Members of two Long Island Indian nations have expressed concern about potential disruption of native burial and artifact sites along portions of the land-based route of the Sunrise Wind cable, and the developer says it’s working with the nations to monitor the work.

Harry Wallace, chief of the state-recognized Unkechaug tribe located on the Poospatuck reservation near Mastic, said he was made aware of the potential conflicts about a month ago and has had recent meetings with representatives of Sunrise Wind to express his concerns. A representative of the federally recognized Shinnecock Indian Nation also has concerns. Mark Harrington reports on Newsday.com that the 17.5-mile cable will make landfall at Smith Point County Park and travel along William Floyd Parkway before making its way to a Holbrook substation along the Long Island Expressway. Newsday has reported that preliminary construction for the project, which will bring 924 megawatts of power to the Long Island grid, began last month.

An online "open house" to detail the plan is scheduled for today at 6 p.m. Questions can be submitted to the developers prior to the session. The project promises to provide power to some 600,000 homes by the time it's fully constructed in 2025. Wallace said the developers have been open to his demands. “We’re now in discussions after I screamed and yelled and hollered,” he said. “I’m getting a monitor in place as soon as possible to prevent any desecration of our sacred ground.”

A spokesman for Sunrise Wind said the developers are working with the tribes to make sure no culturally sensitive sites are disturbed.

***

A proposal from the Moriches Bay Project to install oyster and clam farms at three sites on Quantuck Bay was tabled last week by the Southampton Town Trustees while the town attorney’s office determines whether the plan is in sync with a recently adopted town aquaculture program. “When the town attorney says table it, we hit the brakes,” Trustee President Scott Horowitz said following the August 7 Trustees meeting. The Moriches Bay Project, founded in 2012 by Westhampton Beach resident Laura Fabrizio, has raised and seeded more than 2.5 million oysters into Moriches Bay over its 10-plus year history, according to the nonprofit’s website. Tom Gogola reports on 27east.com that the organization, which has an office in West Hampton Dunes, also offers educational programs that this year featured oyster-farm outings at the West Hampton Dunes Overlook and at Lashley Beach, both located off of Dune Road. At issue for the town and the Trustees is that the bottomlands are a shared but limited resource with multiple stakeholders — environmentalists, baymen, homeowners, recreational anglers and the like — all vying for access.

***

The Heart of Riverhead Civic Association is hosting the EPCAL Watch group at the civic’s monthly meeting tomorrow evening for an update on plans at the Calverton Enterprise Park. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that this Thursday’s meeting, which is open to the public, will be held at the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall on Peconic Avenue in Riverhead from 6:30 to 8 p.m. (Doors open at 6 p.m.) Tomorrow’s presentation by members of EPCAL Watch and their invited panelists will discuss plans aired by Calverton Aviation & Technology, a Triple Five Group company, for vacant land at the former Grumman manufacturing plant. Calverton Aviation & Technology is in contract to purchase, 1,644 acres of vacant land, including the site’s two runways, from the Town of Riverhead for $40 million.

***

The office that handles urgent passport applications for New York City and Long Island — described as “backlogged” in a July letter from six area House members, including three from Long Island — has added staff to cut wait times, according to the State Department. Nicholas Spangler reports on Newsday.com that Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Legislative Affairs Naz Durakoglu wrote in an Aug. 8 letter to Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) that the New York Passport Agency had added seven “support associates” to its eight-member customer support team to “bolster the agency’s ability to quickly facilitate urgent travel.” One of the existing staffers is on extended leave, Durakoglu wrote.

About 2.6 million passport applications were awaiting processing on July 15, Durakoglu wrote, a 75% increase from that point in fiscal year 2022. Staffing issues and surging demand have combined to increase wait times for all passport-processing offices nationally this year that serve customers with international travel within 14 days.

The U.S. State Department, which runs the New York Passport Agency, responded to the national crunch by authorizing overtime and hiring more workers. But Congressman Garbarino and other representatives said in a July 13 letter to State Department officials that delays at the New York Agency had jeopardized travel plans for their constituents.

In an email this week, Garbarino described the backlog as “totally unacceptable” but remained “encouraged by the State Department’s response to my requests to address the problem.”

Yesterday afternoon, two lines outside the New York Passport Agency’s Manhattan office on Hudson Street had about 15 people total. Several people waiting in line said their experience had been almost friction-free.

***

They've lived more than 1,300 years combined, seen wars and political strife, dizzying advances in technology and moments of collective grief — and led lives rich with accomplishment and love for family, friends, and community. And now, 13 centenarians, who live at Peconic Landing in Greenport and who have incredible life stories to share, will be honored by New York State Senator Anthony Palumbo next week. Lisa Finn reports on Patch.com that Palumbo will visit the centenarians next Monday August 21st, to honor them and present them with proclamations; all 13 centenarians currently reside at Peconic Landing.

The event will take place in Peconic Landing’s Community Center starting at 3 p.m. this coming Monday.

The honored centenarians consist of individuals residing in independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing at Peconic Landing, "exemplifying the diverse and inclusive nature of the community," Peconic Landing representatives said.

The centenarians range from 100 to 103 years of age, five of whom (including the two eldest) still reside in Independent Living. Their lives reflect birthplaces all over the world; they've had careers ranging from librarians and business owners to university professors and doctors. The group also includes a concentration camp survivor who was liberated by American soldiers.

During the ceremony, Senator Palumbo will also recognize the achievements of Peconic Landing team members Patricia Lutzky, senior vice president of Independent Living, and Jennifer Drofenik, director of health services and assisted living administrator.

***

Retail workers in New York State who try to stop shoplifters would not be at risk of losing their jobs or being punished by their bosses under legislation proposed by a Long Island state lawmaker. Carl Campanile reports in THE NY POST that many retail companies have told workers to avoid confrontations with thieves over liability and safety concerns.

Adding insult to injury, some employees who tried to stop thieves from stealing have been fired or disciplined.

Enough is enough, said NYS Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (R-Smithtown).

His bill would protect employees from retaliation by an employer if they confront or attempt to confront an individual to prevent theft.

Fitzpatrick said the measure does not advocate employee interactions with shoplifters, and agreed that it’s “common sense” for stores to have trained security personnel to handle lawbreakers.

But neither should workers be fired or punished for trying to stop criminals from raiding their stores, he said.

***

Forget stadium binoculars and nosebleed seats — some 500 people lucky enough to score access into Sirius XM’s exclusive concert by Four-time Grammy Award winner Ed Sheeran on Monday night under a tent at the Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett were so close to the pop star they could see the sweat glistening on his neck while he performed a solo set that included almost every hit since his first single, “The A Team,” debuted on American radio stations in late 2012.

Fans who didn’t win their wristband right from Sirius XM in the days leading up to the show began forming a “hopefuls” line on the sidewalk in Amagansett starting in the late morning on Monday. Christine Sampson in THE EAST HAMPTON STAR reports that Sheeran, the 32 year old Irish singer-songwriter who made messy red hair cooler than frosted boy-band tips as he ascended the charts over the last decade, told the crowd that this was his third time visiting the Hamptons, but by far the best one, and that he’d gotten his start in the music business by playing at bars just like the Talkhouse. In between songs he offered snippets of insight into his songwriting process, making the show a personal one.

The performance resonated deeply with Nancy Atlas of Montauk, who is musical royalty here herself. “I think Ed Sheeran is amazing. I think, as a fellow performer, what he does live is untouchable, and so it’s really a rare gem and a treat to have him come here tonight and play for us and show us,” Ms. Atlas said.

Long Island luminaries attending the tented outdoor show included Christie Brinkley, Billy Joel, Jerry Seinfeld, and Howard Stern.

Other notable celebs included Paul McCartney, Jon Bon Jovi, John Mayer, Michael J. Fox, Anjelica Huston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Brooke Shields, James Corden and more.

Ed Sheeran’s private Stephen Talkhouse concert in Amagansett is set to air on SiriusXM's Ed Sheeran Channel today at 3, 6 and 9 p.m., and repeat throughout the week on SiriusXM Hits 1.