Yeah, it’s been confirmed. Pirate Jim is coming back to town. The York News-Times has announced that Cornerstone Bank will cosponsor Pirate Jim’s Treasure Hunt which will be entering its 37th year in York. The promotion has proven to be very popular over the years.
Dave Sjuts
This year’s Treasure Hunt will begin on Tuesday, July 23 with the first printed clue showing up in the York News-Times, along with bonus clues found only on Cornerstone Bank’s website, www.cornerstoneconnect.com. Clues will continue for the next nine days the newspaper is printed for a total of ten clues or until someone finds the pirate’s medallion.
The bonus clues will be on the bank’s website between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on the days the printed clues are in the newspaper.
“We’re excited to cosponsor this year’s hunt,” said Mandy Hengelfelt, Cornerstone’s vice president of marketing and business development. “It always generates a tremendous amount of interest in the community and we know that people look forward to this time of year.”
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What do you have to do to participate in this year’s hunt? It’s easy. Just go into any Cornerstone Bank location in York County this week and register to be a treasure hunter. If you are a registered treasure hunter you’ll win $1,000 in York Chamber Cheques if you are the lucky one to find the medallion which will be hidden somewhere on public property within the York city limits.
If you aren’t registered as a treasure hunter and you find it, you’ll only win $500 in chamber cheques so it will pay you to stop by a Cornerstone location this week and register.
This year’s Treasure Hunt is showing up a couple of weeks later this year as other hunts usually started about the July 4 holiday. Business Beat reached out to Pirate Jim to find out why.
BB: This year’s hunt is starting later in July this year, why is that?
PJ: Well, I think I’ve pointed out before that I’ve really slowed down on the pirate activities and actually I can share that I’m pretty much retired from those activities. Because of that we’ve had other things on our plate. That includes spending time with our grandkids. I’ve taken up golf and just recently have been on a trip with some guys that enjoy pirate activities also. But I sure am glad to be able to come back to York and help out with the Treasure Hunt again.
BB: Why is it so hard to be the one to find the medallion?
PJ: Because it’s supposed to be hard. It wouldn’t be very much fun if everyone knew where the medallion was hidden after the third clue. Plus, that would create some chaos with everyone racing to pick it up. The clues are designed to make you think. What may seem obvious might not be obvious. All I can say is that it’s hidden each year and someone has found it every year. So sooner or later, someone figures it out.
BB: What advice would you give to someone who wants to hunt for the treasure if this is their first year out hunting?
PJ: Be thorough. If you think you’ve got it narrowed down to an area where you might think the medallion is hidden, don’t leave any stick or leaf unturned. I’ve seen hunters that are walking around and expecting the medallion to pop up at them. Sometimes you have to reach under, up and around things to find it. It’s not going to be out there in plain sight.
BB: What do you like most about helping with the Treasure Hunt?
PJ: Well, I’ve said this before so I think I’ll just say it again. There are the couple of weeks of free room and board that I get at your place. Plus, I really enjoy that people get out and hunt as a family unit. I know that there have been a lot of years where families have found the medallion hunting together and it makes me feel good that they are creating some memories that they can share down the road.
What the heck?
We’ve changed the sheets on the bed in the basement and changed the batteries on the TV remote. We’ve stocked up on the snacks in the fridge. We are putting Pirate Jim up for the next couple of weeks again as he will be in York to help with the YNT Treasure Hunt which will be co-sponsored by Cornerstone Bank this year.