38 | DECEMBER 12 • 2019
W
hen I think of puz-
zles, I think of lots of
plastic cups.
And I think of my grandfather.
My grandfather was a man
who spent 54 years on the night
shift as a photoengraver for the
New York Daily News. Needing
little sleep, he preferred working
nights so he could spend the days
with his family, especially his
grandchildren.
From under the couch in my
grandparent’
s one-bedroom pre-
war Brooklyn apartment, he’
d
pull out a puzzle he had just start-
ed on a sturdy wooden board and
set it on the coffee table — and
we got to work. We completed
the border first and only then
would we tackle the rest of the
project by sorting the pieces into
cups based on colors and pat-
terns. My grandfather taught me
that puzzles are a relaxing way
to develop one’
s patience while
spending time with family. Along
the way, I learned about faraway
picturesque mountain ranges
from some puzzles and species of
birds and flowers from others.
The love of jigsaw puzzles con-
tinues into the next generations.
Every year on our extended fam-
ily visit to my in-laws in Florida,
we spend most evenings hunched
over a puzzle with thousands of
pieces. My kids, nieces and neph-
ews make it into a competition
by each claiming their section.
The marathon assembly sparks
lots of giggles and conversation,
and sometimes we break out into
song, like the year we completed
a Broadway-themed puzzle.
My family is not alone in our
craze for puzzles. According to
Market Watch, jigsaw puzzles
sales in 2019 were $670 million.
Janice Ungar of West
Bloomfield was a school librar-
ian before a layoff inspired her
to start Galaxy, a puzzle sales
business, in 2005. Ungar said that
puzzles are a great, screen-free
activity that reduces stress and
encourages family bonding.
“When I was laid off as a
school librarian, I found that
doing puzzles took the edge off
my stress,
” Ungar said. “It was
also a great way as a family to
come together and talk about our
day.
”
Ungar said the bulk of her
business comes from repeat
customers who know she carries
high-quality puzzles with content
such as beautiful landscapes or
famous artwork or elaborate and
intricate scenes drawn by cartoon
artists.
Galaxy offers the newest twists
on puzzles, including those with
holographic images or ones that
are built in three dimensions.
Ungar’
s latest offering in time
for Chanukah is made of about
40 tiny wood laser-cut pieces,
included those in the shape of a
dreidel. The puzzle sells for $9.95
including shipping.
Other popular puzzles she sells
include ones that display master-
pieces from artists like Vincent
Van Gough or kitschy ones like
dogs playing poker. Ungar once
sold a 3,000-piece puzzle of
Jerusalem but said this puzzle no
longer is in stock in high-enough
quality to meet her standards.
Ungar said puzzles make great
gifts for the family to work on as
the Chanukah candles burn.
“My non-Jewish customers
love doing puzzles as a family
activity for Christmas and maybe
it will catch on with my Jewish
customers for Chanukah,
” she
said. “Doing puzzles as an activ-
ity never really went away, but it
made a significant comeback 10
years ago, and the trend shows no
sign of slowing down.
”
To order Galaxy puzzles, go to
galaxypuzzles.com.
Piece by Piece
Family time can be enhanced by doing
puzzles together during the holiday.
STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
TOP: Galaxy is selling this
puzzle for the holiday.
ABOVE: Janice, Joel and
Matthew Ungar at work
on a puzzle
gift guide 2018
PHOTOS COURTESY JANICE UNGAR