The Personal Injury Attorney Near Me Hackensack, NJ, You Can Trust

JEFFERSON, NJ — Owning and operating TAPinto Jefferson is the perfect mix of two things that Aidan Mastandrea cares about very much — doing something he loves in a community he values.

Mastandrea, who grew up in nearby Sparta, knows Jefferson well, as it’s a place he spent a lot of time, from playing basketball and hiking the trails to supporting local businesses.

“Jefferson is an amazing town that offers a huge amount of tourism that I don’t think people realize,” Mastandrea said. “You have expansive hiking trails and Lake Hopatcong. People come from all over NJ to experience those things.”

Mastandrea said readers of TAPinto Jefferson, which launched in February 2026, will see a little bit of everything on the site, including town council meetings, events and sports.

“With my sports experience, people can expect a lot of coverage of the high school sports, especially once the spring sports season gets rolling,” he said. “As a former athlete, I know that coverage in the area is slim, so I think highlighting the amazing Jefferson athletes is very important.”

"We are thrilled for the launch of TAPinto Jefferson and are excited to provide original local news reporting every day for the Jefferson community,” TAPinto Founder and CEO Michael Shapiro said. “Under Aidan's leadership, TAPinto Jefferson is quickly becoming the go-to source for Jefferson news and information."

Mastandrea is a 2025 graduate of The College of New Jersey with a degree in Journalism and Professional Writing. While at TCNJ, he was the sports editor and news editor at The Signal.

He said he would bring what he learned there to TAPinto Jefferson, covering the stories that matter most to the area.

“Covering local news comes with a huge responsibility,” Mastandrea said. “It can be about events or achievements, but it is also making sure that residents know about where their money is going and how decisions are being made. Without that kind of coverage, there is no way for them to know.”

Sign up for free e-news from TAPinto Jefferson by .

If you’re interested in marketing your business on TAPinto Jefferson or have a story idea to share, email .

TAPinto Insider keeps you updated on all things TAPinto and you will learn more about what makes TAPinto great - as an insider.

To learn more about marketing your business on TAPinto, click here.

To learn more about franchising with TAPinto, click here.

HACKENSACK, NJ — Mayor Caseen Gaines and the City Council have honored the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, highlighting key community leaders that contributed to Hackensack's vibrant landscape.

“The City of Hackensack has been shaped, sustained, and defined by the vibrant history and integral contributions of Black Americans, whose brilliance, leadership, and cultural triumphs are woven into the fabric of our community's identity,” Gaines said at the latest Council meeting.

The team mentioned the first Black church in Bergen County, Varick Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, located on Atlantic Street.

“Organized in 1864 as “Olive Branch Colored Mission Number Three,” a faith community that began in a humble lime shed on Railroad Avenue—later moved to its current site—growing into a spiritual fortress that has anchored the Third Ward for over 160 years,” Gaines read.

The Council then went on to celebrate its musical atmosphere, noting that Hackensack is the home of James “JT” Taylor, lead singer of Kool & the Gang, who started his career in the City's church choirs.

To honor more music, Gaines cheered on the City's contributions to Jazz history, recognizing the original Van Gelder Studio on Prospect Avenue, where the 1954 hit “Hackensack,” was created by Thelonious Monk. Following in his footsteps as a successful hometown leader is Matthew Whitaker, who recently achieved a 2026 Grammy Award with the 8-Bit Band for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Capella for “Super Mario Praise Break.”

Hackensack highlighted more civil servants from the community, like E. Frederic Morrow, who served as the first African American White House executive officer. He and his brother, Ambassador John Howard Morrow, were raised on Berry Street.

Their sister, Nellie K. Parker, served as the first Black teacher in Bergen County and the Hackensack Public School District, committing 42 years of hard work and selflessness bringing young students to success.

As part of Nellie K. Parker Elementary School, also celebrated was beloved principal Lillian Whitaker, who was also a music director at Mount Olive Baptist Church. She is remembered by the Council as “a visionary educator for whom Club Way was dedicated to in 2025 to commemorate her nearly five decades of service to our city's youth.”

Also remembered is former President of the Bergen County Community Action Program (BCCAP), Lois “Sissy” Braithwaite, who also founded the James Street Block Association in 1980 with a goal of fighting for equality and empowering neighbors through community unity.

Political pioneers of Hackensack were also highlighted. J. Herbert Leverett served on the Hackensack City Council in 1965 as the first African American elected. Marlin Townes, Jr., in 2005, went on to become the first African American Mayor of Hackensack.

The City of Hackensack proclaims February as a "landmark month of pride, excellence, and community celebration in honor of the Black Americans who have shaped our past and the visionaries who continue to inspire our future.”