Sharpen your treasure-hunting skills.
Someone in Prince William County will win $10,000 in the first of its kind business venture for the area.
Treasure Quest Adventures, a newly founded company in Manassas, will hide the cash in an undisclosed location. Treasure hunters, called “questers,” must solve a series of 15 to 20 clues in order to find the loot.
The first of what the company hopes is multiple treasure hunts, dubbed quests, will be on August 22 in Prince William County. Participants will need to pay the $55 per person registration fee to play the game, and they’ll need to use their smartphone to receive and solve the clues for what will be a largely independent treasure hunt.
The number of clues questers need to solve will depend on the number of people participating in the hunt.
“Things get more difficult as they go,” said Ian Lovejoy, the owner of Treasure Quest Adventures.
The more people who sign up to play the game, the more clues, puzzles, and riddles will need to be solved.
The treasure hunt will be an activity safe to practice during the coronavirus, with participants fanning out across the county on their won in search of the treasure. Unlike in some reality TV shows, due to the virus, there won’t be groups of people rallying for the questers, said Lovejoy.
The game will be played rain or shine, and Lovejoy will be at the end of the game to award the cash prize in person. The number of players will affect whether or not the game is played, so if too few people sign up, the quest may be called off and registrants’ money refunded.
To register to play, visit finishthequest.com.
The company was inspired by Forrest Fenn, an art collector who buried a $2 million treasure in the Rocky Mountains in 2010 and urged people to go find it. The treasure was uncovered in June after hundreds of thousands went looking for it — including multiple people who died seeking the riches.
If the Prince William quest is successful, Treasure Quest Adventures aims to hold similar events in Loudoun, Fairfax, and Arlington counties in Virginia, and Montgomery County, Md.
In addition to launching this new business, Lovejoy also is also seeing election to his third term on the Manassas City Council on November 3.
This is the second business for Lovejoy who also operates Reliant Hiring Services, which pairs job seekers with employers.
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The Prince William County School Board is considering a proposal that would redistrict three new residential developments in the Brentsville District due to overcrowding at The Nokesville School, Insidenova.com reports.Â
The School Board in November directed division staff to develop a redistricting proposal related to the three developments. The division brought the proposal to the board at its Jan. 22 meeting.
The three developments – Bristow Corner, Bristow Crossing and Thomas Farm at Bristow Station – have already been approved by the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and would be districted to The Nokesville School.
Flanked by UVA Health-branded bags filled with pregnancy supplies beside a table of neatly-aligned cupcakes, nurse Teresa Baltuano-Post addressed a crowd of expectant mothers and their families, alternating between English and Spanish, Insidenova.com reports.
“I’ve been doing the baby shower for about 24 years,” Baltuano-Post told InsideNoVa. “The goal … is to educate our moms and to make sure they know what to do when they need to come to the hospital.”
Get ready for a windy Wednesday across the region, as conditions are expected to be quite blustery throughout the day. The National Weather Service is forecasting a more widespread wind event, with gusts reaching between 40-50 mph in most areas, except for parts of central Virginia and southern Maryland.
A Wind Advisory will be in place from late Wednesday morning into the early evening as a potent front drops south across the area. The gusty conditions will be accompanied by lower relative humidity, raising concerns for fire weather in central Virginia. The winds will slowly subside by late evening but be prepared for sustained gusts during the day.
Weems Elementary School in Manassas has seen remarkable progress in recent years, particularly in reducing chronic absenteeism and improving student literacy. Under the leadership of Principal Michelle Huppman, the school has created an environment focused on equity, achievement, and community involvement, leading to academic improvements.
One of the school’s most notable achievements is reducing chronic absenteeism. In the 2022-2023 school year, Weems faced a concerning % chronic absence rate of 28%. This figure, which emerged after the pandemic, reflected the challenges many schools faced. However, the school has halved that number through dedication and hard work. “I am so happy to share with you that Weems’ current chronic absence rate, as reflected in the school quality profile, is half of that number, down to 14%. This is a school community that rose to the challenge,” said Sarah Brescia, a Manassas City school board member.
The improvement in attendance has had a direct impact on student achievement. Huppman explained, “Last year, we had a 24% increase in literacy pass rates for our students in kindergarten through second grade. For the Virginia Standards of Learning reading test, we had a 6% increase in pass rates for our students in third and fourth grade.” While math scores dropped slightly due to virtual instruction during the pandemic, Principal Huppman is optimistic about the future. “This year, we are fully staffed in all classrooms and in all instructional support positions without the need for virtual instructors,” she said.
Travel to French soil and join us for a night filled with two of the most beloved French traditions—no plane ticket required! ?
On January 25th, we invite you to experience the magic of Galette des Rois, a 700-year-old tradition celebrated across France throughout the entire month of January (and even beyond!). This sweet, almond-filled puff pastry topped with a golden crown isn’t just a treat—it’s a celebration! The lucky person who finds the fève (a porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices) becomes the King or Queen for the Day, and don’t worry—there will be plenty of royalty to go around! ??
But that’s not all! In France, Les Voeux (New Year’s wishes) continue throughout January, often accompanied by Champagne and good cheer. We’re bringing that festive spirit to you, with a lively evening packed with French food, wine, and music.
What’s in store:
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra,
this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
