Montrose, NY – New York State Senator Pete Harckham commemorated Senate District 40 Hispanic Heritage Month on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at the Hendrick Hudson Free Library by honoring four outstanding individuals and an organization for their exemplary work in the community.  

“I congratulate our honorees for their hard work and continued achievements,” Harckham said. “I am proud to say that we have honored more than two dozen outstanding members of the Latino community since we began presenting these awards in 2019. It is sometimes hard to select individuals because so many of our Latino neighbors do such outstanding work not only for the Hispanic community, but for our entire community.” 

Cortlandt Town Supervisor Richard Becker and Bedford Town Supervisor Ellen Calves, as well as Cortlandt Town Council Members James Creighton, Robert Mayes, Cristin Jacoby, and Joyce White attended the ceremony as well. 

The award recipients were: 

Wilson Narvaez, a long-time Ossining resident and business owner who was born in Cuenca, Ecuador. After starting his career in a Bronx supermarket, Narvaez founded La Placita Supermarket in 2002 to serve immigrant and multicultural communities with international groceries, fresh produce, and exceptional service. He has expanded his business to six supermarkets across the tri-state area, employing over 200 people and supporting numerous local vendors, as well as local organizations.  

Town of Bedford Police Chief Melvin Padilla, a trailblazing law enforcement leader whose 25-year career reflects his dedication to public service, community engagement, and professional excellence. Beginning with the New York City Police Department in 2000 and then with the Bedford Police Department beginning in 2002, he steadily advanced through key leadership roles before making history in 2014 as the first Hispanic Police Chief in Westchester County. A U.S. Navy veteran and hospital corpsman, Padilla also holds advanced degrees in criminal justice and law enforcement leadership and is a distinguished graduate of the elite FBI National Academy. 

Judge Livia Rodriguez, who was appointed Cortlandt Town Justice earlier this year. A first-generation college and law school graduate born to Puerto Rican parents in Washington Heights, she worked full-time while attending law school at night. Her legal career began as an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan, followed by over 20 years at the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. Rodriguez has also led in the legal profession as President of the Hudson Valley Hispanic Bar Association. She is the second Latina to be named to the bench in Cortlandt. 

Silas Ventura, a Putnam County resident and business owner who immigrated from his native Guatemala at age 12. Ventura worked his way from gardening and carpentry jobs to mastering barbering, eventually founding the Brewster Grocery Store in 2017 to share authentic Guatemalan food with the community. Currently, he operates two thriving businesses in Brewster, offering traditional foods and essentials while creating jobs and uplifting his community. Ventura serves on the Brewster Police Council. He was a vital source of aid to the community in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Proyecto Faro / Project Lighthouse is an immigrant-led grassroots organization in Rockland County that has become a vital force for justice, inclusion, and community strength. With a mission rooted in dignity and solidarity, Proyecto Faro empowers immigrant families through advocacy, education, and support, while building deep alliances across cultures. The organization has created a trusted network of volunteers and partners who work together to offer safety, healing, and hope to those facing the challenges of immigration. 

Following the presentation of the Senate proclamations, the awardees were given an opportunity to offer thanks to family members, friends and colleagues, many who attended the event. 

Ashley Narvaez, who accepted the award for her father, said: “A special thanks to Senator Harckham for the special recognition of my father. He has been passionate about the grocery industry since he was a teenager, and he has included our entire family in the business. We are dedicated to serving the community. My father has taught us to give back. It’s his way of saying ‘thank you.’” 

Padilla said: “It’s an honor to be recognized as a role model within the Hispanic community. Mother Theresa once said ‘I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone to create many ripples.’ So, if we use our successes as an example, we’ve cast that stone to create those ripples to inspire a new generation of Hispanic leaders.”

Rodriguez said: “I am honored to be here among these wonderful honorees because I think we have all made a difference and I hope that we can all inspire the next generation to succeed.”

Ventura said: “I thank Senator Harckham for this honor. I will continue to work in Putnam County to help our community and hopefully set an example for others.”

Dilcia Suazo, Co-Executive Director of Proyecto Faro, said: “I want to express my appreciation for this recognition of the work of Proyecto Faro because we don’t do this alone, we do it with allies throughout the Hudson Valley, and important allies like our Senator.”

Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15 and ends on October 15. It coincides with the independence days of several Central and South American nations, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Mexico. The month serves to recognize and celebrate the rich history, traditions, and diverse cultures of Hispanic and Latino communities in the United States.  

To watch a video of the 40th Senate District Hispanic Heritage celebration, click here.