By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY – Staff Writer

The Crestline Chamber of Commerce building has suffered severe damage from the series of recent storms. Heavy snow on the deck caused it to separate from the building and it fell to the ground. When that occurred, the deck hit and broke the waterline to the building, causing a small flood of water from the waterline, so the water has been turned off.

Because of these developments, the building has been closed to public use at this time, resulting in the closing of the office and visitors center, until further notice.

Because of the continuing storms, the meadow next to the San Moritz Lodge has become muddy and soggy and will not be ready for an Easter egg hunt on April 8, as was previously announced. However, the chamber didn’t want the children to be forgotten or disappointed, so a new idea was adopted by the chamber board, based on the wildly popular Halloween Trick-or-Treat the Merchants idea. This out-of-the-box solution for the kids will encourage the merchants to be involved, too.

The chamber will divide the eggs they already have filled with candy among their merchant members that want to be involved in a community egg hunt. The chamber is planning a multi-site egg hunt at local businesses. Whenever in town, whether it is to dine or shop, the parents can bring their kids and friends to take part in a mini egg hunt at each business location from April 1 through April 15.

Participating merchant stores will be identified by posters in the windows; a list of the participating locations will be on the chamber’s website and on its Facebook and Instagram pages.

Each store or restaurant will have Easter Eggs in the stores for the kids to find. Some will have the eggs in baskets by the doors, while others will have the eggs set among their merchandise in the stores. Each location may choose how they want to conduct the egg hunt in their store or restaurant. The chamber hopes, in this way, that residents can help support rebuilding the businesses by visiting the stores where their children will be able to find some of the 14,000 eggs that will be hidden in town, both in Top Town and along Lake Drive in the Lake Gregory Village area. It is even thought that the Easter Bunny, or one of his friends, may be visiting some of the stores on some days for photo opportunities.

Because of the storms, the chamber will not be able hold the annual Duck Derby, as planned. It is hoped that it may be rescheduled later in the year, as it is a fundraiser for the Jamboree Days events and fireworks show.