From the time I wrote the bobcat article until now, a lot of people have come up to me and said, "Gee, I think I've seen one of those things, too."

The Niagara County Coyotes PeeWee Minor team recently took home first place honors in Cleveland during the Rock-n-Roll Cup Ice Hockey Tournament.

For the past 24 years, insurance agent Joel Holka has presented a football award to local high school athletes.

The Niagara team from Gleason's School of Gymnastics levels 5 and 6 recently participated in Graffiti meet held in Niagara Falls.

Mild January weather this week lured out a few hardy visitors to the Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Club on Creek Road for a round of golf.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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