“An old gnome is slowly emerging from the huge red cedar log standing in Darcy’s Pratt Road yard. On these pleasant days Darcy’s chainsaw is spitting sawdust in all directions,” says Vel Anderson, who has been spearheading the effort to replace the old Book Gnome at Cedar Grove Elementary School. Local carver Darcy Gertz has been busy working on crafting the figure from a block of cedar.
Vel goes on to say, “The Elphinstone Community Association, after some consideration, and blessing from Principal Krangle, decided to take on the project to replace the sadly deteriorating old gnome at Cedar Grove Elementary School.”
A small but dedicated committee arranged to fundraise for this project and commissioned master carver and goldsmith Gertz to create a new gnome to replace the one vandalized some years ago. A suitable chunk of red cedar was found and generously donated by Coastland Wood Industries with help from Dean Riggs. You can check out the webpage for the project, which includes pictures, stories, fundraising events and other fun stuff at: www.cedargrovegnomeproject.com.
On a recent visit to Darcy’s busy wood sculpture yard on Pratt Road, he showed me some of his other lovely pieces including an eagle, a mermaid and various other images emerging from the wood that he loves to carve.
Committee members Vel Anderson, Chris Kelly (Pratt Road Farm), Marilyn Richmond and Trish Wray are happy to be contacted if you’d like to make a donation. Although some funds have already been raised, the committee is still a long way from its goal so donations are gratefully received. Vel can be contacted at 604-886-7488. Donations can also be made at the Sunshine Coast Credit Union, by directing funds to Account #200012826626, the Elphin-stone Community Asso-ciation Gnome Project. If you know out-of-towners who might wish to contribute, they can send a donation by transfer to the Sunshine Coast Credit using the above account. (SCCU Institution number is 809 and the Transit number is 06620.)
In other news, we heard that Elphinstone Farm has you-pick blueberries ready – yum!
A reader wrote in with the following question: Why is Elphinstone the only area on the Coast with numbered streets, e.g. 7th Street, 15th? Anyone out there know?
Also, in an upcoming article, I am exploring the history of the Elphinstone Community Association, at one time known as Elphinstone Electors Association, so if you have any information about that or any other Elphinstone news, please contact me at [email protected].
