How many times have you walked out of a place of business and wished you could tell someone about the service?

Have you left a store or restaurant feeling good about your experience and wishing there was someone you could let know about it?

Is there one business in the Roanoke-Chowan region that you know is simply the best at what they do?

If any of those are true, the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald is giving you an opportunity to say so. We not only want your opinion, we are asking for it – and the merchants are listening and wanting it as well.

Earlier this week, the ballot for the 2011 Reader’s Choice Awards made its debut in our newspaper. It asks you who your favorites are in several categories and gives you, as our readers, the opportunity to make your feelings known.

In the past, you have spoken clearly about some of your favorite establishments. You’ve cast ballots in numbers for places that make you feel welcome and make you glad you spent money with those people.

We encourage you to take time to do so again. Use the ballot in today’s edition or one of those in the coming weeks to show business owners what they are doing well. Speak out and be heard so that you will know the right businesses are chosen.

We provide the forum, but it is up to you – our readers – to make the final determination as to who is truly the Best of the Best in our region.

We look forward to hearing from you.

–         The Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald