The LuLac Edition #62, Sept. 16th, 2006

PICTURE INDEX: A.J. Munchak, Lackawanna County Commissioner, GOP 11th District Congressional candidate Joseph Leonardi, the Yankee logo and Atty. Robert Cordaro, Lackawanna County Commissioner.


THE POLITICS OF YANKEE BASEBALL

Take two majority commissioners who raised taxes by more than 50%, then are criticized for it even though the last administration left them with a deficit. Then add in some built in controversy regarding the sale of a ski mountain as well as the declining attendance fortunes of a professional major league baseball team. All that adds up to trouble for re-election, unless of course something big comes your way. The stars have to align themselves just in the right place at the right time. Could it be that what was a looming disaster, the loss of the Philadelphia Phillies as the home team for the Triple A affiliate could be turned into a winning situation? No one would’ve thought the Columbus, Ohio team, the Clippers would be in the same situation as the Scranton Wilkes Barre Red Barons. The Clippers, after all were the franchise of the Yankees for over 25 years, 28 to be exact. And now, the renowned Yankees are making little old Scranton/Wilkes Barre their triple A team. In terms of political capital, this is a boon to the Cordaro/Munchak administration. Cordaro, who was booed on Gerry McNamera night, will surely be roundly cheered if the Yankees come to town. The political implications of this are HUGE. The Yankees are the most popular franchise in baseball history. And even if you aren’t a Yankee fan, you follow them. See what’s happening to the team in the Bronx. Rehab starts? Lackawanna Wonderful. Gene Michael in a limo coming down Montage Mountain Road? Lackawanna Wonderful!!! All the Cordaro/Munchak team need do to win re-election in 2007 is remind voters that they orchestrated the move. Or that the move happened on their watch. Tom Ridge’s political career was punctuated with a series of lucky happenstances that led to him reaching the peaks of power without a sweat. People used to joke, “God wakes up in the morning, looks himself in the mirror and says, “What can I do for Tom Ridge today?” Bob Cordaro, judging from this Yankee manna from heaven, just might have that same connection.

RENDELL PROCLAIMS SEPTEMBER MUSHROOM MONTH…..

In a blatant attempt to garner the support of mushroom farmers, mushroom fans, mushroom lovers and devotees of creamed mushroom soup, the Governor has proclaimed September Mushroom Month. Now this might seem like a small thing, but state officials report that the industry contributes more than $391 million to the state's economy. Pennsylvania is the leading mushroom producing state in the U.S., with over 495 million pounds produced each year.The Keystone state is No. 1 in producing the button mushroom that's familiar to many consumers. The technical name is agaricus. Other varieties of mushrooms include shiitake, enoki and oyster.The number one county, in terms of overall mushroom production, is Chester, in southeast Pennsylvania.

SANTORUM/GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE SETS DEBATES.....

It appears there will be more Senate debates than the ones that were set up for Bob Casey and Rick Santorum. The GOP incumbent has accepted the Green Party candidate’s invitation to debate across the state. The Casey camp has declined saying that they have a policy that each campaign can only have one representative on stage for debate at the same time. The Casey people contend that by the Green Party candidate accepting money from the Santorum camp, the aforementioned therefore is part of the GOP team.

IN OTHER DEBATE NEWS………………

Congressman Paul Kanjorski declines debate invitation.
Dr. Leonardi responds "I will debate anytime, anywhere."
On today’s Sue Henry Show, carried on the WILK network, Dr. Joe Leonardi expressed his concern that the voters are being denied a debate between the two candidates. Dr. Leonardi explained that about two weeks ago, he received an invitation from the Lackawanna League of Women Voters to debate the incumbent congressman. Dr. Leonardi told Sue Henry that he immediately cleared his schedule and made time to participate. He went on to explain that on Tuesday he received a call from the League of Woman Voters informing him that, the Congressman had declined the invitation to participate. In a discussion with Sue Henry, Dr. Leonardi said he would welcome a debate at the WILK studios. Dr. Leonardi stated that he would make himself available anytime if WILK could set up the debate.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY ICON PASSES AWAY….

Frank Castellino, long time Democratic Recorder of Deeds passed away the other day. Castellino first became Recorder of Deeds in 1968 after being elected in the near historic Democratic sweep of 1967. That election was known as Dr. John Dorris’ swan song. (Dorris was chair of the party and later died in December of ’67). Castellino served in that office for over 32 years, retiring in 1999. It is significant that no Democrat regained the office after he left it. Castellino was a scrappy guy. I remember him taking on a classroom of college students in 1975 when he was stumping for the Charter No group. (in 1975 there was a move afoot to change the county charter. Castellino stood before a crowded class of King’s Government students and essentially said, “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it”. He also extolled the virtues of the spoils system and how important it was to get, obtain and nurture political connections as a way to help you through life. It was an honest presentation of Luzerne County politics. Through the years, he was a fixture at the Courthouse and at Democratic events. Even when age and illness were taking their toll, he supervised his office with competence and as some staffers have said, kindness. Here’s his obit from the Times Leader.

Frank Castellino

Frank C. Castellino, former Recorder of Deeds, Luzerne County, died Friday, Sept. 15, 2006, at Wesley Village Nursing Facility, Jenkins Township. He was born Feb. 13, 1917, a son of the late Joseph and Giovanna (Mancino) Castellino. He was a 1934 graduate of Pittston High School and Wilkes-Barre Business College in 1939. Frank was re-elected Alderman in the City of Pittston from 1946 to 1966; a member of Pittston City Council from 1966 to 1968. Prior to being elected Recorder of Deeds, Luzerne County, he served in that office as chief clerk and then chief deputy since 1940. He also served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, returning to resume his duties at the courthouse. During his eight successive terms to office, in recognition of his many efforts and achievements, he was elected to president of the Pa. State Recorder of Deeds Association. In addition to being a charter member and the first president of the Greater Pittston Ambulance Association, he was also a member and past president of the Pittston Lions Club for over 50 years. He was a member and past president of the Montedoro Society and past president of the Luzerne County Columbus League, helping to erect the Christopher Columbus Memorial in the City. During his eight terms in office, Frank initiated many changes and improvements, including in 1993, the installation of the first computerized system for a county office in the state of Pa. He was also instrumental in creating a satellite office in Hazleton to better serve the lower county. Frank was preceded in death by his son Peter; his wife of 54 years, the former Josephine Puma; brothers Sam and Joseph; sisters Mary Sorci and Eleanor Sorci. Surviving are two sons Joseph and his wife, JoAnn, of West Pittston; Frank and his wife, Diane, of Harding; three grandchildren Peter of LaQuinta, Calif.; Helena of King of Prussia; and Cara Jo, a student at Savannah College of Art & Design; two step-grandchildren Dr. Shawn Miller of Dallas; and Alycia Fink of Tunkhannock.
Once when Harry Truman was barnstorming the nation, a local official ambled up to him and proudly introduced himself as the Prothonotary of the County. Truman looked at him with amusement and said, “What the hell is a Prothonotary?” The Prothonotary is in fact the chief notary of a courthouse. Here are the duties of the Recorder of Deeds as mandated by the state. This was the office Frank Castellino efficiently managed for 32 years.

RECORDER OF DEEDS

The recorder of deeds is the officer responsible for maintaining the records relating to the transfer of real property in the county. This officer also records oaths and commissions of county officials, district justices and notaries and is the custodian of other miscellaneous documents.
The 1682 Frame of Government provided for an officer known as the master of the rolls who was selected annually by the governor from two names submitted by the Provincial Council. This individual served the whole province, and all land conveyances had to be recorded in his office. Besides recording deeds, mortgages and related papers, he also recorded the provincial laws. A 1683 law required that all deeds, mortgages, settlements and conveyances had to be acknowledged in open court.
In 1706 an act was passed for the acknowledgment and recording of deeds which required that every deed or conveyance and satisfaction had to be acknowledged by two witnesses before a justice of the peace with the recorder or enroller of deeds or his deputy being present. These documents then had to be recorded in the city or county where the land was located. Each county was to have an enrollment office, but there was no explanation how the selection of the recorder was made, This same law provided for the continuation of the master of the rolls for the whole province who maintained his office in Philadelphia and the other counties either personally or through his deputies. It appears that he was responsible for recording original deeds and patents while the local recorders handled deeds to land which had been previously granted. In 1809, the office of master of the rolls was abolished, and his records were turned over to the Land Office and the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
In 1711 and 1715, laws similar to that of 1706 were passed which determined the selection procedure for the recorders in each county. initially, the prothonotary or county clerk was ordered to act as recorder of deeds except in Philadelphia where the Assembly appointed a specific individual. The recorders in the other counties held office until the justices of the court of quarter sessions removed them and named replacements.
The 1776 Constitution made the recorder an appointee of the General Assembly, but the Constitution of 1790 gave that power to the governor. It was not until the Constitution of 1838 that the office became elective with the individual serving a three year term, The 1873 Constitution continued that practice, but a 1909 amendment increased the term to four years.
In the Constitution of 1776, the office of register of wills was created in each county and city. A law passed the following year required that one person serve as both recorder and register. According to the Constitution of 1838, the legislature was authorized to provide for the number of persons in each county who could hold the recording offices. An 1839 law formalized the division of the offices, and the county codes now provide for how the offices shall be filled depending upon the classification of the county. In the six home rule counties, the recorders of deeds are either elected or appointed. Although they may be called the clerk of records or director of court services and their responsibilities may include other recording functions, these officers or their deputies have essentially the same duties in regard to keeping real property records as the recorders in the other counties.
The recorder of deeds is the custodian of the records and indexes relating to the conveyance of land or the transfer of real property in the county. These include deed books and indexes, mortgage books and indexes, subdivision plans and various kinds of maps. This officer also records the commissions and oaths of county officials, district justices and notaries as well as maintaining copies of military discharges and numerous miscellaneous documents.