By Sarah Thornton Clifford

Dec. 2, 2020: Growing up in Bronxville and moving back in 2005 as a new mother and publishing professional, I was interested in starting an online site to help mothers navigate the local landscape. To determine if there was interest in such a site, I met with dozens of people in Bronxville and gathered information. In meeting after meeting, one name kept coming up - Marcia Lee. "You've got to meet Marcia Lee," they would say. "You really should meet Marcia." "Marcia will have some great ideas for you." Who is this Marcia Lee? I wondered.

I found out. Marcia Lee is what you'd call "a mover and shaker." With a BA from Miami of Ohio, an MA from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and a Ph.D. from Tufts University, Marcia is super smart with boundless curiosity. She is also someone who doesn't sit on the sidelines. While she and husband Larry were raising their two daughters here, Marcia served as the Director for the Office of Institutional Research and Planning at Westchester Community College and as the Director of the Office for Intergovernmental Relations for Westchester. She was also Founding Chairman of the Bronxville School Foundation, producer of a cable TV program called "Living History of Bronxville," board member of the Junior League and League of Women Voters, and the first female mayor of Bronxville.

In our first meeting, Marcia told me, "what Bronxville really needs is a community newspaper." I had grown up with the Review Press Reporter, a great local newspaper that no longer exists, and loved the idea. After consulting local opinion leaders and assembling a team, we decided to launch online rather than in hard-copy. This was a challenge in 2007 as content management software didn't exist for small newspapers but we went full speed ahead. Wonderful local businesses supported our ad program and in September of 2007, MyhometownBronxville.com launched. 

Marcia took on the role of managing editor and I became publisher. Our editorial team included Jeannie Murrer, Sue DeJoy, Neely Bower, and Allaire Warner, still the core of MHTB today. With her finger on the pulse of who and what's happening and a huge appreciation for the talented people in this village, Marcia has been a truly outstanding managing editor. Her warmth, deep commitment to the paper, sense of humor and eye for detail truly made her an exceptional editor. Her objective was always to make sure Bronxville citizens were well informed about our local government, community organizations, our school, and the businesses that make our town such an enjoyable place to live.

This year marks MyhometownBronxville's 13th year, a year that, with the pandemic, shows the importance of a local newspaper to keep citizens informed on what's happening during these uncertain times. It's also the year that the amazing Marcia Lee and her husband Larry decided to move south to be closer to their two daughters, Diane and Susan, and their families. Marcia is leaving our one square mile, only in person, not in heart. I have stepped in to fill her very big editorial shoes and will continue to serve as publisher.

All of us at MyhometownBronxville - - Jeannie Murrer, Sue Dejoy, Allaire Warner, Neely Bower, and I - - along with many local contributors and community leaders - - would like to thank Marcia for all she has contributed to MHTB and the community over her years in Bronxville.

We know that there is much ahead for Marcia. South Carolina doesn't yet know what's coming!

Thank you and all the very best, Marcia!