W. Pittston 
Crisci Becomes Mayor 
West Pittston Welcomed Its New Mayor At Monday Night's Reorganization Meeting.

3a 
Local Kitty Just Purrfect In Show 
A Ball Of Persian Fluff Is The Latest Champ In The Stable Of Some Dedicated 
Cat Lovers

By MITCH MORRISON; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Tuesday, January 04, 1994 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A QUICK WORDS: 19 PUBLIC OFFICIALS
TAKE OATH OF OFFICE 





WILKES-BARRE -- It resembled a political rally, nicely dressed men and
women leaning over the balconies, craning to catch every word of every speech. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Cameras clicked with clockwork precision to capture the celebrants'
victorious smiles. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Nearly three dozen security guards scanned the crowd for suspicious
activity. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Indeed, Monday's swearing-in ceremony at the Luzerne County Courthouse was
a party for politicians. And a day of friendly jabs and quips. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It climaxed the victorious campaigns of 19 elected officials who ran for
county row office, district justice, county and Superior Court judges. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Perhaps the most prominent of the group, Superior Court Judge Peter Paul
Olszewski, was introduced as "the district attorney's father," in reference to
Peter Paul Olszewski, Jr. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Taking the oath of office was new for some. Michael Conahan, the former
Hazleton magistrate who stunned County Judge Joe Musto in the primaries,
flashed that first-timer's nervous smile as he donned the black robe. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Do you promise "to support, obey and defend the Constitution of the United
States and of this Commonwealth," county President Judge Patrick J. Toole Jr.
asked. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 His left hand on the New Testament held jointly by his wife, Barbara, and
mother, Elizabeth, Michael Conahan said yes. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I was excited," the bespectacled Conahan said afterward. "I was looking
out at my family the whole time. It was great." He was accompanied by most of
his family, which includes eight siblings. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For incumbents, the oath was the same, but the occasion still was sweet. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Six-term controller Joseph Tirpak could barely contain his wry grin as he
stood with his granddaughters Kelly and Jennifer, who were holding the Bible. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "By now, I should know this thing by heart," he said of the oath. "I've
said it enough times in my life." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For the estimated 400 in attendance -- Republicans and Democrats alike --
the day carried little of the acrimony that surfaced in many of the primaries. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Both parties were proudly represented at the rotunda. For Republicans,
county party chairman Pat Judge and State Sen. Charles Lemmond, R-Dallas, were
introduced by master of ceremonies, President Judge Toole. Among the Democrats
were county party chairman Jim Bach, State Sen. Raphael Musto, D-Pittston
Township, and his upcoming primary opponent Neil O'Donnell, and Paul Maher,
who stood in for U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The gaiety of the event was darkened only by the bevy of security -- a
somber reminder of the threat of terrorism. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "All the judges are in one place. We have to worry about that," one
security guard said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sheriff Frank Jagodinski, who arrived at 8 a.m. to plan for the 10:30
ceremony, agreed. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "You have those bombings in New York and other places," Jagodinski said.
"We're not taking any chances. If anybody comes in looking suspicious or
bringing a box, we're searching them. We're also checking every garbage
container. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "If somebody had a bitter campaign, there's always the possibility the
loser may do something." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Fortunately, the hour-long ceremony was peaceful. When Toole concluded the
program by swearing in 12 magistrates elected in November, gatherers ascended
from their seats pressing flesh with the commissioners and judges, hugging
their loved ones and welcoming a new slate of elected officials. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Those who took the oath were Superior Court Judge Olszewski; Common Pleas
Judge Conahan; Controller Tirpak; Prothonotary Eugene Duffy; Register of Wills
Dottie Stankovic; Jury Commissioners Daniel Blaine and Martha Reese; and
magistrates Michael Collins, Paul Roberts, Andrew Barilla, John Hopkins,
Joseph Halesey, Donald Whittaker, Burton Balliet, Thomas Sharkey, Gerald
Feissner, Ronald Swank, Bernard Hendrzak, Jim Tupper.

19 Public Officials Take Oath Of Office Festive Mood Prevails At Courthouse As Swearing-in Ceremonies Take The Spotlight