Valley Streamers throw birthday parade for resident turning 100

It all came together quickly.

On Monday, Carol Ferrante had news for her friend Cookie Ortiz: Her mother, Jenn Manno, was turning 100 the next day.

It’s a major milestone few are fortunate to reach, and deserving of a major celebration, but in the age of coronavirus when gatherings can be a death sentence for many, particularly for one at Manno’s age, there were no plans.

“I really want to do something special, but I don’t know who to call,” Otiz recalled her friend asking.

Within 24 hours, however, roughly 50 cars, including police and Valley Stream fire trucks streamed in front of Manno’s house, beeping while the drivers shouted birthday wishes as she sat and waved.

Ortiz and another friend Chrissy O’Toole had reached out to their contacts in the neighborhood, including Ortiz’s husband and sons, who volunteer with the Fire Department, and together they organized the ad hoc parade.

In addition, Mayor Ed Fare and Deputy Mayor Sean Wright presented Manno a citation for the occasion, while Manno stood and thanked those involved for the special celebration.