Fort Greene
Checkmate and kudos to members of the Brooklyn Technical High School Chess Team on its first-ever win at the City Chess Championship games held at New York Marriott Hotel on Feb. 4 and 5.
The strategy-savy students won with 15.5 points combined from the top four players in the “under 1900” division.
Master player Malcolm Galpern Levin, class of 2020, was the top scorer with five points, winning all his five matches as he remained undefeated in the City Championship. In order to determine who earned first place as an individual because of a tie, there was a five-minute “Blitz-Off” match in which Malcolm again emerged as the winner.
“I am very proud of the way Malcolm played. He remained very patient and focused, which is very hard to do. Everyone played their role perfectly and it all went according to the plan. This is the first-ever City Championship we won and it is a memory we will cherish for a long time,” said team captain Mutasim Billah, ’17.
Vice captain Yvonne Scorcia, ’18, said, “I was confident in our team. We all played important roles in winning, so this is everyone’s victory.”
Coach and advisor Rick Lopez said, “I am very proud of this team, and this is just the beginning.”
Other team members include Nicholas Amatulli, ’17; Justin Cao, ’19; Meng Nan Chen, ’19; Dmitro Gubenko, ’19; Tenzin Kalden, ’20; Mike Miller, ’17; Kevin Pechersky, ’19; Mark Streminsky, ’20; and Daniel Tabach, ’18.
Brooklyn Technical High School [29 Fort Greene Pl. in Fort Greene, (718) 804–6519].
Borough Wide
She’s fabulous
Borough daughter Tanina Agosto has been a volunteer for MS Climb to the Top for the past four years. But this year, she’s participating in a different way.
“I’ll actually climb,” she said.
Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2008, Tanina is a self-proclaimed “spirit” of a woman 10 years younger, and has ultimately learned to roll with the punches her disease throws at her.
“Every day is different,” she says. “Some days I cannot walk very well and I slur my words. Other days I get shooting pains throughout the left side of my body or my hands don’t want to cooperate and I drop everything I pick up.”
But she credits the support of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society over the years with educating her about her disease and how to share knowledge about her “daily challenges” with others.
“Having MS does not mean that life stops. It keeps going, just in a different way,” she added.
“I’ve wanted to participate in the climb for a few years,” she explains. “I promised myself when I felt healthy and strong enough that I would do it.”
Tanina recruited four other women to help her form Team Nena. Their fund-raising goal is $1,000.
“Multiple sclerosis is a silent thief,” Tanina says. “It may steal certain functions, but it can’t steal my joy or my fabulousness!”
The climb is hosted by the National MS Society, where participants climb 66 flights of stairs in Rockefeller Center. This year’s event will be held on March 5.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society [733 Third Ave. in Manhattan, (212) 463–7787].
Bushwick
Barking good!
Three barks and a yip to Amy Marciano and BluePearl Veterinarian practice for giving the gift of a new life to a borough pooch.
Amy heads a rescue group, Sugar Mutts Rescue, and is used to having stray dogs delivered to her. But this time, the furry friend found Amy.
After picking up a pup she saw crossing the street, she noticed it had a badly broken right leg, and without fixing it, the pup — named Morgan — might never be able to use the leg.
Amy brought Morgan to Dr. Andrew Goodman, and thanks to his and the community’s generosity (she started a YouCaring post and received more than $3,400), Morgan received the surgery and is now on the road to recovery.
Sugar Mutts Rescue [130 Palmetto St. at Gates Avenue in Bushwick, (917) 966–8753].
