Hi everyone,
I hope you all had a great week! Today, on World Mental Health Day, we are reminded that mental health is just as important as physical health, and it is critically important that we all are able to say“I need help.”. Let’s continue pushing back against stigma and expanding access to behavioral health care for every person who needs it!
This week, Team Velis is excited to welcome our new Communications Director, Nina Prenosil. Nina is a fantastic addition to the team, and I’m thrilled to have another Westfield native on Beacon Hill advocating for Western Mass and engaging with residents and organizations throughout our communities.
On Monday, I met with Renewal Initiatives to discuss developments in their Holistic Agriculture Academy, a two‑year regenerative agriculture program for veterans and their communities. It was a great opportunity to connect with veterans who have been involved in this program dedicated to veteran transition and regenerative agriculture and discuss potential engagement opportunities on a state level.
Tuesday began at UMass Amherst’s Fall Legislative Breakfast in Springfield, where I connected with University Administrators and legislative colleagues about our rapidly growing student population in Western Mass. That afternoon, I joined the 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes to celebrate Colonel David “Moon” Halasi‑Kun’s promotion to Brigadier General, and later that evening, I attended the Holyoke Police Department’s annual awards ceremony. Congratulations to all who received promotions and honors, your service and dedication make our communities stronger!
On Wednesday, Mark and I joined the Easthampton Coalition for Veteran Wellness for their monthly Veterans Lunch, an important space for veterans to connect and support one another. I was grateful to sponsor this month’s lunch and for the opportunity to chat with veterans throughout our community.
Wednesday afternoon I made my way over to the Chicopee Boy and Girls Club for the unveiling of their new Club Cruiser. This new van will bring activities to other parts of the city throughout the year and will make its debut later this month.
As some of you may recall, last week I joined the Russell Selectboard for a meeting about town needs and departmental work. This week I was glad to continue that tour with the Montgomery Select Board on Thursday evening, where we discussed supplemental budget funding and transportation needs for our hill towns.
I wrapped up the week on Friday with Providence Ministries for a tour of their facility, and a roundtable to discuss the essential work of Kate’s Kitchen, Margaret’s Pantry, and St. Jude’s Clothing Center, as well as exploring ways to build a sustainable and dignified path forward through community partnership.
This week, Team Velis hosted office hours in Agawam. Next week, we’ll be at the Chicopee Council on Aging on Tuesday from 10:00–11:00am, and at the West Springfield Council on Aging on Wednesday from 11:00am–12:00pm. If you’re unable to attend, please feel free to reach out by email at john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone at (413) 572‑3920, or online at senatorjohnvelis.com.
Sincerely,
John Velis