The Setauket to Port Jefferson Station Greenway Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 7
October 2021
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 the Greenway is a committee of our parent organization – The Three Village Community Trust.
Hidden Secrets of the Greenway #1
There are a number of hidden secrets to those who look carefully when out on the Trail. We are going to reveal some of these – not all – in upcoming editions of the Trail Mix. But don’t tell anyone – or, they won’t be secrets any longer.
Most trail users don’t know there is an opportunity to capture spectacular sunrises on the Trail – but you need to get out early. Head east from the Setauket trailhead and stop at the top of the first hill. Looking directly east, you will see the sun gradually rise in all of its beauty. From this vantage point, you are on top of the world!
And if you decide to take a bit of a different walk when at the trailhead, go out to Route 25A, and turn right towards the shopping centers. Travel just a bit east and make a right turn on Hills Drive, which is just past the East Setauket Post Office. Take Hills to the end. Make a right turn onto Penelope Drive. As you walk on Penelope, you will be going uphill, and you are traveling parallel to the Greenway. At the top of this hill – look north, and, if the trees have lost their leaves, you can see the Long Island Sound. Cool! (This same view would have been possible from “Sunrise Hill” on the Greenway, but the hill’s elevation was cut down to make the Trail ADA compliant.)
Happy 75th!
Our New York Assemblyman, Steven Englebright recently turned 75!
As many of you know, the Assemblyman was THE driving force to moving the Greenway from an Idea to Reality. He provided the vision, inspiration, guidance and support for transforming a proposed highway into a multiuse path for pedestrians and bicyclists. Quite an accomplishment. Thank you, Assemblyman Englebright, and we wish you many more years of health and happiness!
Next trail Cleanup is on Saturday, October 25th! We’ll meet at the Port Jefferson Station Trail Head at 9am.
Our cleanups are fun events! And, they provide lots fresh air and exercise. Being involved in community based events like the monthly cleanups will give you a connectiveness to the community so often lacking in our towns and villages. Join us!
Graffiti –
We continue to have episodes of graffiti on the Trail. Almost always, the vandalism occurs in the vicinity of the abandoned Lawrence Aviation site. This shouldn’t be surprising – the decaying ruins of this old manufacturing site is a magnet for the discontented and disenfranchised. The nearby Greenway gets a ‘spillover effect’ of ‘tags’ on the pavement, and even rocks.
Thanks to Charlie McAteer and Greg deBruin for helping to remove the recent markings!
Join Us!
The Three Village Community Trust’s Annual Fall Fundraiser is just around the corner! The TVCT provides the Friends of the Greenway financial support, insurance coverage, meeting space and a host of other essential services throughout the year. Without the Trust, the Friends of the Greenway could not exist. So, why not join other Greenway supporters on Wednesday, November 17th at the Trust’s annual shindig?
Annual Fall Fundraiser
Wednesday, November 17th
7:00pm at the Old Field Club
An Evening with Maria Hoffman
“Reflections on a Lifetime of Service”
Maria Hoffman is a beloved friend throughout the Three Village community: artist, photographer, and the long-time, recently retired, Chief of Staff for Assemblyman Steven Englebright. Maria has always been the “go to person” for the Friends of the Greenway when there has been a problem or concern.
Light refreshments, Music, Raffle Baskets, Art Raffle
$75 per person
Limited Ticket Availability
Wow – I want a ticket!
Tickets will be available on the Trust’s website the week of October4th
Visit: www.threevillagecommunitytrust.org, or email tvcommtrust@optonline.net
What’s green, grows rapidly, is everywhere, and is both Loved and Hated?
English Ivy. What’s not to love?
You’ll see it climbing on trees in different areas of the Greenway. And it blankets many areas with its dark green leaves and graceful tendrils. It also has a royal look- think large estates, or even the ivy covered walls of those prestigious colleges.)
It was brought to the Americas by English settlers yearning for reminders of the old country. And, today, English Ivy grows throughout the northeast, and on Long Island in particular.
It is found in landscaped beds, gracefully climbing on stone walls and chimneys, and covering the trunks of trees.
Yes, English Ivy is an inexpensive groundcover for many homeowners, and is an effective way to stabilize soil on steep slopes and hills.
How can anyone not like English Ivy? Beware!
English ivy will gradually destroy everything you love – ok, maybe that’s a little dramatic – but it will make you pay a price for falling prey to its good looks.
You see, those tiny little roots or tendrils adhere to everything – slowly penetrating the surface of tree bark, mortar, wood trim, siding – anything that is not moving. For trees, English Ivy is deadly – the plant carries a bacteria that is harmful to the tree, and its tendrils will open the bark to even more bacteria and fungus. English Ivy can suffocate a tree by shielding it from needed sunlight. And, during storms, the ivy creates a ‘sail’ effect, allowing high winds to catch the trunk and branches of the tree and bring it down. If you let the ivy climb over parts of your home, you will eventually find yourself paying big bills for repairs to damaged chimneys and shingles.
What to do – while there are a number of solutions, the best is not to let it get started – and if you have it on your property continue to cut it back. Dispose of the garden waste properly. Too many people ‘dump’ their yard waste in public spaces, like the sides of roadways, parks, or the Greenway – allowing the spread of this creeping, crawly menace to take hold and spread …. and spread …. and spread…
Mapping our way Forward
It takes a lot of people to make the Greenway work: our Trail Stewards, the dedicated folks at the NYS DOT, our local, county, and State elected officials, the people at the Three Village Community Trust, and you – the active and supportive public.
We mentioned earlier, Assemblyman Steven Englebright, whose vision and commitment to the Greenway guided it to completion. And that new guy – Councilman Kornreich – he shows up at every cleanup to put some sweat equity into the community.
But how ‘bout a big shout out to Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn. Recently, Kara was able to secure grant money to our parent organization, the Three Village Community Trust, to help subsidize the design and publication of an updated Setauket to Port Jefferson Station Greenway map. We distribute these maps to the public at a variety of events. These brochures not only show the route/layout of the Greenway, these brochures have educational information about greenways, and specific rules to follow when using the trail.
We are down to about three of these maps. Now, with the grant monies, we will be able to replenish our cupboards and keep people informed and educated on “All things Greenway.”
And, we would be remiss not to mention Kara’s Legislative Aide, Alyssa Turano, who helped us in navigating the grant process.
Wow, it was a great idea!
If you remember, in the September issue of the Trail Mix, we announced we are running advertisements and messages to fund Greenway projects. We wrote:
Want to advertise your business or service, and at the same time help the Greenway?
With the wild popularity of The Trail Mix (or at least we’d like to think so), we have decided to give businesses and individuals an opportunity to advertise in our newsletter. At the end of The Trail Mix, we’ll post advertisements and personal messages for the whooping sum of $25 per issue. All proceeds will go to the care and maintenance of the Greenway – gloves, tools, trash bags, cleaning supplies, and other basic necessities for the Trail Stewards and volunteers.
Interested in advertising: Contact hjmones@gmail.com with your content, and the payment method and other details will be emailed back to you!
Well, here are some of our advertisements:
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A message from Katherine Downs and Robert Reuter:
Wish to thank the Friends of the Greenway and the Three Village Community Trust for their work!
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Kara Hahn is proud to support the Three Village Community Trust and the Friends of the Greenway!
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And, we would like to recognize a special donor to the Greenway:
Emerald Magic Lawn Care’s horticultural consultant, Craig den Hartog has been providing flower bulbs for the Greenway over many years at “no cost.” Craig generosity is part of his beautification effort known as Old Town Blooms. Why not support Emerald Magic, who supports us!
www.EmeraldMagic.com
631-286-4600
631-804-9205
194-4 Morris Ave
Holtsville, NY 11742
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Want to help the Friends of the Greenway. Here are three ways:
Become a member of the Three Village Community Trust! Join by visiting www.threevillagecommunitytrust.org, and
Attend our Fall Fundraiser! (See Above)
Please consider the “Care to Share Program” at Investors Bank on Route 25A in Setauket. If you have an existing or newly established account at Investors Bank, simply by designating the Three Village Community Trust as your favorite not-for-profit, we will receive regular donations by Investors Bank to our organization!
Editor-in-Chief: Herb Mones
