Hello Everyone,
I hope everybody had a great week. We are definitely settling into fall, and it’s wonderful to see the leaves changing color around us. There’s a lot of festivities happening in our district right now and it’s been great to see so many of you out around our community.
The school year is in full swing and I was lucky enough to spend time at some of our schools this week and talk with students. On Tuesday, I was honored to present Westfield High School with $1 million in funding that my office was able to secure for updating the school science labs, tennis courts and security system. I believe that that every student should have an opportunity to learn and grow in an environment that is conducive to their education and personal development.
Thursday I was able to converse with the West Springfield High School Democrats Club. Our conversation focused on a bill that I introduced last session that would allow for mental health days in public schools. It did not pass this session, but I still believe that mental health legislation is important to focus on to meet many of the needs within this district.
I also had the pleasure of speaking to a Current Issues class at Westfield High School on Friday morning about my military background and the importance of civic duty. I feel it is important to connect with students who are still learning what it means to be a citizen. I also touched on how we can work together to improve our community. Thank you to Mr. Dargie’s Current Issues class for having me.
Tonight, the Westfield Kiwanis Club is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a wonderful gala dinner. They have been part of the community for many years and it’s our greatest hope to appreciate them though next century to come!
My office had intended to hold office hours in Russell this week, but due to scheduling conflict, we will be holding them on Oct. 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Next week, my team will also be holding office hours in Chicopee on Monday from 10 to 11 a.m. Please feel free to stop by with any questions or concerns. We are always happy to help!
There’s a ton of fall festivals all over the district this week. Just today, alone, is the Harvest Festival in Agawam, Oktoberfest in West Springfield and Pumpkinfest in Westfield. I’ll be out there with my family and hope to see you all out there, too.
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