On Feb. 3, the Granby Memorial Middle School’s gym was packed with 160 dissectologists—people who love doing jigsaw puzzles. Each and every one of them left with a big smile and a cookie, courtesy of The Whisk.
The idea for the Drummer’s first fundraiser was born last summer after longtime managing editor Rita Isaacson, Citizens for a Better Granby board member Carol Bressor, Drummer volunteer Amanda Lindberg and Granby resident Eilene Lombardi attended a speed puzzle competition at the University of Hartford. Aware of the Drummer’s need to increase funding in order to stay afloat, Isaacson presented the idea of a Puzzle Slam in Granby to the CBG board.
With the board’s wholehearted approval, Isaacson, current Managing Editor Jen Bell and board members went to work, planning the event that would energize the community while giving its beloved newspaper a financial cushion.
Rick Orluk, president of the Granby Land Trust, eagerly agreed to emcee the event and arrived jauntily decked out in a puzzler shirt and porkpie hat. “It’s an honor to support the Drummer,” Orluk said. “It’s a town treasure.”
Orluk was not alone in his support. Among those contributing money and/or goods to the event’s success were Squadron Capital, Necker’s Toyland, Granby Congregational Church, The Whisk, LMR Assist, Granby Public Schools, Friends of Holcomb Farm, Granby Land Trust and speedpuzzling.com.
Isaacson is beyond pleased by the community response. “We are thrilled with the response to our first-ever fundraiser and look forward to bringing it back next year,” she said. Kathy Norris, CBG chairwoman, agreed. “We’re delighted by the success of our inaugural Puzzle Slam. Many thanks to Rita and Jen for superbly organizing this fun February afternoon.”
Puzzle fans came from across Connecticut while some even traveled to Granby from out of state to participate. Longtime Granby resident Terry Spak bought 10 tables. “I don’t like February. It’s a very depressing month,” Spak said. “I like to find things to do that make me happy, and this was it!”
It started with Spak’s buying one table, but word spread, and with friends of relatives and friends of friends asking to join in the fun, Spak couldn’t have been happier. “I’d buy a table and fill it, buy a table and fill it, and suddenly I had 10 tables,” she said. “All 40 of us had a blast, and afterwards we all piled into New England Pizza because we just didn’t want the day to end.”
Spak said that the people she brought to Granby for the event did not come for a prize. “We all just wanted to get out and have fun together,” she said. “You better watch out though, because my 10 tables are all going to tell their friends, and it’s going to be even more mobbed next year!”
All groups were given the same puzzle to complete, a sunny beach scene reminiscent of Cape Cod in July. One puzzler at each table took the puzzle home. Surprisingly, Spak did not get a puzzle.
“My biggest fear is that for my birthday I’m going to receive 10 puzzles from the Slam,” she says with a grin.
If you are not yet a dissectologist, there’s no time like the present to start practicing for next year’s Puzzle Slam, set for Saturday, Feb. 1.
