The Oyster Pointer has been recognized with five awards in the 2025 Association of Community Publishers (ACP) annual competition. ACP is a nonprofit international trade association representing 104 Free Circulation publishing members and 14 associate members throughout the United States and Canada.
According to Cassey Recore, executive director of ACP, there were 880 entries in this year’s contest. Judges consisted of students and faculty from Columbia State Community College in Columbia, Tennessee.
A first-place honor was awarded for a creative headline in an ad, submitted by Advanced ENT & Allergy, judged on creativity, cohesion, effectiveness and overall concept of the headline.
A first-place honor was awarded for a single advertisement, recognizing Plastic Surgery Center of Hampton Roads. The ad was provided by Stacey Harrison of Inspire Aesthetics Group.
A second-place award was presented for design and advertising of the Oyster Pointer contest, recognizing the monthly pearl contest in each issue The entry was judged on promotion of reader engagement and creativity.
A third-place award honored Pariser Dermatology Specialists for its submission as a best single ad by an agency design. The entry was judged on professional presentation, creativity and overall design. The ad was designed by Laurie Grant of Pariser.
Another third-place award recognized Oyster Pointer’s monthly banner, displaying the publication’s name. The entry was judged on its style and its unique and creative quality. Sara and Stewart Sanders, of SHS Design, the graphics design firm of Oyster Pointer, designed the banner.
“We are delighted to have been recognized by this prestigious association,” says Sylvia Weinstein Craft, publisher/editor. “We believe this a great compliment to the paper.”
Oyster Pointer has been covering businesses for 39 years. It strives to cover the wide array of well-known and not-so-well-known businesses in and around the Oyster Point area and its surrounding cities and counties. It proudly promotes itself as the “good news” paper, featuring positive stories and announcements about the area. Oyster Pointer also provides a source of informative columns written by area legal, medical, travel and business professionals.
Craft credits the success of the paper to her outstanding team, which includes Sara and Stewart Sanders, responsible for graphics, layout and design; Brian DePrinzio, Oyster Pointer’s business manager; and the many talented writers, columnists, photographers and other support staff.
“The Oyster Pointer is only as strong as the advertisers who support it and to them, we express our sincere thanks,” Craft says. “We are proud to be the paper that people in the Oyster Point area look to for good news. We have tried to grow with the area and incorporate many different businesses and subjects on our pages.”
