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Rockland County Legislature Honors Four Residents During Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

The Rockland County Legislature honored four local residents during its 2024 Hispanic Heritage Month celebration: Jacquelin Contreras, President of United Latin Festival; Sabrina E. Vargas-Greco, Rockland County Commissioner of Jurors; Jose Champagne Pedro, the Proprietor of Ice Is Nice - Oh Yes It Is; and Hon. Alejandra Silva, Ramapo Town Justice. Rockland County Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr., joined by County Legislators Paul Cleary and Jesse Malowitz led our recognition ceremony, with the other legislators congratulating the honorees.

Jacquelin Contreras was presented with a Distinguished Service Award by Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr. She grew up in Haverstraw Village, the daughter of Gladys and Bolivar Contreras, who immigrated from the Dominican Republic, and graduated from North Rockland High School before attending Rockland Community College.

For 19 years, Jacqui has been a dedicated employee of the East Ramapo Central School District. She currently serves as a Senior Clerk Typist and previously spent 14 years as a Discipline Secretary, working with students facing suspensions and other challenges. She believes her work has significantly impacted the lives of at-risk children.

Jacqui has also worked in the Central Administration Office, where she registered four-year-olds for the Universal Pre-K Program. She assisted families with translation and paperwork, among other assistance. She lovingly describes her extensive work with these children and their families as “a labor of love.”

In addition to her professional contributions, Jacquelin has volunteered in the community for more than 20 years. With members of a group she started, El Vivino Nino, she annually visits the Dominican Republic to provide essential items to underprivileged families. One of her favorite experiences during these visits is organizing a special Easter Egg Hunt.

For the past 13 years, Jacqui has been involved with the United Latin Festival, serving as Vice President for seven years and President for the last two. Anyone who attended this year’s festival knows that Jacqueline and the United Latin Festival volunteers poured their hearts into making it possibly the biggest and most beautiful parade ever.

Jacqui is also a proud mother of four and grandmother of nine.

Sabrina E. Vargas-Greco was presented with a Distinguished Service Award by County Legislator Paul Cleary. Sabrina is the daughter of Rafael and Lourdes Vargas, immigrants from the Dominican Republic who made Haverstraw their home. She grew up in Haverstraw Village and graduated from North Rockland High School and St. Thomas Aquinas College.

Sabrina began her public service career while still a senior at STAC, starting as an intern in the State Assembly, then advancing to Legislative Assistant, and finally becoming Chief of Staff in 2001.

In 2004, she was appointed Director of Operations and Constituent Services Assistant for the Town of Clarkstown, serving until 2015. From 2016 to 2022, served as the Confidential Assistant to the Chairman of the Rockland County Legislature. In December of 2022 she was appointed as Commissioner of Jurors for Rockland County by the New York State Unified Court System

She is the first Latina to hold this esteemed position.

Sabrina boasts a long history of community service, including positions on the Board of Directors for the Hispanic Coalition of Rockland, Good Samaritan Hospital, Leadership Rockland, and One to One Learning. She currently serves on the Board for the STAC Alumni Association and the 100 Hispanic Women Rockland County Program, and she mentors for JAMCARR’s Girls Reaching All Concept of Excellence (G.R.A.C.E.) program.

Her dedication has earned her numerous awards, including induction into the STAC Alumni Hall of Fame, the Rockland Community College Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month Award, the Forty Under 40 Award, the Rockland County Police Hispanic Society Award, and most recently, the Rockland County Bar Association’s Liberty Bell Award for promoting a better understanding and respect for our government institutions.

Sabrina's husband, Michael, is a career law enforcement professional who was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2015 as the United States Marshal for the Southern District of New York, becoming the first Latino to hold that position.

Sabrina and Michael reside in Pomona and are proud parents of four children and one grandchild.

Jose Champagne Pedro was presented with a Distinguished Service Award by Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr.

Jose embodies hard work and resilience, refusing to let his challenging beginnings define him. Born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, as one of nine siblings, Champagne moved frequently as a child, eventually spending some time in the Bronx. His family faced numerous challenges, including separation and foster care.

However, Champagne always believed there was a better path. He eventually settled in Haverstraw, where he has been a presence for the past 24 years, exhibiting his entrepreneurial skills and successfully implementing his business ideas. He has operated several stores in the village and organized events, including Reloaded Videos & Games, Champagne's Collectibles, Champagne's 2nd Hand, The Corner Store, and perhaps his most famous venture, Ice Is Nice, Oh Yes It Is.

Champagne states, “Every venture I chose was to encourage villagers to keep their business local. I remember walking in the Palisades Mall, encountering folks from town, and discovering why they traveled eight miles to shop. I then brought that idea back to Haverstraw.”

A proud father of five, Champagne has a passion for cars and, at just 26, became the general manager of Kia. He organized a popular exotic car show in the village, sponsored by his team, Champagne Street Dreams, which featured high-end vehicles like Lamborghinis and Ferraris, requiring a $1 million insurance policy.

Champagne has faced many challenges, including very serious injuries when his car was t-boned on his way home from work. He persevered and returned to work in what seemed like record time.

Champagne’s ices stand out because they aren’t just shaved ice topped with syrup; he uses real fruit and sugar, creating a creamy sorbet. His goal is to continue selling for another five years, then retire the tricycles and focus on making half-gallon mixes for supermarkets.

In addition to his five children, Champagne, affectionately known as Mr. Gucci, acts as a father figure to children in the village, always engaging with them and encouraging them to pursue their dreams.

Alejandra Silva was presented with a Distinguished Service Award by County Legislator Jesse Malowitz.

Alejandra is the daughter of immigrant parents from Colombia and Venezuela. She grew up in Jackson Heights, Queens, and has lived in Rockland since 2012. Alejandra graduated from Vassar College with a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in Hispanic Studies, later earning her Juris Doctor and a Certificate in Law and Public Policy from the University of Connecticut School of Law. She is a member of both the New York and Connecticut bars.

From 2011 to 2016, she worked as a housing attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Rockland County, representing hundreds of clients in eviction and mortgage defense cases. From 2016 to 2023, Alejandra served as Legislative Counsel to the Rockland County Legislature. In 2022, Alejandra joined Catina Law PLLC and currently serves as of counsel, representing clients in various civil litigation matters.

In June of this year, she was appointed Town Justice in Ramapo, where she addresses misdemeanor prosecutions, violations, infractions, civil actions, and small claims.

Alejandra is the first Latinx person to serve in this role.

Alejandra’s commitment to the community extends to her time as a Tenant Representative on the Rockland County Rent Guidelines Board, where she successfully advocated for keeping rents affordable in rent-stabilized units. From 2017 to 2019, she chaired the Rockland County Bar Association’s Immigration Committee, collaborating with Catholic Charities Community Services to train and mentor individuals on pro bono immigration cases across the county.

In 2018, she graduated from Leadership Rockland, and she received the Rockland Bar Association’s Liberty Bell Award for her work in the Immigration Committee.

Alejandra and her husband Chris are the proud parents of two children.

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