A visit to the home-based shop/studio of local chocolatier, Ludwig Ratzinger, feels a bit like winning one of Willy Wonka's golden tickets. An experienced chocolatier, Ludwig recently set up his studio in the new straw bale home he designed and helped to build near Maberly. The studio is located in the basement of the home, where Ludwig works full time and on average produces from half to three-quaters of a tonne of chocolate per year. When I visited his studio early last week a brand new semi-automatic tempering machine, which Ludwig purchased thanks to a grant from the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation, was in full operation. Its fly wheel was spinning up a fresh, warm, velvety batch of sweet-smelling chocolate and pouring it from…

The MERA Schoolhouse in McDonalds Corners will once again be filled with audience-pleasing classical music as the third annual series of Blue Jeans Classical Sunday afternoons begins again. All performances start at 2 p.m. This series of classical performances is aimed at bringing professional musicians to play in the intimate space of the MERA Schoolhouse. As part of the relaxed atmosphere, the players will be introducing their repertoire, discussing their instruments and answering questions from the audience. On Sunday, October 19, Gertrude Létourneau and Garry Elliott will be offering an intimate concert of virtuosic and passionate pieces for the flute and guitar. Gertrude and Garry have performed together since 2007, presenting their brand of lyrical music to a wide range of audiences. Gertrude plays the…

Every year the Sundance walking tour offers up great scenery thanks to the Fall River, great grub courtesy of the Fall River Restaurant and great eye candy for those who like to keep their finger on the pulse of the local art and crafts scene. This year's 40 plus vendors covered a wide array of items in various mediums and styles and I visited with two artisans whose works could not be at more opposing ends of the art/craft spectrum. Choleena DiTullio of Perth creates paper mosaics from hand-made paper, which she makes from recycled sources. Her pieces have the look of ceramic tile mosiacs/stained glass work but without the fragility and weight. Each work is comprised of a number of colored paper tiles that…

Although organizers of the traditional Silver Lake Pow Wow did not mark this year’s event with any special 20-year anniversary tributes, they were pleased with the turnout. Organizer Trudy Knapp said the ongoing aim of the Pow Wow is to honour the native identity of off-reserve Aboriginals in the community and it is an opportunity for them to embrace their roots. The event continues to attract natives from all over Ontario and Quebec from as far away as Manawaki, Curve Lake near Peterborough, Toronto, North Bay, and Ottawa. Over 400 people arrived early on the first day of the Pow Wow and Knapp said organizers were expecting roughly 2500 over the entire weekend. One major attraction is the grand entry that occurs at noon on…

A reunion of the Elphin Public School will be held on Saturday July 26, 11:30am at the Elphin Presbyterian Church hall. Everyone is welcome and there will be a potluck lunch. The cost is $5 and music will be provided by former students. This circa 1910 photo of a class in front of the school is part of the Izatt photo collection, which was found in the landfill at the McDonalds Corners municipal dump. The photos are now in the Lanark County Archives. The two girls sitting in front of the teacher are Emma and Christina (Tina) Balfour; tallest girl in back row is possibly Laura McIntyre; fourth boy from left in the back row is George Gordon, who was born in 1899. The first…