By Mike Harris
Publisher

The 12th annual Duck Derby, scheduled for Saturday, April 11, has been canceled by the Crestline-Lake Gregory Chamber of Commerce to keep the public safe from any potential danger of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.

“I think everyone understands that we not canceling the Duck Derby because we don’t want to do it,” said chamber President Louis Boehle. “We want to follow orders from the county canceling large gatherings, and other CDC and governmental guidelines. We want to keep our members and citizens safe.”

On March 12, board of supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman announced that, in an effort to protect the public from any possible spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, the county’s Public Health Officer has ordered the immediate cancellation or postponement of gatherings of more than 250 people within the county until further notice.

The Duck Derby and the community Easter egg hunt are two of Crestline’s signature springtime events.

Duck Derby tickets were supposed to have gone on sale last Thursday. The chamber had purchased thousands of plastic eggs and cases of bags of chocolate candy and small toys with which to fill the eggs for the Easter egg hunt, and volunteers had begun to fill the eggs for the hunt.

While it is a major disappointment to cancel the Duck Derby, Boehle said that the chamber plans to continue with other major community events and celebrations scheduled for later in the year.

“We are still planning on doing Corks & Hops and Jamboree Days,” Boehle added. “Hopefully, the worst [of the virus threat] will be behind us.”

The first Corks & Hops first Saturdays festival is scheduled to begin June 6. Jamboree Days is scheduled for July 3-4.

Boehle said the chamber wanted to thank a number of businesses and organizations for their support of what had promised to be a happy community event.

“The Chamber wants to thank Mick Hill Enterprises, Goodwin & Son’s Market, Espie Bakes, Lake Gregory Yacht Club, Hearth & Sage, Lake Gregory Community Church, Bizzyland, Rim of the World Education Foundation, Goering Mountain Portables, Mountain Transit, Rim of the World Comfort Pets, MTN Teen Center, Woodlands Church, Encompass, Sandals Church-Lake Arrowhead, Crestline-Lake Gregory Rotary, Crestline First Baptist, Lake Drive Hardware, San Bernardino County Fire Station 25 and Crestline Lioness Club,” he said.

“During this time of trial for our community and our nation, we ask you to not lose sight of what our community is about,” he stressed. “Please check on your neighbors, and make sure they have what they need to stay healthy. Our local businesses have taken extra precautions and are here to serve you and your family’s needs.”