Port Chester Names Westmore, LoHud Official Newspapers

Port Chester trustees designated the Westmore News and the Journal News as its two official newspapers this week.

The official status deals specifically with public notices -- towns designate official newspapers so that they "don't have to specify which newspaper to put public notices in," Village Attorney Anthony Cerreto told the board.

Since 2007, the village has named both the Westmore News -- the local weekly -- and the regional Journal News as its two official newspapers.

Pilla said the Westmore News -- which has about 3,500 weekly subscribers -- has "a higher internal circulation," and Port Chester uses the weekly primarily to post public notices about zoning, planning and trustee meetings.

The village uses the Journal News "to cast a wider net, specifically for purchasing," the mayor said.

Last year, the village paid $8,900 to the Westmore News and $11,600 to the Journal News to run public and legal notices. That money is recovered from bidders in their application fees, Cerreto said.

After a brief discussion, Trustee Luis Marino summed up the board's feelings: "Let's leave it the way it is."

The resolution to extend official designation to both newspapers passed unanimously.