Letter to the Community: A Bagpiper Saves the Day
To the Community:
June 29, 2022: On Saturday, June 18th, Bronxville High School held its graduation ceremony for the Class of 2022.
The same night and into the wee hours of the next morning, the Class of 2022 attended its “All Night Graduation Party and Breakfast” — a Bronxville tradition. This year, the graduates danced the night away on Fordal Road as if they were celebrating on the island of Mykonos.
At the end of the party, the students and parents (escorted by the Bronxville Police) were excited to parade behind a bagpiper to the breakfast (another Bronxville tradition). Nearly 200 graduates and parents were lined up awaiting the memorable march. But, sadly, by 2:30 am, it was clear that the planned piper was a no show.
When word got out in the crowd about the absentee bagpiper, Chris Krieg, who lived down the street from the party and whose daughter is a Bronxville grad, said “my neighbor is a bagpiper—I’ll call him!” With that, Chris woke up Duff Blair. “I need a favor…please get out of bed…The Class of 2022 needs you to be their bagpiper.”
“On a scale from one to ten, how important is this?” Duff asked.
“It’s like an eleven!” Chris said.
So, Duff, who moved to Bronxville a couple of years ago with his wife, Rory, and three small children, jumped out of bed. Rory texted Katie Krieg, “He’s putting his pipes together” and then she asked if it he could skip the kilt?
“We don’t care if he wears his pajamas!” Katie responded.
Five minutes later, a sleepy Duff walked up Fordal to meet the officers, parents and still energetic Class of 2022. He then led the crowd through the streets of Bronxville to their breakfast on Midland Avenue, saving a beloved Bronxville tradition!
Only in Bronxville does someone know a neighbor who is a bagpiper who would get out of bed at 2:30 am to ensure that our graduating seniors have the perfect end to their high school experience.
“I wasn’t conscience enough at the time to comprehend what a cool thing it was for me to be a part of their special night. But, upon reflection, it was such an honor.”
Thank you, Duff Blair. You have shown that it takes a Village and you have the job next year!
Sincerely,
Patricia Knox
Editor's note: MyhometownBronxville does not fact-check statements in letters to the editor, and the opinions do not necessarily reflect the thinking of its staff. Its objective in publishing letters to the editor is to give air to diverse thoughts and opinions of residents in the community.
Editor's note: MyhometownBronxville does not fact-check statements in letters to the editor, and the opinions do not necessarily reflect the thinking of its staff. Its objective in publishing letters to the editor is to give air to diverse thoughts and opinions of residents in the community.
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Bronxville is a quaint village (one square mile) located just 16 miles north of midtown Manhattan (roughly 30 minutes on the train) and has a population of approximately 6,500. It is known as a premier community with an excellent public school (K-12) and easy access to Manhattan. Bronxville offers many amenities including an attractive business district, a hospital (Lawrence Hospital), public paddle and tennis courts, fine dining at local restaurants, two private country clubs and a community library.
While the earliest settlers of Bronxville date back to the first half of the 18th century, the history of the modern suburb of Bronxville began in 1890 when William Van Duzer Lawrence purchased a farm and commissioned the architect, William A. Bates, to design a planned community of houses for well-known artists and professionals that became a thriving art colony. This community, now called Lawrence Park, is listed on the National register of Historic Places and many of the homes still have artists’ studios. A neighborhood association within Lawrence Park called “The Hilltop Association” keeps this heritage alive with art shows and other events for neighbors.
Bronxville offers many charming neighborhoods as well as a variety of living options for residents including single family homes, town houses, cooperatives and condominiums. One of the chief benefits of living in “the village” is that your children can attend the Bronxville School.
The Bronxville postal zone (10708, known as “Bronxville PO”) includes the village of Bronxville as well as the Chester Heights section of Eastchester, parts of Tuckahoe and the Lawrence Park West, Cedar Knolls, Armour Villa and Longvale sections of Yonkers. Many of these areas have their own distinct character. For instance, the Armour Villa section has many historic homes and even has its own newsletter called “The Villa Voice” which reports on neighborhood news.
Village of Bronxville Administrative Offices
337-6500
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends
Bronxville Police Department
337-0500
Open 24 hours
Bronxville Parking Violations
337-2024
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends
Bronxville Fire Deparment
793-6400
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