‘Best of’ is back: Vote by March 11 in annual 
reader opinion poll

Published 7:00 am Friday, February 27, 2015

Voting is now open for the Valley Record’s annual reader survey on the best of everything from service businesses to places to take the family.

Every year, we at the Record look forward to the Best of the Valley competition itself, almost as much as we look forward to getting the results. It’s fun to see all the “Vote for us” signs in shop windows, and the e-mail and Facebook campaigns that go around. People get really creative about winning in this  miniature court of public opinion, and  the competition can be serious.

And of course, the results themselves are useful. Just like you, I check the “Best of” results to see how people voted, and how specific people and places were ranked. The results can have an effect on where I decide to shop, eat, and so on, and I know I’m not alone. If any edition of the paper is ever going to “sell out,” it’s the results issue.

We have a new system this year, and with it, a couple of bugs to work out, unfortunately.

To vote, you will need to register, with your e-mail address, name and ZIP code, which is the same information we request every year. Other information on the form, including a password, is optional.

For each category, the top three choices from last year are already listed, for convenience, and in some categories, you will find buttons for other vote-getters, too. Click one of those buttons if that’s who you wanted to vote for, or type in the name of your choice in the space provided.

Since this is the Best of the Valley, please vote only for Valley businesses and locations. Finally, we do ask participants to vote in at least 15 categories. As an incentive, all voters will be included in a prize drawing for a $100 gift certificate to John Howie’s Steakhouse.

You must be 13 or older to vote, and remember, it’s one vote per person, please. Voting closes on Wednesday, March 11, at midnight.