Ossining, NY – New York State Senator Pete Harckham commemorated National Hispanic Heritage Month recently at Ossining Public Library with a special ceremony honoring three outstanding individuals—Manuel Coronel, Jr. of Croton-on-Hudson, Tito Davila of Somers and John “SohoJohnny” Pasquale of Bedford—for their exemplary work in the community.  

“Celebrating of our Latino residents while recognizing their many achievements and contributions to our communities during Hispanic Heritage Month is truly important,” said Sen. Harckham, “It’s how we build bridges across cultures and create greater awareness and appreciation of how immigrants from around the world enrich and enliven our country. The three honorees from around Senate District 40 represent the hard work and commitment from Latinos that benefits not just the Hispanic community, but our state and country as a whole.” 

Ossining Town Supervisor Elizabeth Feldman attended the ceremony at the library as well, along with many family members and friends of the honorees. To see a video of the ceremony, click here.

“Here in Ossining, our story is one of people coming together from many different places, cultures and backgrounds to build a community they are proud to call home,” said Supervisor Feldman. “Some of our Hispanic families have been part of Ossining for generations. Their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents helped build our businesses, raise our children, serve our community and strengthen our neighborhoods.”

Feldman added, “And we are equally fortunate to welcome families who are newer to Ossining; they, too, are now an important part of our shared story. Tonight’s honorees represent that wonderful continuity—the generations who have put down roots here and the newer neighbors who are adding their own chapters to our community’s history.” 

The award recipients are:

Manuel Coronel, Jr.

A native of Croton-on-Hudson, Coronel is a security analyst for Westchester County, where he supports the county’s cybersecurity infrastructure. He also works to help his local community by serving on the village’s Police Advisory Committee, where he works with law enforcement to address public safety concerns and advocate for community priorities.

Coronel served in the U.S. Marine Corps for nine years, lastly as a Drill Sergeant training new recruits. He was deployed with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit on its 2016 Western Pacific deployment, where he took part in Operation Inherent Resolve, supporting the coalition fighting the Islamic State, from October 2016 to May 2017.

Upon leaving the military, Coronel earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Cybersecurity from Mercy University, in addition to receiving professional cybersecurity certifications. At Westchester County, he focuses on security automation and threat intelligence while helping to protect the critical systems that numerous government agencies and countless residents rely on.

Tito Davila

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and raised in Astoria, Queens, Davila began his career as a reporter for United Press International in New York City, covering a wide variety of stories including politics and criminal justice. He went on to serve as Deputy Press Secretary for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and later founded Chartwell Communications, a public relations consulting firm, whose clients included the Hendrick Hudson and Greenburgh school districts, as well as AFSCME Council 4, a Connecticut public employees union.

In 2019, Davila joined the staff of State Senator Pete Harckham in his Peekskill district office, serving as Senior Special Advisor until his retirement in April 2026. Davila worked as liaison to the Hispanic community, developing relationships with organizations, businesses, and residents throughout the region. He coordinated roundtables with Latino civic leaders as well as programs for Hispanic Heritage Month, along with community events, like blood drives and 20 food drives across the district.

Davila represented Harckham’s office on a variety of regional and policy matters, participating in public forums and advisory panels concerning transportation, environmental issues, emergency preparedness, and the decommissioning of Indian Point.

John “SohoJohnny” Pasquale

A successful entrepreneur, Pasquale started his career in commercial real estate and trucking, before expanding into music and entertainment production. He created a foundation, Let Me Help, Inc., to utilize his network and resources to support charitable causes. His extensive philanthropic work is rooted in making meaningful change through collaboration and community building.

With his non-profit, Pasquale has supported a wide range of causes, including cancer awareness campaigns, Covid-19 relief, anti-bullying initiatives and advocating for children in Ukraine and women’s rights, in addition to programs assisting individuals experiencing homelessness and children with disabilities.

Pasquale continues to help communities across Westchester County. Most recently, he organized “Project Warm Feet” and donated over 13,000 pairs of new women’s slippers to organizations primarily serving the Hispanic community in Westchester, which included food pantries and churches, as well as other non-profits supporting immigrants and domestic violence survivors.

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

Manuel Coronel, Jr. said, “I appreciate this honor, being that it is part of a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, and I am very proud of my Ecuadorian heritage. To put it in perspective, I was raised in the United States and have tried to embody the same principles that made this the great country that it is. I’m also aware of the Ecuadorian part of my background, which is extremely family oriented. In fact, I visited Ecuador recently for the first time in 16 years and was so welcomed. I just hope everyone is proud to be who they are, no matter where they come from.”

John Pasquale said, “Originally, I was raised in The Bronx with its great diversity of cultures, which are like the many strokes of paint that make up a work of art. In that sense, community is so important, where Hispanic and other cultures live and work together. I think it’s a mandate for our humanity. Through the work I’ve done I’ve met so many beautiful people, who in their hearts, faiths and souls come together and know there is a stronger sense of purpose for all of us. Creating just a little ripple in the pond can result in a tidal wave of love.”

Tito Davila said, “Senator Harckham is very committed to his Hispanic constituents, and from the start wanted a liaison to the Hispanic community, and I was very fortunate to be given that role in his office. Let’s remember that in Hispanic Heritage Month we remember all the contributions that the Latino community has made to America, especially the Hispanic immigrants who have come to this country and set up successful businesses in our communities that have added to the economy.”

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.