County Honors 14, 25-Year Employees

CREST HAVEN — Fourteen County of Cape May employees, with 350 cumulative years of service that spans a quarter century, were honored by freeholders at the Oct. 28 meeting.
They were:
Crest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center: Diana M. Saco, Brenda L. Rodriguez, Linda Lindsay, and Edith Jones.
Facilities and Services: John J. Baum (retired), Thomas E. Logan (retired).
Health Department: Linda S. Sauter.
Library: Linda M. Hayes.
Purchasing-Print Shop: Howard D. Peck.
Sheriff’s Department: Clay Simmons (retired), Edward C. Brunell Jr. (retired), and Anthony Nicoletta.
Tax Office: George R. Brown III.
Tourism: Kathryn Tomlin.
• Sauter, senior lab technician at Health has “Made the quality of life in Cape May County much better,” said Freeholder Gerald Thornton.
• Rodriguez, a certified nurses aide (CNA) at the nursing home, and took the initiative to become dual certified to also work as a home health aide, said Thornton.
• Sacco, a CNA, works transporting Crest Haven Nursing Home residents to medical appointments, said Thornton.
• Jones, also a CNA with dual certification as a home health aide, and is assigned to the nursing home’s Alzheimer’s unit.
Termed “The West Wing,” said Thornton, “If you would just see the kindness and caring Edith and her peers have for those people in that unit, how sensitive they are, and the additional care they give…it’s absolutely amazing,” said Thornton.
• Lindsay, division director of finance at the nursing home, started employment in Health and in 10 years, went from account clerk typist to division director of finance. She took additional courses and attended Atlantic Cape Community College and got an Associate’s degree in accounting.
She worked “through the difficult times in the nursing home,” and in concert with the treasurer and internal auditor, “did some necessary things and straightened out the finances in the nursing home,” said Thornton.
• Brunell retired as lieutenant in the Sheriff’s Department, where he worked as, and was instrumental in establishing, the K-9 Unit that is used by county police departments. The members and canines have won various awards, said Freeholder Vice Director Ralph Sheets.
Among Brunell’s achievements was tracking an elderly woman who wandered seven miles into the woods, and saved her life, said Sheets.
Prior to his retirement, he worked at the Animal Shelter.
• Simmons was also a member of the K-9 Unit who worked arson and narcotics cases who “handled all kinds of dogs,” said Sheets.
• Nicoletta, a corrections officer, was he jail’s classification officer for the last 10 years. He was awarded a Canine Award, Exceptional Duty Award and Lifesaving Award, said Sheets.
• Hayes has served in the County Library’s main branch and 10 years in Sea Isle City. In 1997, she transferred back to the main branch where he heads the inter-library loan department.
• Brown, tax administrator, is licensed in real estate and certified as an appraiser and tax assessor. “Your job is a meaningful one that must be done, and you do it with courtesy for all residents of the county,” said Sheets.
• Baum was for the past 10 years, worked in the carpenter shop. One of the largest projects in his career was the temporary court facility in Erma, presently the Lower Township Police Department headquarters. He was also involved in the restoration of Historic Cold Spring Village, according to Freeholder Leonard Desiderio.
• Logan was division manager at Crest Haven Nursing Home where he was responsible for all aspects of maintenance. He was a “strict, firm but fair supervisor who cared about the residents and supervisors,” Desiderio said.
• Tomlin, assistant director in tourism, began when the department was known as public affairs. “She is an integral members of the management team and manager of the in-house agency that has strong ties with he tourism industry,” Desiderio said.
• Peck began as a clerk in the print shop and is its operations supervisor overseeing printing services to county agencies. He has also worked at the Historical Museum, stated Freeholder Director Daniel Beyel.
Contact Campbell at (609) 886-8600 Ext 28 or at: al.c@cmcherald.com