42 The Courier SUN • NOVEMBER 27, 2014 for breaking news visit www.couriersun.com VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS [email protected] With the loss of beloved friend Dolly DeThomas, my “Wow” friends had dinner together last week. We ate in a private room at Giordino, in Douglaston. The superb italian food and service is no surprise considering its owned by Frank Russo of Russo’s on the Bay. It was decided to support a scholarship at Vaughn College in her memory. Vaughn has an aeronautical program headquartered near LaGuardia Airport. Dolly spent most of her career in the hospitality industry, around the airports. She also gave generously to the community, having been a past president of the LaGuardia Kiwanis Club and a supporter of many other local causes. The scholarship fund will allow the college to award an annual scholarship as the “Dolly DeThomas Community Service Award.” If anyone wants to contribute, checks should be made out to Vaughn College with a note saying it is for the award and sent to Vaughn College, Dr. Sharon DeVivo, at 8601 23rd Ave., Flushing, NY 11369. The school is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, so all contributions to the award fund are a charitable donation. The award will be presented at the next graduation. The greatest opera Earlier this month I had the displeasure of seeing the opera, “The Death of Klinghoffer,” at the Metropolitan Opera. But this past week I returned to the Metropolitan Opera House for dinner and to see my favorite opera, “Aida,” which lived up to all my fond memories. My seats were smack in the middle, only three rows behind the conductor, allowing me to feel the energy of the extraordinary talents on the stage and feel in awe of the spectacular sets. The opera tells the tale of love and war and death. One act brings the march of returning warriors presenting their booty of treasures won at war followed by a procession of their prisoners. The march is led by two real horses prancing across a stage that must be as high as a three-story building — massive and grand — jaw-dropping in its grandeur and with 300 actors on stage! It’s something to behold. I made a mental picture of the setting and kept it in my mind all week. I was so grateful to my friends who hosted me, Alice and Mike Halkias, owners of the magical and historical “Grand Prospect Hall.” I’ve had some of our enormously successful networking/awards dinners there. They are regulars at the Metropolitan Opera, having a subscription, so I was very appreciative of being invited to Aida. Babysitting Having a busy life and my two grandchildren living with me, I rarely “officially” babysit. But on Saturday morning my daughter Elizabeth had to go to the LIC Flea to check on the new indoor layout. My 8-yearold Blake and 5-year-old Morgan slept over the night before, and as soon as we got up, they all beseeched me to go swimming. Well, we were in the pool in minutes. At my home, I have an endless pool that allows you to swim against the current and even 3-year-old Addy is a strong swimmer. The kids each showed off their expertise at the backstroke and then dove into the water to retrieve the little rockets we threw into the pool. The time flew by and I reminded them it was time for breakfast and showers. I think the glass-enclosed shower is almost as much fun for them as the pool. They played for an hour washing the walls and themselves over and over again. Who needs toys when real “things” keep kids enthralled? We spent the rest of the morning making plays and dressing up. What a treat to have them all to myself. victoria’s secrets tweet me @vschneps Dynamic $1000 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 A Whirlwind Week Dolly DeThomas A scene from Verdi’s “Aida” at the Metropolitan Opera I’d like to extend my best wishes from our family to yours, for a Happy Thanksgiving, remembering all we have to give thanks for
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