Hello everyone,
I hope you all had a great week and a joyful Valentine’s Day yesterday with your loved ones!
To kick off the week Team Velis was in Holyoke to join Mayor Garcia and Representative Duffy for a tour of the Appleton Mill site. This location is being repurposed by WinnDevelopment to make way for over 88 new units that will include units reserved for local elderly residents. I was thrilled to hear how far this project has come since helping launch the project in 2021. It is this type of collaboration between developers, municipalities, and the state that will be key in alleviating our Commonwealth’s housing crisis and uplifting our gateway cities.
I also had the opportunity this week to join CommonwealthBeacon’s Codcast. It was great to dive into a new bill I filed this session, An Act to Protect Children’s Learning, Focus, and Emotional Health During School Hours. This legislation if passed would restrict the use of social media and cell phones during school hours for students. Overwhelmingly I have heard from teachers, parents, and even students about the distractions that these devices present and the adverse impact it has had on mental health. Be sure to keep an eye out on my website and social media channels to listen in!
I had the opportunity this week to connect with many of our local public libraries from across the district to discuss ways I can support them this session. As an avid reader I love being able to browse their collections for a new book for myself or even one for Carson. Beyond reading, our libraries offer countless resources and are a critical space for our communities to come together. This session I was proud to join the legislature’s Library Caucus which has championed ensuring that these vital institutions have the resources and funding they need to continue to serve residents. Thank you to the Director of the West Springfield Public Library, Eileen Chapman, for hosting this gathering and bringing everyone together for this important conversation.
Later, in the afternoon on Friday I was over at Westfield Technical Academy to help them celebrate the Allied Health senior class of 2025. I was beyond honored to have been asked to be the keynote speaker at this pinning ceremony. This year 13 students successfully completed the Nurse Aide Training Program at WTA and passed the state written and practicum exams to become Certified Nurse Assistants last May. Congratulations to all these hardworking students!
This week Team Velis hosted office hours in Chicopee and West Springfield. Next week we will be hosting office hours on Tuesday at the Easthampton Council on Aging from 10:30am to 11:30am and on Wednesday at the Holyoke Council on Aging from 10:00am to 11:00am. If you are unable to make office hours, I can always be reached by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com. 
Best, 
John Velis