Editor's note:  John A. Corry's column features events that happened in Bronxville 25 years ago. He selects newsworthy items to include in his column from historical sources, including the Review Press-Reporter (which is no longer published). Many of the people involved in these happenings still live in Bronxville. Many do not but have left their mark on Bronxville. 

By John A. Corry

Sep. 14, 2016:  School Honored.  It was announced that at a front lawn White House ceremony on September 25, President George H. W. Bush would present the school with an award as one of 225 national "high schools of excellence." Together with the Pleasantville School, it was only one of two schools in Westchester to be so honored. The school was represented by board President Andrew Quale, Assistant Principal Michael Saltman, and English teacher Linda Miller. Back in Bronxville, new school superintendent John Chambers announced that he would emphasize scholarship, character, leadership, and service. The first two, he stressed, were already well represented.

Adult School.  The Bronxville Adult School launched an eight-lecture series called "Trends of the '90s." The first lecture, on business trends, was given by Bankers Trust management committee member George Vojta. In it, he predicted a period of "great optimism" in the global economy, calling the previous five years a period of "tuning up" following the oil shock, debt crisis, and two recessions in 1974 and 1985. The fall of Communism was helpful. The next presentation was to be on health care delivery.

School Track.  The school board rejected the recommendation of a subcommittee that the $200 nonresident use fee be halved. A Review-Press Reporter editorial disagreed:  "Bronxville is not an island. It is and has to remain an integral part of the larger community."

Dangerous Chemical at Concordia.  A county bomb squad removed a highly unstable and potentially dangerous chemical from Concordia and took it to a Peekskill military base, where it was detonated. It had been discovered by a biology professor while he was taking inventory in a storage room in Brunn Science Hall.  No one had any idea how long it had been there. It was removed early in the morning so students would not be disturbed.

Mansion for Sale.  Under the heading "invitation of elegance," the large residence at 274 Pondfield Road was advertised for sale at $2.75 million. A Bowman creation, it featured, among other special qualities, a "beamed and vaulted living room." It had been the home of Donald Rundlett, who had died while playing golf at Siwanoy. (The property is currently on the market for $5.495 million.)