FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM APRIL 15, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 59
Victoria’s
SECRETS
Victoria
SCHNEPSYUNIS
vschneps@gmail.com
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Bursting with pride!
I waited anxiously to hear the
results of the annual New
York Press Association’s
Better Newspaper Contest,
which was held virtually this
year. It’s the Oscars of our
community newspaper world,
and we were in it to win it. AND
WIN WE DID!
In the 35 years since I founded
our fi rst community newspaper,
The Queens Courier, I’ve
attended the annual event that
brings more than 100 community
newspaper publishers and their
staff together to learn, dine and
cheer for our teams of reporters,
publishers, newspaper designers
and sales team.
I always looked forward to the
program that NYPA Executive
Director Michele Rea created to
help us in our news business. One
of my favorite training sessions
were the speakers talking about
time management and sales ideas.
I always attended those sessions,
knowing that doing so would
mean sharpening my skills.
Some of the best advice I
received was from the speaker
who showed to efficiently
practice time management. Th e
speaker showed us slides with
pictures of a daily calendar,
blocked out by hours. His advice:
Plan your workday by blocks
of hours. Th at means leaving
time to read emails; time to send
emails; time to make sales calls;
time to visit clients; and time to
do “paper” work.
It struck me how important
structuring my day is and how
precious time — the only thing
that limits us in this world
— really is.
With COVID holding us
captive ahead of this year’s
NYPA contest, I missed the
camaraderie of seeing my own
staff in person and getting ideas
from colleagues around the state.
At lunch and dinner in past
years, I sat at the edge of my seat
waiting anxiously for the slides
on the big screen to show the
winners. I was always so proud
to jump out of my seat again and
again to accept, on behalf of my
staff , the awards they earned.
While this year’s virtual awards
ceremony sadly stopped me from
popping out of my seat, I cannot
stop myself from bursting with
pride, as our team won 49 awards
in total! Astounding!
Among the many awardwinners
was Brooklyn Paper
reporter Rose Adams, whose
stellar work covering deaths
in adult care centers during
the pandemic in Brooklyn
earned a fi rst place THOMAS
BUTSON AWARD for in-depth
reporting in Division 4, the
largest circulation division. Th e
judges recognized her work
“as one of the most compelling
stories published by a New York
state journalist all of last year.”
Remarkable considering all that
was written on the topic!
Since I started Schneps Media
in Queens, I was especially
proud to see a fi rst place award
for the BEST NEWS WEBSITE
With our honorees at the Ravel Hotel in Long Island City.
in New York state for QNS.com,
the online home of Th e Queens
Courier, Ridgewood Times and
TimesLedger Newspapers.
Our daily newspaper
amNewYork Metro won Best
Front Page and earned fi rst place
for Spot News Coverage in the
largest circulating division.
Dan’s Papers, our latest
acquisition, won fi rst place for
Best Large Space ad.
And Gay City News won 12
awards, including three for fi rst
place! I was especially proud of
their honorable mention for the
SHARON R. FULMER AWARD
for community leadership.
My staff inspired me to believe
that this is just the beginning —
we can now aim for a Pulitzer
Prize! I love reaching for the
stars!
RECOGNIZING BUSINESS
LEADERS
With the sun shining brightly
warming our faces and souls
we safely gathered leaders in
law and real estate at the Ravel
Hotel in Long Island City on
their rooft op overlooking the
spectacular Queensboro Bridge.
My events team gathered these
”stars” and I had the pleasure of
recognizing them as they walked
the red carpet proudly holding
their “Vicki’” statues.
Henry Ramos, videographer
extraordinaire, brought the
event to life, and Mike Kouros
of Bravo Sound played each
honoree’s favorite music. What
fun!
I think the best part of my
news business is meeting people
who have made an impact on
all of our lives and recognizing
them for their contributions.
Th eir joy at being recognized
was my joy!
Dining out with a chief
Lucky for me, my life is fi lled with dinners and lunches with friends and business
associates.
Th is week, I met Bryan Polite, the newly re-elected chief of the
Shinnecock Nation in Southampton.
Bryan and I had dinner at one of my favorite restaurants: Union Sushi & Steak
in Southampton. Th e terrifi c eatery is ably run and owned by Ian Duke,
who has created safe places to dine, both indoors and outdoors. My
favorite table is in the terrace room.
Th anks to Dr. Peter Micholas, I bring a UVC air sanitizer with me
whenever I dine out. I have learned to bring an extension cord with
me so I can plug it in wherever I go.
Since I came to be on the East End of Long Island, I wanted to
know more about the Shinnecock Nation, a federally recognized tribe
with a vibrant leader. Th ey make up a critical part of the community
in both land and infl uence. Th e tribe owns property and has talked
about building a casino since 2007. Th ose talks continue to this day.
Bryan, a John Jay college graduate, discussed with me his great pride
in his nation, as well as his hopes and dreams. He’s a man on a mission
with a true passion for his people. I hope to get to know him and his tribe
better, as they are a vital part of our community.
Josh and I are scheduled for lunch with his tribal council. Stay tuned!
Hooray!
Bryan Polite
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