HOLIDAYROCKJon Bon Jovi and more joinBobby Bandiera’s HopeConcert. jerseyalive!

ASBURY PARK PRESS APP.COM $1.00

FRIDAY 12.18.15

VOLUME 136

NUMBER 302

SINCE 1879

ADVICE JERSEY ALIVECLASSIFIED 4DCOMICS JERSEY ALIVELOCAL 3AMOVIES JERSEY ALIVE

OBITUARIES 13AOPINION 16ASPORTS 1CWEATHER 5CYOUR MONEY 12A

Reviled drug-price gougingCEO arrested on fraudcharges. STORY, 1B

TRENTON - Both houses of the New Jersey Legisla-ture have now voted to put $10 million back into the oft-raided fund that is supposed to pay for programs thathelp lead-poisoned children.

The Assembly voted 46-22, with one abstention, topass a bill Thursday that would direct $10 million to thestate Department of Community Affairs for the LeadHazard Control Assistance Fund. The legislation re-turns to the Senate, which passed the bill in June but willhave to agree to a minor change in order for it to be sentto Gov. Chris Christie’s desk.

More than $50 million has been diverted from thefund since it was established in 2004. An Asbury ParkPress investigation published at the start of the yeardocumented how those diversions, which have been ap-proved by governors and legislators in both parties,have gutted programs that are supposed to help removelead paint from homes and relocate sick children.

“The science is clear, lead exposure is a very seriousbut preventable health risk to our children and families.This bill will help us continue to be proactive in lead poi-soning remediation and prevention,” said Assembly-man Daniel Benson, D-Mercer, one of the bill’s spon-sors.

Assembly OKsbill restoring$10 million to lead fundMICHAEL SYMONS@MICHAELSYMONS_

INSIDE

Assembly fails twice to override Christie gun vetoes. STORY, 6A

See LEAD, Page 11A

HARLEM, N.Y. - Otis Johnson Jr. stands at the cor-ner of 116th Street and Adam Powell Jr. Boulevard on amild December evening handing out bananas and or-anges to a line of people that has formed on the side-walk.

The other soup kitchen servers are chatting andbriskly filling up Styrofoam containers with salad andrice.

Johnson, wearing a knit hat and black leather trenchcoat, remains calm and stoic, telling passers-by in a softvoice, “The food is free.”

The Jersey Shore native’s been out of prison for 16months.

Johnson is struggling to navigate the busy streets ofNew York. He lives in a halfway house, has little money,no job, and lost touch with every family member and

After spending nearly 40 years inprison, Otis Johnson wants to servethe community and find his familyand friends at the Shore. See avideo about Johnson at APP.com.

Ex-con searchingfor his family after 40 years in prison NICQUEL TERRY @NTERRYAPP

See FAMILY, Page 9A

NEPTUNE – Every “Star Wars” fan’s story startsthe same way.

Regardless of their age, they can pinpoint the firsttime they heard the thunderous overture, read scroll-ing yellow text and caught a glimpse of life in a gal-axy far, far away.

And they remember their jaw dropping to thefloor.

“It’s the first real memory of my childhood,” saidTerry Browning, a Neptune resident.

“My first memory is ‘A New Hope,’ with the stereoway up loud and my whole house shaking,” said hiswife, Nicole Browning. “I was so little, but watchingthat first battle? It blew my mind.”

RUSS DESANTIS/CORRESPONDENT

Luke Eberhard, 5, of Fair Haven is excited to see “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens” at the AMC Loews theater inMonmouth Mall in Eatontown on Thursday.

Are you going to see ‘The Force Awakens’?

Let us know what you think on Twitter, Facebook and at APP.com.

Release of much-anticipated movie is a family affair for many at the Shore

MIKE MCLAUGHLIN/CORRESPONDENT

Nicole and Terry Browning with their children (from left)Katie, 3, Alexis, 5, and Logan, 10, at their home in Neptune.

MIKE DAVIS@BYMIKEDAVISAND ANDREW FORD@ANDREWFORDNEWS

See FANS, Page 10A