The Lewiston-Porter Athletics Department has the national signing intents of three high school students.

The Lewiston-Porter Lancers junior varsity club hockey team won the first-ever Cheektowaga JV Christmas Tournament

The Village of Lewiston Recreation Department announces it will sponsor a youth three-on- three basketball program on Monday, Jan. 16, starting at 9 a.m. at the Lewiston Red Brick Municipal Building gym, North Fourth and Onondaga streets.

The Town of Niagara Recreation Department has announced that two winter gym programs held at Colonial Village Elementary School gym.

Veterans can take the ice for a hockey clinic scheduled Monday, Jan. 16, at noon at the Riverside Bud Bakewell Ice Rink, 2607 Niagara St., Buffalo.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Bureau of Fisheries is offering a new, full color map/brochure free of charge for individuals who fish in the freshwaters of New York. The "I FISH NY Guide to Freshwater Fishing in New York State" provides information on more than 320 lakes and ponds and 112 river and streams.

"Research shows one of the primary reasons people do not fish more often is because of a lack of information concerning where to fish," said Kathy Moser, assistant commissioner, DEC Office of Natural Resources.

Congresswoman Kathy Hochul released the following statement after Time Warner Cable and MSG Networks failed to reach an agreement on carrier fees, causing subscribers to lose coverage beginning Jan. 1:

Unseasonably warm temperatures and wet grounds forced Ransomville Speedway officials to postpone the 12th annual Hangover 150 for the second consecutive year.

The 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic between the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers from Citizen's Bank Park in Philadelphia, which was scheduled to air today at 1 p.m., will now start at 3 p.m. on NBC to facilitate optimal game conditions, the NHL announced Sunday. NBC Sports will still begin its live NHL Winter Classic pre-game coverage at 1 p.m. with interviews, features and other content.

As always, it will be the largest gymnastics competition to be held in Western New York this year. And, for 2012, the Graffiti Invitational, Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 7 and 8, will again take place at the Conference Center Niagara Falls.

Jan. 2 is an important day for the NBC Sports Group as it broadcasts the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at 1 p.m. on NBC and launches the NBC Sports Network, currently VERSUS, immediately following the game at 4 p.m. with a special NHL Live post-game show hosted by Bob Costas from Philadelphia.

Johnson's Fudge stand stood just a few feet back on Lower River Road between Lewiston and Youngstown, but how many knew Johnson's Boat House was on the river below?

I never knew that, and when asking around not too many of the surviving old-timers didn't know it either. Several years ago, river man and commercial fisherman Art King gave me a manila folder with some old stuff in it before he passed away, and I kept it as a treasure from Art. It had some old papers, old New York and Ontario fishing licenses, a 1950 New York state fishing syllabus, and an old, undated, Johnson's Fudge Company/Boat House six-page booklet. In there was even an old Ontario beer rationing coupon book with eight coupons left and it is dated "valid until Oct. 31, 1944," but that is another Niagara story for later.

The YI-DAN-CHA-GI Martial Arts Center is bustling on evenings with karate classes led by Grand Master Jim Wood, Krav Maga close combat self-defense and Kid Safe Network classes.

With nearly a dozen family race teams in the Ransomville Speedway pit area, you can add another to the list when the facility opens for its 55th year of operation in May of 2012.

Darrell Borkenhagen, who has competed in the Ransomville Speedway Thursday night go-kart program, will join his brother Derrick, a two-time track Street Stock champion. It will be the first time that Darrell will be in a stock car on a competitive basis.

Darrell recently purchased the Billy Coleman Street Stock, which finished second in 2011 Street Stock points behind Derrick. Both Derrick and Darrell have their cars inside the family garage with preparations being made for the upcoming season. Their father Rick, who has overseen the maintenance of Derrick's car, will work on Darrell's car as well.

Ransomville Speedway is proud to announce and welcome Brittany Catchpole as Miss Ransomville Speedway 2012.

Hall of Fame Buffalo Sabres "French Connection" legend hosts meet-and-greet.

With the ink barely dry on the 2011 season, all focus has turned to the 12th annual Hangover 150 and the upcoming 2012 season at Ransomville Speedway. Tentative scheduling is beginning to take place with an announcement slated for early into the New Year. In addition to scheduling, Marketing Director Tana Robinson has been working with sponsors regarding the upcoming season.

Members of the Dance Ensemble from the Lewiston/Grand Island Dance Centers performed at the Niagara Falls Fire Department's annual Firemen's Fund Telethon.

The Niagara Junior Purple Eagles Squirt Tier 3 Travel Hockey Team won all tournament games.

I recently wrote an article about coyotes. I met a friend in Youngstown at Melloni's Market Place, and he told me he had read the article and asked if I heard anything about bobcats in the Niagara area.

More than 160 items were collected in the Lewiston-Porter wrestling's "Thanksgiving Takedown Hunger Food Drive."

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.