Volume 5, Issue 10
October 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 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 September Clean Up
Many thanks to the “Green Team” for their work on the trail during our September Clean Up. The morning started with a breakfast by Dave Prestia/Bagel Express! Following bagels and coffee, the crew went to work. The results – terrific!!
Members of the Green Team keeping the trail a “Clean Way.”
Over the past several years, The Port Jefferson Trail Head has been transformed into a park like setting.
Making the trail special!
Scout Pack 333 – Always helping the community!
Team members at our September Cleanup!
Charlie Mcateer
Dave Wang
Ben Brehl
Barry Issberner
Michael Malkmes
Stephanie Alwais Pack 333
Rob Alwais Pack 333
Steven Alwais Pack 333
Matthew Alwais Pack 333
Dennis Brennan
Craig den Hartog
Herb Mones
Northville Industries – Leading by Example
Earlier this year, Northville Industries approached the Friends of the Greenway and the Three Village Community Trust with a simple question – “How can we help you?” Our immediate answer was “We need help maintaining the lawn area on the 3 ½ mile trail.” As many of you know, our Trail Stewards struggle to keep up with the mowing of the Greenway.
Well, Northville didn’t blink an eye and said, “We got this!”
And – Northville delivered – over and over and over again throughout the summer.
A big, big shout out to Northville Industries for their help in mowing the Greenway throughout the 2025 season.
A Great service to our community!!
In the early 1900’s, Joyce Kilmer was one of our nation’s most celebrated poets. He would volunteer for service during World War I, and was killed in France, where he is buried. Trees would become one of his most enduring and beloved poems.
Trees – A Gift for Future Generations
Photo by Ben Brehl
What a wonderful project! Recently, young trees were planted at the Port Jefferson Trailhead. In a clever ‘reuse and readapt’ effort , old fence posts on this portion of the trail were used as ‘anchors’ for the new plantings!
Get Your Tickets Now!
It’s the one special event that everyone looks forward to throughout the year!
The Gala is a fun-filled evening that helps kick off the Holiday Season.
And – the event helps support the Greenway!
Yes, the Three Village Community Trust is hosting its 21st Annual Fall Gala on Wednesday, November 12th at the Old Field Club. This Fall Gala brings together many of the area’s most prominent leaders from government, business, cultural organizations, educational institutions, and civic groups.
The Gala is the Trust’s most important source of funding to “Protect the Places You Love.” As an all-volunteer, not for profit organization, we depend on the Gala to support our projects throughout the upcoming year. Every Trust site benefits by this event: Patriots Rock Historic Site, The Immigrant Factory Houses, The Hawkins Homestead, the Smith/deZafra House, the Tyler House, the Setauket to Port Jefferson Station Greenway, the Steven D. Matthews Preserve, the Little Red House, the Dr. Robert and Julia de Zafra Estate, Julia’s Corner and the Bruce House. Additionally, this event helps fund the Dr. Robert and Julia de Zafra Acquisition Fund – enabling us to purchase key historical properties in the future.
Our special guest for the evening is Noel Gish, the popular Long Island historian, teacher, author, researcher and lecturer. Noel is a past president of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium. A dedicated wing at the Suffolk County Historical Society Museum is named the Noel J. Gish Gallery in recognition of Noel’s lifetime of public service and achievement. With the ability to engage, captivate and amuse audiences, we are thrilled to welcome Noel as our special guest.
There will be live music, a light buffet, an amazing art raffle of a Eugene J. Quinn, Jr. oil painting, spectacular raffle baskets, auction items, and much, much more!
Tickets are $75 each. There is limited seating!
Noel Gish
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!
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.
Editor in Chief – Herb Mones
A word about our parent organization: The Three Village Community Trust
The Bruce House Headquarters at 148 Main Street, Setauket
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.
Editor in Chief – Herb Mones
