By John A. Corry

May 6, 2015:  Houlihan Lawrence Sale.  George Lawrence of Lawrence Investing Co. announced that in response to an unsolicited offer it had sold its subsidiary Houlihan Lawrence to Peter Seaman, a Greenwich real estate investor and management consultant. The sales price was not disclosed. With a record-setting $645 million in 1989 sales and 450 employees, Houlihan Lawrence was the largest real estate broker in Westchester and Putnam Counties. The sale included the landmark Lawrence building on Valley Road.  (Lawrence Investing Co. had acquired Houlihan Lawrence in 1984. It had previously sold most of its commercial properties and turned its apartments into co-ops.) 

West Side Project.  After accepting an environmental impact report on the proposed 115-residential-unit development, a public meeting was interrupted by local attorney Robert Kerrigan, acting on behalf of development activist Mildred Knudzen and several west side residents. He was waving what he claimed was an old and still-valid deed for a portion of Upper Millburn Avenue that would separate the property to be developed.  Meeting chair Peter Williamson replied that the matter had been considered by at least five lawyers, all of whom had concluded that the real estate was a single contiguous piece of property. The meeting broke up on this note.

Proposed School Foundation.  At a public meeting, William Murphy, who chaired the committee to study sources of school funding, agreed with village trustee Robert Riggs and others that a foundation should not serve as a "puppet" for the PTA or the school. Its major funding source would likely be residents who had no children in the school. Former PTA president Keitha Murray commented that the PTA was "moving away" from fundraising.

Student Athletes Suspended.  At least sixteen Bronxville High School athletes were suspended from competition for drinking alcoholic beverages at a keg party hosted by Richardson and Kristin Bainbridge following the junior-senior prom. The suspended students, all varsity players, admitted drinking. Other students were seen drinking at small dinner parties before the prom. Assistant Principal Michael Saltman reported that suspensions would be for the lesser of two weeks and four games.

Community Fund. Eric Miller of Bronxville was named its new president, succeeding William Barton. Daniel Macdonald was named president-elect. Macdonald reported that in its recently concluded campaign The Community Fund had raised more than $400,000. 

Bronxville Adult School.  At a Field Club dinner the school honored Doris Raebeck, who was retiring after twelve years as its director. She was lauded by former board chairs Dee Bertine and Marilynn Hill and given an honorarium and a silver tray. 

Students Abroad.  It was announced that during the coming months four Bronxville High School juniors and one sophomore would spend six to eight weeks in five foreign countries: Argentina, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Italy, and Turkey. Bronxville residents Robert and Bonnie Stapleton and Silas and Vicki Ford would host foreign students.