Valley Stream's Mayor Fare featured on cable show hosted by teen

The mayor of Valley Stream, Ed Fare, was featured on a Chapters Network cable television show called, “Teen Talk,” on Thursday, May 20. 

On that evening, 16-year-old, Seaford resident, Ashley Blum, who is the host of the series, asked Fare questions in a live interview that aired at 9 to 10 p.m. 

Throughout most of the show, Fare shared how he has handled his day-to-day life affairs as he juggles three different roles in the village: his mayoral duties, work as a full-time teacher at Valley Stream Central High School, and his volunteer work as a firefighter for the Village of Valley Stream Fire Department. 

“The show went terrific tonight,” Fare said. “I’ve done a lot of interviews and I always know a good interviewer from a bad one.” 

During and after the show, Fare provided advice towards those who complain about not seeing enough changes in the village. 

“Be the change that you want to see,” he advised viewers. “Take action to effectuate change.” 

Fare said more residents should become involved in village affairs and meetings. 

“Be part of the solution, not the problem … Get involved and start showing up,” he said.

The host of the show, Ashley, said she chose to interview Fare to find out how he has dealt with adversity. 

“My show is about providing a platform for people to have conversations that allow for them to grow and blossom right before my eyes,” she said. 

The show, “Teen Talk,” aired for the first time on July 2, 2020 on Chapters Network cable television and continues to air every Thursday at 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. on cable television channel 115. Every week, Ashley interviews someone new on the show.

“I don’t do this for the views or for the fame, but I host my show to demonstrate to people that they are never alone and that different is beautiful,” Ashley said.  

Ashley said she is glad she has a platform to share her story with others.

Early in life, Ashley said she learned how to be a caregiver for her father. Before she was born, when her mother, Gina Blum, was eight months pregnant with her, Ashley’s father was diagnosed with an extremely rare cancer of the blood vessels. At the time, the doctors predicted that Ashley’s father would only have six more months to live. 

However, eight months after the diagnosis, when Ashley was born, her father was still alive and fighting the cancer with chemotherapy. 

A few years later, when Ashley’s father, felt weakened due to his chemo medications, he fell and broke his back and became severely paralytic.

“By the time I was 8, I was taking on the role of a nurse and my living room was like a mini hospital,” Ashley recalled. 

Eventually, Ashley’s father died. He survived ten years longer than the doctors suggested he would live for. 

“I don’t want pity from others,” she said. “I like to focus all the great things my dad taught me.” 

In elementary and middle school, Ashley said she was severely bullied because she is fully blind in her right eye since birth.

“I am blessed with my disability because it could be worse and my story is why I do what I do and for everyone who deals with struggles,” she said.

Gina said she is proud of her daughter for not letting bullies stop her from pursuing her dream.

“My daughter has been through a tremendous amount of adversity and she turned it into something positive,” Gina said, after the show. “My daughter’s show is touching one life at a time because she is open with others about her story, which helps them to open up about their stories.” 

The producer and founder of the Chapters Network, Valley Stream resident, Steve Vaccaro, said he is glad he chose Ashley to have her own show.

“I’m very proud of Ashley because she is truly dedicated to changing the world,” Vaccaro said.