Sound Shore

The Tarry Market, Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich’s fresh food market opened today. There are fresh pastas, freshly-baked breads, gelato, coffee, prime meats, cheese, sausage and cured meats and pleanty of beautiful condiments. Here’s Joe at the fresh pasta counter:

“The best of Europe and the best of local,” says Bastianich. “The best of hand-crafted, artisanal food.”

From left, Lenore Pott and Suzanne Tinley, both of Chappaqua, watch as Cheese Purveyor Franko cuts into aged parmesan cheese. Pott and Tinley came to check out Tarry Market, a new fresh food shop by Mario Batali and Joe Bastianch, on its opening day in Port Chester Nov. 2, 2010. ( Matthew Brown / The Journal News )

The gourmet shop, with its white, brick walls, rustic cement floors, marble counters and antique scales, has the look and feel of an old world market.

Matt Brown

More photos, after the jump.

With the motto “Be social. Eat well,’’ Manhattan restaurateur Godfrey Polistina (Carmine’s, Virgil’s, Ouest) makes his Westchester debut in the site of the former Hostaria Mazzei.

The newly renovated space, which will seat 230, has a sleek curved bar and a mix of booths and tables, plus counter seating near the homey centerpiece of the room: a woodburning oven and grill.

(Photos by Mark Vergari/TJN)

A back room with a fireplace and white tablecloths will offer a quieter, more romantic atmosphere. There will also be seating for 50 outside, on South Regent Street.

The menu is traditional Italian “with a twist,” says Polistina, which means an emphasis on farm-to-table with lots of fresh pasta, homemade pizzas, roasted and grilled fish, poultry and meat, and a variety of small plates. A market near the front of the restaurant will offer ready-to-cook versions of items on the menu.

Shea Gallante had originally planned to be the chef but he has moved to Ciano, opening in Manhattan this fall. A new chef will be named.

The 411 is coming. Til then: 25 S. Regent St., Port Chester. 914-939-7200, www.arrostorestaurant.com

— Linda Lombroso

Port Chester Village Manager Christopher Russo has announced his resignation, Mayor Dennis Pilla said this afternoon.

Russo came to Port Chester two years ago under a three year contract. He has given advance notice beyond the 60 days called for under the contract, according to the mayor.

“It’s unfortunate for Port Chester,” Pilla said. Russo was Rye Brook’s administrator in the 1990s. In 2000, he moved to Florida, where he was city manager for Sunny Isles Beach, outside Miami.

Railroad bridges as artistic canvas?

Apparently that’s the concept behind a $60,000 state grant to create art displays on the five train bridges that run through Port Chester. Mayor Dennis Pilla said the public art project would involve Port Chester, the MTA and SUNY Purchase. The idea is to build trusses that would attach sculpture or other displays onto each bridge.

Art students could compete over the design, and invite public participation, the mayor said. The displays would change periodically. Thoughts? Leave a comment below.

For now though, the big question at the train station is whether Port Chester commuters will have to pay higher fares to the city than their farther-afield neighbors in Greenwich. See our earlier post on that, and check out the comment from the CT Rail Commuter Council.

Port Chester and Rye commuters might face a rather annoying circumstance if the proposed Metro-North fare increases go through as planned: They’d pay more for  tickets to Grand Central than their Greenwich neighbors, even though they’re taking a shorter ride.

A monthly pass from the Port Chester station would cost $247, up from $226. But a pass from Greenwich would stay at $237, 10 bucks cheaper than Port Chester. The New Haven line is mostly in Connecticut, and the two states make separate decisions about funding and fare increases.

Discussions are apparently under way to even out the pricing through a “hold-down” agreement between Connecticut and Metro-North Railroad. Meanwhile Port Chester commuters are considering buying their tickets from Greenwich stations, according to the Connecticut Post.

Actually, what’s to stop Port Chester folks from buying Greenwich tickets online or wherever and boarding in Port Chester? Well, that wouldn’t fly with the conductor, railroad spokesman Dan Brucker said. The value of your ticket is less than the ride you’re taking, so you would have to pay the difference. Oh.

The proposed fare changes for Metro North are linked here. For more on fare increases for MetroCards and for Westchester’s Bee-Line buses, see Ken Valenti’s story here on LoHud.com.

The 12 annual Port Chester Day starts with a morning 5K run and ends with fireworks Saturday evening at Lyon Park.

In between are craft vendors, food, children’s rides and music. There’s an open house at the historic Bush Homestead and hands-on crafts from the Clay Art Center.

There’s more partying going on this season at the Marina Parking Lot off Abendroth Avenue. Click here for Patch’s video of the salsa dancing scene Wednesday night. The “Dancing Under the Stars” series continues with one more show Wednesday Sept. 1, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Details about summer concerts and other recreation programs are linked here.

(Photo: Matthew Brown/The Journal News)

Port Chester will reconsider its procurement policy tonight, having apparently skipped past the policy in hiring a prosecutor for village justice court.

The board on Aug. 16 voted to hire Max DiFabio as prosecutor for vehicle and traffic violations at a maximum of $3,000 a month. He replaces Robert Peirce, who was employed at $3,640 max a month. Another prosecutor handles housing code violations at $3,330 a month.

Mayor Dennis Pilla called the hiring a step backward for the village because the job was not put out to bid — in violation of a new policy on hiring professional consultants.  Trustee Bart Didden argued that it was time to take action and that the move would save $7,200 a year. “Traction is what we need, and movement is what the village wants,” he said. He added that Peirce should be considered for the housing code position.

Pilla voted against the hiring, while Trustees Didden, Sam Terenzi, Joe Kenner, John Branca and Luis Marino voted in favor. They did agree on the need for a new procurement policy that allows for some leeway in bidding out for professional consultants. Amendments are on the agenda for tonight’s 7 p.m. meeting at 350 N. Main St. (Meetings are streamed live at this site.)

About the village court — the discussion wasn’t just about seeking justice but about making money from fines. Didden said the court should be a “better money maker” for the village than it is now.

According to a recent report by the New York Comptroller’s office, Port Chester  court already ranks in the top ten of the state’s 1,246 town and village justice courts in revenue. (Click here for the PDF.) The court received about $2.4 million in 2009. About $1.9 million of that was revenue for the village. (Much of the money from traffic fines goes to the state, while the fines from local ordinances go to the village.)

The village board is also considering hiring a part-time corporation counsel in addition to the village attorney. I wrote about that for The Journal News.

The new Port Chester board, specifically the returning Trustee Sam Terenzi, received a scolding for their not-so-civil discourse last night.

Terenzi has grilled the village manager, treasurer and recreation chief during recent meetings, mainly over contracting and accounting practices. His tone could fairly be described as exasperated, impatient and often sarcastic. Terenzi says he’s only looking out for the taxpayer.

“Grow up, please,” Bea Conetta said during a public comment period during the Board of Trustees meeting. She and another resident stood up to call for professionalism and respect for the staff.

“I really don’t care,” Terenzi responded. “I’m only worried about one thing, saving the taxpayer money.” Later he said that no one was taking his comments personally, and that he wasn’t about to change his style after so many years in municipal politics.

The village meetings are televised on cable and streaming online at this site.

Two churches are asking Port Chester for permission for building plans, and faced some complaints tonight over the tax-exempt status of church property. Church representatives, who went before the Board of Trustees, wasted no time reminding the board about the recent federal ruling against Greenburgh for rejecting a Pentacostal church.

The Salvation Army plans a church at 36 Bush Ave., having been displaced by eminent domain from their previous site downtown. The church would remodel warehouse space into a chapel and offices. (No, they said in response to a question, this is not a place for clothing donations.)

Segunda Iglesia Pentecostal Church has a proposal to expand and renovate its worship space at 58 Poningo St. The church, serving about 60 families, has been holding services there for several years. Members stood up to defend the church as a positive force in the neighborhood, helping people with problems such as alcohol and drug abuse. “It’s for the prosperity of the community,” one church member said. “We do good things, and we pay taxes.”

Port Chester plays New Rochelle tonight in Youth Baseball League, and one player was getting ready this afternoon at the barbershop.

First baseman Charlie Nielsen is displaying his pride on the back of his head, thanks to the work of barber Juan Carlos Arpi, at Master Cuts on Westchester Avenue.