I hope you are doing well and that you took advantage of the warm weather this week, even though it did not last long! Hopefully Friday’s storm will be the last major snowfall of winter 2022, as I am very much looking forward to the spring and seeing you all out and about in the district.
Unfortunately, Team Velis lost another basketball game on Tuesday. We put in a valiant effort (including 16 points from yours truly), but the Holyoke CYO’s eighth grade basketball team was just too tough an opponent. They were lights-out from the three-point line, rebounded well, but most importantly, they played as a team. Thank you to Officer Soto of the Holyoke Police Department for joining my squad. I greatly appreciate your contributions on the court and in our community. It is so great to see the CYO basketball tradition live on as an outlet for the youth in our communities. Looking forward to our next opponent!
Although we lost on the hardwood in Holyoke, Westfield scored a major win on the runways. I joined Rep. Pease, Mayor McCabe, and Alex Colby at Barnes Regional Airport for the exciting groundbreaking ceremony of Exit 3 Aviation. The ceremony kicked off the construction of three hangars to accommodate up to 15 aircraft and amenities for aviators and staff. This is another great investment in the city of Westfield, and I cannot wait to see this project completed!
In other news regarding Westfield and Barnes Regional Airport, on Wednesday the Restoration Advisory Board met to discuss the latest in cleanup efforts and per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). It is so important that we minimize the harmful impact that waste and artificial substances have on our community and environment. Our Wednesday meeting was very productive, and I look forward to working on this important issue.
This week I also met with current residents of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home domiciliary. As the dormitory is set to close at the end of March, I wanted to make sure that all residents have safe living accommodations in place prior to departing the facility. I am confident that between my conversations with the residents, and my partnership with state agencies and veterans’ organizations, these veterans will have safe and welcoming new housing.
Office hours will be held next week at the Westfield Senior Center from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
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