Hello Everyone,
It finally felt like winter there for a second this past weekend. I hope everyone was able to stay safe and warm in those extreme temperatures.
I started off my week Sunday morning in Springfield at the Winter Walk to End Homelessness. This wonderful event, organized by the Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness, is aimed at raising awareness as well as funds to support various organizations in Western Massachusetts that work to end homelessness. Many of my elected colleagues and over 400 community members joined and made this walk a huge success.
Wednesday, I was honored d to read to the Southampton Road School’s new pilot Preschool program. This class of 4-year-olds was an excellent audience and they even worked all week on their signatures just to give me a signed copy of the book that we read together. The highlight of my week and I’m already very much looking forward to coming back.
This morning marked the groundbreaking of the Post-911 Veterans & Service Dog Park in Chicopee. This park will not only serve as a memorial to veterans, but it will also be a place where service members and service dogs can come together to heal, play, and bond with other dog owners in the community. I’d like to extend a big thank you to the city of Chicopee for creating a space like this.
It is with a heavy but hopeful heart that my office bids farewell to my Aide Marissa this week. Marissa has been my constituent services aide for over a year now and I’m sure many of you have contacted them for assistance in the course of their time here. Marissa always brought a passion and vigor to helping our community and their departure will be felt dearly. But our loss is another’s gain as Marissa will be moving on to a new position with Mujeres de Islas, a non-profit in Puerto Rico that works for resource security on the island of Culebra. Best of luck Marissa. You will be missed.
This week, my team hosted office hours in Agawam on Monday and again in West Springfield Wednesday. Next week, we will be at the Chicopee COA on Tuesday from 10:00am to 11:00am and on the Holyoke COA on Wednesday from 10:00am to 11:00am. Please feel free to stop by with any questions, comments, concerns, or just to say hello!
If you are unable to make our office hours or need assistance any sooner, I can always be reached at my email: john.velis@masenate.gov or by phone: (413) 572-3920. You can also find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com where you can also sign up for my newsletter!
Best,
John Velis