Written by John A. Corry

Mar. 4, 2015: Editor's note: Below John Corry recounts events happening twenty-five years ago in March of 1990 based on articles appearing in the Review-Press Reporter.

Kensington Road Property: Although public parking was the announced purpose of the village's recent acquisition of three adjoining Kensington Road lots, trustee Robert Riggs stated that a recent study indicated that parking revenues would probably be insufficient to meet the annual debt service expense of servicing the project's acquisition and projected construction costs that together could reach $6.4 million. In addition, Mayor Stein announced that asbestos had just been discovered in the recently purchased Gramatan Garage and that it could cost more than $400,000 to remove it. She said that the village had an obligation to remove it "now that we know it's there."

Parkway Road Development: At a public meeting, project architect Al Moore defended the height of the buildings, pointing out that they were intended to balance those in Alger Court at the other end of the road. A March 1 Review-Press Reporter editorial described the situation as one in which "one hand washes the other," i.e., the village and school need additional tax revenue and the developers require a zoning variance so that the project is treated as a controlled development district rather than separate parcels with different zoning designations.

Village Elections: Running unopposed, trustees Nancy Hand and William Staudt were reelected with 260 votes each, and Justice George Pickwick, with 262 votes. The Republicans also won in Tuckahoe. Even though the Bronxville election was uncontested, the GOP candidates ran an active campaign, with appearances before neighborhood associations and receptions at the Girl Scout Cabin and the Field Club.

Village Planning Study: Concern over an aging population led Mayor Stein to appoint a committee to try to predict developments during the next ten years. Headed by school board chairman John Hill, it included former board member Eleanor Urstadt, Democratic Chairman Peter Murray, and Priscilla Hawkins, special assistant to Sarah Lawrence College's president. In an effort to increase village revenues, the parking commission recommended increases in monthly rates from $480 for merchants and $360 for commuters to $580 for both categories. This would make the rates higher than those in Dobbs Ferry, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, and Scarsdale.

Robbers Arrested: Following robberies of more than $2,000 by a purported utility repairman at Pondfield Road's Ye Olde Alpes Pub and the Wine and Spirits Emporium, the police were on special lookout for suspicious-looking persons. When off-duty Sgt. John Paulo was walking one morning on Park Place, he noticed a similarly clad man studying the window of The Farm. He phoned for help and entered the store as the man approached the cash register. The suspect, a Queens resident, was arrested and later officially charged. Similar robberies had recently been reported at several other Westchester establishments. A second theft involved five-year school cafeteria manager Roman Korin, who quit after being arrested for petty larceny. Superintendent Greenham said that a vendor also may have been involved.

Jansen Hospice: Having recently received accreditation from the New York State Health Department, Jansen Hospice faced a need for funds to meet a $125,000 shortfall. Including a just-announced gift from The Junior League, it had raised $75,100. It hoped for additional help from The Community Fund and charitable foundations.

Girls' Track Team: The four-member 3200 meter relay team finished second in the state competition at Cornell. The result was the best ever in eight years of running in a state meet. A Bronxville contestant finished sixth in the shot put competition and another was fourth in the 55 meter hurdles. The relay team went on to race in the national championship competition at Syracuse University, but after being seeded in the top four, finished fourth.