MARBLEHEAD — Abbot Hall will host the new documentary "Gerrymandering" on Dec. 9. What's more, the selectmen agreed to waive the usual $450 fee for use of the hall. The event will be sponsored by the Marblehead Museum and Historical Society.
After all, this film, which has already won critical acclaim across the country, is a tribute to the craftiness of Marbleheaders. Patriot, former governor and former vice president Elbridge Gerry is often painted as the originator of the practice of gerrymandering, which involves redrawing legislative district lines — often into bizarre shapes —to maximize the clout of your supporters.
The selectmen, meanwhile, drew a line of their own at a suggestion that they waive the fee for the custodian.
Selectman Bill Woodfin also included one condition, "That a hard G be used."
In another bow to Marblehead tradition, you can't get in for free — admission is $10.
Funny meeting you here
Wednesday was the first time anyone could remember the selectmen gathering in the Abbot Hall auditorium rather than their traditional meeting room — which is now under renovation. The optics were remarkable, but the acoustics proved difficult.
The difficulty could stem from the fact that the board sat on the floor rather than the stage. Built before the era of electronic amplification, the auditorium was designed to allow everyone in the hall to hear what was said on stage.
Isn't that special
Yes, the next Town Meeting is liable to be very special. Trying to save his $1 million house on Bubier Road from the wrecking ball, Wayne Johnson is still confident of calling a Special Town Meeting. All he needs, Johnson says, are signatures and an OK from a justice of the peace.
He's got the signatures.
He adds that he had an OK from former town clerk and JP Betty Brown, but she's backed out. "There was too much pressure brought on her from whoever," Johnson says.
"Let's just say I decided not to do to it," says Brown, who adds that Johnson is "a lovely man" who attends her church.
Undeterred, Johnson says he has two JPs from out of town who will be willing to call for the meeting — which could cost Marblehead up to $7,000. Even so, nothing can happen until 21 days after the Planning Board hearing on the proposed change in zoning — a change potentially making his house legal. And that board won't reconvene until Jan. 4.
For his part, Johnson continues to dispute one of the most damning aspects of the public case against him — that he'd been warned by a judge that he was building the house on Bubier Road at his own risk. "There is no record of it ever being said," he stresses.
To Siberia we go
Marbleheader Keri Cahill writes from Siberia, where she's planning a Thanksgiving celebration as she continues her effort to permanently reunite her adopted Russian daughter Anastasia with long-lost sister Anya. The Cahills are in Siberia to visit with Anya, who has been denied entry to the United States.
Mom plans to return home at the end of the month, but before taking flight she will host a traditional November feast for the siblings and Russian friends.
The traditional guest of honor will be missing, however.
"Sadly," Cahill writes, "the one thing that is not available in remote Siberia is turkey, so we are substituting roast chicken, but will still make stuffing, mashed potatoes and corn on the cob (all fairly unknown here)."
Cahill is also working on a plan to bring Russian orphans to the North Shore for a summer visit.
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