Hello Everyone,
Happy March! I hope you all enjoyed the dose of warm weather we got earlier this week. Of course, in classic New England style, we were abruptly reminded what season it really is afterwards.
Regardless of the temperature, all the festivities in celebration of St. Patricks’ Day are beginning to ramp up across Western Mass. Just this past Sunday marked the City of Easthampton’s celebration of their Parade Committee’s award winners. This group of folks from across greater Easthampton really got in the spirit and I’m looking forward to more events to come all across our district.
On Monday morning, several of my staff members attended the Tourism in Western Mass briefing. The Pioneer Valley and the Berkshires are, in my own biased opinion, some of the most beautiful parts of the country and with so much to do as well, tourism makes up a critical part of our local economy. I’m looking forward to helping support our local tourism bureau and sharing all the wonderful things Western Massachusetts has to offer!
Over at the State House my team was happy to welcome members of the Easthampton Council on Aging on Tuesday for Older Adult Lobby Day. This great group of advocates shared some of the legislative priorities of our local Senior Centers with my State House office and even got to take a tour of the Senate Chambers. To top off this great visit my office was able to check out the Council on Aging’s new van which I was proud to help secure an earmark for a few years back. Many thanks to Director Tarail for organizing this visit!
Back in the district, we welcomed several new businesses to Chicopee. The Colonial Cafe had its grand reopening at their new location with a brand-new kitchen on Chicopee Street in Chicopee. We also welcomed Julie’s Nail Salon just up the street from Colonial Cafe on Chicopee Street as well. It’s so great to have new businesses opening right here in our own neighborhoods. Here’s to continued success to you both!
We also said farewell this week to several prolific public employees as they leave their posts for a well-deserved retirement. Wednesday afternoon we shared our appreciation to Ed Gibson, the long time and well-loved Town Administrator for Southampton. On Friday night we congratulated Andrew Lyne who selflessly served the Town of West Springfield for over three decades with the fire department. Congratulations again to you both and thank you for your years of public service to our local communities!
This week my office hosted office hours at the Westfield COA on Monday, the Russell COA on Tuesday at and wrapped up office hours for the month of February at the Southampton COA on Wednesday. Next week, we will be at the Agawam COA on Monday morning 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.
Have a great weekend,
John Velis