Volume 5, Issue 3
March 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!
There’s kind of a hush …
The Greenway gets pretty quiet during these last days of winter. There are very few bicyclists on the trail due to the cold, and the early morning walkers seem to be sleeping-in.
But for those braving the cold, there are wonderful opportunities to see the magic of the last days of wintertime! Look at the varied features of the lands adjacent to the trail – small valleys, basins, even an old farm road or two. Appreciate the clear, distant vistas offered with the absence of any foliage. And listen – there is just the wind moving through the trees.
Very soon the Greenway will see the reemergence of ferns, thickets of vines, and buds ready to burst. Suddenly, people cocooned over the past few months will be back as ‘regulars’ – walking, running, and by cycling every day.
So, in these days when the ‘Green’ way is more of a brown and gray, take time to enjoy the sights, sounds and shadows of a season that is about to end, and a new one begin.
A Note of Thanks
Most people would agree that the Trail Stewards of the Friends of the Greenway do an amazing job! Through their monthly cleanups and often weekly independent efforts, the Greenway is almost always free of trash and debris.
Our Stewards do struggle in one area – mowing the grass along the Greenway. At one time, the Town’s Highway Department helped with a monthly mowing of the trail – a wonderful community service that was deeply appreciated for many, many years.
And while we have many helpers pitching in to do mowing, we may now have an important partnership with Northville Industries, located on Belle Mead Road. Northville has expressed that they are eager to become involved with the Greenway and we should give them a call to help with the mowing. They have a professional service for their property and can send over a crew to help us by mowing the entire trail from time to time. Wow!
Congratulations
If you haven’t heard- the Boy Scouts of America has rebranded itself as Scouting America. For more than a century, those involved in Scouting have served an essential role in shaping every corner of our nation.
We are deeply appreciative of the Scouts for helping to maintain and enhance the Greenway. Wishing success to Scouting America!!
Setauket to Port Jefferson Station Greenway Clean Up Schedule
Spring/Summer/Fall 2025
Spring
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
Are you a Member? We need You!
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.
Steve Antos – He can do it all!
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
