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Take this week's NJ.com News Quiz

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Politics and lots of pizza make appearances in this week's test of how well you know New Jersey news.

It's been a busy week in New Jersey what with the president stopping by Monday, the elections Tuesday and conflicting pizza rankings that threw everyone for a loop this week. Have you got your head on straight for this week's NJ.com News Quiz? The seven questions below were culled from this week's most popular NJ.com news stories. Once you're finished, share your score in comments to see how you stack up with other NJ.com readers. And remember, we're all on the honor system here: No Googling allowed.



John Shabe can be reached at jshabe@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter and find NJ.com on Facebook.
 


Feline family should stay together

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BLOOMFIELD — Coconut, an all-white male, and Pineapple, a black-and-white female, are a feline couple with A Purrect World Rescue. They were rescued as strays in April with two newborn kittens. Volunteers with the rescue group, who describe all four felines as "very well behaved," would like to see all of them adopted together. However, the rescue group is willing...

ex1108pet.jpgCoconut and Pineapple 

BLOOMFIELD -- Coconut, an all-white male, and Pineapple, a black-and-white female, are a feline couple with A Purrect World Rescue.

They were rescued as strays in April with two newborn kittens.

Volunteers with the rescue group, who describe all four felines as "very well behaved," would like to see all of them adopted together. However, the rescue group is willing to split them into parent-kitten pairs, if necessary.

All have been spayed/neutered and are up-to-date on shots.

For more information on Coconut and Pineapple and their kittens, call Kristina at 201-965-9586, email info@apurrfectworld.org or go to apurrfectworld.org. A Purrfect World is a nonprofit group in Bloomfield that places stray and abandoned cats in permanent homes and is currently caring for 100 felines.

Shelters interested in placing a pet in the Paw Print adoption column or submitting news should call 973-836-4922 or email essex@starledger.com.

Crime in Essex County: How does your town compare?

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Violent crime data in Essex County, as reported by the FBI Uniform Crime Report.

ESSEX COUNTY -- Crime rates in the municipalities across the county vary greatly. According to violent crime rates calculated from the recently released 2014 FBI "Crime in the United States" report, towns in Essex range from North Caldwell - which reported 0 violent crimes all year - to Irvington, which had a rate of 12.6 violent crimes per every 1,000 residents.

But, experts say, those crime rates and comparisons need to be taken with a grain of salt.

"It's a good way to arrive at a common denominator," Wayne Fisher, a criminal justice professor and director of the Police Institute at Rutgers, said in a phone interview Friday.

ALSO: Are we any safer? Crime in N.J. by the numbers?

"It's helpful, but it doesn't measure everything that goes into developing perceptions of safety."

For example, Fisher said, looking just at violent crime data, does not take into account other factors "that we know to be associated with crime," like transient population, daytime population (the number of people who travel into or out of a given municipality each day), socio-economic conditions, population and housing density, and the number of major highways that are located in each town.

Overall, the FBI report indicated that violent crime in New Jersey decreased in 2014. Violent crime statewide reported a rate of 261 offenses per 100,000 residents, lower than the rates in New York and Pennsylvania, as well as the nation as a whole.

MORE: Rapes up in N.J. despite decline in violent crime in 2014, FBI report shows

In a statement released with the data, FBI Director Jim Comey said the reported rates are only a piece of the puzzle when formulating crime-fighting initiatives.

"While tallying the numbers of homicides, armed robberies, aggravated assaults, and other crimes is useful, it does not go far enough to help us determine how these crimes occur and what we can do to prevent these crimes in the first place," he said in the statement.

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

N.J. Home Makeover: Vintage Tudor renewed in Montclair

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Plumbing and heating upgrades with a leaky bathroom are costly add-ons to remodel a 1925 Tudor home.

N.J. Home Makeover is a new feature on NJ.com. To submit your renovation for consideration, email home@starledger.com with your full name, email address, phone number and town/city.


Christiane and Edward Connor knew a long list of big-ticket projects would come with getting their vintage Montclair home ready for comfortable modern living.

What they didn't anticipate was a leaky surprise and invisible improvements that would require them to go over budget by about $60,000.

Last fall, they purchased a 1925 Tudor in Montclair after returning to the states from one of Edward's work assignments that took their family of four to Switzerland for two years. (Edward is a marketing executive.)

The 4,000-square-foot house had curb appeal in its slate roof, exterior brick and half timbered facade. The hillside location was perfect, being a short walk from the excitement downtown. Inside, the view into a bright and spacious sunken living was framed by a spectacular series of arches.

The renovation

"We felt this house had good bones," Christiane said. "We also loved the street the house is on because of the diverse architecture," she said. "We have been thrilled. We love all the homes here."

But, as is usually the case with grand old homes, theirs would need some work. Along with their remodeling plans, upgrades to the home's systems were required that won't likely add to resale value. The original pipes were replaced with new plumbing. All the radiators were removed, and central heating was installed using the ducts of central air conditioning installed by a previous owner. Recessed lighting was placed throughout the house.

Then there were privacy issues associated with the Jack-and-Jill configuration of two of the home's three full baths.

"If you wanted to use the bathroom, you had to go through the bedrooms," Christiane said. They reconfigured both bathrooms, and one bathroom now has an entrance from the hallway.

Then came the lifestyle-related updates. The couple decided that the master bedroom needed more space and facilities. So they absorbed the guest bedroom to make room for an enlarged master suite with a walk-in closet and dressing room. "We have a free-standing tub, a free-standing shower and a double vanity," Christiane said of the new master bathroom.

To enlarge the kitchen, a hall closet and the pantry were eliminated. "The kitchen, by today's standards, was quite small, and we knew we wanted an eat-in kitchen," Christiane said. "There wasn't space for a kitchen table, so the island provides that and tons of storage."

But as all the work was being done, they learned that a tiny third-floor bathroom had been leaking into the bathroom below. The contractor suggested repairing the leak and renovating that bathroom as well.

"We knew were going to do the kitchen and two bathrooms, but the third floor bath we hadn't intended to touch," Christiane said. "Though it wasn't beautiful, it was functional."

As an interior designer, the small bath would present her with a series of challenges. Christiane opted to expand the bathroom, taking space from a wide hallway to add a shower.

"The house is a Tudor and so it needed to stay fairly classic, but on the third floor you can have fun," she said. 

Since the bath is tucked into space where the roof slopes beneath the eaves, it has an angled wall. Christiane opted to place the sink along that wall because it allowed her to maximize counter space.

The new shower features iridescent glass "peacock" tile on the angled wall, the floor and in a niche. The back wall has white subway tile. She chose bamboo cabinetry and a Spanish gray travertine floor. "There's a lot of materials going on, but they all work with one another," she said.

"In hindsight, we're glad we did it," Christiane said, noting that the third floor now works as a guest suite.

"It also has the best view of in house," Christiane said. "We can all just stand in that small bathroom and see the New York City skyline from the one window."

Who did the work

Dan McMahon of Castle Contracting, Glen Ridge. Merit Kitchens supplied cabinetry.

How long it took

One month for the third-floor bathroom remodel, other work is ongoing

How much it cost

The homeowners did not disclose the total project cost, but said the third-floor bathroom, plumbing and heating work put them over budget by $60,000.

Where they splurged

On glass tiles for the third-floor shower

How they saved

Christiane painted all the rooms. She likes to change color frequently, so the cost can add up, she says. "I would rather spend the money elsewhere."

While it was an unexpected project, they also saved by integrating the third-floor bathroom into their remodeling project. "We also balanced glass accent tiles with ceramic tiles in the third-floor shower," Christiane said.

What they would do differently

"Not a thing," Christiane said. "We are absolutely thrilled with the end result and our guests are as well."

Kimberly L. Jackson may be reached at home@starledger.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.


 

Uber teaming up with Community FoodBank for food drive in 3 N.J. counties tomorrow

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The Community FoodBank of New Jersey has enlisted the help of ride-sharing giant, Uber, for an on-demand food drive in Hudson, Bergen and Essex counties tomorrow.

With the holiday season on the horizon, the push for food donations is beginning to ramp up.

The Community FoodBank of New Jersey has enlisted the help of ride-sharing giant, Uber, for an on-demand food drive in Hudson, Bergen and Essex counties tomorrow. 

Uber drivers will be dispatched throughout the three counties tomorrow between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., collecting canned and non-perishable goods to be delivered to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. 

"This Saturday, donating to your local food bank will be as easy as requesting an Uber ride," said Ana Mahony, Uber NJ General Manager. "We're incredibly proud to be joining CFBNJ in the fight against hunger right here in New Jersey"

To participate, open the Uber app during the four-hour window and select the "Food Drive' option. Then request a free pickup for your canned and non-perishable goods. Once the Uber driver arrives, they will collect the food and deliver them to the Community FoodBank.

Among the most needed items are canned tuna and salmon, pasta, cereal, rice, potatoes, chili, mac and cheese, peanut butter (plastic jars only) and all sizes of canned fruit. 

For more information on the Community FoodBank, visit www.cfbnj.org

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Dispute over $40 leaves two Newark men shot, reports say

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An argument over a unsettled drug debt led to two men sustaining gunshot wounds, police reports say.

Stacey TurmanStacey Turman (Essex County Dept. of Corrections)

NEWARK — One man owed the other $40. An attempt to settle the debt led to a verbal confrontation, punches, and then finally, gunshots, according to police reports obtained by NJ Advance Media.

Police are still investigating the incident, a Nov. 1 shooting that left two Newark men injured from gunshot wounds over what police reports indicate was a narcotics debt.

It began at a residence in the 300 block of Clinton Avenue at 8 a.m., police reports say. Upon arriving at the scene, Newark Police Department officers discovered two male victims bleeding and wounded, the reports say.

Officers found one victim, whose name is being withheld by NJ Advance Media, in the middle of the road suffering an apparent gunshot wound to the left hand, the reports say.

The man identified his alleged assailant as building superintendent Stacy Turman, who he initially told police owed him $40 for work unpaid maintenance work, the reports say.

The man told police that he and Turman, 54, were arguing about the debt when the superintendent punched him in the face and brandished a gun, the reports indicate. The man told investigators he was shot in the hand while trying to brush the gun away, the reports say.

During a search of the building, investigators found Turman inside suffering a gunshot wound to the knee. Turman later accused the man of shooting him over a debt, which he admitted to owing, the reports say.

After sorting through the differing accounts, investigators found that the two men were shot during a struggle that started after Turman allegedly brandished a gun during the argument, the report states. The $40 Turman owed was allegedly for narcotics purchased on credit, the report states.

Police arrested Turman on multiple weapons-related charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of an illegal weapon.

Following an arraignment, Turman was remanded into custody at the Essex County Correctional Facility on $200,000 bail.

Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Office workers who refused flu shots suspended without pay

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Three employees of a social service agency say they expect to be fired when their week-long suspension ends.

Three office workers for a social service agency said Friday they have been suspended without pay for a week for refusing to comply with their company's new flu-prevention protocols, which require them to receive a flu shot or or wear a surgical mask in the workplace.

Unless the agency changes its policy, the women said, they expect to be fired when the suspension is complete.

Megan Duncan, Alanda Watson and Denise Mercurius -- whose case was profiled by NJ Advance Media Thursday -- said they were informed of the discipline during a meeting at their Burlington Township office building, the headquarters for Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey.

The agency, which runs two nursing homes, an adoption agency and an array of other services throughout the state, implemented the policy for all employees to reduce the risk of sickening clients, some of whom are under stress or have compromised immune systems, the agency's president has said.

RELATED: They said no to company-mandated flu shot and now fear firing. Here's why.

Duncan, Watson and Mercurius, who have worked at the agency for years, say they should not be forced to receive the flu vaccine, and they contend that wearing a mask in an office setting is embarrassing, ostracizing and impractical.

In individual meetings with the women Friday morning, the agency's director of human resources told them they are valued employees and asked them to reconsider their opposition to the surgical mask, the women said. All three said they remain firm in their resistance, even if it means they will be fired.

"If nobody ever stood up for something, this country wouldn't be where it is today," said Watson, 36, a mother of four from Willingboro. "Every time you stand up for what you believe in, it's a sacrifice, and in this case it's our jobs.

Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey.jpgA Google street view image of the Burlington Township headquarters of Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey 

"There are things more important than my job," she added. "My body is of paramount importance."

The three women are employed as accountants or billing specialists in the headquarters, where 32 people work.

Colleen Frankenfield, Lutheran Social Ministries' president, said earlier this week that about half of those in the office frequently visit the agency's nursing homes and other facilities, raising the possibility of cross-contamination.

Frankenfield did not immediately return a call for comment Friday.

Mercurius, 45, of Maple Shade, said the human resources director did not explicitly say she would be fired at the end of the suspension, which runs from Monday to Friday next week. But Mercurius said she expects that will be the outcome unless Lutheran Social Ministries changes course.

"By telling us we have to wear the mask, that's not really giving us a reasonable alternative," she said. "I'm not going to change my mind."

Duncan, 30, of Howell, said the company is to inform the women of the "next step" when they return to work Nov. 16.

POLL: Should office workers be fired for not following flu-prevention protocol?

The women are among a growing number of employees facing termination across the nation for refusing to take the vaccine, which has been linked in very rare circumstances to serious illness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and many other health agencies, including New Jersey's Department of Health, strongly recommend flu shots for all employees in health care settings, saying high compliance among workers has been proven to reduce hospitalizations and prevent deaths.

Yet some remain deeply suspicious of the vaccine and say they should not be forced to take it as a condition of employment. The rising mandates have led to lawsuits in several states.

Duncan, Watson and Mercurius say they are healthy women and are exceedingly careful about what they put into their bodies. They also argue the vaccine is not always effective against various flu strains.

"People who get the vaccine can still get sick," Duncan said. "So if they're so concerned about the flu, then everyone should wear the mask in the office."

Mark Mueller may be reached at mmueller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarkJMueller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Trinity Academy students get three dimensional view of the future

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HackNCraft NJ demonstrates a 3D printer at Trinity Academy.

 ex1101schoolcaldwell.jpgTrinity Academy third-graders Arabelle Francisco, left, and Mia Smith get a lesson on printing a 3D design. 

CALDWELL -- Students at the Trinity Academy witnessed the latest in technology on Oct. 16 when members of HackNCraftNJ, a nonprofit organization that supports local STEM activities and events, brought a 3-D printer to school for a demonstration.

All students, from grades pre-K to 8, spent part of their day observing as HackNCraftNJ members created a variety of objects, including a translucent vase and toy sharks, on the printer.

According to computer and technology teacher Kim Fiore who coordinated the event, the eighth-graders are learning to code for 3-D printers and will be creating their own designs for the school's first Innovation Day, which is scheduled to take place in February.

"It was a very rewarding day," said Frank Gibbons, co-founder of HackNCraftNJ. "It was great to see their eyes light up when you show them what is possible. You are never too young to start."

To submit school news send an email to essex@starledger.com.


Bloomfield PD revamped procedures to avoid another cop conviction, director says

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Two officers were convicted of misconduct this week.

BLOOMFIELD -- Though they are in the process of being fired from the force, two officers convicted this week of official misconduct have helped the Bloomfield Police Department develop higher standards for officer conduct and accountability.

That's according to Bloomfield Police Director Sam DeMaio, who said the trial of officers Sean Courter and Orlando Trinidad was part of what led to his joining the department.

MORE: Cops found guilty of official misconduct

"I think that's something that prompted (the township to hire me to conduct) the management study," DeMaio said in a phone interview Friday. In the year since his 200-page report containing reform recommendations for the agency, "we are doing everything we possibly can to prevent something like this from happening again."

Courter and Trinidad were convicted this week of official misconduct and related charges in connection with their 2012 arrest of township resident Marcus Jeter. Based mostly on dash cam video of the incident, a jury found that the two made false statements in their police reports about the arrest.

Acting-Newark-Police-Director-Sam-DeMaio.JPGBloomfield Police Director Sam DeMaio. (Jerry McCrea | The Star-Ledger)
 

They have been on unpaid suspension from the BPD for the past several years, and the department is now moving to terminate them, DeMaio said.

Throughout the trial, Courter and Trinidad maintained their innocence, with their attorneys arguing that they wrote in the reports what they believed to be true at the time.

Courter's attorney, Charles Clark, told NJ Advance Media, "we respect the jury's verdict...(but) we respectfully disagree with it, because...we're 100 percent convinced they're innocent."

Given the role the dash cam played in the case, the 125-officer department has since re-outfitted all of its cars with high definition cameras. That was among several changes in the department over the past year, DeMaio said, including a pursuit and use of force review board, and the creation of standard operating procedures. The department is now seeking state accreditation, he said.

"When there is a lack of measurement or review...it's not hard for officers to go rogue," DeMaio said. But, he said, the officers on the force have been complying with all of the new standards.

"The result of this trial is in no way a reflection on the hardworking men and women of the Bloomfield Police Department," DeMaio said.

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Around Town: Lafayette Street School in Newark to get a playground

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Lafayette Street School in Newark will finally get a playground for its students.

The Lafayette Street School playground in Newark is finally going to get the work it needs.

The Trust For Public Land and Newark Public Schools recently announced a campaign to raise $250,000 to create a new playground for the students and the larger community in the Ironbound.

"The Trust for Public Land's Parks for People Program has a long history of working with community partners to develop safe, inviting, learning-rich schoolyards throughout Newark,'' said said Scott Dvorak, director of The Trust for Public Land's Parks for People-Newark Program.

"We now have an opportunity to bring our community-driven design and development process to the Ironbound neighborhood in Newark's East Ward."

Right now, the playground has deteriorating black top with a few basketball hoops. It's better than nothing, but the kids didn't even have that a few years ago when teachers parked their cars on the playground. The effort driving this renovation began when parents complained about their children not having a place to play.

"When something beautiful gets done on behalf of a neighborhood on behalf of children, it's really a moment to celebrate,'' said Newark's Superintendent of Schools Christopher Cerf. "If students don't have a place to play and jump and yell, it's so much harder to achieve academic objectives.

The playground campaign has raised $85,000. When it's completed, East Ward Councilman Augusto Amador says the playground will give the Ironbound community a strong presence for having green space.

The Trust For Public Land, which creates parks and open space in cities, has developed 12 parks and schoolyards in Newark since 1995.  In January, it will begin the design process with students at Lafayette Street School.

Barry Carter: (973) 836-4925 or bcarter@starledger.com or nj.com/carter or follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL

Authorities identify Newark man killed in Irvington shooting

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Authorities have identified the victim in an overnight fatal shooting on Stuyvesant Avenue as a 21-year-old Newark man.

IRVINGTON -- Authorities have identified the victim in an overnight fatal shooting on Stuyvesant Avenue as a 21-year-old Newark man.

Investigators arriving at the scene Thursday night found Samyr Jules suffering an apparent gunshot wound, Essex County Prosecutor's Office spokeswoman Katherine Carter.

Jules was later transported to University Hospital in Newark, where he was pronounced dead just after 9 p.m., Carter said. Additional details of the shooting were not immediately made available.

No arrests have been made in connection to the killing. An investigation by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Task Force is ongoing, Carter said.

MORE: Irvington gas station attendant killed during robbery

The fatal shooting is the second on Stuyvesant Avenue in less than two weeks.

Ashiwin Patel, a 57-year-old gas station clerk, was shot and killed during an Oct. 26 robbery at a Getty Gas Station located in the 1000 block of Stuyvesant Avenue, authorities said.

The Essex County Sheriff's Office on Thursday issued a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in connection to Patel's death.

Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Bankrupt N.J. hospital sought by 2 out-of-state bidders

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Two national for-profit hospital chains made "very attractive and outstanding offers" to buy Saint Michael's Medical Center in Newark from bankruptcy, according to a statement released to the hospital's workforce on Friday.

TRENTON -- Two national for-profit hospital chains made "very attractive and outstanding offers" to buy Saint Michael's Medical Center in Newark from bankruptcy, according to a statement released to the hospital's workforce on Friday.

Prime Healthcare Services and Prospect Medical Holdings, both large chains from California that include New Jersey hospitals, will each make their pitch to St. Michael's board of directors on Monday, according to the statement from CEO Dave Ricci and attorney Michael Sirota. The winner will proceed to bankruptcy court scheduled for Thursday.

Barnabas Health, the state's largest hospital chain, and the New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority, the government agency that holds $227 million in hospital debt, did not submit bids. They both had requested the hospital's financial information -- a step that suggested their potential interest -- but declined to bid, Saint Michael's Medical Center spokeswoman Cathy Toscano confirmed Friday.

RELATED: St. Michael's Medical Center files for bankruptcy protection

Prime has been trying to secure state permission to buy St. Michael's for nearly three years but the state Attorney General and the Department of Health have repeatedly declared the application incomplete. Frustrated by the delay and running out of cash, Saint Michael's filed for bankruptcy in August to expedite the sale. 

Prospect, a newcomer in the competition for Saint Michael's is in the final stages of acquiring East Orange Medical Center.

"Yesterday, the auction was conducted. This is a critical part of the process since it is the gateway to gain approval of the state for the sale of Saint Michael's," according to the statement from Sirota and Ricci.

"Over the course of the auction both bidders remained very active. This serves as testament to the great interest both parties have in acquiring Saint Michael's and validates that Saint Michael's is essential to the Greater Newark community," according to the statement.

Barnabas, which operates two hospitals in Essex County, has previously expressed interest in buying Saint Michael's, but to close it. A healthcare consultant that studied what it described as a crowded hospital market in Newark recommended the hospital be closed and turned into an outpatient treatment center -- a proposal vigorously fought by Newark elected officials and religious leaders.

"Saint Michael's...worked tirelessly to encourage the bidders to put forward not only the best monetary offers, but also to improve the terms of the asset purchase agreement towards assuring the long-term viability of Saint Michael's. At the conclusion of the auction, Saint Michael's was in possession of two very attractive and outstanding offers," according to the statement.

"The decision rests with the Board of Directors which has the fiduciary obligation to do what is in the best interest of all stakeholders," the statement said. "The Board will have the opportunity to ask questions and gain more understanding of the bidders' interests and intent. The Board will then deliberate and, after consulting with the Creditor's Committee (per bankruptcy protocol), will select who they deem to be the best partner for Saint Michael's to continue to serve the Greater Newark community."

Prime owns St. Mary's Hospital in Passaic and Saint Clare's Hospitals in Boonton, Denville and Dover.

City civic and religious leaders urged the hospital's board of directors to accept Prime's bid, citing its loyalty to the hospital and its history of acquiring and reviving struggling hospitals.

"We urge the board to do the right thing and pick Prime," the Rev. Ronald Slaughter, the senior pastor of Saint James AME Church, said in a statement. "Prime has demonstrated its commitment to our community for the last three years and has stuck with this process even though the state has unnecessarily dragged its feet."

Prospect Medical Holdings is owned by Leonard Green & Associates, one of the largest private equity firms in the nation. On Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported the firm intends to put Prospect on the market.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

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High school music teacher sold guns in apparent support of Hamas

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Theophilis "Mike" Burroughs was sentenced in Bronx Supreme Court Thursday after he pleaded guilty to four felony charges

A Newark man and former high school teacher has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for his part in a cigarette smuggling and firearms sales ring, which may have funded terrorist organizations, according to authorities. 

Theophilis "Mike" Burroughs, 54, was sentenced in Bronx Supreme Court Thursday after he pleaded guilty to four felony charges, including money laundering, tax fraud, conspiracy and criminal firearm sales, said Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson.

Screen Shot 2015-11-06 at 3.04.56 PM.pngTheophilis Burroughs of Newark. (Bronx District Attorney's office) 

He will also serve five years probation after his release.

The former New York high school music teacher was busted in a sting operation where Burroughs arranged the sale of 13 firearms, some of which were assault rifles, Johnson said. After the transaction took place in the Bronx, authorities seized most of the weapons in a warehouse in Spartanburg, SC.

Over the course of the investigation, which started in 2009, Burroughs bought 27,000 of untaxed cigarettes and sold Oxycodone to undercover cops, according to Johnson. 

Burroughs also offered to sell undercover authorities many types of explosive devices, night vision goggles, gunpowder and other drugs, Johnson said.

guns.jpgGuns seized by authorities in sting operation. (Bronx District Attorney's office) 

During the investigation, Burroughs was recorded saying he believed the individuals he was working with were connected to Hamas, according to authorities. He was also heard expressing his support for Hamas and other terroristic organizations. 

"It is particularly disturbing when someone who is tasked with educating our young commits crimes. It is more disturbing that he did so complicit in the belief he was promoting terrorism," said Johnson.

Sixteen other people were also charged in the operation who have already pled guilty to various tax and gun changes, the Bronx District Attorney's office said.

In 2013, Burroughs pleaded guilty to the charges in exchanged for a plea deal, where he would have served 10 years in prison. However, prior to sentencing, Johnson said he withdrew the plea, which resulted in a longer sentence. 

Burroughs still faces gun, cigarette and drug charges in New Jersey.

Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Mark Zuckerberg on $100M Newark donation: 'Change in education takes time'

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Five years after his famous donation, the Facebook founder reflected on it.

NEWARK -- Five years after he donated $100 million to Newark schools with the lofty goal of transforming the long-troubled district, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is reflecting on what has gone well, and what hasn't.

Friday, Zuckerberg took to (where else?) Facebook to point out what he says has improved in Newark since the high-profile donation, and recognizes the "challenges, mistakes and honest differences among people with good intentions," that arose from it.

"It's very important to understand the desires of a community, to listen and learn from families, teachers, elected officials and other experts," he said in the post.

ALSO: Classrooms, contracts and consultants -- How was $200M spent on Newark schools?

"We now better understand why it can take years to build the support to durably cement the changes needed to provide every student with a high quality education."

The post comes a few months after the release of Dale Russakoff's book, "The Prize: Who's in Charge of America's Schools?" which detailed the reform movement in Newark schools, and its mixed results. In the book, Russakoff calls the donation "a wash," saying some students are now better off, and some aren't.

Zuckerberg cited several improvements in the district since the donation, like higher graduation rates and the higher rankings its charter schools have earned. 

The district has recently garnered a lot of attention, with the ouster of state-appointed Superintendent Cami Anderson and the promise that after 20 years, it will start to transition from state back to local control.

While Newarkers are fully backing the transition, Zuckerberg said he and his wife are committed to financial supporting education reform across the country. They will use lessons learned in Newark when managing the $120 million donation they recently made to San Francisco Bay area schools, he said.

"Change in education takes time and requires a long term focus. We are committed to working to improve public education for many years to come, and to improving our approach as we go," he wrote.

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Hundreds of mourners expected at Rev. Ron Christian's funeral

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Two-day wake for the prominent Irvington pastor started Thursday.

NEWARK -- Hundreds of people have attended visitation services in memory of the late Reverend Ron Christian over the past two days, which mourners say likely indicates that the popular pastor will draw large crowds for his funeral Saturday.

"It was really just throngs of people streaming in through the front door," Dwayne Warren, Christian's longtime friend, said of the two-day wake. "It was tremendous."

The first day of visitation, Thursday, was held at the Christian Love Baptist Church in Irvington, where "Rev. Ron" served as pastor since 2000. Friday's visitation was at Essex County Newark Tech, where Saturday's funeral will be held, as well. The school setting was chosen to handle what Warren said is expected to be "overflowing crowds" at the service.

ALSO: Congregation mourns loss of Irvington pastor

The beloved pastor was found dead in the Irvington church last week. He was 51. Christian became a pastor after a long struggle with drugs and a stint in prison. Authorities say foul play is not suspected in his death. A toxicology test will be performed before an official cause of death is determined, authorities said.

Many gathered at the church last Sunday to honor the pastor's life and work. Irvington mayor Tony Vauss called his death, "just shocking."

Warren said Christian's funeral will likely last four or more hours Saturday, to make sure all mourners will have the chance to take part, and to properly celebrate Christian's life.

"I think (the service will) lift people's spirits," he said. "There will be a lot of reflection (on his life)."

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Newark brothers arrested after weapons, drug cache found, police say

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Assault rifle among firearms allegedly found in search at North Ward apartments

NEWARK -- Police executed a search warrant at a North Ward home Thursday that turned up a stash of guns and cocaine, department spokesman Sgt Ron Glover said in a statement.

Police respond to an altercation with suspect 

After obtaining the warrant Oct. 29 following an undercover investigation, detectives with the Narcotics Enforcement Section conducted surveillance at the North 5th Street building and spotted the suspects, Luis Nieves, 31, and his brother Reinaldo, 30. Officers from the Emergency Response Team also arrived to assist in the arrests.  

After showing the warrant, police entered two apartments and secured the occupants as they searched, finding an unloaded .38-caliber revolver, a loaded .32-caliber semi-automatic, a loaded 9-mm semi-automatic and a loaded .223-caliber Smith and Wesson assault rifle, Glover said. Cocaine and paraphernalia were also found, he also said.

The Nieves brothers were charged with several weapons and drug-related offenses. Two other people at the scene, Eliana Giraldo and Kevin Delatorre, were found to have active warrants for their arrest, for $685 and $2,000, respectively.

"This was great police work orchestrated by the Narcotics Enforcement Section detectives. They confiscated four weapons, including a loaded assault rifle with an extended magazine, from the hands of two career criminals. We must continue this work to ensure the safety of the citizens of our city," said Newark Police Director Eugene Venable.

The Nieveses may face additional charges at the conclusion of the investigation and more arrests are expected, Glover said. Police ask that anyone with information about this or any other crime call the department's 24-hour Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 877 NWK-TIPS (877 695-8477) or NWK-GUNS (877 695-4867).

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2. FindNJ.com on Facebook

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Fire badly damages 3 Irvington houses, report says

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Three Irvington homes were damaged by a fire on Saturday, according to a report.

IRVINGTON -- Three Irvington homes were badly damaged by a fire on Saturday, according to a report.

RELATED: 1 dead after fire in Essex County, officials say

The fire began around 1:30 a.m. on Lyons Avenue at a home that was vacant, and it spread to two nearby homes that were evacuated, News 12 New Jersey reported. 

Attempts by NJ Advance Media to contact the Irvington Fire Department were unsuccessful.

Laura Herzog may be reached at lherzog@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LauraHerzogL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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2 women seriously injured in Parkway DWI crash

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Authorities said the car struck the guardrail of the southbound lanes when the driver failed to maintain control of the vehicle.

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IRVINGTON -- A woman from Orange was driving drunk when she crashed her car into a guardrail on the Garden State Parkway in Irvington, seriously injuring herself and her passenger early Saturday morning, authorities said.

Crystal Simmons, 43, was charged with driving while intoxicated and assault by auto for the crash that occurred at 1:18 a.m. at milepost 143.6 of the parkway, said Sgt. Gregory Williams, a New Jersey State Police spokesman.

MORE: NEW JERSEY NEWS

Williams said the impact ejected Simmons' passenger, Heather Brown, 35, of Shrewsbury, from the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu.

He said the car struck the guardrail of the southbound lanes when the driver failed to maintain control of the vehicle.

Both women were taken to University Hospital in Newark with serious injuries, Williams said.

MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Newark cop fires gun trying to arrest fleeing suspect, prosecutor says

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A Newark police officer fired his gun while trying to arrest a suspect in the city late Friday, authorities said.

NEWARK -- A Newark police officer fired his gun while trying to arrest a suspect in the city Friday night, authorities said.

Police went to a residence on Goble Street around 8 p.m. to search for someone wanted by Elizabeth authorities, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray said in a statement.

As officers approached the house, the suspect took off on foot and police gave chase, according to Murray.

"In the course of the foot pursuit, one Newark officer discharged his service weapon," the prosecutor's statement said.

ALSO: Newark brothers arrested after weapons, drug cache found, police say

There were no injuries from the gunfire and the suspect was turned over to Elizabeth police, Murray said.

Authorities identified the suspect only as a male and did not say why he was wanted.

The Professional Standards Bureau at the prosecutor's office was investigating the gunfire, which is procedure when an officer fires a weapon, the statement added.

Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas S. Fennelly said the investigation was ongoing and additional details were not being released.

An Elizabeth police spokesman could not be reached Saturday afternoon. 

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

2K mourners remember Pastor Ronald Christian during rousing memorial service

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The Rev. Ron Christian, a former corrections officer who fell from grace then rose to beloved status as a Baptist minister in Irvington, is remembered fondly

NEWARK -- The Rev. Ronald B. Christian, a former corrections officer who fell from grace into drug addiction and prison then rose to beloved status as a compassionate and charismatic minister, was remembered lovingly this morning by 2,000 other mourners during a rousing memorial service in Newark.    

"We're here for Ron, because he was there for us," the Rev. Al Sharpton told the large crowd. "No matter how bad we were ... we were good enough for Ron, and Ron made us good enough for God. "

Christian's body was found on the floor of in his Irvington church on Oct. 30. Chief Anthony Ambrose of the Essex County Prosecutor's office said then that there were no signs of foul play, and a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office said Friday that investigators were awaiting the results of toxicology tests, which could take several months to complete

Love for the 51-year-old pastor was too big for a church sanctuary, even one as solid as the red brick Christian Love Baptist Church he led on Lyons Avenue in Irvington. So this morning's service was held in the gymnasium of the Essex County Newark Tech high school. 

A thick line of mourners hoping to get into the service wound outside the entrance of the school onto West Market Street. Family, including Christian's widow, Tami Christian, filed somberly into the gym to the strains of bagpipes from the Newark Fire Department.

Mourners swayed to the rhythm of "Praise is What I Do" sung by Minister Steve Hill as others filed in to take their seats.  

Large photographs of Christian, with thick-rimmed glasses and a shaved head, hung amid the high school's purple championship banners decorating the airy gymnasium. 

Senior Pastor Tommy Miles of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Neptune set the down-to-earth tone for the three-hour service, reminding mourners that "Dr. Ronald B. Christian" was "affectionately known as Rev. Ron," befitting his humanistic, informal approach to ministry.   

Senior Pastor Eric Beckham of the Clearview Baptist Church, where Christian had served as a pastor early in his life, told mourners, "the Lord gives and the Lord has taken away. But God, we still give you our praise, for the love of our brother."

"We pray," Beckham said, "that the lessons of the Pastor Ron Christian, and this event, will lead to the savior of many souls."  

The eulogy was delivered by Pastor William D. Watley of the Saint Philip African Methodist Episcopal Church in Atlanta, GA.
 
"Ronald Christian, you have borne your name well," Watley said.

"We weren't there when the lord came for him, however he came for him," Watley said. "I don't kow what the lord said. But I would like tho think he said what all of us want to hear him say to us some day. 'Son, well done.'"

One thing Christian was known for doing was ministering to those truly in their darkest hours. He was sometimes contacted by criminal suspects seeking spiritual guidance in the face of legal woes.

In those cases, he would try to broker a peaceful surrender. A teenage girl accused of killing her boyfriend and a young man suspected in his father's murder were among those taken into custody without harm to themselves or police officers.

A Newark native who was standout in track at Weequahic High School, Christian's memberships included the Newark Board of Education School Management Team, the Center for Urban Education, the Irvington Chamber of Commerce, the Weed and Seed Program, Integrity House and others.

He served as chaplain to Beth Israel Hospital, the Essex County Youth Detention Center, the Irvington Police Department and the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. A photo collage in the program for the service included one of the pastor embracing Barack Obama during a service attended by the president early in his first term.

RELATED: Irvington church community mourns Rev. Ron Christian


Often dressed like an outlaw himself in his signature jeans and cowboy boots, Christian may have been trusted by those in trouble because he had been there himself.

In the 1990s, he started using heroin, and after more than a dozen failed attempts at rehab, he lost his job as a sergeant at Northern State Prison, his home in Newark, and many of this friends. Eventually, he found himself on the wrong side of prison bars, sentenced to prison in 1996 for stealing from the Department of Corrections.

But rather than hardening as a criminal, Christian turned to family and faith. Upon his release in late 1997, he joined the Clearview Baptist Church in Newark, where his father, a retired pastor, was doing work.

The younger man began helping out at rehab centers and homeless shelters, and on someone's suggestion that he follow in his father's footsteps, took courses and became a licensed minister. In 2000, he took over the run-down and financially strapped Christian Love Baptist Church, and eventually multiplied its membership from about a dozen to 6,000. 

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez was among several elected officials to speak. Menendez' voice broke, and he cried openly as he recalled receiving a text from Christian on Oct. 21, nine days before he died, telling the senator, who is now under indictment on federal corrruption charges he has vehemently denied, that he was in Christian's prayers.

Mendez brought the crowd to its feet when he said he had brought a flag for Christian from the U.S. Capitol.

Other mourners included former U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli, Rep. Donald Payne Jr. and former Gov. Jim McGreevey and others, all who offered fond, funny and teary remembrances of the politically and socially active pastor.   

"When I think about Rev. Ron, I have two distinct images," said McGreevey. "One, the Rev. Ron who would deal with presidents and governors and senators; and then the Rev. Ron who would deal with sinners, the broken and wounded."

Sharpton spoke for many of the mourners and summed up fellow clergy when he recalled Christian by quoting Christ.

"Jesus said 'The greatest among us is a sinner.' Not a saint, not a cardinal, not a bishop,"  Sharpton said. "He went from an addict to an apostle. He went from a criminal to a servant of God."    

Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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