Harry Burt of Youngstown, Ohio sold ice cream around that city in 1920 under the trade name "Good Humor."

NEWARK -- Domenico Miano looks out from his cousin Pierro's ice cream truck in this photo taken in Newark in 1930.

According to mentalfloss.com, candy maker Harry Burt of Youngstown, Ohio, bought 12 refrigerated trucks in 1920 and began to sell ice cream around that city under the trade name "Good Humor."

Vendors such as the Mianos made do with horse-drawn wagons and block ice for refrigeration.

If you would like to share a photo that provides a glimpse of history in your community, please call 973-836-4922 or send an email to essex@starledger.com. And, check out more glimpses of history in our online galleries Thursdays on nj.com.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

 

It's been more than a decade since lead became a concern in Camden City schools.

CAMDEN -- Every year for the past 14 years, Camden City public schools have had to include a special item in their budget -- about $75,000 for water coolers and paper cups.

The cost of providing faculty and staff with clean drinking water, school district officials said, far outweighs the expenses that would be needed to address the underlying issue on a more permanent basis -- replacing the aging infrastructure that's causing lead to leak into the city's public water.

While the issues of lead-contaminated water in New Jersey's largest school district of Newark only bubbled to the surface within the past month and have been thrust into the spotlight by legislators and environmentalists, the problems in Camden have been going on for more than a decade.

"The challenge is with the pipes in many of our older buildings. Over half of district buildings were constructed before 1928," Camden City schools spokesman Brendan Lowe said last week.

And fixing those pipes in Camden or elsewhere isn't likely to happen any time soon, officials say.

The health impacts of ingesting the lead, especially among young people, can range from growth, intelligence and behavior problems to affecting attention and other psychological issues, according to the American Psychological Association.

Between August 1999 and February 2002, testing of lead levels in city school district drinking water revealed levels that could be dangerous to students' health. According to a 2002 Philadelphia Inquirer article, parts per billion climbed from tens to hundreds. Federal guidelines recommend action to be taken if tests reveal concentration greater than 20 ppb in a 250 mL sample.

Water fountains were shut off at older affected Camden schools and bottled water has been made available to the entire district since 2002.

"This solution -- along with flushing systems in our older buildings and filtration systems in our newer buildings -- has worked successfully for students and staff to date," Lowe said, adding that he's not aware of any plans to deviate from the bottled water provisions.

All but five city schools had water foundations shut off or removed. The schools that were not affected were ones that have been built within the last decade and have filtration systems built into them, Lowe said.

The flushing system, put in place in about 20 of the district's older buildings, is tested every three months. Lowe said flushing system tests are done regularly, with results "reported internally unless elevated levels of lead are found."

Asked about the cost of the flushing systems, Lowe said the price tag was "built into the cost of building the schools," which were constructed by the state's Schools Development Authority.

"While we believe students and staff have easy access to drinking water, we still are looking for opportunities to either significantly renovate some of our oldest school buildings and construct new school buildings so our students attend school in 21st-century learning facilities, as we set out in our strategic plan, the Camden Commitment," Lowe said.

Infrastructure overhaul call

New Jersey Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel said that as the cast iron conduits with lead joints age, the lead can start seeping into the water supply. While it's possible to place "slip lines" within the pipes or add chemicals to treat the water, outright replacement is an "expensive problem to fix."

"There is a serious problem with lead in urban areas," said  Tittel. "One positive of the tragedy of lead in Flint, (Michigan) is now people are paying attention."

The cost statewide would add up to around $8 billion, Tittel said, adding that figuring out who can foot the bill for the project -- besides passing the buck on to ratepayers -- remains an ongoing issue.

"You have old pipes that go back to when the city was first developed," Tittel said of Camden, where the private company that recently began overseeing operations and maintenance of the infrastructure declined to comment on the source of Camden's water.

This week, three legislators including state Senate President Steve Sweeney, announced a proposal to provide $3 million to reimburse schools for water testing as well as another $20 million in state aid for schools with lead pipes and other fixtures so the schools can install filters.

U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross is joining the charge at the federal level, having recently sponsored an amendment to the current federal budget proposal that would dedicate $3.13 billion to the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Revolving Fund and $19.8 million to the Center for Disease Control's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.

"I'm just hearing about [Camden using bottled water] because I asked, when Flint got hit, I said, 'Do we have this issue?" And I didn't hear about this. Needless to say I'm torqued," Norcross said during a recent editorial board meeting with NJ Advance Media.

"But I don't want to overreact until we find out the facts. Is it bottled water because of lead or are there just not good pipes there? Lead is not the only contaminant in water these days," he continued.

Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

Gale Gibson was suspended last Friday amid an apparent probe into misused resources at the community college.

NEWARK -- Essex County College - embattled since the suspension of its president and another top official last week - has announced an interim leader.

The college's executive committee Thursday appointed A. Zachary Yamba acting president during the suspension of President Gale Gibson. Yamba is a past president of the school, who served in the role for three decades until his retirement in 2010, the school said.

Yamba, seen in a 2009 file photo, has been named Acting President. (John Munson)
 

"Dr. Yamba will provide the necessary leadership to ensure the college continues to operate at the highest levels during this time," the school said in a statement.

Gibson was suspended last Friday amid an apparent probe into the alleged misuse of college resources.

Rashidah Hasan, the college's general counsel and vice president for human resources, was also suspended as part of the investigation, school officials have confirmed.

Gibson will continue to earn her about $295,000 annual salary during her suspension.

Though it is unclear how long the suspensions will last, an attorney for the board said Thursday Yamba will receive no more than $15,000 in compensation for 90 days in the acting position.

The reasons behind the probe remain largely unknown.

A student group from the college announced it plans to hold a press conference at the Hall of Records in Newark Friday to question the school's recent actions, and to call for investigations into the moves.

"Students want to know the reasons behind the college president's suspension... and why the student voice is not being heard in college matters," student Lev Zilbermintz said in a release about the conference.

"We reiterate the call to make public all college finances."

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

Tesla Motor hasn't release many details about the Model 3, but that didn't stop car shoppers from standing in line at The Mall at Short Hills to pre-order one.

MILLBURN -- Almost 200 people were standing in line to register for Tesla's upcoming Model 3 in the The Mall at Short Hills Thursday morning, with many eventually putting down a $1,000 deposit and picking up a free cookie or bottle of water in the mall's Tesla store.

The line was for a highly anticipated $35,000 electric car (that's without tax incentives for going electric) that will not go into production until late 2017, according to Tesla. The line began early in the morning and, at one point, stretched past the high-end mall's Geox footwear store to the Tesla store. 

It's unclear how many people in line actually put down a deposit, but by 12:30 p.m., the fast-moving line had shrunk in half, and it had disappeared by 2 p.m.. 

N.J. parents waiting 2 full days in line for pre-K registration

According to Michael McAvinue, the general manager for The Mall at Short Hills, Tesla opened in the mall on Nov. 12.

For Thursday's pre-order event, the mall opened to Tesla customers at 8 a.m., but "some customers arrived as early at 5:30 a.m. and waited outside," he said.

"This probably rivaled the lines that the Apple iPhone and iPad launches saw a few years back," he said.

Mall-goer Mark Schey, who contacted NJ Advance Media via Twitter, said he believed about 400 people in total came to put in a deposit, since the line stretched outside the building when he was there at 9:45 a.m.

Schey, a Model S P85D owner, said he waited in line with his brother, and they both put a deposit on the Model 3.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced in February that the $1,000 reservations for the new car make could be made March 31. He received about 4,000 retweets and over 6,000 likes.

Model 3 reservations ($1000 down) will be accepted in Tesla stores on March 31 and online April 1

-- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 11, 2016

More details on Model 3 unveil in coming weeks. That's it for now.

-- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 11, 2016

More information about the mysterious Model 3 has not been made available since then via his Twitter feed, though Musk tweeted about the long lines around the world on Thursday.

Model 3 order day starting in Australia pic.twitter.com/T6aUnG5BCv

-- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 30, 2016

Incredibly inspired by the interest in Model 3. You won't be disappointed. Also, small token of appreciation coming for those who lined up.

-- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 31, 2016

The Model 3 is set to be unveiled at 8:30 p.m., California time, in a live webcast on Tesla.com, he said.

In a post on Musk's January interview at the Automotive News World Congress that was posted on the Tesla website, Musk said that "[the Model 3] will be way different from any other car on the road," and will be 20 percent smaller than the Model S.

In 2015, Gov. Chris Christie signed a law allowing electric cars to be sold in showrooms, rather than car dealerships, to allow Tesla (and other zero-emission car manufacturers) to continue sales in New Jersey showrooms. The new law also required Tesla to open a service center in Paramus.

In the Short Hills Mall, mall management declined to allow NJ Advance Media to interview people in the mall, and Tesla store employees declined to allow media to speak to people within the store. 

Tesla has not yet responded to an inquiry for more information about the car and registration, including how many New Jerseyeans have put $1,000 down so far.

People waiting on line at The Mall at Short Hills, however, tweeted their excitement.

Over a hundred people in line at Short Hills NJ to reserve Tesla Model 3, sight unseen.

-- Matt Morgan (@MattMorganMDP) March 31, 2016

Model 3 queue at Tesla showroom in Short Hills NJ. Go with throttle up Tesla! pic.twitter.com/gMbKQwmrUI

-- Tidal Engineering (@SynergyNanoEtc) March 31, 2016

@elonmusk hahaha. I think so. I'll be at my Tesla store in Short Hills, NJ first thing Thursday morning!

-- Anthony Moskunas IV (@Anthony_IV) March 30, 2016

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

A prior drug arrest made Raheem Powell a 'career offender' under federal sentencing guidelines.

TRENTON -- A member of the Grape Street Crips gang in Newark will spend the next six years in prison for selling heroin at the Pennington Court public housing complex.

U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp sentenced Raheem "Nutty" Powell, adding a fine of $1,000 and three years of supervised release after he serves his term, court records show.

Powell, who was among a group of 71 gang members charged with numerous drug, firearm and violent crimes last May, entered a guilty plea to distributing and possession with intent to distribute heroin in September, records show. He could have faced up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million, the plea agreement says.

According to a criminal complaint, a cooperating witness wearing an audio/video recording device bought nearly 250 packets of heroin from Powell in December 2014 and January 2015. 

Feds seek longer term for alleged gang kingpin

Powell was arrested in the sweep on May 20. 

The complaint also notes that Powell was convicted in 2001 of selling drugs within 1,000 feet of a school zone, making him a "career offender" under federal sentencing guidelines.

The drug sweep last May was  the result of a long-running investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI, in conjunction with the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, the Newark Police Department and the Essex County Sheriff's Office Bureau of Narcotics. 

Powell's sentencing follows that of Jihad "Half Dead" Coles, another Grape Street Crips member who was sentenced earlier in March to more than 14 years in prison for selling cocaine at the Mildred Terrell Home public housing complex in Newark.

Tim Darragh may be reached at tdarragh@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @timdarragh. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Montclair is challenging a court order directing it to reinstate a former cop with back pay

NEWARK -- Montclair is calling on a Superior Court judge to reconsider her ruling directing municipal officials to reinstate a former township police officer who was fired in connection with an alleged domestic dispute.

In a reconsideration motion filed with Judge Vicki A. Citrino, the township argues Officer Joselito Nebiar was properly terminated based on "sufficient, credible evidence" from a psychologist who evaluated Nebiar and found he was unfit for duty.

"The Township prudently determined to move forward with termination once Officer Nebiar was determined unfit for duty and could not be re-armed," according to a brief filed by the township's attorney, Joseph Hannon.

The township also has filed a separate motion asking the judge to stay her ruling while the municipality appeals the decision.

Citrino issued her March 14 court order as part of a lawsuit Nebiar filed against the township last year. Nebiar was suspended without pay in June 2013 and ultimately terminated in December 2014.

In addition to Nebiar's immediate reinstatement, the judge ordered Montclair to provide back pay starting from the date of his suspension. Nebiar's attorney, Patrick Toscano, has said the officer is owed about $270,000 in back pay.

Toscano has filed a motion requesting that Citrino order the township to immediately reinstate Nebiar with back pay and to fine the municipality $1,000 per day until it complies with the court order.

"It is obvious that defendant Montclair's purposeful contumacious conduct will not cease until immediate and continuing daily sanctions be assessed against the municipality," Toscano wrote in a certification filed with Citrino.

The series of events leading to Nebiar's termination began in February 2013, when he was charged in a domestic violence complaint filed by a woman, according to Citrino's March 7 opinion. The woman later dismissed the complaint, the opinion states.

As a result of that alleged incident, psychologist Daniel Schievella conducted a "fitness for duty examination" of Nebiar and made specific recommendations for treatment and counseling, the opinion states.

On June 5, 2013, Nebiar and the woman were involved in an alleged domestic dispute, and Nebiar was charged with aggravated assault and weapons offenses, the opinion states.

The woman recanted her statements on June 6 and Nebiar was placed on unpaid suspension on June 7, the opinion states. On Sept. 27, 2013, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office notified Montclair that the grand jury decided to not indict Nebiar in connection with the incident, the opinion states.

Schievella conducted a second examination of Nebiar in October 2013 and ultimately determined he was unfit for duty and recommended his termination, the opinion states.

Two other psychologists - Donald Franklin and John Rotondi - later said Nebiar was fit for duty, the opinion states.

In January 2014, then-Montclair Police Chief David Sabagh filed disciplinary charges against Nebiar in connection with the alleged domestic dispute and a disciplinary hearing was held later that year, the opinion states.

Based in large part on Schievella's findings, the hearing officer in December 2014 recommended Nebiar's termination after finding him guilty of the charge of "incompetency or inefficiency," the opinion states.

As part of its motion for reconsideration, Montclair rejects Citrino's findings that the township violated Nebiar's rights in terms of when disciplinary charges must be filed and hearings must be held.

The township also points to Schievella's testimony at the disciplinary hearing as evidence that Nebiar was properly terminated.

"Dr. Schievella credibly testified that Officer Nebiar did not possess the appropriate fitness for duty to continue as a Montclair Police Officer," according to the township's brief. "His determination should be afforded greater weight and therefore Officer Nebiar should not be returned as a Montclair Police Officer."

But in her opinion, Citrino said she was persuaded by the findings of Franklin and Rotondi, and she found "not a scintilla of evidence" to support the township's disciplinary charges against Nebiar.

The judge was critical of Schievella for not contacting the alleged victim, saying the psychologist accepted the woman's allegations as the truth, the opinion states. Citrino also said she was impressed with Franklin's testimony at the disciplinary hearing about problems with the tests administered by Schievella.

Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Cabin cleaners employed by a United Airlines contractor demonstrated at Newark airport after launching a strike Wednesday night. Watch video

NEWARK -- Aircraft cabin cleaners who went on strike Wednesday night demonstrated outside Newark Liberty International airport on Thursday, demanding safer working conditions and higher pay.

About 100 non-union employees of a United Airlines contractor, Nashville-based PrimeFight Airline Services, marched in a circle outside Terminal C for about an hour starting at 11 a.m.

The workers chanted "No justice, no peace," carried signs reading, "PrimeFlight Workers deserve respect!" and wore purple T-shirts with the logo of Local 32BJ of the International Service Employees Union, which has campaigned to organize some 4,000 support workers at the airport and pressed airport officials to adopt a $15/hr. minimum wage.

The picketers were backed by Mayor Steven Fulop of Jersey City, a prominent state Democrat widely expected to seek his party's nomination for governor in 2017.

Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark was not at the demonstration. But Fulop said he and Baraka were both supporters of the workers' demands.

"Mayor Baraka and I have been at the forefront of this fight for $15 and working standards, and a lot of the workers here live and work in the general region here, and a lot of them live in Jersey City," Fulop said in an interview. "Cost of living is difficult in this area, you want your employers to have reasonable standards and compensate fairly. And fairly's the key word, so that's what we're out here for." 

In a statement released later, Fulop added, "Airport workers are on the front lines. They do their best to keep airports safe and secure. But how can we expect them to do this critical work if they're not given the time and training they say they need to do a thorough job?"

Asked if his appearance at the airport was intended to shore up labor support for his gubernatorial campaign outside his home city, Fulop smiled and noted that he had not declared himself at a candidate for governor.

"There is no campaign," he said.
The cabin cleaners and their supporters say they are a layer in the nation's airline security network, expected to look for and reporter suspicious objects or situations. They also say they also regularly encounter potentially harmful substances. 

Even so, they add, they are not trained or equipped to deal with those threats.

"Many times we work out on the planes having no form of protection," said Shane Charles, 30, of East Orange, who has worked for PrimeFlight for two years cleaning United aircraft cabins in Newark, "being exposed to syringes, blood-born pathogens, needles, hypodermic needles, having no gloves, no protection. Even being exposed to airborne sicknesses and having no form of protection, as well, which I think needs to be corrected by this company."

A spokesman for PrimeFlight, Jim Burnett, did not return calls seeking common on Thursday.

A spokesman for United, which operates three quarters of the flights at Newark, said Thursday that Primeflight had taken steps to offset the walkout, and that it was disrupting flights.

"We did not see an impact," said the spokesman, Charles Hobart. "Our service partner had contingency plans in place to ensure they were able to complete their duties and continue to serve our customers.

Cheryl Albiez, a spokeswoman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs Newark Liberty, also said Thursday that there had been no disruption as a result of the strike

As workers who do their jobs on the secure side of airport checkpoints, the cabin cleaners are required to have security badges issued by the Transportation Securoity Administration. According to the TSA, replacements for the striking workers have been accompanied to their jobs by other personnel with badges, an arrangement that has offset any disruption that might have been caused by the strike, the TSA said.

"The striking employees are having no impact on TSA operations," Lisa Farbstein, a TSA spokeswoman, said in an email.

Though confined to a remote spot on the ground floor in front of the terminal, the workers did manage to rouse some sympathy among fliers. John Keegan, 70, of Dumont, was headed for a United flight to Lima, Peru, when he noticed the purple-shirted picketers.A

"I do have some sympathy," Keegan, a hard-wood floor installer, said of the cleaners' security-related work. "Maybe the TSA should be doing some of that. I see them standing around not doing much."

The agency dismissed Keegan's observation, asserting its officers are constantly busy screening passengers and bags for potential threats.

Steve Strunsky may be reached atA sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on TwitterA @SteveStrunsky. FindA NJ.com on Facebook.

Gov. Chris Christie said he thinks voters won't support expanding casino gambling if Atlantic City goes belly-up. Watch video

TRENTON -- Gov. Chris Christie predicted Thursday that a ballot question asking voters whether to expand casino gambling to north Jersey will fail -- and vowed to campaign against the referendum himself -- if state lawmakers don't approve a state takeover of Atlantic City. 

The comments were a new wrinkle in an ongoing war between state and local leaders over how to save Atlantic City from financial collapse.

"There is no way voters will approve the expansion of gaming when the only place where gaming has been allowed goes down the toilet," Christie said at a Statehouse news conference in which he emphasized the need for the takeover,

"Atlantic City is headed for a disaster and north Jersey gaming is headed for a defeat if we don't get our act together," the governor added. "It's time to stop all the theater."

Christie takes aim at A.C. union contracts

Atlantic City, the only place in New Jersey where gambling is legal since 1978, has been rocked by the closure of four casinos in recent years and on the brink of running out of money by the end of next week.

Christie, a Republican, said he will sign an aid package -- known as the PILOT bill -- for Atlantic City but only if it comes with the legislation that would allow the state to assume control of key functions of the local government. The governor said Thursday that is the only way to fix the problem because the city's government has not been able to curtail its spending enough.

But local officials have opposed the takeover, saying it goes too far. And though the state Senate has approved both measures, state Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto has refused to allow his chamber to vote on the takeover because he says it would strip unions' of their collective bargaining rights. 

Earlier this month, the state Legislature approved a proposal to place a question on the November ballot asking New Jersey voters whether to approve two new casinos in the northern part of the state.

Proponents say that would create thousands of jobs and bring billions of dollars in new revenue to the region, while also allowing the state to stay competitive in the ever-growing northeastern gaming market. Opponents say it would further hurt Atlantic City.

Christie has previously said he's in favor of north Jersey casinos and helped broker a deal between Prieto and state Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) on the referendum.

But the governor stressed Thursday that if Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian and Prieto don't support the takeover, "they are running the very real risk of losing my support."

"And I will campaign across the state against the referendum if this is what happens," Christie said. "And I'll make sure it's defeated."

Polls show that New Jerseyans are split on north Jersey casinos, though positive sentiment has been growing. 

It's expected that casino operators in neighboring states as well as lawmakers in south Jersey will campaign against the referendum.

Prieto said in a statement Thursday that Christie "can campaign as he chooses" on north Jersey casinos.

"It wouldn't be his first flip-flop, and he would just be risking hurting Atlantic City by denying it funding it sorely needs from North Jersey gaming to transition into a resort destination," the speaker said. 

Christie also continued allegations Thursday that Prieto is simply acting on behalf of Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, a likely Democratic candidate for governor next year. One of Fulop's possible rivals for the Democratic nomination is Sweeney, the main sponsor of the takeover.

Fulop shot back at Christie in a statement Thursday.

"If the governor wants to stop north Jersey gaming as a result of this tantrum as he threatens, that is his choice -- it doesn't bother us either way," the mayor said. "Jersey City will be just fine."

The locations for the possible north Jersey casinos have not yet been set, but Jersey City is one option.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

The merger creates a nearly $5 billion hospital and health care system

TRENTON -- The not-for-profit hospitals of Robert Wood Johnson Health System and Barnabas Health completed a merger Thursday that creates the state's largest hospital and medical network, capable of reaching five million people, according to a company announcement.

The new nonprofit, RWJBarnabas Health, includes 11 acute-care hospitals with a workforce of 32,000 employees, in addition to 9,000 physicians, and 1,000 residents and interns. It is the second-largest private employer in New Jersey behind Wakefern Food Corporation, the owner of ShopRite.

Barnabas Health President and Chief Executive Officer Barry H. Ostrowsky will preside over the new company. Former Robert Wood Johnson Health System and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital President and CEO Stephen K. Jones will serve as chief academic officer.

Pending merger sparks leadership shuffle

Discussions over the deal began as the state dissolved the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in 2013, Ostrowsky said. Barnabas and Robert Wood shared a similar culture and mission and a desire to "strengthen our commitment to education, research and community based programs," Ostrowsky said.

"We went out and got consultants to look at it, and we were off to the races," Ostrowsky said, who called the merger "the smoothest and most agreeable" transaction he's even been involved with.

The two hospital systems announced in July they had reached an agreement on the merger but they needed approval from the state Attorney General's Office and a state judge, which they received on March 2 and March 4, respectively, according to the state.

The Federal Trade Commission also signed off on the merger last summer after verifying the deal "would not keep out any other competitors," Jones said.

A merger of this magnitude "is consistent with the trends we are seeing throughout the country," said Cynthia Keller, a hospital analyst with Standard & Poor's, a Wall Street rating agency that has viewed the pending marriage favorably.

Another large merger between Hackensack University Health Network and Meridian Health is also under state review.

The Affordable Care Act financially rewards hospitals that emphasize "population health management" and preventive care, and with the merger they will cover a wider geography, Keller said.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation concluded prices and insurance premiums rose after hospitals merged and gained more negotiating power, according to a 2012 report analyzing consolidations across the country. Keller said she didn't think that was a factor here.

"Both of those organizations were really quite large already," she said.

Indeed, "We had two blockbuster systems in New Jersey and now no one will be able to touch them," said Ann Kohler, New Jersey's former Medicaid director who works for the national health care consulting firm, The Marwood Group.

The merger means fewer options for consumers in north and central Jersey, Kohler said. But the public will benefit by RWJBarnabas' ability to obtain "more grants for research," and provide "more opportunity for medical students and a higher quality of health care."

Barnabas Health's holdings include Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, Community Medical Center in Toms River, Jersey City Medical Center, Monmouth Medical Centers in Long Branch and Toms River, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston and two children's hospitals. Barnabas also has a management agreement with University Hospital in Newark.

Robert Wood Johnson's holdings include hospitals in Somerville, Hamilton, Rahway, and its flagship hospital in New Brunswick; the clinical campus of the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; The Cancer Institute of New Jersey; and two children's hospitals.

The new company will have board of trustees, made up of an equal number of Barnabas and Robert Wood representatives. Ostrowsky declined to reveal the members at this time.

The goal is to preserve jobs, and to even add more as services are expanded, Ostrowky said. The merged company will be able to save money on joint purchases and other "back-room operations." With the formidable size of the workforce including physicians, the company can save money by not having to hire additional doctors as they expand services, he said. 

"By joining together, we have created the most comprehensive health system in the state, which will enable us to effect the kind of change in the health of our communities that our two separate systems could not do alone," Ostrowsky said.

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

Share your score to see how you stack up with other NJ.com users.

Prove how well you know New Jersey news by taking this week's local news quiz. The questions below are all based on popular local stories that appeared on NJ.com during the past week. Answer the questions, and then share your score in comments below to see how you stack up with other NJ.com users. And please, no Googling.

There's a fresh local news quiz every Thursday on NJ.com.

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

Charter schools and other Newark properties have potentially dangerous lead levels

NEWARK -- Eight facilities used by the city's public school district and its charter schools showed lead amounts in water above the so-called action level set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to test results released by the district Thursday night.

Levels of lead beyond the recommended threshold of 15.5 parts per billion were found in sources that included utility sinks as well as sources of drinking water. The results announced Thursday were from schools as well as facilities used less intensively by students, including a transportation hub and athletic fields.

Thursday's results come a few weeks after the district announced elevated levels had been found at 30 schools in the district, touching off widespread concern among parents and immediately drawing comparisons to the city of Flint, Mich., where potentially dangerous levels of the metal were found in the public water supply. Officials in Newark have said elevated lead levels have not been detected in the city supply here.

Lead problems in Newark date from at least 2012 

Exposure to excessive lead has been linked to developmental problems in children, among other effects.

All told, 324 samples taken in Newark March 19 were tested by four state-approved labs. Of those, 76 results were above the action level, meaning additional monitoring and testing are required, along with, potentially, remediation of sites.

Following are the locations where elevated lead levels were found:

• Alexander Annex/Boylan Transportation hub, 48.7 percent of all samples taken had elevated lead: 11 percent of drinking water samples and 37.7 percent of non-drinking water sources
• KIPP Life Academy, 11.9 percent of samples had elevated lead, all from non-drinking sources
• Paulo Freire Charter, 25 percent of samples taken had elevated lead: 2 percent from drinking sources and 23 percent from non-drinking sources
• Newark Legacy Charter, 14.9 percent of all samples taken had elevated lead: 8.8 percent from drinking water and 6.1 percent from non-drinking sources
• Marion Bolden Student Center, 24 percent of all samples had elevated lead, all from non-drinking sources
• Newark School Stadium (not currently in use), 19.2 percent of samples taken had elevated lead, all from non-drinking sources
• Unterman Field (currently not in use), 39 percent of all samples had elevated lead, all from non-drinking sources
• West Side Park (building leased by district), 45.5 percent of all samples taken had elated lead, 9.1 percent from drinking sources, 36.4 percent from non-drinking sources

The district previously released testing results from 2012 through 2015.

Use the search tool below to find your local schools.

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

As probe widens to second N.J. school, details of 1980 conviction surface, detailing "individual and mutual masturbation" with three 12-year-old boys.

Thad P. Alton, Jr.

Thad "Ted" P. Alton, Jr. worked at Pingry or an earlier day school that eventually merged with Pingry from 1972 through 1978. After that, he was employed from 1978 to 1979 at the Peck School in Morristown.

After relocating to upstate New York, he was convicted in 1990 of sexual abuse of two minor boys. He served five years in prison.

A 2005 court document related to the N.Y. conviction refers to Alton's previous conviction in New Jersey, for which he served a suspended sentence and probation.

The 1980 convictions stem from incidents which took place when Alton "was employed as a teacher and assistant head master at a boys school known as the Pingrey (sic) School," states the document.

The document details the behaviors that resulted in three counts of public lewdness and three counts of impairing the morals of a minor.

It says Alton admitted to "playing games of strip poker as well as individual and mutual masturbation with three 12-year-old boys."

Alton coached soccer at Pingry and was also Scoutmaster to a Boy Scout troop made up of Pingry students, according to a law firm representing several alleged victims.

Earlier this week, Pingry, a private school based in Basking Ridge, informed its alumni that it had recently learned from a few of its alumni about alleged sexual abuse at the hands of Alton.

The letter from Pingry comes as a Oregon law firm that specializes in suing schools and youth organizations for their negligent handling of sexual abuse announced it has been investigating Alton's tenure at Pingry for over a year.

"In total, we're aware of as many as a dozen victims, and we expect there could be many more," said Peter Janci, an attorney with a national reputation for courtroom victories against the Boy Scouts of America. The firm is currently representing four men who say they were abused as boys while at Pingry, he said.

The Pingry administration said yesterday it was unaware of the 1980 conviction.

"I'm afraid such a conviction is news to us, but this is information we will pass on to both law enforcement and the investigation firm we've engaged so that they can confirm the facts as part of the ongoing investigation," wrote school spokeswoman Dale Seabury in an email late Thursday.

"It wasn't until recently that the school's current administration knew anything about this situation in the '70s, which prompted us to act," she stated.

Alton, 69, could not be reached for comment.

He lives in Manhattan, in a Financial District apartment that doubles as his office. A woman who identified herself as and employee answered the door Wednesday and said he is self-employed in field of educational software.

Alumni appalled by sex abuse allegations

Also Thursday, a second private school, the Peck School in Morristown, confirmed Alton's brief employment there in 1978-79 and said it had launched its own internal investigation.

"We are heartbroken to think that his presence on our campus might have caused trauma to any of our students," the Peck school said in a statement Thursday. "To underscore our commitment to the lifelong well-being of our alumni, we have hired Debevoise & Plimpton, a law firm with extensive experience in these types of matters. They are conducting an independent review of Mr. Alton's tenure at our school."

Thad P. Alton as he appeared in a Pingry yearbook. 

The lawyer representing the alleged Pingry victims said he found the school's letter to its alumni encouraging.

"We hope the school is doing the right thing for the right reasons," he said. "Once the whole truth about Ted Alton and the Pingry School comes out, that allows the victims and the community to move forward," Janci said.

By 1981, Alton had relocated to the Adirondacks, where he worked at Clarkson University in Potsdam. His off-campus job involved outreach to the business community.

In 1990, he was convicted in of the sexual abuse of two local teenage boys in New York and served five years in prison.

NOTE: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the locations at which Alton taught.

Craig McCarthy and Kevin Shea contributed to this report.

Kathleen O'Brien may be reached at kobrien@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @OBrienLedger. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

Commuters who use the Highland Avenue train station in Orange said it is taking too long to reopen the station so they can do things like buy a newspaper, a cup of coffee or a bagel

Commuters using the Highland Avenue train station in Orange can't do too much of anything except get on and off the train when they're traveling.

They can buy tickets from a ticket machine, but forget about getting a cup of coffee or bagel in the morning to go  with a newspaper that they can't buy either.

It's not any better after work. There's no snack bar for a sandwich, or light fare they might want to grab take-out.

Though the train stops regularly, the station has been closed for at least 27 years -and residents have been complaining that long for its return.

Well, the city is trying to get it together, after receiving a $600,000 federal grant last year to bring the station up to snuff. The funds are administered through the state Department of Transportation, but residents and commuters are impatient with the delay. They don't understand why it's taking  so long to improve the Highland station, so it can join neighboring communities as a transit village.

Recent Barry Carter columns  

"This is not rocket science," said Janice Morrell, a resident who said she would use the station if it were open. "Why can't they give us a timeline on the rehab?"

Mayor Dwayne D. Warren has been at two city meetings this week to update residents. 

The city of Orange has received a 600,000 federal transportation grant to restore and reopen the Highland Avenue train station. Commuters and residents can only catch the train at the station. They want it open so they can do things like by a newspaper, a cup of coffee or a bagel. Barry Carter | The Star-Ledger 

The good news: He said the city and New Jersey Transit are talking about the possibility of allowing the municipality to take over the station.

The not-so-good news: It will be least another year before the station can open. Warren said an engineer hired by the city has found asbestos in the building and now the state Department of Environmental Protection has to asses how it should be removed.

Getting to this point has  occurred at a tortoise-like pace, Warren said,  because of the federal government's stringent vetting process before the money can be spent. For instance, plans for the station had to be approved and the engineer had to be certified by federal standards. And there's a thick federal handbook with regulations too long to enumerate that require compliance.

"While they designate you for the funds, you can't spend it until you go through what they tell you that you have to go through," Warren said. "It's not cash-and-carry."  

The city expects to have a report from the state on how to proceed with the asbestos cleanup in May or June.

In the meantime, the station, which is listed on state and national registers of historic places,  remains the stepchild in the train station family.

The Highland station borders the Valley section of Orange, a community that has  embraced the arts over the past 15 years to spark commercial and residential development. There are several art galleries, including a firehouse that is also home for artists. Loft-style living continues to sprout up, with the latest opening in what was once an abandoned warehouse. There's a performance art theater, a restaurant featuring eclectic musical artists and a hydroponic greenhouse.

"We've come a long way, but we still have long way to go,'' said Scott Schultz, chairman of the Valley Arts District.

But if the station were open, said town historian Karen Wells, the Valley section would benefit even more because it would become a destination with people getting there by train. 

"Come on, let's get this done," said Wells, who has lived in Orange for 27 years. "I've been fighting for this for too long.''

Patricia Rogers, a Valley resident for the past two years, said she is looking for a "kind of cosmopolitan" lifestyle that would allow her to grab a bite to eat at the train station if it had an eatery.

As an aspiring writer - she blogs about the Valley at masconsumption.com - Rogers said amenities and additional train service would definitely attract more out-of-town visitors.

"It's very hard for me to get my friends from Harlem to come out here to Jersey," Rogers said.  "They think it's far, but it's not."

Hint, hint to NJ Transit.

The Highland station does have MidTown Direct service to Manhattan on the weekend, but only once daily during the week -at 4 p.m.  There isn't any during rush hour.  Without MidTown Direct, riders traveling to  Manhattan have to change trains at stations in Orange, East Orange and  Broad Street in Newark.

MORE CARTER: Time is of the essence, says advocate from Newark 

Jim Smith, a NJ Transit spokesman, said additional MidTown Direct service is reliant on several factors, including funding, maintenance at other stations and train capacity in the Hudson River tunnels. The agency has also said in the past that more people used the other stations more than Highland. On a typical day, according to last year's statistics, the average weekly ridership was 229 at Highland; 1,343 at Orange;  and 3,970 at South Orange.

It's a waiting game now for residents.  In the winter, they'll wait for the train outside in the cold or huddle in their cars. And on the way home, some will get off the train at nearby stations to walk home when the train doesn't stop at Highland.

The city is plodding along with the technical requirements to get the station open. It needs the residents to hang in there, but more than 20 years is a long time.

For their razor-thin patience, let's hope it's worth it in the end.

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

The 65-year-old New Brunswick man remains at-large after escaping pursuing police Wednesday.

Kenneth Curry (photo provided)

NEWARK -- Police are still searching for a New Brunswick man suspected of discussing a plot to kill Mayor Ras Baraka, officials said. 

The 65-year-old suspect, whose name has not been released, remains at large after escaping pursuing police at Penn Station Wednesday, said department Newark Police Department spokesman Capt. Derek Glenn Thursday.

Kenneth Curry, 56, the second man suspected of discussing the alleged plot, was taken into custody and arrested on two open warrants, Glenn said.

According to a released department statement, police were dispatched to the train station after staffers at Baraka's City Hall office reported receiving a phone call Wednesday from a person who said they'd heard two men plotting to kill Baraka.

Officers were sent to Penn Station, where they spotted the two suspects, both of whom were dressed in camouflage outfits, officials said.

When police approached, the men fled in opposite directions. Curry, 56, was caught, while the second suspect escaped.

Curry could face additional charges, Glenn said.

This is not the first time Baraka has been a target. Early this year officials revealed that two letters threatening him as well as city facilities were sent to the home of Baraka's mother.

An investigation by the department's Executive Protection Unit is ongoing.

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

A home with a fenced yard at least six feet high would be ideal for this energetic dog.

Maximus 

WEST CALDWELL -- Maximus is a 21/2-year-old, possibly purebred German shepherd in the care of Orphaned Pets.

Rescued from a shelter in the southern United States, volunteers describe him as a smart and obedient dog who loves people.

A home with a fenced yard at least six feet high would be ideal for this energetic dog who is housebroken, microchipped, neutered and up-to-date on shots.

For more information on Maximus, call Rosemarie at 973-865-6421 or email her at rdogsnpups@aol.com. Information is also available by going to awos.petfinder.com/shelters/op.html.

Orphaned Pets is an all-volunteer fostering group serving the Essex County area for 25 years.

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.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

 

Houses built before 1978 are at risk for paint contamination, agencies say.

NEWARK -- Is your family being exposed to lead risks in your home?

The recent revelation that aging infrastructure in Newark school buildings has caused elevated lead levels in district drinking water has renewed New Jersey residents' lead consciousness.

"The key is to keep children from coming in contact with lead," a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spokeswoman said in response to an inquiry about identifying lead risks.

"Lead hazards in a child's environment must be identified and controlled or removed safely," she said.

The CDC and Environmental Protection Agency identify lead paint as a major source of lead contamination in homes.

Houses built before 1978 - the year the federal government banned consumer uses of lead-based paints - are at risk for paint contamination, the agencies say. According to the CDC, one in every four American homes has lead-based paint in it.

Here's how you can identify whether or not your home has lead paint in it:

• If you suspect lead contamination, the EPA recommends both a paint inspection and a risk assessment. 
• Certified companies can conduct lab tests of paint samples and portable x-ray fluorescence machine tests in homes. 
• Risk assessments take paint, dust, and soil samples to identify where lead exists in your home, and suggest remediation efforts. 
• The EPA maintains a list of accredited agencies that can test paint chips, paint dust, and soil for lead. The 2016 list cites three agencies in New Jersey, and additional companies in New York and Pennsylvania.
• Home renovations, repairs, and painting "can create toxic lead dust when painted surfaces are disturbed or demolished," the EPA warns. The agency certifies lead-safe renovators, and has a searchable database on its website.
• EPA hazard levels for lead dust: 40 micrograms per square foot or more for dust on floors; 250 micrograms per square foot or more for interior window sills.
• Exterior paint can contain lead, too. Deteriorating outdoor paint can get into soil, and be trekked into homes on the bottoms of shoes. The EPA defines hazardous soil lead levels in areas where children play outside as 400 parts per million or higher.
• Be in the know before you buy or rent. Sellers and landlords are required by federal law to disclose known information about lead paint before sales and leases go into effect. Buyers have 10 days to check for lead paint in their new homes, the EPA says.

If you have lead in the paint in your home:

• Do not leave deteriorated paint or paint dust around your home. Regularly clean window sills, floors, and other surfaces where paint dust can accumulate.
• Do not try to remove lead paint on your own.
• Painting over lead paint will not fix the problem, EPA officials say. Certified lead abatement contractors can remove, seal, or enclose lead-based paint. The companies should also properly use methods that minimize the creation of lead dust, contain the dust, and dispose of the hazardous waste.

Resources:

• To reach local lead contacts - 800-424-LEAD
• Region 2 EPA Office - 732-321-6671
• New Jersey Department of Health lead resources

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

The 30-year-old from East Orange struck three vehicles on a Los Angeles freeway while fleeing form cops, authorities say

A Paterson woman carjacked a pickup truck out of a driveway and then led Los Angeles cops on a wild, high-speed chase through the San Fernando Valley that ended after she tried to steal a police vehicle, authorities said.

Khianna Reynolds, 30, stole a Toyota Tacoma out of a homeowner's driveway on Sunday as the owner unloaded groceries in Sherman Oaks, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said in a news release. 

Khianna ReynoldsCBS Los Angeles 

Reynolds nearly ran the owner over in her haste to flee, cops said, but they were able to track the vehicle, because the victim hadn't taken her cell phone out of the vehicle, according to CBS Los Angeles.

Police were able to track the Tacoma to the 118 Freeway and began pursuing the vehicle. Reynolds first went west but then reversed course and headed east, CBS said. Reynolds eventually got on the 101 Freeway, where she struck at least three vehicles, according to authorities.

Reynolds exited the truck in Chatsworth and appeared as though she would surrender after cops surrounded her, the district attorney's office said. Instead, Reynolds allegedly attempted to enter an LAPD Ford Explorer. She was then taken into custody.

Reynolds is charged with carjacking, grand theft auto, driving a vehicle without consent, fleeing a pursuing peace officer's motor vehicle while driving recklessly and attempted taking of a law enforcement vehicle without consent. She also faces three counts of misdemeanor hit-and-run with property damage.

Reynolds, a former East Orange resident, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday and was held on $145,000 bail. She is due back in court April 11.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

The program was part of JCHC's "creative Living" series.

Susan Covalesky, standing, showed senior citizens from Temple B'Nai Abraham in Livingston samples of items using amber as part of a presentation on the gem. 

LIVINGSTON -- Susan Covalesky, community liaison coordinator for the Jewish Community Housing Corporation of Metropolitan New Jersey, gave a presentation on March 21 to senior citizens at Temple B'nai Abraham in West Orange titled "Baltic Amber - the Gold of the North."

Attendees were told about the origin and history of amber and were able to examine a collection of jewelry, accessories and artwork incorporating the gem.

The program was part of JCHC's "creative Living" series which is available free of charge to Essex County senior groups and nonprofit organizations.

For information on available topics and booking a presentation, email Covalesky at susanc@jchcorp.org.

To submit news for the Senior Spotlight column, please call 973-836-4922 or email essex@starledger.com.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

 

A 38-year-old was shot on March 18 when a drug deal turned into a robbery, police say. Watch video

Easton, Pa., police on Friday released the name and photo of a man accused in a March 18 shooting in the city's West Ward and have asked for the public's help in locating him.

Lamont Baker, 24, of the Newark area, should be considered armed and dangerous, police said.

Lamont Baker, 25, is being sought in a shooting March 18 in Easton's West Ward, city police report. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and a felon not to possess a firearm were filed in District Judge Richard Yetter's court in Wilson Borough.

If anyone sees Baker, they should call 911 or the department's anonymous tip line at 610-250-6635.

A 38-year-old city man, who was buying crack about 2:30 a.m. in the 1200 block of Ferry Street, was shot when the drug deal turned into a robbery, police said.

Baker -- who was described as black, 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 190 pounds, with a short goatee and short hair -- drove off in a Ford Taurus with heavily tinted windows.

Police are also attempting to identify a black woman, about 25 years old, between 5 feet and 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighing 125-130 pounds and with with long red and black hair who sold the drugs to the victim before fleeing with Baker, police said.

If anyone knows the woman, they are asked to call the police detective's bureau at 610-250-6780 or the tip line, police said.

Baker is believed driving a 1998 gold or silver Taurus, police said on Friday.

The victim drove himself to Easton Hospital. His wound was not life-threatening, police said. He had hidden crack in his buttocks and it was found while he was being examined, police said. He was to be charged by summons with possession of crack cocaine, police said.

Investigators got "limited cooperation" from the victim, police said.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

The largest hospital chain is called RWJBarnabas Health

TRENTON -- The long-awaited merger of Barnabas Health and Robert Wood Johnson Health Services was completed on Thursday, creating the largest health system in New Jersey.

Some facts about the deal:

1. You won't notice any changes right away

There is a new logo and new leadership, but it will take some time before patients see changes.

"It will be business as usual tomorrow and for a short period of time," RWJBarnabas Health CEO Barry Ostrowsky said Thursday.

Behind the scenes the team "will be creating strategies around clinical programs and community initiatives, and our employees will be able to collaborate with our new family members and our physicians with their new colleagues."

N.J. hospital mega-merger a done deal

2. No employee layoffs are planned, and more jobs may be added.

The combined workforce includes 32,000 employees, 9,000 physicians and 1,000 interns and residents. RWJBarnabas Health is the second largest employer in New Jersey, behind Wakefern, the parent company of Shop-Rite. More jobs are likely to be created as medical services are expanded, Ostrowsky said.

"This is a merger of two very strong organizations, clinically and financially," Ostrowsky said. "There is no desperation here -- one is not saving the other."

3. Medical services will expand and research opportunities will grow

Barnabas Health brings a strong array of mental health programs and services that will be replicated and shared throughout the network, said Stephen Jones, former CEO of Robert Wood Johnson Health System who in the new order is the chief academic officer. 

"They will get more grants for research and there will be more opportunities for medical students," said national health care consultant Ann Kohler. They should be able to deliver "a higher quality of health care." 

4. Will it stabilize the cost of health care? Mergers have had a mixed record

Ostrowsky and Jones say they were not motivated to merge the two not-for-profits by the prospect of being able to drive a harder bargain with insurance carriers.  

"Both of our organizations separately exert considerable leverage in the negotiating process,"  Ostrowsky said. "We find efficiencies that will reduce costs."

A 2012 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation article focusing on the impact of hospital mergers said price increases have been "dramatic, often exceeding 20 percent. ... when hospitals merge in already concentrated markets. Ultimately, increases in health care costs (which are generally paid directly by insurers or self-insured employers) are passed on to health care consumers in the form of higher premiums, lower benefits and lower wages."

5. Competition with other hospitals will intensify

New Jersey has been in the midst of a mergers and acquisitions frenzy since 2010, as the Affordable Care Act fundamentally changed the mission of health care to focus on preventing admissions and illness rather than treating conditions as they arise.

Hackensack University Health Network and Meridian are awaiting state approval of a merger that will create a chain of 11 hospitals from the New York border in Bergen County to the Jersey Shore.

As the lone community hospitals continue to be absorbed by larger chain, there will be greater competition for physicians, grant funds, and patients, health industry insiders say. The merger may hasten takeovers of smaller hospitals. 

The Wall Street ratings firm Standard & Poor's has blessed this marriage. "We believe this merger makes sense geographically and recognize that each organization has different financial and operating strengths it can offer to the combined company," according to a January 2016 report.

Barnabas' holdings include Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, Community Medical Center in Toms River, Jersey City Medical Center, Monmouth Medical Centers in Long Branch and Lakewood, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston and two children's hospitals. Barnabas also has a consulting agreement with University Hospital in Newark. 

Robert Wood Johnson operates hospitals in Somerville, Hamilton, Rahway and New Brunswick and two children's hospitals. Robert Wood Johnson in New Brunswick is also affiliated with the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and  The Cancer Institute of New Jersey at Rutgers University.

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