Hello everyone,
It has been six weeks since Groundhogs Day and it is finally starting to feel like spring! Hopefully this warm weather will help to clear the last of the snow from throughout our district. After enjoying the sunshine last weekend, Team Velis was ready to jump into a busy week full of events both in the district and at the State House.
Team Velis kicked off this week by celebrating Civic Learning Week’s Liberty and Learning: Civic Education at 250. Senator Velis is a strong believer that civic learning strengthens our communities, and that civics educators give students the tools and knowledge necessary to participate thoughtfully and confidently in our community and democracy. In Holyoke, Bridget joined local delegates and staff from Holyoke Community College and Holyoke High School in presenting two educators with citations to commemorate their work in supporting civic learning.
This week, Team Velis also had the pleasure of welcoming students from two of our high schools to the State House. In addition to visiting with Gabe, students from West Springfield High School and Hampshire Regional were able to tour the State House, participate in State House events, connect with state legislators, and attend a Public Service hearing.
After meeting with local students on Wednesday, Gabe and Mark had the opportunity to meet with the West Springfield and Westfield’s Boys & Girls Clubs ahead of the 23rd Annual Massachusetts Boys & Girls Club Alliance Luncheon in Boston. During these meetings, Team Velis discussed policies and programs that will help support the health, safety, and welfare of our youth. Senator Velis is immensely proud of his relationship with Boys & Girls Clubs located throughout his district and never turns down the opportunity to shoot some hoops with the children at the Club. Our team is always glad to host constituents at the State House and discuss how our office can further ensure Western Massachusetts has a seat at the table up on Beacon Hill.
Prior to the weekend, Team Velis attended a proclamation presentation in Westfield in honor of Renal Medullary Carcinoma (RMC) Awareness Day. Community members gathered to raise visibility of this rare disease and watch as Westfield City Hall was illuminated in orange, in partnership with the Tactical Tone Memorial Foundation. Later that day, we attended the raising of the Irish flag in Chicopee to kick off St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Our office is looking forward to the rest of the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations throughout next week!
This week, Team Velis hosted office hours in Chicopee and West Springfield. Next week, we will be hosting office hours at the Easthampton Council on Aging on Tuesday from 10:30am to 11:30am and again on Wednesday at the Holyoke Council on Aging from 10:00am to 11:00am. If you are unable to make office hours, please remember that you can reach us by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and online at senatorjohnvelis.com.
Sincerely,
Team Velis