Community Sports and Fitness

Community sports and fitness

Bronxville Community Rallies Behind Bronxville Grad Diagnosed with ALS

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By Scott Horton, Close Friend of Chris Thalacker

May 9, 2018: In July of 2017, Bronxville native Chris Thalacker, known fondly by the nickname “Cheese,” received the life-altering diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ("ALS"), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Over time, it robs its victims of the ability to walk, dress themselves, talk, swallow, and ultimately breathe. Currently, there is no cure or treatment that halts or reverses ALS.

An avid outdoorsman, the 54-year-old father of three has already seen his beloved outdoor activities greatly limited by the progressive disease; already Thalacker has lost total use of his left arm and his right arm is slowly fading.

“As sad as this disease is, I remain positive and surrounded by lots of love from my wife, family, and close friends,” Thalacker said. “They’ve been unbelievable in terms of support and it’s been quite humbling to see the outpouring of support from people in the community.”

In response to the diagnosis, friends, family, and members of the community are rallying behind Thalacker, with a GoFundMe fundraising campaign under way. Already the campaign has raised over $70,000, but this cruel disease comes with the additional financial burden of uninsured medical costs, which can exceed $300,000 per year.

“No one knows how long I will be able to fight this disease, but I’m assuming I’ll battle it longer than the average person ... unfortunately leaving a tremendous financial burden on me and my family,” Thalacker added.

To boost fundraising, a series of events has been planned, kicking off this Saturday, May 12, with a cocktail and reunion event at Siwanoy Country Club, where Thalacker married his wife, Peyton. The club is also hosting a golf tournament and fundraiser on Tuesday, June 12.

Thalacker is humbled by the amount of support the club has given him, noting, “All of this makes one feel very good on the inside, to see the compassion and the humanity of people.”

Despite the disease’s progression, Thalacker remains effervescent, living day by day surrounded by his family and friends and embracing his faith and positive outlook on life.

To learn more about Chris’ story, ALS, fundraising efforts, and event details, please visit www.christhalacker.com. All are invited to participate in events, and any support is greatly appreciated.

Pictured here: The Bronxville School.

Photo by A. Warner

Bronxville Junior Squash Players Shine at Silver Nationals

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By Staff

Apr. 25, 2018: This past weekend, seven talented squash players from Bronxville traveled to Baltimore to participate in the U.S. Squash Junior Silver Championships.

The players from Bronxville who qualified for Silver Nationals were Brooks Clifford, James Murphy, and Thomas Sheumack (Boys Under 13), Claudia El-Masry and Gabriella El-Masry (Girls Under 13), Pippa Fraser (Girls Under 17), and Justin Barr (Boys Under 17).

It was a great weekend of squash for the Bronxville players, with particularly outstanding results for Claudia El-Masry, Thomas Sheumack, and Pippa Fraser. El-Masry upset the fourth seed in the first round of the tournament and advanced all the way to the semifinals before falling to the first seed, Charlotte Jones, from Rydal, Pennsylvania. El-Masry then won the 3/4 playoff, finishing third. Sheumack finished fourth in the Boys Under 13 division defeating the fourth seed, Ethan Lee, from Villanova, Pennsylvania, in the quarterfinals before falling to the first seed in the semifinals and ultimately finishing 4th. Fraser had a great tournament, winning the Classic Plate and finishing fifth overall. Fraser was also awarded the Williams T. Ketcham Jr. Most Improved – Honorable Mention Award for the Girls Under 17, which is a truly impressive accomplishment. Justin Barr finished in the Top 16 of the Boys Under 17 and had some great matches. Brooks Clifford, James Murphy, and Gabriella El-Masry finished in the Top 24 of the Boys Under 13 and Girls Under 13, respectively, and played some hard-fought and close matches, including some that went to five games.

All in all, Bronxville once again showed its prowess in the junior squash world.

Pictured here: Some of the Bronxville players who participated in the Silver Squash Nationals.

Photos contributed by parents and coaches

Editor's note: The children of a staff member of MyhometownBronxville participate in the squash program.

Eastchester Instructional Basketball League Concludes Season

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By Sally E. Veltidi, Superintendent of Parks and Recreation, Town of Eastchester

Mar. 28, 2018: On Saturday, March 3, Eastchester Parks and Recreation concluded its Eastchester Instructional Basketball League season with Championship Saturday.

There were three games held in the Eastchester High School Gym--junior boys, senior girls, and senior boys. The sixth-grade girls' County Center Tournament team, which won the County Center Youth Tournament in 2017, was recognized prior to the senior girls' game.

On Saturday, March 10, the high school boys' division of the Eastchester Instructional Basketball League had its championship game. This year, the championship game was re-named the Ray Hyland High School EIBL Championship after Ray Hyland, who passed away in the fall. Ray was the head referee of the high school EIBL division and helped start this division of the league in 2006.

Pictured here (rotating): High school boys champions, senior girls, sixth-grade girls.

Photo courtesy Sally E. Veltidi, Superintendent of Parks and Recreation, Town of Eastchester

Editor's note: As a public service, MyhometownBronxville publishes press releases, statements, and articles from local institutions, legislators, and candidates. MyhometownBronxville does not fact-check statements therein, and any opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the thinking of its staff.

Professional Softball Player Kehli Washington Works in Bronxville During Off-Season

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By Ruth Walter

Mar. 21, 2018: Kehli Washington plays for the Haarlem Sparks softball team from April through October every year while competing in summer tournaments with the Swedish National team. November to March finds her at Dobbs & Bishop Fine Cheese for the holiday rush. After three years, Kehli knows a ton about cheese and how to work the holiday crowds, leaving each customer happier than when he/she came in.

Kehli was born in Sweden, grew up in New Rochelle, and attended New Rochelle High School and Rider University. When she was 5 or 6, she played T-ball and only switched to softball at age 12. A coach saw her play and encouraged her to try out for a tournament team under the coaching of Dean Marino. Kehli’s career was born.

Every weekday morning, Kehli can be found making mac-n-cheese at Dobbs & Bishop for middle and high school students. In the afternoons, she trains or does private coaching at A-Game Sports in New Rochelle. On the weekends, she is a sports product promoter, including athletic-ware.

“Since we first met Kehli, her enthusiasm, attention to detail, and crushing work ethic impressed us and secured her a spot on our first string," said Ruth Walter, co-owner of the cheese shop.

Kehli’s team, The Haarlem Sparks, had a successful season in 2016, winning a gold medal at the Holland Series and European Cup championship.

"I enjoy playing so much," Kehli said. "In addition to being with all my friends, I love competing and being paid to play a sport I love."

Aspiring athletes and cheese lovers can stop by weekday mornings to talk to a real sports professional. You can also follow Kehli and her team at http://sparkshaarlem.nl/. If you want an inside look into her life, follow Kehli on instagram @kehliwash, where she posts frequently what she does on a daily basis.

Photo by Susanne Washington

Eastchester Little League Offering New Challenger Division

By Robert O'Hare

Mar. 14, 2028: Eastchester Little League is offering a new "Challenger" Division to enable boys and girls with physical and mental challenges, ages 4-12, to enjoy the game of baseball and softball.

Any child with physical or intellectual challenges may participate. The Eastchester Little League Challenger Division welcomes boys and girls who reside and/or attend school within the Town of Eastchester or the Villages of Tuckahoe or Bronxville.

Games will take place on Saturday mornings on local town fields from late April through June. All children registered will receive a full uniform. Today, more than 30,000 children participate in more than 900 Challenger Divisions worldwide. Little League International encourages the use of "buddies" for the Challenger players. The buddies assist the Challenger players on the field, but whenever possible, encourage the players to bat and make plays themselves. However, the buddy is always nearby to help when needed.

To register, please go to http://www.eastchesterll.org/page/show/2984123-registrations.

Please email Kevin Cosgrove at CLOAKING or Ian Fairclough at CLOAKING with any questions.

Editor's note: As a public service, MyhometownBronxville publishes press releases, statements, and articles from local institutions, legislators, and candidates. MyhometownBronxville does not fact-check statements therein, and any opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the thinking of its staff.

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