To The Editor: I have known Freeholder Jerry Thornton for over 20 years, and also as an employee for the Department of Aging, now retired. Anyone can call Thornton. He will always answer the question. The seniors always have a laugh with him and his magnetic humor. He is helpful and is our friend. For 26 years he has managed many departments and did it well. It seems to me this travesty has been orchestrated by a group of freeholders to make this change that they want. What about the voters? They believe in Thornton — I as a friend and voter. I am not a 'yes' person. We all have our own minds about the person we want in office; don’t tell us what to do. What has happened? We are free to vote for our choice. When a group of people wants to change their minds, this is America; the voters are the "boss.” Every person that is on a ballot, the person wins. The voters have spoken. That is free choice. MARIE A. McMONIGLE North Cape May

To The Editor: I read the March 3 article you wrote regarding the Feb. 3 Herald story on the Medical Staff election at Cape Regional Medical Center, and I beg to disagree with the individual who did the "peer review" evaluation. As far as I am concerned, he is guilty of the same thing that he accused your reporter of doing, not getting both sides of the story before coming to a conclusion. If Jay Langley, retired executive editor of the Hunterdon Democrat, were a resident of this county, he would know that my reputation and that of the Cape Heart Clinic is as trusted or even more trusted that that of the medical center. I take offense to his characterization of me as a "disgruntled" physician. This is totally false. I am one of the area's most successful, well-liked by my patients, innovative and self-confident doctors in this community. I am certainly not disgruntled and I stand by the comments I made in the story. Regarding flaws in the election, two of the most respected doctors in the hospital were discouraged from participating in the election. Dr. AB wanted to nominate me for vice president but feared a cut in referrals from those in Dr. CD’s camp. Similarly, Dr. EF wanted to run for executive committee but was told the election was already a "done deal" and to try again in two years. Is this not corruption of the election process? In the future, perhaps the election of medical staff officers and the hospital's board of directors should be entrusted to the hands of the citizens of Cape May County instead of a few in a select "clique" of physicians. I also disagree with Langley's characterization that telling the "bald truth" is not a defense. In my opinion, truth is truth whether it is bald, ugly or otherwise. Langley suggests that the newspaper and the hospital should be cozy. I disagree. I believe both parties should serve the people of this county the best they can with the hospital healing them and the newspaper telling them if the hospital is failing to heal them. If the two parties disagree at times, so be it. If Langley is interested in hearing the whole story, I will be happy to discuss this matter in a public forum with hospital officials with him as a moderator. In the near future, I will show that the conflict of interests at the hospital has resulted in poor patient care. If the hospital administration believes in the truth, and promises me no legal retaliation, I would like to give them permission to release to the press and the people of this county all of my letters to them regarding patient care at the hospital. DR. SUKETU NANAVATI Court House (ED. NOTE: Names of the three physicians mentioned in this letter were deleted by the newspaper. The initials used have no relationship to their names.)

To The Editor: It was a long shot that Republican Chris Christie, now New Jersey governor, could win the governor’s race last year, but it happened. Is it possible that lightning can strike again in New Jersey and we unseat liberal senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg at the very next opportunity? For some of us, it is not commendable or flattering to have two liberal senators in Washington. I think it is time to replace them with citizens who aren’t a part of the Democratic Party. It is never too early to start preparing a campaign. I saw what happened in Massachusetts, and I wonder if it could happen here in New Jersey. Would we get Republicans in Name Only (RINOs) like Sen. Scott Brown? Probably. But maybe even that would be a step in the right direction after all the years of Democratic domination. As much as I distrust RINOs, there is always the chance that they might vote against the Democrats periodically; but with liberal Democrats, like Menendez and Lautenberg, there is no chance at all that they ever will. The question for those who believe that the domination of New Jersey politics in Washington by Democrats needs to end is: “Who has the guts, qualifications, money and willingness to challenge Menendez and Lautenberg at the next opportunity?” Now is the time to start preparing. I think lightning can strike twice in New Jersey, and all it takes is someone willing to go head-to-head with liberal senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg, and their Democratic mob. Anyone out there? Just asking! JIMMIE HOLLIS Millville

To The Editor: The winter of 2009/2010 will last in our memories for a long time. With due respect to the serious intrusions into the lives of so many South Jersey residents, I find it important to draw attention to two of the winter weather’s victims of circumstance. The Dennisville Historic Home Owners Association sponsors the Historic Dennisville Christmas House Tour each year with no advance ticket sales. The Dec. 19, 2009 snow event prompted us to cancel our house tour since we draw visitors from across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Homeowners’ preparations and tour costs paid in advance all became unimportant versus the need to cancel for safety’s sake. We applaud Cape Bank Charitable Foundation, Cape May Seashore Lines, D&S Tree Service, Ocean View Resort, Seashore Asphalt Corp., Signworks, Sturdy Bank, 1st Bank of Sea Isle City, Agate Construction Co., DGL Consulting, and Drain Doctor of South Jersey for standing by us in support of our only annual fundraiser. An early 2010 letter to the Herald Newspaper lamented the untimely cancellation of another regional Christmas house tour. Though the writer felt deserving of a refund for a service not rendered, the non-profit sponsoring the tour still needed to pay the bills. As the sources of funding for many non-profits continue to shrink, I’d encourage folks to consider their advance purchase with a non-profit as a contribution to the good work of that organization and take the tax deduction. It is unfortunate that the refund policy was unclear. Despite Mother Nature, the DHHOA is right on target for its 2010 house tour, which is scheduled for Dec. 18. JACK CONNOLLY Dennisville (ED.NOTE: The writer is President and CEO of Dennisville Historic Home Owners Association.)

To The Editor: A comment about America’s corporate crooks of the Bernie Madoff genre, he was sentenced to 150 years in some “country club”-type federal slammer, yeah right. Some slick “sharks” will no doubt get him out in five years. Lady Justice is blindfolded because she does not want to see the dirty deeds done by corporate America. Every courthouse in America should have a pillory on its front lawn. One size fits all corporate crooks. One week in the pillory should suffice. A farmer who’s about to lose his farm due to corporate greed could donate some rotten eggs to a homeless guy who could sell them to passers-by for five bucks an egg. I am sure they’d know what to do with them. JIM CARROLL III Green Creek .

To The Editor: This is for all of the Spouters in North Wildwood who are always complaining about the North Wildwood firemen and the police department. During the last big snowstorm, two of North Wildwood’s finest officers, Brian Harkins and Mike Mattera looked in on me for four days. They finally convinced me to go to the hospital. I found out I had a touch of pneumonia and fluid on my chest and heart. Without the help of Harkins and Mattera, I would not be writing this letter today. They called the fire department. They had to shovel me out of my condo and down 20 steps; not a problem for them. I don’t know their names, but they sure did the job through the snow and ice. I would like to thank the police and fire departments of North Wildwood. Spouters, we are lucky to have them serve us and look out for us. I would also like to thank the doctors and nurses and all the personnel at Cape Regional Medical Center who took care of me for eight days in the hospital especially the nurses on the second floor. Going to Cape Regional is like staying at a first-class hotel. They really do a fine job. (P.S. the chow is excellent too.) FRANK J. GEATENS Anglesea

To The Editor: As a homeowner in North Cape May, I am a very lucky individual. I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to live in one of the most beautiful niches on the East Coast. A paradise found. On my daily walks with my wife, child, and dogs, we witness ospreys fishing, plovers combing, terns scurrying and porpoise trolling. It has become a routine of mine to carry several bags to clean up my dog’s inevitable contribution to the environment. After picking up my dogs waste, I always fill the bag with any trash I can find in my travels from the ferry to Cape May Beach. It is only a small contribution I can make to sustain the area’s natural beauty. At the conclusion of every walk, we pass a busi-ness. To my dismay I am always overwhelmed with the lack of care given to one of the only commercial properties on the bay side of Cape May. No matter how many bags I fill, I can’t keep up with the volume of beer cans, plastic cups and cigarette butts that are discarded on a daily basis. The sidewalk that sur-rounds the property is in such disrepair, it‘s easier to risk life and limb walking in the middle of Scott Ave-nue. Currently there are several pine trees, which shield the neighborhood from the nightly noise pollu-tion that stand dead and are actually in jeopardy of falling. The fences that surround the establishment are currently covered in graffiti. As a resident, I feel it is my duty to help preserve the natural beauty of Lower Township for future generations to enjoy. I take pride in making sure my property and the beach I comb are safe from public and animal waste. I take full responsibility for clean-ing up after my family and my dogs and would expect no less from my neighbors. The only resident of North Cape May that has little regard for its preser-vation and upkeep seems to be the only one making a profit from Lower Township’s natural beauty. I only hope that this business can rise to the occa-sion and preserve the natural beauty that keeps its patrons coming back year after year before “paradise is truly lost.” DAVID HEFFNER North

To The Editor: I'm on Medicaid. I know what readers are think-ing. Trash. Yesterday, I called every doctor in Cape May County to see which would take my insurance. Out of roughly 15 doctors, two would take it. One was the Community Health Center. Lucky for me I was trash long before they opened the health center so I wasn't in need of a doctor. I know people look down upon me. I can tell by the way they eye my dingy clothes and the tint of oil lingering in my hair after a day of being unwashed. I hear the jokes they make at the store when I seem overwhelmed with my two young children, "Make sure you wear a condom or that could be you." They don't think I'm lucky. They think it's sad I was put in this situation. It's funny because I thank God every day and feel so blessed. But I guess they're right, had I not had these children, there would be two extra spots for others in need of Medicaid. They should look past my exterior flaws and see the brilliance I could embody, or will I have long passed before they consider me anything more than a negative parasite of society? Should I try to fit in and prove to them I am of value, or will it matter because their ideas of perfection so greatly differ from mine? Many times I have heard them talk of others and the remarks are always the same, condescending. The ideas they hold contradict the ideas He holds and the ideas I hold. So it is the ideas alone that bind us to our personalities. We are imprisoned by our beliefs. I choose not to be a prisoner. Because of that they tell me I am insecure. The definition of insecurity is doubt. I have no doubt that it is better to be doubtful, or maybe I do. I'm not sure. Can't I be unsure? I am smart enough to know that a heavy drill can break down even con-crete. How can they believe it is all black and white when every indication points to grey? But they can-not accept that, because the books and research tell them facts. The definition of a fact is… JENNIFER HARTUNG Rio Grande

To The Editor: When a man accused of a crime goes to trial in a court where all are equal before the law, he may help his cause with his wallet. He may also assist himself by arranging for respectable members of the community to testify that he is a man of good character. The consequence of this parade induces jurors to replace facts with this bit of reasoning — his friends have good character, therefore he has good character, and people with good character don’t break the law. On the other hand, a man of no less good character would put himself to disadvantage if he called upon others to testify to his character if the character of these persons is deemed of a low rating. Therefore, until such time as today’s vague description of good character is replaced by a precise definition, which subsequently proves a reliable indicator of law abidingness, such witnesses should be henceforth prohibited in courtrooms committed to jury verdicts based on evidence not friendship. RAY LEWIS Corbin City .

To the Editor: As we get older, our personal finances only get more complex. From college loans and credit card debt, to mortgages and retirement accounts, each year we receive a stream of financial documents to review and retain. The personal data contained in these documents is the key to our and our family’s finances and, unfortunately, prime targets for identity theft and scam artists. An estimated 9.1 million Americans have had their identities stolen. Furthermore, security experts point out that justice is often elusive and that it can take months, if not years, for victims of identity theft to resolve their case. As part of National Consumer Protection Week, I encourage South Jersey residents to learn more about how to protect their privacy, secure their personal finances, and steer clear of scams and fraud at www.consumer.gov. There are simple things we can do each day to safeguard our personal information including: shredding documents, discarding unsolicited emails and avoiding obvious passwords for online accounts and debit cards. We each have a critical responsibility to maintain awareness and due diligence to keep our families and ourselves safe from identity theft. REP. FRANK A. LOBIONDO (R-2nd) Washington, D. C.