One tough contest clue: This detail on stairs up to Prince Hall Lodge. REBECCA SELL/THE FREE LANCE-STAR Visit the Photo Place

PRIVATE-SCHOOL TEEN IS ITTY BITTY CHAMP

Winners announced in fifth annual Itty Bitty City Scavenger Hunt

By LAURA L. HUTCHISON

Date published: 9/13/2009

By LAURA L. HUTCHISON

More than 600 people turned in entries in the fifth annual Itty Bitty City Scavenger Hunt.

Sponsored this year by Shop Fred and presented by The Free Lance-Star, the scavenger hunt invited readers to stroll through downtown Fredericksburg, looking for 20 items or architectural elements captured by our photographers.

Jenna Sullivan, a 16-year-old student at Fredericksburg Christian High School, was the grand-prize winner. She said her cousin Katie Supples gets the family together every year to go hunting for clues.

"I like it because I think downtown is a really nice place to hang out, and it's a fun family activity to do," she said.

Jenna couldn't pick the toughest clue to find.

"I think they're all hard," she said, adding that the family went out several times to find all the answers. "They're pretty tricky."

David Hopkins went hunting with his whole family--wife Donna and sons Jacob, 12, and Zachary, 22, who was home briefly after graduating from Christopher Newport University.

They had a hard time finding Clue No. 4, at the Prince Hall Lodge on Sophia Street.

"We'd been looking and looking, and knew it wasn't something obvious," Hopkins said. "We were walking past the parking garage, and Zachary said, 'It's here, on the gate.' He'd been home five minutes and he got it. We'd stumbled all over downtown looking for it."

Katerina Bartman also came home from college to help with the hunt. Now back at Clemson starting work on a master's degree, she said the hunt has become a family tradition. Her family also struggled to find No. 4, as well as No. 15, the "watch step" notice on Wolfe Street.

"I made sure to get home after we knew when it was coming out, because we had so much fun last year," she said. "It's great to walk around with the family; it's a wonderful, free activity.

"We don't spend as much time in downtown as we'd like because my parents work in Northern Virginia, but it's great to just walk around, stop and get an ice cream, and see what's changed."

Melissa Battito, 15, hunted with her grandmother, Irene Theriault, and her sisters, Jordan, 12, and Ashley, 11. Her grandparents wound up finding the last clue as they were driving around.

Jenna Sullivan, 22554: Won a prize package from the Fredericksburg Office of Tourism and Business Development including overnight accommodations and amenities totaling more than $250 in value. FIRST-PLACE PRIZES A Place In Time $100 gift certificate, Nicole Spangler, 22405 Beck's Antiques & Books $100 gift certificate, Joseph P. White, 22401 Ulman's Jewelry $100 gift certificate, Moseley family, 22408 Gemstone Creations $100 gift certificate, Carol Wilson, 22554 Monkees of Fredericksburg $100 gift card, Carri Franklin, 22401 Paymon Fine Rug Imports $75 gift certificate and Spirits $25 gift certificate, Katerina Bartman, 22406 SECOND-PLACE PRIZES The Cats Closet $75 gift card, David Hopkins, 22407 The Griffin Bookshop $75 gift certificate, Michael Green, 22401 Salono Salono $75 gift card, Mary Zelli, 22401 Jewel Box $50 gift certificate and Mocha Mo's $25 gift card, Melissa Battito, 22406 Crown Jewelers $50 gift certificate and Cafe New Orleans $25 gift certificate, Pamela Fogg, 23086 THIRD-PLACE PRIZES Legacy $50 gift certificate, Sheryl Harm, 22407 Capital Ale House $50 gift certificate, Robin Black, 22407 Capital Ale House $50 gift certificate, Keneeka Rodriguez, 22407 Basil's Bistro $25 gift card and Grapevine Cafe $25 gift certificate, Peggy Kerns, 22407 Whittingham's $50 gift certificate, Amanda Clift, 22405 Jabberwocky $50 gift certificate, Alex Kolar, 22401

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Date published: 9/13/2009