Hello everyone,
I hope you all are having a great start to the month of March! Tomorrow marks the beginning of daylight-savings, which means moving the clock forward one hour. With the mild weather this week I am thrilled that we will begin to slowly have more day light in our evenings.
On Monday I joined the Monastery Heights Senior Living & Memory Care community in West Springfield to host a coffee hour. I appreciate all the residents who joined me for a robust discussion about my legislative priorities this session and all the work I hope to accomplish as Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Aging and Independence. To top off this great visit we chatted about one of our shared favorite lunchtime activities, Bingo. I hope to be back again soon to maybe call a few games!
On Tuesday my colleagues and I wrote to the Department of Unemployment (DUA) regarding the unacceptable amount of time that it is taking for claims to be processed and how difficult it is for constituents to even speak with DUA’s call center. For folks who have been laid off and are now suddenly without a source of income, any delay with their unemployment application can lead to real financial hardships for them and their families. People should be able to reach the DUA Call Center, receive timely responses, and know exactly what steps they need to take to get their unemployment claims processed. If you or someone you know are having trouble with an unemployment claim, please do not hesitate to call my office for assistance!
This week many of the schools across our district celebrated Read Across America Week! Read Across America Week brings together community members and educators to help inspire our local students to become lifelong readers. This week I had a blast at the Fausey Elementary School where I read the book “Game Changers” to Mrs. Gibney’s 4th grade class. Thank you for inviting me Mrs. Gibney!
This week Team Velis and I hosted office hours at the Agawam Council on Aging, I really appreciate all the folks who came out to chat and am thrilled my team was able to assist a few folks with issues that they are experiencing.
Next week Team Velis will be hosting office hours on Tuesday at the Chicopee Council on Aging from 10:00am to 11:00am and on Wednesday at the West Springfield Council on Aging from 11:00am to 12:00pm. 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