Christy Carlisle, a member of the Baldwin Community Arts Council board of directors, adds the finishing chocolate touches to some treats she has made for Sunday's 19th Annual Chocolate Auction. The auction, a fundraiser for Baldwin City arts, will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Baldwin High School, 415 Eisenhower.

Sweet treats and fine art are a given at the Baldwin Community Art Council’s annual Chocolate Auction.

But this year’s event also will feature a choir performance.

The 19th annual auction is being dedicated to the memory of Jodie Eldridge, the former Baldwin High School vocal music teacher who died July 30, 2005, after a long bout with cancer. Part of the dedication will include a short performance by members of the BHS choir.

“We are dedicating it to Jodie because of her contributions to the fine arts and the community,” said Kathy Dorsey, arts council president. “She was an amazing person and teacher. She did a lot to foster her students’ interest in the fine arts.”

Last year, the arts council dedicated the auction to former Baker University President Dan Lambert and his wife, Carolyn. Lambert retired last May after 19 years at the helm.

The decision to honor Eldridge this year was due to her fine-arts work at BHS.

“In recent years, we’ve tried to find people who have done a lot for the arts in the community,” arts council board member Ande Parks said. “She (Eldridge) was a natural fit because she did a lot for the arts and education.”

Eldridge left a lasting legacy on the fine arts community in Baldwin City during her years of teaching at BHS. For that reason, the Jodie Eldridge Memorial Scholarship was established by the arts council to help students attend Broadway at Baker.

Proceeds from the event will help support the scholarship.

These chocolate treats were created by Christy Carlisle, a member of the Baldwin Community Arts Council board of directors, for Sunday's 19th Annual Chocolate Auction. The arts fundraiser will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Baldwin High School, 415 Eisenhower.

The doors to the Chocolate Auction will open to chocolate lovers and art enthusiasts at 1 p.m. Sunday at Baldwin High School, 415 Eisenhower. Admission to the auction is $1, with proceeds helping the arts council sponsor scholarships, numerous art-related events and other items throughout the year.

“This year will be a fun and moving event because it’s being dedicated to Jodie Eldridge,” Parks said. “We all loved her.”

Each year, the auction ties into the upcoming Valentine’s Day holiday with plenty of cookies, cakes and chocolate treats. The auction also features works of art from area and regional artists.

A new addition to the hordes of sweets will be chocolate fondue that can be drizzled over fruit or cake, Dorsey said.

The silent auction will begin at 1 p.m. and end at 2 p.m. Then the live auction will run until 4 p.m. Both auctions will have goodies and artwork to bid on.

“There will be wonderful chocolate creations from artisans and members of the community,” Dorsey said. “There will also be various donations from local artists, and local businesses have donated items to be auctioned off. They are all very supportive and they donate things other than chocolate.”

As in years past, there will be tables at which children can bid. Those tables will feature homemade sweets at children’s prices.

“For those of us that put the event together each year, it’s a lot of work, but it always comes out great,” Parks said. “It’s a fun event, and we really get great support.”