Sussex Town crier Goes National
Mood:  silly
Topic: Los Angeles
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14713551&BRD=1918&PAG=461&dept_id=506898&rfi=6Town Crier is going national
By MIKE CONDON Editor 06/17/2005

MOUNT ARLINGTON – The borough’s former Town Crier will soon be the nation’s, at least for the national birthday celebration in July.

After admitting that he first had to get his feet back on the ground and his head out of the clouds, Bill Joseph is getting ready for the “cry” of his career.

He has been officially asked by the National Archives and Information Center, a federal government agency, to serve as “town crier” when the Declaration of Independence is “performed” live in the nation’s capital during the July 4 weekend.

Officially named borough town crier by former Mayor Dolores Rivinius in 1992, Joseph served in the post for 10 years, making public announcements at borough ceremonies for a decade.

Then, he was named the “official” crier in both Morris and Sussex counties.

A borough resident for the past 28 years, Joseph works for Morris County delivering meals for the “Meals on Wheels” program.

In 2001, he became the official town crier in Belvidere and soon, he’ll become town crier for the Somerset County Parks Commission. He recently hosted a “town crier” convention in Newton.

Wearing his officially realistic Revolutionary War uniform, Joseph said his job as “crier” is mainly to draw attention, attract the public and publicly announce a grand event, using a bell and what he described as his loud voice.

He “cries” about one event per month.