2011 Clue Explanation
Contrary to what many people may believe, the most difficult task as the Clue Writer is not the writing of the clues. Nor is it the selection of the hiding location. The most difficult part in constructing a Medallion Hunt is in the availability of usable references, the sequence of their release, and the word selection used to disguise them. That effort is often compounded when I select a spot that is near a place or facility that is well known by or frequented by a select group of people who are more familar with that place than the community at large. Those folks could easily have an unfair advantage unless the references are either broadly applicable or the hunter is right on top of that reference. Starke School and the surrounding neighborhood posed just such a challenge and the hunt was designed with that in mind.
As always, I focused on a couple of central themes to compliment the specific references. In this case, I used the theme of "Holidays" to bring in Holiday Hills accentuated by the street upon which the school lies. For example, "discovery" referred to Columbus Dr; "Cryptic" referred to the Labor Day "Holiday" weekend; and "celebration" was another reference to "holidays". I also focused on the fact that Kiwanis Park North is part of two Kiwanis Parks. In this case, I used words like "double", "similarities" and "duplicity". Other references focused on specific items within the park. Theyll become obvious as each clue is explained.
Clue #1.
"Omnipresent" has multiple meanings but here it was a religious reference. In this case the church on Sheridan Rd is adjacent to the park and school area, and Parish Ave is one of the streets in Holiday Hills and not far from the hiding location. "Fall Classic" referred to both the Baseball Diamonds on the grounds and the Columbus Day holiday. "Every direction" referred to the large map of the United States painted on the Starke School playground. "Rules" referred to the school as did the word "course". Finally, the first days of school find some of the children "happy" and others may feel a little "sadness".
Clue #2.
This clue was pretty much a set-up for subsequent clues. Here I layed the groundwork pointing out "counting" and "colors". "Meaning that lies within" refers to the graffiti within the park's Tee-Pee that I was going to use later. The last two lines of the first verse was a very veiled effort to convey the concept of counting with your fingers and toes. The Starke School playground has a series of painted feet running along it. For those who can't count with their mind, they may begin by using their fingers and toes. (I had to be really vague here because of the unique nature of those feet.) "Similarities" referred both to the two Kiwanis Parks and the holiday street titles. I also hinted about the use of "themes" in the second verse.
Clue #3.
The first two lines were designed to be a general description of the park with an emphasis on sunshine and the "respite of shade". The "things that never fade" refer to the evergreen bushes- of where the medallion was actually hidden. The "sweet" number was a reference to the number of supports on the park's Tee-Pee where, if you're having a fire the smoke would be "properly channeled". And, if you were under the Tee-Pee and looked up you would see some graffiti which "no matter how you write it, the authorities are often rattled".
Clue #4.
Much of this clue refers to the large stone next to the Tee-Pee that serves as a dedication marker for Kiwanis Park North. The date was May 17, 1977, which was the year after the Bicentennial, or "two hundred plus one". A follow up hint was the work "historic" and "discerned reference" attempted to point that out. The dedication marker also refers to the fact that the park was a joint effort between the Pekin Park District and the Pekin Kiwanis Club. I struggled with a way to disguise the word "joint" and settled on the medical use of "replacement" joints which often feel "as good as new". In the last three lines I referred to the painted circles on the playground and as you "turn" around and look closely at the painted map of the U.S. you'll see that Hawaii is not far off the shore of California which makes it a "small inaccuracy".
Clue #5.
"Seeing double" referred to the two Kiwanis Parks theme and the two evergreen bushes at the hiding sight. "Odd shade of brown" was the rust colored back stops at the baseball diamonds. The "four, three and two" referred both to numbers on the orange basketball type apparatus on the playground and, if you were counting things you would see that the area has four backstops, three drinking fountains, and two playgrounds. "Collaborate and work together" referred again to the joint effort of the Park District and Kiwanis; "discovery" referred to Columbus Drive (I struggled with this one. I knew that Discovery along with Endeavor would get people to Scott Altman Elementary School. But the word fit and a little misdirection adds to the hunt.) Finally, if you belong to Kiwanis- like any service club- you have to pay your "due(s)".
Clue #6.
The entire first verse was designed to draw the hunter to the word "holiday". The fact that it was a three-day "holiday" weekend, another among many celebrations, or other holidays. The second verse revisited the theme of two Kiwanis Parks, thus the reference to "sameness" and "duplicity". Finally the "nice variety" referred to the many different things in the general area from baseball diamonds, playgrounds, park and school.
As is always the case, I write six clues in advance. Clue Seven and beyond are written the night before their release. Those first six are designed to give hunters enough information to find the medallion. When we go beyond the weekend, I am forced to get more specific, and in a sense, make it easier. Therefore, anyone who finds it by Tuesday is someone who has worked the hunt early and worked it hard. Once we get past noon on Saturday, several hours after the release of Clue Six, the hunt evolves from a mental exercise to a physical one. I have heard that a number of people felt that Kiwanis Park North fit but they hadn't worked it as hard as they could have, or should have. Add to that the fact that the medallion was well camouflaged, wrapped with artificial straw and grass, and was hidden at arms length under an evergreen. Therefore I knew that it would require energy, determination and perseverance to finally find it.
Christie Gray, along with her brother and Mom and Dad, made this year's hunt a family obsession. It was through their collective effort and relentless drive that they were able to accomplish a goal that they set for themselves year after year. I am confident that the memories they created together will last a lifetime. They had been among that growing group of hunters that each year say they were "that close" to finding it. Not any more. Christie will forever be a Pepsi Marigold Medallion Hunt Winner. While the trip is great, that reality is perhaps the best prize of all. Congratulations!
Gary Gillis
As always, I focused on a couple of central themes to compliment the specific references. In this case, I used the theme of "Holidays" to bring in Holiday Hills accentuated by the street upon which the school lies. For example, "discovery" referred to Columbus Dr; "Cryptic" referred to the Labor Day "Holiday" weekend; and "celebration" was another reference to "holidays". I also focused on the fact that Kiwanis Park North is part of two Kiwanis Parks. In this case, I used words like "double", "similarities" and "duplicity". Other references focused on specific items within the park. Theyll become obvious as each clue is explained.
Clue #1.
"Omnipresent" has multiple meanings but here it was a religious reference. In this case the church on Sheridan Rd is adjacent to the park and school area, and Parish Ave is one of the streets in Holiday Hills and not far from the hiding location. "Fall Classic" referred to both the Baseball Diamonds on the grounds and the Columbus Day holiday. "Every direction" referred to the large map of the United States painted on the Starke School playground. "Rules" referred to the school as did the word "course". Finally, the first days of school find some of the children "happy" and others may feel a little "sadness".
Clue #2.
This clue was pretty much a set-up for subsequent clues. Here I layed the groundwork pointing out "counting" and "colors". "Meaning that lies within" refers to the graffiti within the park's Tee-Pee that I was going to use later. The last two lines of the first verse was a very veiled effort to convey the concept of counting with your fingers and toes. The Starke School playground has a series of painted feet running along it. For those who can't count with their mind, they may begin by using their fingers and toes. (I had to be really vague here because of the unique nature of those feet.) "Similarities" referred both to the two Kiwanis Parks and the holiday street titles. I also hinted about the use of "themes" in the second verse.
Clue #3.
The first two lines were designed to be a general description of the park with an emphasis on sunshine and the "respite of shade". The "things that never fade" refer to the evergreen bushes- of where the medallion was actually hidden. The "sweet" number was a reference to the number of supports on the park's Tee-Pee where, if you're having a fire the smoke would be "properly channeled". And, if you were under the Tee-Pee and looked up you would see some graffiti which "no matter how you write it, the authorities are often rattled".
Clue #4.
Much of this clue refers to the large stone next to the Tee-Pee that serves as a dedication marker for Kiwanis Park North. The date was May 17, 1977, which was the year after the Bicentennial, or "two hundred plus one". A follow up hint was the work "historic" and "discerned reference" attempted to point that out. The dedication marker also refers to the fact that the park was a joint effort between the Pekin Park District and the Pekin Kiwanis Club. I struggled with a way to disguise the word "joint" and settled on the medical use of "replacement" joints which often feel "as good as new". In the last three lines I referred to the painted circles on the playground and as you "turn" around and look closely at the painted map of the U.S. you'll see that Hawaii is not far off the shore of California which makes it a "small inaccuracy".
Clue #5.
"Seeing double" referred to the two Kiwanis Parks theme and the two evergreen bushes at the hiding sight. "Odd shade of brown" was the rust colored back stops at the baseball diamonds. The "four, three and two" referred both to numbers on the orange basketball type apparatus on the playground and, if you were counting things you would see that the area has four backstops, three drinking fountains, and two playgrounds. "Collaborate and work together" referred again to the joint effort of the Park District and Kiwanis; "discovery" referred to Columbus Drive (I struggled with this one. I knew that Discovery along with Endeavor would get people to Scott Altman Elementary School. But the word fit and a little misdirection adds to the hunt.) Finally, if you belong to Kiwanis- like any service club- you have to pay your "due(s)".
Clue #6.
The entire first verse was designed to draw the hunter to the word "holiday". The fact that it was a three-day "holiday" weekend, another among many celebrations, or other holidays. The second verse revisited the theme of two Kiwanis Parks, thus the reference to "sameness" and "duplicity". Finally the "nice variety" referred to the many different things in the general area from baseball diamonds, playgrounds, park and school.
As is always the case, I write six clues in advance. Clue Seven and beyond are written the night before their release. Those first six are designed to give hunters enough information to find the medallion. When we go beyond the weekend, I am forced to get more specific, and in a sense, make it easier. Therefore, anyone who finds it by Tuesday is someone who has worked the hunt early and worked it hard. Once we get past noon on Saturday, several hours after the release of Clue Six, the hunt evolves from a mental exercise to a physical one. I have heard that a number of people felt that Kiwanis Park North fit but they hadn't worked it as hard as they could have, or should have. Add to that the fact that the medallion was well camouflaged, wrapped with artificial straw and grass, and was hidden at arms length under an evergreen. Therefore I knew that it would require energy, determination and perseverance to finally find it.
Christie Gray, along with her brother and Mom and Dad, made this year's hunt a family obsession. It was through their collective effort and relentless drive that they were able to accomplish a goal that they set for themselves year after year. I am confident that the memories they created together will last a lifetime. They had been among that growing group of hunters that each year say they were "that close" to finding it. Not any more. Christie will forever be a Pepsi Marigold Medallion Hunt Winner. While the trip is great, that reality is perhaps the best prize of all. Congratulations!
Gary Gillis
