Jayna Smith

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For nearly two decades, Cheryl Stabinski has been a cornerstone at The Calais Advertiser, quietly shaping the visual side of the paper from her position in the graphic design department.  As the sole designer for much of her tenure, Stabinski’s contributions have helped define the look and feel of the publication.  Recently, she shared her journey, the evolution of her role, and how technology has transformed her work.

Stabinski began her career in graphic design after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and Communications from Lyndon State College in Vermont, which is now known as Vermont State University, Lyndon Campus.  She initially enrolled for their meteorology program but quickly realized it wasn’t for her. “I was not cut out for that!” she shared with a laugh.

Interestingly, Cheryl didn’t set out to work in the newspaper industry.  “I’m not sure I was drawn to it,” she reflected.  “Somehow I was told The Advertiser was looking for help, and I had to meet with [former publisher] Ferguson Calder.  I was super nervous.  I even brought my college portfolio, though it was mostly illustration and not too much layout work.  He didn’t even look at it—I was hired.”

Her initial responsibility?  The sports section.  “At first, I only did the sports section.  That was it, just those four pages.  Then, I started doing ads as they came in—typing them, creating them, etc.”

Stabinski’s responsibilities have grown significantly since her early days, and she’s seen firsthand how the newspaper industry has changed.  “The biggest change?  The number of people involved has decreased.  It’s just me now,” she noted.  “Before, there were three or four of us working on each issue—typing, designing, photos, everything.”

Technology has also played a major role in shaping her work.  Early on, she worked with QuarkXPress, a desktop publishing software that she wasn’t particularly fond of.  “I don’t like Quark at all…I convinced Ferguson to update to InDesign, and we used that.”

The advancements in technology have had a positive impact on Stabinski’s workflow.  “Less typing! There’s much less handwritten news columns, which is helpful,” she said.  “We still have one or two who handwrite things, but it used to be much more.”  Ad creation has also become easier.  “Quite a few ads used to come in over the phone or in person, so the info was just jotted down on paper to create the ad.”  Today, it’s all digital.

A significant upgrade came when the paper transitioned to Mac computers.  “When Pierre [Little] purchased the paper, we updated to Macs.  We had only used Windows before.  The Macs are much faster and more efficient.”

Stabinski’s favorite part of her role is the flexibility and laid-back atmosphere.  “As long as I take care of my tasks, there are no issues,” she explained.  “Administrative assistant Kathy Devine is fun to work with, and [Jayna Smith, reporter, is] super efficient.  That makes the paper come together way easier.  Pierre and his wife Wendy are easy to work for, too.”

After 19 years, Cheryl Stabinski’s passion for design and her adaptability in a changing industry continue to make her an integral part of The Calais Advertiser.  Her story is a testament to dedication, growth, and the impact one person can have in a small but essential department.

“Cheryl has been the backbone of our design department for nearly two decades.  Her creativity, reliability, and ability to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of journalism have been invaluable.  We couldn’t imagine The Calais Advertiser without her contributions,” said publisher Pierre Little.