Volume 6, Issue 1

Wishing you and your family the very best in 2026!

A new, special addition to the Greenway

Members of the Friends of the Greenway, the Suffolk County Landbank Authority, the Three Village Community Trust, Scouting America, and elected officials gathered to dedicate 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. 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 of this bench 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.

Thoughts and prayers for Andre as we pass this bench.

Photos from the Dedication Ceremony – We are All Family

Our Annual 2026 Membership Drive Is Now In Progress

Greenway enthusiasts

The Three Village Community Trust, the parent organization of the Friends of the Greenway, is now entering its twenty-third year of “Protecting the Places You Love!” The Trust’s and Friend’s success over the past decades of caring for the Greenway has only been possible because of people like YOU! With your help, we will continue to protect and preserve the community you love.

Both the Trust and the Friends are all-volunteer organizations. We depend on membership dues for the funding needed to maintain the 3.2 mile Setauket to Port Jefferson Greenway and other properties.

At this time, we hope you will continue to support of the Trust by renewing your membership. (And if you are not a member – please join us!)
Visit us at: threevillagecommunitytrust.org.

Sincerely,

Your Three Village Community Trust Board of Trustees and Advisors: Peter Legakis, Herb Mones, Hope Kinney, Alice D’Amico, Robert Reuter, David Prestia, Virginia Brown, Ann Robitsek, Greg de Bruin, Judi Wallace, Katherine Downs-Reuter, Norma Watson, Charlie McAteer, Michael Rosengard, Gretchen Oldrin, Rick Giovon

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

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

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