Hello Everyone,
I hope you all are getting to enjoy the summer before it comes to an end. With these cool mornings and back-to-school ads, it’s hard to believe that we had as long and hot summer as we did.
To start off my week, I took a tour of Valley Springs Behavioral Health Hospital on Monday morning. I was joined by Representative Duffy of Holyoke, Roy Sasenaraine and Sean Mitchell of Valley Springs Behavioral Health Hospital and Mike Knapik of Baystate Health. Behavioral health services are a vital component to our healthcare system and I look forward to continue working with the facility and all involved.
Monday afternoon was also the annual Western Mass Veteran Service Office Purple Heart Lunch. As a veteran myself, I understand how difficult it can be returning to civilian life. Our local VSOs play a critical role in connecting our vets with resources and community. My office works hand in hand with many of them and I’ve seen what they have accomplished for our veteran community. A big thanks to all of them for their continued work to aid our former service members.
Wednesday morning, I had the pleasure of presenting Heather White of Westfield with a citation for her work with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, an organization focused on saving lives, bringing hope to those affected by suicide, and advocating for behavioral health programs. Our community is lucky to have Heather and I was glad to present her with this recognition.
Thursday, I was invited to tour Colorful Resilience in West Springfield. This group provides mental health services geared towards, but not limited to, immigrants, 1st generation, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ individuals. I had a great conversation with their staff about mental health services in general here in the Commonwealth. These folks do truly great work in our community.
Yesterday morning, I and my staff took a tour of the Childrens’ Museum at Amelia Park in Westfield. In the recent budget negotiations, my office was able to secure $10,000 of funding for the museum and I’m very much looking forwards to how the museum will utilize this to better our children and community as a whole.
This morning, I attended the Medal of Honor Highway dedication of Route 20 in Palmer. This ceremony celebrates Massachusetts being the final state to pass a Medal of Honor Highway bill and completing this coast-to-coast monument to our service members who have earned this award— the highest decoration of any in our Armed Forces. I was proud to file this legislation last session and it’s special to hear from veterans about what this dedication means to them.
This week my team held office hours in Agawam on Monday and in West Springfield. Next week, we will be hosting them at the Easthampton COA on Tuesday at 10:30am and at the Holyoke COA on Wednesday at 10:00am. If you can’t make office hours, I can always be reached by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 527-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com
Sincerely,
John Velis