The Setauket to Port Jefferson Station Greenway Newsletter
Volume 2, Issue 9 – October 2022
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.
Many Greenway users ask this: What can I do to support the Greenway – its maintenance, its enhancement, its future? Well, the answer is pretty simple – get involved with the Friends of the Greenway and its parent organization – The Three Village Community Trust. The year’s biggest fundraiser for The Friends and the Trust is right around the corner. Read on …
Yes, the Three Village Community Trust’s Fall Gala is our most important source of funding to “Protect the Places You Love.” As an all-volunteer, not-for-profit, we depend on the Gala to support the Greenway in the upcoming year. The funds raised at the Gala go a long way to buy supplies for our cleanups, paint to cover graffiti, tools requested by Stewards, insurance coverage, and even grass seed! The Gala also supports the Trust’s building restoration projects, website maintenance, mailings, and utilities. We need you to help! So, …
The special guest for the Gala is noted author and lecturer, John Turner, known widely as one of the most respected and influential voices for the protection of the natural environment. John is co-founder of the Long Island Pine Barrens Society, a spokesperson for the Preserve Plum Island Coalition, the Conservation Chair of the Four Harbors Audubon Society, and an active member of numerous other environmental advocacy organizations. We are thrilled to have John as our special guest at the Gala.
By attending you will be helping to preserve and protect some of our area’s most treasured sites.
Music by Carl Safina and Moment’s Notice, Light Buffet, Amazing Art Raffle, Spectacular Raffle Baskets, and much more!
Two ways to buy tickets:
For online ticket sales click here.
Or mail a check to the TVCT, PO box 2596, Setauket, NY 11790
Tickets are $75 each. There is limited seating! Buy Now! Last year’s event was sold out.
Creating a New Meadow in Port Jefferson Station!
The Green Team of Charlie McAteer and Dave Wang were hard at work last month cleaning, raking, adding soil, and seeding areas near the Port Jefferson Trailhead. What was once the “field of dread” with downed trees, weeds, vines, and litter – is now a field of dreams. Congratulations Charlie and Dave. And thanks to the Three Village Community Trust for buying the grass seed for this project that has enhanced the trailhead area!
Teach the Children!
As we have said so many times before, the roads are increasingly dangerous for pedestrians and bicyclists. It is more important today, than ever before to educate your children (or grandchildren) on some common sense ‘rules of the road’ to keep them safe!
And don’t think because you have taught them the ‘rules’ that they have internalized them. It takes repetition and reinforcement to get kids to learn and practice safety on our streets.
- Always walk on the shoulder of the road facing traffic. Bicyclists must ride with the flow of traffic.
- Never wear dark colors when walking at night. You are difficult to see. Carry a flashlight and use it! Bicycles should be equipped with multiple lights.
- When crossing the street be sure traffic is stopped and you make eye contact with the driver of the vehicle. Just because the car is stopped does not mean the driver knows you are crossing the street.
- Sidewalks and pathways are far better alternatives than roadways – plan the safest route.
- When using roads, traffic rules and regulations apply to vehicles AND you. Yes, stop signs apply to you as well as all other traffic signs and signals
- Drivers are often unaware of walkers and bicycle riders! Many drivers are alcohol and/or drug impaired. YOU need to be constantly ‘on your game’ to arrive safely at your destination.
A Special Event!
Every year, the Hope Children’s Fund holds a unique event on the Greenway to benefit the children’s home in Meru, Kenya. Recently, Larry Hohler, the beloved chief architect of this humanitarian effort passed away. The race is now named in his memory. Help keep Larry’s dream alive by participating! See below!
And, Another Great Event!
Martin Buchman, one of our Trail Stewards, is helping with a great bicycling event! Check out the different opportunities to participate in a very special day of bicycling. – See below!
Stony Brookside CycleNY Long Island Ride Online Registration (bikereg.com)
Our Monthly Cleanup: September
Yes, the Greenway Crew was out again in September – it was our last regularly scheduled cleaning of the year. Charlie McAteer met with another Eagle Scout candidate. The Trail Stewards were out and about picking up litter. And, Charlie McAteer, Dave Wang and Nick Kordis worked on kiosk repairs at the Port Jefferson Trailhead. (The kiosk doors needed lots of attention to open and close properly.) Thanks!!
Why not join the Greenway Team? Email Herb or Charlie:
HJMones@gmail.com
cfmcateer@gmail.com
Remember This: The Three Village Community Trust is our parent organization and is now holding its Annual Membership Drive! Without the Trust, the Friends of the Greenway would not have the needed financial support and the organizational capacity to effectively maintain our stewardship of the trail.
So, if you are a Greenway user, a trail advocate, or simply someone committed to the community, please consider joining the Trust today to “Protect the Places You Love.”
Click here to become a member!
Click here to print out a form and mail a check.
Wow, it was a great idea!
If you remember, back in the Fall of 2021, 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!
TRAIL BLING !!!!
Well, here are some of our advertisements:
…………………………….
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 – so good! For the second year in a row, The Trail Mix has voted Bagel Express #1 for breakfast and lunch, and all of your catering needs. Thanks, Dave.
Also – Dave was THE generous sponsor for the Chicken Hill BBQ. He provided the food and refreshments, as well as the wait staff! We appreciate all of his contributions to the Trust!
A Big Friend of the Trust is Swan Cove Landscaping (631-689-8089). Swan Cove does a whole line of services – lawn maintenance, pruning, stone walls, and firewood. Dave Fortuna, the owner/operator, donates many, many of his services to the Trust. The result – our properties always look great! Thank you, Dave!
And of note: Not only did Dave get the lawn mowed and look great for the recent Chicken Hill event. He also took down a dangerous, leaning tree on the property. We are highly appreciative of his generous work for the Friends of the Greenway and the Trust!
Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn is our Trail booster! Kara can be found running on the Greenway, picking up litter on the Greenway, and ‘talking up’ the Greenway with her constituents. We thank Kara for her support!
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 for many years at “no cost.” We planted a big bulk of these bulbs at the kiosk on Gnarled Hollow Road, Setauket.
Craig’s 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?
www.EmeraldMagic.com
631-286-4600
631-804-9205
194-4 Morris Ave
Holtsville, NY 11742
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,
Go to threevillagecommunitytrust.com and donate during our parent organization’s $50,000 Maria Hoffman Challenge Grant. The kick-off for the matching challenge is in October.
This really helps: 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
