The Trail Mix
The Setauket to Port Jefferson Station Greenway Newsletter
Volume 2, Issue 6
July 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.
Where Did All the Greenways Go? (A Three-Part Series)
So, why are our roads so dangerous, why are so many bicyclists and pedestrians in danger, what can be done to make our roads safer, and why are there so few greenways? We call this series: Where Did All the Greenways Go?
Part III A:
Make the Roads Safe for Everyone!
The past issues of Trail Mix examined the rise of pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities on our roadways. Here is a frightening statistic – if you are hit and killed as a walker or bicyclist, in 25% of all cases, the driver will leave the scene of the accident. And, if the driver does remain at the scene of the accident, and is not intoxicated, it is unlikely any charges will be filed against them. Suffolk County is often noted to be one of the most dangerous places to ride a bicycle.
So, is there a solution to the mayhem on the roadways? For starters, we will begin to look at some fixes to bend the curve towards greater safety. In this issue, the first three:
First, as a driver of a vehicle, you need to be part of the solution – monitor your speed, follow the traffic postings, and be always mindful that driving your vehicle is a difficult, dangerous task. Driving requires your full attention, and do not treat your car as an extension of your home’s entertainment room. No texting, no phone calls, no reading, no eating, …just drive…safely.
Secondly, Infrastructure matters. Any new road proposal or re-design proposals of existing roads need your input to make it safe. Go to the town, county, or state hearings to make it clear road projects are not just for vehicles, but for non-motorized users, also. Do the plans include dedicated bike lanes, refuge islands to aid pedestrians crossing the road, traffic calming techniques, etc. Every project has to make our roads accessible to all users.
Enforcement is always a key to safety. The police can’t be everywhere, but they need to help and help a lot. A police presence on our roads makes them safer. Don’t be afraid to talk to your County Legislator about getting more enforcement of traffic laws in your community. But, a simple effective technology for immediately taming traffic is the use of speed cameras. While unpopular in our Wild West car-centered culture, they are highly effective in calming traffic. A common-sense solution is passing State legislation to allow the installation of traffic cameras on all roads that are designated bicycle corridors or have postings that state “Share the Road.” Boy, would that go a long way to reducing ‘non-occupant’ deaths. And, why not have ‘double the fines and points” for drivers violating the rules in all of the bike corridors.
To be continued in our August issue….
Our Monthly Clean-up – June
On Saturday, June 11th, the Friends of the Greenway held another monthly clean-up of the Trail!
But, before the clean-up, our Trail Stewards had a Meet-Up at the Port Jefferson Trailhead to discuss Greenway issues, kibitz, and have a bagel nosh!
From left to right: Charlie McAteer, Dave Wang, Greg Nicklas, Michelle Davidson, Aaron Hoffman and Susan Colatosti
A lot of fun. Why not join the Greenway Team? Email Herb or Charlie:
HJMones@gmail.com
cfmcateer@gmail.com
Missed the June cleanup? Well, we have more coming up:
- Saturday, July 23rd at 9 am Starting locations: The Port Jefferson Station and Setauket Trailhead.
- Saturday, August 20th at 9 am Starting locations: The Port Jefferson Station and Setauket Trailhead.
- Saturday, September 17th at 9 am, Starting location: The Port Jefferson Station Trailhead
On Friday, June 10th, the ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on the new North Shore Rail Trail. This ten-mile bike path follows the abandoned LIRR line that once ran all the way to Wading River. The trail is flat, with many, many interesting features. It promises to be a major recreational corridor. Combined with our Greenway, you can do a twenty-six-mile trip on a mostly protected path.
The trailhead is just east of the Port Jefferson Greenway Trailhead – head straight out of the parking lot, get on Hallock Road, and in about three-quarters of a mile you can pick up the new trail!
Kudos go to Legislator Sara Anker for her determination and perseverance over many obstacles to see this project to its conclusion. Covid, NIMBYism, LIPA, budget restrictions, – nothing could stop Sara from creating a safe recreational corridor that will boost the local economy, protect our children, and make Long Island the “Bike Capital of America.”
See some of our Stewards, below.
Michael Buchman – Road Warrior
Michael Buchman -Bicycle advocate, Greenway Trail Steward, and riding enthusiast was badly injured in a bicycle/car crash, suffering a broken leg, a serious number of stitches, and a few days in the hospital.
Nevertheless, Michael was at the North Shore Rail Trail opening and spoke eloquently of the need for more greenways! We wish him a rapid and full recovery!
(Yes – that’s Martin standing in the photo of the North Shore Rail \Trail Opening with the cast on his leg.)
Who’s that Girl?
Here is a shout-out to Sandra Krolik, who was recently honored at the 36th Anniversary Celebration of the Town of Brookhaven’s Office of Woman’s Services. Sandy, who often volunteers at the Three Village Community Trust events (our parent organization) received a Special Commendation Award for her volunteer service to a number of groups throughout the area! Councilman Kornreich presented the award with hundreds of attendees looking on!
Congrats, Sandy.
Keep in Mind:
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.”
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 whopping 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!
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.
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,
Donate during our parent organization’s $50,000 Challenge Grant, still in effect, though we have broken the 50K mark!!!
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
