Holiday Hudson Reporter advertising, editorial deadlines
Because of the holidays over the next two weeks, the Hudson Reporter newspapers will have special advertising and editorial deadlines. In addition, the office will be closed on three days for holidays.
The office will close Friday, Dec. 23, and Monday, Dec. 26. It will reopen Tuesday, Dec. 27. The office closes again on Monday, Jan. 2, and reopens Tuesday, Jan. 3.
For the Wednesday, Dec. 21 edition of the Bayonne Community News and the Thursday, Dec. 22 Midweek Reporter, the editorial deadline is Monday, Dec. 19 at 9 a.m. and the classified and display advertising deadline is 12 noon.
For the Sunday, Dec. 25 editions of the other Reporter newspapers, the editorial deadline is Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 9 a.m. and the display ad and classified deadline is 12 noon.
For the Wednesday, Dec. 28 edition of the Bayonne Community News and the Thursday, Dec. 29 edition of the Midweek Reporter, the editorial deadline is Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. The classified and display advertising deadline is 12 noon on Thursday, Dec. 22.
For the Sunday, Jan. 1 editions of the Reporter newspapers, the editorial deadline is Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 9 a.m., and the advertising and classified deadline is 12 noon.
For the Wednesday, Jan. 4 edition of the Bayonne Community News and the Thursday, Jan. 5 Midweek Reporter, the editorial deadline is Friday, Dec. 30 at 9 a.m. and the classified and display advertising deadline is 12 noon that day.
If you have questions about these deadlines or any other issue, please call (201) 798-7800. Also check www.hudsonreporter.com regularly for information and for breaking news.
Hoboken doc allegedly took cash for MRI center referrals
A Hoboken resident was one of 14 medical professionals arrested Tuesday morning and accused of allegedly taking cash to refer patients to an Orange medical testing facility, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s office.
According to the release, more than 65 federal and local agents and officers led by Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General arrested 13 doctors and one nurse to whom Orange Community MRI (OCM) allegedly paid cash kickback payments in exchange for the referral of Medicare and Medicaid patients to OCM for testing services.
OCM’s executive director was arrested on Dec. 8 in connection with the scheme, the release says. He was released on a $750,000 bond.
Maryam Jafari, 41, a Newark-based licensed physician and Hoboken resident, allegedly took cash payments from the OCM in exchange providing the facility with referrals, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
A criminal complaint states that on or about Nov. 22, Jafari met with a cooperating witness at her Newark office, where she allegedly accepted a white envelope containing $1,965 in cash, which supposedly included payments for 13 MRI referrals to OCM performed on Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries, as well as 5 CAT scans referred to OCM during September and October 2011. In a later meeting, on Dec. 6, Jafari allegedly accepted $420 in cash from the cooperating witness for earlier referrals, according to the document.
“Selling test referrals for cash is illegal,” said U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman, in the release. “Patients have every right to expect their doctors will recommend medical service providers because they do the best job, not because they provide the best bribes.”
Jafari, as well as the rest of the health practitioner defendants, is charged with one count of violating the federal health care program anti-kickback statute by allegedly soliciting and receiving bribes, which carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, according to the complaint.
All of the defendants appeared in Newark federal court on Tuesday afternoon to be read their charges.
Four hearings to be held on extending light rail to Englewood or Tenafly
The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail train currently runs from Bayonne through Hoboken, Jersey City, Weehawken, and Union City, and into North Bergen. But it doesn’t continue to Bergen County like it was expected to.
Yet, plans are about to move forward.
The federal government has finally released an environmental impact statement about extending the route from 85th Street in North Bergen for eight miles to Englewood or Tenafly. The route would travel through Fairview, Ridgefield, Palisades Park, and Leonia, over old CSX tracks.
NJ Transit has scheduled four public hearings on the environmental statement, which will be presented formally at each of the hearings.
The hearings will be held Jan. 24 and Jan. 26, and 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on both days. They will be held in Tenafly on Jan. 24 and Englewood on Jan. 26.
The statement and information is available at http://northernbranchcorridor.com/docs.html.
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Chanukah celebration this week
Chabad of Hoboken is once again sponsoring a family Chanukah celebration at Hoboken City Hall, 94 Washington St., on Thursday, Dec. 22.
The kids’ segment of the program begins at 4:45 pm inside City Hall (third floor) and includes “The Miracle of Chanukah” with the Small Wonder Puppet Theater; arts and crafts, color-a-cookie, music, and dancing. $10 per child over 2.
The lighting of the menorah with honored politicians takes place outside of City Hall at 6:20 p.m. Distribution of latkes, donuts, chocolate gelt, glow bracelets and more. This segment of the event is free and all are welcome
An event for Young Jewish Professional takes place on Tuesday, Dec. 20 in Hoboken. For more details and to RSVP: www.JewishHoboken.com/YJP. For more info. or to receive a Menorah kit or other holiday needs, please call: 201 386 5222 or visit www.JewishHoboken.com