MARBLEHEAD — Selectman Harry Christensen is returning to Glover School and reaching out beyond the grave.
Christensen spent Halloween night at the school, sitting in the classroom of murdered teacher Beryl Atherton asking for help in his investigation of her unsolved 1950 murder. "We had a discussion," he says. But it was a one-sided affair.
Atherton, whose ghost is said by some to walk the halls, had no comment. Nor was there any obvious manifestation of her presence.
Yet, a strange thing did happen toward the end of his 45-minute visit, Christensen says. "We walked down the stairs and into the gym." He pointed his flashlight up. "And there are ropes hanging from the ceiling in the gym. And one of them is swinging back and forth."
Christensen, a lawyer, has studied the murder for much of his adult life. He believes he knows who killed Atherton. The suspect is still alive. Legal considerations prevent him from identifying the supposed culprit. At some point, he hopes to publish a book on the case.
A pair of friends helped Christensen gain entry for Halloween — but they don't want to be identified. The selectman alerted police that he would be inside in case the flashlight alarmed anyone. He was encouraged enough by the ghostly ambience that he plans to make another visit on the anniversary of Atherton's death, Nov. 25.
Christensen makes clear that he doesn't believe in ghosts. "But I have an open mind."
Mum's the word on Castner
U.S. Senate candidate and current Attorney General Martha Coakley visited The Salem News last Friday to discuss her campaign. She was asked to comment on the handling of the death of 15-year-old Allie Castner.
On Aug. 24, the Marblehead High School student was run down on Pleasant Street by Thomas Larivee, 19, of Salem. His name was not released by police nor the district attorney's office. It was made public about a month later by the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The delay led to speculation that the driver was receiving special treatment.
On Friday, Coakley declined to criticize District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett's decision to keep the name under wraps, citing the danger of releasing information during an investigation. When she was informed that Larivee's name was already widely known on the street, Coakley repeated her support for Blodgett's decision.
In addition, she praised his actions in moving the case to Worcester and vouched for the work of that county's district attorney, Joseph Early Jr.
Blodgett is a supporter of Coakley's Senate bid.
Ain't dead yet
Nearly 30 years after passing Proposition 21รขÑ2, Barbara Anderson's Citizens for Limited Taxation has run into its own money difficulties.
The Marbleheader told the News recently that its end might be near, depriving the commonwealth of a group that has lobbied against tax increases of all kinds. Some are likely delighted to hear this — they see opposition to taxes as hampering the state's ability to help people.
Yet, after several news stories and talk radio appearances by Anderson comes the possibility of a recovery.
"New people are joining," she said. "We're taking in enough to get through November."
The group's major fundraiser will be held on Nov. 15 at Lombardo's in Randolph. Anderson, who earns $10 an hour as the boss, has been forced to lay off one of her three employees.
"Everyone else is downsizing," she explains. "I do still think that next year we can turn this all around."
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