Numbers in the news

1

Any guesses on the mostperformed Christmas song this year? The answer is “The Christmas Song,” better known by many as “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.”

The Nat King Cole version of that Mel Torme classic ranks number one, followed by “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” by The Pretenders. Third comes the Eurythmics’ version of “Winter Wonderland.” Then it’s another modern rendition of a classic, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” by Bruce Springsteen. That’s followed by Bing Crosby’s version of the Irving Berlin’s stirring “White Christmas.” Gene Autry’s “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” made the list at number 10. Elvis’s “Blue Christmas” rings in at 16th and Burl Ives is number 18 with his “Holly Jolly Christmas.”

4

Pennsylvania ranks fourth in Christmas tree production,

trailing Oregon, North Carolina and Michigan. The state is first, however, in the number of Christmas tree growers.

Our tree farms are generally smaller than those in the other top-producing states. About 1.8 million Christmas trees were cut in Pennsylvania last year. There were 32.8 million real Christmas trees purchased in 2005; Americans bought 9.3 million artificial trees last year.

124

Coudersport fifth-graders delivered 124 batches of homebaked cookies to Christmas House, in time for delivery to needy families in Potter County. They continued a tradition started by fifth-grade teachers, led by Linda Castano, many years ago.

17

An estimated 17% of Americans will enter the new year with $1,000 or more in new charges on their credit cards, attributed to Christmas shop- ping. More than half of us will still be trying to dig out from our pre-Christmas credit spree entering April.

50K

County governments are feeling the sting of lost revenue caused by the increasing use of cellphones. Some mobile phone users opt to disconnect their land lines. A report from Jefferson County last week revealed that the county government has lost about $50,000 this year as a result. Counties rely on a $1.50 tax on each telephone line to provide funding for 9-1-1 emergency services.

210

Some 210 young people are receiving help from Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services Inc. From locations in Coudersport, Emporium St. Marys, Port Allegany and Bradford, ADAS teaches “life skills” to children of families with alcohol problems.

ADAS also offers treatment services and counseling and support for families affected by the disease. A variety of outpatient services are offered. ADAS also offers a residential program at Maple Manor near Kane and case management services.

9.5

Americans are projected to spend an average of 9.5 hours per day with the media in 2007. This includes watching TV, listening to the radio, using the Internet and reading newspapers. Media use has risen every year of the decade.

There are now more TVs than people in the average American home.

1.9

California lawmakers will soon consider a bill to jack up cigarette prices with another $1.90 tax on each pack sold in the state. Proceeds from the tax would help pay for health insurance covering low-income Californians.

They’ll also act on a bill to impose a fine for smoking in an automobile if children are in the vehicle.

The cigarette tax will be opposed by some lawmakers who point out that it would fall disproportionately on the poor. Tobacco interests will also try to buy influence with millions of dollars in contributions to legislators.