Oyster Pointer

Kasia Grzelkowski speaks at the ceremony where she was presented with the 2025 First Citizen award. As little as 50 years ago, physically and mentally disabled people were rarely seen outside the home. Often, they were relegated to group homes or institutions. Medical doctors had determined that they were not only a detriment to society, but also a possible danger to themselves and others. Today, forced sterilization and lobotomies have become a thing of the past.

New Student Representatives to the School Board take office Cameron Smith Hopeton Bailey Cameron Smith, a senior at Warwick High School, will serve as the student representative to the Newport News School Board for the 2026–2027 school year. Hopeton Bailey, a senior at An Achievable Dream Middle and High School, will be the alternate student representative. Both students bring a wealth of leadership and team building skills to their positions.

Kayla Brundick has been named social media manager with Oyster Pointer. She will be responsible for facilitating the flow of internet traffic to the publication’s homepage, using feature stories, columns and photos to foster interest in the site. Brundick has been writing with Oyster Pointer since 2022. Several of her features have been recognized by the Association of Community Publishers with awards for content.

Troy Smith, owner of Smith Brothers Hardwood Flooring, displays extensive evidence of the quality of his company. Smith Brothers Hardwood Flooring, established in 1946, has by all accounts been very successful throughout its years of operation. Troy Smith Jr., its owner, is adamant that the key to this success is the business’s dedication to its clients and to the craftsmanship that is invested in each individual project under contract.

When I was a little girl, I used to sit beside my grandmother while she wrote. She always composed her poems and stories by hand, and one of my jobs was to type them for her. As a child, I found this faintly mysterious. Why so much care with words? Why all the effort? I understand now. For my grandparents, ideas mattered. Thinking mattered. Education mattered. And in their case, critical thinking was not simply an academic skill. It was one of the things that helped save their lives.

Cape Town is one of the most popular cities on the African continent. With an urban national park, a long, glorious coastline and vineyards on the doorstep, the “Mother City” (known by this moniker because it was the site of the first European settlement in South Africa) has as much access to nature and beautiful scenery as it does to world-class restaurants, bars, shops and excellent museums. There are many noteworthy historic sites in and around Cape Town.

Matayo grew up in a refugee camp in Tanzania. Now a Newport News resident, he is studying for the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). Matayo is eager to enlist in the military and serve his adopted country. Annie passed the GED, then enrolled into culinary school the very same day. She looks forward to launching her own business. Sara immigrated from El Salvador in search of the American Dream. She learned English, then prepared for her naturalization interview.

J.C. Cloonan “What if I recorded interviews with a client’s family member?” J.C. Cloonan, founder/owner of LifeMarks Media proposes. “Foster real conversations about their lives, their struggles and the world they grew up in and preserve that for the future?” LifeMarks Media began service on Halloween 2024. Its mission is to capture the essence of every story through stunning visuals and compelling narratives.

Left to right: Travis Abbitt, Randy Abbitt, Carol Abbitt and Jessica Godfrey at the National Exterminating building in Newport News. Founded by Randy and Carol Abbitt in 1975, National Exterminating Company, Inc. is a Newport News staple. As a Newport News native, Randy comes from a long line of entrepreneurs. His father and grandfather were both hard-working businessmen.

Keke, MacKenzie, Kristen (front, left to right) and owner Tyvonna Sears promote the use of sunscreen for everyone. (Photo by Cathy Welch) Sears shares the latest information about skin care. (Photo by Saint’s Touch) For many people, skincare is about looking better. For Tyvonna Sears, it is about helping people feel better, too. As owner of Skyn Stuff Esthetics, Sears helps clients improve their skin health while also educating the next generation of estheticians.