The Trail Mix

Volume 4, Issue 5, May 2024

The Trail Mix is the monthly newsletter of The Friends of the Greenway. We established this bulletin to keep you current on some of the “goings- on” regarding our Trail and to dispense a mix of bits and bytes of flavorful information. Hopefully, The Trail Mix will help to enlighten, inform, and entertain our readers. The Friends of the Greenway is part of The Three Village Community Trust. The Trust was established more than twenty years ago to “Protect the Places You Love.” Support the Greenway today by joining the Trust today!

Congratulations Jonathan and Matthew!

We would like to congratulate two very special members of our Greenway family: Matthew Petrie and Jonathan Furio. Both young men recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, due in large part to their many contributions to the Greenway over the past several years. Below are the two framed award certificates that our Friends of the Greenway Chairman, Charlie McAteer and Nick Koridis, FoGW Scout project coord., presented to Matthew and Jonathan this Spring.

Above: Jonathan Furio, Matthew Petrie and Sam Wenig

Above, a Very Special Family: Timothy, Johnathan, proud Mom Tammy, and Michael Furio

And any Eagle Scout Award ceremony deserves a cake!!

 

Our Certificates to Matthew and Jonathan said this:

2024 Leadership Award

Presented in Grateful Appreciation to Matthew Petrie Troop 204

The Three Village Community Trust recognizes the many selfless contributions made by Matthew Petrie to both the Setauket to Port Jefferson Greenway and the North Shore communities of Long Island. Matthew handcrafted and installed eight bat houses and one ADA accessible concrete pad for a bench as part of his Eagle Scout Project. The Best View Comes After The Hardest Climb. Author unknown

2024 Leadership Award

Presented in Grateful Appreciation to Jonathan Furio Troop 204

The Three Village Community Trust recognizes the many selfless contributions made by Jonathan Furio to both the Setauket to Port Jefferson Greenway and the North Shore communities of Long Island. Jonathan hand crafted and installed eight bat houses and directed a successful trail cleanup as part of his Eagle Scout Project.

The Best View Comes After The Hardest Climb – Author unknown

Yes! Another Successful Greenway Cleanup!

On Saturday, June 15th, Friends of the Greenway Chairman Charlie McAteer led another great trail cleanup. There was lots of work that took place throughout the morning: raking, litter pickup, tree trimming, and removal of downed branches. Kudos to the Special Saturday Krew: Holden Cone, Christina Cone, Chauncy Cone, Steven Alwais, Carter Knust, Jacob Knust, Luca LaCurruba, Dave Wang, Dennis Brennan, Matt Moran, Nicky Moran, Lily Moran, Sowya Mada, Carey Paniccia, Ron Paniccia … and the Stars shown below:

Above: Cub Scout Pack #333
Thank You Stephanie Alwais – Pack 333 Committee Chair

The Team!

Not Afraid of Hard Work!

 

Our Summer Clean Up Schedule

Our monthly clean ups on the trail are always fun and interesting events. Not only do you get to meet community leaders, elected officials, and fellow Greenway enthusiasts, you have the opportunity to make a difference by sprucing up everyone’s favorite recreational corridor. The Greenway – a linear park – depends on people like you to help maintain and enhance the ‘trail experience.’ Join us!

Summer

• Saturday, July 20th at 8:30am, Starting locations: The Port Jefferson Station and Setauket Trailhead.
• Saturday, August 17th at 8:30am, Starting locations: The Port Jefferson Station Trailhead.
• Saturday, September 21st at 9am, Starting location: The Port Jefferson Station Trailhead

Need more information? Want to become a Trail Steward? Wish to Donate to the Greenway? Want to be on the Friends of the Greenway’s email list?

Email Herb: HJMones@gmail.com or Charlie: cfmcateer@gmail.com

Don’t Miss This Special Trust Event!! Mark Your Calendar!!

Tickets are now on sale: Click Here for information!

 

News Flash: It was a great weekend for the Trust!

In June, the Trust hosted the Twentieth Annual Wet Paint Festival!

The festival, sponsored by Gallery North, is a unique two-day outdoor event featuring art, music, food and walking tours. Visitors have the opportunity to observe dozens of painters working at their easels in an outdoor setting.

And – for the first time The Wet Paint Festival was be held on a Trust property – the beautiful Tyler Homestead at 97 Main Street in Setauket.

The Tyler Homestead is located in the heart of Setauket’s historic Main Street.The home dates back to the mid-1700’s and was built with trees hewed from the surrounding area. It is widely recognized that the Tyler House is one of the finest examples of a historic American farmhouse. The home was an important acquisition for the Trust not only because of its unique history, but because Patriots Rock Historic Site is part of the 3 acre property! The Trust’s mission is “Protecting the Places You Love!”

As the center of this year’s festival, the Tyler Homestead served as the hub for artists as they explore and paint the nearby landmarks – the Frank Melville Memorial Park, Patriot’s Rock Historic Site, the Caroline Church, the Setauket Green, the Emma Clark Library and the three Immigrant Factory Worker Houses. Our volunteers created a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for the art festival! There were loads of compliments from the Gallery North staff for the tremendous cooperation of the Trust members in preparing the site, navigating the paperwork, attending numerous site visits, maintaining our booth, and responding to numerous major and minor requests. Well Done!

Big kudos for Michael Rosengard – he transformed both Patriots Rock and the Tyler grounds with more landscaping work than imaginable! The two sites were magical! Michael has both enviable energy and vision. Ps: And, on Saturday, he took everything to a different level – by creating a ‘Native American campground’ and in the woods of Patriots Rock that was simply remarkable!

Thanks many go to Dave Tracy for telling the story of Patriots Rock and the Battle of Setauket! Parker Mones captured everyone’s attention with the details of the workings of the Brown Bess musket used at the Battle of Setauket. And Setalcott member Helen Sells – standing on the ‘campground’ told so many fascinating stories of her people!! A mesmerizing speaker!

Much appreciation to Robert Reuter and Judi Wallace (Who did two shifts!) for taking down our booth and materials on Sunday – and getting everything back to the Bruce House. And thanks to Dave Fortuna for doing the same on Saturday!

Our ‘Booth Team’ for the weekend was on time and on task! You are great: Gretchen Oldrin Mones, Katherine Downs-Reuter, Alex Goldman, Alice D’Amico, Ann Robitsek, Sandy Krolik, Dave Fortuna, Judi Wallace, Joan Cook, Hope Kinney, Robert Reuter, and Parker Mones.

Above: The Trust gives a History Tour During the Festival

Above: Michael Rosengard transforms the Tyler Property!

To All Greenway Users

The Three Village Community Trust’s 2024 Membership Drive Continues!

The Trust now enters its twenty-first year of “Protecting the Places You Love!” The success of the Trust, and the Friends of the Greenway, over the past decades has only been possible because of people like YOU! At this time, we hope you will continue your support us by renewing your membership, and if you are not a member – please join us!

The Trust needs you as a member!

Our all-volunteer organization relies heavily on memberships for the funding needed to protect our “museum collection” of historical homes and improve sites like the 3.2 mile Setauket to Port Jefferson Greenway and Patriots Rock Historic Site. In 2023, your membership fees enabled us to complete a major restoration of the grounds at the Smith/deZafra House in Setauket – Brookhaven’s first Town Hall, as well as many repairs at the historic Tyler House!

Join today! Zelle users can go to tvcommtrust@optonline.net to make their membership payment.

2024 Trail Stewardship Program

Enjoy the Greenway? Like to ‘give back?’ Want to be part of a larger community of trail enthusiasts? Do you want to improve your neighborhood and community?

If so – it may be time for you to become a Trail Steward by joining the Adopt-A-Trail Program sponsored by The Friends of the Greenway. As a Trail Steward you will be part of a team of volunteers that help to maintain the Setauket to Port Jefferson Station Greenway. Your work will assure that the Greenway remains a popular and well-used recreational resource for young and old.

The Adopt-a-Trail Program allows YOU to select a portion of the trail and maintain it throughout the year. And, you can work according to your own schedule and at your own pace.

Some very general guidelines for Trail Stewards:

1. Select a portion of the Greenway – it can be a small or large section. It is best to select an area that is close to your home or is an area you enjoy visiting. It can be fun to adopt an area with a friend or two!
2. As a Trail Steward of the Greenway, visit your section as often as your schedule allows. Maintain the area much like you would your own backyard. Keep the area free of litter and debris.
3. Keep a log of your time/date and activities on the trail. Email your log to the Friends of the Greenway in September.
4. Alert the Friends of the Greenway of any problems or issues. (For example: downed tree or branches on the trail.)
5. You can make recommendations to the Friends of the Greenway for the enhancement of your section.
6. As a Trail Steward, you are encouraged to involve your friends, family, and neighborhood in the maintenance of your section. Community participation is an important part of preserving and protecting the Greenway.
7. Please note: Any major physical changes to the Greenway – benches, tree planting, etc. – needs the approval of the Friends of the Greenway, the Three Village Community Trust and the New Your State Department of Transportation.
8. We often assign two or more groups to a section. This helps make trail maintenance easier for everyone!
9. Help with the scheduled Monthly Volunteer Clean-ups whenever possible.
10. The Adopt-A-Trail Program is a one-year commitment running through the calendar year. We will ask if you wish to renew your participation at the end of the year. (If you are unable to remain active in your service to the Greenway, simply contact the Friends of the Greenway.)

Participants in the Adopt-a-Trail program are recognized by a posting in our kiosks and are invited to our Annual Membership Meeting in March for special recognition. We recommend that you become a member of the Three Village Community Trust. Click here for information!

Friends of the Greenway contact information:

tvcommtrust@optonline.net
HJmones@gmail.com Herb Mones
cfmcateer@gmail.com Charlie McAtateer

Our Special Friends

Keep in mind, these special friends of the Greenway who support our efforts throughout the year! Please consider giving them your business, and mention you saw them in The Trail Mix.

Shown above is Dave Prestia, owner/operator, of Bagel Express

Bagel Express at 15-5 Bennetts Road in Setauket. Owned and operated by David Prestia, Bagel Express generously donates the catering of our Trail Steward breakfasts. Delicious bagels, hot, steaming coffee – sooo good! For the third year in a row, The Trail Mix has voted Bagel Express #1 for breakfast and lunch, and all of your catering needs. Call 631-675-2770 or check website at Bagel Express – New York | View our menu, reviews & Order food online (bagelexpressli.com)

A Big Friend of the Trust is Swan Cove Landscaping. Swan Cove does a whole line of services – lawn maintenance, pruning, stone walls, firewood. Dave Fortuna has recently retired, but his longtime employee Wander Aleman is now the new and capable owner/operator. Swan Cove donates many, many of services to the Trust. The result – our properties always look great! Thank you, Dave! Call 631-689-8089.

Emerald Magic Lawn Care’s horticultural consultant, Craig den Hartog has been providing flower bulbs for the Greenway over many years at “no cost.” We planted a big bulk of these bulbs at the kiosk on Gnarled Hollow Road, Setauket. Craig generosity is part of his beautification effort known as Old Town Blooms. And Craig was a driving force behind the recent Great Daffodil Dash benefiting the Port Jefferson Station-Terryville community! Why not support Emerald Magic who supports us! Call 631-286-4600, 631-804-9205.

For your yard’s beautification look to Setauket Landscape and Design. Steve Antos can help you plan and design the unique surroundings to make your property the envy of your neighborhood. His company has helped us with many large and small projects on the Trust’s historic properties. Call 631-882-7190.

And lots of thanks to Bove Industries and Skyline Industries for their generous support of the Trust’s projects – they have been instrumental in our grounds restorations at the Smith/deZafra House! Bove Industries and Skyline Industries are leaders in producing materials for roads and construction products.

Randall Brothers Tree Service is always a big help and big hearted in helping the Trust! Call 631-862-9291. Marty is the Man!Jos. M. Troffa Materials Corporation at 70 Comsewogue Road in Setauket is a very special friend. The company has every conceivable item to beautify your yard. Mulch – they got it. Grass seed – yes! Soil, gravel, shovel, – everything. Forget the big box stores – You gotta go to Troffa!

Maeder Landscaping and Snow, Ltd. is a really great choice for your all of your yard’s needs. Rest your back, spend more time with your friends and family – give them a call at 631-988-9211.

 

Editor in Chief – Herb Mones