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Great Puzzle Challenge

Do you enjoy putting puzzles together?

Are you looking for a way to increase the challenge?

Want to win some cash?

The Great Puzzle Challenge was created to give individuals of all ages the opportunity to test their puzzling skills, for the opportunity to win some cash while helping raise money for the Alzheimer's Association.

The winners of the Daily Herald's debut jigsaw puzzle challenge took the name of their team -- Piece By Piece -- and used it as their strategy.

In partnership with Great Lakes Clinical Trials and Lutheran Home in Arlington Heights, "The Great Puzzle Challenge" featured 28 teams of four competing against each other for the chance to win cash prizes, including a $400 first-place prize awarded to team Piece By Piece, which completed its 500-piece puzzle in 90 minutes.

First-place winners "Piece by Piece" won the $400 prize for completing their puzzle first. Team members are Julie Wojtowicz, left, Theresa Byelick, Christina Wiatrek and Emerick Wiatrek.

Piece By Piece included Theresa Byelick of Lisle, Julie Wojtowicz of LaGrange and Christina and Emerick Wiatrek of Aurora.

The round sunflower puzzle proved to be a challenge at the Daily Herald Puzzle Challenge Nov. 6 at the Lutheran Home in Arlington Heights. - Jeff Knox | Staff Photographer

Byelick said her team's strategy was to divide sections of the puzzle to each team member, then join forces to complete the final piece of the puzzle -- a round photo of a sunflower (sorry, puzzlemakers, no corners!) shot by Daily Herald photojournalist Rick West.

"It was a great event, full of intense competition, and we look forward to the next puzzle challenge," she added.

Lynn Eikenbary, left, of Schaumburg, Carol Thomas of Arlington Heights, Carolyn White of Arlington Heights and Marian Colliander of Schaumburg compete in the Daily Herald Puzzle Challenge at the Lutheran Home in Arlington Heights. - Jeff Knox | Staff Photographer

Many teams were composed of friends and family members. However, Puzzled?, the second-place team, included mother and daughter duo Rahe Berns and Debra Lippert of St. Charles, paired with a couple of single entries, Cynthia Singer of Schaumburg and Mary Anderson of Spring Grove, who met for the first time that evening.

In third place was team MAMS, which was to include Anita Kvitek of Round Lake Beach, but she had to bow out because she was still recovering from double cataract surgery. Her daughter, Karen Kvitek from Kalamazoo, Michigan, filled in.

Anita was full of spirit and came to cheer on her team, which also included daughters Michelle O'Connor of Algonquin and Sandy Pogue of Grayslake, and cousin and lifelong friend Mary Bodner of Crystal Lake.

Created By
Katrin Polomsky
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