Category: Holyoke

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December 20th, 2020 – Weekly Update

Hello Everyone,  

I hope you all are doing well and staying safe. We had quite a bit of snow this week, and I want to thank all the first responders and public works employees who were on call in our district.  

I was lucky enough to begin this past week listening to my good friend Senator Mike Rush sing “The Army Goes Rolling Along” over Zoom. Some of you might remember that me and the Senator, who is also a Lt. Commander in the US Navy Reserves, had a friendly bet on the Army-Navy football game last weekend. Luckily, the outcome was in my favor. In addition to the fun singing, the Senator made a donation to the Holyoke Soldiers Home and I made a donation to the Fisher House of Boston in his district, both great organizations serving our Vets. You can see the recording of the Senator’s performance on my social media, @SenJohnVelis. 

On Monday I met with Representative-Elect Pat Duffy via video-chat, who will be the new State Representative for Holyoke starting in January. I also had the honor of speaking with Ambassador Alexandra Papadopoulou, the Greek Ambassador to the United States. We discussed my recent re-election and other Greek legislators throughout the country.  

This past Tuesday, I remotely recorded an interview with Comcast Newsmakers. I went over the recent FY21 budget that the legislature passed and answered questions on my amendments securing funding for the Holyoke Soldiers Home. The interview will be released in the New Year and will be available on YouTube and Comcast on-demand. Later in the day, I had a phenomenal virtual meeting with the Holyoke Rotary Club where we discussed how COVID-19 has affected state finances and in turn how that has impacted municipalities.  

During these difficult times it has been incredible to see the ways our community has stepped up to help those struggling, especially those facing food insecurity issues. On Wednesday night, I joined Holyoke community members for the 5th annual Holyoke Community Dinner Celebration, where we handed out meals and chatted with residents driving through. Friday afternoon I joined the Russell Police Department for their food drive and handed out Christmas Dinner boxes to community members. I’m so grateful for the organizations, sponsors, and volunteers who organized these events! 

This week I am also happy to report that Westfield and Chicopee were both selected by MassDOT as grant winners for the Shared Streets and Spaces Program, which provides funds to municipalities to improve public spaces and increase safe mobility. Westfield will be receiving a little more than $225,000 to upgrade and expand existing sidewalks in the City and to improve facilities at adjacent PVTA bus stops. Chicopee will be receiving just above $75,000 to develop a network of mixed-use lanes for pedestrians and cyclists in Chicopee Center.  

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 with the Russell Police Department on Friday, 12/18 for the Christmas Food Drive
Senator Velis with the Holyoke Rotary Club on Tuesday, 12/15
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December 13th, 2020 – Weekly Update

Hi Everyone,  

I can’t believe that it’s already December, it’s getting colder every day!  

This week the state released its initial COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan with the hope that vaccine inoculations can begin as early as next week. The distribution timeline is divided into phases, and the first phase will prioritize health care workers and the most vulnerable residents in our communities. The vaccine will be free to all and insurers will not charge co-pays or out-of-pocket costs. These developments are really encouraging, but it’s important to remember that this is not going to be an immediate process. COVID-19 is just as dangerous today as it was before this news, and we need to continue to wear masks and social distance so that we can get through this together. You can find out more about the vaccine distribution at Mass.gov/COVIDvaccine. 

This past Monday, I hosted a Zoom forum with legislative colleagues and Commissioner Jane Ryder of the Department of Developmental Services. We discussed challenges that Adult Day Programs in our region are facing and how to improve communications and financial supports from DDS to these organizations. Tuesday night I joined the Holyoke Democratic City Committee for their virtual meeting honoring State Representative Vega as Democrat of the year. Representative Vega has been an incredible advocate for Holyoke during his time as a legislator, and I was proud to speak about my friendship with him and our work together.  

Wednesday and Thursday were full of meetings in the community. I joined Holyoke’s Public Safety Committee meeting Wednesday night and had another informative meeting with Southampton Town Administrator Ed Gibson on Thursday afternoon. On Wednesday I also met with Jay Kumar, the owner of Universal Plastics in Holyoke, to hear about challenges businesses like his have been facing.  

This Saturday Army and Navy played 121st football game in their historic rivalry. One of my colleagues, Senator Mike Rush, is a Lieutenant Commander in the US Navy and we realized that this is the first time in modern history that the Senate has a sitting Senator enlisted in each of the branches. Considering this, we decided to make a friendly wager on the game: loser must post a video singing the opposing branch’s fight song. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to hearing Senator Rush’s beautiful rendition. For updates on our wager, feel free to visit my social media channels at @SenJohnVelis.  

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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December 6th, 2020 Weekly Update

Hello Everyone,  

I hope you all had a great week and are staying safe and healthy during these difficult times.  

It is clear from this week’s data reports that the rate of COVID-19 cases in our communities is rising. Currently Southwick, Chicopee, and Holyoke are designated as red communities, while Westfield, Agawam, and Easthampton are designated as yellow communities. It is imperative that we continue to stay vigilant as we move into these winter months. While news surrounding a vaccine is extremely promising, we are not there yet, and we need to be mindful of the interactions we are having with others. 

This past Friday, the Senate and House came to agreement on a final FY2021 budget after differences between the two chambers were worked out in conference committee. I was proud to vote for this final legislation, which provides critical support and investments to our community while remaining fiscally responsible. I am also glad that my amendments providing funding for the Holyoke Soldiers Home, the Holyoke and Westfield Boys & Girls Clubs, Baystate Health and the Agawam Police Department survived the conference process and are included in the final bill. Now the budget will go before the Governor for his consideration.  

Tuesday morning I attended the ribbon cutting ceremony of Compass Recovery in Agawam, where I was honored to present them with a Senate citation in recognition of their opening. The treatment center will provide partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient services for those struggling with substance abuse disorders. 

On Wednesday I attended the services for Staff Sergeant Mark Johnson, a 2015 graduate of Agawam High School who recently passed away while stationed in Fort Hood, Texas. Sgt. Johnson served as a Squad Leader in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve in Romania and was a recipient of numerous military honors. His service inspires us all, and his passing is a tragic loss for our entire community.  

Thursday morning I was in Agawam for the grand opening of Vanguard Renewables’ new Organics Recycling Facility. The recycling facility’s innovative process converts expired and unsafe food waste into renewable energy. Vanguard Renewables is the largest organics recycler in the Northeast and will process nearly 500,000 tons of organic waste into renewables energy in 2021. It was truly incredible to tour the facility and learn more about how this process works firsthand.  

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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November 29, 2020 – Weekly Update

Hello Everyone,  

I hope you all were able to safely celebrate Thanksgiving with your loved ones, whether that be in-person or virtually!  

I want to first update you all on the status of the FY2021 budget. As you might remember, last week the Senate passed our final FY2021 budget after two days of debating over 450 amendments. The next step is for the Senate and House to meet in conference committee to resolve differences between the two versions, before sending a finalized budget to the Governor for his consideration. This week the Senate and House each appointed members to the budget conference committee. 

I also want to shout out the annual Monte’s March, which took place earlier this week to benefit the Western Massachusetts Food Bank. This two-day, 43 mile walk from Springfield to Greenfield raises awareness and funds to prevent hunger in our region. While the march this year looked different than past years, people really stepped up—the March raised more than $600,000 in donations.  These donations will benefit the Food Bank and our communities in countless ways and I’m inspired by everyone who participated or made a donation.  

Tuesday morning I had a virtual meeting with constituents from Holyoke to discuss some of the challenges that residents are facing regarding their unemployment benefits and other state resources. As a result, my office is creating  some easily accessible information for our communities, both in print and digital forms, on what resources are available to them and how to receive such benefits. In addition my office is always available to assist anyone who is having difficulty with their benefits or unemployment claim.    

Tuesday afternoon I met  with Pat Beaudry at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. We discussed a variety of challenges that our communities in the Pioneer Valley are facing, and it was great to get his input. Later on Tuesday, I drove over to MGM Springfield where I had an introductory meeting with President Chris Kelley. 

On Wednesday I joined Congressman Neal and community members in Holyoke for the ribbon cutting of Harper’s Haven playground, which is dedicated in memory of Harper Violet, a young Holyoke resident who we tragically lost this past spring. I’m grateful to all the businesses, donors, and community members who pitched in to make this playground come to fruition. 

Wednesday afternoon I joined the Forum house in Westfield for their annual Thanksgiving Lunch. It was great to help pass out Thanksgiving meals and talk with residents about how they’re doing. The holidays can be a challenging time for many, and it’s so important that we continue to reach out and provide support to those in our community who are struggling.  

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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After victory, Velis prepares for first full term in state Senate

November 11, 2020 – The Reminder – Dennis Hackett, Reminder Publishing File Photo

WESTERN MASS. – After securing the Second Hampden and Hampshire District state Senate seat during the Nov. 3 election, state Sen. John Velis discussed his goals and challenges ahead of his first full term in office.

Before getting into anything, Velis said one of his top priorities was helping the area recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“First and foremost has to be COVID-19 recovery; it’s going to be an immediate and all-consuming issue in terms of how we recover. Small business, the hardships people are facing in the Second Hampden and Hampshire District, it’s absolutely critical to advocate for them,” he said.

While the Senate and House are facing difficult budget seasons, Velis said he is going to make sure his constituents have a seat at the table.

“We’re entering a difficult budget season with the House releasing theirs next week and then the state Senate releasing theirs the following week. Every lawmaker is going to be asked to do more with less. I need to zealously advocate for the constituents that elected me to ensure we have a seat at the table,” he said.

One of the ways Velis said he wants to stand out in legislature is by providing a bipartisan voice in the state Senate.

“One thing that is a priority of mine is continuing to be that voice in Massachusetts politics that doesn’t look at things just through the lens of the political party that happens to be next to my name. I think that’s critical to our nation, the healing and the working together,” he said.

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‘A real commitment… to right this ship:’ State Senate passes $1.4 million in budget increases for Holyoke

November 19, 2020 – MassLive/The Republican – Stephanie Barry

HOLYOKE — The state Senate is working to bring a budget cavalry to the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, passing a $400,000 amendment Wednesday night to finance a new ombudsman’s office and better equipment and services for the long-term care facility ravaged by a COVID-19 outbreak this spring.

State Sen. John Velis, a Westfield Democrat, sponsored an amendment to boost the state-run home’s budget by $200,000 for an ombudsman’s office plus an additional $200,000 for better supplies and services. The measure passed 39-0.

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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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Senate budget includes ombudsman for Soldiers’ Home

November 23rd, 2020 – The Daily Hampshire Gazette – Dusty Christensen, GAZETTE FILE PHOTO

HOLYOKE — The state Senate has passed a budget ammendment that would establish an ombudsman’s office at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke.

In a unanimous vote, the Senate approved the amendment — filed by Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield — that will send an extra $400,000 to the home, which earlier this year experienced a COVID-19 outbreak that resulted in the deaths of at least 76 residents. Half of that money will be used to hire an ombudsman, who is an independent and impartial official who would provide oversight. The other half is for better equipment at the home.

“The beautiful thing about this is they’re independent, they’re impartial and you can really speak to them in confidence,” Velis said Monday, referring to the ombudsman. He said families had gone unheard at the facility previously. “The person who ended up suffering was the resident veteran.”

Veteran advocates and families, including members of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Coalition, have been pressing for an impartial ombudsman at the home for a while.

“The families certainly need a mechanism internally to be able to voice concerns, and truly, any health care institution needs a patient advocate,” said John Paradis, a member of the coalition. “It’s long overdue, it’s necessary and I’m hopeful that the state will put a person in there that has the credentials, background and knowledge to truly be able to advocate for the family members and for the veteran residents.”

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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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Senator Velis Secures Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Amendment in Budget Debate

BOSTON (11/19/2020)

The Massachusetts State Senate unanimously adopted an amendment sponsored by Senator John C. Velis that provides $200,000 for the creation of an ombudsman’s office at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home and $200,000 for increased and improved resources for residents. In remarks given on the Senate floor, Senator Velis stressed the importance of instituting an ombudsman’s office.

“This office will be an independent, impartial, and confidential resource for residents and families to turn to when issues and concerns with care arise,” said Senator Velis. “Having someone directly on the ground at the Home, who can properly investigate problems before they worsen is critical, and this ombudsman would be that oversight that the Home so desperately needs.”

Senator Velis, a Veteran and Major in the U.S. Army Reserves, currently sits on the Legislative Soldiers’ Home Oversight Committee and has been a part of public hearings and listening sessions with residents, families and staff. He referenced these sessions in his remarks.

“I have heard from families and Veterans time and time again of the great relationships that residents form at the Home, and how Veterans want to live there and be around others who have also served,” said Senator Velis. “What has also become apparent, is that there is not enough support for the residents and families at the Home. This amendment begins to fix that.”

The $200,000 allocated for supplies and resources will go to a variety of different initiatives, and Senator Velis stated that he wanted to give the Home the flexibility to spend the funds where they were needed most. In the Senate’s COVID-19 Supplemental budget that was passed in July, Senator Velis had also secured $250,000 for increased Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at the Home, which has since been disbursed.

“In the supplemental budget the priority was to get more PPE to the Home, because that was really the immediate concern that we were hearing about at that time,” said Senator Velis. “Now we need to focus on how to improve the quality of care more generally, whether that be new commodities, improved sanitation, or other investments.”

In addition to these amendments, the Senate’s Final Budget appropriates $25.5M to the Home’s administrative account, $1.5M higher than last year’s funding.  Senator Velis noted his appreciation to the Senate Ways & Means Committee for their collaboration throughout the budget process, and stated that this support will help the Home increase staffing levels and meet other deficiencies.

Late Wednesday night, the senate passed the final budget. Next, the Senate and House will meet in conference committee to work out differences between the two versions, before a finalized budget is sent to the Governor for his consideration.

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