Category: Education

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Velis delivers student letters to Soldiers’ Home at Holyoke for Veterans Day

November 11, 2020 – The Westfield News – Westfield NewsRoom, Photos by Caitlyn Letourneau

HOLYOKE – State Sen. John C, Velis delivered more than 500 letters from students to the Soldiers’ Home at Holyoke Monday. The letters are in celebration of Veterans Day and will be distributed Wednesday to residents at the Home and veterans at Holyoke Medical Center.

Velis said the initiative exceeded even his own expectations.

“This really started out as a very thoughtful idea by one of my staffers, Caitlyn Letourneau. We thought it would be nice for the residents at the Home to have some letters from students to read on Veterans Day, so we started reaching out to schools in my district,” said Velis. “And then it just really took off. Considering Veterans Day won’t be celebrated in person this year, I’m glad we were able to get creative and show our appreciation in another way.”

More than a dozen different school districts participated in the initiative, including in Westfield, Chicopee, Southwick and Easthampton. Most of these schools had multiple grades and classes participating, including the Munger Hill School in Westfield and Woodland School in Southwick. The letters ranged in style, with some students writing longer pieces and others electing to utilize their artistic talents instead. Velis noted that this project ended up turning into a learning opportunity for many of the participating students.

“To think that 500-600 students across the district have learned the importance of honoring our veterans and thought about how their service has impacted all of us: that’s a success right there,” said Velis. “We have letters from elementary schools all the way up to high schools, and it has just been phenomenal to help facilitate this.”

Velis is a veteran and major in the Army Reserves and stressed how much these letters will mean to the residents at the Home. “The veterans at the Home are some of the most selfless and caring people I have ever met. It really warms my heart to think of them opening these letters and seeing how much local students appreciate them and all they have done for our country,” said Velis. “I know they will be smiling as they read them, and while COVID-19 might prevent us from honoring Veterans Day as usual, it’s great that so many students jumped at this opportunity.”

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November 22, 2020 – Weekly Update

Hello Everyone,  

 This week the Senate unanimously passed our final FY2021 budget after a two-day debate concerning 450 amendments. This $46 billion budget makes important investments in the Commonwealth and local infrastructure, while remaining fiscally responsible during these unprecedented times. I am proud that my amendments allocating funds for local organizations in our district were also adopted during the debate.  

On Wednesday the Senate adopted my amendment providing $200,000 for the creation of an ombudsman’s office at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home and $200,000 for increased and improved resources to increase the quality for residents. The ombudsman office will be an independent and confidential resource for residents and families to turn to when issues or concerns with care arise, and will be able to properly investigate problems before they grow. In addition to these amendments, the Senate’s final budget appropriates $25.5 million to the Home’s administrative account, $1.5 million higher than last year’s funding, which will help the Home increase staffing levels and meet other deficiencies. The Senate’s level of commitment to the Home and our Veterans is clear, and these funding investments are powerful steps towards reforming the Home. 

On the first day of debate, the Senate adopted two of my other amendments allocating funds to organizations in our district. I was proud to secure $50,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield and another $50,000 for the Boys & Girls Club for Greater Holyoke, both of which have gone above and beyond throughout this pandemic to help those struggling in our communities. I was also glad to see my amendment was adopted to allocate $100,000 to Baystate Health and $50,000 to the Agawam Police Department for their opioid addiction treatment and prevention programs. Problems with opioid addiction and substance use disorders have only gotten worse during COVID-19, and it is critical that we are supporting our hospitals and first responders who work to help those struggling.  

One of the real tangible focuses in the Senate’s budget is on helping our economy and local communities recover from the lasting impact of COVID-19. The budget invests $46.4 million for a new Economic Planning and Response Program, which will provide grants and loans to small businesses. The budget also creates and funds programs to educate and train Massachusetts workers for new lines of work, including $40.6 million for adult basic education services and $10 million for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund to help connect residents to jobs. To aid local communities, the budget appropriates $1.129 billion in unrestricted general government aid to support community investments and help municipalities recover.  

The Senate and House will now meet to work out differences between their two different budgets, before a finalized version is sent to the Governor for his consideration.  

Although budget debate and work took up almost all of my week, I still had a few events and meetings that I was able to attend. On Monday I spent some time at the Holyoke Boys & Girls Club handing out groceries to community members. Helping those struggling with food insecurity is one of the major ways the Club has stepped during this pandemic, and I was glad to help out. Tuesday morning my staff and I joined in on a call with Western Mass Housing First to talk about their work and how they are adapting with COVID-19 rates back on the rise.  

Thursday I joined the Massachusetts Airport Management Association and officials from Barnes Regional to receive updates from the Federal Aviation Association and MassDOT. And on Friday I had my bi-weekly meeting with Holyoke Community College President Royale, where we discussed remote classes and what resources the college has been providing to students.  

As always, if there is anything I can do to assist you, please never hesitate to reach out to my office. I can be reached at my email: john.velis@masenate.gov or by phone: (413) 572-3920 and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com. 

Sincerely,  

John C. Velis 

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Senate Passes FY 2021 Budget

Includes increased funding for sectors impacted by COVID-19, including housing and childcare

(BOSTON – 11/18/2020) The Massachusetts State Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a $46 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21), after adding $36.1 million in targeted investments over the course of two days of deliberations. Passed with bipartisan support, the budget aims to move the Commonwealth towards an equitable recovery by making critical investments in sectors impacted by COVID-19 including early education and childcare, food security, housing supports, and public health.

“With a second surge of COVID-19 upon us, we must do everything we can to shore up critical resources for those most in need so that we can begin to build towards an equitable recovery,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “This unprecedented budget is a testament to the challenges we face as a Commonwealth, but I am confident Massachusetts will emerge stronger and more resilient than before. I am thankful for the hard work of Chair Rodrigues, his team, Vice Chair Friedman, Assistant Vice Chair Lewis and the entire Senate Committee on Ways and Means for the budget they produced and finalized under these very difficult circumstances.”

“Under difficult circumstances because of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am proud of the Senate’s ability during these last two days to meet the moment, engage in respectful debate, take action to protect our most vulnerable and set the Commonwealth on a path toward an equitable recovery,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Under the leadership of Senate President Spilka, the Senate has taken important steps this week to confront the unprecedented challenges brought on by this public health crisis and pass a fiscally responsible budget plan that further protects access to child care, health care, housing, public transportation and economic opportunity. Thank you to my colleagues in the Senate for their tireless work and passionate advocacy over the course of our debate.”

“This budget makes important investments in our State and local infrastructure, while remaining fiscally responsible during these difficult and unprecedented times,” said Senator John C. Velis (D-Westfield). “The Senate has made a strong commitment to maintaining critical levels of funding for education, health care, and transportation, while also making sure that those struggling during this pandemic are getting the support and financial relief that they need.”

As COVID-19 continues to spread across our Commonwealth, the Senate budget preserves access to essential services for our most vulnerable residents. The budget funds MassHealth at a total of $18.2 billion to maintain critical access to affordable health care coverage for over 1.9 million people, ensuring that comprehensive care for our most vulnerable children, seniors and low-income residents is protected in the middle of a public health crisis. The Senate’s budget also includes targeted investments to maintain and expand access to mental health care, while strengthening public health infrastructure at the local, state and regional level to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Senate’s budget protects Massachusetts students and educational institutions. Continuing the Senate’s long-standing support of targeted investments in education, this budget holds harmless Chapter 70 funding in a manner consistent with the agreement reached between the Senate, House and Administration in July by providing $5.283 billion, an increase of $107.6 million over FY20. 

This additional level of investment will allow all school districts to maintain foundation spending levels while accounting for enrollment and inflation changes. The budget also includes $345 million for the Special Education (SPED) Circuit Breaker, reimbursing school districts for the cost of educating students with disabilities at the statutorily required 75% reimbursement rate. In addition to ensuring stability for the state’s K‑12 population, the Senate’s budget takes steps to invest in childcare providers and higher education institutions—both of which are critically important to the state’s economy and recovery in midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Senate’s budget recommends a total of $46 billion in spending, a 5.5% increase over the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) General Appropriations Act. This spending recommendation is based on a revised tax revenue estimate of $27.592 billion, which provides for $3.558 billion less in available revenue than the original consensus revenue estimate originally agreed upon in January 2020. To close this anticipated revenue shortfall, the FY21 budget includes $1.5 billion from the Stabilization Fund, ensuring a majority of the Stabilization Fund balance remains for future years; $1.38 billion in available federal supports; and more than $400 million in new revenue initiatives. Among those initiatives, the budget includes provisions such as accelerated sales tax collection and a new fee structure for Transportation Network Companies. The budget also avoids drastic budget cuts while leaving the Commonwealth in a sound fiscal position moving forward.

Additional education investments include:

  • $5.283 billion for Chapter 70 education funding
  • $345 million for the Special Education Circuit Breaker
  • $115 million to reimburse public school districts for costs incurred when students leave to attend charter schools
  • $82.2 million to reimburse school districts for regional school transportation costs
  • $560.4 million for the University of Massachusetts, $308 million for the fifteen community colleges, and $285.5 million for the nine state universities; and $2 million for grants offered through the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative to support high school students with intellectual disabilities ages 18–22 with access to higher education opportunities
  • $40 million for a new reserve to cover parent fees for families receiving subsidized childcare for the remainder of FY 21
  • $3.0 million for Rural School Aid, after adding $1.5M on the floor
  • $1.5 million for the Civics Education Trust Fund

Additional health investments include:

  • $500.3 million for Adult Support Services, including assisted outpatient programming and comprehensive care coordination among health care providers
  • $163.6 million for a range of substance abuse treatment and intervention services
  • $94.5 million for children’s mental health services
  • $45.2 million for domestic violence prevention services
  • $35.4 million for early intervention services, to ensure supports are accessible and available to infants and young toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities
  • $17.5 million for Family Resource Centers to meet increased demand for services
  • $1.7 million for the State Action for Public Health Excellence (SAPHE) program to support a more effective local and regional public health delivery system

In addition to these health care investments, the Senate’s budget takes meaningful steps to expand access to care. It includes provisions that prohibit insurers from denying coverage for mental health services and primary care services solely because they were delivered on the same day in the same facility.  This important measure will remove a significant financial barrier to the integration of primary care and mental health. The budget, through the amendment process, also includes provisions that further expand reproductive health care options.

The Senate is committed to building an equitable recovery while dismantling the systemic barriers that exist in our society. To that end, the Senate’s budget creates and invests in programs to educate, train and prepare Massachusetts workers.

Opportunity investments include:

  • $40.6 million for adult basic education services to improve access to skills necessary to join the workforce
  • $20 million for summer jobs and work-readiness training for at-risk youth
  • a Community Empowerment and Reinvestment grant program to provide economic supports to communities disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system
  • $10 million for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund to connect unemployed and under-employed workers with higher paying jobs
  • $6 million for Regional Economic Development Organizations to support economic growth in all regions of the state
  • $5 million for Community Foundations to provide emergency economic relief to historically underserved populations across the Commonwealth
  • $3 million for the Secure Jobs Connect program, providing job placement resources and assistance for homeless individuals
  • $2 million for the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Access to affordable housing, which has taken on new urgency for many during the COVID-19 pandemic, is a key Senate priority for recovery. The Senate’s budget recognizes the crucial importance of housing to the Commonwealth’s recovery efforts and invests over $540 million in housing stability programs to support many families, tenants and property owners in this time of crisis.

Housing investments include:

  • $180.7 million for Emergency Assistance Family Shelters
  • $135 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP)
  • $50 million for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT), as well as emergency changes to the RAFT program to increase the maximum amount of rental assistance that a household can receive from $4,000 to $10,000 and allow eligible households facing a housing crisis to access both RAFT and HomeBASE.
  • $53.4 million for assistance for homeless individuals
  • $27.2 million for the HomeBASE diversion and rapid re-housing programs
  • $12.5 million for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP), which provides rental assistance to people with disabilities, and $2.5 million for grants to improve or create accessible affordable housing units
  • $10.5 million for housing vouchers for Department of Mental Health (DMH) clients to transition into housing and community-based services
  • $4.75 million for the Housing Consumer Education Centers (HCECs)
  • $3.9 million for the Home and Healthy for Good re-housing and supportive services program, including $250,000 for homeless LGBTQ+ youth
  • $2.5 million for the Office of Public Collaboration to support housing dispute mediation efforts across the Commonwealth
  • $1.3 million for the Tenancy Preservation Program 

In addition to these critical investments, this budget includes additional protection measures to ensure the state’s residents most at risk of eviction in the middle of a pandemic are kept safe and secure in their homes. Through the amendment process, the budget also includes a provision that would simplify the application process for RAFT and protect the credit rating of individuals who face eviction due to COVID-19 by sealing eviction records. This proposal provides additional protections and resources to tenants suffering a COVID-19-related financial hardship, as well as stability as they await short-term emergency rental assistance.

Food insecurity has become one of the most prevalent consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting children, adults and seniors alike. The Senate’s budget therefore prioritizes access to food resources across the Commonwealth.

Food insecurity investments include:

  • $30 million for the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program
  • $13 million in Healthy Incentives Programs to ensure vulnerable households have continued access to food options during the pandemic
  • $1.2 million for Project Bread to support the Child Nutrition Outreach Program (CNOP) and the FoodSource Hotline

The Senate’s budget supports cities and towns while allowing them flexibility to confront the unique challenges facing them by directing significant resources to local and regional aid.  This includes increased funding for Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) to $94 million to ensure that commuters, students, seniors and people with disabilities have access to reliable public transportation during this time of critical need. Along with traditional local aid, the Senate’s budget level funds payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) for state-owned land to $30 million.  PILOT funding has been a beneficial source of local aid that provides cities and towns with additional resources to support core public services.

Local investments include:

  • $1.129 billion for unrestricted general government aid to support community investments in education, health care, public safety and roads and bridges
  • $32.6 million for the Board of Library Commissioners, $11.5 million for regional library local aid, $12 million for municipal libraries and $4.4 million for technology and automated resources
  • $18.2 million for the Massachusetts Cultural Council to support local arts, culture and creative economy initiatives
  • $17 million for local Councils on Aging to strengthen programs and services in senior centers in communities across the state.

A Conference Committee will now convene to reconcile the differences between the Senate budget and the version passed by the House of Representatives last week.

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November 15th, 2020 – Weekly Update

Hi Everyone,  

I hope you all are doing well and have been able to take advantage of some of the warm weather we have had recently. This past week was packed full of meetings throughout the district and I was honored to participate in several Veterans Day ceremonies as well.  

I began my week at the Holyoke Medical Center for a meeting with HMC President Hatiras, Representative Vega, and Representative-Elect Duffy where we discussed how services for patients have changed in recent months. Later in the day, I stopped by the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home to drop off over 500 letters from students in our district that were distributed to Veterans this week. The letters were truly heartwarming, and full of appreciation for our Veterans and their service. I know how much they meant to the Veterans and am inspired by how thoughtful the students in our community are.  

On Tuesday morning I was glad to join the Forum House and Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition at the Short Stop Bar and Grill in Westfield, where I had the privilege of recognizing Short Stop and the Hannoush family for their work with adults with mental illnesses. It is phenomenal to see businesses and organizations in our community diversifying their workforce and collaborating together, and I was happy to be a part of the recognition ceremony.  

Although our usual Veterans Day celebrations may have been restricted this year, it was amazing to see all the different ways that our communities showed their appreciation for our Veterans. I began the day in Agawam at the Vietnam Memorial Bridge for a moving ceremony with the Agawam Veterans Council, the West Springfield VSO, and the Agawam Police Department. We were also joined by students of Agawam High School who played Taps during the ceremony. Later in the morning, I joined Westfield community members and Veterans at Parker Memorial Park, where I was honored to speak and thank our Veterans. And Wednesday evening I joined Congressman Seth Moulton and several other Veterans for a virtual Veterans Town Hall event where we shared experiences and talked about what our service means to us. I couldn’t be more grateful to have been a part of all these amazing events, and I am proud to be a part of a community that appreciates our Veterans so much. Everything that we have in our lives, everything that we so often take for granted, is due to the sacrifices of our service members, and we are all so thankful for the men and women who have served our great country. 

On Thursday morning, I had a virtual meeting with the New England Cable and Telecommunications Association, where I received updates about how the expansion of broadband access to the Hilltowns is going. During these times, it is critical that every community has access to internet, and I was encouraged by the progress that has taken place.  

Thursday afternoon the Senate Committee on Ways and Means released their final Fiscal Year 2021 State Budget recommendation. I believe that this budget has made important investments in our State and local infrastructure, while remaining fiscally responsible during these difficult economic times. The Committee’s budget recommends a total of $45.985 billion in spending. Some of the highlights in the budget recommendation include $5.283 billion for Chapter 70 education funding, $18.577 billion for MassHealth funding, more than $540 million in housing stability programs, and $1.129 billion in unrestricted general government aid for local investments in education, health care, public safety and road infrastructure. I am also pleased that there is significant support for those who have been hit hardest by COVID-19, including a new Economic Planning and Resource Program that will fund more than $40 million in grants and loans to small businesses.  

I am also extremely happy to announce that the Senate prioritized the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home in the Senate budget. The Senate included an additional $1,000,000 for the Home in the budget recommendation, totaling $25M. This will provide much needed support to the residents and staff, and emphasizes the Senate’s strong commitment  towards the Home and our Veterans.  

I am proud to be apart of the Senate and to continue working to make the Home the best it can be. Next week the Senate will debate the Senate budget, and changes and additions will be made through amendments. After the budget is debated by the Senate, the Senate and the House will then work out the differences between their respective versions, before sending a finalized one to the Governor’s desk.  

As always, if there is anything I can do to assist you, please never hesitate to reach out to my office. I can be reached at my email: john.velis@masenate.gov or by phone: (413) 572-3920 and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com. 

Sincerely,  

John C. Velis 

Senator Velis delivering letters from students to the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home for Veterans Day
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October 4th, 2020 – Weekly Update

Hello all, 

October is upon us! It is truly crazy how quickly we have been flung into fall and I can’t believe winter is around the corner. I had a number of different meetings and tours this week and also have information regarding the budget to share.  

This week I was proud to sign on to a letter with my Western Massachusetts Colleagues urging Governor Baker to nominate a jurist from Western Mass to one of the two vacant seats on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. There is currently no representation from our region on the Court and it was imperative that they have all perspectives and experiences at the table on our highest State Court. I can also announce today that the first public hearing for the Holyoke Soldiers Legislative Oversight Committee is going to be scheduled for the later part of this month. This first hearing will be an important opportunity for families to speak directly to the committee and this past Sunday I had a meeting with some of my colleagues to go over planning and logistics 

On Monday I had an introductory call with Kevin McCaffery from the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce and later had a meeting with Representative Vega and Holyoke Community College President Royal. We discussed a number of different K-12 related initiatives related to HCC including child-care, early college, and dual enrollment options. Our local colleges are so important to our communities and I always love getting involved. Tuesday afternoon, I joined Westfield State University President Roy Saigo to welcome students back to campus and also take a tour of some of their facilities. 

Also on Tuesday, I held a listening session for constituents who are concerned about the pending merger of Farren Health Center in Montague and Mount Saint Vincent in Holyoke. There are real and tangible concerns about this type of change during this pandemic and I am grateful to have had these conversations. Later in the week, my office participated in the Department of Public Health’s hearing on this issue, where we brought up these concerns and advocated for our constituents. I hope that this move can be held off until after the pandemic, and my office will continue working and communicating with residents and families. 

I began Wednesday with a tour of Savage Arms and a in-depth conversation with CEO Al Kasper. Among many things, we talked extensively about workforce development and how we can provide options for the next generation to get into trades and manufacturing.  As assistant vice-chair on the Labor and Workforce Development committee, this topic truly resonates with me. We need to do a better job of teaching students about all the professional opportunities they have and connect them with the resources to succeed. Later on Wednesday, I headed down to the State Police Academy in New Braintree. Col. Mason had invited members of the legislature down to learn about the different types of training and programming that recruits go through. We were walked through de-escalation techniques and use of force defensive tactics, and engaged in productive discussions about policies and trainings. It was an incredibly informative and eye-opening day and I’m grateful to have been a part of it. 

Thursday brought with it a lot of budget information and I had a long virtual caucus with legislative colleagues about the state of the budget. I am glad to report that we are closing out Fiscal Year 2020 without having had to dip into any of our state’s “rainy day fund”, but that does not mean that Fiscal Year 2021 will be the same way. Mitigating and preventing painful cuts will be a huge part of our work in the FY21 budget, as we work through these difficult economic times. Next Tuesday, the Ways and Means committee will be hosting a economic round table for the Senate which will result in a new consensus revenue number that that will be the basis of  the actual budgeting numbers process. The big unknown is whether or not there will be any federal relief. While there is still an outside chance of that happening, we simply have to keep moving forward on the state level as best we can. There will really be no end to our budgeting work because as soon as we finish the budget for FY21, we will immediately begin work on FY22. These two budget years are structurally intertwined in a way that we really haven’t seen before which means that a lot of work from the FY21 budget is going to carry into the FY22 budget. I have been meeting with groups that depend on state funding all over the district and know how important this budget will be for organizations during this pandemic. I will keep you all updated on the process as it continues.  

As always, if there is anything I can do to assist you, please never hesitate to reach out to my office. I can be reached at my email: john.velis@masenate.gov or by phone: (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com. 

Sincerely,  

John C. Velis 

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September 20th, 2020 – Weekly Update

Hello all,

This week was the start of school for many in our district and I hope all students had a great first week. We are all so thankful for our teachers, who have adapted in so many different ways, and for all the staff behind the scenes who have been working so hard to welcome our students back.

I thought I would share some updates on the Commonwealth’s budget process this week. As some of you may know, the legislature did not pass a full fiscal-year budget this past summer as usual; instead opting for a interim budget that carries us through October. One reason for this is because we did not know how the federal government was going to act or what their budget was going to look like. As much our budget is based off what we receive from the federal government, this lack of federal action has made handling our state budget difficult.  Furthermore, since the income tax deadline was extended from March 15 to July 15, final tax revenues were delayed, and it would’ve been hard to do a budget without knowing our total revenue. All this being said, we are still working hard on a full fiscal-year budget that will take us from November through the end of July. With groups and entities being asked to do more with less, this year more than ever Senators and Representatives are going to have to work extremely hard to make sure their districts get what they need.

October will be a crucial month for budget deliberation, and my job will be to meet with as many stakeholders out there as possible so that I can learn more about their needs and advocate for them. I have no doubt that this coming month will be one of the busiest I have ever had in elected office as I work to ensure that Westfield and the other 10 cities and towns in our [C(1] district get their fair share in the budget. This work has really already started, as this past Wednesday I met with Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues to talk about the budget, our districts needs, and the priorities I have for this year.

On Wednesday, I also had an in-depth meeting with Tapestry Health in Holyoke. I currently sit on the Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery Joint Committee in the legislature and it’s crucial for me to get out and see the actual work taking place on the ground. In addition to running our local rapid COVID-19 testing site in Agawam, Tapestry has a huge impact on those dealing with mental health and substance use and we need to continue to support those in our community who are facing these issues.

Tuesday morning, I joined Southwick’s Council on Aging to talk with seniors as part of their “Tuesday Talks” with elected officials. It was great to have a chance to talk to directly to constituents about what’s on their minds, and explain a little bit about my work.

At the end of our Senate session this past Thursday, I was honored to put forth a motion to adjourn in memory of long-time Holyoke resident Marty Dunn. Marty was a former Mayor of Holyoke, a former State Senator from the Hampden and Hampshire district, and an incredible community leader. He taught me so much about Holyoke and beyond. His kindness and generosity were known far and wide. I will miss him greatly and am proud I could put forth this motion in his honor.

Earlier Thursday morning, I joined the Holyoke Taxpayers Association virtually for their annual meeting where it was great to see some new and friendly faces. During lunchtime, I headed over to the Westfield Senior Center to join the Council on Aging and the Westfield Police Department to  hand out some drive-by lunches to residents. We handed out over 180 lunches, all while wearing purple to honor World Alzheimer’s month this September. I had some great conversations, and can’t thank the WPD and the COA enough for all that they do. After some work in the office, I had a walking meeting with Rebecca Hart regarding the Westfield Food Pantry. They’re applying for a grant for a mobile food truck and it was great to hear about the expansion! I wrapped up my day by joining Westfield State’s Annual Foundation Meeting to talk about some of the great work the they do for our students.

This past Friday was National Prisoners of War/Missing Action (POW/MIA) Recognition day. We must always remember and recognize the sacrifices of those in our military who were Prisoners of War and those who are still missing to those day. Their service to our nation will never be forgotten and we must never cease our search for all those who remain missing.  Wednesday evening, I attended a MIA/POW Candlelight Ceremony at Pine Hill Cemetery Chapel in Westfield where I gave our service members and their families my thoughts and prayers.

As always, if there is anything I can do to assist you, please never hesitate to reach out to my office. I can be reached at my email: john.velis@masenate.gov or by phone: (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com.

Sincerely,

John C. Velis

Senator Velis at the Westfield Senior Center on Thursday with the Westfield Police Department and Westfield Council on Aging. They handed out over 180 lunches and wore purple in honor of World Alzheimer’s Month
Senator Velis at the Southwick Senior Center on Tuesday for their “Tuesday Talks with Elected Officials”
Adjournment order for Martin J. Dunn of Holyoke, Senate Session 9/17/2020
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September 6th, 2020 – Weekly Update

Hello everyone! 

I feel like I was all over the district this week for different events and meetings, both in-person and virtually, as I continue to hear from people in our communities. COVID-19 has affected our lives in so many different ways, and the economic and public health challenges we face moving forward are clear. One area that I don’t think is being talked about enough is the effect this pandemic has had on mental health and those struggling with substance use disorders. These are issues we cannot ignore, and I believe this pandemic has put even more pressure on those struggling with mental health and addiction. That is why in the coming weeks, I will be putting together a group of relevant stakeholders and health experts, to hold conversations about these issues and discuss how we can help those struggling in our communities moving forward. If you are interested in participating, please reach out to me.  

I began my Monday by having a meeting over phone with Lynn Clark, the Superintendent of Schools in Chicopee. Chicopee will begin school in a hybrid model starting on September 15th, and we will be monitoring all school systems in our district as the year begins. Shortly after this call, my staff and I had a very informative meeting with the MassDOT Highway Division. We went over a number of projects that are being planned around our district, including the Route 10/202 (Southwick Rd.) bridge replacement project in Westfield. This project will realign Southwick Rd/South Maple St. to provide a softer curve and improve the intersections of City View and Mill, and will include Northbound left turn lanes and buffered bike lines. I will keep pushing for these projects in our district that will greatly improve quality of life for our residents. I wrapped up my Monday by having a meeting with ROCA, a non-profit organization that focuses on helping high-risk young men and young mothers in our communities through a 4 year intervention model. They focus on outreach and building relationships with young people, and help them get the resources they need to maintain jobs and stay out of dangerous situations. 

Tuesday morning I headed over to the 104th Fighter Wing to meet with Mayor Humason and Wing Commander Col. William T. Bladen. As the third largest employer for our local economy I look forward to these continued conversations, as it is vital we keep our jobs growing. Later Tuesday afternoon, I had a meeting with John Bowen of the Westfield Planning Board, where a lot of our focus was on the Westfield Bike and Levee Project.  

Wednesday was all Agawam! I began the day by having a meeting with the Agawam Housing Authority, where I learned more about the different residencies in Agawam and all the different resources they provide. I then joined the Agawam Council on Aging at the Senior Center to pass out lunches to constituents who came by. Later that afternoon, I had an introductory meeting with Peter Carmichael from Six Flags New England about the current state of affairs for the park and how their employees are doing, many of whom reside in Agawam and all over our district. 

I began Thursday morning with some coffee with constituents at Circuit Coffee in Westfield. Speaking directly to constituents, and hearing what is on their mind is my favorite part of the job, and I pride my office on being as accessible as possible to you all. Shortly after, I headed over to Easthampton to tour and talk to some local businesses alongside City Councilor Owen Zaret. We started off at Tandem Bagel Company, and hit a bunch of businesses on Cottage Street, including Wedge Works Art & Home and The Water’s Fine Goods and Coffee. I fully understand the decimating impact that COVID-19 has had on our economy, and I will continue to talk to small businesses and help wherever I can. I’m grateful to Council Zaret for showing me around, and we stopped by the Easthampton Fire Department to talk with Chief Norris as well. I finished the day in Westfield, where I met with some more constituents, MassDOT, and City Officials to continue to listen in on the conversations surrounding the Westfield Bike and Levee Project.  

Friday Morning started with a meeting with Western Mass Housing first, and other local community partners, where we discussed housing and food insecurity issues in our communities. Shortly after this meeting, I joined State Representative Aaron Vega for lunch at the Crave Food Truck in Holyoke. Rep. Vega will be finishing up his time in the legislature this session, and while I will deeply miss our collaboration, I know that our friendship will continue on. Post lunch, Rep. Vega and I met with Damien Cote, Holyoke’s Building Commissioner to discuss building regulations and legislation. I then drove over to Granville, where I was proud to present a Senate Citation to Cooley Buy, and her company for their new business opening! Their new store at 66 Granby Road is a renovation of an old barn, and promotes local artists work such as pottery, woodworking, textiles, and glasswork. I encourage you all to check them out.  

While this week was busy traveling across the district, I was able to pause for a moment to pay my respects and express my condolences to the loved ones of two incredible members of the Westfield community that we lost this week, Brian Hoose and John Knapik. Their dedication and advocacy to our community was known far and wide, and they will be greatly missed. 

As always, if there is anything I can do to assist you, please never hesitate to reach out to my office. I can be reached at my email: john.velis@masenate.gov or phone: (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com. 

Sincerely,  

John C. Velis 

Senator Velis with Easthampton City Councilor Owen Zaret and Fire Chief Norris
Senator Velis visiting The Water’s Fine Goods & Coffee in Easthampton
Cooley & Company, a new store showcasing local artists work at 66 Granby Rd. in Granville
Senator Velis presenting Cooley Buy of Cooley & Company, with a Senate citation celebrating the opening

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Sheriff’s office, partners to hand out 2,000 filled backpacks to schoolchildren

August 20, 2020 – Daily Hampshire Gazette – Michael Connors

LUDLOW — As students across Holyoke prepare for a new school year, the Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Initiative will be handing out 2,000 backpacks filled with supplies to the city’s schoolchildren.

Unable to distribute the supplies at its traditional back-to-school event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Initiative will instead hold 11 individual “grab-and-go” events at schools across Holyoke beginning this week and lasting until school begins in September. Dates and times for those events will be communicated to families by the individual schools as they are finalized, said Edward Caisse of the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, the director of the Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Initiative, which is overseen by the sheriff’s department.

……

State Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, said that the supplies in the backpacks are “absolutely critical.”

“This right here, these books, these backpacks, this education, this is the key — this is the foundation to everything,” Velis said. “If you have an educated population … anything is possible.”

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