Who was the Virgin Mary before she became the mother of Christ, revered in the Catholic Church? What was her life like as a girl and young woman? How well do we know her and, after the passage of millennia, is it possible to know her now?
“There’s not a lot in the Scriptures on Mary,” screenwriter and Whitman native Timothy Michael Hayes said in an interview Friday, Nov. 26 about the film, “Mary,” making its debut on Netflix tomorrow – Friday, Dec. 6. “When I was asked to do it – my producer approached me and asked me, ‘Would you be interested in writing an original telling of Mary’s story?’ I just saw all the obstacles in that. [But] I said, ‘That’s a challenge. That’s something different, I haven’t heard of that [being done before],’” he recalled. “That idea of that challenge, was like, ‘Yeah, let me take it on. Let me try it. Let me do it.”
One challenge was that they wanted the film to appeal to all denominations and all dogmas. It is also a different kind of genre, which Hayes calls a Biblical thriller, one that’s theologically solid, if that’s what one is looking for – and the film is an attempt to appeal across borders. IMDb cross references the film on its site as a political thriller, an action film and just plain thriller.
A bipartisan approach, if you will.
The call to write this script came in 2018, with the changes that often happen in pre-production.
“It’s a journey, and you go on to other things,” he said. That the film world stutter-start was not unusual and when it was on again, he had rewrites and revisions to do with changing visions of new directors. Hayes pointed to his next project on the life of Milton Hershey is going though that because a new director just came on board.
Lead Producer Mary Aloe of Aloe Entertainment, with whom Hayes has worked before, was the first person to ask him to write the screenplay.
“Mary,” like most films these days, it seems, has generated a bit of controversy, too, mainly centering on the casting of mostly unknown Israeli and Arab actors from the Middle East, especially Israeli actress Noa Cohen, who had been wrongfully identified as a Palestinian. Only Sir Anthony Hopkins, who portrays King Herod, is a “big name” Hollywood actor.
“If we’re honest about that, to a certain point, controversy is a good thing,” Hayes said. “It generates interest. Netflix’s interest in acquiring it also brought the idea that a lot of people will watch this.”
The production schedule was a rushed one, as filming in Ouarzazate, Morocco only wrapped up in March. “But we knew all along that the goal was holiday 2024.”
If it missed that deadline, it wouldn’t debut until February 2025, with no guarantee it would get the same audience numbers.
The original “Miracle on 34th Street,” hit theaters on June 4, 1947, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” came close, opening on Jan. 7, 1947, and “The Bishop’s Wife,” didn’t hit theaters until Feb. 14, 1948.
“Spoiler alert,” he said. “At the end, the baby Jesus is born, so it’s kind of a Christmas thing. [The Dec. 6 Netflix debut] kind of gives it a three-week run up to Christmas.”
Hayes said he and the producers had always wanted a theatrical release for “Mary.”
“It would have been riskier,” he said. “With Netflix, you have a lot locked in, and the biggest global audience in the world. The key there is global. … Mary’s story appeals across the globe.”
At core, Hayes and his producers set out to explore the notion of doubt in the film, an intention at the root of some of the online “controversy.”
“Certain factions of religion, or religious mindsets, say Mary never doubted,” he said. “That’s just not interesting, nor is it very human. I feel that the more human someone is, the stronger they are in the end – to acknowledge the humanity, what it means to be alive, and come out on the other side, only makes them stronger.”
Confirmed as a Roman Catholic, Hayes said he grew up with a foundational understanding of the “religious” aspects of Mary’s story, including the non-biblical doctrine of the Immaculate Conception.
“But because so little of Mary’s early life is found in the canonical Scriptures — beyond key mentions of her in Matthew and Luke — more was needed to tell her fuller human story,” he said, stressing that he has many conversations with faith leaders of all stripes, discussing nuances of belief, interpretation and language.
Hayes, who is the father of four daughters among his five children, said his script emphasizes that Mary was a human being, after all.
“The idea that she’s a pregnant teenager, unwed and didn’t understand why … and she wasn’t scared? That just doesn’t speak to any kind of reality that you or I would know,” he said. “Of course you’re going to be terrified. Of course you’re going to have doubts to work through. It’s a larger metaphor for what we all go through. Doubt is inherent … every day we wake up doubting ourselves.”
He maintains it does not step away from the Devine – it reinforces it.
Hayes said he has also instilled some subtle humor in the film. The early buzz about the film has been great, despite the controversies.
“My job is to write something that other artists will read, actors, directors – keep going, costume designers, set builders, and they will see an opening for their own creativity,” he said. “There’s a way to do it that that script is an open door to other artists. To see all of us come together from across the globe …”
He hints there just might be a sequel if the film is a big enough hit and there is a theme that they see as a good one to explore.
MEET THE
SCREENWRITER
So, one might ask, who is Timothy Michael Hayes?
Valedictorian at W-H in 1988, Hayes then went on to New York University’s film school, where he graduated in 1992. He’s raised his five children in Scituate.
“I could have probably gone anywhere, but I didn’t apply anywhere else,” he said of NYU. “I applied early admission. I was always interested in everything. I love to write. I love music and grew to love photography – and where can you do all three of those things in one place?”
An early influence was the Cohen brothers, [“Blood Simple,” “Raising Arizona”] whose editor was the elder brother of Hayes’ roommate and filmmaking partner. Thatconnection helped bring theCohen Brothers to his senior thesis bay to view their senior film and offer comments.
His “big, happy detour” was meeting someone from the Massachusetts South Shore and returning to get married. His wife was a dancer, and the couple opened a dance studio in Scituate.
He also goes into Scituate High each year to help teach a Literature to Film class.
“I kind of stopped doing film for a little bit,” he says as he kept the books and did customer service for the studio. “Life has these interesting journeys.”
His writing process, now that he’s back in film, is different for each film, Hayes said, but most are historically based.
“I’m a lover of history,” he said. “At W-H, that was my passion.”
He is typically hired to either adapt a book or historical incidents that have no specific book for reference, and you do your own reference work. Films like “Mary.”
When adapting a book, he thoroughly notates it with three pens – black, red and blue. The black ink tracks reflections of the original idea; blue notes if there is a running theme at work and red is for the “big highlight” moments.
“I notate everything I read,” he said. That includes performance programs.
Everyone’s life is a story, Hayes believes.
“To me, stories are the essence of what it means to be human,” he said. “We do it every day. … and you’ve got to hook them, which is so prevalent now, in the streaming age on TV.”
He said it has always been true in cinema, especially in the past 20 to 30 years, when scripts outlining the first act of the film has to be done in 22 pages instead of 25, as action has been key.
His main professional goal right now is moving more into controlling his own properties.
“I’ve been a gun-for-hire since I got back into this,” he said. “It’s more than a full-time job. It’s really seven days a week, 24 hours a day, because I love it. I always have pages [to revise].”
His college roommate has helped with that – he wrote a little film called “Elf.”
And, what’s next after “Mary?”
Hayes is also in the midst of an adaptation of Norman Rockwell’s autobiography into a five-season series.
“For me, his story is the story of the 20th century,” he said of Rockwell’s work. “When you’re living it, which is why I love what I do, I’m living it. You’re balancing so many things at one time.”
He’s also working on a “fantastical biopic” on the life of chocolate king Milton Hershey for Dandelion Media, and most recently began work on “Box of Light,” a feature adaptation of Evan I. Schwartz’s biography of Philo T. Farnsworth, the true inventor of television.

Alan Ingram
Express correspondent
Kingston residents narrowly approved a controversial zoning change Nov.19, creating a district of potential multi-family housing development near the town’s MBTA station. The article passed 192-167 at a special town meeting, with supporters arguing it was necessary to maintain access to crucial state grants.
The new MBTA Communities Multi-family Overlay District (MCMOD) allows for higher-density residential development in two areas: near existing businesses along Marion Drive and at the struggling Kingston Collection mall. The bylaw change complies with a 2021 state law requiring MBTA-adjacent communities to zone for multi-family housing or risk losing eligibility for certain state funding programs.
Town Planner Valerie Massard presented the proposed district, emphasizing that Kingston negotiated a unique arrangement with state officials to focus development at the mall rather than within a half-mile of the train station as typically required.
“We know that our mall is failing. We know that Macy’s is going to close soon,” Massard said. “We asked the state, is there a possibility that we could waive that requirement and move some of this zoning so that it would be over top of the mall to help incentivize redevelopment of the mall? And they said yes.”
The plan allows for up to 15 dwelling units per acre in one subdistrict and 16 units per acre at the mall site. It also counts 282 existing apartments toward the town’s required total of 805 units.
Debate centered on balancing economic benefits against concerns about rapid growth and strain on town services. Selectman Tyler Bouchard, who initially opposed the concept, urged passage to maintain local control and capitalize on state grants.
“If they go 40B, we are in deep trouble,” Bouchard said, referring to the state’s affordable housing law that can override local zoning. “ And on top of that, there’s going to be a bunch of towns that don’t go for this thing. So why don’t we go and get every single grant we can over the next two or three years while the doors open to the Bank of Massachusetts. Let’s bum rush it.”
Opponents raised concerns about school overcrowding, traffic congestion and loss of community character. Selectman Kim Emberg spoke against the measure, arguing it represents an unacceptable loss of local control.
“At the end of the day, I’m opposed to this article because I refuse to support the loss of local control. We, the voters of Kingston, establish our zoning bylaws based on how we want to grow sustainably and how we want to build our community,” Emberg said. “I say no to state overreach. I say yes to Kingston.”
The zoning change opens the door for future development proposals but does not approve any specific projects. Any multi-family or mixed-use developments would still require site plan review by the Planning Board.
Massard noted the town recently lost access to some grant programs due to outdated zoning language and stressed the importance of maintaining eligibility for infrastructure funding.
“We rely heavily on it here in Kingston,” she said. “We received $8.28 million in the last 10 years in order to do our sewer and water infrastructure to support Lowe’s, Amazon, Elevated Roots, and the apartments at the Kingston Collection.”
Town Administrator Keith Hickey emphasized the potential financial benefits of mall redevelopment. He said property tax revenue from the site has plummeted from $98 million in 2009 to just $9 million today.
“When you add the taxable revenue that we’ll receive from the redevelopment of the mall along with the apartments that will be constructed, we aren’t in a revenue deficit. We’re a revenue surplus, and we need to look at this in the bigger picture. “ Hickey said.

No overnight on-street parking will be permitted on any street in the Town of Halifax effective November 1st, 2024, through March 31st, 2025.
Residents must remove all basketball hoops, hockey nets etc. from within the town layout (i.e.: the side of the road). This will prevent them from being damaged when plowing occurs.
A warning will be issued for first-time violators. Vehicles will be ticketed or towed, if necessary, for repeat offenders.

Plympton Fire Department Tanker 1 has responded to Middleton as part of the Statewide Fire Mobilization Plan, activated to assist local firefighting efforts in combating significant outdoor fires across the state.
October saw an unprecedented spike in wildland fires in Massachusetts, with nearly 200 fires reported – far surpassing the average of 15 for the month. According to the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, preliminary information suggests all these fires were started by human activity.
Current weather conditions have placed all Massachusetts communities at an elevated risk for brush fires. As we continue to support our neighboring towns, we urge residents to remain vigilant.
𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
• Open burning is prohibited statewide through January.
• Refrain from outdoor cooking and heating. Sparks and embers from chimineas, fire pits, and grills can easily ignite dry vegetation, debris, and overhanging branches.
• Use caution with lawnmowers, leaf blowers, all-terrain vehicles, and other power equipment. Hot engines, sparks, and spilled gasoline can ignite dry leaves and grass.
• Dispose of ashes from fireplaces and wood stoves in a metal can, douse them with water, and cover with a tight-fitting lid. These ashes can remain hot enough to ignite combustibles long after the fire goes out; never dump them outdoors or in the trash.
• Extinguish smoking materials in a sturdy ashtray with water or sand. Never toss cigarette butts, matches, or other smoking materials over the edge of a balcony, stub them out on stairs or railings, or toss them in dry vegetation or debris.
“As we respond to assist other communities in their time of need, it is crucial we all take proactive measures to keep our own community safe,” said Chief Cheryl Duddy. “Together, we can minimize the risk of fire and protect our homes and families.”

Halifax Board of Select-men met jointly with the Finance Committee on Tuesday, Oct. 22, to discuss the beginning of what is anticipated to be a difficult budget season.
Town Administrator Cody Haddad addressed everyone saying, “If you’ve spoken with me regarding the financial picture of the town since I’ve been here, you know that I’ve been saying fiscal 2026 is going to be the start of a challenging couple of years for the town. When you look at new growth projects that we have coming down the line, it’s limited.” He continued, “To give you somewhat of an idea, new growth three or four years ago was around the $300,000 range; this year, for fiscal ’26 we’re anticipating about $80,000 in new growth, so that’s a huge reduction.” Had- dad said that a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, and School Committees will take place on Thursday, Dec. 12.
Haddad said that they are asking the departments to pro-vide them with a level services budget. This includes salary increases, etc. that have to be included in order to maintain level services. The town is also asking departments to provide a version of the bud- get with a ten percent cut that reflects a reduction with the least impact.
Haddad said that one of the reasons for the deficit this year is that Silver Lake used one-time funds last year in the amount of $750,000 from excess and deficiency. The schools represent roughly 55 percent of the town’s total budget. “They did that because… with the amended regional agreement, they are going to get what’s called Circuit Breaker funds which is a reimbursement from special education from the three school districts… what that means is they’ll be okay, but that revenue is coming from the towns so we’re going to lose that revenue which is going to create somewhat of a fiscal cliff for the towns,” Haddad said. He continued saying, “on top of that, Halifax Elementary School, last year, also used ap-proximately $50,000 of school use/building utilization funds, so basically you rent out the gym and pay a fee; there was $50,000 built up… so between those two areas, you’re needing to make up those one-time fund increases this year on top of whatever increase they bring forward.” Following the conversation on the bud-get, the Finance Committee adjourned and the Selectmen continued with their meeting.
Jeremy Gillespie appeared before the Board to request changing the Alewife Restoration Committee name to the River Herring Restoration Committee. Alewife are a type of fish known as river herring. Haddad said that in partnership with the Department of Marine Fisheries, Halifax was awarded a $25,000 grant from the Taunton River Watershed Alliance. Haddad said the end goal is to restore efforts of migratory fish.
The Selectmen held a joint meeting with the Zoning By-law Review Committee to dis-cuss the timeline for proposed amendments and feedback from the MBTA zoning public forum. Haddad said they had discussed just bringing the MBTA zoning bylaw changes to Special Town Meeting while Selectmen Chair John Bruno, who was joining the meeting virtually, said that they were discussing putting specific zoning changes on the Town Meeting warrant while other zoning changes would be on the annual Town Meeting warrant. “Most of the stuff in the zoning bylaw change is, I don’t think, controversial… and I wouldn’t add a controversial issue like the MBTA issue override the careful con-sideration of the zoning bylaw changes,” Bruno said distinguishing between the two.
They also discussed the MBTA zoning in greater depth. The MBTA Communities Act asks communities to designate a zoning ordinance or bylaw which would allow for multi-family housing. Communities that do not come into compliance stand to lose grant funding. Bruno said, “I’m recommending that we take out the provisions that put in affordable housing and 40B requirements for any new building and also the mixed commercial use part of it.”
A member of the Zoning Bylaw Review Committee spoke saying, “I don’t necessarily believe that the option for mixed-use should be taken out as we just talked in the budget piece that we had no new growth here or very little.” Haddad clarified that the affordable housing com-ponent of the MBTA Communities Act is actually not 40B. “The affordability requirement is just an affordability requirement… it’s another form of affordable housing, but it’s not 40b,” he explained. He continued, “If you left the afford-ability requirement in this and someone built that, it would not be a 40b, it would just be one unit out of every 10 would have to be affordable.” Select-man Jonathan Selig said that he does think he agrees with leaving the mixed-use component. The Selectmen voted to remove the ten percent afford-able housing component of the MBTA 3A zoning changes.
The Board of Selectmen approved two Eagle Scout projects. Aiden Merry plans to create a new Police Station sign that will stand up to the elements. Additionally, a new flower bed will be created. Shane Devaney plans to replace the three wooden benches near the HOPS play-ground. Both Scouts plan to fundraise for the cost of materials. “These three benches might be the most prime spot in town. They really are beautiful, they’re under the trees – you have a beautiful view right down the soccer field, you have families sitting there; I’ve seen countless people sit-ting there having lunches and I think at least one of them is pretty rough,” Selig said.
The Selectmen accepted a $10,000 donation from Mac-Donald Industries for Holidays in Halifax on the second Saturday in December. The donation will be used to put on the fireworks display.
Haddad told the Select-men that they have received a $50,000 grant from the Department of Energy and Resources to fund feasibility and engineering design for the electrification of Halifax Elementary School. He said that this grant would allow for even more grant funding to complete the various projects, when the time comes.

The Halifax Board of Selectmen met on Tuesday, Oct. 8. They had a discussion regarding budget season. Town Administrator Cody Haddad said that he would be looking for a level services budget from each of the departments. Additionally, he said he would be asking for a version in which they cut 10 percent should it end up being needed. He said that based on projections, he doesn’t see the town being able to provide a balanced budget at Town Meeting without an override or significant cuts. “The schools used one-time funds last year to supplement their budget which helped them get through last year, but that creates a fiscal cliff this year on top of whatever increase they’re going to see,” Haddad said. He added that he wouldn’t see the schools’ budgets until January.
Selectman John Bruno said that he doesn’t see an operational override passing nor does he believe he would support one. Haddad said that in the history of Halifax there have been three operational overrides that passed including 1992 to fund the elementary school budget, 2003 to fund Silver Lake, and in 2006 to pay for four firefighters. He did note that operational overrides had failed to pass during many other years.
Haddad told the Selectmen that they received a $221,000 Green Communities Grant which will take care of some heating and A/C concerns at Town Hall, HVAC concerns at the police station, and weatherization of several buildings. He said that a lot of the work would have been capital items had they not received the grant. Haddad also said that they are working to submit a grant to investigate potential regionalization of the elementary schools.
The Selectmen met with new Conservation Agent Katelyn Putt. The position is being shared with the town of Bridgewater. Putt said that while she was new to conservation she has a background in environmental consulting. She will be working in Halifax on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The Selectmen discussed adding their support for the Community Preservation Act (CPA). The CPA is meant to assist towns in preserving open space and historical sites, create affordable housing, and develop outdoor recreational spaces. Chairman of the Ballot Committee to support the Community Preservation Act Candace Kniffen had appeared before the Selectmen during a previous meeting asking for their support and advocating for the potential funding sources for many types of community projects.
Selectmen Thomas Pratt said, “I will be a no vote on this, not because I don’t agree with the merit of the operation, but because I believe I’m being charged with representing the town and the average taxpayer.” He expressed concern over the average household being able to afford an increase in taxes. Selectman Jonathan Selig said he was abstaining due to his involvement with the Committee. He did, however, say that there were income exemptions so that people that couldn’t afford it, wouldn’t be required to pay for it. He said that preserving open space was his biggest priority. Bruno said that he felt that it was a good thing to do and said that people should vote for or against it based on their own ability to pay. The payments will equal two payments of $44 per family annually. The Selectmen elected not to take a vote to support it or not since they were split in their opinions.
Haddad told the Selectmen that they have procured a project manager for the new Council on Aging project at a maximum cost of $220,000. Colliers Engineering & Design will be the project manager. They presented before the Municipal School Building Committee who will be overseeing the project. The Selectmen reviewed the draft contract with Collier. Haddad laid out the timeline saying that the actual construction would begin in early 2026 with the goal of being in the new Council on Aging by late 2026 or early 2027. The Selectmen approved the contract.
The Selectmen discussed the MBTA Action Plan public forum that was taking place later that week. They mentioned that it would be attended by Senators Michael Brady and Kathy LaNatra. They also made it clear that the public forum was meant to be informational and not an endorsement of any kind. “The goal of the meeting is to provide information and not to debate whether we should adopt it or not,” Haddad said. Bruno added, “there’s a disconnect between what will be on the warrant and what people are mad about… what is not going to be on the warrant and will never be on the warrant is ‘do we approve of 3A’… what will be on the warrant is a zoning change… driven by the requirements of 3A but we can make the zoning change even without 3A if we wanted to.”
Before adjourning, a resident in attendance said that he was upset that the town boards and committees met, finished their agenda, and never gave the public in attendance a chance to speak.
Bruno said that he doesn’t agree with a public session portion of a meeting as it opens the meeting to anyone being able to come in and speak to anything.
He further said that there have been court rulings regarding open session as it can result in slander, etc. Bruno did note that the public is welcome to come and speak to items listed in the meeting agenda.

Samantha Perry
Express correspondent
Pine duBois, Executive Director of the Jones River Watershed Association and President of Jones River Landing Environmental Heritage Center, is rallying the South Shore community in an effort to keep River Herring swimming through our waterways as nature intended.
In 1975, duBois rented a property on Kingston shores and fell in love with the ecosystem surrounding her. She has been an advocate ever since. As previously reported, JRWA posted a petition to “Free the Fish” on change.org. The goal of the petition is to convince decision makers in Brockton to restore Silver Lake’s water level in order for young River Herring to exit the lake and make their way to Cape Cod bay.
As mentioned in the petition, work is being done to find a long term solution, but time is almost up for this years’ population of River Herring and they have not yet met their signature goals. Consider signing in support of JRWA’s efforts to demand immediate action from the city of Brockton to resolve this issue before the cold weather hits.
These efforts are not just for the love of fish, though it may play into the motivation of some supporters, but to correct the far-reaching disruption Silver Lake’s critically low water level causes. When Silver Lake is at appropriate water levels, River Herring can freely migrate to the Jones River, the largest river in Cape Cod Bay, via a fish ladder. The health of Silver Lake and Jones River ecosystems contribute directly to the health of Cape Cod Bay and ultimately the Gulf of Maine fisheries. Right now, these areas are suffering because the River Herring were trapped in Silver Lake during the months that they typically migrate, July through September.
A significant number of South Shore towns were under water restrictions over this period of time, including towns that border Brockton such as Easton, West Bridgewater, and Abington. Brockton was not under any water restrictions, but they have seen success in increasing Silver Lake’s water levels through conservation in the past. During a long drought in 1986, Silver Lake was drained almost entirely. Massachusetts barred new water hookups in Brockton until they found an additional source for drinking water. This forced the city into funding the creation of the Aquaria Desalination plant now located in Dighton, Massachusetts. While this project was underway, Brockton took measures to conserve water and upgrade their pipes and meters which ultimately drove down water use and allowed Silver Lake to sustain the community again.
Present day, Brockton relies on the Silver Lake Reservoir as its primary source of water with the Brockton Reservoir and Aquaria Desalination plant as its second and third sources of water. According to the 2022 Brockton Annual Water Quality Report, the most recent report available on the city’s website, “the Aquaria desalination plant typically provides drinking water to the city during the summer months, when demand is highest.” With multiple sources of water available, the Jones River Watershed Association is calling upon Brockton Mayor, Robert F. Sullivan to direct these resources into Silver Lake to free the fish, and keep the South Shore of Massachusetts connected to the larger ecosystem.
“Fisheries are in major decline. There is no cod for people to catch because there are no juvenile River Herring to feed them. Everything is interconnected,” says duBois, “we want to help Brockton recognize that they need help, and they have options.”
To view the petition, read more about the River Herring migration and find ways to get involved, scan the QR code below.

Representative Dylan Fernandes, candidate for Massachusetts State Senate, is announcing endorsements by elected officials across the Cape & Islands.
“It’s an honor to have the support from local leaders across the Cape and Islands,” Fernandes said. “As the only candidate to support the Affordable Homes Act, Climate bill, and Roe Act there is a lot at stake in this election for Cape Codders around affordability, preservation, and healthcare access.”
Among the endorsements are Senator Su Moran, the current Plymouth & Barnstable senator, and Senator Julian Cyr, as well as Rep. Sarah Peake, Cape & Islands District Attorney Rob Galibois, and Barnstable County Sheriff Donna Buckley.
Representative Sarah Peake spoke to Fernandes’ collaborative spirit: “Dylan is a collaborator. Over the past eight years I have worked with him and seen firsthand how he collaborates with colleagues in Boston, partners with people of all backgrounds on the Cape and Islands, and delivers real results for our region. From water quality to housing to sea level rise, Dylan is a leading voice on the issues impacting our coastal communities.”
Senator Julian Cyr highlighted Fernandes’ effectiveness: “Dylan has a track record of delivering results for his constituents, and we’ve teamed up on a myriad of challenging issues. Few elected officials are more effective or as grounded in the lived challenges that Cape Codders and South Shore residents face. The people of the Barnstable & Plymouth District would be very well served to be represented by Dylan in the Senate. He has my enthusiastic endorsement.”
Incumbent Plymouth & Barnstable Senator Susan Moran spoke to her confidence in Fernandes’ leadership: “I’m endorsing Dylan because I am confident he will continue the level of commitment to service that the District deserves.”
All Cape & Islands leaders endorsing Fernandes:

Su Moran, State Senator
Terry Murray, Former President of the State Senate
Julian Cyr, State Senator
Sarah Peake, State Representative
Bob Mascali, Falmouth Select Board Member
Kip Diggs, State Representative
Chris Flanagan, State Representative
Douglas C. Brown, Falmouth Select Board Member
David Weeden, Mashpee Select Board Member
John Cotton, Mashpee Select Board Chair Onjalé Scott Price, Falmouth Select Board Member
Mary Jane Mastrangelo, Bourne Select Board Chair
Melissa Ferretti, Bourne Select Board Vice Chair
Peter Meier, Bourne Select Board Member
Mark Forest, Barnstable County Commissioner
Sheila Lyons, Barnstable County Commission Vice Chair
Ronald Bergstrom, Barnstable County Commission Chair

The Halifax Board of Selectmen began their Tuesday, Sept. 28, meeting by interviewing candidates for the Town Government Study Committee. “This is a committee that the Board of Selectmen is setting up as kind of an advisory committee to consider basically all of our town operations… I don’t think it’s ever been looked at since 1734 frankly,” John Bruno, chairman of the Board of Selectmen said.
Josh Curtis was up first. He said, “We moved here five years ago from Hawaii after I retired from the service. I was Airborne Infantry; served in Iraq and Afghanistan – received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star of Valor. After separating from the military, we purchased a beautiful home in Halifax… and we just fell in love with the town. It has such a great community… and I just want to find a way to help based on my history.” He was asked several questions including how he worked with people who have different viewpoints than himself. “I actually worked with a Three-Star General… and we helped foreign armies actually improve their operations,” Curtis replied.
They also interviewed Kerri Sellers, who said she has been a resident of Halifax for five years. Sellers said she works in Cambridge for a Biotech company. “Over the course of my career, I’m actually the assistant to the CEO, so I’m pretty good at getting a consensus… I think that communication is something that would be an asset on this particular committee – being able to speak competently and also listen,” Sellers said.
The Board voted to appoint all of the candidates. They appointed Joshua Curtis, Mary Gravinese, Sandy Nolan, Kerri Sellers, and Jim Walters to the Town Government Study Committee, all to open terms. “I want to thank all of you folks for all of this,” Bruno said. Selectman Tom Pratt was named as the Chair.
The Selectmen also voted to appoint Walter Petersen as a Special Police Officer. Police Chief Joao Chaves also addressed the Board regarding littering and trespassing offenses in town. He said he hopes by next year to have people in place to make the laws regarding littering and trespassing more enforceable. Bruno said that another option is to ask the Parks Department to post signs asking people to clean up their trash, etc.
CPA presentation
Candice Kniffen appeared before the Board to give a presentation on the Community Preservation Act (CPA). Kniffen said that it was voted that the CPA appear on the ballot. She said that most people are unaware of what the CPA actually is and described it as “an assessment that the townspeople pay but also there’s matching funds that the State provides.” She continued, “but for 24 years we have felt that Halifax has left this money on the table.” She also said that 196 towns have adopted it, but in this area only Halifax, East Bridgewater, Avon, and Brockton have yet to adopt the CPA. She mentioned revitalizing the Blacksmith Shop in town. She said that CPA funding could allow for that as well as adding playground equipment amongst other things.
Kniffen said that the affordable housing portion of the Act was being confused with the MBTA Zoning requirements that the State has set forth. She said that some of the towns that have adopted the CPA have established renting assistance programs as well as repurposing buildings in town. Kniffen said that all nine members of the Committee are longtime residents who raised their children in Halifax and have volunteered in various capacities within the community for years.
Bruno spoke up saying that he believed that voting in favor of the CPA would benefit the town in the long run. Selectman Jonathan Selig said, “One of the battle cries from a lot of folks in Halifax is we want to preserve Halifax; we want to keep Halifax the special place that it is. In my opinion, one of the best tools we can have, is the CPA.” He called it a “no brainer” and said it was set up for exactly what most of the town wants.
Selectman Tom Pratt still had questions, however. He said he was unsure if they could cap the housing bucket yet. “If money was not an object, the CPA is a no brainer… one of the big concerns I’m hearing though… is the housing thing; I think if we could get an answer as to whether you could cap that ten percent bucket and make it mandatory spending, that would be helpful… in other words, if you’re collecting $100,000 a year and $10,000 has to go to the housing bucket, can we cap that at $20-$30 thousand to spend it on veterans, to spend it on rental assistance rather than put aside to buy multiple pieces of property.” He stressed that, in his opinion, the CPA was a no brainer minus the 10 percent housing. Selig said he “kicked the tires with the State” and doesn’t believe that it is possible.
Kniffen said, “The CPA gives us a lot of control in how we choose to do it, so I’m not sure that capping it is a solution.” I think people need to remember this was established to encourage towns to take care of things that they can’t do in their regular budget and to give them a way to do it without… having to go for an override because you’re in an emergency situation.” She said that the estimate for the average homeowner in Halifax were the CPA to pass would be an increase of $88 per year. “I’d rather do that then have my taxes continue to go up,” she said referring to an override. The Selectmen agreed to table the conversation until a later meeting.
Dog woes revisited
In the Aug. 30 edition of the Plympton-Halifax-Kingston Express, reported a story about a dog owned by Tabor McSherry that was cited as a nuisance dog due to run-ins with neighbors and a neighbor’s dog. McSherry appeared before the Board again on Sept. 24. Asked what he planned to do as a result of the meeting in August, McSherry said he has plans to get the dog further training in November. “In the meantime, I’ve taken over muzzle training with the dog.So far that has worked out really well… when we’re off the property, he’s always wearing the muzzle… The backyard is surrounded by a 6 ft. fence,” McSherry said.