Power Could Return to Some Monday

If you live on Speedwell Avenue, Clyde Potts Drive or Walker Avenue and their surrounding areas, today may bring you more than trick-or-treats.

Mayor Tim Dougherty said during a press conference shortly before noon Monday that those areas that have been without power since Saturday could be restored within a few hours.

For the rest, Halloween 2011 is feeling like one big trick, as they might not see their power restored for the next few days.

"That's all the information I've gotten [today] from JCP&L," the mayor said from the at , which is still open to the public as an emergency shelter. "It's frustrating."

Dougherty said both town Department of Public Works crews, as well as JCP&L crews, are continuing to clear sidewalks and other rights-of-way of dangerous debris, of which there is plenty. Business Administrator Michael Rogers asked residents with tree brush to be picked up to be patient, as the town concentrates first on the most hazardous debris.

"They're dealing with a lot of downed power lines and a lot of tree issues," Dougherty said.

The JCP&L outage map still listed about 9,000 people in the Morristown ZIP Code without power as of 12:30 p.m. Monday. Anyone still without power should call the JCP&L outage line at 1-888-LIGHTSS. Those in need of assistance from the town should call the mayor's office at 973-292-6629. Any emergencies, call 9-1-1.

Despite the continued power outages, there was some good news on this Halloween, as , scheduled from 3 to 5 p.m., was going on as scheduled. With children off from school on Monday, kids and their parents could be seen walking into South Street businesses as early as 12:30 p.m.

Police Chief Peter Demnitz encouraged all trick-or-treaters to take advantage of the downtown event, and not trick-or-treat house-to-house because of power outages and possible safety issues with downed power lines and other debris from Saturday's storm.

In addition, Councilwoman Rebecca Feldman asked that anyone with Halloween candy consider dropping it off at Town Hall before 2 p.m., and she would distribute it to participating businesses, which were expected to be mobbed with costumed candy cravers.

Overall, , the mayor said "people have been relatively understanding.

"Again, JCP&L misjudged a storm," Dougherty said. "I don't know if they could have judged this. Their hands are as much, if not more full, than they were with Irene."

The mayor asked people to continue to be cautious, as rising temperatures melt snow into the saturated earth, increasing the risk of more fallen trees.

"I've never seen something like this in all my years," he said.