Hi Folks,

We hope this issue of Good Deeds finds you all safe and well. Featured in this issue is a report on our annual Veterans' breakfast, our Toys for Tots drive, an introduction to our new acting Recorder of Deeds, Diane O'Dwyer, sage words of advice from Bubbles the Bulldog, and more.

Folks, as the old saying goes, "All good things must come to an end." As we gave thanks for all our blessings this past Thanksgiving, I included near the top of my list eternal thanks for the time I served as your Recorder of Deeds. When I was first elected, I will never forget people telling me that I would be bored with this job. It's been anything but that from the very beginning. Starting with the first week when our IT team told us our storage system had been unsupportable for the past 18 months (we immediately scrambled and fixed it). Then, within a few months of taking office, a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic caused us to face a mandated shutdown. Our team knew that wasn't a viable option since the County and all its townships and school districts rely on the millions of dollars we generate every year and disperse monthly. So, for the first time in our history, we adapted and overcame to keep this office open remotely and by mail. We are extremely proud that we did our part to keep the wheels on the bus and continue dispersing that much needed revenue to all our municipalities and school districts, helping them to continue operating throughout the pandemic. The COVID crisis slowly faded but was quickly followed by the red-hot housing market and a record re-fi run that kept us on our toes. Through it all, despite national crisis, political turmoil, unprecedented workloads and personal loss, our team continued to put the public ahead of themselves to complete their mission.

I will miss them dearly and cherish the time we spent together, both good and bad. I can never thank them enough for all that they have done for this office and for this County. I leave you readers with this; you will not find a more dedicated group of public servants than right here at the Recorder of Deeds. Over the 339-year history of this office, Recorders have come and gone but the mission remains, and the tradition of service continues.

I remember, during the height of the pandemic, we had one of our many staff meetings. I could tell our team was tired, working hard, and under a huge amount of stress. There were so many unanswered questions and foreboding possibilities, yet they never complained. I mentioned to them that they were defining in real time the true meaning of public service. I got emotional when I recalled my own service in the 1st Infantry Division and their motto, "No mission too difficult. No sacrifice too great. Duty first." Truth is that our Recorders didn't have to be told that motto. They were living it. So, instead, we jokingly came up with our own creed: "Once a Recorder, always a Recorder." All joking aside, it is one of my greatest privileges and honor to have them tell me that now. As the newly elected State Representative for the 156th, I won't be far away and will be sure to stop by to say hello when I am able. But, for now, to all my fellow Recorders, past and present, farewell and God bless.

As always, we thank you for your continued support of our department. It is an honor to serve you, the public, to the best of our ability. We welcome any feedback to help improve and successfully continue our mission. We wish you and your families all the best during this Holiday season and afterward as we look forward to providing you with next month's issue of Good Deeds. In the meantime, Stay Well, Stay Safe and Stay Strong.

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