Volume 5, Issue 12
December 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 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-two years ago to “Protect the Places You Love.” Support the Greenway by joining the Trust today! Visit: threevillagecommunitytrust.org
Happy Holidays
The Friends of the Greenway and the Three Village Community Trust wishes you and your family a joyous Holiday Season. The Greenway a very, very special place because of your help and support!
You’re Invited to a Special Bench Dedication
On Saturday morning, December 6th, at 10:00am, the Suffolk County Landbank Authority will be hosting the dedication of a new bench on the Greenway. The location is near the 2.75 mile marker on the trail – close to the former Lawrence Aviation property. Members of the Landbank purchased the materials for this bench and coordinated with leaders of the Friends of the Greenway and Scouting America to do the build-out. The bench is being installed in the loving memory of Andre Bermudez, a founding member of the Landbank Authority. Andre was instrumental in developing the County’s Landbank Brownfield program.
Please join members of the Landbank Authority, Friends of the Greenway, the Three Village Community Trust, Scouting America, and, most importantly, Andre’s family at the Saturday ceremony.
A Shout Out to Cub Scout Pack 354
The Scouts were out this November doing a cleanup of the trail. Cub Scout Pack 354 has proven to be a hardworking, dedicated group of Trail Stewards. We are appreciative of their efforts and thank their leadership team in ‘leading the way’ to a better Greenway,… and future for young people!
A Note About The Friends of the Greenway
Ever ask – where do funds come from to support The Friends of the Greenway? Trash bags, paint, insurance, Trail Steward hats and t-shirts, etc. Well, the Friends and the Three Village Community Trust hold several fundraisers each year. Your participation at these events sustains our operations! The Trust’s big fundraiser was last month! Read on …
The Three Village Community Trust held its 21st Annual Fall Gala on Wednesday, November 12th at the Old Field Club. More than one hundred leaders and representatives from government, business, cultural organizations, educational institutions, and civic groups attended to support the Trust’s work to “Protect the Places You Love.”
The special guest of honor for the evening was Noel Gish, the popular Long Island historian, teacher, author, researcher and lecturer. Noel spoke on the subject of “Forever Proud to be a Long Islander,” highlighting the outsized role Long Islanders have played throughout our nation’s history.
During the event, three Long Islanders were recognized for their special contributions to the Three Village community: Northville Industry and its General Manager Peter St. Germaine for their commitment to the Setauket to Port Jefferson Station Greenway; Emily Riley for her establishment of pollinator gardens at numerous public sites; and Dave Prestia of Bagel Express for his generous contributions to groups and institutions.
Above: Emily Riley, Peter St. Germaine, Trust President Peter Legakis, County Legislator Steve Englebright, Noel Gish, Councilman Jonathan Kornreich, Dave Prestia, Trust Secretary Herb Mones.
Cleanup Schedule
Spring/Summer/Fall 2026
Spring
- Saturday, April 18th at 9am, As part of the Earth Day Celebrations– Starting location: The Port Jefferson Station Trailhead.
- Saturday, Tentatively May 16th at 9am , To be held in conjunction with the Town of Brookhaven’s 2022 Great Annual Clean Up – Starting location: The Port Jefferson Station Trailhead. Refreshments will be served.
Summer/Fall
- Saturday, June 20th at 9am, Starting Location: The Port Jefferson Station Trailhead. (Trail Stewards Breakfast Meet Up at 8:30pm)
- Saturday, July 18th at 8:30am, Starting location: The Port Jefferson Trailhead
- Saturday, August 15th at 8:30am, Starting locations: The Port Jefferson Station Trailhead.
- Saturday, September 19th 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
The Three Village Community Trust 5th Annual Winter Coat Drive kicks off on Monday, December 1st and runs to Monday, December 15th.
This is a wonderful opportunity for you to help those in need by dropping off clean, wearable winter coats, gloves, and hats at the Trust’s Bruce House headquarters, which is conveniently located at 148 Main Street, Setauket.
Simply place your donation of winter coats, gloves and hats on the front porch. We will package and delivered the items to locally run centers helping those in need of warm outerwear.
And this year, we will have our friendly and helpful Office Managers on hand to collect your items in-person on the following dates/times:
- Tuesday, December 2nd from 1pm-3pm
- Friday, December 5th from 1pm-3pm
- Friday, December 12th from 1pm-3pm
In this time of giving, it is the hope of both the Trust that donation will bring warmth and joy to members of our local families
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!
Northville Industries
We are appreciative of Northville Industries’ big, big help in mowing the Greenway throughout the past year. Their partnership with the Three Village community helps make the Greenway a special place for all!
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.
The Three Village Community Trust
A community of volunteers working to “Protect the Places You Love.”
Trust properties and stewardships include: The Setauket to Port Jefferson Station Greenway, Patriots Rock Historic Site, The Immigrant Factory Worker Houses, the Hawkins Homestead, the Smith/de Zafra House, the Bruce House, the Steven D. Mathews Preserve, The Little Red House, the Dr. Robert and Julia de Zafra Estate, and the Tyler House.
Trust programs and outreaches include: The Trail Steward Program, The Little Food Pantry, Chicken Hill Country Picnic, Annual Winter Coat Drive, Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, Patriots Rock Program – Culper Spy Day, Maria’s No Mow May, Simply De-Vine Awareness Program, Annual Ukrainian Relief Drive, The Trail Mix Newsletter, monthly Greenway Cleanups, Earth Day Celebration, The Trust’s Photo Letter, and the Stony Brook Train Station Beautification Project.
The Trust is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization of all volunteers dedicated to Protecting the Places You Love.
PO Box 2596, Setauket, New York 11733
