Volume 5, Issue 2

February 2025

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!

Give Gratitude

In a world often short on gratitude and appreciation, our community has a unique opportunity to recognize the importance of former Assemblyman Steven Englebright in establishing the Setauket to Port Jefferson Station Greenway.

It was in the mid-1990’s that then Assemblyman Englebright determined the need to convert the land obtained by the NYS DOT for a Bypass Highway into something completely different. Instead of cars and trucks traveling on a four lane highway through residential neighborhoods, he envisioned a multiuse, recreational corridor connecting neighborhoods through a bike-pedestrian trail.

It took more than a decade to fund and design this repurposing of State land. And anyone who worked on the Greenway Task Force knows there was intense push back against the prospects of installing a trail on this NYS-DOT vacant land – mainly by nearby homeowners. Go figure.
Nevertheless, Steve Englebright demonstrated the grit and determination to see the project through – and arguably it is now the most widely used recreational facility in our area.

With that said, we thank Charlie McAteer for his recent letter to our State representatives. Excerpts are below:

As Chair of the Friends of the Greenway, I would like to discuss the potential of naming our Setauket to Port Jefferson Station Greenway for its original sponsor and champion in the Assembly, Steven Englebright. The Greenway was only made possible by Steve Englebright’s efforts, and today our North Shore communities reap the great benefits of this unique linear park.

Given all that Steve has done in his decades of public service, the naming of the Greenway after him would be a fitting tribute. We understand this would take both State legislation and agreement with NYSDOT.

I would appreciate discussing with your staff the best approach to making this a reality.

Thank you, Charlie, for your leadership in this effort to recognize the ‘Founder of the Greenway.’

Setauket to Port Jefferson Station Greenway Clean Up Schedule

Spring/Summer/Fall 2025

Saturday, April 19th at 9am, An Earth Day Clean Up Event – Starting location: The Port Jefferson Station Trailhead.
Saturday, May 17th at 9am (Date subject to change) To be held in conjunction with the Town of Brookhaven’s 2022 Great Annual Clean Up – Starting location: The Port Jefferson Station Trailhead.

Summer/Fall

Saturday, June 21st at 9am, Starting Location: The Port Jefferson Station Trailhead. (Trail Stewards Breakfast Meet Up at 8:30pm)
Saturday, July 19th at 8:30am, Starting locations: The Port Jefferson Station and Setauket Trailhead.
Saturday, August 16th at 8:30am, Starting locations: The Port Jefferson Station Trailhead.
Saturday, September 20th at 9am, Starting location: The Port Jefferson Station Trailhead.
(Trail Stewards Breakfast Meet Up at 8:30pm)

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 at HJMones@gmail.com or Charlie at cfmcateer@gmail.com

Saluting the Eagle Scouts

The Greenway has benefited from its long standing relationship with the Eagle Scouts. Many of the projects you see along the Greenway – the benches, bat houses, a kiosk, a rain garden, etc. are a result of projects initiated, planned and completed by Eagle Scouts.

Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts program. Interestingly, only four percent of Scouts earn this rank to achieve the gold standard of Scouting.

An Eagle Scout is required to earn twenty-one merit badges, fourteen of which are mandatory badges for the award. Every one of these merit badges requires a tremendous commitment of time and effort. Some of the badges that are earned by candidates for the rank of Eagle Scout include: Camping, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in Society, Citizenship in the World, Communication, Cooking, First Aid, Family Life, Personal Fitness, and Personal Management. Scouts must also select one each from the following merit badges: Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving; Environmental Science or Sustainability; and Swimming or Hiking or Cycling.

After all that hard work, a Scout must also complete a community based project demonstrating their skills of organization, planning, networking and leadership.
Eagle Scouts are special and rare – we salute You! Eagle Scout Projects on the Greenway Coordinators: Nick Koridis – Friends of Scouting and Friends of the Greenway & Charlie McAteer – Chair of the Friends of the Greenway Trail Eagle Scout Community Service Projects, Benjamin Tallmadge District, Suffolk County Council, Boy Scouts of America:

Sean Anderson, Troop 244 Rocky Point – 2010 Bench installed east off of Gnarled Hollow Road and thirty street name signs (provided by TVCT) installed as part of Eagle Scout Project.
Tyler Corsello, Troop 427 Setauket – 2010 Two benches installed as part of Eagle Scout Project.
Anthony Stella, Troop 427 Setauket – 2010 Bench and plantings installed as part of Eagle Scout Project.
Kenneth John Tant, Troop 117 Stony Brook – 2011 Bench and General Trail Clean-up as part of Eagle Scout Project.
Skyler Thayer, Troop 377 East Setauket – 2011 Mile Marker Posts for Mid-Trail at Gnarled Hollow Road parking lot. Handmade and installed. And General Trail Clean-up as part of Eagle Scout Project.
Nicholas Brigantino, Troop 229 Selden – 2012 Bench at the Gnarled Hollow Parking lot and several bat-houses installed as part of Eagle Scout Project.
David Argento, Troop 204 Miller Place – 2016 Bench installed at the Port Jefferson Station Trailhead and Brush/Tree Trimming Trail Clean-up as part of Eagle Scout Project.
Jake Linkletter, Troop 204 Miller Place – 2016 Kiosk at the Gnarled Hollow Road parking lot at Mid-Trail and Brush/Tree Trimming Trail Clean-up as part of Eagle Scout Project.
James Nielsen, Troop 454 Port Jefferson Station – 2017 Bench installed ¼ mile west from Port Jefferson Station trailhead and Brush/Tree Trimming Trail Clean-up as part of Eagle Scout Project.
Michael Furio, Troop 204 Miller Place – 2019
Bench Project by the Setauket Trailhead, road crossing Signage & Clean-up as part of Eagle Scout Project.
Jared Sayler, Troop 204 Miller Place – 2019
Bench Project & Clean-up as part of Eagle Scout Project.
Cole Swensen, Troop 204 Miller Place – 2020
Bench Project and three ADA accessible concrete pads for access to benches, Clean-up of the trail, as part of Eagle Scout Project.
Kyle Rosenzweig, Troop 204 Miller Place – 2020
Two benches installed with ADA accessible concrete pads as part of Eagle Scout Project.
John Heraghty, Troop 70 East Setauket – 2020
Handcrafted and installed six bat houses and one ADA accessible concrete pad for a bench as part of Eagle Scout Project.
Jonathan Furio, Troop 204 Miller Place – 2022
Handcrafted and installed 8 bat houses and Trail Clean-up as part of Eagle Scout Project.
Dylan Fagan, Troop 70 East Setauket – 2022
Handcrafted and installed 5 bat houses and one ADA accessible concrete pad for a bench as part of Eagle Scout Project.
Matthew Petrie, Troop 204 Miller Place – 2023
Handcrafted and installed 8 bat houses and one ADA accessible concrete pad for a bench as part of Eagle Scout Project.
Joseph Sciotto, Troop 70 East Setauket – 2023
Mid Trailhead Replaced two cracked Bench Slats, Cleanup Storm Drains, create Rain Garden with planting, removed old wood mile marker post and added an ADA concrete slab for an existing bench as part of Eagle Scout Project.
Nicholas Comito, Troop 204 Miller Place – 2024
Eagle Scout has earned his recognition working on the trail installing reflectors on posts at road crossings, added a concrete pad for benches, clean up, etc… award presented 12.29.2024.
Recruiting Future Eagle Scouts (Open Projects they are interested in – Troop TBD
Mid Trailhead Replaced two cracked Bench Slats, Cleanup Storm Drains, create Rain Garden with planting, removed old wood mile marker post and added an ADA concrete slab for an existing bench, etc… as part of Eagle Scout Project.

Village Community Trust – planted the cherry tree located at the Setauket Trailhead in memory of Michael Cosel – co-founder of the Friends of the Greenway.

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)

Emily Riley Design631-512-3330 emilyrileydesign.com

Emily Riley of Emily Riley Design knows plants and landscaping. Using the latest understanding of natural, native and sustainable landscaping methods, Emily can transform your yard into a magical setting that lasts for years and years. As a landscape designer, Emily has been a generous donor of both time, energy and materials to a host of Trust projects!

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.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