Volume 4, Issue 9

September 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!

A Little Bit of Progress…Maybe

It wasn’t too longer ago that the Trail Mix’s intrepid editor wrote the following letter to Newsday about the ongoing saga along the Greenway:

Your recent article “MTA delays buying Port Jeff Station site” is a stark reminder of the inertia and lethargy of so many of our government agencies and officials to truly ‘serve the people.’

The MTA has a unique opportunity to purchase 40 acres of the old Lawrence Aviation property in Port Jefferson Station. This once-in-a-lifetime acquisition is essential for plans to electrify the LIRR’s north shore train line – an unrealized dream of generations of commuters. Yet, even at the bargain price of $10, the MTA is seemingly unable to navigate the roadblocks erected by other government agencies at this time and has postponed the deal.

Where is Governor Hochul? Wouldn’t this be a great opportunity for the Gov to kick some butt and get ‘everyone on board?’

Well, here is some good news! Suffolk County’s Executive Ed Romaine recently spoke to Governor Kathy Hochul about the Lawrence Aviation acquisition for a new railyard while she was visiting in Suffolk County. The County Executive stated that he told the governor of his concerns about the stalled negotiations between the MTA and the NYS-DOT but did not get a definitive response from her.

But – multiple county sources with knowledge of the ongoing standoff said that Romaine’s conversation with Hochul led the MTA and the Long Island Rail Road to reaffirm their commitment to the project and to assure Romaine and others that the Lawrence Aviation sale was still a go. ‘My goal is to make this happen,’ Romaine said. ‘If I have to embarrass or cajole, I’ll do that… We’ve got to build a better transportation system. And I would like to try to do something before I leave to push us in that direction.”

In early 2023, the Three Village Community Trust, with its Friends of the Greenway, listened to US Senator Schumer’s announcement that federal money will speed the demolition of buildings at Lawrence Aviation.

Wouldn’t it be good if other government officials ‘trained’ their voices on the Governor to get things rolling!!

Here is some catch up on our recent monthly cleanups!!

From Our July Clean up

A big round of applause for our volunteers at the July Monthly Cleanup. Some of the ‘worker bees’ were: Charlie McAteer Herb Mones, Dave Wang, Kyle Hill, Rebecca Kassey, Tom Ehrhard, Amani Khan, Ben Brehl, the Cone family of Christina, Holden, and Chauncey, Jean and Katie Nielsen, the Moran family- Matthew, Nicholas, and Lily, and, of course, Norman Samuels.

Here is a photo-gallery from July:

Big Ben is always smiling!

Daredevil Dave

Rebecca and Aman

Our August Cleanup

Thanks to the big Krew helping in August: Cub Scout Pack Troop 333 – the Moran Family, the Cone Family, Carter Kunst and Jacob Knust and Family, Herb Mones, Dave Wang, Ben Behrle, and Martin Buchman.

The Team starts to gather

Cub Scout Pack Troop 333

Ben Brehl is a mighty force on the trail.

Trail Stewards doing the hard work!

The Cone Family in action!

No job is to big or small for Christina Cone

Martin Buchman adds to the Kiosks!

Workin’ the Trail!

Don’t Miss This – Join Us on Culper Spy Day, September 7th!

Culper Spy Day is a wonderful celebration of our community’s colonial past. Created by the Three Village Historical Society, every year Culper Spy Day draws visitors from throughout the country – and world! 
The Three Village Community Trust, the parent of the Friends of the greenway, is proud to be part of Culper Spy Day experience and will be hosting children and families throughout the day on the grounds of Patriots Rock – site of the Battle of Setauket.

Join us at Patriots Rock between 10am – 3pm to learn about local history, observe colonial life, chat with friends and neighbors, and be part in a unique Three Village experience.

This year we will be recognizing the special contributions of artist Michael Rosengard to Patriots Rock. Over the past year, Michael’s visionary ideas have transformed the grounds of Patriots Rock into a parklike setting. Meet Michael for coffee and light refreshments at Noon.
Patriots Rock is located opposite the Setauket Post Office at 101 Main Street, Setauket.

Stop by and say hello! We’d love to see you! Free For All!
Keep in mind these businesses – Tell them the Friends of the Greenway sent you!