Each puzzle had a theme which was carried out by shaping the pieces. A puzzle with birds as a theme would have some pieces in the shape of different birds. Or the theme might be countries, with some pieces the shape of Italy or Peru. The theme was in the picture, but also in the shapes.

Drowsy after a heavy holiday meal, I settled in to finish Stefan Zweig’s classic 1934 biography of Marie Antoinette.

Carl Icahn, noted corporate predator and takeover specialist who made billions of dollars in corporate deals, has recently begun pushing a charitable cause involving a group of people who, through no fault of their own, are being forced out of America.

Commendations to reporter Patrick Yeagle for his informed coverage of the Cammie Kelly shaken baby trial, and to the newspaper for allowing him the time to do a proper job (“Jury struggles to reach verdict in child death trial,” Dec. 17, and several earlier pieces).

Mark Willett, 28, told police that he had gently shaken his two-month-old daughter girl to wake her and to stop her from crying, but he intended no harm. The girl experienced developmental delays and a seizure disorder in 2012 after suffering a brain injury while in her father’s care, according to court documents.

Mautino, a Democrat who served 24 years as a state representative before he was sworn in last month to fill a 10-year term as auditor general, acknowledges soliciting donations to help close out his campaign account. Mautino collected $17,500 in donations during the final quarter of 2015, with $15,500 coming between Oct.

Locked up for aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, Rusher, 26, spends her days in a so-called crisis cell at Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, under constant watch, says Alan Mills, executive director of the Uptown Peoples Law Center in Chicago.

Admittedly, the attempt to sell more products such as corn and soybeans grown in Illinois to Cuba is hindered by hurdles, not the least of which is existing federal legislation that forces Cuban businesses to buy U.S. agricultural products with cash paid in advance.

I’ve seen a few movies in my time, so it’s very possible that a sense of burnout has set in. Perhaps that’s why most of the cinematic fare of 2015 left me with a feeling of “Meh” rather than elation or wonder. Were there good movies? Yes, plenty of them.

Based on the novel by Colm Toibin, John Crowley’s recreation of New York City, circa 1952, and one young woman’s attempt to start a new life in the Big Apple after emigrating from Ireland was the year’s most unabashed and successful romantic film.

A long gestation period proved fortunate for George Miller’s reboot-sequel. The postapocalyptic world he plunged viewers into was far more harrowing than that in the three previous films in the series.

Director Tom McCarthy’s ode to print journalism and old-school investigative reporting benefits from its strong ensemble cast (Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, Stanley Tucci, Liev Schreiber) as well as a sense of restraint in telling the story of the Boston Globe.

Thomas Vinterberg’ adaptation of the classic Thomas Hardy novel was old-school romance at its very best. Carey Mulligan was luminous as Bathsheba Everdene, a woman of property in 19 th century England who struggles to succeed in a man’s world while trying to sort out her feelings about three disparate potential suitors.

Marielle Heller’s semi-autobiographical film recounts one young woman’s sexual awakening in a dysfunctional family during a liberal era. Bel Powley is a revelation as Minnie, a curious girl of 17 who enters into a relationship with her mother’s boyfriend Monroe (Alexander Skarsgard).

This import from New Zealand is an inspired mockumentary in which a group of filmmakers have been granted access to a family of vampires and chronicle not only their efforts to find sustenance but adapt to an ever-changing world that has left them behind.

Bill Pohlad’s touching biopic of The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson is a moving portrait of a man constantly adrift, out of touch with the world and those around him yet desperately trying to connect with them through his groundbreaking music.

Movies are about moments – big moments that erase our cynicism about cinema and remind us of its capacity to dazzle as well as touch us. This happens in a way only possible with a medium that seamlessly combines so many other art forms.

When he moved to Springfield and hung out his shingle as an attorney, Abraham Lincoln effectively completed his transition from a rural working-class laborer to an urban, middle-class gentleman.

Among experts of the era of western exploration of the United States, the legend of scout Hugh Glass is well known. Having been attacked by a grizzly bear in 1823 while on an expedition in South Dakota for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, he was left for dead by two comrades who had agreed to stay behind to care for him.

This recipe comes from my husband, Peter. A big part of what makes it so special is the combination of baked, mashed squash and roasted, caramelized squash cubes, which adds character and depth to an otherwise simple preparation.

Dates, times and locations are subject to change, so we suggest calling before attending an event..

Riverton native and current Nashville resident, songwriter, guitarist, vocalist and performer, Lyman Ellerman is a man of many musical talents. The good news for us is that he keeps refining and defining said talents through a lifetime of music making.

Speaking of Mr. Brown, he’ll be performing at the UIS Studio Theatre on Jan. 22. To those of you ignorant of the Iowan songwriter, please take the time to look up the man and his lifetime of work in roots music, specifically folk and blues. Anyone familiar with his canon and career has likely already bought a ticket to the general admission show.

See the architectural history of the city of Springfield in more than 40 photos dating back to the 19 th and 20 th century during the Shifting Sands exhibition on display Jan. 8-27 at the Springfield Art Association.

Liberty Magazine and BigHollywood. com. $12.50, $15 VIP. mclimits.com. Mason City Limits Comedy Club, 114 E. Chestnut, Mason City, 482-5233..

Enjoy a complimentary, midday break with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra’s Around the Town Concert Series. January’s performance features a harp recital by Chen-Yu Huang, an accomplished harpist with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and assistant professor of harp at Michigan State University.