5 takeaways from legislative hearings on the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home COVID outbreak: How much more do we know now?
Updated Feb 28, 2021;
Posted Feb 28, 2021
State Rep. Linda Dean Campbell chairs an October 2020 legislative hearing on the COVID-19 outbreak at the Soldiers Home in Holyoke, held at Holyoke Community College. (Don Treeger / The Republican file)
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Nearly a year after the beginning of the deadly pandemic that has changed the face of life as we knew it, the state Legislature’s Special Oversight Committee has held six hearings since October to examine the outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. The state-run, long-term care facility for veterans went from a sought after placement for end-of-life care to a touchstone of the horrors the virus can bring when unchecked.
Holyoke Soldiers’ Home trustees soldier on under new leadership
Updated Jan 12, 2021;
HOLYOKE Maj. Gen. Gary W. Keefe led his first Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke board of trustees meeting Tuesday night, as leaders of the state-run care facility struggle to get out from under the dark cloud of the pandemic.
Keefe, adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard, replaced former Chairman Kevin Jourdain at the request of Gov. Charlie Baker. Jourdain will remain on the board until his term expires in 2025.
Baker told Jourdain he thought Keefe would have more status with federal elected officials to attract federal dollars since Keefe is often in the nation’s capital in his current position, Jourdain said during a previous interview.
National Guard Col. Michael Lazo named acting superintendent of Holyoke Soldiers’ Home
Updated Dec 16, 2020;
HOLYOKE Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke trustees on Wednesday beat back an effort by state officials to name a new acting superintendent for the facility, instead voting unanimously to appoint their own pick.
National Guard Col. Michael Lazo, the new chief operating officer for the beleaguered state-run home for veterans, will replace outgoing interim administrator Val Liptak as she heads back to her post as CEO of Western Massachusetts Hospital on Dec. 20.
All seven board members voted to appoint Lazo during a special meeting. Lazo was an employee of Rhode Island Hospital assigned to the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home in response to COVID-19, according to his online profile.
By STEPHANIE BARRY | masslive.com | Published: December 16, 2020 HOLYOKE, Mass. (Tribune News Service) Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke trustees on Wednesday beat back an effort by state officials to name a new acting superintendent for the facility, instead voting unanimously to appoint their own pick. National Guard Col. Michael Lazo, the new chief operating officer for the beleaguered state-run home for veterans, will replace outgoing interim administrator Val Liptak as she heads back to her post as CEO of Western Massachusetts Hospital on Dec. 20. All seven board members voted to appoint Lazo during a special meeting. Lazo was an employee of Rhode Island Hospital assigned to the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home in response to COVID-19, according to his online profile.
National Guard colonel is named acting superintendent of Holyoke Soldiers Home stripes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stripes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.