Marblehead selectmen wary of amateur ghostbuster’s plan

MARBLEHEAD – Ghost hunter Nicholas Smith, an 18-year-old New Yorker who summers in Marblehead, wants to do some electronic ghost hunting at Ft. Sewall.But he’ll have to convince the living of his good intentions first.Like the Sci Fi Channel series “Ghost Hunters,” Smith stalks his prey with audio and video equipment. He’s already recorded some paranormal phenomena at Ft. Sewall and wants to see what more he can find.Selectmen, who appeared unfamiliar with the term “paranormal,” want to meet Smith and discuss his intentions before they grant any approvals to Smith or his group, Crypto Paranormal Investigations.”We don’t want to compromise the integrity of the historical site,” said Selectman Judy Jacobi.Selectman James Nye jokingly quoted the 1980s movie “Ghostbusters” in an attempt to convince his colleagues that ghost sightings are better in the winter months.Selectman Harry Christensen said he was ready to vote his approval until “Virginia Gamage told me not to,” referring to the late Marblehead historian. If she were still alive Virginia Gamage would probably have been against this, some spectators pointed out.