Happy June Everyone,
The summer weather is finally in full swing. I hope everyone is able to enjoy the sunshine this weekend.
With the observance of Memorial Day this past Monday, I attended a multitude of events across the district including some in Agawam, Chicopee, Russell, and West Springfield. I hope that amid the barbeques and celebrations, everyone was able to take a moment to remember those who gave their lives while in service to our nation.
I’m very proud to announce that at the end of last week, the Senate finished its version of the FY25 budget. After much deliberation with my fellow legislators, the budget has now been sent to a conference committee between the House and the Senate so that the differences between the two proposals can be worked out before being sent to the Governor’s office for a final signature. While nothing is set in stone yet, I was able to secure funding for many projects around the district including the Westfield Police Department, our local Boys and Girls’ Clubs, local youth sports, and the Easthampton Coalition for Veterans’ Wellness.
On Tuesday alongside Representative Finn, I toured the Eastern States Exposition Fairgrounds in West Springfield to learn more about how we can support their operations on Beacon Hill. Famous for the 17-day stretch of the Big E every Fall, the Fairgrounds hosts a multitude of events year-round and is one the biggest economic drivers here in Western Mass. I would like to extend a huge thank you to the staff for giving us a tour.
Graduation season has officially started. Westfield Technical Academy’s aviation maintenance technician program said its farewell to their senior class on Thursday morning by celebrating them during a special ceremony at Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport. This program is one of the few in the nation to be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and this dedicated group of students has worked hard over the last four years to hone their skills as aviation mechanics. Congratulations to all!
This week my team hosted office hours in Russell Tuesday and in Southampton and Westfield on Wednesday. Next week, we will be at the Agawam COA on Monday June 3rd from 11:00am to 12:00pm. If you can’t 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.
Sincerely,
John Velis