Eight teams gathered at the Highland Park Library on July 11 for a surprisingly strategic showdown.
The challenge? Complete a 300-piece puzzle in a race against the clock.
The prize? A set of handmade miniature trophies and six months of bragging rights.
The jigsaw enthusiasts were vying for a win in the library’s semi-annual Puzzle Competition, a contest that adult services librarian Pamela Skjolsvik said seems to gain momentum with every event.
“It grew out of our mission to create welcoming, low‑barrier activities where adults can connect, collaborate, and have fun,” she explained.
Puzzling is one pastime among many in an ever-expanding category. Dubbed “grandma chic,” “vintage,” or just “old-fashioned,” the list of nostalgic hobbies enjoying a modern resurgence includes mahjong, needlework, classic board games, and jigsaw puzzles. Whether enjoyed at home, at school, or at the local watering hole, these wide-ranging activities all have one thing in common: they’re screen-free.
It’s no surprise that parents have long been setting limits on screen time for kids. Many adults, however, are actively seeking out ways to cut down on computer, phone, tablet, and television time themselves. For Devonshire resident Ann Hallam, attending the Highland Park library’s event represented a return to a childhood favorite.
“I just love doing puzzles,” she said. “When I was growing up, my aunt always had a puzzle out at her house just a block away. I often worked on puzzles then, and now I also enjoy the competition.”
At precisely 10 a.m., Skjolsvik called “time” and engaged her official clock. All eight of the three-or four-member teams then raced to dump, scatter, and sort their identical copies of a pre-selected boxed puzzle. To the tune of a classic rock playlist, they then proceeded to employ nimble hand-eye coordination for lightning-fast categorization of pieces by color, pattern, and, of course, the all-important edges. Within 15 minutes, outer frames had appeared on most tables; at the 25-minute mark, the finish line was in sight.
“I see teams getting close,” Skjolsvik said. The announcement drew a collective gasp before the room went still in total concentration. A few more moments passed, and at last, a team of four sent up a “whoop” of completion.
Sure enough, clocking in at 31 minutes flat, this summer’s winning team set a Puzzle Competition speed record, edging out their nearest competitor by a nose. Hockaday friends Elena Zeballos, Lily McKenna, Lizzy NcNeil, and Lizzy’s mother, Elizabeth, each received their miniature golden cup and a hearty handshake from Skjolsvik. The bragging rights will extend through January 2027, when the Highland Park Library Puzzle Competition returns.
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