HIGHLAND FALLS- The William J. Larkin, Jr. Community Response Task Force, created in honor of the late State Senator William Larkin, delivered assistance to Grandma’s Bagel & Pizza located on Main Street in the Village of Highland Falls. Grandma’s was among the businesses and homes severely damaged by the floods that devastated the Village of Highland Falls.
The Larkin task force was established to assist residents and businesses who are going through an emergency. Assemblyman Brian Maher (R, Walden) along with former Larkin staff members Meghan Hurlburt and Kristin Mulligan, and with the assistance of local resident Robbie Brown, established the task force which is a charitable fund with the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan.
After receiving a tip about a business in need of assistance from the Orange County Chamber of Commerce following the floods in Highland Falls, the Larkin task force reached out to Wilmer Londa, the owner of Grandma’s Bagel & Pizza, to offer help.
“If it were not for the Larkin task force our doors would have been closed forever,” said Londa. “We were open for just three months and business was good and then the unimaginable happened.”
“We saw the complete devastation when we arrived on site,” said Meghan Hurlburt, chairwoman of the task force and former staffer for Senator Larkin. “This is what we do. When people need help, we act, and it was Senator Larkin who taught us that.”
The Larkin group coordinated with Orange County Emergency Services and other local, state, and federal officials as well as other community organizations, churches and nonprofits. SERVPRO of Orange County donated $15,000 of in-kind services to cleanup the flood damage at Grandma’s. Donations of materials and labor were made as well to help the business get back on its feet.
“After the cleanup was complete, we had to find a collaborative way to reconstruct Grandma’s Bagel and Pizza,” said Assemblyman Maher. “Between volunteers, electrical work, materials donated by Lowes and the Larkin Task Force putting in some of its own resources to offset the cost of labor and other materials, we were able to save this local business from more than $30,000 in potential expenses. It was a team effort and a shining example of what our charitable community can do to help residents and businesses in their time of need.”
A ribbon cutting was held to celebrate the re-opening of Grandma’s which coincided with the four year anniversary of the passing of Senator Larkin. Larkin died at the age of 91 after a 40-year career as a state lawmaker. Patricia Larkin, the late senator’s widow, was on hand to wish Londa an the team at Grandma’s Bagel & Pizza well.
“We know that there is so much more work to do,” said Hulbert. “Our role is to simply fill holes where we can, cut through bureaucracy and red tape and help as many people as possible.”
