HUDSON VALLEY- State Senator Peter Harckham has commemorated Heritage Month by honoring four outstanding individuals and an organization for their exemplary work throughout the Hudson Valley.
Silas Ventura, a Putnam County resident and business owner who immigrated from his native Guatemala at the age of 12 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 also a source of aid to the community in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ventura was moved: “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.”
Others recognized included Wilson Narvaez, a long-time Ossining resident and business owner who was born in Cuenca, Ecuador; Bedford Police Chief Melvin Padilla; Cortlandt Town Justice Judge Livia Rodriguez; and Proyecto Faro / Project Lighthouse, an immigrant-led grassroots organization in Rockland County that has become a force for justice, inclusion, and community strength.
Harckham told an awards ceremony in Montrose: “I congratulate our honorees for their hard work and continued achievements and 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.”
