Blog: Victoria’s Secrets

Victoria’s Secrets

As founder in 1985 of Schneps Communications,Victoria Schnepsis Publisher/CEO of groups of weekly community newspapers in Queens and Brooklyn. The Queens Courier and Brooklyn Home Reporter and Spectator. They also publish El Correo de Queens, and monthly pubs including Queens Business, the Long Island City Courier, North Shore Towers Courier, LeHavre Courier and Aspire.

Inspired by the power of the press during her advocacy work on behalf of her daughter Lara, brain damaged at birth, Ms. Schneps pursued her dream of being in the news business.  She started a neighborhood newspaper in her Bayside living room, with a partner and a $250 investment.

Today, Schneps Communications publishes over 17 newspapers and magazines.  The Queens Courier was chosen as one of the top 10 newspapers in New York State and their website as #1 for two years by the New York State Press Association.

Balancing life
Balancing life
Victoria's Secrets Victoria Schneps 3/07/2013 at 5:35PM

As I sit at St. Francis Hospital with my beloved husband, I think how important the balance of life is. My work and “staycations” have helped me get through the tough struggle of his illness. Recently I took a “staycation” at Pouran Salon and Spa in the North Shore Towers. These grand buildings sit gracefully [...]

We lost a great leader
Victoria's Secrets Victoria Schneps 2/28/2013 at 12:22PM

It was with great sadness that I learned of the passing of my former editor-in-chief, Lou Parajos. He was a wonderful match for me because since The Couriers were founded in 1985 I have had, on and off, a Daily News man as my editor. Lou was the best of the best. A mutual friend, [...]

A staycation in Manhattan
A staycation in Manhattan
Victoria's Secrets Victoria Schneps 2/22/2013 at 12:22PM

I had planned on visiting my daughter Elizabeth in Dallas to celebrate her little Jonah turning four and to attend his school’s annual grandparents’ visiting day. But plans change. Clumsily I had slipped and torn the ligaments in my ankle and the doctor advised me to stay off it and keep it elevated. Very difficult [...]

The beauty, the beast
Victoria's Secrets Victoria Schneps 2/18/2013 at 12:19PM

I sat in my sun-filled “sunroom” this past Sunday morning, touched by the beauty that surrounded me. With 18 inches in my backyard, I watched the beautiful icicles dripping from the gutters and observed the evergreens, whose branches were weighed down with snow. I was overwhelmed with the beauty of the scene. As I watched [...]

A night filled with ‘Stars’
A night filled with ‘Stars’
Victoria's Secrets Victoria Schneps 2/12/2013 at 4:16PM

As I sat with my husband Stu watching the Super Bowl, it was a house divided. He cheered for the Baltimore Ravens, and I was pulling for the San Francisco 49ers because I have cousins who live there and I like their power red colors. But between plays, I reflected on a wonderful week. I [...]

Persian parade draws over 100,000 people
Persian parade draws over 100,000 people
Victoria's Secrets Victoria Schneps 2/04/2013 at 10:31AM

Through my friend Pouran, who owns the salon, spa and boutique at the North Shore Towers, I met a marvelously talented designer, Shahin. She has made many of the outfits I wear to the major events we run. Shahin invited me to a dinner party she was having at her home for some of the [...]

A ‘WOW’ week
A ‘WOW’ week
Victoria's Secrets Victoria Schneps 1/29/2013 at 4:58PM

My Queens WOW (Women of Wonder) friends met without me last week because of scheduling conflicts but they sent me a photo of the group with a surprise diner at the next table, former mayor Rudy Giuliani. He’s been more frequently in the press lately because his former deputy mayor, Joe Lhota, has announced he [...]

A week of celebrations
Victoria's Secrets Victoria Schneps 1/21/2013 at 2:49PM

What better way to begin the year than to have celebrations? Each year Josh and I pay tribute to our staff with a party to thank them, and January 14 is my beloved Stu’s birthday. So it’s another reason to gather the family and enjoy the occasion. This year our staff party was hosted by [...]

So happy 2013 has arrived
So happy 2013 has arrived
Victoria's Secrets Victoria Schneps 1/07/2013 at 11:32AM

It was a tough year, and yet with many sweet times. I’m so happy 2013 has arrived. It was challenging with my husband Stu in and out of St. Francis Hospital to the point I called it my “home away from home!” I knew I was there too often when the security guard in the [...]

This was the year that was…and what a year!
This was the year that was…and what a year!
Victoria's Secrets Victoria Schneps 12/26/2012 at 1:25PM

I often say you can’t predict the future, you can only live for today, and you can hold onto your memories. And my closing out of 2012 is remembering the sweet moments, and even the challenging ones. As a mother of four children I delighted in their birth, but now as a grandmother I am [...]