Volume 4, Issue 10

October 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!

Happy 25th Anniversary

Yes, in an important way, the Greenway turned 25 this year. Not wanting to let the year slip by without a bit of reflection, it was back in 1999 that a group of local residents, civic activists and governmental officials meet in the cramped conference room of former Assemblyman Steven Englebright to discuss the building of a bicycle and pedestrian path on an unused NYS-DOT right-of- way in our area.

The NYS-DOT property under consideration at this evening meeting was a 150 foot wide corridor running about 3 1/2 miles from Setauket to Port Jefferson Station. The ribbon of land was acquired by the State in the 1960s to construct a bypass highway to alleviate traffic in downtown Setauket and Port Jefferson Village. The ‘bypass highway plans’ were postponed as other projects took priority. The land had sat fallow for decades.

By the 1990’s, multiple neighborhoods were built along the State’s ‘highway corridor’ in Setauket and Port Jefferson Station. As the years passed, memories of these highway plans faded, and most residents were unaware that the open land in their ‘backyards’ was a potential four lane highway.
The local civic association and Assemblyman Englebright understood there was ‘ticking time bomb,’ since a new multi-lane highway in the adjacent neighborhoods would be catastrophic. The danger of a highway served as a catalyst to develop a ‘better use’ for the State’s property. That better use was a bike path!

That first meeting, 25 years ago, set into motion the planning for a repurposing of the NYS-DOT land. It would take 10 years of meeting to develop the design for the Greenway. That would be a lot of meetings, and a lot of time and work. Steve Englebright, Herb Mones and Charlie McAteer were there from the very beginning in 1999, and every step of the way until the build out was completed. And both Steve, Herb and Charlie continue in their work and advocacy for the trail today!!

Above: After 10 years of planning, the first phase of the Greenway was opened in 2009.

Our September Greenway Cleanup

Thank you to the close to thirty residents who attended our Saturday, September 20th Cleanup! Participants of our September efforts included: Charlie Mcateer, Ted Fiore-Rosenfeld, Dave Wang, Susan Colatosti, Craig den Hartog, Ben Brehl, and Norman Samuels. members of Cub Pack 333: Scout Eli Beale, Eloise Beale, Michelle Beale, Craig Beale, Scout Steven Alwais, Scout Matthew Alwais, Rob Alwais, Stephanie Alwais, Scout Jacob Knust, Carter Knust, Stacey Knust, Brain Knust, Scout Nicky Moran, Scout Matt Moran, Kristina Moran, Lily Morgan, Scout Luke Roth-Mendelsohn, Scout Aaron Roth-Mendelsohn, and Mr. & Mrs. Roth-Mendelsohn.

At our cleanup, you’ll see these yellow buckets and litter grabbers. These are provided by Craig den Hartog of Emerald Magic Lawn Care. Craig has been providing flower bulbs, buckets and grabbers for the Greenway over many years at “no cost.” See the Emerald Magic advertisement at the end of this newsletter for contact information.

With the monthly Greenway Cleanups coming to an end, the Trust never stops working in the community! Join us on Saturday, October 5th at the Stony Brook Train Station!!

Our Annual Fall Gala – Support the Friends of the Greenway and the Three Village Community Trust

The Three Village Community Trust’s Fall Gala is THE event that supports our Greenway. The funds raised on this night go a long way in providing the Friends of the Greenway the resources to preserve, protect and enhance the trail. Please sign up – today!

Help the Greenway – Thrive

And …the Friends of the Greenway encourages you to be a sponsor of this year’s Fall Galla of the Three Village Community Trust!

The Three Village Community Trust – our parent organization – is hosting its 20th Annual Fall Fundraiser on Wednesday, November 13th at the Old Field Club. This Fall Gala brings together many of the area’s most prominent leaders from government, business, cultural organizations, educational institutions, and civic groups. You can be a sponsor of this event!

The Fall Fundraising Gala is the Trust’s most important source of funding to “Protect the Places You Love.” As an all-volunteer, not for profit the Trust depends on the Gala to support its many projects throughout the upcoming year. Every Trust site benefits by this event including the Greenway!

The special guest for the evening is Dr. Heather Lynch of Stony Brook University. Dr. Lynch is an internationally renowned author, researcher and lecturer, who was recently named the Inaugural Director of the Collaboration for the Earth at Stony Brook University.

Please consider being a sponsor this year!

Every sponsor will be listed in our 2024 Gala Brochure.
Every sponsor will be recognized on the large, outdoor banner posted at Bruce House Headquarters at 148 Main Street, Setauket.
And every sponsor will be listed for one year in the advertisement section of our Trail Mix!
And every sponsor will be listed in our January 2025, February 2025 and March 2025 Photo-Newsletter that is emailed to all of our members and supporters.

Whether you are an individual, business, cultural institution, civic organization, government leader, please consider being a Fall Gala sponsor.

Click here to become a sponsor!

In case you missed it …

Our parent organization – the Three Village Community Trust had a terrific day at this year’s Culper Spy Day at Patriots Rock.

The Trust had six sites operating at Patriots Rock – Blacksmithing demonstrations (Paul Riley,) talks on the Battle of Setauket (Dave Tracy,) a Setalcott Nation grounds (Setalcott members and Michael Rosengard) , a “Learn More Center” (taught by Scouts,) a Trust Literature table (led by Ann Robitsek, with assistance from Alice D’Amico,) and a Harbor Task Force Table (with tales of Caleb Brewster, told by George Hoffman and Steve Antos.)

The Trust held a well-attended celebration for Michael Rosengard. Michael, a visionary artist and photographer, has transformed the grounds of Partiots Rock Historic Site over the past year into a visual delight! And, Greenway users – there is now a trail at the site, thanks to Michael! The Trust presented to Michael an antiqued Betsy Ross Flag, a Trust gift basket, and a framed Leadership Award Certificate.

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.

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