______________ VALLEY STREAM _____________
HERALD Future leaders meet at summit
Parks prep for summer of sharks
County opens care relief park
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Vol. 34 No. 23
JUNE 1 - 7, 2023
$1.00
‘Mambo Man of V.S.’ writes his life story from sharing stories with any willing listener about the many hats he has worn throughout his He’s a hometown icon who life. He’s a village historian, and can’t resist a crowd. He’s as has been a technology teacher at much a historian as he is a walk- Hewlett-Woodmere Junior High ing historical artifact. Gaetano School: now Woodmere Middle “Guy” Ferrara’s life story reads School, a village civilian patrol like a dynamic tour officer, a salsa dancof the cultural highing instructor, and a lights of the ‘50s and stand-up comedian ’60s. and nightclub enterThe 88-year-old tainer. He remains has rubbed shoulsomething of a force ders with the likes of nature. of baseball legend But until recentJackie Robinson. ly, Ferrara never Ferrara was Robinthought of adding son’s driver. Then author to that list. there was the friendNow he has, penship Ferrara forged ning his personal w i t h t h e L a t i n GaEtaNo ‘GUy’ history in an autobibandleader and o g raphy titled mambo legend Tito FErrara “Dancing My Way Author Puente. Through Life.” FerrClose to home, ara signed copies of he’s become a part the book at the of Valley Stream lore. The worst- Pagan-Fletcher Restoration on kept secret in the village is Ferr- May 21. ara’s ardent fascination with While he is no stranger to salsa and mambo dancing, archiving and collecting stories, which has earned him the nick- he never thought he would write name “The Mambo Man of Val- a book of his own, but when the ley Stream.” Last year he gave a pandemic hit in 2020 and life riveting dance performance dur- slowed to a pause, the isolation ing the village’s summer concert gave him a unique opportunity series. to reflect. He soon found joy in Ferrara has never shied away Continued on page 16
By CaroliNE KElly Intern
B
Dina Ewashko/Herald
a pint-sized patriot pays her respects Aubree Roth, 2, joined her dad, firefighter Eddie Roth, of Valley Stream Fire Department Engine 4, at the Memorial Day Parade. Story, more photos, Page 3.
LIJ Valley Stream tackles Covid trauma among health care staff By JUaN laSSo jlasso@liherald.com
Two years ago, Dr. Salvatore Pardo was an outspoken believer in the importance of mask-wearing and federal Covid safety guidelines. Nowadays, he keeps any medical opinion about existing Covid safety protocols to himself. And, eager to get on with a new sense of normalcy, he says the pandemic is not a topic he’d like to revisit anytime soon.
Ask anyone, and chances are they share that feeling — the feeling of being over with Covid. As the pandemic took hold, Pardo knew firsthand the grueling working conditions that strained frontline workers’ mental and emotional limits. The Long Island Jewish Valley Stream hospital, where Pardo is chairman of emergency services, became a main stage where the war against the virus was waged — as did thousands of
hospitals and medical centers across the country. Over three years after the pandemic’s onset, the prevailing sense of anxiety that defined the first wave of coronavirus at the hospital is no longer there, Pardo noted. Hospital administrators say the volume of Covid-19 patients at LIJ Valley Stream has thinned considerably. Continued on page 10
e entertained. Every night, read one story, and you’ll fall asleep laughing.