Volume 4, Issue 2

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!

Our Annual Membership Drive is Now in Progress! Join Today!

It’s In Our hands To Stop the Madness

The Trail Mix has written often on the increasingly dangerous roadways bicyclists and pedestrians need to navigate. While the Greenway is a safe and effective alternative to the streets, as walkers, runners, and bicyclists we often must be out and about with vehicles to get to the trail. So, it is with that thought in mind that we regularly report in our newsletter issues like traffic calming, safe bicycle habits, vehicle safety, etc.

In the December 11th ‘23 issue of the New York Times, journalist David Leonhard wrote an interesting article on the rise in U.S. traffic deaths. His article asked this: What’s behind America’s unique problem with vehicle crashes?
Interestingly, Leonhard observes “In the 1920s, the death toll from vehicle crashes was so high that gruesome photos of accidents were a staple of newspaper coverage. By 2010 — thanks to better design of roads and vehicles, the addition of seatbelts and greater awareness of drunken driving, among other things — the death rate from crashes had fallen almost 90 percent from its 1920s level. But the progress ended about a decade ago, or at least it did in the United States. Even as vehicle deaths have continued falling in most countries, they have risen in this country. Here’s a stark way of thinking about the problem: If the U.S. had made as much progress reducing vehicle crashes as other high-income countries had over the past two decades, about 25,000 fewer Americans would die every year.”

Leonhard acknowledges there are many explanations offered for the increase in traffic fatalities, but they don’t seem to fit. Yes, cars are large, but they have become only slightly larger since the early 2000s. And drunk driving has not increased, and traffic engineers have made safer highways. He concludes “There has been one major change in driver behavior: the use of smartphones.” The rising pedestrian death toll follows the rapid introduction and use of smartphones.

“Smartphones have also become ubiquitous in other countries, of course. But American drivers seem to be addicted to their phones in ways that drivers elsewhere are not. Surveys suggest Americans spend more time on their phones while driving than people do in other countries. In part, this phenomenon may reflect this country’s culture, which emphasizes professional success and immediate gratification.

It also partly reflects vehicle technology. Nearly all cars in the U.S. are automatic transmission, freeing drivers’ hands (or so they may think) to use phones. In Europe, almost 75 percent of cars still have gears that a driver must change manually.”

Yes, there are solutions – technology exists to have traffic cameras identify and fine drivers who are texting or handling their phones. But, like the use of speed cameras and red light cameras, there is stiff resistance to any enforcement of this type.

Leonhard laments, as we do, “Instead, the U.S. has chosen to accept a vehicle death rate that is almost three times higher than that of Canada, Australia or France, more than four times higher than that of Germany or Japan and more than five times higher than that of Scandinavia, Switzerland or Britain.

So, the madness continues.

Did You Know The Greenway Has a Headquarters?

Yes, the Friends of the Greenway’s center of operations is at 148 Main Street in Setauket. This is the headquarters of the Three Village Community Trust, our parent organization.

To All Greenway Users: The Three Village Community Trust’s 2024 Membership Drive is Now in Progress

The Trust now enters its twenty-first year of “Protecting the Places You Love!” The success of the Trust, and the Friends of the Greenway, over the past decades has only been possible because of people like YOU! At this time, we hope you will continue your support us by renewing your membership, and if you are not a member – please join us!

The Smith/deZafra House in Setauket. Brookhaven’s first Town Hall.

Our all-volunteer organization relies heavily on memberships for the funding needed to protect our “museum collection” of historical homes and improve sites like the 3.2 mile Setauket to Port Jefferson Greenway and Patriots Rock Historic Site. In 2023, your membership fees enabled us to complete a major restoration of the grounds at the Smith/deZafra House in Setauket – Brookhaven’s first Town Hall, as well as many repairs at the historic Tyler House!

Join Us! Click here to become a member!

Zelle users can go to tvcommtrust@optonline.net to make their membership payment.

Another downed tree! Thanks to the LI-NYSDOT for their help removing the tree!

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)

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, owner/operator, donates many, many of his 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. 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! 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!

Editor in Chief – Herb Mones