County Road 39 has been the "Gateway to the Hamptons" and the primary thoroughfare taking thousands of Long Islanders to the bucolic beaches of Southampton for decades.

But as people prepare to head out east this holiday weekend for one last excursion, Suffolk County officials are raising concerns that traffic in the area has hit a breaking point for both residents and commuters. Robert Brodsky reports on Newsday.com that Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone yesterday announced his office would release a request for proposals to address traffic solutions for County Rd 39 – a seven-mile corridor, which stretches from Hampton Bays to Water Mill.

"Not only is it impacting the quality of life of people here in the community, but we also understand and recognize the importance of the economy and its impact on the environment," Bellone said during a news conference at the Southampton Long Island Rail Road station. "So this is a major issue."

The traffic study, he said, would be one the largest in Suffolk County history and would seek "innovative, creative ideas."

Among the ideas under consideration, Bellone said, is adding a lane that would carry traffic east in the morning, then switch westbound for the outflow of traffic in the afternoon.

But in addition to roadway capacity, the analysis will address the "demand" side of the traffic equation, Bellone said, including additional housing options so residents can live closer to their jobs and conceiving ways to better utilize the LIRR to reduce congestion.

Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said the county should consider eliminating traffic lights and adding roundabouts in highly congested areas.

"It's the main artery, and when it's choked, it affects not only people's commute times and the local economy but it also affects a lot of the residential side streets that absorb the traffic," he said.

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Long Island hospital systems have no plans to reinstitute mandatory masking for patients, staff and visitors, bucking a trend at emergency health facilities upstate as COVID-19 rates rise again across New York, including in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Robert Brodsky reports on Newsday.com that in recent weeks, amid rising COVID cases and hospitalizations, several hospital systems have brought back mask-wearing requirements.

They include the United Health Services of New York system, which includes several hospitals all upstate. They reinstituted a mandatory masking policy for patients, visitors, employees, medical staff, volunteers, students and vendors on Aug. 23.

But Long Island hospital systems are taking a cautious approach toward reinstituting mandatory masking — a policy the state ended in February.

As of Wednesday, the seven-day COVID-positive rolling average in Nassau County was 15% — identical to the statewide average — and 16% in Suffolk County, according to State Health Department data.

Dr. Peter Silver, senior vice president, chief quality officer and associate chief medical officer at Northwell Health, said while cases continue to increase, the severity of the disease at this point does not require mandatory masking.

Staffers, however, are required to wear masks in areas of high risk, including cancer units, transplant wards and among patients with suspected or confirmed COVID, a policy that went into effect in early August, Silver said.

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Shelter Island Friends of Music presents WindSync this coming Sunday, September 3 in a free concert at 7pm in the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church. The woodwinds quintet – back by popular demand — will perform the works of Beethoven, Rameau, del Aguila and Mellits.

The Labor Day Sunday holiday concert marks the group’s third appearance with Shelter Island Presbyterian Church since 2013, when their international career first took flight. Now WindSync is firmly established as a vibrant chamber ensemble performing wind quintet masterworks, adapting beloved music to their instrumentation, and championing new works by today’s composers.

Plus, the quintet breaks down the “fourth wall” between musicians and audience by moving communicatively, speaking from the heart, and often performing from memory, creating an intimate connection.

That’s WindSync appearing this coming Sunday, September 3 in a free concert at 7pm in the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church.

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107,000 migrants have arrived in New York since last year, almost 60,000 are still in the city’s care. As reported in THE NY TIMES, the influx has increased the number of people in shelter to a record-breaking 115,000. The City of New York has opened over 200 sites and humanitarian relief centers to house and process the migrants, which officials estimate will cost $5 billion this year, as much as the budgets for the parks, fire and sanitation departments combined. Last week NYC Mayor Eric Adams called on Governor Kathy Hochul to open additional facilities around the state to house the migrants including at the joint civilian-military Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton. Tom Gogola reports on 27east.com that Mayor Adams’ pitch to Governor Hochul to open out-of-city shelter sites led to a flurry of push-back from Republican officeholders, from State Senator Anthony Palumbo to 1st District U.S. Representative Nick LaLota. South Fork angst over the hot-button issue was also animated locally by reports, now confirmed, that Adams had been spotted in Westhampton this past Sunday. LaLota was one of seven New York congressional Republicans to sign off on a letter on August 28 to Hochul and Adams demanding that they cease any talk of shipping migrants to other parts of the state. They decried New York City’s “sanctuary status” for undocumented immigrants and blamed Democratic leaders all the way up to President Joe Biden for failing to secure the country’s southern border as they noted that the sanctuary city status in New York doesn’t extend to surrounding towns and counties. In a follow-up comment, Congressman LaLota said he supported legal immigration and efforts to bolster an overburdened asylum system.

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Beth Young of EAST END BEACON tells us about some local Labor Day weekend events.

On the north fork this Saturday evening, the Beatles Tribute Band Liverpool Shuffle performs a free outdoor concert at Veteran’s Beach on Peconic Bay Boulevard in Mattituck…that’s tomorrow from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Food and beverages are available for purchase. More details are at mattituckparkdistrict.org.

Also tomorrow on the south fork, the Southampton Arts Center will hold a free family outdoor screening of Disney’s “Encanto” Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. Bring a blanket or chair to Southampton Arts Center on Jobs Lane in Southampton Village. For more info visit southamptonartscenter.org.

Then Sunday back on the north fork, Peconic Landing in Greenport is staging its End of Summer Celebration, featuring music by the Gordon Dukes Band at 7 p.m. and fireworks at 8:15 p.m., That’s this coming Sunday evening at Peconic Landing in Greenport. Bring a lawn chair or blanket for this free community event. More details are at peconiclanding.org.

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For the past several years, East End Food, formerly known as East End Food Institute, has been on a mission to transform the way the region produces and accesses food. To make that dream a reality, the nonprofit organization — which connects local farmers and producers with the community to promote sustainable food systems and “foster nourishing relationships for everyone” — has taken a multi-pronged approach. But its marquee project in that effort has been the plan for creating the East End Food Hub in Riverhead. Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that the food hub is an ambitious and exciting project that East End Food Executive Director Kate Fullam said has the potential to “shape the future of the community food ecosystem.” When completed, the multi-use facility will serve as a center for the aggregation, processing and distribution of local produce and products, supporting hundreds of small businesses with the goal of improving access to local food for everyone. East End Food has already secured $1.3 million in grants and private donations to start construction on the hub and will be offering tours of the building under construction this fall. The first phase of that estimated $3 million project was designed by Garnett DePasquale Projects and will include a 5,000-square-foot building renovation to house a year-round farmers market and community kitchen where East End Food will be able to offer a wide array of education programming. Fullam tells 27east.com that , “The food hub will not only turn local produce into products for farmers but will also be a key supporter of small-scale producers who want to launch their businesses and need access to a facility to help them do that. “It’s good for the local economy, it’s good for the environment, and it’s good for health,” she said of what the hub will provide.