diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 09b9c62..dfa7232 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 ### 3.0.1 (Next)
 
+* [#71](https://github.com/alexa-js/alexa-app-server/pull/71), [#68](https://github.com/alexa-js/alexa-app-server/issues/68): Fixed log output containing multiple slashes - [@tejashah88](https://github.com/tejashah88).
 * [#72](https://github.com/alexa-js/alexa-app-server/pull/72): Use `path.join` for constructing relative paths - [@dblock](https://github.com/dblock).
 * [#74](https://github.com/alexa-js/alexa-app-server/pull/74): Added locale selector to test page - [@siedi](https://github.com/siedi).
 * Your contribution here.
diff --git a/RELEASING.md b/RELEASING.md
index ddf5b1c..f53d648 100644
--- a/RELEASING.md
+++ b/RELEASING.md
@@ -27,13 +27,13 @@ Modify the "Stable Release" section in [README.md](README.md). Change the text t
 ```
 ## Stable Release
 
-You're reading the documentation for the stable release of alexa-app-server, 2.4.0.
+You're reading the documentation for the stable release of alexa-app-server, 3.0.1.
 ```
 
 Change "Next Release" in [CHANGELOG.md](CHANGELOG.md) to the new version.
 
 ```
-### 2.4.0 (Feb 4, 2017)
+### 3.0.1 (Feb 7, 2017)
 ```
 
 Remove the line with "Your contribution here.", since there will be no more contributions to this release.
@@ -42,13 +42,13 @@ Commit your changes.
 
 ```
 git add README.md CHANGELOG.md
-git commit -m "Preparing for release, 2.4.0."
+git commit -m "Preparing for release, 3.0.1."
 ```
 
 Tag the release.
 
 ```
-git tag v2.4.0
+git tag v3.0.1
 ```
 
 Release.
@@ -70,14 +70,14 @@ Modify the "Stable Release" section in [README.md](README.md). Change the text t
 ```
 ## Stable Release
 
-You're reading the documentation for the next release of alexa-app-server, which should be 2.4.1.
-The current stable release is 2.4.0.
+You're reading the documentation for the next release of alexa-app-server, which should be 3.0.2.
+The current stable release is 3.0.1.
 ```
 
 Add the next release to [CHANGELOG.md](CHANGELOG.md).
 
 ```
-#### 2.4.1 (Next)
+#### 3.0.2 (Next)
 
 * Your contribution here.
 ```
@@ -88,6 +88,6 @@ Commit your changes.
 
 ```
 git add CHANGELOG.md README.md package.json
-git commit -m "Preparing for next development iteration, 2.4.1."
+git commit -m "Preparing for next development iteration, 3.0.2."
 git push origin master
-```
+```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/UPGRADING.md b/UPGRADING.md
index 05679ee..e642009 100644
--- a/UPGRADING.md
+++ b/UPGRADING.md
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ This is the first release out of the [alexa-js Github org](https://github.com/al
 
 #### Alexa-app minimum version
 
-A minimum version 2.5.0 of `alexa-app` is now required.
+A minimum version 3.0.0 of `alexa-app` is now required.
 
 See [alexa-app CHANGELOG](https://github.com/alexa-js/alexa-app/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md) and [UPGRADING](https://github.com/alexa-js/alexa-app/blob/master/UPGRADING.md) for more information.
 
@@ -16,4 +16,4 @@ The `.urlencoded` body-parser has been removed. If your application requires it,
 
 The `.json` body-parser is only used for Alexa applications when `alexa-app-server` is started with `verify: false`, because `verifier-middleware`, which is now mounted inside `alexa-app` acts as a body-parser as well.
 
-See [#35](https://github.com/alexa-js/alexa-app-server/issues/35) and [#64](https://github.com/alexa-js/alexa-app-server/pull/64) for more information.
+See [#35](https://github.com/alexa-js/alexa-app-server/issues/35) and [#64](https://github.com/alexa-js/alexa-app-server/pull/64) for more information.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 8fe575b..2ec2a44 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 var hotswap = require('hotswap');
 var fs = require('fs');
-var path = path = require('path');
+var path = require('path');
 var http = require('http');
 var https = require('https');
 var express = require('express');
 var alexa = require('alexa-app');
 var Promise = require('bluebird');
-var defaults = require('lodash.defaults');
+var defaults = require("lodash.defaults");
+var utils = require("./utils");
 
 var appServer = function(config) {
   var self = {};
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ var appServer = function(config) {
     throw new Error("invalid configuration: the verify and debug options cannot be both enabled");
   }
 
-  if (self.config.httpEnabled == false && self.config.httpsEnabled == false) {
+  if (!self.config.httpEnabled && !self.config.httpsEnabled) {
     throw new Error("invalid configuration: either http or https must be enabled");
   }
 
@@ -69,30 +70,30 @@ var appServer = function(config) {
     // set up a router to hang all alexa apps off of
     var alexaRouter = express.Router();
 
-    var normalizedRoot = root.indexOf('/') === 0 ? root : '/' + root;
+    var normalizedRoot = utils.normalizeApiPath(root);
     self.express.use(normalizedRoot, alexaRouter);
 
     var app_directories = function(srcpath) {
       return fs.readdirSync(srcpath).filter(function(file) {
-        return fs.statSync(path.join(srcpath, file)).isDirectory();
+        return utils.isValidDirectory(path.join(srcpath, file));
       });
     };
 
     app_directories(app_dir).forEach(function(dir) {
-      var package_json = path.join(app_dir, dir, "/package.json");
-      if (!fs.existsSync(package_json) || !fs.statSync(package_json).isFile()) {
+      var package_json = path.join(app_dir, dir, "package.json");
+      if (!utils.isValidFile(package_json)) {
         self.error("   package.json not found in directory " + dir);
         return;
       }
 
-      var pkg = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(package_json, 'utf8'));
+      var pkg = utils.readJsonFile(package_json);
       if (!pkg || !pkg.main || !pkg.name) {
         self.error("   failed to load " + package_json);
         return;
       }
 
       var main = fs.realpathSync(path.join(app_dir, dir, pkg.main));
-      if (!fs.existsSync(main) || !fs.statSync(main).isFile()) {
+      if (!utils.isValidFile(main)) {
         self.error("   main file not found for app [" + pkg.name + "]: " + main);
         return;
       }
@@ -127,7 +128,8 @@ var appServer = function(config) {
         postRequest: self.config.postRequest
       });
 
-      self.log("   loaded app [" + pkg.name + "] at endpoint: " + normalizedRoot + "/" + pkg.name);
+      var endpoint = path.posix.join(normalizedRoot, pkg.name);
+      self.log("   loaded app [" + pkg.name + "] at endpoint: " + endpoint);
     });
 
     return self.apps;
@@ -137,7 +139,7 @@ var appServer = function(config) {
   self.load_server_modules = function(server_dir) {
     var server_files = function(srcpath) {
       return fs.readdirSync(srcpath).filter(function(file) {
-        return fs.statSync(path.join(srcpath, file)).isFile();
+        return utils.isValidFile(path.join(srcpath, file));
       });
     };
     server_files(server_dir).forEach(function(file) {
@@ -164,7 +166,7 @@ var appServer = function(config) {
 
     // serve static content
     var static_dir = path.join(self.config.server_root, self.config.public_html);
-    if (fs.existsSync(static_dir) && fs.statSync(static_dir).isDirectory()) {
+    if (utils.isValidDirectory(static_dir)) {
       self.log("serving static content from: " + static_dir);
       self.express.use(express.static(static_dir));
     } else {
@@ -173,7 +175,7 @@ var appServer = function(config) {
 
     // find any server-side processing modules and let them hook in
     var server_dir = path.join(self.config.server_root, self.config.server_dir);
-    if (fs.existsSync(server_dir) && fs.statSync(server_dir).isDirectory()) {
+    if (utils.isValidDirectory(server_dir)) {
       self.log("loading server-side modules from: " + server_dir);
       self.load_server_modules(server_dir);
     } else {
@@ -182,14 +184,14 @@ var appServer = function(config) {
 
     // find and load alexa-app modules
     var app_dir = path.join(self.config.server_root, self.config.app_dir);
-    if (fs.existsSync(app_dir) && fs.statSync(app_dir).isDirectory()) {
+    if (utils.isValidDirectory(app_dir)) {
       self.log("loading apps from: " + app_dir);
       self.load_apps(app_dir, self.config.app_root);
     } else {
       self.log("apps not loaded because directory [" + app_dir + "] does not exist");
     }
 
-    if (self.config.httpsEnabled == true) {
+    if (self.config.httpsEnabled) {
       self.log("enabling https");
 
       if (self.config.privateKey != undefined && self.config.certificate != undefined && self.config.httpsPort != undefined) {
@@ -198,21 +200,21 @@ var appServer = function(config) {
         var certificateFile = path.join(sslCertRoot, self.config.certificate);
         var chainFile = (self.config.chain != undefined) ? path.join(sslCertRoot, self.config.chain) : undefined;
 
-        if (fs.existsSync(privateKeyFile) && fs.existsSync(certificateFile)) {
-          var privateKey = fs.readFileSync(privateKeyFile, 'utf8');
-          var certificate = fs.readFileSync(certificateFile, 'utf8');
+        if (utils.isValidFile(privateKeyFile) && utils.isValidFile(certificateFile)) {
+          var privateKey = utils.readFile(privateKeyFile);
+          var certificate = utils.readFile(certificateFile);
 
           var chain = undefined;
           if (chainFile != undefined) {
-            if (fs.existsSync(chainFile)) {
-              chain = fs.readFileSync(chainFile, 'utf8');
+            if (utils.isValidFile(chainFile)) {
+              chain = utils.readFile(chainFile);
             } else {
-              self.error("chain: '" + self.config.chain + "' does not exist in /sslcert");
+              self.error("chain: '" + self.config.chain + "' does not exist in " + sslCertRoot);
             }
           }
 
           if (chain == undefined && chainFile != undefined) {
-            self.error("failed to load chain from /sslcert, https will not be enabled");
+            self.error("failed to load chain from " + sslCertRoot + ", https will not be enabled");
           } else if (privateKey != undefined && certificate != undefined) {
             var credentials = {
               key: privateKey,
@@ -225,7 +227,7 @@ var appServer = function(config) {
 
             if (chain != undefined) {
               credentials.ca = chain;
-              self.log("using chain certificate from /sslcert");
+              self.log("using chain certificate from " + sslCertRoot);
             }
 
             try {
@@ -243,10 +245,10 @@ var appServer = function(config) {
               self.error("failed to listen via https: " + error);
             }
           } else {
-            self.error("failed to load privateKey or certificate from /sslcert, https will not be enabled");
+            self.error("failed to load privateKey or certificate from " + sslCertRoot + ", https will not be enabled");
           }
         } else {
-          self.error("privateKey: '" + self.config.privateKey + "' or certificate: '" + self.config.certificate + "' do not exist in /sslcert, https will not be enabled");
+          self.error("privateKey: '" + self.config.privateKey + "' or certificate: '" + self.config.certificate + "' do not exist in " + sslCertRoot + ", https will not be enabled");
         }
       } else {
         self.error("httpsPort, privateKey or certificate parameter is not set in config, https will not be enabled");
diff --git a/invalid_examples/apps/hello_world/index.js b/invalid_examples/apps/hello_world/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aeed421
--- /dev/null
+++ b/invalid_examples/apps/hello_world/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+var alexa = require('alexa-app');
+
+// Allow this module to be reloaded by hotswap when changed
+module.change_code = 1;
+
+// Define an alexa-app
+var app = new alexa.app('hello_world');
+app.launch(function(req, res) {
+  res.say("Hello World!!");
+});
+
+app.intent('NameIntent', {
+  "slots": { "NAME": "LITERAL", "AGE": "NUMBER" },
+  "utterances": ["{My name is|my name's} {matt|bob|bill|jake|nancy|mary|jane|NAME} and I am {1-100|AGE}{ years old|}"]
+}, function(req, res) {
+  res.say('Your name is ' + req.slot('NAME') + ' and you are ' + req.slot('AGE') + ' years old');
+});
+
+app.intent('AgeIntent', {
+  "slots": { "AGE": "NUMBER" },
+  "utterances": ["My age is {1-100|AGE}"]
+}, function(req, res) {
+  res.say('Your age is ' + req.slot('AGE'));
+});
+
+module.exports = app;
diff --git a/invalid_examples/apps/hello_world/package.json b/invalid_examples/apps/hello_world/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..72c3561
--- /dev/null
+++ b/invalid_examples/apps/hello_world/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+{
+  "name": "hello_world",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "description": "A sample Alexa app",
+  "main": "index.js",
+  "author": "Matt Kruse <github@mattkruse.com> (http://mattkruse.com/)",
+  "license": "ISC",
+  "alexa": {
+    "applicationId": "amzn1.echo-sdk-ams.app.999999-d0ed-9999-ad00-999999d00ebe"
+  },
+  "dependencies": {
+    "alexa-app": "^2.1.0"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index b61d151..d9f443c 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
   "license": "MIT",
   "dependencies": {
     "alexa-app": "^3.0.0",
-    "alexa-verifier-middleware": "^0.1.8",
     "bluebird": "^3.4.7",
     "body-parser": "~1.16.0",
     "ejs": "~2.5.5",
@@ -29,12 +28,12 @@
     "lodash.defaults": "^4.2.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "mocha": "^2.3.4",
-    "chai": "^3.4.1",
-    "supertest": "^2.0.1",
+    "mocha": "^3.2.0",
+    "chai": "^3.5.0",
+    "supertest": "^3.0.0",
     "istanbul": "0.4.5",
     "coveralls": "^2.11.15",
-    "danger": "0.11.2",
+    "danger": "0.11.4",
     "tcp-port-used": "0.1.2"
   }
 }
diff --git a/test/example.json b/test/example.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..448f9f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/example.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+  "pangram": "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/example.txt b/test/example.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ff3bb63
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/example.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/test-examples-server-https-support-extended.js b/test/test-examples-server-https-support-extended.js
index 4781633..ea48a62 100644
--- a/test/test-examples-server-https-support-extended.js
+++ b/test/test-examples-server-https-support-extended.js
@@ -7,13 +7,14 @@ var request = require("supertest");
 var alexaAppServer = require("../index");
 var fs = require("fs");
 var tcpPortUsed = require('tcp-port-used');
+var utils = require("../utils");
 
 describe("Alexa App Server with Examples & more HTTPS support", function() {
   var testServer;
   var sampleLaunchReq;
 
   before(function() {
-    sampleLaunchReq = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync("test/sample-launch-req.json", 'utf8'));
+    sampleLaunchReq = utils.readJsonFile("test/sample-launch-req.json");
   });
 
   afterEach(function() {
diff --git a/test/test-examples-server-https-support.js b/test/test-examples-server-https-support.js
index 9a436f8..51c2912 100644
--- a/test/test-examples-server-https-support.js
+++ b/test/test-examples-server-https-support.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ chai.config.includeStack = true;
 var request = require("supertest");
 var alexaAppServer = require("../index");
 var fs = require("fs");
+var utils = require("../utils");
 
 describe("Alexa App Server with Examples & HTTPS support", function() {
   var testServer;
@@ -13,16 +14,17 @@ describe("Alexa App Server with Examples & HTTPS support", function() {
 
   before(function() {
     testServer = alexaAppServer.start({
-      port: 6000,
+      port: 3000,
       server_root: 'examples',
-      https: true,
+      httpsEnabled: true,
+      httpsPort: 6000,
       privateKey: 'private-key.pem',
       certificate: 'cert.cer',
       chain: 'cert.ca_bundle',
       passphrase: "test123"
     });
 
-    sampleLaunchReq = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync("test/sample-launch-req.json", 'utf8'));
+    sampleLaunchReq = utils.readJsonFile("test/sample-launch-req.json");
   });
 
   after(function() {
diff --git a/test/test-examples-server-pre-post-functions.js b/test/test-examples-server-pre-post-functions.js
index 00c2622..23f2c3e 100644
--- a/test/test-examples-server-pre-post-functions.js
+++ b/test/test-examples-server-pre-post-functions.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ chai.config.includeStack = true;
 var request = require("supertest");
 var alexaAppServer = require("../index");
 var fs = require("fs");
+var utils = require("../utils");
 
 describe("Alexa App Server with Examples & Pre/Post functions", function() {
   var testServer, fired;
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ describe("Alexa App Server with Examples & Pre/Post functions", function() {
       }
     });
 
-    sampleLaunchReq = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync("test/sample-launch-req.json", 'utf8'));
+    sampleLaunchReq = utils.readJsonFile("test/sample-launch-req.json");
   });
 
   after(function() {
diff --git a/test/test-examples-server-verification.js b/test/test-examples-server-verification.js
index 63cb8ab..93082fd 100644
--- a/test/test-examples-server-verification.js
+++ b/test/test-examples-server-verification.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ chai.config.includeStack = true;
 var request = require("supertest");
 var alexaAppServer = require("../index");
 var fs = require("fs");
+var utils = require("../utils");
 
 describe("Alexa App Server with Examples & Verification", function() {
   var testServer;
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ describe("Alexa App Server with Examples & Verification", function() {
       verify: true
     });
 
-    sampleLaunchReq = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync("test/sample-launch-req.json", 'utf8'));
+    sampleLaunchReq = utils.readJsonFile("test/sample-launch-req.json");
   });
 
   after(function() {
diff --git a/test/test-examples-server.js b/test/test-examples-server.js
index 93c28a9..ed4980a 100644
--- a/test/test-examples-server.js
+++ b/test/test-examples-server.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ chai.config.includeStack = true;
 var request = require("supertest");
 var alexaAppServer = require("../index");
 var fs = require("fs");
+var utils = require("../utils");
 
 describe("Alexa App Server with Examples", function() {
   var testServer;
@@ -17,9 +18,9 @@ describe("Alexa App Server with Examples", function() {
       server_root: 'examples'
     });
 
-    sampleLaunchReq = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync("test/sample-launch-req.json", 'utf8'));
-    sampleUtterances = fs.readFileSync("test/sample-utterances.txt", 'utf8');
-    sampleSchema = fs.readFileSync("test/sample-schema.txt", 'utf8');
+    sampleLaunchReq = utils.readJsonFile("test/sample-launch-req.json");
+    sampleUtterances = utils.readFile("test/sample-utterances.txt");
+    sampleSchema = utils.readFile("test/sample-schema.txt");
   });
 
   after(function() {
diff --git a/test/test-utils.js b/test/test-utils.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..32dfe8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test-utils.js
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+/*jshint expr: true*/
+"use strict";
+var chai = require("chai");
+var expect = chai.expect;
+chai.config.includeStack = true;
+var utils = require("../utils");
+
+describe("Utils", function() {
+  describe("#isValidFile", function() {
+    it("verifies that 'README.md' does exists and is a file", function() {
+      expect(utils.isValidFile('README.md')).to.be.true;
+    });
+
+    it("verifies that 'RANDOM.md' does not exists", function() {
+      expect(utils.isValidFile('RANDOM.md')).to.be.false;
+    });
+
+    it("verifies that 'examples' is not a file", function() {
+      expect(utils.isValidFile('examples')).to.be.false;
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("#isValidDirectory", function() {
+    it("verifies that 'examples' does exists and is a directory", function() {
+      expect(utils.isValidDirectory('examples')).to.be.true;
+    });
+
+    it("verifies that 'random' does not exists", function() {
+      expect(utils.isValidDirectory('random')).to.be.false;
+    });
+
+    it("verifies that 'README.md' is not a directory", function() {
+      expect(utils.isValidDirectory('README.md')).to.be.false;
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("#readFile", function() {
+    it("successfully reads 'example.txt'", function() {
+      expect(utils.readFile('test/example.txt')).to.equal("The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog");
+    });
+
+    it("throws an error when trying to read 'example.text'", function() {
+      expect(function() {
+        utils.readFile('test/example.text');
+      }).to.throw(Error);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("#readJsonFile", function() {
+    it("successfully reads 'example.json'", function() {
+      expect(utils.readJsonFile('test/example.json')).to.deep.equal({
+        "pangram": "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog"
+      });
+    });
+
+    it("throws an error when trying to read 'example.jason'", function() {
+      expect(function() {
+        utils.readJsonFile('test/example.jason');
+      }).to.throw(Error);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("#normalizeApiPath", function() {
+    var tests = [
+      { original: "alexa",       final: "/alexa" },
+      { original: "/alexa",      final: "/alexa" },
+      { original: "//alexa",     final: "/alexa" },
+      { original: "///alexa",    final: "/alexa" },
+      { original: "alexa/",      final: "/alexa/" },
+      { original: "alexa//",     final: "/alexa/" },
+      { original: "alexa///",    final: "/alexa/" },
+      { original: "/alexa/",     final: "/alexa/" },
+      { original: "//alexa//",   final: "/alexa/" },
+      { original: "///alexa///", final: "/alexa/" },
+    ];
+
+    tests.forEach(function(test) {
+      it('correctly normalizes ' + test.original + ' into ' + test.final, function() {
+        expect(utils.normalizeApiPath(test.original)).to.equal(test.final);
+      });
+    });
+  });
+});
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/utils.js b/utils.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c110eb8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils.js
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+var fs = require('fs');
+var path = require('path');
+
+var isValidDirectory = function(dir) {
+  return fs.existsSync(dir) && fs.statSync(dir).isDirectory();
+};
+
+var isValidFile = function(file) {
+  return fs.existsSync(file) && fs.statSync(file).isFile();
+};
+
+var readFile = function(file) {
+  return fs.readFileSync(file, 'utf8');
+};
+
+var readJsonFile = function(file) {
+  return JSON.parse(readFile(file));
+};
+
+var normalizeApiPath = function(apiPath) {
+  return path.posix.normalize(path.posix.join('/', apiPath));
+};
+
+module.exports = {
+  isValidDirectory  : isValidDirectory,
+  isValidFile       : isValidFile,
+  readFile          : readFile,
+  readJsonFile      : readJsonFile,
+  normalizeApiPath  : normalizeApiPath
+};
\ No newline at end of file