Hello Everyone!
I hope you are all doing well and will be getting some much-deserved time off to spend the holidays with family and friends.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 cases are back on the rise in our communities and around the community. Vaccines and boosters are widely available, and I encourage you to get vaccinated if you have not done so already. Testing is also critically important if you have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19. You can find vaccine locations at vaxfinder.mass.gov and testing sites at mass.gov/covid-19-testing
Some of you may have watched the Army-Navy Football game last weekend and know of the friendly wager my good friend Senator Rush and I made on it. Unfortunately, Army lost and as a result I began my Monday morning singing the Navy Fight Song for Senator Rush over zoom. You can head to my social media to see my singing and we will be back again next year! Later on Monday I had a few meetings with constituents in the district to talk about legislation currently being considered for Veterans in the Commonwealth.
On Tuesday I visited the Mass Fair Housing Center in Holyoke. The Center helps so many families who struggle with housing insecurity and homeownership. In the recent American Rescue Plan Act legislation signed by the Governor, $250,000 was included for the Center to support and expand their efforts. I look forward to seeing these funds put to use! Later, Tuesday I met with Doctors from Prevent Blindness Organization about S.136, An Act Improving Child Eye Care, which would increase vision screening for pre-k children. Speaking of Eye Care, the Holyoke Health Center held the Grand opening of its new Vision Center this week and I was grateful that Team Velis could attend the event!
On Wednesday I toured VF Auto in Agawam, a family-owned local business that has been operating since 1988. I always love to visit local businesses around the district, and it was great to learn about their operations. Later in the afternoon I met with the TreeHouse Foundation, an incredible organization that works to support foster children, low-income families, and senior residents. I was able to secure $2,000,000 in the American Rescue Plan bill for the foundation to create additional TreeHouse communities across the Commonwealth and this meeting was a strategic planning conversation about those funds.
On Thursday I met with the Holyoke Taxpayers association to discuss numerous issues facing Holyoke businesses and residents. We had a great conversation and I look forward to being back.
Always fun to attend holiday events in the district! Friday, I joined Mayor Vieu in Chicopee for his annual Holiday Luncheon and on Saturday I headed over to the American Legion Post 124 in Westfield for their annual holiday party. It was great to see everyone! I wrapped up my Saturday with the Agawam Firefighters Union, IAFF Local 1973, to help celebrate the retirement of Dean DiCarlo, Kenneth Sagendorph, Norman Colburn, Frank Cavallo, and Anthony Albano, from the Agawam Fire Department. Thank you for your service to our community!
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