www.roanoke.com

Sometimes people ask us, "why are you named So Salem?"

Well, the answer is, when we were brainstorming names, we went to a group of people who actually live in Salem to see what they thought -- and this is the name they proposed.

And, well, the idea is when people see what we offer each week, they'll say "now that's just so Salem."

(Since readers supply much of that content, we hope it's so Salem!) But here's one that really says "so Salem" -- the annual Klondike Derby race.  In this week's print edition, we promise more photos -- and here they are, in this online photo gallery.

Each day, we're posting upwards of a dozen news items about Salem and western Roanoke County, so we like to talk up how we're Salem's digital daily newspaper. And if you're really into that whole online thing, well, here are some of this week's online extras:

* More photos from Kelly Farmer of Salem meeting Miley Cyrus
* More photos of Glenvar choir raising money through an Olive Garden dinner
* More photos from the Salem spelling bee
* More photos from the East Salem Elementary talent show
* Starbucks on Electric Road now serves warm breakfast
* Fire on Wildwood Road causes $28,000 in damage
* More on the show "Art" by Gamut theatre, which stars a Salem woman
* More photos of American Freestyle Karate at Tons of Fun

AND IN SPORTS . . .
* Photos from the Salem boys basketball team winning the district tournament. (We also have photos of Salem in regional action, as well.)
* Photos from Salem girls in the district basketball tournament
* Photos of the Glenvar girls basketball team in the district tournament (plus other photos of the Glenvar girls in the regional tournament, as well.
* More photos of Lady Diamonds vs. Twilight Zone

So how can you get your news and photos in So Salem? Easy! You can share at news@sosalem.com. (And a special request this week: Be sure to send us your holiday photos!)

For more information on us -- and how to advertise and reach more than 90 percent of the households in Salem and western Roanoke County -- see below:

* You can meet our community journalist for Salem and western Roanoke County -- Miranda Adkins. She keeps regular hours at our Salem "bureau" -- at Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea on Main Street. Here’s her schedule.

* So how do we reach 90 percent of the households in Salem and western Roanoke County? Here’s how: Subscribers to The Roanoke Times get it included in their Friday paper; non-subscribers have it mailed to them as part of the weekly Simply Savings advertising flier. Those two add up to more than 90 percent. Plus, we have some free copies available at Kroger, Food Lion, the Salem Y, and the Salem Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea, in case we somehow missed you.

* Are you an advertiser who wants to get your message to more than 90 percent of the households in Salem and western Roanoke County? You can find out more at advertise@sosalem.com. Want to place a classified ad to reach your Salem neighbors? We're at classifieds@sosalem.com