May Photo Letter
May 2026 Volume 3 Issue 5
We know you’re busy, so rather than sending you a newsletter with a lot of text, please take a look at our latest ‘Monthly Photo Newsletter’ – a ‘snapshot’ of happenings to keep you informed and up-to-date on the Trust.
Spring Cleanup on the Greenway!
The Trust takes the lead in helping to clean and maintain one of our community’s most important recreational areas – the Setauket to Port Jefferson Station Greenway. We are fortunate to have Scouting groups join us to keep the Greenway beautiful:
Photos by Rob DeStefano
Proud to be part of the Times Beacon Record’s 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Staller Center
The Three Village Times Herald is the key source of news for our community. The newspaper is part of the Times Beacon Record, which was established 50 years ago under the extraordinary leadership of publisher/editor Leah Dunaief. The Trust’s Herb Mones was one of the invited panelists at the celebration held at Stony Brook’s Staller Center.
Trust secretary, Herb Mones, presents Leah Duniaef a sculptured eagle representing the importance of the freedom of the press.
America 250 Stronger
The Trust was honored on Patriots Day by the Anna Strong Smith Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. It was a fabulous celebration held at the Setauket Neighborhood House, with more than one hundred community members in attendance. The Daughters of the American Revolution noted the following about the Trust in its proclamation
- Since its founding in 2003, the Three Village Community Trust has been a leader in protecting and preserving the historic character of the Three Village community.
- Today, the Trust is widely recognized for its commitment to its mission of “Protecting the Places You Love.”
Over the decades, the Trust has acquired a unique collection of iconic properties – a museum of historic structures that will be protected for future generations. These properties include:Patriots Rock Historic Site, The Three 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 Drs. Robert and Julia de Zafra Estate, Julia’s Corner, and the Tyler House. - And at the same time that the Trust restores and preserves historic structures in the community, it has established stewardship agreements to maintain, monitor and enhance important parts of the community, including: The Setauket to Port Jefferson Station Greenway and The Steven D. Matthews Preserve.
- While expanding its museum collection of properties and stewardships, the Trust has also established signature programs and initiatives that promote the Three Village’s culture and environment, as well as the health and education of children and families. These efforts include:The Trail Steward Program, The Little Food Pantry, Chicken Hill Country Picnic, Annual Winter Coat Drive, Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, the Patriots Rock Experience at Culper Spy Day, Maria’s No Mow May, Simply De-Vine Awareness Program, Annual Ukrainian Relief Drive, The Friends of the Greenway’s Monthly Trail Mix Newsletter, monthly Greenway Cleanups, Earth Day Celebration, The Trust’s Monthly Photo Newsletter, and the Stony Brook Train Station Beautification Project and Annual Holiday Art Installation Project.
- The Trust is also recognized as a partner with groups and service organizations throughout the Three Villages – readily engaging in shared events and opening its Headquarters as a meeting space for government officials, the Three Village Civic Association, the Anna Strong Smith Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and others.
- Now in its twenty-third year, the Trust, a not-for-profit, all-volunteer organization, has grown in its membership, events, stewardships, preserved properties, and outreach – demonstrating the power of ordinary citizens to “Protect the Places You Love.”
All we can say is – WOW!
Friends of the Greenway ‘Spring into Action’
The Friends of the Greenway is an arm of the Trust helping to maintain the Setauket to Port Jefferson Greenway. In April, the Friends kicked off its 2026 Cleanup Schedule.
The Trust – Working to keep the Greenway … Green
The Trust’s president, Peter Legakis was there! So was our Chair of the Friends of the Greenway, Charlie McAteer. Our Trail Stewards were there, also. It was a big turn out to support New York State Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay’s announcement of her legislation to protect the Greenway from any possible development as a highway by the NYS Department of Transportation.
Suffolk County Kicks Off LI America 250 and we were there!
Suffolk County held a special kick off for ‘All Things America 250’ at the County Center in Hauppauge. Part celebration, part new conference, part information sharing, the event brought together a who’s who of government officials, historians, historical societies and Long Island boosters. The Trust was represented by our very own Ann Robitsek. Through the day, Ann shared Trust literature, pamphlets, Greenway maps and …cheer! Thank you, Ann.
Earth Day at Stony Brook Train Station
The Trust continues its Stony Brook Train Station Beautification Project by holding its Annual Earth Day Cleanup on Saturday, April 25th.
Our Annual Maria’s No Mow May Awareness Campaign
Are you using fertilizer, herbicides and insecticides on your lawn? Maybe its time to rethink your lawn and garden practices. Maria’s No Mow May is the Trust’s public awareness campaign to have you reconsider your lawn ‘practices.’
The beloved Maria Hoffman passed away in 2022. Maria was someone who was involved in everything and anything that touched our community – historical preservation, open space protection, and environmental issues. There was no issue too large, or too small that Maria wasn’t part of – and always with a smile on her face. Her involvement was done with a quiet style and grace; and while, her voice was soft and light – her influence was great. Anyone who enjoys West Meadow Beach, the Setauket to Port Jefferson Greenway, the cultural, historical and art institutions in the area – they all need to give special thanks to Maria’s legacy.
Maria was an avid beekeeper. She loved her bees and maintained a number of hives. Her eyes sparkled whenever she spoke about bees – she marveled at their unique abilities and intelligence. And she was deeply concerned about the declining bee populations across the country.
To honor the legacy of Maria, and to protect the bee, butterfly, and bird population the Three Village Community established the Maria’s No Mow May Campaign.
No Mow May is an international movement that first was popularized by Plantlife, an organization based in the United Kingdom. The simple goal of No Mow May is to allow grass to grow during the month of May, creating an important Spring habitat for early season pollinators. No Mow May is really easy – do nothing! Don’t apply any fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, or pesticides.
While community residents might not want to leave their entire lawn unmown for the month of May, just allowing a small area to be part of No Mow May will make a difference to the environment.
Join the Three Village Community Trust, your friends, and neighbors in Maria’s No Mow May.
Like Maria, let’s make the world a better place one bee at a time!
And remember – No Bees, No Food!
Our 2026 Membership Drive is Still in Progress
The Trust is now entering its twenty-third year of “Protecting the Places You Love!” Our success over the past decades of caring for some of the oldest and most iconic properties in the Three Villages has only been possible because of people like YOU! With your help, we will continue to protect and preserve the community you love.
Our all-volunteer organization relies heavily on memberships for the funding needed to maintain our “museum collection” of historical homes and sites like the 3.2 mile Setauket to Port Jefferson Greenway, Patriots Rock, the Smith/de Zafra House – Brookhaven’s first Town Hall- and the grounds of the Stony Brook Train Station.
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!)
Prefer to sign up online? Visit us at: threevillagecommunitytrust.org.
Zelle user? Go to tvcommtrust@optonline.net to make payment.
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 Drs. Robert and Julia de Zafra Estate, Julia’s Corner, 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
