More than 1,000 gather to support plan for NJ hospital

More than 1,000 people overwhelmingly in support of Hackensack University Medical Center's plan to reopen Pascack Valley Hospital turned out at a hearing that drew passionate testimony from politicians, physicians and residents. A crowd of nearly 800 — many wearing green T-shirts provided by Hackensack — packed the auditorium at Westwood Regional Junior/Senior High School in Washington Township while another 300 watched proceedings from an adjacent room. Others were turned away by fire officials when both rooms reached capacity. "Opening this hospital has overwhelming support form local officials, emergency responders, businesses, physicians and residents throughout Bergen County," Hackensack's president, Robert C. Garrett, testified.