A broken water pipe in front of the Kimmswick Visitor Center was repaired quickly, allowing the town to hold its planned Christmas events, said Valerie Meyers, the Visitor Center manager.
Meyers said the water main ruptured between 4:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, in front of the Visitor Center, 314 Market St., and representatives from the Public Water Supply District 10 had repaired the pipe and restored service to those who had lost it by about noon that day.
“They were awesome,” she said of Public Water Supply District 10. “I called their office and told them the workers deserved raises. It was a team of eight, and they were amazing. They are here today (Dec. 6) clearing branches.”
Meyers said the Visitor Center was closed this morning, Dec. 6, but she believes it will open this afternoon.
She said the damage from the broken water main, which shot water in the air and covered the building and surrounding trees in ice, will not be known until the ice melts over the weekend.
“It was a geyser and was shooting up to 100 feet in the air, if not higher,” she said. “We are very lucky. I am surprised with the force of that water that our windows were not broken out. Everyone is safe, and we have some damage. Until it thaws out, we won’t be able to assess all of the damage.”
Meyers said Kimmswick held the annual Cookie Walk on Thursday, Dec. 5, and the walk and Christmas Festival will be held today and throughout the weekend as planned.
Those with tickets for the sold-out Cookie Walk will check in at the Pothos Coffee shop, 105 Market St., today and at the Apple Butter Pavilion on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7-8.
“(Ericka Kennedy, who owns Pothos) and her husband (Andrew) are amazing,” she said. “They didn’t hesitate to let us move the check-in down there.”
Meyers said those who do not have tickets for the Cookie Walk may still enjoy the Christmas Festival, which starts today with shops staying open until about 9 p.m.
The festival kicks into full gear on Saturday and Sunday with live music and other activities throughout the weekend. The festival’s hours are from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
“We encourage people to come down and enjoy an old fashioned Christmas,” Meyers said.