POLL: Close Out Round 1 With Best of the Rest

It's the last week of the first round in our small business tournament and this is what we call our potpurri or "Best of the Rest" round.

We know there are still a lot of small business categories out there that haven't been part of this yet i.e. dentists, Real Estate, insurance agents, doctors and more, but if there is someone you believe is missing from this "Best of the Rest" list, let us know early and convince us that they should be included.

Vote for your favorite business below and choose who is best of the rest and deserves to join Dupont Sealcoating, Reed's Ferry Lumber, Sal's Pizza, Merrimack PTA Kindergarten, Instant Ambition, South Garden Restaurant, Swan Chocolates, Broadway Bound Performance Center, Florence's Restaurant, Shawn Pacheco's PMAA, and Drapoel Salon and Spa, in the second round of the contest.

HOW IT WORKS: Over the first 12 weeks of the tournament, we're asking you to choose a winner from several different business categories. The winner of each of the first 12 weeks will then go up against two other businesses in the second round until we whittle it down to an overall winner of your favorite business in town.

Each category winner will earn bragging rights in town as the Readers' Choice pick for their category and the overall winner will be featured on Patch at the end of the 19-week contest.

VOTING RULES: Post the name of the small business you think should win that week in comments field near the bottom of this page. Voting begins on Monday mornings and runs through Fridays at 9 a.m. We will announce the weekly winner early on Friday afternoons. Please post only one vote each week. Votes will only be counted if they are made in the comments section of this story. Votes posted on Facebook and Twitter unfortunately cannot be counted. Voting results posted in real time shall not be deemed official until Patch has reviewed and confirmed all of the votes.

IF A BUSINESS IS MISSING: If you believe we've missed a business, fear not. We have a Best of the Rest category at the end of the first round to handle businesses that didn't fit into one of the common categories and any businesses we may have missed. If you have any questions or want to alert us to missed businesses email Merrimack Patch Editor Carolyn Dube at carolyn.dube@patch.com.

BREAKING A TIE: Each of these businesses also has a listing in our directory where Patch users can rate and review them. In the event of a tie, the winner with the most spot reviews will win. So when you have a couple of free minutes, make sure to click on the link for the business of your choice and write them a quick review. Each of the links below brings you to that business' listing.

Good luck and have fun!