WHAT: Celebration of the grand opening of the new KeyBank Pine Avenue branch. The 2,356-square-foot branch is one of 40 new KeyBank branches projected to open in 2011; four new branches and six ATM kiosks to open in the Western New York market.

Grand Island began its boys basketball season Wednesday with a host of new faces in a scrimmage against visiting Newfane.

An official signing ceremony was held at Niagara-Wheatfield High School for senior Caitlin Attfield, who will attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The Lewiston-Porter School District announces its annual Athletic Hall of Fame induction dinner will take place Friday, Dec. 2, at Antonio's Banquet and Conference Center, 7708 Niagara Falls Blvd., Niagara Falls.

The event opens at 5:30 p.m. with a cash bar, followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person and are available by contacting Lewiston-Porter Athletic Director Scott Townsend at 754-8281, ext. 2160.

The highlight of the evening will be the honoring of four individuals - three Lew-Port gradates and one coach - for their unique contributions to the district and the community.

The Western New York Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure has opened registration for the 2012 Susan G. Komen Western New York Race for the Cure. The race, which is chaired by Shelly Kubala and Meri G. Notaro, will take place on Saturday, June 9, at 10 a.m. in the Delaware Park Rose Garden.

The race is an opportunity for the Western New York community to raise critical funds for programs for the medically underserved and for breast cancer awareness; to celebrate survivors; and honor those who have lost their battle. Participation is open to all who would like to run, walk, volunteer or donate.

Labatt Blue USA has announced details for the fifth annual Labatt Blue Buffalo Pond Hockey Tournament.

Taking place Friday through Sunday, Feb. 10, 11 and 12, the tournament will feature night pond hockey under the lights on Lake Erie at downtown Buffalo's Erie Basin Marina. The evening play takes advantage of the colder temperatures and will allow more teams to play.

Orleans/Niagara BOCES classes from the Royalton-Hartland Learning Center, the North Tonawanda Learning Center, Newfane Learning Center and the Lockport Learning Center recently took part in a day of special games at the Kenan Center in Lockport.

Nicolette Jacobs, a sophomore from Niagara-Wheatfield High School, has been selected to compete in the Queen of Diamonds North at Kent State University on Jan. 7 and 8, 2012. Currently in its 18th season, the QDSN is part of the Queen of Diamond's Showcase events, which are the largest fastpitch softball showcases of their kind in the U.S.

This event continues to attract athletes from more than 30 states and two Canadian provinces. Its sister showcase, the Queen of Diamonds South, is in its fifth season. Each of these events has more than 2,400 applicants from which only 264 athletes are selected as participants.

Shawnee Sno-Chiefs Snowmobile Club, in cooperation with the Shawnee Volunteer Fire Co., will be offering a New York state snowmobile safety course, Saturday, Dec. 17, at the Shawnee Volunteer Fire Co., 3747 Lockport Road, Sanborn. Course time is from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The course is available to children ages 10 and up. Parents are required to accompany the child at registration to sign the state required permission slip and provide a signed note for their child to take the course. Parents are also encouraged to attend the course with their child.

Students are advised to bring a pencil and/or pen and a snack. Soft drinks will be provided courtesy of Shawnee Sno-Chiefs.

With the ink barely dry on the 2011 season, the management of Ransomville Speedway has immediately turned its focus on the 2012 year. The successes of both 2010 and 2011 with solid car counts and a great fan base has prompted a purse increase in the Mighty Taco Modifieds, Original Pizza Logs Sportsman, and Ki-Po Chevrolet Streetstocks.

"In light of the recent successful seasons, we feel it's time to help out the drivers with their costs by increasing the purse in our three weekly divisions," commented co-promoter Jamie Friesen. "The full 2012 purses will be released along with the Ransomville rules structure for next year by Dec. 5," continued Friesen. "I do not foresee any major changes."

For the 2012 season - the Mighty Taco Modified feature winner will now earn $1,500, an increase from $1,200 in 2011.

Niagara coyotes are described as the Eastern coyote (canis latrans), and the theory is they migrated to New York state in the late 1930s and early '40s. In the 1970s they became very abundant across the state, and in some pockets they over-populated.

State Sen. Mark Grisanti will have a meeting to discuss the regulation of mixed martial arts in New York in order to discuss the growing economic development potential the sport has brought to regions around the world. MMA was banned in New York in the 1990s when the sport was known as a no-holds barred exhibition without rules or regulations.

Like many of the young stars that run on a weekly basis at Ransomville Speedway, Billy Coleman has stepped up to the plate and seen success.

Coleman, 24 years of age and another Ransomville-based driver, turned some heads during the 2011 season and hopes that this is the start of something big. Coleman finished second in 2011 points in the very competitive Ransomville Speedway Streetstock class. He was in the hunt for the title right down to the final points night.

"I was very pleased with the way this season has turned out," said Coleman at last Friday night's 2011 Ransomville Speedway banquet. "We were right in the middle of the title up to the end of the season. It was an exciting season."

The second annual Lewiston-Porter Middle School PTSA fall mixer, a networking event for the Lew-Port community and a fundraiser for PTSA, took place recently.

The Town of Porter reminds boaters that its new boat/trailer storage ordinance, specifying seasonal restrictions for medium density residential areas is now in effect. This is taken from Article V, paragraph 80, of the town's boat storage ordinance covering storage and seasonal dates in medium density residential areas:

The 2011 golf season may be just about over, but there's still news coming from the Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Club on Creek Road.

Members of FOAR SCORE, the oldest race fan club in America, presented a plaque to Salisa's All American Diner in Wheatfield.

Sabres, ECMC, First Niagara join forces to purchase breast cancer prevention and education bus.

Close to 300 guests gathered recently to celebrate the 2011 season of Ransomville Speedway and the accomplishments of many. The night started out with a delicious buffet dinner catered by Johnston's Restaurant and was followed by an awards ceremony and music by Jonesie and the Cruisers. And the celebration lasted well into the night as guests enjoyed the festivities.

Lewiston-Porter Youth Travel Football will hold a Chiavetta's chicken barbecue fundraiser.

Presti Karate Centers hosted international black belt testing on Saturday, Oct. 8, conducted by an international board. Eight students were promoted to the rank of black belt or higher.

First-degree black belt recipients included: Lewiston's Robert Blakelock, 13; Rory McGuire, 13; and Jordan D'Angelo, 12; and Niagara Falls' Chris Smith, 15; Amanda Mrzygut, 16; Chris Drake, 13; and Philip D'Angelo, 15.

Carly Presti, 10, of Wilson ranked as the youngest-ever promoted to black belt. Presti has compiled more than five years of training.

Third-degree black belt recipients included Greg Bullock of Niagara-Wheatfield and Doug Boje of Pendleton.

Grand Island put together its most dominating performance of the football season last Thursday to win the Chuck Funke Memorial Classic, 28-0 over Hamburg.

YMCA Buffalo Niagara is inviting Western New Yorkers to cheer on the participants for the 116th annual YMCA Turkey Trot as "Trot Gobblers." Held every Thanksgiving morning, the race welcomes more than 12,500 participants to the 8K course on Delaware Avenue in Buffalo.

The Village of Lewiston Recreation has announced its sponsorship of the following activities and programs for November. All take place at the Lewiston Red Brick Municipal Building gym, 145 N. Fourth St.

•A craft class utilizing sand art will be offered on Monday, Nov. 7, at 4 or 6 p.m. The class is for children age 5 and older. The cost for the class is free and all supplies are included. To register for this class, call 754-1990.

•Fleece pillowmaking workshop classes for children will be offered on Tuesday, Nov. 8, at 4 or 6 p.m. The class is for children 5 and older. Participants will be tying knots. The class is free and all supplies are included. To register for this class, call 754-1990.

Outdoors in Niagara

Use caution. Seems the Environmental Protection Agency wasn't happy with imposing 10 percent ethanol (E-10) in our fuel for the sake of eliminating greenhouse gases. Now they are ready to impose a 15 percent (E-15) ethanol/alcohol requirement in our fuel. Even your lawnmower, motorcycle, car, and whatever other toy you have uses gasoline with E-10, and now coming soon the new E-15 is being pushed on us. And you can thank the American Coalition for Ethanol and other allied groups for pushing for it.

The Firearms Permit Review Board of Wheatfield will offer its annual muzzleloader course from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Wheatfield Community Center, next to Town Hall.

Instructor will be Don MacSwan. A certificate will be issued to those completing the course as a requirement for their muzzleloader discharge permit. There is no course fee. The class is open to anyone age 14 and older. Those ages 14 to 17 should be accompanied by an adult.

The Niagara Falls Sports Hall of Fame board announced its 2011 inductees.

Concerned? If you are a hunter or fisher or both, you should be concerned. Our rights are slowly eroding away. As we go along, hunting land is disappearing with posted signs, fishing access is becoming less and less, and the antis keep pulling their tricks. Take a look at the radical People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals for example - vegans that would rather wear cabbage leaves than wool, and no leather, just plastic shoes. Just think: no dairy products, no meat, and no hunting or fishing, and not even seeing-eye dogs.

On Thursday, Sept. 29, the Lewiston-Porter boys varsity soccer team will conduct a canned food drive to benefit the Ransomville Community Services Food Pantry. All fans attending the game are encouraged to bring at least one non-perishable food item with them that evening. Donation bins will be placed outside the main gates at Elia Stadium prior to the 6:30 p.m. game versus Kenmore West.

It is time once again to lace up your sneakers in preparation for the third annual Hospice Dash. On Saturday, Sept. 24, runners and walkers will wait for the signal to begin on the trail through the uniquely scenic route created for this special event.

Chad Brachmann of Sanborn won the Mighty Taco Modified main and his first 358 modified title at Ransomville Speedway on Sept. 2. Brachmann came from 11th place to the point position on lap 33 and quickly pulled away from the field aboard the 50-lap main.

The Bobby Grenga Memorial 5K run/walk begins at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11, at Goat Island (parking lot 3) in Niagara Falls. The cost is $25 ($15 for students). All proceeds benefit the Bobby Grenga Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The Village of Lewiston Recreation Department is sponsoring a girls basketball program starting Saturday, Sept. 25, at the Lewiston Red Brick Gym, North Fourth and Onondaga streets. Seven sessions will follow, from 2 until 4 p.m. on Sept. 24, Oct. 1-22 and Nov. 5-19.

The Project Future Center, located at 2720 Niagara Falls Blvd., in Wheatfield, will hold its "Fall Kickoff" on Saturday, Sept. 10, and through the end of the month.

Section VI has released the fall varsity football schedule for the Lewiston-Porter High School Lancers. Contests include:

It was a night of firsts last Friday, Aug. 26, at Ransomville Speedway as two new faces visited victory lane.

The Niagara Frontier State Park Region announces the annual permit lottery for the 2011 pheasant-hunting season will take place Friday, Sept. 30. This event will include the drawing for both the youth hunt and the regular season hunt.

Time to Dance hosts an open house from 1 until 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17.