Each year, the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation hosts an advertising contest. Media outlets from across the state of Pennsylvania submit printed and digital ads for consideration and an impartial panel of judges come together to cast their ballots. It is a highly competitive and stressful process.

This year, the Local won our division! This means that our small but mighty publication was recognized throughout the state for our advertising innovation and impact. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our sales and production staff and the creativity and commitment of our advertisers.

“Congratulations to the Advertising Team at Chestnut Hill Local, their creativity and positive impact on local advertisers helped them claim the Division 4 Sweepstakes Award with the most points in their circulation category of local community newspapers in the 2025 PNA Foundation Advertising Contest,” said Bill Cotter, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association.

Congratulations as well to the selected advertisers – Morris Arboretum, Berkshire Hathaway, the Sivel Group, Occasionette, and the numerous advertisers featured in the Garden issue of the Wissahickon Magazine. The Local even won for its innovative Plant, Grow, Bloom package, which incentivized Home & Garden advertisers to extend their reach beyond the yearly Home & Garden Festival.

“It’s rewarding to see that the cycle works,” said Leslie Cerf, the Local’s Philadelphia advertising representative. “Small businesses place their ads in our pages and it supports the success of their business. That’s our goal – for businesses to be recognized and supported by community customers.”

George Ward, our Montgomery County advertising representative, concurred. “This award validates that the collaborative relationships we build with our clients lead to compelling advertisements and deliver strong business results,” he said. 

Leisha Shaffer, sales and marketing manager, said the Local’s win highlights the connection between readers and local businesses and organizations. 

“Our sales reps are very committed to helping our advertisers benefit from that connection,” she said. “They work diligently every day to create affordable, effective marketing plans. Our production team takes those ideas and adds creative flair to bring those ads to life in both print and digital platforms. It is gratifying to see all of their hard work recognized.”

As Shaffer said, instrumental to the advertising process is the production department, which builds many of the Local’s ads and is responsible for putting content on the page, as well as most of the art and design elements. Blaise Brugger, our production manager, works with his team – Joanne Davis, Amy Jacoby, and Hannah Pilling – to ensure that a weekly paper is delivered to our readers’ doors.

“The Local is very fortunate to have a team of experienced and dedicated sales representatives and resourceful and talented artists/designers,” Brugger said. “Working together they are driving our success and delivering exceptional results. This recognition is well deserved.”