Hello Everyone,
We have reached the month of July, and it has certainly been feeling like summer outside– I hope that everyone has managed to stay cool during this very warm week! I also want to wish everyone a Happy 4th of July! Unlike last year, we can be grateful for the opportunity to have festive barbeques and poolside gatherings, surrounded by friends and loved ones. I have been looking forward to this patriotic weekend, and I hope that you all get the chance to enjoy it!
This past week was a busy one and I was able to attend various events and meetings. On Tuesday, I was glad for the chance to speak with Department of Defense Officials about the SPEED Act that I filed in support of military families. This bill will help to make transitions easier for military families who are moving frequently by speeding up licensure processes for spouses and allowing advance enrollment for students to prevent them missing days of school.
On Wednesday I attended a tour of the Lyman Terrace in Holyoke where I was joined by Senator Markey and Holyoke officials. It was exciting to see how the structure of the low-income housing complex is being updated to be more protective of our environment. Projects like these, especially when it comes to moving toward more sustainable models of living, are so important for our communities!
On Thursday I was able to be at the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the River Valley Co-op in Easthampton. For those of you who may not be familiar, the River Valley Co-op started in Northampton, and the Easthampton store is its second location. The Co-op specializes in local fresh food and groceries, and the stores are welcome to everyone, not just those with co-op ownership, making this new location very beneficial to those in the Easthampton community.
This was not the only ribbon-cutting ceremony I attended this week, as Crystals of Mind in Westfield also had its grand opening. On Friday, I attended the event with Mayor Humason. The store features many items including crystals, handmade jewelry, soaps, and candles. I have faith that this store will be a welcome addition to Westfield.
On Friday, I met with Holyoke Community College President Christina Royal. We discussed the $100,000 Senate budget amendment I secured for a childcare program at HCC. This program will support students who are parents, helping them to earn their degrees while having a safe, reliable place for their children when in classes. I am hopeful that this program will be a great help to these students, and I was grateful for the opportunity to discuss it with President Royal.
To finish out a busy week, I had a great time celebrating the 4th at the Granville Driving Parade on Saturday. After the event, we were graced with a musical performance at the Town Green by “”Bad News Jazz & Blues Orchestra.” It was wonderful to be out in the community and hear some music. Not having these valuable community events for such a long time was truly difficult, and I am so glad for the opportunity to connect with residents in our communities.
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, where you can also sign up for my newsletter.
Sincerely,
John Velis