Video: New Rector at Redeemer, celebrating creativity and diversity in Morristown
By Sharon Sheridan
In a liturgy celebrating its inclusive theology and worship style, its commitment to justice and its connections to the Morristown community and the wider Episcopal Church, the Church of the Redeemer on South Street officially installed its 16th rector on Thursday, Sept. 29.

Louie Crew, left, and the Rev. Sidney Williams wait for the opening procession to start. Sharon Sheridan photo
Community leaders, including Mayor Tim Dougherty and Pastor Sidney Williams of the Bethel AME Church, and laity and clergy from throughout the Diocese of Newark and beyond joined Redeemer members in welcoming the Rev. Cynthia Black.
Returning after 20 years ministering elsewhere to the diocese where she was ordained a priest, Black began her Morristown ministry in June.
She was attracted, she said, by the combination of liturgical innovation and commitment to justice in a church that describes itself as “a Christian liberation community in the Episcopal tradition” that practices “radical hospitality.”
In word and song on Thursday, Redeemer proclaimed that identity.
“Tear down the walls that divide us,
Unbind the chains that confine us,
Remove the labels that define us,
the fear that undermines us.
All people, all people,
all God’s people are welcome in this place,”
the choir sang to begin the liturgy.
The evening’s three preachers called upon the church to stand at the meeting place of heaven and earth as prophetic witnesses and holy questioners.

Bishop Catherine Roskam, left, and the Rev. Megan Sanders chat in the clergy vesting area before the service. Sharon Sheridan photo
Diocese of New York Bishop Suffragan Catherine Roskam evoked the image of Jacob’s ladder with angels ascending and descending, describing it as a staircase uniting earth and heaven, a coastline or “what the Celts would call ‘a thin place.’”
“That’s where we plant our churches,” she said. “We don’t really, at our best, build them on strong pylons … We rather float on that changing coastline in between heaven and earth. It’s what makes us who we are. It’s why on 9/11 people came to us.
“I know you are wise,” she told the congregation, “because you have chosen Cynthia to be your rector … who will stand with you on that precarious and fascinating and exciting shoreline.”
Following a reading by Judith Dickerson of his poem Let Us Now Praise Caustic Persons, Louie Crew of Grace Episcopal Church, Newark, lauded the “holy union” of what he called one of the most visionary parishes in the country and one of the most talented and visionary priests in Christendom.
“You are prophets – not the kind who foretell the future, but the kind who prepare us for it,” said Crew, founder of Integrity, which works for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the Episcopal Church. He recounted some of the prophetic work of Redeemer’s past, from promoting peace and blessing same-gender unions to opening the Eric Johnson House serving people with HIV/AIDS and supporting the Morristown Community Soup Kitchen and the Interfaith Council for Homeless Families of Morris County.
The church’s new rector, he said, is “not a careerist.”
“Self-promotion is not what Cynthia is about. She does what is right even when it is not helpful for her professional advancement,” he said. “Cynthia is not at the center of her ministry. You are. But beware, this same re-centering can and should happen to all who serve here. You’re not clients … but disciples of Christ.
“Prophets, unite! Go tell it on the mountain and everywhere: Grace is amazing still.”
Redeemer parishioner Leah Thomas preached from John’s Gospel about Jesus’ invitation to discipleship to Nathanael, who initially asked, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” but then proclaimed Jesus as the Son of God.
“Nathanael’s a questioner,” Thomas said. “He wants to probe deep. He wants to know what’s really going on. He asks the hard questions.”
“[Jesus] sees him for who he truly is. He sees into his heart. … It frees him to recognize Jesus and to name Jesus for who he really is. He experiences what we might call a conversion.”
This sort of transformation “happens throughout the course of our lives,” said Thomas, who called Redeemer a “Nathanael parish.”
“Redeemer has been the place that has asked the difficult, somewhat painful, often irreverent questions,” she said.
But, like Nathanael, “sometimes we feel like we know the way the world works,” she said, cautioning listeners against holding so tightly to the past they miss the moment’s encounter.
The Gospel reading “calls us to stand on a precipice of great things to come,” she said. “I can’t wait to see where we’ll go from here.”
After the sermons, the congregation joined in prayer for the church and the world and for Black’s formal institution as rector by Diocese of Newark Bishop Mark Beckwith.
The bishop himself is no stranger to Morristown, having once served as assistant at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church down the street from Redeemer and having been instrumental in starting the Community Soup Kitchen.
Black later was joined in the service by her partner, Becky Walker, who will join her permanently in Morristown after completing this year’s teaching contract at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich.

Mathematics professor Becky Walker, long-time partner of Redeemer's new rector, the Rev. Cynthia Black. Sharon Sheridan photo
The service included an exchange of gifts, from the parish to Black and from her to the parish and the community organizations associated with Redeemer.
She presented colorful soup ladles to representatives of the soup kitchen, homeless council, Bethel AME, Empty Bowl Zendo, the Eric Johnson House, various recovery ministries that meet at the church and a Cameroon orphanage the church supports.
The congregation’s children — who, according to the service’s prayers, said that “the next rector should be funny, smart, creative and nice” — gave Black a multi-hued stole they made with the help of quilter and vestment-maker Colleen Hintz, who headed the church’s rector search committee.
The offering collected during the service will benefit the ministry of Christopher Senyonjo, retired bishop of the Diocese of West Bugunda, Uganda, through the St. Paul’s Center for Reconciliation and Equality in Kampala, Uganda.
Senyonjo, who will visit Redeemer on Oct. 23, is “one of the most courageous people I know, who has been deposed by his church for his courage and willingness as a straight man to stand up for gay and lesbian people in the country of Uganda,” Black told the congregation.
The service music featured hymns with words written by Redeemer members and two anthems composed for the occasion by church Director of Music Ed Alstrom. The first, “Eternal Spirit,” was based on what people often call the “New Zealand Lord’s Prayer,” which begins:
“Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven …”
The other anthem set to music words from a prayer from Guerrillas of Grace by Ted Lowder: Praise for All Creatures, Laughers and List Makers.
Welcoming a new rector who also is a filmmaker, photographer, trumpeter and woodworker, the service ended with a hymn celebrating the creative spirit of God, and of people in response, set to the traditional English melody Forest Green that sometimes is used with the words of O Little Town of Bethlehem.
“We seek, each by our discipline, by music, art and verse, to use the talents You have given, so splendid and diverse. We seek to emulate your skill with dance and brush and song; and so we strive to create still, All thanks to you belong.”

The gift table includes colorful soup ladels to be presented to representatives of Redeemer's community partners in ministry. Sharon Sheridan photo

Mayor Tim Dougherty, proclaiming Sept. 29 "Cynthia Black Day" in Morristown, had a bit of trouble reading his notes in the dim light and referred to the onlookers as Angilicans. Or was that Angel-icans in honor of the day's Feast of St. Michael and All Angels? Kevin Coughlin photo
Morris Habitat for Humanity 25th Anniversary Year A Great Success
The 25th Anniversary of Morris Habitat for Humanity is drawing to a close but the events held during the year have pushed the non-profit organization way ahead of its original goals. As a nonprofit, equal opportunity, ecumenical Christian housing ministry,...Got a question for General Washington? Ask him at the Morristown Festival on the Green
So you already own the famous Honus Wagner baseball card, the one investment safer than gold?
Well, here’s a collectible that tops that: George Washington’s autograph.
And you can get it on Sunday, at the Morristown Festival on the Green.
Come over to the Morris County Tourism Bureau’s tent on Schuyler Place. If you ask politely, we’re told the General may give you his John Hancock.* While you’re at it, ask Molly Pitcher, too. (Then you will have a Pitcher to go with your shortstop, Wagner.)
We’re not making this up.

GENERALLY SPEAKING, he looks Washingtonian. Meet him on Oct. 2 at the Morristown Festival on the Green.
The Father of Our Country and the Patriotic Lady for Whom They Named a Turnpike Rest Stop will be among the special guests at “Destination Morris County at Schuyler Place.” It’s also one-stop shopping for 18 area historic sites, museums and arts organizations. We will be there, too, happily chronicling the festivities for those in the outer provinces.
“We are excited about this because it’s the first time we have collaborated at a venue of this size, and it’s a terrific opportunity to tell a large audience about what Morris County has to offer and also that the Tourism Bureau exists to assist them,” said Carol Barkin of the Tourism Bureau.
You can get a jump on your holiday shopping with $5 ornaments inspired by famed Morristown illustrator Thomas Nast. If Halloween’s your preferred holiday, Carol can sign you up for an October graveyard tour. Glassworks Studio will host a community art project at the tent. Visit all 18 exhibitors on Sunday, and you could win a gift basket loaded with goodies. (Just grab a Tourism “passport” and have each exhibitor stamp it.)
There will be entertainment as well–and not just me singing the MG theme song. The Arts Council of the Morris Area has lined up these fun acts:
- NOON: Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods by the Brightest Star Summer Musical Theatre
- 12:30: A hip hop workshop with Gus Gauntlett, Joey Gatto (winner of the 2011 MorristownGreen.com Film Festival) and ARTS! By the People
- 1:30: Fusion Corps Drum and Bugle Corps
- 2:30: Harmonium Choral Society
- 3:30: The Morris Music Men Barbershop Quartet

Joey Gatto, winner of the Fourth Annual MorristownGreen.com Film Festival, will give a hip hop demo Oct. 2 for the Tourism Bureau, at the Morristown Festival on the Green. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
And of course, there will be plenty of other amusements at the Festival on the Green, which is celebrating its 17th year.
More than 140 exhibitors and 25 restaurants will be arrayed around the historic Morristown Green, said France Delle Donne of the Morristown Partnership, organizer of the festival.
Visitors can experience everything from a Neil Young tribute band to Lawrence of Suburbia. And jump-roping and fire-juggling. For rock fans of a different sort, there will be a climbing wall.
“The level of interest is remarkably high,” France said. “Businesses are being more creative.”
Out-of-town guests should beware:
“They’ll want to move to Morris County when they see what an incredibly connected and caring community we are,” France predicted.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR SUNDAY’S FESTIVAL ON THE GREEN
Our Tourism tent-mates will include the Morristown National Historical Park; The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms; historic sites managed by the Morris County Park Commission; the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey; the Morris Museum, and the Community Children’s Museum.
Each exhibitor has some clever fun up his or her sleeve. Kids are welcome, and you can even get your pets blessed, outside the Presbyterian Church on the Green, between 1 pm and 3 pm.
For more info about the Tourism Bureau, stop by the Visitors Centerat 6 Court Street in Morristown or call 973-631-5151.
*We cannot vouch for the authenticity of these autographs. But the folks claiming to be George and Molly look very authentic, and in surprisingly good health more than two centuries after the Revolution.
‘In the Heights’ coming to Mayo Performing Arts Center, Oct. 22
MORRISTOWN — The 2008 Tony winner for Best Musical “In the Heights” will be staged on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m. at the Mayo Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $52-$77. At the end of the Tony Award-winning musical In...Video: A birthday like no other for Morristown’s Ticket-Taker Guy
Too often, public outpourings of affection are reserved until after the person of honor has shuffled off the mortal coil.
So it was a delight on Wednesday to witness some love lavished on a guy who has brought joy to generations in Morristown.
And at 50, Eric “Fluffy” Glover should have lots of years to bask in the afterglow.
Eric is known to thousands (according to his Facebook page) as the Ticket Taker Guy, the fellow with the peculiar make-believe ticket-stamping routine at Clearview Cinemas in Headquarters Plaza, where he has been provoking bemused smiles since the Reagan administration.
His birthday bash brought twenty-somethings and Golden Agers to the Dark Horse Lounge, where Eric also moonlights as Fluffy the Bouncer.
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Mike Walsh and his crew at the Horse wanted to do something extra special for Fluffy, something beyond giving him a cake and his usual platform to sing The Candy Man and Riders on the Storm.
They knew that Fluffy’s old Cadillac (from Reagan’s second term) was not long for this world. The driver-side door would not open, the ignition would not start.
So they dug deep and came up with a surprise befitting this BIG 5-0: A shiny silver Cadillac DeVille, circa 2003, in fine health.

T-shirts said it all at 50th birthday bash for Eric 'Fluffy' Glover at Morristown's Dark Horse Lounge. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Eric, who tips the scales at about 350 pounds, became Fluffy years ago thanks to a t-shirt that proclaimed: “I’m not fat, I’m fluffy!”
When the Morristown High grad saw flatbeds from Morristown Auto Body replace his jalopy with the DeVille, he really was fluffy. As in, feather-light, dancing-in-the-breeze euphoric.
Pro-FESS-ional! Fluffy kept repeating.
A crowd chanted Fluf-fy, Fluf-fy! and Er-ic, Er-ic! on DeHart Street until police chased everyone back inside the bar.
This was an evening to be savored.
Donna and Matt Giordano, both retired, have enjoyed Fluffy’s cinema act for 13 years.
“It always makes me smile,” Donna said at the party. “My husband tries to do it back, but it never quite works.”
Taylor Buonocore and Abbey Arwady of Mendham have a long, long way to go until retirement. Yet they feel like they go back a long way with Fluffy.
“He’s a tradition,” Taylor shouted above the throbbing beat of a deejay mix. “He’s contagious!”
Abbey remembers Fluffy from trips to the movies when she was 12. “He was part of our childhood,” she said.
Fluffy soaked it all up: The kudos, the hugs, the free beers. He sang his signature songs with gusto, and then greeted his silver surprise with the wide-eyed wonder of a kid on Christmas morning.
“This is a great night, a real great night,” Fluffy said. “A night I’ll never forget for as long as I live.”
MORE ABOUT THE TICKET-TAKER GUY:
Video: Eric Glover, the Ticket Taker Guy, struts his stuff before big party
Video: Help Morristown’s Ticket-Taker Guy celebrate the BIG 5-0

'PRO-FESS-IONAL!' Eric 'Fluffy' Glover can't believe his luck: The Dark Horse Lounge gave the bouncer a Cadillac for his 50th birthday. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Morristown Mayor gets a (pleasant) surprise from constituents
Elected officials attend lots of fancy dinners. But we’re guessing that few have tasted better to Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty than Wednesday’s fixings from fans in the Second Ward.
Residents threw a surprise birthday party for the Mayor, who turned 53 on Sept. 15, at the Residents Center in Manahan Village.
Vera White organized the event.
“The Mayor made a statement that he didn’t even have cake for his birthday this year,” she said. “None of us had any money, so everybody got together and brought a dish.”
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There was a pineapple ham, and fried chicken, and potato salad.
And a cake.
And a ruse, to get the Mayor to show up. The ladies cooked up a story about Newark Mayor Cory Booker paying a visit.
Mayor Dougherty said that sounded a little odd to him… but he figured he had to check it out. His wife, Mary, was in on the whole caper.
Happy Birthday, Mayor.

Birthday cake for Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty, from fans in the Second Ward. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Greater Morristown weekend preview: Fall Festival, football and furry blessings
The Morristown Festival on the Green is always a colorful pageant, and if you don’t believe us, check it out for yourself on Sunday. You also can get your pet blessed twice that day (it never hurts to have an insurance blessing), and Greater Morristown offers numerous entertainment options for the entire weekend, holy and otherwise.
As always, dive into our great calendar if you’re looking for additional ideas. And don’t be bashful about submitting your own events while you are there.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 29:
The Hill-No! Bike Ride rolls from the puddingstone bench on the Morristown Green at 6 pm, as part of Bike-O-Rama week. It’s billed as an “hour-long ride around town with some ups, some downs [and a] post-ride frozen treat stop!”

Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mack comes to the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown on Sept. 29.
The Rev. Cynthia Black will be installed as new rector of Morristown’s Church of the Redeemer on South Street at 7 pm. Newark Bishop Mark Beckwith will preside, and the service will include hymns written by Redeemer members plus two anthems composed for the occasion by church Director of Music Ed Alstrom. The church will acknowledge its connections to the Community Soup Kitchen, the Empty Bowl Zendo, the Eric Johnson House, and the larger Morristown community.
Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac will perform his greatest hits and songs from his new CD, Seeds We So, at Morristown’s Mayo Performing Arts Center at 8 pm. Tickets are $47-$77. Call 973-539-8008 for more details.
Shakespeare’s tragic Othello takes the stage at 8 pm at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre at Drew University on 36 Madison Avenue, Madison. The play also runs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Directed by Bonnie Monte, starring Keith Hamilton Cobb. Tickets: $32-$55, info at 973-408-5600.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 30:
Jennifer Velez, Esq., commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, is keynote speaker at the Morristown Neighborhood House Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards Dinner and Celebration, at 6 pm at 12 Flagler St. Honorees include: Pastor Dean Bracewell, Pastor, Christian Alliance and Missionary Church; Lizeth Dominguez, Lizeth Express; Adolfo Hernandez, El Portal Restaurant; Yolanda Navarrete, ESQ., Yolanda Navarrete Law Center; Veronica Riafrecha, MD, Morristown Medical Center.
The third annual Bike-In Movie Night commences with the monthly Bike Morristown ride from town hall at 6:30 pm, followed by music and short films at the Early Street Community Garden. Eyeswan will perform before the movies, followed by short films and the featured attraction, Klunkerz: A Film About Mountain Bikes.
The Last Days of Mickey and Jean, a new comedy by Richard Dresser, is at the Bickford Theatre on 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morris Township at 8 pm, and again on Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm. The story of a fugitive mobster on the run from Boston may suggest a real-life tale of recent vintage… Tickets are $20 to $40; call 973-971-3706 for more information.
SATURDAY, OCT. 1:

Morristown High School continues its quest to repeat as state champ with a Saturday game against Randolph. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
The Morristown High School Colonials (2-1-0) host Randolph in their home opener at 2:30 p.m. The football team has been on the road because of damage to its turf field by Tropical Storm Irene. Everything is repaired, however, and the Colonials are ready to resume their drive to repeat as state champs. Note the late start time, to accommodate SAT tests.
Comedian Jim Gaffigan performs twice, at 7 pm and 9:30 pm, at Morristown’s Mayo Performing Arts Center on South Street. Mature themes and language. Tickets: $47-$87. More details at 973-539-8008.
The Sanctuary concert series in Chatham features Cathie Ryan, former lead singer of Cherish the Ladies, at 8 pm. She sings traditional Celtic songs and original ballads, and is known for her “warm-hearted and gently funny performances.” Opening for Cathie will be Walt Michael, a hammered-dulcimer player and founding member of Bottle Hill. He will be joined by fiddlers Evan Stover and Frank Orsini and Tom Wetmore on bass. Tickets are $25. Call 973-376-4946. The Sanctuary series is at the Presbyterian Church, on 240 Southern Boulevard.
SUNDAY, OCT. 2:
The Morristown Farmers Market is open from 8:30 am to 2 pm in public parking lot 10, on corner of Morris Avenue and Spring Street, adjacent to Dumont Place. Call 973-455-1133 for more details.
The Morristown Church of the Redeemer on South Street will offer a Blessing of the Animals at the 10:30 am service.
From noon to 5 pm, it’s the 17th annual Morristown Festival on the Green, around the Green in downtown Morristown. Presented by the Morristown Partnership, this event attracts up to 50,000 visitors from across northern New Jersey to interact with about 140 exhibitors. The Heart of Gold Band will perform on the County College of Morris’ “Main Stage.” Also look for cool jazz, and for the Morris County Tourism Bureau’s all-new “Destination Morris County” venue on Schuyler Place. We’ll be in that tent, too, and so will General George Washington, we’re told, so please stop over and say hello!

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE: A scene from last year's Morristown Festival on the Green. Photo by David Pass
And if your pet wants to count its blessings, it can get a second one at the Presbyterian Church on the Green, between 1 pm and 3 pm. Call 973-538-1776 for more details.
Also between 1 pm and 3 pm, youths between ages 7-11 can learn basic underwater archaeological skills, and maybe discover some treasures, at Historic Speedwell in Morristown. Cost: $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and $2 for children. Pre-registration required. Call 973-285-6550 for more.
Homeless Solutions seeks new home for Hospitality Link in Morristown
Hospitality Link, a Morristown program run by Homeless Solutions Inc., is homeless.
The program, which helps the down-and-out get back on their feet, closed this week at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, where it has operated since its inception in 2008.

Hospitality Link has ceased operations at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, where kitchen renovations are under way. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Last month the church vestry decided not to renew Hospitality Link’s $1 annual lease, citing intended church uses for its Friendly Guild Room, according to Homeless Solutions.
The nonprofit is searching for a new venue within walking distance of the Community Soup Kitchen and other downtown services.
“So far, we don’t know if we can continue the program,” said Katie Laud, chief financial officer for Homeless Solutions. She also is a member of St. Peter’s.
Hospitality Link had been accommodating up to 75 day laborers, unemployed- and homeless visitors each weekday.
The program provided light refreshments donated by area restaurants and a refuge from the elements, but it strove to be more.
Kathryn “Trink” Schwartz, a former chaplain at the Morris County Jail and volunteer at the Market Street Mission, became director of Hospitality Link last year and attempted to help clients with job searches, English as a second language, and tips on grooming and hygiene. She made referrals to rehab, medical and mental health services and distributed laundry cards and bus passes to clients going on job interviews.
Clients had access to computers and a phone, and they could use Hospitality Link as a mailing address–crucial for securing government benefits.
The program was established at the request of the Morristown Area Clergy Council, a consortium of local churches and synagogues.
“I sincerely hope a new home can be found for the Hospitality Link,” said Rabbi Donald Rossoff of Temple B’nai Or and a member of the Clergy Council.
“It serves a very important function within our community and has helped many people through difficult times. I support the Clergy Council in its efforts.
Some Hospitality Link clients have started showing up at Our Place, a daytime drop-in shelter at the First Baptist Church that has had its own struggles. The basement space gets crowded in bad weather, and it’s hard to cadge time on its single laptop computer, clients said.
“The Link was more of a place where you were trying to get on your feet, find a job, use a computer and search for a job,” said Ramon Addison, 33, an unemployed landscaper who said he has been living in a parking garage for three months.
Travis Donnelly, 24, lost a sales job recently and has been living on the streets, “trying to figure things out.” Already, he misses Hospitality Link.
“I liked it,” Travis said. “The people who worked there were very friendly. They really encouraged you to take the next step forward.”

Travis Donnelly and Ramon Addison, pictured here outside 'Our Place,' said they will miss the services provided by Hospitality Link in Morristown. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Hospitality Link’s success stories included an alcoholic with a long jail history, who sobered up and got off the streets thanks to Trink’s intervention, Katie said. Another man who was battling depression got positive reinforcement from the program and landed full-time work, she said.
“Trink is a magical individual. This is what she does. She’s amazing, and we would like her to continue,” Katie said. Trink also is a Lutheran deacon.
The church is doing a $188,000 kitchen renovation, adjacent to the Friendly Guild Room, but Katie was not sure if that factored into the vestry’s decision regarding Hospitality Link. Attempts to reach church officials for comment were unsuccessful.
One goal of Hospitality Link was to occupy homeless clients who might otherwise roam the streets or lounge in downtown businesses or the Morristown & Township Library. It’s a clientele that poses challenges.
In January, police arrested Desean Cunningham, a.k.a. Shannon Brown, a 41-year-old convicted drug dealer from Paterson, outside the church and accused him of possessing 23 bags of heroinnear a school (Assumption) and a public building (the town library) with the intention of selling the drugs.
Police said the suspect would meet buyers outside the church, and use church bathrooms to conduct transactions and stash drugs.
Homeless Solutions officials called it the first incident of its kind, and said they were unaware of any illicit activities on the premises.
Sentenced to time served in the Morris County Jail, Desean Cunningham was given five years’ probation and released in June by Superior Court Judge Stuart Mankowitz.
Text of state order to JCP&L to hire expert to investigate Morristown manhole explosions
Last week a Morris Township mother of two testified about her injuries from a Morristown manhole explosion, and the state Board of Public Utilities directed Jersey Central Power & Light to hire an independent “special reliability master” to get to the bottom of these recurring explosions and fires.
Here is the order, and here are the relevant excerpts:
A series of reliability-related events or “incidents” have occurred over the past several years on the Morristown underground electrical system. The number of incidents, and the severity of some of the incidents, lead the Board to conclude that there needs to be an investigation to determine if the incidents reflect systemic problems on the system, and if so, what measures, if any, should be taken by the Company to rectify the situation.
The latest incident, on August 31, 2011, resulted in personal injuries when heat discharged from a manhole injured a motorist waiting at a traffic light in Morristown, New Jersey. Before that, the Morristown community experienced a series of explosions that caused serious damage to the Morristown and Morris Township Library in May of 2010. There have also been a number of other incidents where equipment malfunctions have caused power interruptions. Since 2005, there has been at least four other incidents where power was lost, evacuations were required or explosions that could have endangered lives have occurred.
In order to properly discharge its statutory responsibilities, as summarized above, and based on the recommendation of Board Staff, the Board has determined that it needs to begin a thorough investigation of the issues raised by the incidents described above with the aid of a qualified engineering firm. The scope of work would include, among other things, a critique of the system design in light of the numerous incidents over the past several years, an assessment of JCP&L’s operating and maintenance practices, and recommendations for improvements, if needed. As the investigation moves forward, the Board may need additional consulting services in other specific areas.
Accordingly, the Board HEREBY DIRECTS that JCP&L hire a Special Reliability Master subject to Board approval, to evaluate JCP&L’s design, operating, maintenance and performance standards as they pertain to the Morristown underground electric distribution system, and make recommendations to the Company and the Board on the appropriate courses of action necessary to ensure adequate reliability and safety in the Morristown underground network. The Special Reliability Master shall also work with local elected officials, and community and business leaders to address their concerns. JCP&L shall provide its recommendation to the Board with sufficient time for review by Board Staff prior to the October 13, 2011 Board meeting.
READ MORE ABOUT MORRISTOWN’S MANHOLES

Morristown Councilwoman Rebecca Feldman and Judy Stein-Loewenthal, who was injured by a manhole explosion in Morristown, prior to their testimony before the state Board of Public Utilities. Photo by Kevin Coughlin















