due to the nature of their work so it can be tough when your own work mates are involved in such a mishap. With adrenaline flowing,the energy,courage,sense of duty and professionalism illustrated by all who were involved was incredible. Your intrepid chesterns.ca reporter knows many of the officers,firefighters and ambulance personnel and when asked to give a hand just jumped in and did so. There was no second thought. You knew by the sincere tone and the look in the eyes that everyone is equal when they are in a jam and need a hand. In a crunch,any help is appreciated regardless of ones training or ability. Below is our first experiment in video news coverage with a statement to the press from RCMP Sgt.Mark Gallagher on the scene and some answers to questions from the media.
MERRILY,MERRILY,MERRILY,MERRILY.....LIFE IS BUT A DREAM
Ken Hucke prepares to dock his row boat after a trip around The Chester Peninsula.
Sept.16'th,Chester Front Harbour------------------------On a bright sunny morning like this you do not need a multimillion dollar super yacht for your dream boat.As we have shown you before,you can see all manner of craft on the waters of Chester.Ken's boat may be one of the smallest but it is certainly a beautiful little rowboat.Just right for a relaxing morning row or to get to the bigger boat's mooring.
This energetic and active group of Chesterians wheeled their bicycles aboard The William G. Ernst ferry for a cycling trip around Big Tancook Island on Tues. Sept. 16'th.
The 2008 Harvest Moon over Blandford reflects off the waters of Chester's Front Harbour.
Redden's Can buoy looks a little eerie with the lunar background lighting and the dim light from Fogrunner's running lights.
Sept.15'th,Chester Front Harbour ---------------------------Summer may be almost over but some of the greatest evenings on the waters off Chester are when you get to experience a full moon with a clear sky and calm waters. While we at chesterns.ca feel the above photos aren't too shabby,nothing beats getting out in the boat,sitting on a wharf or walking along the shore to really get the total visual and spiritual effects of such an incredible evening.
The pioneers of what is hoped will be an annual event in the Village at Lordly Park.
Sept.14'th,Lordly Park------------------------------Chester resident John Pece's effort to organize the first community potluck picnic in Chester's Lordly Park was supported by a small but enthusiastic group. The ominous clouds and light drizzle earlier in the day probably dampened the spirits of many who had planned to come out for the evening dinner hour. The "founders" had a great time. The food was excellent and there were no bugs.See you all next year.
Nellie Chandler leads guests in a round of applause as she thanks her daughter Sherry for organizing the surprise Birthday Party for her.
Federal Liberal candidate Dr.Bill Smith took a break from campaigning to wish one of his staunch supporters a Happy 90'th Birthday.
Wishes from the Provincial Liberal leader Stephen McNeil and Federal MP Geoff Reagan.
Sept.14'th,Shoreham Village---------------------------Family and friends gathered for a surprise Birthday Party for Chester native Nellie Chandler to wish her all the best on her 90'th birthday. For many years Nellie had lived in Halifax and spent a lot of time in Chester during summers. Besides traveling, Nellie worked for Seniors For Seniors until her "retirement" about 2 or 3 years ago. Nellie did not mind mentioning her political stripes as the wishes above illustrate. While residing in Halifax,she worked for MP Geoff Reagan in his constituency. Nellie was overwhelmed by the large turnout of family and friends and thanks all who were there for taking the time to celebrate with her.
Peter Somerville during his Chester days. Photo by Suzi Fraser
Sept. 15'th,Chester; by Bunch Fraser------------------------------------------Peter Somerville,who managed to weather two summers of teaching junior sailing at the Chester Yacht Club around 1976,passed away in Fredericton,N.B. on Thursday Sept. 11'th,2008.He wore many hats at the Yacht Club;teacher,mentor,advisor,confidant,mathematician,friend. His family asked that,in his memory,donations could be made to a favourite charity or a kind deed done to someone else would be appreciated...those of us who knew him in Chester thought the Junior Sailing Trust fund would be a good way to remember Peter. To donate contact cguthrie@sympatico.ca
Without the Canadian flag,the kayak alongside and its steel hull, this scene is reminiscent of Chester's earliest days.
The shore party.
The Caledonia's majestic bowsprit.
Though retrofitted and not purpose built,she is still a great looking replica of the old way of sea travel.
From the stern.
Sept.12'th,Chester Harbour---------------------------------Arrrgh! Shiver me timbers,mateys! It was enough to make an ol' pirate like Cap'n Kidd feel like a young swashbuckler again when 'e spys the riggin' in Chester's fine harbour of the barquentine Caledonia. The Caledonia is no pirate ship. It is in fact a very friendly boat. It runs cruises for those wanting a taste of the tall ship life, around Canada and the Caribbean. The day before, it stopped in Chester for its passengers to take some shore leave in the Village. The owners of this enterprise are to be commended for their efforts. Chester and many other seaside communities need this kind of business for their local economies. What better way to see Chester and the rest of our fair maritime Province than to experience it the way most of our first visitors and settlers did. When most folks in the Village heard about why the ship stopped by,they thought it was a great idea for both passengers and local businesses alike. Caledonia and others like her will always be welcome in Chester.
Those aren't bugs! It's ReMax agents Terry Elliot and Peter Reeves.
Tether end.
Shadow.
The Eleanor Pew Morris Memorial Arena .
The Chester Tennis Club clubhouse.
The tennis courts with Chester District School in the background.
Looking west toward Haddon Hill.
A bird's eye view over part of the Village of Chester. Wanna buy a house?
The Front Harbour. The Rope Loft is near the lower left of the photo.
Going up! Hot air keeps the balloon aloft.
Hangin' out,ReMax style!
Sept.12'th,Church Memorial Park Ball Field----------------------Advertising promo or not, hot air balloons invoke a timeless fascination for both children and adults alike. This balloon has been in Chester before and always garners attention. chesterns.ca had the opportunity to float on up and give you a different perspective on the Village and some of its features,courtesy of the Remax boys. While we went up to only about 300 feet or so,these guys went across the Annapolis Valley at the 6000 foot level the evening before. Leave it to ReMax to bring you a cool way to buy a house in Chester. Just float on up,point to the house you would like and yell down to the agents,"I want that one!"
Donna Dillman and partner,Author Mike Nickerson, pose after Donna's presentation and a discussion about the concerns of uranium mining,its uses and how to lobby against it.
Thurs.Sept.11'th,Forest Heights Community School------------------------A rather small group came out to hear about a topic of great concern. That is, the threat of uranium mining being carried out in the Chester and New Ross area. Donna Dillman"The Hunger Striking Granny" told her story of how she made a difference to help prevent uranium mining near where she lived. No matter where you stand on this issue,it was a very compelling and interesting account. No matter where you stand on the issue, the dangers and the remnants from mining can far outweigh the dangers of the actual end use of the uranium ore. You may want to consider whether you want to be a martyr for your fellow man's energy demands. For most of us,obtaining and using uranium is someone else's problem. It is carried out far away. Our land,water and air is not getting ruined. We don't live in the shadow of nuclear reactors. Nuclear weapons do not seem to be an immediate threat to most, if any of us. Radioactive waste is not a direct threat to us. For most Nova Scotians and residents in the Chester area,the mining threat may very well become a reality. For over 25 years it has been known that there is a viable uranium resource beneath our feet. All it would really require to start the digging would be a stable rise in the demand and value of uranium. Next exploration and mining companies along with investors and other business interests would lobby the government to allow it and presto! You have almost assured the destruction of a way of life that most of us hold dear to our hearts. "Chester is the vestibule of heaven." The words of an early summer resident of Chester as quoted by the writer Clara Dennis in her book "More About Nova Scotia". The year was 1937. Over 70 years later, many who live and visit here will still agree. Do we risk throwing it all away for 5 to 25 years of dangerous instant "success"? You can think about the answer for yourself. Besides speaking on her hunger strike approach to protesting,some of Dillman's key points that stood out were that no insurance company has ever agreed to insure a nuclear energy plant. Canada exports the majority of the uranium it extracts. Of the 85% that is exported,76% goes to the U.S.A. for weapons manufacturing. Primary use of uranium still appears to be for weaponry. In 30 to 40 years high grade uranium ore stocks will run out. Waste from uranium mining and use is still the bigger problem facing humanity.
Message: Re: your personal comments about the "Lido Shuffle".You are misinformed and are perpetuating myths about the process.Try reading The Municipal Government Act before you raise false hopes about the process.Nothing was decided or moved or approved.Your ill advised comments do nothing to help facilitate this process. From D.Foley
The view from the back of the room at the monthly meeting of The Village of Chester. (Apologies for photo quality)
Sept.10'th,Chester Fire Hall-------------------------------The largest audience in years attended the latest meeting of The Village of Chester.The word on the street was that the need to move ahead with a public washroom facility for the Village was to be the main item of interest.However ,an eleventh hour concern over the state and future of the Lido swimming complex appeared to steal the show.If one read the audience carefully,there was a lot of support for both projects.Folks in attendance were apparently seeking instant gratification for both projects.There is no question that it takes time to instrument and complete projects such as these.With a clear majority favoring to move ahead positively on both issues people did not want the process stalled any more than usual.It appears that the Commissioners are ready to move ahead cautiously to facilitate and carry out the construction of a public washroom for the Village and to tackle the future repair and preservation of the Lido.
Left to Right:Sherry Cosham;Chester,Donald Dodge;Conserve Nova Scotia and Steve Foran;Chester Building Supplies discuss details of the latest Government program to efficiently use energy in the home.
Sept.10'th,Chester Legion--------------------------You would think that with the spiraling costs of heating oil and electricity,people would have packed a meeting where they could find out how to save money running their homes.However,only a handful of contractors and homeowners came out to hear the details on the ConserveNS rebate and assistance program.Hosted by Chester Building Supplies,the evening consisted of a presentation by Mr.Donald Dodge of Conserve Nova Scotia and a display of products and information to aid the homeowner and builder in efforts to efficiently heat and light their homes. To qualify for the benefits it all starts with an energy audit.There are several areas of assistance depending on how you proceed after the audit and depending on your income level.It must be emphasized that the program is for every homeowner,not just low income households.And old and new houses can benefit.Perhaps the only homes not requiring the program would be the newer R2000 structures.For more details call 1-800-670-4636 or go toconservens.ca.
Sept.10'th,Chester-------------The traditional candidate campaign signs are springing up all over the riding of South Shore-St. Margaret's.The positioning is interesting here at the end of Valley Rd.NDP on the left,Conservative in the middle and Liberal on the right.Coincidence or subliminal,deliberate positioning?
All is well in Canada today after democracy's short vacation.Now that Mr.Layton opened the door,which forced Mr.Harper to open the door whereupon the Media felt obliged to open the door and let Ms. May in to the "Great Debate" we can all sit back and listen to the petty and trivial platforms and issues.Let us be thankful for simple basic democracy.If the election were being fought on that principle alone then it would be a battle between Ms. May and Mr. Dion alone. Now let's get on with the show and hope that there will be no more outlandish and ridiculous sideshows like we witnessed yesterday.And remember to cast your vote.
Well folks,it is very hard to take this one sitting or lying down.While chesterns.ca does not endorse any one Political party or cause,with the latest uproar concerning the Green Party being left out of the televised debates it is not just about a particular Party's views and ideals.After listening to radio phone in shows,talk shows,TV news and reading newspaper articles it is clear that the voting public is the real victim here.Not Elizabeth May and her Green Party.While the major political parties and independents have their own particular policies and goals for a successful Canadian society,there is one major building block being overlooked here.Democracy. Whether out of fear or ignorance,Mr.Harper and Mr. Layton are making a grave mistake in this case.And so is the Media. At the end of the day it is very doubtful if Ms.May would sweep enough votes to even remotely threaten any of these guys.Voters have the opportunity to vote for May's Green Party in all 306 ridings in the country.It only makes sense to let voters hear her platform in order to make a comparative and well informed decision as to how they wish to vote. Picking on the "little guy" or in this case the "little girl" will only bring more attention and support to her.Typically that kind of support is out of sympathy or pity.The well informed and educated voter will see through the pettiness of this action and realize that in a true democracy, all may have their say. All other platforms and party policies aside,a vote for May is a vote for one of the most important and precious rights of all.That is, your right to choose your leader and not your leader's choice of who you may choose.If May is not allowed to debate,one should still listen and then research as much as you can about May and her Party.Then make your choice and go out and vote.The only thing worse than May being left out of the debates is voters who do not vote. Remember:Canada is your country,not theirs.
Left to right:Provincial NDP candidate Denise Petersen-Rafuse,Federal NDP candidate Gordon Earle,Gordon's wife Jane Earle just before they hit the pavement on Pleasant Street.
Sept.9'th,Pleasant St.-------------------------------With campaigning underway for the latest Federal election it was only a matter of time before candidates would be seen in person in the Village.The first man out in Chester to "meet the people" was New Democrat, Gordon Earle.He spent much of the afternoon campaigning around the Village.Mr. Earle is a very pleasant and approachable guy so it only seemed fitting that he would begin his rounds in Chester on Pleasant St. No matter what your views or party of choice, get informed on the issues and be sure you get out and vote on October 14'th.
The staging area at Valley Rd. and Highway #3 early in the morning.
Crews work at preparing base patches for the new road surface at Main St.,King St. and Valley Rd. intersection.
Drainage improvements are well underway on the upper end of Duke St.
A perfect job at the end of the day.
Asphalt eater.This machine grinds up strips of old pavement to facilitate patching on Valley Rd.
Man and machine at work along Valley Rd.
The section of Valley Rd. featured above, at day's end.
Sept.9'th,Streets of Chester-------------------------------Many Village residents were jolted awake this morning by the rumbling and beeping alarms of heavy machinery and trucks as the long overdue repaving project got underway.The work started on Duke Street and Valley Road with drainage improvements and base patching being the first stages carried out.One of the workers commented that there is a lot of work to do and they will probably be at it for about 2 months. If you have business in the construction zones or are just out for a drive or walk through the areas affected, use caution and be patient.It will be worth it in the end as the Village finally gets some decent roads for the first time in many years.
Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the potty.
Though not an architectural gem,this example of a public washroom in Halifax is certainly functional and of relatively maintenance free construction.
Mon.Sept.8'th,Chester------------------------------------Please come out to the regular monthly meeting of The Village of Chester and make your voices heard regarding the need for and plans to implement a public washroom facility for the Village.This topic has been tossed around for the past 10 to 15 years now and enough is enough.According to comments on the street and among many and various community groups there is a need for such a facility.VOCTADA has taken the initiative on the issue once and for all and along with other community groups and individuals,it is hoped that the project will happen. While many folks may find the topic embarrassing and uncomfortable, the need for such a facility is a common courtesy to both locals and visitors alike.Just about all of us have had the need for a public loo either out of necessity or convenience.While the one in the photo above is a bit basic and overpowering in style perhaps you have seen the examples in Lunenburg and Mahone Bay.In terms of architectural style and character they fit in to their surroundings very nicely.Your next argument might be that Chester is not big enough to require a public latrine.Well folks where do we start.Western Shore,Mahone Bay(with 2),any of the Provincial picnic parks and Ross Farm all have such facilities.In the case of Ross Farm it also happens to be a draw and folks using it are compelled to check out the Museum and shop at the Farm. It is pretty much a given that the need is there and much of the discussion will likely center around location,type and design of the facility.
All residents who are concerned about the possibility of uranium mining being carried out in the Chester area are welcome to attend this informative evening presentation about one woman's method to protest uranium mining in her home area.
Folks savour the foggy air on the terrace and deck.
You get that sweet Sweet smile as Lee Sweet returns from checking his boat at its mooring.
Fri.Sept.5'th CYC-----------------------While many of the summer folks have left by now, there is a small second wave who arrive to enjoy the last dregs of Summer and a usually great Fall.There were about as many people inside the club as there were outside enjoying the evening.The topics discussed ran the gamut from past races to the imminent storm and preparations for it.Many boats have been moved to safer moorings or have been hauled out for the season.
Fri.,Sept.5'th-------------------------The Front Harbour is eerily quiet early Friday morning.Tomorrow we brace ourselves for heavy rains from Tropical Storm Hanna.There could be some wind concerns as well.
Original Content provided by Destination Bluenose Coast
Many of you know that with the assistance of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, Bluenose Coast has been assessed by Roger Brooks, well known international destination developer. He has approached the region as a visitor would and mystery-shopped as well. As anyone who has heard Roger before knows his insights are extremely valuable. He will identify the issue and offer solutions. Anyone interested in visitors and tourism in the region should attend - you will not be sorry. Please see the attached flyer for more information.At last what we have all been waiting for:
ROGER BROOKS BOOT CAMP October 3, 2008 8:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m. Oak Island Resort
Please forward to anyone in your network as this is open to any andeveryone who is interested.
Some students gather in front of the new entrance to C.A.M.S.
A school bus rolls into the new main entrance to Chester District School in the bright morning sunlight.
Sept.4'th,Duke St.--------------------It is that time of year again as students return to the halls of academe.In Chester, it was a beautiful sunny morning for the first day back with only construction on the school grounds causing a minor inconvenience for students and those drivers who were delivering them there. As motorists, be aware of your speed in School Zones and around School Buses.Fines double in School areas and also in construction zones.Hmm.I wonder what a speeding fine for driving too fast through construction in a school zone would be?Hopefully no one will have to find out what the answer is.Drive careful and watch out for students and school buses for about another 200 days as the school year gets underway.
Chester Harbour 46 years later.-----------------------Hull #5691 built by Marriott's Cove Yacht Builders in 1962 is a fine example of the famous Star class racing yacht.Francis Sweisguth,a draftsman for Naval Architect William Gardiner,designed the Star Class in 1910.Since then over 8300 boats have been built.The boats have been an Olympic Games class since 1932.LOA is 22' 8.5" with LWL OF 15 '6".With a hull weight of 1480 lbs. and combined sail area of 285 sq. feet the little Star boat is fast. CHEST*R is owned by three friends who wish to preserve the boat due to its heritage and wood construction and to also have a little fun sailing it.They expect to get involved with The Chester Classics group and The Mahone Bay Classic Boat Festival. The name on the stern is a fine example of the work of The Sign Guy of Chester and the owners agreed that the name expresses the pride in both the boat and its latest home port,The Village of Chester.When you wish upon a star...............
A small waterfall off the Legion parking lot along Duke St.
A more majestic waterfall further down the street.
A large puddle at the entrance to C.A.M.S.
Too much H2O for this culvert at the foot of Barrys Hill on Duke Street.
The Pig Loop Rd. northeast exit on Duke St. is awash.
The crew of the schooner Endeavor is caught in the heavy rains after a race.
This Nova Scotia Power crew was busy with a repair on Wecob Hill Rd.
The calm after the storm.A private marina in the foreground with The Rope Loft in the background.
The entrance to the drain at the foot of Barrys Hill after the heavy rain.
Sept.3'rd,Chester and Area--------------------------A little rain over a long time is more welcome than a lot of rain in a short time.Especially if you are a gardener,a boater or if your well is going dry.This afternoon's storm was one of the more spectacular ones we have had.There were a few very brief power outages with lots of spectacular lightening bolts and thunder claps.And lots and lots of water.Fortunately the heavy rains did not last long or there would have been some serious erosion damage and flooding in some places if it had. For detailed weather information such as temperature,wind speed and rainfall amounts don't forget to click on detailed current weather conditions under our weather and tides link.
The bridge eating monster takes a bite out of the old deck.
The view from below.The old bridge is still very strong.
Sept.2'nd,Gold River-------------------------Work is well underway in the replacement of The Gold River Bridge as the demolition of the old structure is carried out.You can expect delays due to the three way traffic light system to control traffic flow.Remember not to block road intersections and private driveways as you approach the lights as they turn and remain red.It is an offense under the Motor Vehicle Act to do so.
You know what Beta Software Is - if you don't, don't download it
You know how to uninstall a program if you don't follow rule 1 when things don't work as expected
You are running Windows XP or Vista (ONLY)
Cool New Features:
single page that allows you to view large thumbnail images of your open tabs for quick visual cues
"incognito mode" that does not record visited sites, retain cookies, record search history, etc (click link for full details)
faaaaaaaaaaast if you have a faaast computer
full import of ALL your Firefox settings (have not tested on IE, don't use it)
slick interface, aesthetically pleasing, smooth - surely will support skinning in future versions
Long Term Implications - An intuitive speculation (aka read at your own risk!)...
speculation warning: although they don't say it, i'm sure it is designed to work optimally with google provided content somehow, i mean come on, they're giving it away for free
speculation warning #2: this is merely the first step before you will have the option of having "Google" as your operating system, except it's not on a computer as you know it - it's "in the cloud" - your computer will soon be simply a monitor, but not just any monitor, an OLED (Organic LED) monitor with a wireless network card in it, processor and RAM - all small, non-moving parts, sort of like an iTouch, but "bendy" - your monitor will be bendable and easily storable, you'll have different sizes in different forms and mediums, but the content will be the same regardless of medium presented upon
But Why Ben? Google is making major moves buying up wireless frequencies in spectrum auctions, putting a fully enterprise capable office suite of programs available for free with unlimited storage space and built in collobaration tools and easy file sharing, gmail, huge advertisers, consulting with advertising agencies, youtube, google checkout, google books, froogle, buying up dark fiber like crazy, installing huge content distribution hubs that essentially create a "cache" of the internet, cutting down the distance information has to travel between the "internet" and you, so faster load times over shorter distances.. it's nuts, and at the rate they're moving, it's going to get nuttier.
Google will become your portable operating system, if you choose to let it happen
What will drive people towards letting it happen.. well, FREE in terms of cost, (and I've always said, it's hard to beat free) soon all communication devices integrate into 1 - TV, Internet, Music, Radio, Phone, Cell Phone, Home Network (and not just the few network capable devices we have right now - can you say plasma screens being substituted for artwork - having your walls be slideshows, fed from a nearly infinite set of picture collections, wirelessly anywhere in your house?!) - this shift, to occur, demands a large behemoth like google or microsoft - microsoft has been trying for years, but google is doing it with fresh eyes and like microsoft did to ibm/apple early on, google, i believe will do it to microsoft - google just does "it" better than microsoft and that gap isn't getting any shorter
Apple does seem to be going in the same direction with the iPhone and MacBook Air but way behind in the "cloud computing" end of things from what's publicly available
anything that can get an internet connection, anywhere in the world, and has a screen, of any size bigger than a flash drive, becomes the same as what you currently use as your "home pc"
On the morning of Sept.30'th this empty tender conveys the solemn news of learning of the passing of local yachtsman Hume Wells.
