Hello Everyone,
I hope you all have been able to enjoy some of the incredible celebrations of the Pioneer Valley’s Irish Heritage over the last week! Having ate a few too many boiled dinners this week it’ll be a game time decision about this morning’s road race, nothing like waiting till the last minute! However, I cannot wait to see many of you along the parade route tomorrow for what I hope will be the a warm sunny day to celebrate the 72nd Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade!
I spent much of this week continuing the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. On Monday I spent some time with my friends in Southampton for a very special Dinner and Dance organized by the incredible staff at the Council on Aging. Later in the week I made my way over to Holyoke Medical Center to present official citations from the Massachusetts State Senate alongside my colleagues Senator Gomez and Senator Oliveira to the Holyoke and Chicopee Colleens and the members of their courts. This is always such a thoughtful event put together each year by the Parade Committees to uplift the spirts of the staff and patients at the hospital.
On Wednesday I joined Representative Pease and Mayor McCabe over at the White Oak School in Westfield to speak with students. The White Oak School is one of the countless specialized schools across the Commonwealth that serves students with specific learning disabilities and related learning differences who otherwise might have a difficult time in a traditional school setting. It was great to hear about all that the student are learning and learn more about the resources and opportunities White Oak provides.
Out at the State House this week with committee assignments recently announced I took the opportunity this week to meet with the new House Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, Representative McGonagle of Everett. I am thrilled to have another strong partner to collaborate with on this Committee and looking forward to all that we will accomplish this session for our Veterans, Military members, and their families.
This week Team Velis hosted office hours in Easthampton and Holyoke. Next week we will be hosting office hours on Monday at the Westfield Council on Aging from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, on Tuesday at the Russell Council on Aging from 11:30am to 12:30pm, and on Wednesday at the Southampton Council on Aging from 9:30am to 10:30am. 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