38 The Courier sun • FEBRUARY 4, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com Victoria’s Secrets Victoria SCHNEPS-YUNIS vschneps@gmail.com When I got the invitation to see Vice President Joe Biden in Manhattan, I quickly accepted and I was delighted to hear him speak so passionately about his recent loss of his beloved son Beau. His soft voice powerfully filled the enormous gym at the McBurney Y in Manhattan and made an impact. He was there with the governor and a bevy of state legislators and our own Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney to support the paid family leave bill that will be coming to legislators. The governor recalled his own loss of his dad last year and his need to have “time to dry the tears.” It will be interesting to watch the government balance helping workers with making paid family leave affordable for small businesses. Vice President Biden with some admirers Biden speaks as Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney looks on Bob Bishop and Assemblywoman Rebecca Seabright Assemblyman Michael DenDekker and State Senator Joseph Addabbo Spooktacular and more at the Queens Museum Dynamic $1500 off Lumineers $500 off Invisalign DENTAL WORK Free Whitening included the inViSiBle WAy to Some excluSionS Apply StrAighten teeth third generation dentist 175-15 Jamaica avenue, Jamaica 718-297-4100 • 718-297-4106 tweet me @vschneps Since I’ve been a proud member of the Queens Museum board, seeing it through the dramatic doubling in size, I support the events and exhibits there. This week they held, once again, their after-Halloween Spooktacular! And at the same time, downstairs, was a seminar led by the prolific, renowned artist Zhang Hongtu, whose powerful work begun in China and representing the years of oppression under Mao as well as his struggles coming to New York in 1982, is filling multiple galleries at the museum. His works range from painted Coke bottles to a massive 14-foot “Great Wall with Gates II,” a photographic wallpaper, to a three-dimensional red “box” depicting the cell-like oppression foisted on people during the Mao reign. I particularly liked his use of the Van Gogh style in several of the works exhibited. He even drew inspiration from Andy Warhol. This is a not-to-be-missed exhibit showing only till the end of the month. And while you are there, visit the remarkable, unique panorama of the city of New York. Addy, my 4-year-old granddaughter, and I walked around the whole city on a glass walkway viewing every building in the five boroughs! Awesome! Try it! You will love it, too! I don't get it My heart swelled with sadness when I saw the dramatic, painful photos of the drowned children of refugees trying to begin a better life. How fortunate that, by an accident of birth, I was born here in America rather than in an embattled land. I think of my mom, only 18 months old, being carried by her 15-year-old brother across Europe to safety at the beginning of the 20th century. They were fleeing Russia and sure death at the hands of the Cossacks. How many of us can tell stories of their ancestors’ journey to America? After all, we are great because we are a country of immigrants. How can we not welcome the next wave of immigrants? I just don't get it. “There for the grace of God go I!" Goodbye, dear Alan It was a sad day for me and our LIC community when news came of Alan Capper’s death after a year’s struggle. I had met the talented writer in 2013 when I was dining at Manducatis Rustica with community leader and restaurateur Gianna who introduced me to him. We instantly adored and respected each other, and he quickly agreed to bring me monthly articles on the interesting people in his adopted LIC community. He came to me with years of respected work leading the Foreign Press Association, after years in the media world. I felt privileged to call him a friend and have him as a contributing writer to our LIC Magazine. He struggled so after his failed heart operation, but he had a will to walk again and get well enough to go home to his precious young daughter and his other children.n Sadly, he never did. May he rest in peace knowing how many people adored him! A visit by the vice president Alan Capper Great Wall with Gates II (detail), 2015 Shitao – Van Gogh #3 SLS Green Night, 2004
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