Hello everyone,
I hope you’re enjoying August and finding ways to stay cool—I know I’m already looking forward to the cooler months ahead!
One of the nice parts about August is that I get to spend a bit more time in the district, meeting with folks and organizations from throughout our communities. I kicked off the week on Monday by calling bingo at the Agawam Senior Center. It was an absolute blast, and I loved the enthusiasm our seniors brought. Visiting our community centers is always a highlight, and it was great to join in on the fun activities they host.
On Wednesday, I sat down with the Managing Editors of “So That Reminds Me”, a biweekly podcast produced by Reminder Publishing. We had a great conversation about our recent economic deployment bill, legislation related to cell phones in schools and social media, how I stayed connected with my team during my deployment, and more. Be sure to keep an eye out and tune in to hear our conversation and some of my updates from the Senate.
Later Wednesday, I sat down with our partners from Western Mass Access Care to discuss support services for aging adults in our district, and potential legislation for next session. These conversations are essential as we work to ensure elders and their families have access to the resources they need.
On Thursday, my district team and I met with OneHolyoke CDC to talk about recent community development projects and statewide initiatives, including legislation we passed this session to promote early literacy and support libraries. OneHolyoke CDC has been leading the charge on early literacy programs, and it’s been great to work alongside them on legislation this session. We also discussed the transition of the organization, as Nayroby Rosa has taken over as Executive Director after my good friend Mike Moriarty’s departure.
This weekend marks the 80th anniversary of India’s independence, and communities across our district continue to gather to commemorate this historic day. On Friday, Chicopee residents met at City Hall for the annual Indian Independence Day Flag Raising Ceremony, and this weekend the Gujarati Association of Western Massachusetts and the Indian Association of Greater Springfield will host their Independence Day celebration.
If you’re looking for something else fun to do with your family this weekend, Southampton is hosting its annual town picnic, Celebrate Southampton. Attractions include raffles, balloon art, face painting, the Citizen of the Year presentation, and more. Stop by Conant Park and enjoy the summer weather with friends, family, and neighbors!
This week, Team Velis hosted office hours in West Springfield. Next week, we will hold office hours at the Holyoke Council on Aging on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. If you’re unable to attend, you can always reach us by email at john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone at (413) 572-3920, or online at senatorjohnvelis.com.
Sincerely,
John Velis