The new department has 22,240 square feet of space and is almost double the size of the old department.

A new, fully upgraded emergency department was unveiled Thursday morning at HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley.

The department was moved from the back of the hospital to the front to serve as the "front door," said Robert Garrett, co-CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. 

The new department has 22,240 square feet of space and is almost double the size of the old one, Garrett said.

"This represents an amazing accomplishment and everyone should be proud," Garrett said.

Christie vetoes Bergen Regional bill

The department includes 26 rooms that are all private. Five of them are intended to specifically treat children.

The hospital also has an app where patients can request concierge service to their rooms, or to help them call a car for when they are ready to go home.

Ground broke to build the department last year. It was budgeted for $14 million and it came in on-budget and on-time, said Emily Holliman, CEO of HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley.

The department will open for use in two weeks.

Sara Jerde may be reached at sjerde@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SaraJerde.

"Operation Helping Hand" began with arrests beginning on Sunday and ending on Thursday.

HACKENSACK - Forty people were arrested in Bergen County this week on drug or drug-related charges and offered a bed at a local detox program in the hope they will begin a path to recovery from addiction.

"Operation Helping Hand" resulted in arrests every day from Sunday through Thursday, officials said.

When it was over, 11 of the 40 arrestees agreed to the county's offer to enter a five-day detox program at Bergen Regional Medical Center. Another agreed to enter a detox program at the Bergen County Jail.

Those who chose to enter treatment still face criminal charges, according to Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal.

"It's our sincere hope they will get better," Gurbir told reporters during a press conference announcing the mutli-jurisdictional initiative on Thursday.

A map shows where Bergen County's heroin and opiate overdoses occurred in a one-year period. (Bergen County Prosecutor's Office) 

In 2015, there were 87 fatal overdoses in Bergen County, the prosecutor said.

Of 288 total overdoses, 231 were related to heroin or other opiates, he said.

In 2015, the hardest hit municipalities in Bergen County were:

• Garfield, 23 overdoses
• Lyndhurst, 20 overdoses
• Fort Lee, 15 overdoses
• Lodi, 15 overdoses
• Cliffside Park, 14 overdoses

So far in 2016, there have been 48 overdose fatalities, of which 40 were heroin-related.

To address the issue, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office collaborated with Bergen Regional Medical Center to set aside five-day detox beds for a one-week period for people battling addiction who were caught up in the drug sweep, the prosecutor said.

"In addition to arresting them, task force members presented the option of participating in the voluntary detox program at Bergen Regional Medical Center," Grewal said. "The detox program was not in lieu of criminal charges."

Grewal acknowledged that a five-day detox would not necessarily be successful in deterring addicts from future drug use and criminal behavior.

"But it's a start," the prosecutor said, adding that he hoped many of those arrested would agree to and eventually enter long-term treatment.

Michael J. Paolello, executive director of the hospital's Evergreen Treatment Center, said many of the addicts he's seen would not have come for treatment without prompting from law enforcement.

"Some are afraid, some just don't know where to go to get help," Paolello said.

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

Anthony Perez's suit claims his car was hit by a police cruiser, driven by Officer Brandon M. Moriarty in April, 2012

TENAFLY -- The borough has paid $550,000 to settle a case with an Alpine man who said he was significantly injured in a crash with a police car.

The news was first reported by NJ Civil Settlements, which provides a partial list of settlements paid by New Jersey government agencies and their insurers to those who have sued them.

Anthony Perez's suit claims his car was hit by a police cruiser, driven by officer Brandon M. Moriarty, on April 21, 2012 while the Alpine man was traveling south on Sylvan Boulevard.

No further information about the accident was provided. As part of the settlement, neither side has admitted any wrongdoing. 

Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The changes were intended to help North Jersey powerhouses like Don Bosco and Bergen Catholic, but now some athletic officials are questioning how the tweaks came to be.

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association released a revision to its football tournament regulations this afternoon, including an apparent change to the power points calculations that could provide significant boosts to teams that play North Jersey power programs.

According to the regulations, teams that play North Jersey Super Football Conference United Red and White Division teams will receive two times the quality, group and residual points against Red Division teams and 1.5 times the points against White Division teams. Also, “in either case, points will be calculated as though the opponent had won, regardless of the actual outcome of the game,” the regulations say.

RELATED: 10 major issues facing N.J. high school sports in 2016-17

Before the change in calculations, an opponent who lost to a United Red or White Division team would have earned no quality points. Under the new changes, the losing team would earn 12 points regardless of the outcome.

The change could drastically affect which teams make the playoffs — and how teams that do make the playoffs are seeded.

“A team with a better record can win the game against a team with a poorer record, and the team with poorer record would get more power points than the winning team — how can that be?” said West Jersey Football League president and Ewing athletic director Bud Kowal, whose teams could be hurt by the calculations change. “First, you’re giving points for losing, and then you’re giving the team that lost more points than the team that won.”

Earlier this year, the NJSIAA Executive Committee approved two proposals aimed at enticing teams to play NJSFC power programs. The first proposal granted bonus power points to schools that play teams from the United Red (Don Bosco, Bergen Catholic, Paramus Catholic, St. Peter’s and St. Joseph Regional) and White (Pope John, Delbarton, Seton Hall and DePaul) divisions, and the second allowed all nine teams in both divisions to automatically qualify for the state playoffs.

RELATED: 25 Super Conference games we can't wait to see

However, the initial proposals did not appear to include granting quality bonus points regardless of outcome. It’s unclear how or when the extra line was added to the regulations.

Jack DuBois, the NJSIAA assistant director who oversees football, did not immediately return phone messages seeking comment Thursday night.

“That’s not what I remember voting on in the Executive Committee,” said Paul VI athletic director Tony Mitchell, who sits on the Executive Committee. “I don’t know how that suddenly happened. If I go to play Don Bosco, I just have to show up and I get all those points? That’s not what I thought we voted on. That’s not how I remember it being explained in the meeting.”

Meanwhile, NJSFC president and Nutley athletic director Joe Piro said there should not be any confusion about the new calculations, adding the changes were made clear earlier this year.

"The Commissioner of Education says we have to provide [the power programs] with full and fair schedules and that's what we're trying to do," Piro said. "In order to do that, we have to put incentives in place for teams to play them. Those incentives were more power points. We've been talking about this since the inception of the Super Football Conference."

Mitchell said he plans to raise the issue at the Sept. 14 Executive Committee meeting in Robbinsville.

“We’ll see what happens there,” he said. “Someone may bring it up and ask for an explanation how that came to be because everyone I spoke to had no idea that’s what it was. That’s a new line just added.”

Matthew Stanmyre may be reached at mstanmyre@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Springsteen, Sharp and self-serve gas all made this week's quiz.

Time to measure yourself against other NJ.com readers in the weekly local news quiz. Below are seven questions based on stories all of us saw on NJ.com this week. You all saw these stories, but do you remember the details of each? If you're not feeling confident, take a minute to study up via the links below. All you need for a perfect score is before you. Once you're done, share your score in comments to see how you stack up against other NJ.com readers.

This week's quiz was based on these stories ...

• Springsteen dishes dream set
• Snakes on the beach?
• Christie: Jersey Girls don't pump their own gas
• 2 United pilots charged with being drunk before flight to Newark
• Electronics giant leaving North Jersey
• This N.J. college has the worst professors
• N.J. woman hit by foul ball suing major league team

John Shabe can be reached at jshabe@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter and find NJ.com on Facebook.

The Rev. Warren Hall, who was working at a Hoboken church, expressed support for a former coach suing Paramus Catholic High School.

PARAMUS - A North Jersey priest who is gay has been suspended by the Newark archbishop after expressing support for a woman who was fired for being in a same-sex marriage, the Religion News Service reported Thursday.

The Rev. Warren Hall, 53, who was working at a Hoboken church, told RNS he was being suspended for taking stands in favor of gay support groups and, specifically, for expressing support for a former dean of guidance and basketball coach suing Paramus Catholic High School.

Kate Drumgoole, 33, of Bogota, was fired in January after Facebook photos appeared of her 2014 wedding to Jaclyn Vanore. The school claims Drumgoole was not fired because she is gay, but because she is in a same-sex marriage. Drumgoole is suing the school.

Sadly, my differences with my bishop continue. Today he has suspended me from priestly ministry. @Pontifex's Reform are taking too long.

-- Warren Hall (@Warrmeister) August 31, 2016

As a result of his support for Drumgoole, Hall says he will no longer be able to celebrate Mass in public, present himself as a priest or work in the New Jersey parishes where he has been ministering.

"The problem is that we have an archbishop who doesn't believe you can be gay and Catholic," Hall wrote in an email to RNS.

Last year, Hall was fired from his post as director of Seton Hall campus ministry because of a pro-LGBT Facebook post he made. 

After the Seton Hall firing, Hall came out as gay.

"I have to be myself. I can't worry what other people think," Hall told the LGBT magazine, OutSports.com.

The Newark archdiocese gave conflicting statements on why Hall was fired, saying at first that the priest was scheduled to be reassigned, then stating Catholic priests are required to live in "chaste celibacy," according to a New York Times report.

In 2011, Hall resigned from his position as president of Hudson Catholic Regional High School after he was charged with DWI for having a blood-alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit, according to media reports.

"Father has acknowledged publicly the need for him to better care for himself," a school official said in a statement announcing the resignation. 

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

DUBLIN- Football is back. At 9 a.m. on Friday, No. 3 St. Peter's Prep kicks off the football season, taking on Blessed Trinity out of Georgia. The contest is being played at DonnyBrook Stadium in D...

DUBLIN- Football is back.

At 9 a.m. on Friday, No. 3 St. Peter's Prep kicks off the football season, taking on Blessed Trinity out of Georgia. The contest is being played at DonnyBrook Stadium in Dublin, Ireland.

RELATED: 10 things to know about St. Peter's football heading into 2016

If you weren't able to make it overseas to catch the action, NJ.com will be providing live updates from start to finish. Be sure to check back with NJ.com on Friday afternoon for our game report and more.

Braulio Perez may be reached at bperez@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BraulioEPerez.

Gov. Christie waited until his seventh year in office to wrestle with tech infrastructure. No one expects to see fixes before he leaves office. Watch video

Even if you easily tire of Jersey jokes, you must admit this one never gets old:

Gov. Christie promises that one of these days, the state will get it right when it comes to fixing the bureaucratic burlesque known as the Motor Vehicle Commission.

Until there are tangible signs of progress -- notably in the antiquated computer system that is chiefly responsible for creating those three-hour lines -- we reserve the right to remain skeptical, and ask why the governor is still working around the margins rather than attacking the problem with all his resources.

If you ever read the MVC budget, you know that it's a cash cow. It produces revenue of roughly $1.3 billion a year, and no one has ever explained why the majority of it is sent elsewhere, including $101 million redirected into the general fund. Yet everyone's jaw drops when computers crash and the sidewalks of Lodi and South Plainfield become grimmer than a bread line.

The governor's most recent act had been a reminder to outraged patrons to renew their licenses earlier in the month to avoid the crush.

Last week he offered more weak tea for the hundreds of people convened daily on concrete saunas around MVC buildings across the state, Band-Aids such as more customer service training and the elimination of online renewal fees.

You may remember how he got there.

The old agency was whipped into shape by Gov. James McGreevey after he formed the Fix DMV Commission in 2002, and most of the serious problems were fixed in subsequent years after the Division of Motor Vehicles was rebranded as the MVC.

But the MVC's crabby computer mainframe was already 20 years old when everyone agreed it needed replacement in 2005. In the years since --especially since Christie took office -- the overhaul bounced between vendors, costs escalated, delays struck, and the MVC gave the third and final vendor (Hewlitt-Packard) $16 million just to get lost in May 2015.

Then the MVC decided to use its own staff to handle a $25 million, multi-year makeover, paring it down to five priorities. So far, they have completed - a $2 million federally-mandated commercial license database upgrade.

Miles to go. Christie had waited until Year 7 to wrestle with tech infrastructure. He is awaiting a replacement plan from his IT office that will serve MVC and seven other departments, but no one expects to see the finish line before he leaves office. As the lines grow, the MVC -- a governmental model of shuttered facilities, reduced staff, delay upgrades, and punch lines -- becomes a part of his legacy.

If the administration objects to any part of that understatement, it can show up for hearings held by the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee in a few weeks and say so.

But if MVC chief Ray Martinez passes up the chance to provide updates, a more definitive timetable, and an explanation as to why so much revenue is diverted, we'll take it as a sign that the current administration would rather hand off the responsibility to the next one, because its leader is motivated more by careerism than getting results.

Spoiler alert: The measure of a leader is always about the burdens he is willing to take on, so this is likely to follow the same disappointing pattern. Whether it's pension payments or education funding or lead abatement, this governor is a master at half-measures and short-run politics, and he won't do what it takes to find long-term solutions.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

Jose Vega, 70, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child for possession of child pornography.

Jose Vega (BCPO) 

LODI - A 70-year-old borough man was arrested Friday after authorities say they seized images and videos from his apartment depicting child exploitation.

Jose Vega, who lives in an apartment on Wisse Street, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child for possession of child pornography, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal said in a news release.  

The investigation revealed Vega obtained the images from the internet, the prosecutor said.

Vega was held on $50,000 bail pending a first appearance in Bergen County Municipal Court on Sept. 21.

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

Everything you need to follow the 2016 football season can be find right here on NJ.com

The gridiron is heating up, and NJ.com is your place for everything you need to follow the high school football season. 

Over the last two weeks, we've been putting together plenty of previews to get you up to speed, and we will continue to do so until every team in the state kicks offs its 2016 campaign. 

Check out what we have so far and also get ready for what's still to come. 

You'll also want to like NJ.com's High School Football Facebook page and follow all of our beat writers on Twitter for updates throughout the season (you can find out accounts below). 

BIG-TICKET ITEMS
• NJ.com's preseason Top 20 
• The next 10: Who's on the brink of the Top 20? 
• Coaches, Players: Send us videos for NJ.com's Top Videos contest — NEW
• The crystal ball: NJ.com predicts end of season football awards 
• Conference close-up: Previews/predictions for all 54 divisions
• Who's the best in HS football? Here are the top teams in all 23 sections
• Crucial questions: Storylines impacting the 2016 season
• Players to watch by position (coming next week)

STATEWIDE ESSENTIALS 
• Essential links for the 2016 football season
• Double power pts for losing? New rule rewards teams regardless of outcome — NEW
• Don Bosco coach Greg Toal's shot at 300 highlights Week 0 schedule
• 2015's Top 20 in 2016: Who's up, who's down? 
• Back again: Returning football statewide stat leaders, 2016 
• Returning All-State Players: A quick look  
• 25 can't-misses scrimmages for 2016 
• NJSIAA Classifications for 2016: Search for every team and section

MUST-READ NEWS 
• St. Peter's on brink of history with season-opening trip to Ireland
• NJIC announces football conference playoff, bolsters small school identity 
• Super Conference releases official schedule for 2016  
• NJSIAA announces championship sites, 2 games added to MetLife
• Middletown South star LB-RB injured in recruiting-visit drill, out for season
• Timber Creek football program under investigation for illegal recruiting
• Transfer denied enrollment to Timber Creek, school district says 
• Superintendent posts open letter on residency probe of Timber Creek  

PRESEASON COVERAGE 
• Best of Bo: Rutgers recruit and Cedar Creek star's greatest hits 
• Cedar Creek lineman, Rutgers recruit Owen Bowles doesn't need spotlight 
• One of NJ's top WRs will play QB: Bridgeton's plans for Markquese Bell
• St. Joseph (Mont.) alumni set to make 1st career starts in the ACC
• Andrew Brito named Paramus Catholic's opening day quarterback
• Willingboro native camps out in front of Eagles facility hoping for opportunity
• VOTE: Which Bergen County football stat leader will have the best season?
• Bergen County football's top returning stat leaders
• Are HS sports (especially football) losing popularity?
• University of Miami dismisses Don Bosco star Al-Quadin Muhammad
• Don Bosco cancels scrimmage amidst virus outbreak
• Players embracing changes ahead of NJSFC's inaugural conference 
• Greater Middlesex Conference alignment and analysis for 2016
• Rutgers' Chris Ash makes strong impression on N.J. coaches at NJSFC event
• Former St. Peter's star Minkah Fitzpatrick to play a big role for Alabama 
• Former PC star Jabrill Peppers focused on defense...for now 
• WJFL's top new matchups

INTRODUCING THE BIG 6 
• Features, previews & everything you need to follow the NJSFC's "Big Six" non-public powers 

What we've learned  — NEW 
• 10 things about Bergen Catholic
• 10 things about Don Bosco Prep 
• 10 things about St. Peter's Prep 
• 10 things about DePaul 
• 10 things about Paramus Catholic
• 10 things about St. Joseph (Mont.)

BLOOPERS AT THE BIG 6
• WATCH: Don Bosco players impersonate their hard-nosed coach
• WATCH: Bergen Catholic's Crusader Crazies gear up for 2016
• WATCH: The songs of summer that have Paramus Catholic livin'
• WATCH: St. Joseph players let loose on media day

TEAM-BY-TEAM COVERAGE

Big Six Previews 
• For a blossoming Bergen Catholic team, 'the future is now' 
• Don Bosco ready to be targeted during state title defense 
• Traumatized by disappointment, aims for 2016 rebound
• St. Joseph working to avoid hangover, finish off state title
• After years of HCIAL domination, SPP is ready for challenge 
• DePaul using youth, chemistry to replace last year's talented seniors 

South Jersey Times area
• West Deptford overloaded with talent
• Delsea's drive for five straight state titles
• Deptford looks to climb, perhaps into playoffs
• Woodbury returns solid defense, even minus Triplett
• Williamstown gears up for demanding schedule
• Gateway relies on Marc Cambia, who is ready to run offense and more
• Vineland hopes struggles end this season
• Schalick hopes to build from late 2015 momentum
• Glassboro football reloading on offense
• Hightstown football hopes leadership will be key
• Still motivated by Kyle Pszenny, Pennsville trying to defend title
• Development of Brian Cooey will be key for Highland
• Millville looks to build with experienced core
• Penns Grove football tries to avoid pitfalls of 2015
• After magical run to S.J. final, Clayton's challenge is to make it back
• Triton football coach challenging players in year two
• Washington Township football looks to take another big step
• Clearview football looks to clear hurdle
• After tough end to 2015, Paulsboro re-loading for title run
• Cumberland football has new coach, higher expactations
• From 0-10 to running table: Gloucester Catholic thinks its possible
• Gloucester looks to regain identity during transition
• Pitman sees what is possible with Clayton's rise
• On verge of 300 wins, Paul Sacco leads St. Joe's (Hamm.) into new league 
• Haddonfield football looking for cohesion, continued success 
• After "straight disappointment" of playoff loss, St. Augustine re-loading 

Trenton Times area
• The Times of Trenton season preview
• The Times of Trenton players and teams to watch, 2016

Nikolaos Psaros owns Nick's Horizon Diner in Manahawkin, Stafford Township and Mariner's Cove in Brielle.

TRENTON -- The owner of two Jersey Shore diners was sentenced to six months behind bars Thursday for personal income tax evasion.

Nikolaos Psaros, 55, of Palisades Park, was also fined $4,000 and ordered to pay $480,474.91 in restitution by U.S. District Court Judge Michael A. Shipp, in Trenton.

Psaros owns Nick's Horizon Diner in Manahawkin, Stafford Township and Mariner's Cove in Brielle.

He pleaded guilty in May to one count of personal tax evasion for his 2010 return.

According to his indictment last year, both of Psaros' diners generated more than $1 million in revenue annually.

Federal authorities have alleged Psaros kept money made by the diners from their business and payroll accounts and diverted it into his personal account.

Then he didn't tell his accountant, who prepared the tax returns, about the diverted funds, authorities allege.

Although Psaros admitted to evading personal taxes for 2010, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has alleged that Psaros failed to pay others taxes over multiple years as well.

Once released from prison, Psaros will be under supervised release for three years, with six months of location monitoring, also known as home confinement.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A 48-year-old Lodi man has been charged with stealing more than $4,000 worth of equipment from a New Jersey Turnpike construction site in Jersey City June 5.

A 48-year-old Lodi man has been charged with stealing more than $4,000 worth of equipment from a New Jersey Turnpike construction site in Jersey City on June 5.

Juan A. Varela, of Massey Street, is charged with burglary, theft and criminal trespassing in connection with the incident at the Interchange 14A Toll Plaza, the criminal complaint says, adding that he was arrested Tuesday.

Varela is charged with entering a secured area and taking a Rigid pipe threading machine valued at $4,400 and a compressor valued at $200, the complaint says.

The defendant has prior convictions for crimes including burglary, criminal trespassing, and two counts each of theft and aggravated assault, a court official said.

Varela's bail was set at $40,000 with a 10 percent cash option when he made his first appearance on the charges this afternoon in Central Judicial Processing court in Jersey City via video link from Hudson County jail in Kearny.

The complaint does not say how Valera was connected to the theft.

Trooper's brother indicted, though trooper could still face charges. Watch video

HACKENSACK -- A judge has thrown out charges against a New Jersey state trooper accused of an off-duty attack with a beer bottle outside a New York Giants football game after a second grand jury declined to indict him.

The trooper's brother now faces charges for the assault.

The Bergen County grand jury returned a no bill in the case of rookie trooper Steven Hodge, who had previously been indicted for weapons possession and aggravated assault, recommending he face lesser charges in municipal court, according to court records obtained by NJ Advance Media.

On Wednesday, the same day a Superior Court judge dismissed the charges, a grand jury indicted his brother, Fred Hodge, for aggravated assault in the same case.

Now prosecutors in Bergen County face pressure from attorneys for the victim of the alleged attack, Nicholas Guidi, who accuse them of either bungling the investigation or participating in a cover-up.

The grand jury decisions mark the latest development in a tangled case that started over a fight between football fans in November 2014.

See more documents, video from the case

According to court records, the Hodge brothers got into a dispute with Guidi, a San Francisco 49ers fan, outside Met Life Stadium after a game between the two teams. The brothers allegedly accused him of throwing a beer can at their truck.

At some point during the dispute, Guidi was struck in the face with a bottle, which broke his nose and gave him a concussion, according to his attorneys. State Police who responded to the scene described Guidi in police reports as drunk and belligerent, and arrested him on disorderly conduct charges that were that were later thrown out.

Guidi now claims in a lawsuit that Steven Hodge, who was off-duty at the time, flashed his badge during the dispute and later conspired with the state troopers stationed at the stadium to cover up the assault and paint Guidi as the aggressor in police reports.

Steven Hodge was indicted for the attack last October -- nearly a year after the incident. But he later argued that the grand jury did not see video and other evidence suggesting that Guidi initially identified the trooper's brother as the attacker, and prosecutors agreed to bring the case back before the grand jury.

That second grand jury returned a "no bill" decision on Aug. 24, but recommended Steven Hodge be charged with simple assault and making a false statement in municipal court, according to a copy of the decision obtained by NJ Advance Media.

Those recommended charges have not yet been filed. Prosecutors advised Guidi he could file them himself in East Rutherford municipal court, his attorneys said.

The grand jury document does not specify what false statement Steven Hodge is alleged to have made. Grand jury proceedings are considered secret in state court, and a spokeswoman for acting Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir Grewal did not respond to questions about the case.

Patrick Toscano, the trooper's attorney, said that if the municipal charges are brought, he intends to file a motion to dismiss them.

"Simply put, Trooper Hodge did absolutely nothing wrong or illegal that evening," Toscano said in an e-mail. "Mr. Guidi, the alleged victim, was the only individual who committed an assault that night."

Steven Hodge remains suspended without pay, Toscano said, adding that he would seek reinstatement on the force.

An attorney for Fred Hodge could not be reached. 

Meanwhile, another judge on Friday refused a request from the state to suspend proceedings in Guidi's lawsuit until the criminal case is sorted out. And a third judge heard arguments from Guidi's attorneys, who are seeking to subpoena the assistant prosecutor who worked on the case.

Joshua McMahon, one of Guidi's attorneys, said during a court hearing in Hackensack that the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office had violated his client's rights by withholding police reports and other important records from him.

"Every human being involved has these documents -- except the human being that got smashed in the face with a glass bottle," McMahon said.

McMahon criticized prosecutors for not bringing more serious charges against Hodge, including official misconduct and conspiracy, pointing out that he was accused of making a false statement and flashing his badge on the scene. 

John Carbone, an attorney for the prosecutor's office, dismissed McMahon's accusation as "a smorgasbord of bombast."

Deputy Attorney General Robert Preuss, who is representing the State Police in the lawsuit, said allegations of a cover-up were "an absolute fabrication."

"It was a State Police investigation that led to Mr. Hodge's indictment," Preuss said in court Friday. 

The prosecutor's office and state Attorney General's Office have fought the release of documents related to the case in court, claiming their disclosure could undermine an "expanded investigation" that is still ongoing. 

McMahon said the state should demonstrate how their release would jeopardize the case rather than rely on a blanket exemption for an "ongoing investigation."

"How do they define active and ongoing?" he said. "It's been almost two years for a run-of-the-mill aggravated assault." 

S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Significant delays were still being reported early Friday evening

RAMSEY-- A woman was killed Friday afternoon after being struck by an NJ Transit train near Main Street, agency spokesman Jim Smith said.

The woman, who was identified only as a trespasser, was hit around 3:24 p.m. by the No. 99 train from Hoboken to Port Jervis, N.Y. None of the 500 passengers and crew aboard were hurt.

Service on the Main, Bergen and Port Jervis lines was temporarily suspended. There were still delays in both directions of up to 40 minutes as of about 5:30 p.m., Smith said.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.  

Colaneri, who stars in 'America's Most Desperate Kitchens,' wanted an outdoor space that flowed seamlessly with the interior of his Ramsey home

N.J. Home Makeover is a regular feature on NJ.com. To submit your renovation for consideration, email home@starledger.com with your full name, email address, phone number and town/city. Attach "before" and "after" photos of what you renovated.

Nearly three years ago, HGTV star John Colaneri built a 4,700-square-foot, barn-style house on a thickly wooded lot in Ramsey, revealing views of a verdant backyard setting through large glass doors.

"My wife and I were looking to build a new home for the family, and when we designed the home, we wanted to make sure that the outside and the inside areas felt seamless," said Colaneri, the co-host of "America's Most Desperate Kitchens" who made his HGTV debut with "Kitchen Cousins," both with cousin Anthony Carrino.

Colaneri and his wife selected 12-foot, bi-folding doors that open onto a bluestone patio at the back of their five-bedroom, three-bathroom home. But they waited many months before outfitting the patio for cooking and entertaining. Colaneri wanted to observe the light and weather patterns for at least a season. "It helped me see how I wanted to set up the kitchen," he said.

The renovation

Last spring, he was ready to fire up a grill, and it would be a $3,000 model from Coyote Outdoor Living. In what he called a partnership with several brands, Colaneri outfitted the space with high-end pieces boasting low-maintenance benefits. He paired the 42-inch stainless steel grill with Coyote's unusual beehive-shaped Asado, a textured black ceramic smoker that can bake, sear or grill on its 254-square-inch cooking surface. Along with that $1,000 unit, Coyote provided a $1,500 outdoor refrigerator. Everything is anchored by $19,000 worth of stainless steel cabinetry from Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens.

What looks like wood on the drawer and cabinet fronts is actually a powder-coat finish. "It looks closest to my ipe wood," Colaneri said, referring to the naturally weathered Brazilian lumber used for his home's siding.

The long stretch of outdoor cabinetry is topped and wrapped with a composite material that resembles marble. Called Dekton, it can sell for up to $96 per square foot. To marry the new cabinetry to the house, Colaneri also had the material installed on the exterior back wall as an accent.

"It will match the countertops of my outdoor kitchen, and now I don't have any maintenance," he said, explaining that the back of the house previously needed to be painted.

"For the outdoor kitchen area, we wanted to ensure that we were using materials that required minimal maintenance, were super durable and would withstand frequent use as well as the changing of seasons," Colaneri said. "We also wanted to make sure that the core components of the kitchen, like the counters, the grill and the cabinetry, offered design elements that mirrored what we used indoors."

"Doing an outdoor kitchen isn't a cheap thing to do," Colaneri said, but he noted: "Kitchens are one of the best areas to add equity into your home, and by adding an outdoor kitchen you are doubling down on the equity you are putting in your home."

The outdoor kitchen project was completed as U.S. Bankruptcy Court awaits Colaneri's plan to repay his debts. He filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year after he and his cousin were hit with an $860,000 arbitration ruling over a reno gone wrong. Colaneri did not comment on the matter.

Colaneri did not pay the manufacturer's suggested retail price in the partnership that produced his outdoor kitchen. He did not disclose how much he paid, if anything. Home improvement brands, like major fashion houses, will sometimes give their wares to celebrities without charge in hopes that the public will be influenced by the high-profile users.

Colaneri's home has been featured in several publications, and is also opened to the media to illustrate his renovation tips while showcasing his lifestyle and the various products he endorses.

"These are the products that I have used in the past on prior shows," he said, discussing his outdoor kitchen's features. "I only went to the people who make the products that last and can withstand the elements."

What they renovated

The home's bluestone patio was updated with an outdoor kitchen

Who did the work

"For the new outdoor kitchen, with the exception of installing the countertops and facade, I oversaw this project," Colaneri said. Peter Brooks Stoneworks of Wood-Ridge cut the slabs of Dekton to size and then the cabinetry was "wrapped" in Dekton pieces using mitered installation. It's adhered using an outdoor epoxy.

How long it took

The outdoor kitchen took approximately three months from conception to final installation.

How much it cost

Colaneri did not disclose how much he paid for the kitchen, but manufacturers gave the suggested retail price for each component.

Where they splurged

According to Colaneri, homeowners should splurge on three key essentials for an outdoor kitchen: counters, appliances and cabinets.

How they saved

Colaneri managed the project himself.

What they did themselves

The cabinets came assembled, and Colaneri put them together to create the long row. He installed all the Coyote products except the grill, which required a plumber to hook up the gas line.

What they like most?

"We're thrilled to have finished the outdoor kitchen, and have been having a blast entertaining our families and friends."

What they'd have done differently

"I know it is crazy, but I would not change a thing," Colaneri said.

Kimberly L. Jackson may be reached at home@starledger.com. Find NJ.com Entertainment on Facebook.

RJ Sy, of Tenafly, was also an honorary member of the Redrum Motorcycle Club.

TENAFLY -- The honorary New York Police Department officer mourned by hundreds Saturday never took a civil service test, made an arrest or carried a firearm. 

He was five years old.

Richard Aiden "RJ" Sy wanted to be a cop when he grew up. When he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer, two years ago, local police took him under their wing. 

So did the Redrum Motorcycle Club, whose members joined a procession that approached Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church early Saturday as bagpipes played and law enforcement officers lined the streets.

RJ, who died Tuesday, was remembered at a Catholic funeral Mass for the adventures he packed into five years: meeting Mickey and Minnie at Disney World; riding in police cars, on fire trucks and in an NYPD helicopter; being kissed and blessed by Pope Francis. 

The church was filled with uniformed police officers, bikers in their club vests, and family and friends, some of whom wore Batman and Superman capes in honor of RJ's love for superheros. 

His loss hit hard for the Redrum club, where the young Bergenfield resident was a de facto member. The group held its first of multiple bike rides to raise money for RJ in 2014. 

After that, RJ became one of the guys -- test riding a motorcycle with his dad, pedaling a tricycle around Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in a Redrum vest and helmet, getting his own Power Wheels truck as a gift from the club. 

Redrum members from chapters around the world donated blood in RJ's name. Some bikers gave to RJ directly. 

"We just wanted him to know we were always with him," said Shawn Watson, a Redrum member. 

Anthony Agosto, a biker from Brooklyn, said RJ was constantly in and out of the hospital. But each time a treatment ended, Agosto said, he bounced back like nothing had ever happened. 

Dozens of Redrum members mounted their bikes after the funeral to join the procession to RJ's interment. 

"For a bunch of tough, ruffian lunatics, we've all been crying all morning," Watson said. "And that's before we even got here."

RJ never got to work as a cop. Fr. Dan O'Neill, who presided at the funeral, said his role in life turned out to be different.

"His assignment, his duty," O'Neill said, "was called 'angel of mercy.'"

Marisa Iati may be reached at miati@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Marisa_Iati. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Most of New Jersey's waterfalls are found in the rugged, mountainous Highlands region in the northern part of the state.

Every cloud has a silver lining, including rain clouds. While rainy weather may keep us indoors when we'd rather be outside, it makes for excellent conditions to view New Jersey's waterfalls. Cascades that are merely pretty in dry weather can quickly become spectacular after a good soaking.

A great time for a waterfall hike is a day or two after a heavy rainfall. Rain that has fallen on the ground takes some time to reach streams and rivers, so the sun may be out and shining by the time waterfalls are at their peak.

Not surprisingly, most of New Jersey's waterfalls are found in the rugged, mountainous Highlands region in the northern part of the state. Some are only a short walk from roads and parking areas, while others require a longer hike. Here are some great ones to visit.

Have you visited these 12 N.J. National Park sites?

Paterson Great Falls

This is the best known of New Jersey waterfalls, and one of the few located in an urban setting. Great Falls is the east coast's second largest waterfall, behind Niagara Falls, and it is the centerpiece of the recently-established Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park.

The roaring waters of the 77-foot Great Falls once powered mills and industry in the "Silk City" founded by Alexander Hamilton, the U.S.'s first treasury secretary.

Buttermilk Falls

Great Falls may be the state's largest, but Buttermilk Falls in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is the highest, at 200 feet. The falls, which cascade down a series of rocky ledges in the Kittatinny Mountains, are easily accessible, located only a few steps from a parking lot. After viewing Buttermilk from below, you can climb steps to the top for a gorgeous view.

Tillman Ravine

If you're visiting Buttermilk Falls, check out Tillman Ravine at the same time. It's a beautiful natural area only about 3.5 miles away in Stokes State Forest. Hike through a shady hemlock forest to follow the Tillman Brook as it drops over falls and through flumes and chutes.

Chikahoki Falls and Otter Hole

Norvin Green State Forest in Passaic County is known for its spectacular mountain views and the New York City skyline. Nearby Chikahoki Falls and Otter Hole are added attractions as they tumble over boulders and rock formations.

Apshawa Falls

These falls are not gigantic, but they're a lovely part of a hike in the Apshawa Preserve in West Milford that also features scenic overlooks, a former water supply reservoir nestled in a ring of mountains, a dam with cascading water, and the ruins of an old water purification system.

Greenbrook Falls

Rocky cliffs towering over the Hudson River, and waterfalls, too? That's what you'll find at the Greenbrook Sanctuary, a 165-acre woodland preserve on top of the Palisades in Tenafly and Alpine, Bergen County. The waterfalls can be seen from several overlooks above the Hudson.

Hemlock Falls

The South Mountain Reservation is the largest park in Essex County's system -- a green oasis in an urbanized area. It's an easy walk from the road to this beautiful 25-foot waterfall. If you're up for more of a challenge, you can hike around it on a loop trail.

Boonton Falls

The Rockaway River cascades through Boonton and once provided power to the town's iron industry. Located just outside Boonton's downtown area, Grace Lord Park includes the large Boonton Falls, as well as a smaller waterfall.

Paterson wants to move World War II sub to Great Falls

Bridal Veil Falls

Located just inside the grounds of William Paterson College in North Haledon, Bridal Veil Falls is located in an old sandstone quarry. A trail passes behind the falls, allowing visitors to stand in a cave behind the falling water.

Tinton Falls

Tinton Falls, for which the Monmouth County town was named, is small gem that can be viewed from a wooden overlook platform off Tinton Avenue. Tinton Falls once powered mills, but is now a quiet spot that can be a refreshing change for vacationers looking to take a break from the beach.

Happy hiking! If you have a favorite New Jersey waterfall hike not listed here, please let me know at info@njconservation.org.

For more information, maps and detailed hike descriptions, visit the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference website, the NJ Hiking website or visit the New Jersey Conservation Foundation website.

Michele S. Byers is executive director of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation.

The fleeing car crashed near the state line, police said.en

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS -- A group of New York men led police on a chase Friday that reached speeds of more than 100 mph.

Palisades Interstate Parkway Police got a call at about 10:30 p.m. reporting a hit-and-run crash on the northbound parkway north of the Rockefeller Lookout.

As police responded, the New York City Police Department called saying they had chased a vehicle wanted for shots fired over the George Washington Bridge and onto the northbound Palisades Parkway. The same vehicle was reported in both incidents: a white 2016 Volkswagen Tiguen.

Parkway Police Officer Timothy Conboy tried to stop the Volkswagen near Alpine Lookout but it fled northbound at more than 100 mph, Parkway Police said in a statement. Two more Parkway Police officers joined the chase near Interchange 2.

The Volkswagen crashed near State Line Lookout, police said. Four men got out and ran.

Police arrested three of them immediately. The fourth, Justin Cabrera, ran into the woods, police said.

Several police agencies established a perimeter. Police learned that Nunez had exited the western edge of the woods and crossed Route 9-W in Alpine.

Police cornered Nunez within a 2-square mile radius. There, they noticed two vehicles lurking in the area and learned Caberera, 22, had called them to pick him up.

At 2 a.m., one of the occupants got in touch with Cabrera on a cell phone.

Parkway Police Chief Michael Coppola got on the phone and convinced Cabrera to surrender. A Closter Police Officer arrested Cabrera at Kiku Restaurant in Alpine.

Police charged the driver, Miguel A. Nunez, 22, with eluding a police officer and resisting arrest. Cabrera, Anthony Javier, 25; and Francisco J. Gonzalez, 23; were charged with resisting arrest. All four men are from the Bronx.

During the chase, a Closter Police Officer suffered a shoulder injury and a Bergen County Sheriff's Officer was hurt in a motor vehicle crash, police said.

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

Homeless pets from northern and central New Jersey that are awaiting adoption.

These are just a small sampling of the thousands of homeless animals currently being cared for by shelters and rescues in New Jersey.

Many lost their homes due to an owner's illness or having to relocate where pets were not allowed. Others have never known a real home, rescued as stray puppies and kittens or born in shelters.

In almost every case, however, they share one thing in common: the desire to become a loving pet for someone willing to adopt them.

Click on the caption button to see information on these adoptable animals and the organizations and groups caring for them. More pets in need of adoption can be seen by clicking this link and this link.

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

This Labor Day, we're paying homage to the players from the North Jersey Super Football Conference that put in the extra work this summer to improve their game.