CROSSWORDS: Lester Tibbetts wrote to let us know he found a product invented locally in a recent Wall Street Journal crossword puzzle.

He writes, “The WSJ crossword puzzle of Feb. 19 titled ‘V-Eight’ had the following clue for a five letter word at 72D: _____ Willy (classic toy with a magnetic personality).”

We have the answer written at the end of the column, but we have a feeling most of you have already guessed it.

SIGNS OF SPRING: We’ve had a couple of readers contact us with a couple more signs that winter is almost over.

Mick Burns of Russell Boulevard called to say, “I’ve had black ants in my house. There’s been quite a few of them, around 50.”

We’re not huge fans of the bugs that come out when the weather warms up, but we’ll take it.

Also, Kathy Gotshall of Port Allegany called Wednesday to tell us about a couple of bird sightings at her home.

“We saw a flock of about 12 redwing blackbirds in our backyard at our birdfeeder this morning,” Kathy said.

Additionally, she reported that her nephew, Gary Caulkins, saw robins in her front hayfield on Tuesday.

“I guess spring is springing,” she remarked. “Sure seems good.”

It sounds like we’ve had our first official robin sighting for the spring. How about that.

Speaking of signs of spring, the smell of skunk has wafted into the newsroom as we’re writing this. We think it lives outside the building. 

IGLOO: The Weather Channel has expressed interest in interviewing the Roulette family featured on the front page of Wednesday’s edition of The Era.

The Causer family began building a 12-foot tall igloo in their yard on New Year’s Day. We received a neat picture of the igloo that appeared with the story.

We heard Sam Champion may be interviewing the Causers on his morning show today. We’d love to hear from any of you who catch it.

CROSSWORD: If you haven’t guessed it, the answer to Lester’s crossword puzzle clue above is “Wooly,” as in the Wooly Willy toys that until recently were made right in Smethport.