FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM AUGUST 26, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 45
Victoria’s
SECRETS
Victoria
SCHNEPSYUNIS
vschneps@schnepsmedia.com
With the end of summer
approaching, I’ve had
a rush of activities,
including my long-awaited visit
from my children and grandchildren,
which made this past week
one for the memory books.
Th is is my fi rst summer living
through ownership of Dan’s
Papers. Previously, my summers
were fi lled with visits to the
beach, reading my Kindle and
newspapers and my trip home
up-island. Now, my life is upside
down, fi lled with excitement
nearly every day.
Over the summer, I’ve met so
many interesting special people,
but nothing topped meeting and
spending time with both our
great President Bill Clinton and
our new charming Governor
Kathy Hochul and her husband.
Th anks to Dan Rattiner,
founder of Dan’s Papers, we
were the sponsors of the 73rd
annual Artist & Writers Charity
Soft ball Game last Saturday.
Early that morning, Dan called
me to tell me that President
Clinton’s people called him to
say the president would be at
the game. It was quickly decided
to make him the umpire! It also
gave me the opportunity to convince
my grandsons to accompany
me to the game to meet one of
our greatest presidents.
When I arrived at the ballfi eld
behind the Easthampton Stop
& Shop supermarket, the game
had already started. Fortunately,
my friend Assemblywoman
Rebecca Seawright directed me
to where Dan and the game’s
sportscasters were calling out the
action over the loudspeakers.
Th e two teams — one in
bright red T-shirts (the artists)
and the other in deep navy
blue (the writers) —
were already on
the fi eld. But my
Wondrous weeks
eyes were focused on President
Clinton, who was standing
behind the pitcher in a neon
shirt.
I took the microphone and
made an announcement saying
how proud Dan’s Papers was to
sponsor the game and I off ered
the players a $100 gift certificate
to Pierre’s restaurant in
Bridgehampton to anyone who
hit our Dan’s Papers banner on
the outfi eld fence.
I waited patiently for the
appropriate time between
innings when I could bring my
grandsons onto the fi eld and
meet the president.Th e time
came and I corralled 15-yearold
Blake and 12-year-old Jonah
onto the mound where Clinton
was taking a break.
When we got there, my friend
Patrick brought a copy of Dan’s
Papers and a Dan’s Papers hat
that I off ered President Clinton
— one to wear and one to autograph.
He was kind enough to
do both!
But my happiest moment was
introducing my dearest grandsons
to the president. I hope they
were impressed with the warm
greeting and pictures they got!
What a moment!
Aft er the game, Blake asked
if he could get a photo with
his favorite sports writer Mike
Lupica. He did — and Jonah
was impressed enough to say he
wants to read Mike’s latest book,
which was written with James
Patterson. Success!
What an aft ernoon!
Th e previous night, I had the
pleasure of being with our new
Governor Kathy Hochul (pronounced
Hoe-kell). I’ve met
her previously and was always
impressed by how knowledgeable,
hard-working and downto
earth she is.
She is warm and friendly and
looked me in the eye whenever
we were talking. For many years,
she has been the governor’s
“boots on the ground” as the
lieutenant governor. I was honored
and pleased to have her several
times at my Power events.
But now, as fate will have it, she
will lead our state. My feeling,
based on our many meetings, is
that she will listen and be a compassionate
leader. Our state will
be in quality hands.
But with all that, my most precious
moment of a week fi lled
with many, was to hear the
squeals of joy from my grandchildren
as they went tubing
President Clinton graciously signed a copy
of Dan’s Papers!
Morgan and Addy holding
on for their lives!
behind a speedboat out of
Hampton Bays. How precious
it was to see them all together!
Sometimes I wish the clock
could stop to hold on to these
moments!
Many nights, we barbecued
with scrumptious steaks
from Justin’s Chop House in
Westhampton Beach (who won
Best Restaurant at our Dan’s
Papers GrillHampton competition).
But we did get to eat
out at LT Burger’s new location
in Westhampton. Based on the
hour wait for a table, it’s already
a success!
We couldn’t resist trying the
fl avorful shakes topped with rich
whipped cream that came in the
color of the shake — mine was
brown like my chocolate shake,
while Sloane had a strawberry
shake with pink whipped cream.
Th e shakes were outrageously
beautiful and delicious!
And yes, the burgers were big
and juicy, only outdone by the
extraordinary gouda cheese topping
on the crispy crinkle-cut
French fries.
Try LT Burger — named for
its successful renowned chef
Laurent Tourondel — and you
will love it, too!
The Westhampton Beach
Performing Arts Center’s concerts
on the Great Lawn ended
the weekend with a spectacular
performance by Jeff erson
Starship and then my friends
Greg and Linda Galdi invited
me to see the Bay Street
Th eatre’s superb production of
“Camelot”.
It doesn’t get better than that!
What wondrous weeks these
have been — I’m so grateful!
Josh and I with Tom Atlas, Rhonda Verteramo, Keith
Fiocca, Ilene Kazanji, Pat Condren and Chris He.
Assemblywoman
Rebecca Seawright
with President Clinton.
The highlight of my week was
going tubing with my family!
Photographer Lucille
Khornak captures a
sweet moment!
My grandkids Blake (l.) and Jonah (r.)
met the president.
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