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!
The 2024 Great Brookhaven Town Cleanup
On Saturday, May 18th, community groups throughout Brookhaven Town engaged in cleanup efforts to make our streets, parks, and neighborhoods ‘shine.’ The Friends of the Greenway were thrilled to be part of this important town-wide effort and spent the morning making the trail a ‘destination’ for bicyclists, pedestrians, joggers, runners, birders, naturalists, families – Everyone!
Kudos to our Greenway Chair – Charlie McAteer! His hard work, dedication and good humor is infectious. Charlie secured the supplies for the cleanup, sent our announcement, and then, guided the activities for the participants on the day of the Cleanup. Thank you, Charlie.
And Thank You to the many participants in the Town of Brookhaven’s Great Cleanup on the Greenway:
Luke Salonga – Pack 333
Leo Saloga – Pack 333
Matteo Paulson – Pack 333
Kyle Nyugen Pack – 333
Matthew Alwais Pack – 333
Erik Paulson Supervisor – Pack 333
Lana Nyugen Supervisor – Pack 333
Johanna Salonga Supervisor – Pack 333
Stephane Alwais leader – Pack 333
Rachel Nyugen
New York State Assemblyman – Ed Flood
Brookhaven Town Councilman – Jonathan Kornreich
Dave Wang – Trail Steward
Greenway Chairman Charlie Mcateer
Sue Colatosti – Trail Steward
Arron Hoffman – Trail Steward
Michelle Hoffman – Trail Steward
Ben Brehl – Trail Steward
Port Jefferson Village Deputy Mayor – Rebecca Kassay
Brian Cohen – Trail Steward
Gene Nielsen – Trail Steward
Kathryn Nielsen – Trail Steward
Don’t Miss This Acclaimed Event!
Yes! This year, the Wet Paint Festival will be at the Tyler Homestead. This is a property of your beloved Three Village Community Trust – the parent organization of the Friends of the Greenway!
As the center of this year’s Wet Paint Festival, the Tyler Homestead will serve as a hub for artists as they explore and paint nearby landmarks – Frank Melville Memorial Park, Patriot’s Rock, the Caroline Church, the Setauket Green, Emma Clark Public Library, and the three Immigrant Factory Worker Houses. These important sites will provide an ideal setting for our community to watch plein air painters at work.
If you have never attended this event – don’t miss it! Its free and its Special!! Visit gallerynorth.org
Seen on the Greenway!
Everyone has their special way of ‘working’ the Greenway. Two of our Stewards have their own special way of collecting and transporting litter and debris!
Here is Ben Brehl with his trusty red cart.
And, Greenway users know Norm Samuels special battery scooter!
At the May Cleanup: This downed tree didn’t stand a chance!
The Trust Honors our Heroes on Memorial Day
Setauket’s Memorial Day Parade marches past the Three Village Community Trust’s Headquarters on Main Street each year. As in the past, the Trust set up a “Hero Watch Zone” to cheer and applaud the parade participants.
A great way to honor and respect this very special day!
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, June 15th at 9am – (Trail Steward’s Breakfast Meet Up at 8pm) – Starting Location: The Port Jefferson Station Trailhead.
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 or Charlie:
HJMones@gmail.com
cfmcateer@gmail.com
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 by visiting us at: threevillagecommunitytrust.org
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:
- 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!
- 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.
- Keep a log of your time/date and activities on the trail. Email your log to the Friends of the Greenway in September.
- Alert the Friends of the Greenway of any problems or issues. (For example: downed tree or branches on the trail.)
- You can make recommendations to the Friends of the Greenway for the enhancement of your section.
- 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.
- 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.
- We often assign two or more groups to a section. This helps make trail maintenance easier for everyone!
- Help with the scheduled Monthly Volunteer Clean-ups whenever possible.
- 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. Visit: www.threevillagecommunitytrust.org
Friends of the Greenway contact information:
tvcommtrust@optonline.net
HJmones@gmail.com Herb Mones
cfmcateer@gmail.com Charlie McAtateer
Friends of the Greenway contact information:
tvcommtrust@optonline.net
HJmones@gmail.com Herb Mones
cfmcateer@gmail.com Charlie McAteer
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
