The Trail Mix
A newsletter for and about the Setauket to Port Jefferson Station Greenway
Volume 3, Issue 6 June 2023
The Trail Mix is the monthly newsletter of The Friends of the Greenway. We established this bulletin to keep the Friends and users of the Greenway 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
our parent organization – The Three Village Community Trust.
Great Work by a Great Team!
Eagle Scout candidate Matthew Lerna-Petrie recently built six bat houses for the Greenway! With the help of his Troop 204, along with supportive community members, they installed the six bat houses, as well as a new concrete pad for an ADA compliant Greenway bench.
Here are some photos of this Eagle Scout project. As you probably know, all Eagle Scout projects require considerable planning, fundraising, networking, and meetings. The result – something special that enhances and improves the community! We thank Matt, and all of the scouts for their hard work!
Above: Planning out the concrete pad for the bench.
Above: Preparing the ground for the installation of the pad.
Above: How many bat houses can you find in the photo?
Cub Scouts Pack 354
Way to go, Cub Scouts! Two rainouts in April could not stop this troop from getting out on the trail! On May 7th, the scouts of Cub Scout Pack 354, accompanied by some Troop 354/354G siblings, completed the semi-annual cleanup of their adopted section of the Greenway Trail. Service to the community is an important way the scouts say ‘thank you’ for all the support they receive throughout the year. Cub Scout Pack 354 is a proud partner of the Friends of the Greenway.
The Trail Mix salutes the members, and leadership of Pack 354. As the pack leadership team, Rob DeStefano, along with his wife Connie, bring a unique sense of dedication and commitment to scouting and the community! We thank the DeStefano’s and Pack 354 – their work beautifies, enhances, and transforms the trail!
The scouts in action!
Our May Green Way Clean Up
Our Trail Stewards and Friends participated in the Great Brookhaven Cleanup on Saturday, May 13th. This annual event brings together a tremendous number of volunteers across the town – all working to make Brookhaven “Sparkle!”
From left to right: Aaron Hoffman, Paul Sagliocca, Dennis Brennan, Susan Colatosti, CURBY, Supervisor Ed Romaine, Dave Wang & Charlie McAteer. Photo by Rob Pellegrino
Susan Colatosti – taking part in the Friends/Three Village Community Trust’s Simply De-Vine Campaign.
Dennis Brennan and Dave Wang – hard at work!
The Tesla Museum, the Greenway, and the North Shore Rail Trail
Recently, the sixteen acre Tesla Science Center in Shoreham broke ground on a $20 million redevelopment of the property. First up is a $4.5 million visitors center, to be followed by a museum, science labs and a business incubator.
The Tesla Center is the only surviving laboratory of the renowned Nikola Tesla. The foundations of our modern electrical grid, the principles of the cell phone, the development of electrical motors – and so much more – are all traced to the genius of Tesla.
At one time, a 187-foot wireless communication tower stood on the site.
The Shoreham laboratory of Tesla might have been lost had it not been for a dedicated cadre of citizen who rallied the community to protect and preserve this property.
With the redevelopment money, the legacy of Tesla will live on as it evolves into world-class destination. This is significant to the Setauket to Port Jefferson Greenway and the North Shore Rails to Trail since the eastern terminus of the bikeways is at the Tesla Center! What a wonderful way to spend the day with family and friends – riding the bike path and then visiting the Tesla Museum
Special Thanks
On Earth Day, Emerald Magic Lawn Care’s horticultural, Craig den Hartog, donated trash buckets and trash grabbers to our cleanup efforts. And Dave Prestia at Bagel Express donated our members bagels and coffee. Give Craig and Dave a Big Thank You next time you see them!
Our Summer and Fall Clean Up Schedule
Summer and Fall
- Saturday, June 17th at 9am (Trail Steward’s Breakfast Meet Up at 8pm) Location: The Port Jefferson Station Trailhead.
- Saturday, July 15th at 9am, Starting locations: The Port Jefferson Station and Setauket Trailhead.
- Saturday, August 12th at 9am, Starting locations: The Port Jefferson Station and Setauket Trailhead.
- Saturday, September 9th 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
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.
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, owner/operator, donates many, many of his 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.
Shown above is Dave Prestia, owner/operator, of Bagel Express
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!
Editor in Chief – Herb Mones
