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Ewuell started his new position late last month at the Y. It is the third time he has had a position at the organization; where he formerly worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor. He first started working at the Y while he was still in high school.
“This was an opportunity come home,’’ said Ewuell, who spent the past five years as the Aquatics Director for the Boys’ Club of New York - Marion McMahon Abbe Clubhouse in Flushing, Queens. “Being from White Plains, it was a chance to come back and work in my community. My ties are here.”
Several White Plains Y members recall Ewuell from his previous work at the Y. He has been greeted warmly by old and new members as he sets out to build upon the Y's extensive swimming programs.
“It’s been a very warm welcome,’’ Ewuell said. “Everyone is excited to have me back home. Tom Hay (Executive Director) and Heather Bell (Associate Executive Director) have been extremely supportive. We hope to build upon what we have and become one of the premier facilities in the county.”
The Y has much to offer the community in both facilities and programs.. For one, the facility features two pools -- a large pool that is open seven days a week and a small pool that is heated to a warmer temperature and is used primarily for swim lessons and group exercise classes.
The Y also offers lessons for infants as young as six months all the way through adulthood. The facility also offers swim Instructor training, lifeguard training, swim teams and aqua cycling.
“We’d like to provide more diverse programming,’’ Ewuell said. “We’d like the entire city of White Plains to be safe in, on and around the water as we are committed to youth development, healthy living and having a social responsibility to the community. We want them to be comfortable in the water, whether it’s here or if they go on vacation.”
Nearly 300 members are currently enrolled in the Y’s swim programs, Ewuell said, and they have nearly 40 on the children’s team. Ewuell said the Y will embrace a social media campaign to entice more people to enroll in lessons. Surprisingly, nearly half of the United States cannot swim, according to a 2014 survey by the American Red Cross.
“It’s astonishing,’’ Ewuell said. “It depends on the community that you’re a part of as a kid and the access you have to swimming pools. We would love to introduce the community to swimming. It’s a great lifelong activity, and it’s my goal to engage young people to teach them how to swim. Our strong suit is customer service. We teach with passion and patience.”
The White Plains YMCA is located at 250 Mamaroneck Ave. in White Plains. For more information on its swimming programs, click here to visit its website or contact them at 914-949-8030.
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