Hello everyone,
I hope your September is off to a great start and that you are finding ways to enjoy some of the last few weeks of the summer season. There was a lot going on across our district this week that I am excited to share with you.
Tuesday was an incredibly special day in Holyoke as we celebrated the grand opening of the new Dr. William R. Peck Middle School. This new school is more than just a building; it’s a powerful statement to what can be achieved through collaboration. There is truly an endless list of those who came together throughout the past few years to help make this new school possible for the students of Holyoke however, one major collaborator was the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).
For those who might not be familiar, the MSBA is a special agency that helps local districts make needed improvements to our school buildings and when necessary, replace aging buildings. The MSBA was instrumental in not only ensuring that Holyoke had the support it needed to construct this new school but has also assisted with the cost of new schools in Agawam, Easthampton, Westfield, and West Springfield in recent years. I am incredibly grateful to the entire team at the MSBA for their strong commitment to ensuring our children are educated in buildings and classrooms that are equipped with the resources that meet the needs of modern-day education.
The celebrations kept rolling all throughout the week! Team Velis and I were thrilled to welcome five new businesses to the district: ConvenientMD Urgent Care and Niles Law Office in Agawam, Pyramid Nutrition in West Springfield, and Drenen Financial and Gaslight Barber in Westfield. Congratulations to all, and best wishes for many years of success ahead!
On Friday morning Representative Blais and I held a meeting of the Aviation Caucus to learn more about how MassDOT is supporting the Commonwealth’s need to use drones while also ensuring people are protected from improper drone users. This meeting was incredibly informative and I am grateful to MassDOT Aeronautics Administrator, Denise Garcia, for her work putting this together. I firmly believe that the Commonwealth needs to establish common sense regulations to protect public safety and personal privacy no different than we do with cars and aircraft.
Next week Team Velis and I are excited to be hosting community office hours again. Stop in for assistance or to say hello on Monday at the Agawam Council on Aging from 11:00am to 12:00pm, on Tuesday at the Chicopee Council on Aging from 10:00AM to 11:00AM, or 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