Letter to the Community from Vanessa O’Friel, Candidate for Village Trustee
March 3, 2026
Dear friends and neighbors,
I’m excited to confirm that I’m running for Village Trustee in the election on Wednesday March 18th.
In March last year, 653 Bronxville village voters gave me their support, and I’m immensely grateful for their confidence and trust. In the twelve months since, I’ve reflected on the experience, spent time with current Trustees and the police chief, and my desire to contribute to our special village has only grown stronger.
I am a local business owner, President of the Chamber of Commerce, member of the board of The Bronxville Field Club, a former educator, a wife, and mother of four – who have all either graduated or attend the Bronxville School. Bronxville has been our home since 2013. As soon as we arrived in Bronxville to raise our family, I volunteered with organizations like the Junior League, the Friends of the Bronxville Public Library, the Community Fund, the PTA and the Girl Scouts. Bronxville has been wonderful for our family, and serving on the Board of Trustees is how I can give something back.
I’m delighted to have the nomination of the Bronxville Democratic Committee, and the endorsement of retiring Village Trustee, Mary Taylor Behrens. Mary has served the village since 2020 and been instrumental in many projects, including the White Plains Road crosswalk and Maltby Park. I consider her a mentor, and a model for how a Village Trustee can improve lives in Bronxville.
I’m passionate about local business and the health of our commercial districts, helping the Village to further support our schools (including pre-K), sustainability, and being an approachable, accessible Trustee for all.
I look forward to meeting with many of you over the coming weeks and listening to your thoughts on how I can help you as Village Trustee. Please do reach out if I can answer any questions or you’d like to get to know me better.
Yours,
Vanessa O’Friel
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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