FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 10, 2020 • THE QUEENS COURIER 41
Victoria’s
DIARY
Victoria
SCHNEPSYUNIS
vschneps@gmail.com
tweet me @vschneps
The power of connections
The sun shone brightly
through the glass window
doors of “Th e Muse,” a
stunning semi-circle community
space that the Th e Dormition
of the Virgin Mary Church in
the Hamptons opened for me
to host Dan’s Papers Power
Women virtual networking
event and a unique art exhibit.
For 20 years, my media company
has been recognizing women
who have achieved great success
in their careers. We did not let
COVID-19 dampen our desire
to carry on the tradition, we just
respected the power of the pandemic
and pivoted our event.
Since acquiring Dan’s Papers
aft er Labor Day, we decided we
would begin to virtually host
our events. Our talented team of
Demetra, Toni, Joseph, DJ Mike
from Bravo, videographer Henry
Ramos and wonderful photographer
Barbara from Dan’s Papers
— with an extra hand from Rob
Rich from Sea Cliff — the event
went off seamlessly.
With the support of Father
Alexander Karloutsos, we had
enough safe space — with air fi lters
cleaning the air in the church
— to bring a limited number of
the women together and honor
them. We found a way!
Each woman arrived at a specifi
c time and was interviewed
by our honoree, Philanthropist
of the Year Jean Shafi roff . Th en,
they had the joy of walking
down the red carpet — of course
masked — with music, videographers
and photographers following
their every move. I then
gave them their “Vicki” statuette.
What fun it was!
Th e edited video will appear on
Dec. 17 on our media websites
and YouTube channel. Register
to watch at www.schnepsmedia.
com/power-women-of-long-island.
Linking, networking and
introducing people is my passion
and it was a week of connecting.
When I came out to the East
End, Todd Shapiro introduced
me to Dr. Peter Micholas,
whom I reconnected with at a
Power Breakfast run by entrepreneur
John Catsimatidis,
who introduced me to Father
Alex, who introduced me to
Southampton Town Supervisor
Jay Schneiderman, who in turn
introduced me to 95-year-old
artist Dick Stone, his father-inlaw
to-be (he’s engaged to Dick’s
daughter Julie Stone).
When I met Dick, I heard him
loud and clear when he said he
had never exhibited his work.
So, a lightbulb went off in my
head and I thought of Father
Alex and his majestic community
space at his church. I made
a call to this great preacher and
his immediate response of “yes”
now is being translated into an
art exhibit featuring Dick’s work.
Dick has built a tremendous
career as an artist. He started
as an illustrator in the Norman
Rockwell era and created many
covers for many magazines,
including Look. He was oft en
the go-to man for ad agency art.
Over the years, Dick’s work
moved into many art mediums.
He created hundreds of canvases
in his garage at his Southampton
home, where he stores much of
his work.
His exhibit will open Dec. 12
at “Th e Muse” and will run for
a month. His work will also be
seen on DansPapers.com.
Th e world is now our oyster
just a link away — the silver lining
of our times. Enjoy!
Jean Shafi roff interviewed the Power
Women honorees on the red carpet.
Dick Stone is still creating at 95 years old.
Dick Stone’s work is being featured at “The Muse” thanks to Xanthi Karloutsos, Father
Alexander Karloutsos and Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman.
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