Who are the most highly-recruited football prospects in New Jersey as we move into the 2018 recruiting cycle? Find out inside.

NJ Advance Media presents the Jan. 12 update of the NJ.com Top 50, a ranking of the top 50 high school football recruits in New Jersey. Although the list encompasses the state's most highly-recruited prospects, grades 9 through 12, it is not specifically a list of the state’s top players, as that distinction is better reflected in our all-state and all-group teams, released in December of each year.

With so many talented players competing for just 50 slots, there is always a ton of competition for each and every spot. There is usually a good amount of movement in the year-end installation as on-field production and achievements play a factor in separating recruits clumped together throughout certain areas of the list, as well as breaking ties.

See below for a complete explanation of how we derived our selections. And click through the gallery above for updated photos of members of the NJ.com Top 50.

Breaking down the top 5

It's a senior affair as upperclassmen boast the top five spots in the 2016-17 season-ending NJ.com Top 50. This is the last hurrah for the 2017 class as they will be removed from the list moving forward, allowing the state's top underclassmen to fill the void vacated by college football's soon-to-be freshmen.

But the following seniors have truly left their mark and established themselves as a handful of the country's truly elite recruits.

Micah Clark — a 6-5, 270-pound four-star offensive tackle — led St. John Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.) the to a 10-1 record and berth in the Non-public Group 3 semifinals, where the Lancers fell to N.J.'s eventual team of the year, the St. Joseph (Mont.) Green Knights.

Clark set a firm edge, protecting both a pro-style and a dual-threat quarterback and pancaking opposition from his right tackle post throughout his senior campaign. He also displayed versatility in his situational defensive tackle role, accumulating 49 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles, while drawing double and triple teams, allowing fellow defenders to make plays.

His contributions earned him a first-team all-state selection and the distinction of the Shore's top offensive lineman. But best of all, it enabled him retain the top spot in the NJ.com Top 50, despite a number of strong performances by elite company throughout the state.

Also an explosive volleyball player, Clark went from the gridiron to the wrestling mat, although forced to cut short his season — currently 5-1 — as he's already signed his Big Ten letter and will ascend to Rutgers on Jan. 15 as an early enrollee.

"It's a dream come true just to see everyone support me through this process. I couldn't have asked for a better family than my SJV family and my own family and everyone coming out to support me," Clark said. "Just going to Rutgers on constant visits, getting a feel for the coaches and the players and really getting to connect with them and building that family bond. And with the fans of Rutgers, they really did it, too."

Paramus (N.J.) Catholic linebacker Drew Singleton — the state's top player two quarters ago — held on to the No. 2 spot despite missing all but one game in 2016 due to a torn ACL. But instead of holding his head, the four-star Michigan commit flourished in his leadership role and showed great determination to return to the field prior to the season's end. Although he'd never again play an active on-field role for the Paladins, the inspiration he provided played a role in PC attaining the 2016 Non-public Group 4 crown — defeating St. Peter's Prep 33-28 in the final — just one season after the team missed the playoffs altogether.

Meanwhile, The Hun's (Princeton, N.J.) Fred Hansard whipped himself back into shape and barely left the field in 2016. Now standing 6-3 and 305-pounds, the disruptive defensive tackle returned to his dominant ways after playing valiantly through injury as junior. Hansard accumulated 51 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries en rout to his third consecutive first-team All-Mid Atlantic Prep League selection, third consecutive MAPL title and second straight undefeated season. Also a Times of Trenton all-defense selection, Hansard further showcased his athleticism by running for a touchdown against rival Peddie School. Hansard, who flipped from Florida to Penn State since the last top 50 reshuffle, was also voted MAPL Defensive Player of the Year.

Cedar Creek's (Egg Harbor City, N.J.) Bo Melton fought through an injury-plagued start to the season to produce one of the stronger finishes the state has seen from a skill player over the years. The four-star and first-team all-state selection will leave for Rutgers this summer, coming off a campaign in which he led his team to a 10-2 record and  South Group 2 finals berth, where his team fell to West Deptford, 19-13. In 2016, the 6-1, 185-pounder caught 51 passes for 766 yards and nine receiving TDs to go along with 451 rushing yard and seven scores on the ground, leaving a strong legacy at Creek, which just began its program in 2011.

Rounding out the top five is 6-3, 205-pound athlete Markquese Bell who recently committed to Maryland during the 2017 Under Armour All-American game (which he participated in). After choosing to remain at Bridgeton his senior year, despite having an offer to transfer to IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), Bell ended up a second-team all-state selection in 2016, accumulating 885 rushing yards and 7 rushing TDs, 210 passing yards and two passing TDs (5 INTs), 44 receiving yards, 76 tackles (three for loss), two INTs, one forced fumble, three pass break-ups and a 96-yard kickoff return TD in 10 games in which the Bulldogs went 2-8. Bell projects to a number of positions on bot sides of the ball, and although a bit raw, projects to play on Sundays.

Breakdown by position

There are six quarterbacks, four running backs, eight wide receivers, no tight ends, nine offensive linemen, nine defensive linemen, seven linebackers, six defensive backs and one athlete on the list.

FBS breakdown

There are 29 players on the list currently committed to FBS schools. The Big Ten leads the way with 16 players committed to schools within the conference.

From the collegiate level, Rutgers leads the way with the most selections overall, as 10 players on the list have committed to the school. Penn State, Pitt and Boston College boast three commitments, apiece. Meanwhile, Notre Dame has two commitments in the Ademilola twins.

High school breakdown

St. Peter's Prep and Peddie School lead the way with five selections apiece, while St. Joseph (Mont.) has four. And Don Bosco Prep has three, while Bergen Catholic, Paramus Catholic, Cedar Creek and Mater Dei boast two, apiece.

Class breakdown

The list is composed of 32 seniors, 16 juniors and two sophomores.

The next 10 (in no particular order)...

PG-Sr. T.J. Rayam, DT, Peddie; Sr. Marcus Valdez, DE, Don Bosco; Sr. Zach Feagles, P, Ridgewood; Jr. Elijah McAllister, TE, Rumson-Fair Haven; Jr. Vinny DePalma, LB, DePaul; Jr. Evan Stewart, S, St. Joseph (Mont.);  Jr. Tajadin Harris, WR, Palmyra; Jr. Matt Alaimo, TE, St. Joseph (Mont.); So. Joshua McKenzie, RB, Bergen Catholic; Fr. Jalen Berger, RB, Don Bosco

Honorable mention

PG Sr. Ryan Van DeMark, OT, The Hun; Sr. Liam Fornadel, OL, Don Bosco; Sr. Pete Nestrowitz, OL, Paramus Catholic; Sr. Javon Turner, WR, Paramus Catholic; Sr. Brendan Devera, LB, Wayne Hills; Sr. Jordan Scott, ATH, St. Joseph (Mont.); Sr. Devin Miller, TE, Metuchen; Sr. Rob Saulin, DL, Pennsville; Sr. Naijee Jones, CB, Timber Creek; Sr. Justin Davidovicz, K, Bridgewater-Raritan; Sr. Tony Brown, Jr., LB, Timber Creek; Sr. Chris DiTommaso, DT, Ramapo; Sr. Owen Kessler, DE, Westfield; Sr. Ja'Sir Taylor, ATH, Brick Township; Sr. Edward Isaiah Wingfield, WR, Lawrenceville; Sr. Chris Chukwuneke, RB, St. John Vianney; Sr. Elijah Barnwell, RB, Piscataway; Sr. L'Jeron Holder, WR, Manalapan; Sr. Tyler Parsons, CB, Woodrow Wilson; Sr. Jelani McCargo, LB, Woodrow Wilson; Sr. Jamaal Beaty, OL, St. John Vianney; Sr. Ryan Dickens, LB, Raritan; Sr. Jadan Blue, WR, Peddie; Sr.; Sr. Tyler Hayek, WR, Wayne Hills; Sr. J.P. Roane, WR, Deptford Township; Sr. Mike Ruane, LB, Rumson Fair-Haven; Jr. Lancine Turay, DL/OL, Irvington; Jr. Nick Dennuci, LB, Pope John; Jr. Evan Lovell, OG, Peddie; Jr. Clayton Scott, RB, Millville; Jr. Jackson Parham, WR, Hillsborough; Jr. Henry Pearson, TE, Paramus Catholic; Jr. Bartek Rybka, DT, Paramus Catholic; Jr. George Pearson, QB, Mater Dei (Middletown, N.J.); Jr. Kevin Brennan, ATH, Don Bosco; Jr. Shelton Applewhite, ATH, DePaul; Jr. Daniel Webb, ATH, Montclair; So. Rahmir Johnson, RB, Bergen Catholic ; So. Nyquee Hawkins, DB, Orange; So. Stanley King, TE, Woodrow Wilson

Scroll up for the Top 50 chart.

Methodology

The NJ.com Top 50 rankings take into consideration collegiate potential as reflected in FBS (formerly known as Division 1A) scholarship offers, the number and caliber of interested schools and prospect's potential at the highest level of competition. Hence, participants must have at least one FBS offer (better known as Division 1A) to qualify for the list.

Updates to the order of the list are made quarterly, each placing weight on different factors most relevant at the time of the update.

The final update representing the 2016-17 season (this one ) occurs following the football season, where individual and team success some of the top prospects in the state have attained on the gridiron plays a but more of a factor than in other updates.

The first update of the 2018 recruiting cycle occurs a couple months after National Signing Day (around April), and is a preliminary list of the top projected recruits in the state, following the departure of its top seniors.

The next update occurs at the conclusion of the spring evaluation period and is based on the caliber of recruiting attention and offers prospects receive, as well as off-season performances — the volume of camps and combines attended and outcome of those events.

The next succeeding update occurs at the conclusion of summer, as the high school football season commences. Most of the weight for this list is placed on the players’ accomplishments throughout the entire off-season – the offers they receive, camp/combine results and the overall improvements they've made leading into the season.

Todderick Hunt may be reached at thunt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TodderickHunt. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.

A video shows the tower ladder leaning against the factory. Watch video

PASSAIC -- A ladder malfunctioned Tuesday night as Passaic firefighters battled a blaze at a paper recycling factory, NorthJersey.com reported.

A video posted to a YouTube channel dedicated to emergency response shows the twisted ladder leaning against the building.

Employees at the factory tried to extinguish the fire themselves before calling 911 Fire Chief Patrick Trentacost said to NorthJersey.com.

The cause of the fire and the ladder truck malfunction are under investigation, Trentacost said. No one was hurt.

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Click through the slideshow to see the list of high school wrestlers and teams ranked nationally

Two juveniles were charged with the Christmas Eve theft of cash from a donation box, cops said.

CLIFTON -- Two youths have been charged in a Christmas Eve break-in at a city mosque, cops said. 

The burglary occurred at the Islamic Center of Passaic County's Clifton branch on Dec. 24th, Detective Sgt. Robert Bracken said.

The juveniles, whose identities were not released due to their age, allegedly entered through an unlocked door and stole money from a donation box, Bracken said. 

"This was not hate crime, there is no indication of bias," Bracken said. "Unfortunately, this was a crime of opportunity."

Both juveniles were charged with burglary and theft.

A second burglary occurred at the mosque the following day on Dec. 25. Bracken said that incident is still under investigation. Police did not disclose how much was stolen during the two incidents.

Anyone with information regarding this incident may tcontact the Clifton Police Juvenile Division at 973-470-5882.   

Fausto Giovanny Pinto may be reached at fpinto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @FGPreporting. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Assemblyman represented the 39th district that includes parts of Bergen and Passaic counties.

SOMERVILLE -- The sentencing of former Assemblyman Robert Schroeder, which was scheduled for Friday before Somerset County Superior Court Robert B. Reed, has been rescheduled for Tuesday morning.

The sentencing was on the docket for Friday afternoon but Reed spent nearly the entire day in a hearing for former "Melrose Place" actress Amy Locane.Bovenizer, who wasn't given any additional prison time for her high-profile DWI vehicular homicide conviction.

Schroeder, a Republican, pleaded guilty in October to stealing nearly $1.9 million from people who loaned him money for a business venture and writing more than $3.4 million in bad checks to other creditors.

Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend that Schroeder be sentenced to eight years in state prison. He will be required to pay back the more than $5.3 million he stole from his victims and be barred from holding public office or public employment in New Jersey.

Schroeder served two terms in the Assembly from 2010 to 2014, representing the 39th district that includes parts of Bergen and Passaic counties.

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Essex County sheriff's officers were conducting quality-of-life checks in Irvington when they made the discovery

IRVINGTON -- Authorities arrested a Garfield man in Irvington Friday night after they found on him a loaded gun and crack cocaine in a car that didn't have legal license plates.

Zsaahid Muhammed, 23, was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a defaced weapon, possession of hollow point bullets and possession of a controlled dangerous substance after the car in which he was a passenger was stopped near Irvington Park, said Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura.

Fontoura said officers from his department's Patrol Division were conducting quality-of-life operations near the park Friday night when they checked a temporary registration tag on a passing 2015 Nissan Sentra.

He said when the officers learned the tag was not on file with the Nissan, they pulled the car over at over at Lyons Avenue and Normandy Place.

Neither the driver of the car, later identified as Vandervort Wilson, 23, of Bloomfield, nor Muhammed had identification for themselves or registration or ownership papers for the car, he said.

During their questioning of the two men, sheriffs officers smelled alcohol on Muhammed, Fontoura said. When Muhammed got out of the car, the officers saw an open bottle of vodka at his feet and a large bulge in his pants pocket, Fontoura said.

The officers found it to be a .22-caliber Taurus semi-automatic handgun fully loaded with illegal hollow point bullets, he said. The officers also found 20 plastic jars filled with crack cocaine, he said.

Besides the drugs and weapons offenses, Muhammed was also issued summonses for the possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle and possession of CDS in a motor vehicle, the sheriff said.

Vandervort was issued summonses for displaying a fictitious registration tag, driving while suspended and driving an uninsured motor vehicle. The car was not reported stolen but authorities are still trying to identify its owner, he said.

Muhammed was being held in the Essex County jail in Newark waiting a bail hearing.

Vandervort was released in his own recognizance and is awaiting a court date to answer the summonses.

Woodland Park resident was reported missing Thursday.

WOODLAND PARK -- The death of an 85-year-old man, who was discovered in the Morris Canal a day after he was reported missing, is not considered suspicious, authorities said Saturday.

The body of Thomas Kozell, of Woodland Park, was recovered from the water near a walking path between Browertown Road and Mt. Pleasant Avenue in the township Friday, according to police. Kozell was reported missing Thursday around 7 p.m.

Woodland Park Police Detective Lt. John Uzzalino said Kozell apparently fell from a hill near the canal and suffered head injuries, NorthJersey.com reported.

In a statement, the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office said there was no danger to the public and an investigation was continuing.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc and on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Dogs and cats in need of homes are waiting at shelters and fosters throughout the state.

There are many common misconceptions about pet adoption.

Petfinder, the for-profit internet company that operates the largest online pet adoption website serving all of North America, put this list together of common adoption myths in the hope that more people will adopt dogs and cats from shelters and rescues.

"I don't know what I'm getting."

There is likely more information available on adoptable animals than pets for purchase in pet stores. Many of the pets from rescue groups are in foster care, living with their fosterer 24/7; information on their personality and habits is typically vast. Even shelters have a very good idea about how the dogs and cats in their care behave with people and other animals.

"I can't find what I want at a shelter."

Not only are their breed-specific rescue groups, but some rescues and shelters maintain waiting lists for specific breeds. There are even means on Petfinder.com to be notified when certain breeds are posted for adoption.

"I can get a pet for free from a friend or acquaintance; why pay an adoption fee?"

The 'free pet' from a source other than a shelter or rescue group isn't necessarily free. Adoption fees usually cover a number of services and treatments including spay/neuter and veterinary checkups. Covering these costs on your own would call for spending the following estimated amounts:

* Spay/neuter: $150-$300

* Distemper vaccination: $20-$30, twice

* Rabies vaccination: $15-$25

* Heartworm test: $15-$35

* Flea/tick treatment: $50-$200

* Microchip: $25-$50

"Pets are in shelters because they don't make good pets."

Here are the main reasons animals end up in shelters or with rescue groups:

* Owners have to move, pets not allowed

* Allergies

* Owner having personal problems

* Too many, no room for littermates

* Owner can no longer afford a pet

* Owner's health does not allow for pet care

While no one can say that every pet adopted from a shelter or rescue will work out perfectly, it's important to remember that misinformation about these homeless animals often keeps them from finding loving homes.

Here's a gallery of pets in New Jersey in need of adoption. Enable captions to get all their information. More pets in need of homes can be seen here and here.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find Greg Hatala on Facebook.

About 1.2 million households in New Jersey are struggling to make ends meet and accrue any kind of meaningful savings

Charlene O'Brian doesn't want help.

The 38-year-old single mother of two has built her life on being a strong, independent woman. The Hardyston divorcee has a full-time job training educators, which she balances with raising her 7 and 10 year-old boys, the latter of which has special needs. In her spare time she runs and designs grueling obstacle courses, the kind that make even the biggest fitness buff think twice.

But O'Brian knows today she needs help. She just doesn't know where to turn to get it.

"It doesn't make me feel good. It's been a struggle," O'Brian said. "But it makes me want to make a difference."

People spend the most on housing in these towns

O'Brian's family is one of the estimated 1.2 million households in New Jersey struggling to make ends meet, according to a new study by United Way. She belongs to a group they dub ALICE (Asset-limited, income constrained, employed) -- a group of people the United Way says make too much money to qualify for federal poverty assistance, but are being crippled by the high cost of living in New Jersey.

"We estimate that for a family of four, the bare minimum to live, the basic survival budget is $64,176," said Stephanie Hoopes, the author of the study. "That's more than double the U.S. poverty level."

For O'Brian, that reality means she is forced to rely on friends and family for child care, which is too expensive full-time. It means that when her son broke his leg last year, it nearly completely wiped her out financially. It meant losing her house, the only one her children had ever known.

"I do try to be a strong person. I'm a very independent person. I know that I'm not the only one going through this," O'Brian said. "This isn't a path I wanted to go down. But I didn't have a choice ... You can't keep a family of three afloat based on my salary alone."

The United Way estimates that 37 percent of households fall into this expanded definition of poverty. In New Jersey, it's due to a combination of expenses -- housing costs, childcare, food, healthcare and other expenses -- that far exceed national averages.

Child care for two children, the United Way estimates, now costs more than $16,000 a year in New Jersey, more than any other category, including housing. Healthcare costs have jumped by 66 percent since 2007. And combined, the cost of simply making ends meet in New Jersey has increased at nearly twice the rate of inflation.

"Here you have people who want to work and are, in fact, working very hard and still struggling," said John Franklin, CEO of the United Way of Northern New Jersey, which commissioned the study. "And we're talking about the bare minimum needed to live. And you think if you have a family health crisis, there are so many repercussions to that."

Hoopes, a former faculty member at Rutgers, has been producing research on the ALICE population for five years. The cost-of-living measure is achieved using a compendium of local and national data to analyze how costs in each state differ, rather than using a national model like the Federal Poverty Level (See her methodology here).

New Jersey is not unique. Since beginning work on ALICE studies in New Jersey in 2012, the non-profit has expanded research to 15 states. Of the 38 million households studied, about 40 percent fell below the survival budget in their respective states.

Within the Garden State, rural areas in southern New Jersey are struggling more than others. In Cumberland County, more than half of households fall below the ALICE threshold. Atlantic, Salem and Cape May counties are not far behind.

The study also shows the impact that the great recession has had on New Jersey, and lays bare how slow the state has been to recover. While there are signs of recovery today in the Garden State, the household survival budget has increased by 23 percent since 2007, while job and wage growth has remained all but stagnant until recently. 

The United Way estimates that stability, a budget that includes space for meaningful savings, isn't reached in New Jersey until a family of four has a combined income of more than $118,000 -- nearly $50,000 more than the median household income in the state today.

"Given the mismatch between the cost of living and the preponderance of low-wage jobs, accumulating assets is difficult in New Jersey," Hoopes writes in the study. "Having minimal or no assets makes ALICE households more vulnerable to emergencies. It also can increase their overall costs when they have to use alternative financing with fees and high interest rates that make it difficult or impossible to save money or amass more assets."

For O'Brian, there has been some solace in learning she isn't alone. In 2015, she went to a United Way event where a woman shared her story of struggle. Sitting in the audience, she began to cry.

"The story she was telling was mine," she said. "And I just said 'wow, I'm not alone.' So if this is an opportunity for me to stand up and put a voice to this, I want to do that, because this is happening too frequently to too many people." 

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About 120 people packed Jersey City First Wesleyan Church for the annual interfaith service honoring the slain civil rights leader.

JERSEY CITY -- A passionate sermon by the Rev. Dorothy Patterson on the difference between what is right and what is righteous dominated a two-hour, interfaith service this afternoon at Jersey City First Wesleyan Church honoring Martin Luther King Jr.

Patterson, of Paterson's Wallace Temple A.M.E. Zion, recited a chapter from 2 Kings that tells the story of lepers who come to an empty camp during a famine, eat and drink from what was left behind, then realize they should share with others so they send a message to the rest of the city.

Keeping food that was left behind for themselves may have been right, Patterson said, but it would not have been righteous.

"And that's what he stood on," she said, tying the Biblical story to the slain civil rights leader. "He stood on that which was righteous. Yes, we can justify what we do and we call it right, because ... maybe it's legal and it's right, but it can be legal and right but not be righteous."

About 120 people gathered inside the Woodlawn Avenue church for today's service, hosted by the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Jersey City & Vicinity.

Bishop Kevin E. Knight, of Heavenly Temple Church of God in Christ, recalled seeing King speak in Jersey City. King appeared at Saint Peter's University in September 1965, when he received an honorary doctorate from the college, and on March 27, 1968, a week before his assassination, he spoke at Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church.

"A mighty, mighty man of valor," Knight said of King.

The final book King wrote before he was gunned down was called "Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?" U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, speaking briefly before today's service ended, said the title makes him think about today.

Menendez, a Democrat, never mentioned this week's inauguration of Republican Donald J. Trump as the nation's 45th president, but he made it clear what he thinks of some of Trump's policy positions.

"It is neither right nor righteous to take people's health care away without knowing what will come in its place," he said, to applause. "It is neither right nor righteous to have a criminal justice system that ultimately treats some far more harshly than others. It is neither right nor righteous ultimately to turn back the clock on the ability of all of us, regardless of the color of our skin, or the happenstance of where we were born, to have the basic voting rights of each and every American in this country. And it is neither right nor righteous to see some children graduate across a graduation stage and others cross a prison courtyard.

"We can do better in our country," he added.

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.

A couple of huge upsets broke the ice for two programs

The sentencing of former Assemblyman Robert Schroeder was rescheduled for a fourth time on Jan. 17, 2017.

SOMERVILLE - The sentencing of former Assemblyman Robert Schroeder, who pleaded guilty to charges he stole nearly $1.9 million from people who loaned him money and wrote more than $3.4 million in bad checks to other creditors, was rescheduled for a third time on Tuesday.

The new sentencing date is Feb. 6.

Schroeder was originally going to be sentenced on Dec. 22, 2016. That date was rescheduled to Jan. 13. On that date, Somerset County Superior Court Judge Robert B. Reed spent nearly the entire day in a resentencing hearing for former "Melrose Place" actress Amy Locane-Bovenizer and Schroeder hearing was moved to Tuesday.

During Tuesday's hearing attorneys for both sides held three meetings in Reed's chambers that ended with Reed announcing that additional information had been submitted to the court on behalf of Schroeder, and both the court and Attorney General's Office needed time to review it.

Neither defense attorney John Whipple nor Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Manis would reveal what the new information was.

Peter Aseltine, a spokesman for the Attorney General's Office, said the documents are sealed.

Under a plea agreement, the state has recommended that Schroeder, a Republican, be sentenced to eight years in state prison. He will be required to pay back the more than $5.3 million he stole from his victims and be barred from holding public office or public employment in New Jersey.

Nearly a half dozen victims of Schroeder's scheme attended the hearing and two gave victim's impact statements.

Schroeder served two terms in the Assembly from 2010 to 2014, representing the 39th district that includes parts of Bergen and Passaic counties.

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Odalys Rastatter claims she was wrongly terminated for taking time off during Hurricane Sandy. Watch video

PASSAIC - The city reportedly has agreed to pay $1.2 million to settle a lawsuit filed by a former police officer who alleged she was a victim of sexual discrimination and retaliatory behavior by a superior.

During a civil trial that began two weeks ago, Odalys Rastatter testified that former acting police chief Richard Diaz threatened her on at least two occasions, limited her assignments and made several disparaging comments about the ability of women to serve as officers, according to a report on NorthJersey.com.

The settlement came Tuesday as the trial was about to enter its third week, according to the report.

Rastatter, who claims she took off from work to care for a sick child, was suspended without pay in December 2012. She was terminated in April 2014. The former police officer has maintained she obtained permission from a supervisor to take time off when the hurricane hit New Jersey on Oct. 29, 2012.

In the lawsuit, Rastatter alleged that Matthew Paz, who was deputy chief, approved her day off. She claimed that Diaz was behind an investigation of her as an act of retaliation because she rejected his sexual advances years earlier, according to NorthJersey.com.

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Late last year, the New Jersey Civil Service Commission upheld its ruling in favor of Passaic officials and against Rastatter. The commission cited a text message Rastatter sent to a subordinate about taking the day off during Hurricane Sandy that made it seem like she did not have permission to stay home.

"I'm probably not coming in," the message read. "Whoever is there, tell them 2 keep a low profile."

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

As traffic fatalities increased last year, the deadliest counties in the state are not the places people would immediately think of.

The counties that had the most fatal crashes last year aren't in the densely populated northern part of the state. And the crashes don't always happen on the largest, fastest highways. 

Burlington and Monmouth counties proved to be more deadly than Hudson, Union and Middlesex, based on an analysis of State Police fatal crash statistics for 2016.

Burlington led the state in both fatal crashes and the number of people killed, making it the deadliest of all 21 counties. While I-295 crosses the county, smaller highways such as Route 70 and 130 had more fatal collisions last year. 

In Hudson County, a county road rather than a state highway claimed the title of being the most deadly. County Route 501, also known as Kennedy Boulevard, had five fatal crashes in 2016, more than some of the bigger and busier toll roads and highways that criss-cross the county.

The state ended 2016 with 607 people killed in 575 crashes, which State Police said was an 8 percent increase over 2015. 

The deadly data is used for more than just record keeping, officials said.

Fatality statistics can result in highway projects to improve conditions if a trend is seen in the crash data over several years, said Stephen Schapiro, a state Department of Transportation spokesman.

"NJDOT looks at several criteria for a given location or segment of road including the number of crashes, the type of crash, the severity of the crash, and the cause of the crash," he said. "The Department compiles three years of data for a given location and uses the information to prioritize projects."

A state police analysis of 2015 fatal crashes, released earlier this month, showed a continuing trend where distracted driving was the leading factor in deadly collisions, followed by alcohol use and speeding. 

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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The infant suffered from permanent injuries after falling off a hay ride during the annual borough fair, a lawsuit says.

HAWTHORNE -- A local woman is suing the borough after her child was injured on a carnival ride during the annual borough fair, according to a lawsuit.

Jennifer Ciccarella claims that her infant child was severely injured after riding a slide composed of hay during "Hawthorne Day," according to a lawsuit filed last month in Passaic County Superior Court.

The incident occurred on Sept. 27, 2014, when the infant, whose exact age was not disclosed, slid out of an open area of the slide and struck her body on the ground, the complaint says.

The child allegedly fractured their tibia and suffered from permanent orthopedic and neurological injuries, the lawsuit states.

The woman is suing the borough because they hosted the event and thus claimed each ride as safe for children, the lawsuit states.

A lawyer for Ciccarella and the borough did not immediately return a request for comment.

Fausto Giovanny Pinto may be reached at fpinto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @FGPreporting. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Some people, like me, prefer "old man bars" and mourn the loss of those that have closed.

Over the past few years, a lot of craft beer bars have opened in New Jersey.

According to newjerseycraftbeer.com, there are 68 production breweries, 13 brewpubs and 21 "soon to open startups" in the state. And, of course there is a plethora of sports-themed bars doing business in the Garden State. So, it appears evident that plenty of folks are looking to "belly up" in just such places.

But there are some people, like me, who prefer the "old man bars" and mourn the loss of those that have closed.

Esquire Magazine featured an article in 2015 titled "The Subtle Differences Between an Old Man Bar and a Dive." Some of us, though, have known for decades what separates one from the other.

 

As I see it, the "old man bar" is quiet; rarely is there loud music playing. Usually, the only sound other than the voices of the patrons is a sporting event or news on a television set (typically, no flat screen TVs here).

These establishments aren't fancy; the bar, the barstools and the tables and chairs have been there a long time. The bartender, very often the owner as well, also sometimes serves as the cook and arbiter of arguments.

And, it's not a good idea to request trendy new beer or mixed drink in these watering holes.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

My wife and I had a favorite spot in Highland Park, the Homestead Tap on Raritan Avenue. There was nothing fancy about the Homestead, it just a nice place to sit and chat over a beer. One of our best memories is a rather lively debate about the merits of American-made cars versus imported vehicles; we were asked our opinions on the matter even though we knew not a soul in the room; we were welcomed into the discussions like we were regulars.

There's one more thing -- no matter how heated the conversation becomes in an "old man bar," everyone remains friends at last call. 'Last call' for the Homestead Tap was in 1993 when it changed hands and became a fancy restaurant; my wife and I raised a cold one in memory.

Here's a gallery of vintage photos of taverns and bars around New Jersey.  Be sure to have captions enabled for information about each ... and If you didn't see your favorite watering hole in this gallery, there's a good chance it appeared in one from previous years. Click here and here to view them.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find Greg Hatala on Facebook.

The checks were for payments for hours exceeding a limit set by federal labor laws, according to a report.

PATERSON - Eight police officers have divided $131,470 for compensatory time they accumulated over the past several years, according to a Paterson Times report.

The checks, which were distributed Jan. 1, ranged from $7,619 to $23,421, according to the report.

Paterson Mayor Joey Torres said the checks were payments for hours exceeding the 480-hour limit set by federal labor laws for police officers.

Torres said the money did not come from tax dollars but from the city's overtime budget, according to the report.

Business administrator Nellie Pou said the checks were calculated by the city's payroll supervisor, approved through personnel and have documentation to back them up. The report said some of the hours that were paid go back 10 years.

Some city council members said they were blindsided by the payouts. Council president William McKoy called the payouts "highly unusual" and demanded an explanation from the administration, the report said.

The council did not approve the payments, but that didn't matter because the officers have already been paid, according to the report.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Police arrested 36-year-old Jackson Alkama, of Paterson, after someone reported an erratic driver on Route 9, police said.

MIDDLE TWP -- A driver is facing drug and other charges after leading police on a 10-minute, low-speed chase. 

Police arrested 36-year-old Jackson Alkama, of Paterson, after someone reported an erratic driver on Route 9.

An officer turned on his emergency lights after the vehicle, a 2016 Toyota Corolla, made a traffic violation.

Instead of stopping, the driver continued, came to a dead end, hit an electrical box and stopped. Police said the vehicle traveled for about six miles at a speed of 25 miles per hour -- a travel time of about 10 minutes before stopping.

Police said they found seven wax folds of suspected heroin in the vehicle.

Alkama was charged with possession of CDS, eluding DWI, and multiple motor vehicle violations. He is being held at the Cape May County Correctional Facility. 

Rajeev Dhir may be reached at rdhir@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @googasmammoo. Find NJ.com on Facebook.