www.roanoke.com

Do you have weather news or photos from around Salem today? You can share at news@sosalem.com.

We'll be posting more updates as we get them. For news on flooding around the region, see the breaking news blog from the newsroom of The Roanoke Times.

OTHER FLOODING UPDATES:
* Mike Stevens shares photos of flooding on Mill Lane
* The Krzyskos share photos of flooding around Salem
* Sump pumps are big sellers in Salem today
* Colorado Street Bridge is open
* Riverside Trailer Park residents being evacuated
* Salem schools will close two hours early
* Flood warning in effect for Salem and Roanoke County

The votes are in!

We asked you to pick the "Best of Salem." And you did.

And the results are right here -- in more than 50 categories, ranging from best community event to the best electrician, from the best school event to the best new thing in Salem, from the best place to go trick-or-treating to the best reason for living in Salem.

So, what do you think? And what categories should we add for next year?

You can leave comments below.

In the print edition, you'll see several places where we send folks online to find more photos. Here are those links:
* More photos from Salem football (which was voted the best school event).
* More photos from Jazz in July in Longwood Park (which was voted the best park)
* More on the Salem Red Sox (voted the best new thing in Salem)
* More photos from Olde Salem Days (voted best community event)
* More on Salem After Five (voted best parks and rec activity)

And congrats to all the winners!

Today's the day. Or, more accurately, tonight's the tonight.

The voting for "The Best of Salem" ends at midnight.

After that, we'll compile the votes and announce the winners in our anniversary issue of April 24.

So just what's in our "Best of Salem" survey?

Lots of things. Who's the best teacher? The best rec league coach? The best church outreach program?

Who's the best hair salon? The best plumber? The best place to get your car fixed?

Where's the best coffee? The best iced tea?

And our favorite: What's the best thing about living in Salem?

We've got details on our Best of Salem contest -- including a link to the official online ballot -- right here.

If you want to cast your vote for "The Best of Salem," you'd better do it fast.

The voting ends on midnight, Tuesday, March 31.

After that, we'll compile the votes and announce the winners in our anniversary issue of April 24.

So just what's in our "best of Salem" survey?

Lots of things. Who's the best teacher? The best rec league coach? The best church outreach program?

Who's the best hair salon? The best plumber? The best place to get your car fixed?

Where's the best coffee? The best iced tea?

And our favorite: What's the best thing about living in Salem?

We've got details on our Best of Salem contest -- including a link to the official online ballot -- right here.

That's one of the questions in our "Best of Salem" poll which is heading into the homestretch.

Lots of "best of" contests focus just on businesses -- and goodness knows, we've got lots of business categories, too. What's the best hair salon in Salem? The best place to buy women's fashions? The best insurance agent? But we also want to do shout-outs to lots of other good things about Salem.

Who's the best bus driver? Where's the best place to take relatives from out of town? And, well, what's the best community event?

We've got details on our Best of Salem contest -- including a link to the official online ballot -- right here.

And one more thing: The voting ends at midnight on March 31.

Let your friends know so they can help recognize "the best of Salem."

Not that we're looking for a date, mind you. But you might be. And, well, what's your idea of the best place for a first date in Salem?

That's one of the questions in our "Best of Salem" poll which is going on every day in March.

Lots of "best of" contests focus just on businesses -- and goodness knows, we've got lots of business categories, too. Who's the best electrician in Salem? The best handyman? The best nail salon? But we also want to do shout-outs to lots of other good things about Salem. Where's the best place to walk your dog? The best place to meet new people? The best, well, the best place for a first date? (After, of course, you meet that new person!)

We've got details on our Best of Salem contest -- including a link to the official online ballot -- right here.

And speaking of dates, here's a date to remember: The voting ends at midnight on March 31.

Let your friends know so they can help recognize "the best of Salem."

Now there's a "best of" question you don't see everyday -- unless, that is, you're checking our our "Best of Salem" poll which is going on every day in March.

Lots of "best of" contests focus just on businesses -- and goodness knows, we've got lots of business categories, too. Who's the best lawyer in Salem? The best Realtor? The best plumber? But we also want to do shout-outs to lots of other people in the community who deserve recognition. The best school staff member. The best bus driver. The best, well, the best church outreach program.

We've got details on our Best of Salem contest -- including a link to the official online ballot -- right here.

The voting runs through March 31.

Let your friends know so they can help recognize "the best of Salem."

Ah, now there's a provocative question. But we have several potentially provocative questions in our "Best of Salem" poll. Who's the best lawyer? What's the best community event? Who serves the best iced tea? Opinions differ on such things -- and we want yours.

Lots of "best of" contests focus just on businesses -- and goodness knows, we've got lots of business categories, too. But we also want to do shout-outs to lots of other people in the community who deserve recognition. The best teacher. The best school staff member. The best rec league coach.

We've got details on our Best of Salem contest -- including a link to the official online ballot -- right here.

(Our favorite vote so far comes in the category of "best lawn care service." One Salem voter responded with: "my wife.")

The voting runs through March 31.

Let your friends know so they can help recognize "the best of Salem."

Last night, Glenvar Cub Scout Pack 352 toured The Roanoke Times -- and we posted photos of their visit (partly to show them how quickly we could turn things around and, well, partly because that's what we do here at So Salem -- we show off pictures of kids from Salem and western Roanoke County.)

Well, there's another thing we do -- we help show off your photos. Ian Hall, a fifth-grader at Fort Lewis Elementary, took us up on that offer. He was on the tour with his younger brother, Parker, and took some photos -- which we now share in this photo gallery.

Do you have photos involving people from Salem or western Roanoke County? If so, you can share at news@sosalem.com

We're looking to recognize "the Best of Salem." The best teacher. The best school staff member. The best -- well, the best lots of things.

Lots of "best of" contests focus just on businesses -- and goodness knows, we've got lots of business categories, too. But we also want to do shout-outs to lots of other people in the community who deserve recognition. The best rec league coach. The best plumber. Even the best politician.

We've got details on our Best of Salem contest -- including a link to the official online ballot -- right here.

(Our favorite vote so far comes in the category of "best lawn care service." One Salem voter responded with: "my wife.")

The voting runs through March 31.

Let your friends know so they can help recognize "the best of Salem."