'Crystals For A Cause' Benefits Greenport's Miniature Railroad Project

NORTH FORK, NY — The community is coming together this week to support the Greenport Express, a miniature railroad that's sparked both an outpouring of nostalgia and excitement for the beloved train's next chapter.

Valerie DeFio, whose work as an independent consultant for Touchstone Crystal by Swarovski has brought fulfillment to her life, has teamed up with Luchi Maslia of Mattituck's goodfood cafe & market to raise funds for the "The Greenport Express" restoration project.

The event, "Crystals for a Cause," takes place on Wednesday, May 3 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at goodfood, located at 535 Pike Street in Mattituck, and features hors d'oeuvres by goodfood and a wine bar featuring local vineyards; all net proceeds will be donated. Guests can also shop for Touchstone Crystal Jewelry by DeFio — including gifts for weddings, Mother's Day, Sweet 16s and quinceañeras — with a portion of proceeds donated to the restoration project.

DeFio said she is thrilled to support the rebirth of the miniature railroad: "When my son was little, he loved trains. It gave him so much joy! I can picture the sheer delight this train would have given him if he was still little," she said. "Maybe someday when he has children, he can bring them."

And, she added: "I love being able to use my business as a vehicle to give back. Especially to my friends and community."

Masliah said she and her husband Wayne moved to Greenport a little over five years ago and felt immediately welcomed by the intimacy and charm of the village and its people.

"We have been visiting the area for years and, of course, I run my business in Mattituck — but it is a very different experience to live in the village. Since then, we have seen how the village and the community is evolving and anything we can do to preserve its history, its Old World charm and community traditions is important to us."

Wayne, she said, joined the Greenport Rotary as a way to get more involved within the community and the Greenport Express Project. With the Greenport Express project in the works for some, "he has jumped in and joined in the effort to see it through," she said.

For years, the Greenport Rotary has been fundraising to breathe new life into the railroad, which so many remember fondly.

The Greenport Express project has included the acquisition of a miniature train with an engine and three passenger cars, the construction of a quarter mile track on land provided by the Village of Greenport, and the construction of a facility with a passenger area, public restrooms and a maintenance area for the train.

The 16 gauge train, circa 1954, has a capacity to carry 36 children; the track will run through the woods on property owned by the Village of Greenport.

"We are working to preserve a piece of our local legacy," said a past letter from the Greenport Rotary. "The miniature railroad in Greenport was the inspiration of Frank Field, who moved to the Village in the early 1970s. After a long career with the Long Island Rail Road, Frank retired and began his dream of building a miniature train. In 1984 Frank Field began offering train rides to the public on weekends and holidays. Halloween became the most memorable. The miniature train delighted thousands of children and families until 2012."

In 2015, the letter continued — Rotarian Joe Cherepowich, Heather Walker's father — conceived of the idea of bringing the railroad back to the village. He met with former Greenport Village Mayor George Hubbard and the village board soon also expressed support. He then presented the idea to the Rotary Club of Greenport and the project commenced.

The Village of Greenport and the Rotary Club formed a partnership with the agreement that the club would purchase the train, and construct the track and facility — and the village would provide the land and operate it on weekends and holidays.

Nicknamed the "Joe Cherry Choo Choo" after Cherepowich, the miniature railroad has seen a grassroots effort blossom as many work together to bring the beloved train back to the village.

Walker said the project touches an emotional chord in many hearts.

"We feel that this project will impact the community in a positive way. We are preserving a piece of our legacy," she said. "The miniature train delighted thousands of children and families for 27 years. My parents enjoyed taking their children and grandchildren on many Sunday train rides. We created family memories with the time we spent together. My dad was very active in the community and always tried to make it a better place. He believed reconstructing the train would benefit the village and provide a fun activity for generations to come."

Sadly, Walker lost her father in 2019.

"While it is difficult for me to know my dad was unable to see the fruition of his labor, he was honored having the train renamed the Joe Cherry Choo Choo just prior to his passing. My dad taught me to have perseverance and a relentless belief in your goals. All of our Rotary Club members have used these two attributes for this project."

A fundraiser was held in 2018, organized by George Giannaris, owner of the Hellenic Snack Bar & Restaurant and a member of the Greenport Rotary Club.

The project resonates deep in Giannaris' heart.

"Growing up, although all the seasons of my life were always blessed by the North Fork, my fondest memories are of my childhood years growing up out here. The wineries, restaurants and boutique shops are wonderful, but my fear is that there will be less and less activities to attract families with young children. I would hate to see that facet of the North Fork glaze over. I am hoping that the train will inspire other business people to invest in family-friendly, permanent attractions that are closer to Greenport. I think it would make Greenport so well-rounded."

Hubbard has said in a past interview that the project has many enthused.

"People who are 80 years old say, 'I remember going to that train with my kids.' Everyone knew about that train," he said. "My kids, my grandchildren haven't had a chance to see it because it's been shut down now for a few years. This is a way to bring it back to another generation of Greenporters, of North Forkers."

The miniature railroad can even be a destination for out of town visitors, he said.

When the railroad was operating, it was part of the fun on Halloween, along with a hayride and a visit to the old jail, Hubbard remembered.

"This project has captured imaginations," Hubbard said. "It's one of the nice things about Greenport that everyone remembers."

Before he died, Rotarian Cherepowich, who championed the project since first speaking with Field, said the railroad has touched countless hearts in Greenport.

"We wanted to put smiles on children's faces as they enjoyed the miniature railroad as well as to remind the adults of the great memories they have of the railroad," he said. "This was something that was in the community for 30 years."

The family friendly attraction will be a way for kids and parents to share old memories and make new ones, Cherepowich said at the time. "It's always good to bring back treasures from the past that meant so much to our community."