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Jennie Baird, left, and Christophe Armero are the chocolate makers behind Mudgetown Chocolate. Free tastings will be available at Tri-Corner Feed in Millerton Saturday, Dec. 13, at noon and 3 p.m.
Aly Morrissey
MILLERTON — There’s wine tasting, beer tasting and even coffee tasting, but Millerton is adding something sweeter to the mix. A craft chocolate tasting event will mark the debut of Mudgetown Chocolate on Saturday, Dec. 13, at Tri-Corner Feed. Two free tastings will be held at noon and 3 p.m.
Mudgetown Chocolate is made in Millerton by Sharon-based chocolatiers using cacao beans sourced from all over the world. Saturday’s event will mark the official launch of the small-batch line at Tri-Corner Feed, one of the only places it will be available.
“Our goal is to delight the community with something special,” said Christophe Armero, chocolatier and founder of Mudgetown Chocolate. He describes his product as a “delicious, locally made chocolate that can’t be purchased anywhere else.”
The business began as a retirement passion project for Armero, who spent 38 years in the sugar industry. After moving full-time to Sharon in 2020 from Riverside, Connecticut, he and his wife, Jennie Baird, began experimenting with chocolate in their barn in 2022.“I realized quickly that it’s very easy to make mediocre chocolate,” Armero joked.
After becoming more interested in the process, he grew determined to master the craft. In 2024, he landed an internship at Dandelion Chocolate in San Francisco, where he learned the tricks of the trade.
“It was a bit intimidating because I was this older guy and all the other chocolatiers were young and very professional,” he laughed. “But they taught me a lot.”
Today, Armero can speak fluently about each step of the chocolate-making process, from sourcing the bean and fermentation to roasting, cracking and “melanging,” most of which is done right here on South Center Street in Millerton.
Tri-Corner Feed’s incubator kitchen
Tri-Corner Feed has a bustling storefront where community members can find locally sourced produce, nutrient-dense groceries and even a chai latte — all with sliding scale prices. And there is just as much action happening behind-the-scenes in their fully licensed commercial kitchen.
It’s here that entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses like Mudgetown Chocolate can roll up their sleeves and create products in an affordable space without the burden of high startup costs.
Armero uses a small, 1-kilogram roaster in Tri-Corner’s kitchen, followed by a cracking and winnowing setup that uses a shop vac to suck out the shells and leave the nibs behind. Then, nibs spend 48 hours or more in a granite stone melanger, where they break down and release natural cacao butter. During this part of the process, the bitterness softens and new flavors develop.
Locally made, globally sourced
Armero and Baird purchase cacao beans directly from small farms and fermentaries in countries like El Salvador, Colombia and Uganda. The couple even traveled to Ecuador to visit one of their producers, prioritizing direct relationships whenever possible, which sets them apart from other commercial producers.
Armero said he hopes to bring more local partners into his chocolate business for future creations. “We’ve made some fantastic chocolate infused with whiskey,” he said, adding that he also has a vision of creating a chocolate bar with crunchy bread crumbs. His goal is to partner with local distilleries and bakeries to make this a reality.
Commercial chocolate vs. craft chocolate
Armero said the key differences between commercial chocolate and craft chocolate are “scale and objective.” Big-brand names rely on facilities designed to transform commodity beans into large quantities of uniform chocolate designed to meet the brand’s distinct taste.
Unlike these chocolate giants, Mudgetown Chocolate and other craft makers work in small batches, coaxing the best flavors out of beans. You might get a slightly different flavor with each batch. With only two ingredients in their dark chocolate – cacao and sugar – the results are highly dependent on the bean itself. Armero said, “We’re always trying to get the best out of the beans.”
The Dec. 13 tastings will be at Tri-Corner Feed at 56 South Center St., Millerton.
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Mohawk ski area opens for season
Dec 10, 2025
Tom Brown
The lifts were spinning at Mohawk Mountain ski area in Cornwall Saturday, Dec. 6, as the lodge declared opening weekend. The snow report on mohawkmtn.com indicated “on-going snowmaking and a few inches of natural snowfall” on the three trails that were open. Tubing and uphill skiing was not yet available.
Tom Brown
Norfolk artist, illustrator and expressive therapist Katie Atkinson reflects on one of the 84 works at the opening of this year’s Art Wall 12x12 show at the Hunt Library in Falls Village. The reflecting disc, by organizer and artist Garth Kobal, is flanked by a painting by Judith Wyer and a landscape in oil and wax on paper by Shaari Horowitz, both of which were among almost forty pieces that sold immediately.
L. Tomaino
FALLS VILLAGE — An eager crowd milled around a barrier of chairs keeping them from the display of 12-inch by 12-inch paintings, prints, photos, drawings, collages, and ceramics hung on the ArtWall at the Hunt Library in Falls Village on Dec. 6. The show runs until Jan. 9.
Organizer and participating artist Garth Kobal remarked, “This is the fourteenth 12x12 show. We began them in 2011.”
The show caps off the year and is a major fundraiser for Hunt Library. Explaining that each work was $150, Kobal introduced his team of Zoe and Sergei Fedorjaczenco, Rika and Sara Laser, Yonah Sadeh and librarian Meg Sher, who would take care of the purchases.
The pace of the show was fast and a bit chaotic. Art buyers zeroed in on their favorites and quickly bought them. They were allowed to take the art at 6 p.m., but not before.
For the fundraiser component, artists could choose to donate all of the purchase price to the library or half of it. Many of the artists, wearing stickers identifying them, circulated through the crowd.
Veteran 12x12 artist Hope Mongeau was philosophical about whether or not her painting sold. “If my chicken doesn’t sell, I like it and I’ll put it in my kitchen,” she said.
Another veteran artist, Jane Macfarlane, said, “This is a great way to bring the community together to see the work of the local artists and bring funds to local organizations.”
Second time artist Ingrid Freidenbergs was showing one of her collages. She commented, “I am surprised at so much wonderful art and that so many people come out from the community.”
Art lover Robin O’Connor of Salisbury exclaimed, “I think it is fabulous!”
First time 12x12 artist, Laura McCarthy said, “I am impressed with the local talent.” She began creating her art during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jessie “NEMO” Luterbach was showing her work for the first time. “I’ve been an artist since I was a child,” she said. Her inspirations are science fiction and fantasy.
By the end of the night Kobal reported, “The event sold 37 artworks and raised over $4,500 for the library and $2,300 for participating artists. There are over 40 pieces remaining and looking for homes before the show comes down on January 9.”
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Kent’s Olivia Machan takes a shot through traffic in the game against Berkshire School Saturday, Dec. 6.
Lans Christensen
KENT — The Berkshire School Bears’ girls ice hockey team came to Kent School Saturday, Dec. 6, for what promised to be a tough match between two high-powered New England Prep School Athletic Council Division I teams.
The first period fulfilled that promise with both teams playing aggressively on attack and defense. Despite the action and many attempts, the first period ended scoreless.
photos by lans christensenLily Herzog controls the puck for Berkshire.Lans Christensen
The second period began with the equal effort from both teams. Neither side was able to capitalize on their advantage when an opposing player was in the penalty booth. The second period ended with the 0-0 score still in place.
The third period began and, seemingly out of nowhere, Berkshire scored 45 seconds later. Cora Davidson snuck a puck into the net to put the bears up 1-0.
Berkshire kept the momentum rolling in the third period and Addie Lang scored again with seven minutes left.
The match ended 2-0 in favor of Berkshire. A tough loss for Kent but still a long season ahead.
Kent’s Dakota Boyle attacks on offense. Lans Christensen
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