Endeavor's Neat Numbers

1,807

One of the biggest success organized sportsmen's success stories is in Elk County, where the St. Marys Sportsmen's Club continues to thrive. Club membership is now at 1,807.

The club was organized in 1935 and headquartered at what was known as the Wittman farm. It was sold to Keystone Carbon Co. in the early 1940s. In 1947, Keystone Carbon sold the 100-acre farm to the St. Marys Sportsmen's Club. Today, the club owns about 625 acres of forest land and open fields.

8

Only eight percent of Americans who order pizza buy it with no toppings. Pepperoni is the most popular topping, ordered by 37 percent.

40

Political solutions to environmental problems are imperfect, at best. Take the federal government's ambitious Chesapeake Bay Restoration Program of 2000.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports that nitrogen reduction plans will likely miss the goals set forth for the year 2010 mark by 40 percent. The GAO also said phosphorous and sediment reduction efforts are slated to come in 25 percent below the agreement's goals.

The Chesapeake Bay watershed covers more than 64,000 square miles across six states, much of that contained in Pennsylvania. The federal government has provided more than $5.5 billion in financial support to Bay restoration since 1995. Each state has also invested money in cleanup efforts.

As 2010 draws closer, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may issue further restrictions on the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus coming into the Bay, putting small communities that don't meet wastewater treatment standards in a situation where they face fines and other enforcement measures. Each of the affected 184 sewage treatment plants in Pennsylvania requires an average of $5 million in improvements to meet the water quality standards.

14

Johnsonburg High School always attracts a faithful legion of volunteer assistant sports coaches. They assist the paid coaches to keep practices and games running smoothly.

This year, some 14 adults have joined the coaching staffs as volunteers: for football, Kerry Keneske, Rob Launer, Jim Launer, Shane Launer, Mike Klink, Tim Raubenstrauch and Matt Myers; for volleyball, David Imbrogno, Stephanie Imbrogno, Sara Meyers, Ginny Shuey and Kelly Bliss; for soccer, David Zilkofsky and Jeff Costanzo.

12

Caution flags are being raised by farm groups as the U.S. rallies behind ethanol as an alternative fuel. According to the National Corn Growers Assn., if every acre of corn currently grown in the U.S. were used to produce ethanol, that would meet just 12 percent of the nation's needs for fuel to power our motor vehicles.

33

Zippo Manufacturing Company of Bradford blames counterfeiting for most of its approximately 33 percent drop in sales over the past decade. Chinese knock-offs of American brand-name goods are becoming so common that law enforcement authorities have given up trying to stem the tide.

But Zippo is engaged in an international battle to protect its brand and its business. Recent raids found China-made counterfeit Zippo lighters in Vietnam and Thailand. About 18,000 counterfeit lighters were seized at a manufacturing facility in China recently. Fakes have also been found in Portugal and in Atlanta, Ga.

133,000

A $133,000 state loan will help the new owners of the former Bambino's Family Restaurant in Kersey reopen the business. The renovated eatery will be known as the Firehouse Restaurant. Commonwealth Financing Authority approved a 12-year loan at an annual interest rate of 3.25 percent.

14.5

The sport of hunting continues to decline across the U.S. Nationally, there were 14.5 million hunters in the nation, down from a figure of 16.3 million in 1980, or a decline of 11 percent. The drop is even larger in Pennsylvania, where the number of hunter went from 1.3 million to about 1.0 million, or a decline of 22 percent.

40

There's plenty of business potential for the wood pellet plant being located in Driftwood.

There are about 40 such plants in the U.S. Pellets are gaining popularity as a home heating source, as cost of other energy sources soar. The Pellet Fuels Institute has is public relations machinery cranking as the 2006-07 heating season draws closer.

It takes about 40 pounds of pellets to fire a pellet-burning stove for 24 hours. Particulate emissions from a pellet stove are approximately 1.2 grams per hour, compared to the nationwide EPA regulations allowing no more than 7.5 grams per hour.

After burning wood pellet fuel, there is little ash left over. Wood pellets produce virtually no creosote - a major cause of chimney fires. There are more than 500,000 pellet stoves and fireplace inserts used in homes throughout the United States and Canada.