If so, David Wells recommends using the hashtag #salemva to make it easier to find Salem-related tweets on Twitter. If you just use #salem, well, you’ll wind up mingling with folks in Salem, Oregon.

By the way, So Salem is on Twitter — search for us as “sosalem” and follow along. (We’re on Facebook, too — you can find the feed for that on the right hand side of the blog.)

Do you like to eat?

Today, roanoke.com has launched its new food site, PlateUp — or, more technically, plateup.roanoke.com.

We have restaurant reviews, a searchable dining guide, a searchable recipe guide and a shopping blogger, Hollie Wingate, to fill you in on coupon deals.

You can post your own reviews and recipes, too.

This So Salem sticker was spotted at a car today at Glenvar High School. Do you have yours? If you’re looking for one, just email us at news@sosalem.com. We still have a few left.

Carrie Wickert is a leukemia patient. By joining the Marrow Registry, you could be a life-saving match for someone like her.

Carrie Wickert is a 33-year-old young lady who loves life. Carrie grew up on Smith Mountain Lake and the Roanoke Valley and is a 1995 graduate of Cave Spring High School. She enjoys water activities on the lake, loves the sun, her friends, and is an active member at First Presbyterian Church, where she has gone on two mission trips.

Carrie was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) last August, went through chemo at Lewis-Gale and was cancer free in October. At that time there was not a bone marrow match for Carrie and there was a 30 percent chance the cancer would not return. But this January the cancer did return and Carrie is currently at Duke University medical center going through more chemo and will be part of a transplant study program as soon as she is in remission.

You could be a life-saving match for someone like Carrie.
You have the power to heal … the power to save a life!

Take the first step: Join the Registry

Date: Saturday, May 1
Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: Lewis-Gale Medical Center, 1900 Electric Road, Salem, 24153
More information: Betsie Letterie (919) 414-8312; Roger Wickert, 353-5600.

Joining the Marrow Registry is easy:
1) Fill out a registration / health / history form. Remember to bring the name / address / phone number of two contacts.
2) Have the inside of your cheek swabbed. There are NO NEEDLES involved to register.

You need only to be between the ages of 18 and 60, be willing to donate to any patient in need and meet the health guidelines.
This registration drive is sponsored by the Salem Rotary Club.
To learn more about the foundation, call (800) MARROW-2 or go online at BeTheMatch.org

The Roanoke Times is looking for a few good teens. Once a week, we publish The Edge, a print page that is planned, written, and photographed by local teenagers. With Roanoke Times staff as advisors and mentors, high school students learn the ropes of journalism, hands on. Sometimes, students are inspired to make a career of it.

Are you interested in exploring journalism? The Edge is accepting applications from high school students in the region. We need writers, photographers and artists for next year’s staff.

We have more details here.

The Blue Ridge Business Journal, our bi-weekly business publication, is now available at two rack locations in Salem:

* Salem – Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce
* Salem YMCA

We have more information about the journal here. We update the journal’s website — www.bizjournal.com — multiple times each day with business news from around Southwest and Central Virginia.

Not a subscriber? Subscriptions are free. You can sign up at subscribe@bizjournal.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.