Valley Stream mayor to join the band, briefly

The Village of Valley Stream will host a concert Tuesday night featuring a guest performer not known for his musical abilities — the village mayor.

Recently elected Mayor Edwin Fare, along with Valley Stream Central School District Superintendent William Heidenreich, will take the stage for the special Kid’s Night concert.

Fare will use a wooden block and piece of sandpaper to accompany the Valley Stream Community Band on composer Leroy Anderson’s playful “Sandpaper Ballet.”

“I said, ‘Does it matter that I don’t know how to do anything?’” Fare said he responded when asked to play with the band. “I haven’t touched a musical instrument in 30 years. But they said, ‘No, you’re going to love it.’”

Valley Stream has been hosting outdoor summer concerts at its Village Green bandshell for more than 50 years. Tonight’s show, which is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., will include selections from Lady Gaga, “The Wizard of Oz” and “The Lion King.”

“The bottom line, of course, is to get kids interested in music,” Fare said.