Hello Everyone,
Can you believe it is already February? Regardless of Punxsutawney Phil seeing his shadow this week, we are only weeks away from the official start of spring. I, for one, am looking forward to spending more time outdoors, watching some hoops during March Madness, and seeing everyone out and about in the district!
First off, a big shoutout is in order for our educators and students in the district–there are so many exciting things happening in the 413. On Wednesday, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to speak to students at Mater Dolorosa Elementary School in Holyoke. The students were decked out in red, white, and blue to show their patriotism, and they were a very engaging group. We discussed being thankful and appreciative for the things that we have in America, as well as ways we can all pitch in to make it even better.
A few congratulatory notes for some additional students in the district. On Friday, Roberta Doering Middle School in Agawam graduated roughly 140 students from D.A.R.E. This long running program is a great way to educate our youth on the harmful effects of illegal substances and alcohol, and how to prevent violent conflict. On January 28th, Easthampton High School took home the statewide “We the People” competition. EHS students will go on to represent the state of Massachusetts in our Nation’s capital later this spring. This is a tremendous accomplishment, and I look forward to hearing about their continued success!
Over the past months, committees in the Legislature have been busy holding hearings to hear testimony on bills before them. This past Tuesday was the deadline for those bills to be reported out and move on to their next stage. The Veterans committee reported out over 100 bills, many with favorable recommendations. Committees are an important step in the legislative process, where bills are considered and tweaked, and I look forward to advancing Veterans bills from our committee across the finish line.
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and I was excited to present a citation on Wednesday to New Leash on Life, a pet grooming salon in Westfield that opened their doors this week. I am excited to see some handsome four-legged friends around the city, maybe we’ll even have my Chief of Staff’s puppy come out to Westfield for a haircut! We love our small businesses and I wish New Leash on Life much success in their venture.
As we enter February, we are also entering Black History Month. I hope we all take some time this month to reflect on Black perspectives and celebrate the incredible achievements and contributions of Black communities that are so often ignored.
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