By John A. Corry

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.

School Field Use:  In what a newspaper editorial described as "one of the most hotly contested issues in the village in many years," the school board voted to impose a $200 annual fee on nonresidents using the school track. Much of the debate centered on the decision to permit free use by tuition-paying students. A board member described it as a "fluid situation that must be reviewed on a constant, careful basis." 

West Side Condos:  After a two-and-a-half-hour meeting, the trustees approved the construction of the Parkway Road condos (the present Avalon). The planning board still had to approve the final site plans, and construction would not commence until the summer of 1992 at the earliest. A newspaper editorial praised it as "a big step forward." 

Kensington Road Housing:  The proposed over-the-tracks senior citizen housing was praised by former Mayor Marcia Lee at a contentious planning board session as meeting the needs for senior housing, but attacked by nearby residents as a "monstrosity" and "behemoth," questioning the need for such a facility. The one- to two-bedroom-unit building would include a dining room, a library, and a 24-hour clinic. 

Village Government:   A long-range planning committee headed by Elinor Urstadt recommended a stronger role for the village administrator to lessen pressures on the mayor. It also proposed establishing advisory committees on parking and financial matters and a full-time parking administrator. It noted that Mayor Stein averaged three hours a day at village hall. 

Greenham Retirement:  The entire community celebrated William Greenham's retirement after nine years as school superintendent. Mayor Stein lauded his involvement in other community affairs, including his Rotary Club presidency. His wife, Catherine, was an active member of the Reformed Church choir. The Greenhams planned to move to London where he would head the American School. 

Chapel School:  The school named 39-year-old Bronxville resident Hazel Schultz as its first woman principal. The 59-year-old wife of Concordia President Ralph Schultz and grandmother of five would serve until a permanent principal was chosen.  

School Baccalaureate: Carter Via, associate minister at The Reformed Church, addressed the graduating Bronxville School seniors at Concordia's Sommer Center. He urged them to reflect on the poverty in "the grim world out there" and to spend time working with organizations like Outward Bound. 

Summer Band Concerts:  Their seventeenth season would commence on June 27 on the front lawn of the school. Conducted again by Al Mingrone, former high school band director, the band planned to include a mixture of songs from the Big Band era, marches, and Broadway show tunes. Citibank underwrote about 80 percent of the $7,200 total cost.