What’s the best sports moment of the past year in Salem?

That’s one of the new categories we’re introducing in our 4th annual Best of Salem reader poll.

How you define it is up to you. For some, maybe it’s specific team’s season For others, maybe it’s a specific game, or even just one play. It can be at any level, just as long as it’s in Salem or western Roanoke County.

So you tell us!

Feel free to offer your suggestions here in the comment field, if you want to try to drum up support for one thing or another. Just be sure to go to the actual voting form and cast your ballot!

You can find the voting form right here (or over in the right-hand rail.)

The voting is open through midnight on Sunday, March 11; we’ll publish the results in our April 20 print edition.

A few new wrinkles: To make it easier to vote, we’ve gone ahead and listed the top six finishers last year in the business categories — although, as always, you can cast a write-in vote if your favorite isn’t already listed.

If you’ve got someone or some thing you think should be recognized, feel free to start a campaign to drum up votes.

Is there someone or something who should be recognized who doesn’t fit into a category? We always have our “best thing not on this list.”

Happy voting!

Here’s who won in 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have Best Of contests underway in Botetourt County, Southwest Roanoke County and the New River Valley.