PORTLAND, Maine — The Addison County Independent and its sister publication Vermont Ski + Ride Magazine took home 43 awards for excellence in journalism at the annual Better Newspaper Competition held over the weekend in Portland, Maine.

The competition, held each year at the annual convention of the New England Newspaper and Press Association, honors the top newspapers and news websites from all six New England states in 85 editorial categories and 35 advertising categories. Professional judges are hired to pick the region’s best journalists.

The Independent, which brought home 15 first-place awards, 15 second place awards and 10 third-place awards, garnered the highest number of honors at Saturday’s awards banquet among the 97 newspapers who submitted 1,966 contest entries.

“It’s always a great feeling to take top honors among some of the best newspapers in the region,” long-time editor and publisher Angelo Lynn said. “It’s a true reflection of the high quality of work we do and of the hard work every member of the team contributes. It’s a big commitment to bring the news to the county each week in print, and five days a week through our websites, newsletters and social media, and it’s humbling to have that work honored by our peers and others throughout the six states.

“And, of course, we hope it’s appreciated by our readers and supporters — they’re the reason we work so hard to produce the best possible newspaper week in and week out.”

Lynn also highlighted the fact that almost every staff member had a direct involvement in at least one of the awards.

“I’m particularly pleased to see that the awards honored every individual in the news, advertising and production departments for specific projects they worked on,” Lynn said. “That demonstrates the exceptional team spirit and camaraderie we share at the Addy Indy, which no doubt helps us do our best.”

The Addy Indy awards were split evenly — 20 for the Advertising and Marketing Department and 20 for the News Department. Ski + Ride, helmed by Addison Press Publisher Angelo Lynn and Editor in Chief Lisa Lynn, garnered a first-place nod as the Best Niche Publication, as well as a second-place award for a Lisa Lynn story and third place in General Excellence.

This year the Addy Indy advertising team really shined.

Jenna Hunsinger was named Advertising Director/Manager of the Year. Associate Publisher Christy Lynn and Elsie Lynn Parini teamed up with Angelo Lynn to create the Addy All Stars program, which earned the Best Business Innovation Award among New England publications.

The other eight first-place awards for the department revolved around specific advertisements, campaigns, partnerships and special sections. Contributors to those winners included Katy Foote and Tom Van Sant. Production Manager Sue Leggett was named as directly supporting four awards, but, of course, she has a hand in most of what the Independent creates.

Parini was also named Best Ad Designer among weekly newspapers.

A bright light for the News Department was winning the Best Local Elections Coverage category. News Editor John McCright was particularly proud of this since it was given for the Independent’s Town Meeting Day coverage, to which the entire team contributed.

“All the reporters and the photographer worked their tails off to gather and collate news from 23 town under a tight deadline,” he said. “And beyond them, the production folks not only produced camera-ready products, but they and the front-office staff helped bring it all together.”

Independent photographer Steve James had a big night winning not only first prize for General New Photo, but he earned first, second and third places in the Sports Action Photo category.

McCright was also pleased that the Addy Indy’s efforts to reach out to the community was recognized. First place in Excellence in Newsroom Collaboration and Partnerships went to Tom Morgan and Heidi Lacey, who were the driving forces behind a series of “Living Together” columns in which a dozen local people outside the newspaper gave their unique perspectives on the homelessness crisis.

Of the 20 awards won by the Addy Indy’s advertising department, 10 were first place, six were for second, and four were for third place. In news, the department had 5 firsts, 9 seconds and 6 thirds.

Those awards were:

The NENPA awards presented to the Addison Independent were:

Advertising & Design awards:

• Best Ad Designer: 1st place Elsie Lynn Parini, 3rd place Sarah Pope.

• Overall Design and Presentation (Special Section): 2nd Sarah Pope for Weddings .

• Advertiser Campaign: 1st Christy Lynn, Katy Foote, Staff; 2nd Katy Foote, Sue Leggett, Sarah Pope.

• Business Innovation: Angelo, Christy, Elsie & staff for the Addy All-Stars.

• Best Idea for Generating Revenue: 1st Jenna Hunsinger, Christy Lynn & staff for Independent Digital Marketing.

• Best Health Ad: 2nd Christy Lynn, Sarah Pope for Porter Medical Nurses Week, 3rd Christy Lynn, Sarah Pope for ACHHH Childhood.

• Best Holiday Ad:1st Christy Lynn, Elsie Parini for Bradford holiday.

• Local Display Ad (Black & White): 1st Elsie Parini.

• Local Display Ad (Color): 2nd Katy Foote, Sue Leggett for Otter Creek Used Book Profiles.

• Local Online Ad: 1st Christy Lynn, staff for Mahaney.

• Real Estate Display Ad: 2nd Christy Lynn, Katy Foote, Sue Leggett for Berkshire Hathaway.

• Excellence in Revenue Collaboration and Partnerships: 1st Christy Lynn, Elsie Parini for THT Auction insert.

• Most Creative Use of Small Print Space: 3rd Katy Foote, Elsie Parini for Woofpack.

• Themed Multiple Advertiser Pages: 2nd Christy, Elsie, Jenna, Katy, Tom for Midd Night Stroll pages.

• Contests: 2nd Jenna Hunsinger, staff for Valentine’s Contest.

• Subscription Promotion: 3rd Elsie Parini, staff for Holiday Gift Subscriptions.

• Special Section / Advertising Supplement: 1st Addy Indy Staff for Early Childhood Guide.

• Advertising Director / Manager of the Year: 1st Jenna Hunsinger.

News awards:

• Business Story: 2nd Marin Howell for “Bristol lumber mill hurt by changing times.”

• Arts & Entertainment Section: 2nd Elsie Parini and Staff.

• Sports Story: 2nd Andy Kirkaldy for “Sixth straight Panther field hockey title.”

• Crime and Courts Reporting: 2nd John Flowers for “Prosecutor faces scrutiny.”

• Human Interest Feature Story: 3rd John Flowers for “A young life back from the brink.”

• Reporting on Religious Issues: 3rd John Flowers for “As pews fill up, Middlebury churches need room.”

• Local Election Coverage: 1st Staff for Town Meeting Day coverage.

• Event Special Section: 2nd Sue Leggett and Staff for Field Days Program.

• Special Section or Editorial Supplement: 2nd Sarah Pope and John McCright for Fall Weddings.

• Serious Columnist: 3rd Karl Lindholm for “Rip Van Winkle” and “Nuf Ced.”

• Sports Columnist: 3rd Karl Lindholm for “Mind over Matter” and “Bill Lee.”

• Excellence in Newsroom Collaboration and Partnerships: 1st Tom Morgan, Heidi Lacey et al. for Living Together columns.

• Commentary: 3rd Angelo Lynn for “No easy fix for costly education budgets.”

• Editorial/Commentary Page: 2nd Angelo Lynn.

• Sports Action Photo: 1st Steve James for Tiger #20 hit by pitch, 2nd Steve James for Grey at the finish line, and 3rd Steve James for Alpine skier Katie Fynn in Gates.

• General News Photo: 1st Steve James for Pie in the face by excited kindergarten Elisabeth Heck.

• Pictorial Photo: 1st Dottie Nelson for Snow Geese.

Vermont Ski + Ride Magazine:

• Best Niche Publication: 1st Lisa Lynn and David Pollard.

• Sports Feature Story: 2nd Lisa Lynn for “Saving the Ski Hill.”

• General Excellence; 3rd Lisa Lynn, David Pollard, Angelo Lynn.