Hello everyone,
I hope you all had a fantastic week especially with all the warm weather and brighter evenings with the beginning of daylight savings. This week was an incredibly busy one all across Western Massachusetts for Team Velis and I!
On Monday I kicked off the week over at Westfield High School for a fantastic celebration and tour of the school’s new science labs. A few years back I was proud to secure a FY’23 earmark of $1,000,000 for the school to renovate their science labs and purchase new equipment to help further our students’ educational opportunities. It was great to hear from students about all that they are excited to learn in these new state of the art classrooms. Luckily for me I think I managed to stay out of the principal’s office that afternoon!
This week the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism held its first community hearing right here in Western Massachusetts at the Springfield Jewish Cultural Center on Tuesday. Ensuring Western Massachusetts has a seat at the table is always at the forefront of my mind with everything and anything that I do, that’s why from the onset of the Special Commission I was adamant that we needed to take the opportunity to come meet Western Massachusetts’s vibrant Jewish community right where they are. During the meeting the commission had the opportunity to discuss trends in Western Massachusetts with community members, educators, and local Rabbis. I am so grateful for all our speakers from throughout our region who took the time to share their experiences with the Commission and most especially to our gracious hosts at the JCC for making this hearing possible.
With St. Patrick’s Day nearing, the festivities celebrating many of our communities’ Irish heritage are in full swing. On Friday I joined the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce for their annual St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast that was celebrated with some incredible Irish Dancers from the Cassin Dance Academy! Later in the day I was over in Chicopee to help the city raise a flag in celebration of Monday’s holiday. Luckily for us the celebrations will continue into next week as we gear up for the Holyoke Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday March 23rd!
This week Team Velis hosted office hours in Chicopee and West Springfield. Next week Team Velis 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