Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates A Hackensack man was arrested after police say he brought a gun into a restaurant and used it to threaten someone and Anthony Mattalian responded to an Essex Street restaurant over reports of a man with a handgun on Sunday Hackensack Police Chief Michael Antista said Police found 40-year-old Joseph Frankowski with an unloaded Ruger handgun Frankowski was arrested and charged with multiple weapons possession charges and certain persons not to possess weapons It was not immediately clear who Frankowski threatened or why Anyone with information about this or other crimes is asked to contact CrimeStoppers of Bergenfield Anonymous tips can be submitted at www.bergencrimestoppers.org or by calling 844-466-6789 Target is running a nationwide car seat trade-in event this week can score 20% off a new one just for recycling the old or damaged car seats at most Target stores from Sunday you can receive a 20% Target Circle™ Bonus toward a new car seat shoppers must scan the QR code posted near the drop-off bin and add the bonus to their Target Circle Wallet in the Target app The bonus can be used twice and must be redeemed by May 24 Target has hosted these trade-in events since 2016 and has recycled more than 3 million car seats—totaling 49 million pounds of materials and even items from Target’s Brightroom line Click here for more on the promotion from the Target website. New Jersey students are finally allowed to use sunscreen and bring sunglasses to school—without needing a doctor’s note Phil Murphy signed a bill into law that requires school districts to permit students to use FDA-approved sunscreen and sun-protective clothing at school and during school-sponsored activities as long as parents provide written permission according to a press release from the governor’s office sunscreen was classified as an over-the-counter medication and many districts restricted its use without a medical note eliminates that barrier and also states that school staff are not required to apply sunscreen The new policy takes effect at the start of the next full school year making sun safety a little easier for students statewide NJBIZ ICON Honors Awards Program Kimberly Redmond//May 5 Hackensack Meridian JFK University Medical Center has expanded its comprehensive cancer care services with the a newly renovated $14 million four-story facility at 80 James St Hackensack Meridian opens $14M cancer center in Central Jersey The workforce reductions impacting Mercer County positions come amid a broader cost-cutting plan from the phar[...] This awards program honors individuals and organizations making a major impact on New Jersey’s health care s[...] New Jersey facilities earned top marks in the Spring 2025 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade The move adds a potential ADPKD (autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease) treatment as well as a microRNA[...] The state improved upon its number of "A" grades in the biannual assessment The Rahway-based biopharmaceutical giant expects the Wilmington facility to create more than 500 full-time rol[...] Sign up for your daily digest of New Jersey News New Jersey business owners can now apply for assistance to explore Employee Stock Ownership Plans The workforce reductions impacting Mercer County positions come amid a broader cost-cutting plan from the pharma giant that t[...] The site is looking toward a major revitalization with Gensler's Morristown office recently hosting a design charrette with [...] Backed by $1.25 million in public funding KSS Architects offered project design for the revamped space The new Middlesex County hub offers multidisciplinary oncology services as well as expanded patient support The founder of the solar-powered sign manufacturer describes how he started the company and designed its [...] provides 24/7 business news coverage and events honoring top business professionals Get our free e-alerts & breaking news notifications Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions Lillian Whitaker, a beloved Hackensack school principal who died in December was the kind of person who made sure students had what they needed inside the classroom and out — whether it was "a $1 notebook or a graduation outfit the city will rename the street in front of Nellie K Parker Elementary School "Lillian Whitaker Way," with a ceremony April 30 at 2 p.m There will be student performances and remarks from officials and family members “Principal Lillian Whitaker was a force: unmistakable unwavering and unforgettable,” said Thomas McBryde “Her tireless commitment to children and families defined her career and touched every corner of our district and city.” She lived in the city and had graduated from Hackensack schools She worked in the city school district for nearly five decades first as a music teacher at Fairmount School District officials closed schools the day of her viewing in January so students and teachers could attend the services at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Hackensack where she worshiped and directed the choir Whitaker “learned the importance of service and selflessness as a student in our public schools,” said Caseen Gaines Hackensack Education Association president her closet and her home to those most in need She wasn't just a model Hackensack educator Whitaker was a longtime teacher at Fairmount In 1996 she received The Record's Community Service Award for her work with the students at Fairmount School The story about the award reported on her generosity saying: "From offering encouragement or a place to sleep to taking a child to the mall for a new pair of shoes Whitaker has quietly changed the lives of many of the youngsters she meets," the story read "I just think children are special," Whitaker told The Record The City Council passed a resolution in January to rename the street “Principal Whitaker’s name now lives where her heart always was right here in Hackensack,” Mayor John Labrosse said “Lillian Whitaker Way isn’t just a street name leadership and legacy she gave to our city every single day Her presence shaped generations at Nellie K and now her memory will continue to guide the students families and educators who walk this path for years to come.” An Arbor Day celebration with a tree dedication was planned to honor Whitaker’s memory hosted by the Hackensack Shade Tree Advisory Committee A newly built vestibule at the school's entrance also will be dedicated on April 30 in honor of Whitaker The dedication and street renaming will commemorate the principal’s “lasting and enduring legacy,” McBryde said Principal Whitaker was a mentor and a mother figure to generations of students “Her conviction and clarity of purpose elevated our collective vision and her high expectations became the foundation of the excellence she demanded and delivered.” HACKENSACK — A Hackensack man was arrested Saturday after police responded to reports of a potential armed threat at a restaurant on Essex Street was taken into custody by officers from the Hackensack Police Department’s Patrol Bureau Responding officers identified as Andres Lopez and Anthony Mattalian made contact with Frankowski at the scene and determined he was in possession of an unloaded Ruger handgun The arrest followed a report made to police about a male individual who may have been armed with a handgun officers investigated and recovered the weapon before taking Frankowski into custody without incident Frankowski was charged with multiple weapons possession offenses as well as terroristic threats and “certain persons not to possess weapons,” a charge indicating a legal restriction on firearm ownership Police have not released additional details regarding the nature of the threats or what led to the initial 911 call There were no injuries reported in the incident © 2008-2025 - Shore News Media & Marketing Ltd A transformative milestone in cancer care has arrived in Central New Jersey with the reopening of the John Theurer Cancer Center at 80 James Street in Edison A transformative milestone in cancer care has arrived in Central New Jersey with the reopening of the John Theurer Cancer Center (JTCC) at 80 James Street in Edison Hackensack Meridian Health celebrated the expansion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and remarks from key health system leaders chief executive officer of Hackensack Meridian Health; Andrew Curran vice president of Oncology Service Lines; and Joseph Landolfi chief medical officer of JFK University Medical Center “I think that this is actually a game changer for cancer care for this region Hackensack Meridian Health has been known to and recognized as the number 1 cancer program in the state Now we will be able to bring that world class cancer care here to JFK for the entire region,” explains Garrett in an interview with Targeted OncologyTM This $14 million renovation marks a bold step forward in Hackensack Meridian’s mission to provide integrated With the facility now doubling its infusion suite capacity and expanding space for surgical patients will benefit from faster access to comprehensive treatment—all under one roof and Landolfi each spoke with Targeted OncologyTM at the event emphasizing how the center addresses long-standing gaps in oncology access and incorporates data-driven planning and artificial intelligence technologies to improve clinical decision-making Landolfi shared how JFK University Medical Center played an essential role in shaping the center’s vision integrating care across specialties and elevating the patient experience through thoughtful design From reduced time-to-treatment to streamlined referrals the new JTCC will transform how patients with cancer navigate care across the system “We played a major role in helping to develop the cancer services at JFK with the help of our sister hospitals and network leadership this is really a great example of where Hackensack Meridian Health is going having a cancer program in a free standing building that's close to the services that you can get from a hospital is really the best of both worlds and world class providers just on the footsteps of a major medical center,” adds Landolfi Stay up to date on practice-changing data in community practice RP1 and the Future of Oncolytic Therapy in Melanoma MBBS discussed the mechanism of action of RP1 the design and preliminary findings of the IGNYTE trial in melanoma Higher ctDNA Serves as Early Warning for Melanoma Recurrence Risk discussed a study showing ctDNA levels before melanoma treatment strongly predict recurrence and its speed potentially guiding future therapy decisions CBT Benefits Cancer Patients' Mental Health & Treatment Adherence discussed how cognitive behavioral therapy helps cancer patients manage emotional challenges by modifying negative thoughts and behaviors Study Indicates Early Resolution of CRS, Neurological Events After Axi-Cel discussed a study on cytokine release syndrome and neurological events post axicabtagene ciloleucel in large B-cell lymphoma New Standard of Care? KEYNOTE-689 Results in LA-HNSCC which investigated pembrolizumab in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma Confronting Prostate Cancer Misinformation in the Digital Age discussed a study analyzing prostate cancer misinformation on social media 609-716-7777 Hackensack Meridian JFK University Medical Center has expanded its comprehensive cancer care services with the opening of a newly renovated four-story facility at 80 James Street in Edison This $14 million investment enhances access to advanced cancer treatment The new building doubles the number of infusion suites available to patients while offering expanded space for surgical The facility is designed to support seamless collaboration among specialists ensuring a patient-centered approach to cancer treatment In addition to benefitting from a multidisciplinary facility equipped with the latest technology eligible patients receiving care at the center will also be able to secure financial assistance thanks to a $1 million gift by the Sarala Bathena Foundation for whom the Cancer Center lobby will be named who passed away in 2006 from late stage renal carcinoma two days shy of her 46th birthday the Sarala Bathena Oncology Patient Assistance Fund is available to help cover expenses that could otherwise be a barrier to treatment for patients we are committed to delivering world-class cancer care in a compassionate and convenient setting,” said Robert C “The expansion at 80 James Street strengthens our ability to provide cutting-edge treatment and personalized care for our patients “We are grateful to our partners who helped make this new facility a reality and to donors like the Bathena’s who so generously keep our patients’ needs top of mind.” "The strength of this new facility lies in our multidisciplinary approach By bringing together experts from various specialties under one roof we can offer patients a truly integrated and personalized treatment plan ensuring they receive the most comprehensive care possible Chief Nurse Executive & Chief Transformation and Integration Officer this new facility offers other surgical services including: "Patients at our new facility will benefit from improved access to expert cancer care in Central New Jersey with groundbreaking treatments and clinical trials made possible by our investment in the latest technology and a team of leading experts offering them the best chance at a brighter future," said Gregory J "This new facility will provide unprecedented access to cancer services transforming the landscape of cancer care in our community and setting a new standard of excellence,” said Dr For more information about cancer services at JFK University Medical Center please call 732-635-9300 for Subspecialized Surgeons 732-750-1200 for Medical Oncology & Hematology and 551-996-2533 for Orthopedic Oncology tax-exempt charitable organization (tax ID 22-3474145) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law HACKENSACK — Construction is underway on a 70,400-square-foot indoor sports facility in Johnson Park that will be used for soccer baseball and wrestling and has been in the works for nearly a decade The workers broke ground on the project at the 20-acre park on River Street last week City officials said construction is slated to be completed by July 2026 The City Council approved initial plans for the project in April 2016 the council approved a $3.49 million contract with Grade Construction Nearly all the funding for the project will be bonded “The city wanted to have an indoor facility that kids could use and practice in year-round,” Caruso said “We have to deal with a lot of weather in the Northeast There’s no question having the ability to train for a sport or play whether it’s winter or spring or summer is beneficial to kids’ health It keeps them off the streets and allows them to keep playing.” will be built near the river past the greenhouse A parking lot will be constructed next to the facility Inside there will be one full-size soccer and football field that can be broken into four smaller fields At the other end will be a full-length field with two baseball diamonds marked on the turf for infield practice storage space for equipment and a room with a full-size mat for wrestling Local: Hackensack will rename street in honor of beloved late elementary school principal The city’s Recreation Department and school district will have priority for using the facility but officials believe there will be demand from outside groups to rent the building when it is not being used by Hackensack residents “Because it will be a brand-new facility and in this area there’s not much like it we anticipate having it rented all the time when it’s not being used by our kids and our leagues,” Caruso said “It will be a revenue generator for the city a soccer field and a walking path along the Hackensack River The property was given to the city by George and William Johnson in 1930 The men had requested that the property be used as a park arguing that the deed restrictions had been violated because the park contained a pistol range They asked a judge to revert the property to the family but the court ruled in the city's favor in 1985 Mayor John Labrosse said the sports complex is an investment in “the future of Hackensack,” especially its youth and families “This project has been years in the making and we’re proud to finally see it moving forward,” he said it will provide year-round access to high-quality recreational space that our community truly deserves.” HACKENSACK — A 100-unit mixed-use development is moving forward on Main Street after gaining approval from the city Planning Board The seven-story building at 132-148 Main St 4,200 square feet for restaurants and 7,800 square feet of office space The project was significantly scaled back from an earlier plan that called for a 17-story building with 253 apartments at the site a 15-story high-rise building next door to the property The roughly 39,500-square-foot property is currently vacant land and used to house office buildings and a shuttered jewelry store before they were demolished “It’s another good project for Main Street,” said Albert Dib The property’s been vacant for some time.” The development will feature a rooftop restaurant open to the public and overlooking the Manhattan skyline The building will sit just across Moore Street from the Hackensack Bus Terminal, which is slated to be redeveloped by Bergen County will break ground this fall and includes a new covered bus terminal 15-story residential tower with affordable apartments for people starting careers in public safety and health care fields which was a small passthrough street for vehicles before being turned into a pedestrian alleyway runs from the property to the bus terminal The alleyway has become a site for public art “It will be interesting to see how they incorporate that throughway,” Dib said “There’s some interesting potential to have the public interact with the building there.” The retail portion of the development will run along three sides of the building HACKENSACK — Development of the landmark Sears building on Main Street is moving forward with a redevelopment plan approved by the City Council after years of litigation over the property the original 93-year-old art deco building and its 105-foot iconic tower would be preserved and incorporated into a six-story The shuttered department store has been vacant since 2020, and the site has been eyed for redevelopment for years but has been stuck in limbo amid a lengthy legal dispute between the city and the property owners the company that acquired Sears Holdings' assets in 2019 a year after the legacy retailer went bankrupt filed a suit in 2022 challenging Hackensack’s plan that called for the preservation of the building’s façade and tower The company claimed Hackensack had "downzoned" the site and limited what it could do with the property The parties came to an agreement in January 2023 that seemed to clear the way for development at the site and several other related limited liability corporations that owned the building sued in September 2024 claiming the settlement with Transform which holds a long-term lease on the building and owns the surrounding property The city council in March 2024 then voted to move to condemn the property which officials said had become derelict with boarded over and blacked out windows and was used for illegal parking and dumping the developer behind the nearby Print House complex on River Street acknowledged it is the developer of the site but could not be reached for additional comment a mixed-use building of up to 325 units and a minimum 12,000 square feet of retail space on the first floor will be allowed at the site More: Hackensack residents say 19-story assisted living facility plan would hurt city The original building and the tower at the corner of Main and Anderson streets will remain and will be flanked by the new development on the sides of the property facing River Street and Main Street The structures that were later additions to the original Sears Roebuck and Co that opened in Hackensack in 1932 will be demolished The plan calls for the existing historic façade to be preserved The first floor of the Sears building will be used for retail which were once a part of the original storefront before they were walled off to pedestrian traffic they’re going to bring back the windows and doorways,” said Albert Dib “All that had been bricked over or enclosed will be brought back to its original glory and will interact with the Main Street side.” The tower currently houses the building’s mechanical and ventilation systems and it is unclear how it will be used as part of the new development A more detailed plan will eventually come before the city Planning Board for approval The Sears building is one of several historic structures the city has pushed to preserve rather than replace amid a wave of development that has transformed Hackensack’s downtown in recent years A 140-year-old former Masonic temple on State Street was reinvented as the Hackensack Performing Arts Center a live entertainment venue that hosts concerts A 10-story former bank on Main Street was converted into an apartment building with a ground-floor restaurant The city’s downtown redevelopment plan calls for the preservation of landmark buildings “where you have historic structures that lend themselves to adaptive reuse,” Dib said “One of the goals is to preserve a sense of place when you can,” he said this building is part of the fabric of the downtown and should be preserved as it can be while still satisfying the goals of the downtown redevelopment plan HACKENSACK — A 222-unit mixed use apartment building has opened near the Anderson Street Train Station at the former site of the longtime seafood restaurant Rudy's two mixed-use buildings and the city's former Building Department is the first new development to open on the street a short commercial strip with a mix of restaurants small businesses and several older apartment buildings that has undergone a transformation in recent years Three storefronts with a total of about 4,000 square feet have already been leased to a logistics service that supports shipping companies a restaurant with space for people to bring laptops and work and a café selling coffee and bagels one-bedrooms with a den and two-bedroom units Rents for a two-bedroom apartment begin at about $2,600 a month “The building is designed almost like a hotel-style resort,” he said almost like they are on vacation all of the time and you’re coming into a relaxing environment.” kitchen islands Wi-Fi thermostats and fully tiled bathrooms Amenities include coworking and private office space The development’s outdoor space features a pool and barbecue area on the third floor a rooftop deck with firepits and televisions and a dog run in the back of the building The building’s location — just a short walk from the train station and close to highways and bus lines — make it ideal for commuters “The beautiful thing about this building is you don’t have to move your car you just walk to the train station,” he said The neighborhood has been undergoing improvements $625,000 Neighborhood Preservation Program grant awarded by the state in 2022 Another mixed-use building with 340 units is planned just down the block from The Forte at the site of a shuttered Walgreens pharmacy and several other storefronts The city Planning Board approved that project in November after rejecting a slightly larger plan to develop the site earlier last year The project was approved despite opposition from many residents who said the building did not fit the character of the surrounding residential neighborhood But city officials at the time said the project would help revitalize the neighborhood significantly increase revenue for the city and benefit local businesses hundreds of new residents will be living on the street “We’re happy to invest in Hackensack because we see the future of Hackensack and Bergen County,” Fouerti said Our pulmonary and thoracic specialists diagnose and treat a full range of lung and airway conditions Specialized lung care for children with asthma NJ thoracic surgery: Minimally invasive procedures including immunotherapy and robotic surgery Comprehensive care for sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and insomnia our nationally recognized team of pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons is dedicated to providing leading-edge Find a lung care specialist or care location close to home Search our network of pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons and make an appointment today We have several conveniently located pulmonary care and thoracic surgery centers across New Jersey COVID-19 and RSV just need to run their course but humidifiers can help make recovery a bit smoother Learn how to differentiate symptoms & protect your child It isn't difficult to rattle off numerous reasons why quitting smoking is the most important health decision you will ever make.  HACKENSACK — The city Zoning Board of Adjustment has rejected an application for a 19-story assisted living facility on Prospect Avenue after more than a year and a half of hearings on the project with frontage on Prospect and Summit avenues The plans also included a community park with a therapeutic garden and a dog run Many residents fiercely opposed the proposal for 329 Prospect Ave., saying the building would be out of character for the neighborhood bring additional noise and traffic to the area and strain the city's public services and sewer system The board’s unanimous vote last week was met with applause from residents who had packed the council chamber for the meeting because these are all people who came month after month and put their time and effort in it,” said Diane Some “We were just thrilled that that’s the way it went The proposed building would have been nearly three times the allowable density of dwelling units in the zone many of the apartment buildings along Prospect Avenue go well beyond that The City Council made zoning changes to lower the density limit to 50 units per acre about a decade ago to protect residential neighborhoods from overdevelopment seven-story apartment buildings stand on either side of the property the street is less dense and lined with two-story residential homes it might seem like a missed opportunity to support our seniors this project just didn’t make sense for Hackensack,” said Andee Post The Fire Department is “already stretched thin,” she said “Imagine the danger if there were a car fire in an underground garage beneath a high-rise filled with seniors and those with limited mobility.” The 1.51-acre site had been eyed for development in the past The board unanimously denied an application for a 19-story long-term That plan also drew widespread protest from residents who argued that the hospital would have brought traffic congestion and parking problems to the neighborhood The recent application may also be appealed or amended and brought back before the board residents said they were relieved with the outcome but it was a good feeling to know the efforts were put in and they made that decision,” Some said announced his opposition to the project shortly before the meeting explaining that longstanding city policy has been not to comment on zoning board applications he and his campaign slate were “ecstatic to see this project that presented a serious threat to quality of life in our community be denied by the zoning board.” balanced development that benefits our city without negatively impacting existing residential neighborhoods and this assisted living proposal clearly did not fit with that vision,” he said a candidate on the Hackensack Unites ticket a slate challenging Labrosse and his team in the election credited residents for standing up for the community over the course of the hearings “I want to thank all of my neighbors who have been attending these meetings for months “No matter how hard City Hall tries to squash resident voices HACKENSACK — A county project to provide affordable housing to people new to public service careers and medicine and upgrade the Hackensack Bus Terminal is moving forward will replace the former Bergen County probation building The project advanced after the city Planning Board reviewed it on Wednesday “We all know how difficult it is to afford housing when someone is just starting out in a career This development will deliver housing to newly hired local public safety workers such as firefighters and police officers,” Jim Tedesco “This building will provide much-needed housing for veterans deliver housing for people who may have never been able to afford living in this exciting city and improve pedestrian and traffic safety in the middle of a city experiencing a true rebirth,” he said Who will live in planned Bergen County Hackensack building?A five-story mixed-use section of the building will provide the county with two floors of office space two street-level retail spaces available for rent a two-floor health and wellness center and a parking garage for county employees County officials said they hope to include some public parking for people visiting downtown Hackensack 168-unit residential tower will have a separate street-level entrance for tenants It will feature a roof terrace with a garden Indoor amenities will include a golf simulator The apartments — a mix of studios and one- and two bedrooms — will be “work force” rental units for people starting out as police officers nurses and teachers or beginning other careers in public service and medicine Ten of the 168 units will be set aside for veterans “We all know that these types of professions are facing severe hiring challenges but by providing housing that is affordable at the early stages of their careers we hope to get more people interested in filling these types of jobs and staying in Hackensack and Bergen County,” Tedesco said Renters would stay in the building for the first few years of their career and move into market-rate housing as their salaries increase The tenants would have to meet certain requirements and would be chosen through a lottery system “The goal is to give them a year or two in housing like this to strengthen their financial position and move along in their careers,” Duch said “We expect there to be significant demand.” The planned bus terminal will be covered and include a waiting room bathrooms and a small area for prepared food and coffee “The times of waiting outside in freezing cold or boiling temperatures will be gone,” Tedesco said The new terminal will also be equipped to accommodate electric buses and its design will limit the idling of buses that currently wait outside and around the existing terminal A planned traffic pattern is designed to improve pedestrian and vehicle safety in the area and eliminate bus traffic going north on Moore Street from the entrance of the new bus terminal and west on Mercer Street County and city officials have worked on plans for the project for years The old probation building at 133 River St flooded during Superstorm Sandy more than a decade ago and was eventually condemned and torn down will sell the property to the county as part of the redevelopment agreement Just across River Street is the Print House The county hopes to break ground at the end of this year with construction taking about 18 months to two years to complete The project will be financed through the Bergen County Improvement Authority and the issuance of bonds and will be in part paid back by people renting the apartments and a long-term agreement with NJ Transit “It’s providing housing people are looking for at a cost they can afford and the transit component will help ensure that downtown Hackensack is a transit hub for commuters coming and going from New York City.” HACKENSACK — The City Council decided not to allow early voting in the May municipal election despite calls for expanding voter access from a slate of rival council candidates representatives of the Bergen County NAACP and city residents Mayor John Labrosse said Tuesday that the council decided against it after checking with Lyndhurst — the only other Bergen County municipality holding an election this May — and learning that the township is not offering early in-person voting “The majority of this council feels there are plenty of ways to vote You have mail-in voting; you can drop your ballot off anytime in a drop box Not to mention the polls are open that Tuesday.” a slate of five candidates challenging Labrosse's team in the election wrote a letter to the council last month urging members to vote to request the option from the Bergen County clerk for three days of early voting Philip Carroll and Sonya Clark-Collins — will face Labrosse Marlene Somerville and Richard Garcia in the City Council election on May 13 the state Legislature made three days of early voting available in May municipal elections The state first allowed early voting in November of that year and the option has proved very popular with voters Nearly 1.2 million voters cast machine ballots early ahead of Election Day last year Clark-Collins said Thursday that after more than a century of voters across the U.S it was “astounding” the city made a choice to “prevent people from voting in the year 2025.” Mayor Labrosse and Deputy Mayor Canestrino showed Hackensack that protecting Team Labrosse’s tight grip on power is more important than letting the residents of Hackensack have a voice,” she said “This is not the type of leadership our community deserves.” said the council was willing to explore the issue but the Hackensack United campaign engaged in “political gamesmanship” when it launched a challenge to the campaign’s nominating petitions trying to “disenfranchise Hackensack voters and deny them a choice in the May election.” who is the president of the Hackensack teachers’ union has claimed that the current system does not allow for sufficient voter participation but his own union elections are far more restrictive “Because of this egregious attempt by Hackensack United to manipulate the electoral process as well as the clear hypocrisy at play by Gaines the Labrosse Team will not allow any further threats to the integrity of the municipal election and it will be conducted in the same manner that it has been in previous years,” she said But Gaines said that since becoming president he has expanded access to the ballot by working with election committee members to allow remote voting for five days “This is five times the available voting in the May municipal election,” he said “Our democracy is built on the principle that every single citizen should have the opportunity to vote,” she said voting on Election Day is not always a viable option fam obligations and other personal challenges often make it difficult to get to the polls on a single day Early voting provides a solution to this problem and ensures that all our residents have a fair chance to participate in the electoral process.” said the petition challenge was filed preemptively on March 3 because a public records request for the petitions for the Labrosse team was fulfilled just 23 minutes before the deadline to challenge that afternoon with 1,100 pages to review “I don’t know any human who can read and verify documents at a pace of 48 pages per minute so John Labrosse and Kathy Canestrino can stop hiding behind their undermining of democracy so they can give out even more giant tax breaks to their corporate developer friends,” he said when the most recent City Council election was held and in 2017 just over 4,000 voters went to the polls There are 28,755 registered voters living in the city of just under 46,000 residents Labrosse and Canestrino were elected by less than 8% of the city's voters in 2021 I implore everyone to get to the polls and vote,” she said “I can absolutely promise our community that once elected the Hackensack Unites team will defend democracy and make sure voters have every tool possible to be civically engaged residents.” New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive health system topped off construction of its one-of-a-kind health and wellness center at a transit hub the Hackensack Meridian Health & Wellness Center at Metropark  will provide convenient access to comprehensive care to thousands of New Jersey New York and Northeast residents each day.  ”Hackensack Meridian Health is thrilled to be one step closer to bringing this ground breaking project to reality,”  said Robert C chief executive officer of Hackensack Meridian Health. “The Health & Wellness Center at Metropark is a significant part of how Hackensack Meridian Health is  making it easier to access convenient,  quality care by bringing the doctor’s office into the heart of the community and just steps away from a patient’s daily commute.”  The Hackensack Meridian Health and Wellness Center at Metropark will offer more than 60,000 square feet of healthcare services just steps from one of the state’s busiest mass transit hubs With a comprehensive list of  health services the Health and Wellness Center at Metropark will offer a one-stop-shop convenient health experience for patients The health and wellness center will provide convenient world class care for those who regularly use NJ TRANSIT’s train and bus service at Metropark Station It will also offer easily accessible medical care for those traveling the entire Northeast including New York City along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor line.   The Health and Wellness Center also addresses a growing need for world class quality care in the Woodbridge and Middlesex County area with easy access from the Garden State Parkway and Middlesex Essex Turnpike.  “Woodbridge has been a committed supporter of this development since Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) broke ground last year and with every milestone in this process our enthusiasm has grown,” said Woodbridge Township Mayor John E McCormac.   “In addition to HMH ’s first of its kind health care facility at the Woodbridge Metropark Station the development will bring much needed healthcare providers and services to our Township along with significant community benefits that will provide valuable health care resources to our residents.” A model like this is important in suburban areas where currently most healthcare is primarily only accessible by car.  As one of the first health systems to provide comprehensive outpatient services directly at a transit hub Hackensack Meridian is establishing a new model of care for other health systems to emulate Last March HMH broke ground on the  $200 million project in conjunction with the larger development of Metropark Station by DOR, a consortium led by  Russo Development that was awarded a $110 million tax credit grant.  The impetus for the development came from New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s push to modernize transportation hubs throughout the state making them multi-use locations for residential “On behalf of our partners Onyx Equities and Terminal Construction we could not be more pleased with the opportunity to redefine the MetroPark Station and Hackensack Meridian’s vision in creating its new life,” says Ed Russo president of Russo Development.  “It is especially gratifying to celebrate a topping off that incorporates a fantastic set of collaborators Following the completion of the HMH Metropark building a residential building will be constructed with retail on the lower level and approximately 230 residential units With the residential growth in the immediate area surrounding Metropark and the surrounding communities there will be a greater need for accessible health care that the Hackensack Meridian Health and Wellness Center will be able to accommodate “Hackensack Meridian Health’s new health care center is strategically located adjacent to a major mass transit hub along some of New Jersey’s busiest thoroughfares expanding access to high-quality care to residents and commuters traveling across the state,” said New Jersey Economic Development Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan “This massive investment advances Governor Murphy’s vision of revitalizing our communities through transit-oriented development which is helping drive job creation and economic growth The NJEDA is proud to support HMH’s state-of-the-art medical hub and is looking forward to the project’s next phase which will create new housing options for New Jersey’s families.” The Health & Wellness Center at Metropark expands on Hackensack Meridian Health’s broader effort to better serve patients by bringing together key network physicians and ambulatory services under one roof in easily accessible neighborhoods throughout our community.  In the last several years Hackensack Meridian Health has opened outpatient care center locations across the state including in  Eatontown The project will also consolidate Hackensack Meridian’s corporate offices within the upper floors of the Metropark facility allowing HMH to continue to attract top talent from the metro area.  “Today marks a significant milestone toward a commitment to fostering a vibrant transit-centered community anchored by NJ TRANSIT’s Metropark Station This project not only drives economic growth but also exemplifies the power of strong partnerships—with Hackensack Meridian Health providing world-class healthcare and jobs accessible by public transit and outstanding leadership at the state and local level,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri. “I also want to commend the DOR team for their dedication to the timely execution of delivering this transformative development which aligns with our vision for sustainable The Hackensack Meridian Health and Wellness Center at Metropark is scheduled to open in Fall 2025.  Additional renderings of the Hackensack Meridian Health and Wellness Center at Metropark are available here HACKENSACK — A slate of challengers running for council is pushing the city to allow early voting in the May election arguing it will increase voter turnout and engagement a slate of five candidates challenging Mayor John Labrosse’s team in the election wrote a letter to the council urging members to vote to request the option from the Bergen County Clerk for three days of early voting city officials have not acted on the request City officials declined to comment on the issue but a spokesperson for the incumbents’ campaign said they may discuss it at Tuesday’s council meeting The Hackensack Unites candidates — Caseen Gaines Philip Carroll and Sonya Clark-Collins — last week delivered more than 400 petitions to the city clerk to secure a spot on the ballot Marlene Somerville and Richard Garcia in the city council election on May 13 The city votes for five members of the council at large in a nonpartisan election held every four years access to the ballot box has expanded with early voting available in municipal races held in November,” said Jason DeAlessi the campaign manager for the Hackensack Unites ticket “Hackensack Unites wants even more voters to have a say in electing a new council That can be accomplished by expanding access to the ballot box.” the candidates warned that failing to request early voting would "be a direct effort to disenfranchise Hackensack voters since early voting is automatically available" to voters throughout the state who participate in partisan municipal elections The state first allowed early voting in November 2021 under a bill signed earlier that year The option has proven very popular with voters with a record of nearly 1.2 million voters casting machine ballots early signing a bill to extend the early in-person voting period in New Jersey primaries to six days the state Legislature also made three days of early voting available in May municipal elections In the last Hackensack Council election in 2021 There are about 28,755 registered voters living in the city of just under 46,000 residents less than 16% of voters will have a say in this year’s election,” DeAlessi said “We’re committed to fighting for democracy by expanding access to the polls through the implementation of early voting for the first time in city history at no cost to Hackensack taxpayers.” New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive health network has been included in the Fortune list of “America’s Most Innovative Companies.” The health network was named to the list for the second year in a row It is among a select group of health systems among all industries nationwide to be recognized “We are constantly striving to do things better the chief executive officer of Hackensack Meridian Health nurses and experts from so many fields continually make us better we are all working in the same direction for the health of all This is the way we keep challenging ourselves to improve.” “Innovation is what drives outcomes - now and into the future” added Ihor Sawczuk Hackensack Meridian Health’s president of Academics founding chair of the Hackensack Meridian Health Research Institute (HMHRI) and associate dean of Clinical Integration and professor and chair emeritus of Urology at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine bringing together world-class care and research from across New Jersey The Hackensack Meridian Health Research Institute was created in 2022 to centralize all the lines of scientific inquiry from across the entire health network spanning 18 hospitals and more than 500 patient care locations The HMHRI operates a connected academic and research ecosystem across HMH which is focused on developing novel translational therapies for a wide range of health conditions: solid and liquid cancers Other focused inquiry is on cardiovascular Among the key components of the HMHRI is the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) established in 2019 to conduct science with clinical impact by translating insights from molecular and cellular science to improve patient outcomes The CDI comprises 32 state-of-the-art laboratories and more than 200 scientists and staff housing federally-supported programs seeking next-generation drugs for drug-resistant bacteria The growth of the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine is another crucial catalyst in Hackensack Meridian Health’s ecosystem The state’s newest medical school admitted its first students in 2018 and boasts a progressive vision of medical education based on humanism and community outreach many of whom are currently healing in HMH clinical locations and at other institutions across the country Among the highlights what’s happening across this dynamic ecosystem: EDISON - A contract stalemate between Hackensack Meridian Health and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey the largest health insurance provider in the state has come under bipartisan criticism for potentially putting thousands of patients in medical limbo this summer “It’s extremely frustrating that Hackensack Meridian and Horizon are jeopardizing access to essential care for hundreds of thousands of families across our state," said Democratic District 6 Congressman Frank Pallone "These companies need to get serious about finding a quick resolution that protects patients and ensures people can get the care they need.” "Hundreds of thousands of New Jersey patients rely on the care provided by Hackensack Meridian’s 18 hospital facilities across New Jersey and the prospect of patients being unable to access necessary and lifesaving services under their Horizon policy is alarming," said Republican District 21 Jon Bramnick who is also running in the GOP gubernatorial primary Bramnick said the inability of the two reach an agreement is "unacceptable."   "I urge both sides to continue working at the negotiating table in good faith to reach a compromise that will avoid any devastating interruptions in services and puts patients over profits,” Pallone said The hospital system and the insurance company announced on Thursday that they were unable to reach agreement on a new contract after the present one expired Feb Horizon covers more than 3 million New Jersey residents Hackensack Meridian operates 18 hospitals across the state including Central Jersey's JFK University Medical Center Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy and Carrier Clinic in Montgomery Coverage provided by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey will continue for the next four months at Hackensack Merdian Health hospitals potentially allowing time for the sides to hammer out a deal Hackensack Meridian will terminate Horizon in-network benefits on June 1 unless the insurer agrees to higher reimbursement rates More: Is your NJ hospital among best, worst? Check list of latest federal quality ratings "Horizon is offering a fair and reasonable price increase," Wilson said but argued that Hackensack Meridian "is demanding an increase that is much higher than the rate of inflation." Horizon's proposal includes "inadequate reimbursement rates" and "significant changes" to previously agreed-upon contract terms a spokeswoman for the Hackensack Meridian hospital network Hackensack Meridian "must receive fair care reimbursements from Horizon to continue to invest in the care and locations that the local communities we serve rely on and expect," Nussman said in a statement Hackensack Meridian said its demands are similar to those agreed upon in recent years by other insurance companies But Horizon said Hackensack's prices have increased by more than the rate of inflation over the past five years and "is already among the most expensive hospital systems in New Jersey." It does not affect Hackensack Meridian primary care and specialty physician practices It also does not affect Horizon customers covered by a Braven Health Scott Fallon of NorthJersey.com contributed to this story HACKENSACK — The city Zoning Board will continue to hear an application for a 19-story assisted living facility on Prospect Avenue on Thursday is proposing 150 residential units and 250 parking spaces below ground The units would be split between 45 studios The developer also plans on creating a community park with a therapeutic garden and a dog run as part of the project the board has heard testimony on details of the proposed development at 329 Prospect Ave. construction and stormwater impacts to the community Some residents have opposed the application saying it would bring additional noise and traffic to the area and strain the city's public services and sewer system said the proposed business to provide “long-term care for the aged staffed by employees who provide such care,” would be inconsistent with the residential zoning of the site “The fact that there are vacant lots in a residential district available for development cannot be justification for the board to ignore the intent of the guidelines” to maintain separate residential and business areas of the city third-generation city resident who lives nearby said Wednesday that the proposed building is out of character for the neighborhood “I feel I have a vested interest in Hackensack I remember how it was years ago; I understand changes are necessary but this is a residential street and to put this type of facility where beautiful homes used to be but not a 19-story assisted living facility.” Some is part of a group of residents who oppose the project She said she is hoping for a big turnout on Thursday to voice their concerns to the board “Hopefully everyone will be coming out in force,” she said “We’re really concerned — it’s going to change the whole face of Summit Avenue.”  On either side of the property on Prospect are seven-story apartment buildings but on Summit Avenue the area is less dense with two-story houses bordering the 1.51-acre site The allowable density of dwelling units in the zone is 50 units per acre the maximum number of units allowed at 329 Prospect would be 58 is 261% over the allowable density — the same percentage as the proposed facility declined to comment and said there would likely be several more board meetings before a vote Hackensack Meridian Health and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey announced Monday they had reached a multi-year agreement that ensures patients with Horizon plans will continue to have uninterrupted The agreement between two of the state’s largest healthcare companies was reached two months before the June 1 deadline to negotiate a new contract the two companies reported they were in stalemate over payment rates that threatened to leave millions of New Jerseyans insured by Horizon without “in-network” access to HMH hospitals Hackensack Meridian Health is committed each day to ensuring that our patients have access to high-quality “We are thrilled to have reached a resolution with Horizon ensuring that our world-class team members can continue to provide excellent care to the patients and communities we serve “All of us in health care have an obligation to work to make health care more affordable and accessible,” said Gary D “This agreement reflects our shared belief that health care works best when providers and insurers work together to put the people we serve at the center of everything we do.”  Sign up to receive our daily e-news service six days per week It features important business news and information for a business like yours New Jersey Business Today is delivered to your inbox at 4:00 pm You will also receive a digital edition of New Jersey Business magazine at the beginning of the month Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Two of New Jersey's largest forces in health care — Hackensack Meridian Health which provides medical insurance — reached an agreement Monday on a new multi-year contract ending an impasse that put care for potentially millions of patients at risk The deal was agreed upon two months before upward of 3 million New Jerseyans would have become unable to use their Horizon insurance at Hackensack Meridian's 18 hospitals The sides were far apart at the beginning of the year with reimbursement rates at the center of the dispute — which is typical in almost all negotiations between providers and payers Hackensack Meridian executives said Horizon needed to pay more as the hospital system continues to invest in technology and infrastructure Horizon said it had increased its reimbursement rates by two levels that were adequate and fair both sides appeared to be happy with the deal Hackensack Meridian CEO Robert Garrett said he was "thrilled" that an agreement was reached Hilaire said it shows what happens "when providers and insurers work together to put the people we serve at the center of everything we do.” Hackensack Meridian is the largest hospital network in New Jersey including some of the state's largest hospitals such as Hackensack University Medical Center and Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield is the state's largest health insurer It seems to happen more often: An insurer and health care network can't agree on a contract customers will need to find another provider who is in network or pay more for their care knowing they can't change insurers until the new year A state lawmaker wants to put an end to that Holly Schepisi plans to introduce a bill this week that would let consumers re-enroll in a different insurance plan if their provider networks change in the middle of the year "This is becoming more commonplace between the large hospital networks and medical providers and the insurance companies and the only people who end up getting hurt are the consumers and the patients," said Schepisi Health costs: Ocean County health care spending 13th highest among over 3,000 counties nationwide The stalemate raises the prospect that Horizon's commercial customers will see Hackensack Meridian's 18 hospitals — including Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune Hackensack University Medical Center and JFK Medical Center in Edison — effectively shift from in-network to out-of-network beginning June 1 What's it cost? Shore-area hospital price lists shrouded in secrecy, leaving consumers flying blind and projections from other analysts predict faster growth in 2025 Hackensack Meridian sent letters in January to Horizon customers warning them that the two sides couldn't reach an agreement on a new contract and it was removing its hospitals from the insurance company's in-network provider list Federal regulations require Hackensack Meridian to allow Horizon patients to continue their care until June 1 a non-elective surgery or pregnancy could continue to receive care for another 90 days Other patients could continue to visit the hospitals The dispute doesn't apply to customers covered through Medicaid or its Braven Medicare Advantage plan And it doesn't apply to Hackensack Meridian physicians such as primary care providers Report: Few NJ hospitals follow federal rules to reveal prices, and they're getting worse Horizon said it is continuing to work with Hackensack Meridian on an agreement already among the most expensive hospital systems in New Jersey is seeking an increase that is much higher than the rate of inflation leading to higher out-of-pocket costs and premiums Hackensack Meridian said the reimbursement rates offered by Horizon were inadequate But it "remains committed to reaching an agreement with Horizon and ensuring that all HMH patients can access their trusted HMH hospitals and physicians," officials said Tuesday Consumers hold the bagThe dispute leaves consumers vulnerable to losing their care Consumers typically pick an insurance plan that has a network of providers and goes into effect Jan they have to wait until the fall to shop for a new plan that would begin the following year The rules are designed to make sure consumers don't wait until they get sick to buy insurance keeping healthy people in the pool and preventing rates from skyrocketing Growing in NJ: Rutgers Health has big plans to spend $47.5M on new ideas at gleaming new Helix tower But the contract between an insurance company and health provider could end in the middle of the year and consumers could lose providers they assumed would be in their network the consumer is left in the middle," said Dane Mihlon chose Horizon this year because their providers were in network "In fairness to brokers or people that negotiate these "You're holding the consumer hostage again," he said "That's probably what I hate about it most." State and federal legislators said their offices have received phone calls from consumers worried that they will need to find a new hospital to continue their treatment They have urged Horizon and Hackensack Meridian to reach an agreement consumers are left to watch the negotiations play out sponsored the federal No Surprises Act that took effect in 2022 and requires providers and insurers to continue care for patients with serious illnesses for 90 days He said in an interview he has asked Horizon and Hackensack Meridian executives for weekly updates Monmouth, Ocean hospital safety grades: Why does this one hospital keep coming up short? "I'm open to anything that puts the consumer first right now," he said There's nothing that says that you can get out of your contract and go somewhere else because you have your open enrollment season Her proposed legislation would create a special enrollment period for consumers whose networks change mid-year giving them a chance to find a different insurer Both Hackensack Meridian and the New Jersey Hospital Association seemed to support Schepisi's idea president of the New Jersey Association of Insurance Providers The bill wouldn't come without complications in the intricate health care system it isn't clear if consumers covered through private employers which is typically governed by federal law "The consumer gets caught in the middle of all their negotiations," Vitale said Diamond is a business reporter for the Asbury Park Press He has been writing about the New Jersey economy and health care industry since 1999 He can be reached at mdiamond@gannettnj.com HACKENSACK — Two and a half years after he was hired as director of the city Police Department Ray Guidetti announced Thursday he will be leaving the position at the end of the month Guidetti was appointed police director in August 2022 and sought to reform the troubled department which had faced years of turmoil and infighting He was hired after an independent assessment found overtime abuses by some of the department's ranking officers and a drop in arrests Guidetti has made sweeping reforms to the troubled department bringing in new technology and systems to oversee overtime and increasing the department's focus on community engagement the Hackensack Police Department was in crisis,” said Mayor John Labrosse hundreds of thousands of dollars were being siphoned off by a select few and some entitled police superior officers seemed more focused on padding their paychecks than serving the public But his time as director has also been marred by numerous grievances and lawsuits filed by officers against the director PBA Local 9A voted to express no confidence in his leadership the union representing the city's rank-and-file officers In April, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office took control of the city department's internal affairs bureau and office of professional standards. The Justice Department's Community Oriented Policing Services office is working with the department to conduct an assessment and plan for its future said Guidetti's announcement "couldn't have come soon enough." "So much for the one-year extension the mayor and council touted just a day after the unions delivered a vote of no confidence in him," Cavallo said the director has driven a wedge between the police department and the community unraveling years of dedicated efforts by our officers to build strong Thursday's announcement was "yet another attempt" by the city to "cast doubt on the hardworking men and women of this department once again reviving false allegations of corruption," he said Local: Candidates challenging Hackensack mayor, council want early voting. Can it happen? Every claim of impropriety has been investigated The city went as far as to ask the state attorney general last year to review "their baseless allegations," he said we can get back to bridging the gap which he created." In October, the city swore in Capt. Mike Antista, the department's officer in charge Guidetti said he would remain with the department for a period to guide it in the right direction and assist while the justice department worked with Hackensack “Ray Guidetti has been an incredible mentor to me and so many others in the department,” Antista said “His vision and guidance helped set the foundation for the future of this department We owe him a great deal of gratitude for positioning the HPD for long-term success.” city officials said "hundreds of thousands of dollars were wasted by financial mismanagement overtime pay abuses and a glaring lack of actual police work" before Guidetti took control mostly "disgruntled officers" who "sought to dissuade him from holding them accountable using well-known intimidation tactics." and there will always be those who oppose change,” Labrosse said “We know that the overwhelming majority of Hackensack’s officers are dedicated to public safety and professionalism and we will continue working to support them while addressing those who put personal profit ahead of their duty.” Guidetti expressed pride in the reforms made during his time in Hackensack “I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together,” he said “The Hackensack Police Department is stronger and better equipped to serve the community than ever before I leave knowing that the department is in great hands under Chief Antista and the dedicated officers who work tirelessly every day to keep this city safe.” HACKENSACK — A slate of candidates plans to challenge Mayor John Labrosse’s team in the May election for City Council Philip Carroll and Sonya Clark-Collins — who call their slate Hackensack Unites announced their campaign at a kickoff event Thursday night The candidates had been collecting petition signatures ahead of the event to qualify to run in the May 13 election They crossed the threshold of signatures needed to challenge the Labrosse team during the event Early spring?: Will spring in NJ be cold and wet or warm and dry? Old Farmer's Almanac makes prediction The group came together after a series of community meetings where residents discussed development a Hackensack schoolteacher and president of the local teachers’ union “The main thing that brought us together is that taxes are up in Hackensack and the haphazard development efforts that have given these 30-year tax exemptions to corporate landlords has gotten completely out of control,” he said These development efforts were supposed to lower taxes and no one has seen lower taxes since John Labrosse came onto the council.” Toomey served for nearly four decades as director of the city’s Human Services Department; Diaz is an adjunct professor and former associate director of Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Puerta al Futuro bilingual program; Carroll is a retired Hackensack police officer who focused on community policing; and Clark-Collins is a member of the Hackensack Rent Stabilization Board and the Work Group a community organization that has spent years advocating for affordable housing As development has boomed and the city has grown the city’s workforce and services have not kept pace “This council is more focused on redevelopment projects than on supporting the hardworking individuals who make our city function and keep our residents safe,” Carroll's statement said The ticket aims to rebuild trust with the community and “give residents a seat at the table,” Gaines said Residents have not seen the promised benefits of the recent development push “The Labrosse luxury apartments are so expensive you’d be better off getting a mortgage,” Clark-Collins said in a statement We’ve been told these buildings have lowered taxes Last week, Labrosse and Deputy Mayor Kathy Canestrino announced they will run together for reelection with three new candidates — Marlene Somerville Lance Powell and Marco Manuel Howington — on their ticket The name of the Hackensack Unites slate — the campaign moniker also used by the winning ticket in November’s school board race — is a nod to the concerted effort to bring different grassroots community groups together “and see if we can get on the same page to bring about change in Hackensack," said Gaines “This is a big-tent effort about more than politics “It came out of individuals that were really frustrated at not being heard and feeling squeezed by the failed politics” of the current administration Hackensack holds a nonpartisan election for all five members of the council Petitions to run for council in the municipal election on May 13 are available at the Hackensack City Clerk’s Office The last day to file petitions of nomination and acceptance is Feb HACKENSACK — Mayor John Labrosse and Deputy Mayor Kathy Canestrino announced Tuesday that they will run together for reelection in May with three new candidates for City Council on their ticket Labrosse and Canestrino will run as part of a slate with Marlene Somerville a management consultant and former city school board member an educator and former Hackensack Board of Education President and Marco Manuel Howington Powell and Somerville lost their bids for reelection to the city Board of Education in November Labrosse was first elected to the council in 2009 and has served as mayor since 2013 “Our hometown has made tremendous progress but there’s more work to do to reach our goal of making Hackensack one of America’s premier small cities,” Labrosse said in a statement “I’m excited to run on our record of revitalization and progress and I can’t wait to share all the positive things happening with our residents while introducing them to three new members of our team who are committed to keeping Hackensack moving forward.” More in Hackensack: You can weigh in before Hackensack votes on 19-story assisted living facility. Here's how The announced slate is a break from the ticket Labrosse and Canestrino ran with four years ago when they ran with council members Leo Battaglia Gerard Carroll and Stephanie Von Rudenborg Battaglia, who was first elected in 2013, has been embroiled in a months-long controversy over statements he allegedly made in September in which he allegedly made racially charged comments about Hackensack High School soccer coach Shaun Holder at a high school soccer game many community members called for Battaglia's resignation but did not say when he planned to step down who immigrated to the United States from Ecuador later said he did not intend his reference to Holder as "el coach moreno" to be offensive and that he "deeply" regretted "that this reference is being misconstrued." Battaglia on Tuesday said he does not plan to leave his council seat and is still weighing whether to run for reelection "The Labrosse team made the decision to remove me from the ticket just two days after the alleged racial incident at the Paramus High School field — a claim that was fabricated and never properly investigated," he said "I want to make it clear that I had no intention of retiring." was dropped from Labrosse’s ticket amid the controversy He said he was removed from the reelection ticket because he had planned to speak out about Battaglia’s comments Labrosse said Carroll had planned on reading a statement at a public meeting calling the entire council racist More: Hackensack artist Maria Teresa Ortiz-Naretto's work on display. Here's where The Labrosse campaign in September sent out a news release announcing that he Canestrino and Von Rudenborg would be running for reelection Von Rudenborg has decided not to run and instead focus on family and career obligations Carroll and Von Rudenborg did not immediately respond to requests for comment the slate said it plans to run on its record of redeveloping the city’s “once dilapidated downtown creating hundreds of units of affordable housing and investing in the city’s parks recreation facilities and infrastructure.” “When our team took office Main Street was full of rundown empty buildings and could be dangerous after dark,” Canestrino said in a statement “River Street really was a river whenever it rained and many homeowners had several feet of water in their basements.” Before she and Labrosse joined the council Hackensack was plagued by machine politics and mismanagement but we are not done yet — we are running in May to finish the job and ensure that Hackensack is set up for success for decades to come,” she said Binghamton University and Hackensack Meridian Health are continuing to strengthen their partnership Following “Match Day,” several soon-to-be Binghamton pharmacy school graduates and alumni found out where they would be going for their residency a Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences alum and Long Island University pharmacy school graduate learned she had matched with Hackensack Meridian Health for her PGY-2 residency “I was so happy when I found out I matched with HMH I actually shouted in my office!” Park said “It was my first choice and I had such a great experience during the interview process My conversations with the program director residency coordinators and preceptors were memorable and left a lasting impression on me which made ranking HMH as my top choice an easy decision.” so it’s only fitting she matched with HMH’s PGY-2 ambulatory care program “I am especially interested in chronic disease management and primary care with a focus on specialty medications,” she said “I see so much value in optimizing pharmacotherapy in these areas and believe ambulatory care pharmacists can make a meaningful impact on patient outcomes.” HMH and Binghamton have worked together to have Binghamton alumni find a home at HMH residency programs “We are beyond excited to welcome Jae Hee Park as our newest PGY-2 Ambulatory Care pharmacy resident,” said Devang Shah the PGY-2 ambulatory care pharmacy residency program director at HMH “With a passion for clinical excellence and drive for impactful patient care Jae Hee is poised to thrive in HMH’s dynamic environment focused on future-ready healthcare leadership development and BUSOPPS’s diverse teaching opportunities This powerful combination will empower Jae Hee to grow as a leader educator and advocate for exceptional pharmacy practice We can’t wait to see the incredible impact Jae Hee will make.” Residency programs give incoming pharmacists invaluable experience in their fields and prepare them for the next steps wherever they decide to go ”I hope to grow into a confident and competent ambulatory care pharmacist,” Park said build my knowledge of specialty medications and their role in outpatient care and develop as both a leader and future preceptor I also look forward to learning more about population health and how it applies to patient care especially from a pharmacotherapy perspective.” “It is such an honor to welcome Jae Hee Park as our 2025-2026 PGY-2 Ambulatory Care pharmacy resident,” said Lucrecia Campisi the PGY-2 ambulatory care pharmacy residency coordinator “Jae Hee has distinguished herself as both a pharmacist and leader and is well-equipped to take on this role bolstered by her passion for pharmaceutical sciences Jae Hee will be able to successfully connect with her patients while also applying her skills at a population-wide level We are confident that she will excel in this new position.” Park says Binghamton University has always held a special place in her heart: “It’s where I met mentors made lifelong friends and met my husband—who is also a Binghamton graduate from Watson College I appreciated the interactive and supportive learning environment the cultural diversity and the beautiful Nature Preserve I can’t wait to visit Binghamton again during this residency!” Hackensack continue to strengthen partnership HACKENSACK — The city’s latest multifamily development on Main Street sits at the heart of the city’s downtown at the intersection of Main and Berry streets It is the former site of an Oritani Bank and “We consider it our flagship multifamily building,” said Jay Stasi vice president of development for The Hampshire Companies “The building is like nothing that’s on Main Street right now amenities and the sense of home and community.” The building features a mix of studios and one- and two-bedroom units with nearly 9,000 square feet of retail space fronting on Main Street Each apartment offers 10-foot-high ceilings a pet spa and a rooftop club room with a wet bar and billiards The room leads out to a terrace with fire pits lounge seating and New York City skyline views Two outdoor courtyards on the first floor offer grills and dining areas It is about a five-minute walk to the bus terminal and a 12-minute walk to the Anderson Street train station and the Essex Street train station is a 20-minute walk from the building Rents for a two-bedroom apartment begin at $3,500 a month the property generated roughly $227,700 in tax revenue for the city The new development’s revenue to the city in the first year is expected to be more than $832,900 More: North Jersey's development boom is expected to continue into 2025. What's in store "I think it hits all the check boxes in terms of supporting the local economy,” he said of the development “At 270 units you’re getting somewhere between one and two That might be something like 350 to 500 people now shopping on Main Street that weren’t doing that before I think that in and of itself is a huge plus.” “We like to think that it’s going to be the best building on Main Street,” Stasi said “Playing off the campus vibe of the Print House this building gives you more of an urban vibe with access to Main Street shops and restaurants right at your fingertips.” Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center is now providing patients with a new therapy called pharyngeal electrical stimulation which is delivered via the Phagenyx Neurostimulation System The academic medical center is the first in New Jersey emergency care at the Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at Jersey Shore University Medical Center; Monmouth & Ocean counties’ New Jersey Department of Health licensed and Joint Commission certified Comprehensive Stroke Center Kevin lost his ability to swallow as a result of the stroke “I’m very pleased to receive this new therapy to regain my swallowing function from the experts at Jersey Shore rather than having to travel far from home to receive the therapy,” said Westpy making it the second leading cause of cardiovascular death Stroke survivors can suffer a range of neurological deficits including the loss of the ability to swallow,” said Sanskriti Mishra director of the comprehensive stroke center Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at Jersey Shore University Medical Center (JSUMC) “Contemporary data suggests up to 80 percent of stroke survivors suffer severe dysphagia and often surgical implantation of a feeding tube in the patient’s abdomen “Dysphagia is a significant source of morbidity (an unhealthy condition) “Traditional treatments include throat exercise and ingesting ice chips advanced technology available to help restore swallowing directly at the neurological Phagenyx PES therapy works by inserting a specialized catheter with built-in electrodes through the nose to provide small electrical pulses to stimulate critical sensory nerves within the throat (pharynx) “This is shown to reestablish communication between these nerves and the brain,” said Shabbar F Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at JSUMC “The treatment lasts for ten minutes a day for at least three The therapy is carried out by speech pathologists based on their assessment and is another important tool they use to help patients regain swallowing function.” Untreated dysphagia presents a clear deficit to quality of life increases risk of aspiration pneumonia (lung infection when saliva and/or food enter the lungs) and surgical site infections which in severe cases can lead to septic shock and death “These patients often are readmitted to a hospital for emergency care within 30 days of their stroke,” said Vito Buccellato “I’m grateful we are now able to provide this advanced therapy to not only improve our patients’ quality of life but also prevent readmission to our academic medical center.” the Phagenyx system has become widely adopted in Europe and U.K with more than 4,000 patients treated commercially and is an important part of comprehensive stroke care guidelines It consists of an energy base station and neuro stimulation catheter The catheter houses two bipolar electrodes that deliver mild electric stimulation to the pharyngeal nerves at the back of the throat to jump start and mobilize swallowing areas of the brain The catheter is positioned in the patient’s nose and follows natural anatomical paths to the throat and down to the stomach The catheter also features a secondary function to deliver liquid nutrition while in place advanced therapy is another way our academic medical center is transforming neurological care for our community,” said Kenneth N Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at JSUMC has received annual Neurosciences Excellence and Cranial Neurosurgery Awards from Healthgrades JSUMC is also recognized as a high performing hospital for stroke care by U.S and with the Get with the Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus achievement from the American Heart Association / American Stroke Association Additional Hackensack Meridian medical centers may also provide this therapy in the future. For information about HMH’s neuroscience services, visit our website It is important for everyone to think about who you would want to speak on your behalf if you were to become seriously ill or unable to speak for yourself Though the topic may be difficult to discuss The conversations around these values and priorities are what we call advance care planning Advance care planning is meant to be an ongoing discussion We recommend that you discuss Advance Care Planning with your health care team and others important to you while you are feeling well and able to consider your choices The best way to document your Advance Care Planning discussions is to complete an advance directive which leaves a guide for those important to you and those who will make health care decisions on your behalf Advance directives honor your right to participate in your own health care An advance directive is a legal document that you fill out to communicate your preferences about your health care in case you cannot make health care decisions for yourself You are able to change your documented preferences in your advance directive as things change in your life You should review any documents you have signed at least once a year and when your health changes Your most recently dated document replaces earlier versions There are two types of advance directives recognized by the state of New Jersey: a proxy directive and an instruction directive A Proxy Directive allows you to choose a Health Care Representative who you want to make your medical decisions if you are unable to make them yourself A Proxy Directive is also called Health Care Proxy or a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care A Health Care Representative’s responsibility is to make health care decisions on your behalf This is different from the responsibilities of a person named in a general Power of Attorney whose role is to make financial and other non-medical decisions At Hackensack Meridian Health, we provide our patients with an easily accessible Hackensack Meridian Health Advance Directive form It contains both step-by-step instructions as well as Frequently Asked Questions which will assist you in your completion of the form It is important that the person you designate as your Health Care Representative is an adult who knows you and your preferences and who you trust to make the decisions you would want on your behalf You may choose your spouse/domestic partner, adult child, parent, family member, friend, religious or spiritual advisor or any other adult as your Health Care Representative. The Hackensack Meridian Health Advance Directive form can guide you in your choices You may appoint a physician as your Health Care Representative but they cannot serve as your physician and Health Care Representative at the same time You cannot appoint any other employee or administrator of a health care institution in which you are a patient or resident as your Health Care Representative You may also appoint additional individuals to act as your Health Care Representative in the event that your primary Health Care Representative is unable Your chosen and documented Health Care Representative is always the person we turn to first Think about who you would want to make your decisions and complete a proxy directive so your medical team can work with the person YOU choose Your Health Care Representative’s decision-making authority is not limited to end-of-life situations and includes any health care decisions on your behalf if you are unable to make decisions yourself When patients do not have a Proxy Directive we turn to family and friends in the order shown here: is used to state your values and preferences about your health care in case you cannot make your own health care decisions it provides guidance to your health care team those important to you and those who will make health care decisions on your behalf if you can no longer speak for yourself It also allows you to express what medical treatments you would and would not want in specific circumstances A living will is most useful as a guide to decision making for patients who have no one to appoint as a Health Care Representative A number of living will templates are available for you to consider and personalize in order to document your goals Please see the Hackensack Meridian Health Advance Directive form for step-by-step instructions and Frequently Asked Questions about Advance Directives If you already have an Advance Directive and it reflects your current preferences even if it was completed in a state other than New Jersey If you have a completed Advance Directive document please bring a signed version with you to your next health care appointment You may wish to speak with a member of your health care team about your choices You do not need to consult an attorney to complete an Advance Directive In order for an Advance Directive to be valid you must sign and date the document in front of two witnesses OR a notary The witnesses cannot be anyone you named to be your Health Care Representative or an alternate You can find step-by-step instructions on how to complete your Advance Directive using this Hackensack Meridian Health Advance Directive Form NOTE: Please print the form ONE SIDED to ensure legibility Think about your values and priorities and what is important to you when it comes to your health care Decide who you want to make your decisions if you cannot make them yourself Think about what you want your health care team to know about you the best time to start the conversation and to complete an Advance Directive is when you are able to carefully consider your choices Your health care team can share the kinds of health care decisions that are important for you to think about Some of the specific interventions that might be considered based on the preferences you express in a living will include: It is important that you discuss the content of your advance directive with your health care team those important to you and those who will make health care decisions on your behalf Please be sure to give copies of your advance directives to your Health Care Representative (and alternate Representative) and health care team Bring your advance directive to the hospital or other health care facilities for inclusion in the medical record Federal and state law mandate that all care-providing facilities ask patients whether they have an advance directive and to ensure that a copy is in the medical record to guide decisions If you become unable to make your own health care decisions your designated Health Care Representative will make health care decisions on your behalf An Instruction Directive guides your health care team about your preferences for care if you are unable to make your own health care decisions If you have any questions or would like additional resources please reach out to your health care practitioner or the Office of Patient Experience at your local hospital Learn more about our vision for a healthier future.  See how Hackensack Meridian Health is making headlines Join the team at Hackensack Meridian Health most integrated health network in New Jersey Imagine the scene: a serious car accident on Route 80 First responders arrive to find a critically injured driver trapped in the wreckage paramedics could only stabilize trauma patients and rush them to the hospital Emergency Medical Services (EMS) with Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) have a new lifeline on wheels Thanks to a recently expanded Blood Bank license and regulatory waiver from the New Jersey Department of Health specially trained HUMC paramedics are permitted to carry blood to administer blood transfusions right there at the scene or during transport This seemingly small change is already making a monumental difference in the lives of trauma patients including a man involved in a table saw accident to his abdomen “Numerous studies show that giving whole blood on scene can be immensely beneficial decreasing prehospital and early-hospital mortality,” explains Joseph Solda who has been overseeing the HUMC EMS Air Medical whole blood program since 2021 “We are proud to be the first Advanced Life Support program in New Jersey to offer this life saving treatment,” shared Michelle Kobayashi director of Hackensack Meridian Health’s Transfer Center For someone experiencing severe hemorrhage and the body struggles to form blood clots to stop the bleeding This is exactly what happened to the man injured while using the table saw When the transporting ambulance called the MICCOM dispatch center to let the HUMC trauma team know they were coming with a sick patient Dispatcher Sean Kennedy immediately identified the patient’s condition as being in shock related to his traumatic injury based on the dispatch protocols “I offered the paramedic unit and the blood to help this patient and made sure the paramedics knew where to intercept the ambulance on the way to the hospital,” said Kennedy Pre-hospital blood transfusions are a game-changer in these scenarios HUMC’s EMS team say carrying blood on board empowers them “The impact of our actions truly hit home when we saw the patient's condition turn around The patient’s skin color and mental status both improved,” shared Paramedic Katie Murphy “We are confident that our ability to offer this ground breaking care will make a significant difference in the lives of our patients,” says Lisa Tank President and Chief Hospital Executive of Hackensack University Medical Center “This crucial advancement in emergency medicine is transforming trauma care giving patients a fighting chance when every second matters.” Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) is proud to announce the launch of its new Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (CIBD) a comprehensive program offering specialized care for patients with IBD and related colorectal conditions This center brings together a multidisciplinary team of gastroenterology and behavioral health experts to provide patients with personalized “We are excited to launch this new center which will provide our patients with the highest level of care for IBD and related conditions,” said Rosario Ligresti Chief of Gastroenterology at Hackensack University Medical Center “Our team of experts is committed to providing compassionate evidence-based care that meets each patient's unique needs.” The IBD Center at HUMC offers a wide range of services Making the patient experience at the new IBD Center even more convenient the goal is to coordinate appointments with the entire multidisciplinary team With nearly 800,000 new cases of IBD diagnosed in the United States each year and that number significantly on the rise in the Northeast recently this dedicated IBD center will play a crucial role in providing comprehensive and specialized care for patients from around the tri-state region “The new center of excellence will serve as a beacon of hope for IBD patients,” said Alyssa Parian patients find not only advanced multidisciplinary medical care but also compassionate support empowering them to navigate their sometimes difficult journeys with dignity and strength.” “We believe that this comprehensive approach to care will significantly improve the quality of life for our patients with IBD and other colorectal diseases,” said Howard Ross “We are committed to providing our patients with the resources and support they need to manage their condition and live fulfilling lives.” Colon cancer is also on the rise and linked to IBD The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be more than 150,000 new cases of colon cancer diagnosed in the United States this year - many of them in much younger people “This alarming trend of increasing incidences of colon cancer in young adults highlights the urgency of addressing this issue and taking proactive measures to prevent and detect the disease early,” said Steven Lee-Kong chief of Colorectal Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center To schedule an appointment or learn more, call 551-996-3091 or click here New Mixed-Use Project Will Provide Housing for Essential Workers and the Bergen County Improvement Authority are proud to move forward with Bergen Junction a new and transformational mixed-use workforce housing redevelopment and transit hub The project will provide housing for individuals beginning their careers in fields vital to the safety and well-being of Bergen County and its residents and revitalize the NJ TRANSIT Hackensack Bus Transfer This proposed redevelopment replaces the former Bergen County probation building now a vacant lot located at 133 River Street and the outdated NJ TRANSIT bus terminal currently located on Demarest Place The project will feature a five-level mixed-use linear building covered bus terminal equipped to accommodate NJ TRANSIT’s electrified bus fleet “Bergen Junction will be a transformative project for Bergen County and will serve as a model for the rest of the country we are removing one of the most significant barriers discouraging individuals from joining the professions that safeguard our communities By offering housing to individuals just starting out in these crucial careers we are not only eliminating that burden but also investing in the future of both our residents and our region,” said Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco Bergen Junction addresses the recent trend in lack of affordable housing and severe hiring challenges being faced by essential sectors This redevelopment will attract individuals to these highly demanded careers and incentivize newly hired local public safety workers and educators to live in the community they serve the County aims to encourage workforce retention while providing a premier downtown living experience for the average middle-income earner starting out their careers “Bergen Junction represents a tremendous step forward for the City of Hackensack and Bergen County as a whole,” said Hackensack Mayor John Labrosse “This project not only addresses critical needs like affordable workforce housing and improved transit infrastructure but also aligns perfectly with our vision of making Hackensack a premier destination for living We are proud to partner with the County on this transformational initiative that will continue to fuel our city's growth and revitalization while ensuring opportunities for our residents and veterans.” The five-level linear building will include two floors of County office space street-level retail/commercial spaces that will be available for rent a parking garage that will provide parking for County employees The 15-level residential tower will have a separate street-level entrance with a total of 168 studio and one-to-two-bedroom apartments 158 will be designated as “workforce” units Ten units will also be designated for veteran housing of which two units will be dedicated for disabled veterans This initiative builds upon the Tedesco Administration's commitment to maintaining a functional zero for veteran homelessness in Bergen County “By dedicating units to our veterans and disabled veterans we are keeping true to the promise my administration has had since day one that no veteran will ever go without a roof over their head in this great County,” continued County Executive Tedesco “Bergen Junction embodies the progress and innovation Bergen County is known for,” said Commissioner Thomas Sullivan “This project goes beyond providing housing—it’s about strengthening our community by supporting essential workers and middle-income earners who make Bergen County thrive we are creating a foundation for continued growth and opportunity for all.” Bergen Junction will also include a newly renovated indoor bus terminal designed to accommodate NJ TRANSIT’s electrified bus fleet The new design will include a covered passenger loading and unloading area This upgraded terminal design will eliminate the need for buses to stage outside the terminal effectively decreasing congestion in the area and presenting a new traffic pattern that will improve the flow of vehicles "NJ TRANSIT is proud to work with Bergen County on this transformative project which will bring a state-of-the-art bus terminal into the heart of a forward-looking mixed-use redevelopment,” said NJ TRANSIT Senior Vice President of Surface Transportation and General Manager of Bus Operations “The addition of facilities designed to accommodate NJ TRANSIT’s ongoing transition to a 100 percent zero-emission bus fleet highlights our commitment to advancing sustainable transportation and improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve.” Off-site improvements will also be made to improve pedestrian and vehicle safety for the entire area surrounding River Road New traffic signals will be installed at the right-turn intersection between River Road and Atlantic Street and the intersection of Moore Street and Atlantic Street Pedestrians can exit the new bus terminal and parking garage via walkway directly to Main Street the County has worked directly with Deputy Mayor of Hackensack and Director of Economic Development and Redevelopment for the City of Hackensack This project aligns with the City of Hackensack’s master plan which emphasizes high-density redevelopment The County Administration is expecting to break ground on the project later this fall All renderings including in this release are compliments of Netta Architects Bergen Junction’s workforce units are intended as temporary placements Participants will be chosen based on income requirements and a lottery system Tenants will be eligible to remain in the unit until a designated income threshold is attained the renter will be able to enter a market-rate unit or even purchase a home Bergen Junction will generate substantial collective revenue from leased office and retail space and contributing to the continued renaissance and revitalization of the City of Hackensack and our County seat Video Rendering of Bergen Junction Bergen CountyOne Bergen County PlazaHackensack County Executive – 201-336-7300 County Commissioners - 201-336-6200 Prosecutor's Office - 201-646-2300 Sheriff’s Office – 201-336-3500 Surrogate’s Office – 201-336-6700 County Clerk – 201-336-7000 Constituent Hotline – 201-336-7330  Facebook Twitter  Instagram HACKENSACK − More than a dozen residents have been temporarily displaced following a house fire that broke out late Monday night The blaze started in a three-story wood-frame boarding house on Euclid Avenue at 11:30 p.m. Monday, the Hackensack Fire Department stated on Facebook The department's engine companies responded to the scene and assisted with water supply and other suppression efforts who has lived in the boarding house for the past two years was visiting his mother in Rockland County The building superintendent called to inform him of the blaze so he stayed in New York overnight and returned to the home Tuesday morning Williams was one of 15 people who will be moved to other housing as a result of the fire, according to the American Red Cross New Jersey region. The agency said on X that it is helping the residents with immediate needs such as lodging Williams said Tuesday that he is still "processing" the fire and is unsure whether any of his items in the home are salvageable He credited the firefighters' response at the scene in which they were able to quickly contain the blaze "The fire department did an excellent job," Williams said The fire was limited to the third story and attic space of the home The cause is under investigation but "appears to be accidental in nature," officials said Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey customers could find Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals out of network this spring after they were unable to agree to terms on a new contract has sent letters to patients with Horizon saying the insurer has been offering inadequate reimbursement rates during its negotiation "We have been and remain committed to reaching an agreement but must receive fair care reimbursements from Horizon to continue to invest in the care medical technology and locations that the local communities we serve rely on and expect," Hackensack Meridian said in a statement The battle pits two health care giants against each other Newark-based Horizon is the state's biggest health insurer with 3.8 million members Hackensack Meridian operates 18 hospitals and has 36,000 employees Its hospitals in Monmouth and Ocean counties are: Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune; Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel; Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank; Ocean University Medical Center in Brick; and Southern Ocean County Medical Center in Stafford The contract affects Horizon's commercial customers It doesn't apply to customers covered through Medicaid or its Braven Medicare Advantage plan Hospital costs: Shore-area hospital price lists shrouded in secrecy, leaving consumers flying blind The stalemate between Horizion and Hackensack Meridian comes as medical costs are predicted to increase this year at their fastest rate in 13 years The two sides have been negotiating a new contract for the past year that would keep Hackensack Meridian hospitals in Horizon's primary network Patients typically pay less out of pocket when they visit in-network providers Previous fight: Deal saves Aetna customers from losing easy access to Hackensack Meridian doctors Hackensack Meridian terminated its hospitals from the Horizon network last October but patients can continue to receive care until June 1 or pregnancy,can continue to receive care for up to 90 days Big change for Horizon: Horizon gets NJ OK to change, after health insurer agrees to 11 conditions Horizon said Hackensack Meridian has demanded significant price increases for services and care at its facilities "High prices at hospitals directly increase members’ out-of-pocket costs and insurance premiums and make health care less affordable," Horizon said in a statement "We continue to work with HMH to reach an agreement for a fair and reasonable increase in the prices that Horizon members pay for care and to keep HMH hospitals in our network," it said Diamond is a business reporter at the Asbury Park Press He can be reached at mdiamond@gannettnj.com.