My Message: Weekly Update and Get Out to Vote! https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/565944421327911/?t=27

Thanks to Swadesh Chatterjee for working with Governor Cooper to get October named as Hindu Heritage Month.

Wishing Telangana Community a Happy Bathakumma!

Town of Morrisville named winner of Smart Cities Readiness Challenge by Smart Cities Council! The Town of Morrisville, N.C. took the lead by applying to the Readiness Challenge and expanded its scope to include surrounding cities including Cary, Raleigh, Wake County, Apex as well as RDU Airport and Triangle J Council of Government (TJCOG).

https://na.smartcitiescouncil.com/article/north-carolinas-research-triangle-smart-cities-councils-2021-readiness-challenge-winner 

You can request a Request Form at https://www.wakegov.com/departments-government/board-elections/election-information/absentee-mail-voting.

We are asking that you request the Ballot Forms by this Friday so you can receive your ballots next week if you want to vote by mail.

Early Voting Starts on October 14 and the Voting Site is the Apex Community Center (53 Hunter St., Apex, 27502)  For Early Voting hours, please visit https://www.wakegov.com/departments-government/board-elections/election-information/early-voting.

Indian American Impact, NC Association of Indian Americans, NC Indian Political Action Committee, Triangle Indian Associations and United States Congresswoman Deborah Ross, Vice Chair Wake County Commission Vicki Adamson, Wake County Commissioner Sig Hutchison, NC Senator Jay Chaudhuri, NC Senator Wiley Nickel, Wake County School Board Member Chris Heagarty, and Morrisville Council Member Satish Garimella Request your Presence at A Special Reception, Honoring Council Member Steve Rao, A Get it Done Job Leader for Morrisville.

Blue Fox Indian Cuisine (2325 Gathering Place Circle, Cary NC)

October 9th from 12 pm to 2 pm.

Rsvp to: sr@steverao.com and Checks Made Payable to "Citizens For Rao" or donate at www.steverao.com.

In 2011, with your support, I became the first Indian American elected in the Triangle Region and the State of North Carolina. It has been my honor to serve the citizens of Morrisville and this community for the Past Decade. It has taken vision, investment, and a great team to be named as an All-America City by the National Civic League- celebrating our diversity, inclusion, and innovation.

I look forward to making Morrisville the number one place to live, work and play in the state and nation in my next term.

I humbly ask you for your Vote on Nov. 2 as I am in a very competitive race and also support the $37 million Bond Referendum (Public Safety, Streets, Sidewalks & Connectivity, Parks, Recreation & Amenities) on the ballot. www.townofmorrisville.org/MSVBOND2021.

Finally, we wish each of you a very Happy Diwali season this fall. In the midst of darkness and uncertainty of a global pandemic, it is the light and love of our hearts, which will continue to guide Morrisville to our brightest days ahead. No where is this light more evident that the selfless service of our community leaders; the Hindu Society of NC preparing meals for our Wake County kids, HSNC and BAPS Vaccination Clinics, donation of PPE equipment/masks and Tamal Sangam donating 2000 N95 masks to our Morrisville Fire Department.

This type of selfless leadership demonstrates that our ability to share our divine light with the world each of us is not dependent on the darkness and uncertainty around us when we unite to help our Community.

Our light, our resilience, will always prevail over adversity.

Happy Diwali to each of you!

Election Day for Angier, Apex, Durham, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell, and Zebulon is on Nov 2.  Please mark this day on your calendar. Make your Vote Count!

Register to Vote at https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/online/Pages/voter-registration-application.aspx.  Deadline to Register to Vote in November Elections is Oct. 8 at 5 pm.

Request an Absentee Ballot at https://www.wakegov.com/departments-government/board-elections/election-

information/absentee-mail-voting.

Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: 5 pm on Tuesday before election.  (October 25)

05/01 Precinct

1519 Morrisville Pkwy, Morrisville, NC 27560

05/03 Precinct

107 Quade Dr, Cary, NC 27513

05/07 Precinct

332 Parkside Valley Dr, Morrisville, NC 27560

05/08 Precinct

309 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC 27560

Now in its 18th year, Cybersecurity Awareness Month—previously known as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month—continues to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity across our Nation, ensuring that all Americans have the resources they need to be safer and more secure online.

CISA and the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) are proud to continue the using the overarching theme:

This evergreen theme encourages individuals and organizations to own their role in protecting their part of cyberspace, stressing personal accountability and the importance of taking proactive steps to enhance cybersecurity.

In 2021, CISA and NCSA will focus on the following areas in our promotions and outreach:

Use the hashtag #BeCyberSmart before and during October to promote your involvement in raising cybersecurity awareness.

I am pleased to have the endorsements of North Carolina State Senator Jay Chaudhuri, Democratic Whip for the State Senate, and Vicki Adamson, Vice Chair of the Wake County Commission.   I am looking forward to working with them to take Morrisville to the greatest heights and of course, to continue our collaboration with the County and State to increase funding for schools, libraries, transportation, cricket, and other projects for the Town!

I am proud to have the endorsements of of Congresswoman Deborah Ross, North Carolina State Senators Wiley Nickel and Jay Chaudhuri, Wake County Commissioner Sig Hutchison, Wake County Commission Vice Chair Vicki Adamson, Wake Forest Mayor Vivian Jones, Wake County School Board Member Chris Heagarty, Morrisville Council Member Satish Garimella, Cary Council Member Ya Liu and Fuquay-Varina Commissioner Bill Harris. I am looking forward to more endorsements over the coming weeks.

I also look forward to getting the support Independents and Republicans as we lead an engaged, and non-partisan Town! Let’s keep the Partisan Politics on Jones Street or in Washington D.C!

Join the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 Candidate’s Forum at Paramount Event Venue from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on October 13 to learn more about this year’s candidates for Morrisville Town Council and their position on important issues in the community. The event will have in-person limits with a virtual option for all those who register. This event is free and open to the public, and pre-event registration is required to attend. For event details and to register click here.

Come this November 2, 2021, the Morrisville Town Council will provide voters the opportunity to vote on financing up to $37 million to accomplish these types of improvements in a strategic and fiscally responsible manner through a bond referendum. Wisely committing your tax dollars in this way will ensure the Morrisville community continues to live connected and live well.  I want this to be the highest turnout in Morrisville history!

Morrisville has an exemplary credit rating as a AAA community, giving us the ability to secure the lowest interest rates through voter-approved general obligation (G.O.) bonds. This form of debt financing is the best and least expensive of tax-supported debt resulting in significant savings to the taxpayer over the repayment period.

The Town anticipates an estimated 3 cents per $100 assessed property value to afford the three bond issues assuming voters approve.

There will be three ballot questions that Voters will consider separately: Public Safety Improvement Bonds, Streets, Sidewalks and Connectivity Improvement Bonds, and Parks, Recreation and Amenities Bonds!

Community Benefit: To improve public safety facilities in Morrisville.  Morrisville is dedicated to providing a safe and secure community through prevention, education, readiness, and responsiveness.

Bond Amount: $8,000,000

Community Benefit:  To make improvements to Pedestrian and Transportation related infrastructure, such as major thoroughfares, sidewalk and streetscape improvements, bridges, bicycle lanes, curbs, and drains; traffic controls, greenways; bus/train stations and shelter improvements; and the acquisition of any land, rights of way and equipment.

Bond Amount:  $11,700,000

Community Benefit: To improve and expand existing passive and active parks, and recreational facilities, acquire and construct new parks, and recreational facilities and preserve open space/tree canopy.

Bond Amount: $17,300,000

For more information on the Bond Referendum, visit www.townofmorrisville.org/MSVBOND2021 or call (919) 463-6906.

To Find County Vaccination Site, visit https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/where-can-I-get-the-covid-19-vaccine-in-my-county/19466004/.

For Testing Sites, visit https://www.wakegov.com/covid-19-information/free-covid-19-testing.

Total Doses Administered: 11,287,685

Unvaccinated individuals are 13.6 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than vaccinated individuals, when adjusted for age.

October 12 - 6 p.m. Town Council Meeting


October 14 - 6:30 p.m. Planning & Zoning Board

For Morrisville Carpenter Road Project updates Visit https://bit.ly/mcrcp1

In efforts to provide safe opportunities to get the facts and figures about the three Bond Categories on the Ballot this November 2, Town Staff continues to host Bond Information Tents at upcoming special events. Be sure to stop by, ask those important questions and get prepared for the vote this November 2. We will see you at the next Music at the Hub, Fire Safety Day, and staff will be out and about in our host neighborhoods on National Night Out. Other future opportunities coming up will include a Bond Pop-In on October 19 at Indian Creek Trailhead from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and another Engage Morrisville Virtual Chat Session on October 27 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Be on the look-out for a postcard invite with all the details.

Three separate Bond questions will be on the Ballot this November 2: Public Safety Improvements for $8M; Parks, Recreation, & Amenity Improvements for $17.3M; and Streets & Sidewalk Connectivity Improvements for $11.7M for future capital projects. Voters will decide “Yes” or “No” for each ballot question if the Town can use General Obligation Bonds (G.O. Bonds) to finance these future improvements that will benefit our growing community for years to come. G.O. Bonds are the most cost effective form of financing for a local government.

Get the facts and stay informed at the Town’s website: http://bit.ly/msv2021bond. View the Fast Facts and Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about the bond referendum process and potential property tax impacts.

As part of the East Meets West Festival, starting October 1, the Virtual Passport to Morrisville is your chance to learn about your town. It will feature a diverse number of businesses in Morrisville, with the goal of the community finding a new business to support. Businesses have the opportunity to provide a promotional offer, within their listing in the Virtual Passport to Morrisville. This promotional offer will only be valid October 1-10, 2021.

For complete details on the East Meets West Festival, click here.

The Morrisville Smart Shuttle, the Town’s newest public transit service, allows riders to request a pick-up or drop-off from one of 15 nodes, or stops, located around the Town using the Smart Shuttle application on their smartphone.

Watch this short video on how to use the Morrisville Smart Shuttle App by clicking here!

The service runs seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Additional details on the Morrisville Smart Shuttle visit TownofMorrisville.org/SmartShuttle

The Town is excited to launch Puttin around Town, the placement of one temporary basket in a park on a rotating basis, allowing residents and area park users the opportunity to practice throwing disks so they can continue working on their mid-range game or putting. From October 4-17, the Puttin Around Town basket will be located at Morrisville Community Park. We are exploring effective uses of our temporary baskets and our open spaces to provide park visitors an opportunity to get outside. For details click here.

Drop in for the Bond Pop-In from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 19, at Indian Creek Trailhead on 101 Town Hall Drive to get the facts and figures on the Morrisville 2021 Bond Referendum on the ballot November 2. Get free popcorn and snacks if you bring the postcard mailed to you.

If you can’t make the Bond Pop-In, join us on Wednesday, October 27, from 2-3 p.m. on EngageMorrisville.com to participate in the last digital chat on the Bond measure!

Fall Advisory Committee Recruitment begins Monday, September 27. The following board and committees have vacancies or expiring terms that may be filled during this appointment process:

The application submission deadline is 5 p.m. on Monday, October 25. For details and to apply, visit the Town's website. Please contact Town Clerk Eric Smith at 919-463-6168 or esmith@townofmorrisville.com for more information.

Morrisville’s next Bulk item collection is the week of October 11-15. All bulk items must be placed curbside and ready for pick-up no later than 7 a.m. along with your garbage and recycling carts on your normal collection day. Registration is not required. Bulk items include but are not limited to chairs, tables, rugs, grills (no propane tanks), mattresses, and small appliances. For a complete list of items accepted visit the Town’s bulk item webpage by clicking here. Bulk items are picked up twice a year by the Town's contractor GFL.

Join the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 Candidate’s Forum at Paramount Event Venue from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on October 13 to learn more about this year’s candidates for Morrisville Town Council and their position on important issues in the community. The event will have in-person limits with a virtual option for all those who register. This event is free and open to the public, and pre-event registration is required to attend. For event details and to register click here.

During its September 28 council meeting, the Morrisville Town Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SINGH Development, LLC, to begin work on a Town Center Demonstration Project. Morrisville’s Town Council, recognizing the need to establish a central gathering area for the Town to serve the growing population, developed and approved the Morrisville Town Center Plan in 2007. Since that time, the Town has worked proactively to address the changing needs of the community provided through community input to refine that original vision, address growth needs, and update a master conceptual plan that incorporates the guiding principles re-affirmed by Town Council in 2020. Over the next six months, the Town, the Development Finance Initiative at the UNC School of Government (DFI), and SINGH will be completing a development plan that will add more detail to the conceptual plan and will clarify the infrastructure and amenities that will be included in the Demonstration Project. Click here more information about the Morrisville Town Center Project.

Registration for Morrisville 101 is now open. Morrisville 101 is an annual citizen's academy for residents of Morrisville interested in local government. This is a free program for citizens 16 years of age and up. The program begins November 3 and will be held from 6-8 p.m. once a week for five weeks. Sessions will take place at Morrisville Town Hall, located at 100 Town Hall Drive. Registration ends on October 15, 2021. For more information and to reserve your spot visit the Morrisville 101 webpage by clicking here

Take the Town’s Sustainability Survey!
The Master Sustainability Plan is currently in development. This plan will become the roadmap for the objectives and goals of the program. To best represent our community, we are looking for your feedback as we prioritize our strategic direction. From now until October 15, complete a short six-question survey with your contact information to be entered into a drawing for a rain barrel or a $30 gift certificate to Site One Landscape Supply on Church Street. To complete the survey (through SurveyMonkey.com) click here. To learn about Morrisville’s Sustainability Program, click here.

Starting in October, the Town is moving to a new email service provider used to send Next Week in Morrisville. Depending upon your email’s client settings and security filters, you may have to add the new email client to your safe senders list. The new client will also allow you to update your communications preferences and individual profile. Next Week in Morrisville is sent from information@townofmorrisville.org. If you have any issues receiving the e-newsletter in October, contact the Town’s public information officer by email.

The Western Wake Farmers' Market (WWFM) offers healthy and fresh food, goods, and live music from small and local businesses from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Saturday!

Visit http://wwfm.ag/ to see a complete list of local vendors and shop local!

During its Tuesday meeting, the Wake County School Board voted to continue its mask and face covering mandate.

The district released its school reassignment plan for next year. The plan includes base attendance areas for three new schools: Apex Friendship Elementary School, Barton Pond Elementary School and Herbert Akins Road Middle School. Reassignments under the school district’s first draft of the 2022-23 school assignment plan would largely send students to schools closer to them.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that a new report shows that COVID-19 vaccinations may have helped prevent roughly 11,000 new COVID-19 infections and 1,600 deaths among seniors in North Carolina during the first five months of 2021.

The study, which was conducted by researchers with HHS's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), also found that nationally, vaccinations were linked to a reduction of approximately 265,000 COVID-19 infections, 107,000 hospitalizations, and 39,000 deaths among Medicare beneficiaries between January and May 2021.

Thanks to everyone who came out to National Night Out

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Morrisville Community Library Read It Event on Thursday. 

Opportunity International

I enjoyed attending the Opportunity International Social this past Thursday hosted by David Gardner, CEO of Co-Founder Capital where we learned about how this non-profit is lifting millions out of poverty by providing loans, working capital, and establishing entrepreneurial ecosystems in developing countries.

Thanks to David for hosting and great remarks from Greg Roth, Senior VP Philanthropy and Katey Assem, Chair of Opportunity International. Ghana.

As I continue my listening tour and celebrate the accomplishments of the last decade, I have been having some very engaging conversations with many neighborhoods and communities in Morrisville.

We usually only hear from residents from a few communities, but I plan to have reached over 30 communities over the next few weeks.

Thanks to everyone who are coming out to meet and talk to me on this Decade of Service Listening Tour.

Let me know if you want me to come and provide an update. Just email me at sr@steverao.com.

I am pleased to have the endorsements of North Carolina State Senator Jay Chaudhuri, Democratic Whip for the State Senate, and Vicki Adamson, Vice Chair of the Wake County Commission.   I am looking forward to working with them to take Morrisville to the greatest heights and of course, to continue our collaboration with the County and State to increase funding for schools, libraries, transportation, cricket, and other projects for the Town!

This week I was honored to receive the endorsement of US Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC D-02). I look forward to working with her to secure federal grants and money for Small Businesses in Morrisville, and to also work on targeting federal dollars to transportation and transit dollars to our Town to help us deal with traffic congestion.

- Congresswoman Deborah K. Ross, NC-02

I am proud to have the endorsements of of Congresswoman Ross, North Carolina State Senators Wiley Nickel and Jay Chaudhuri, Wake County Commissioner Sig Hutchison, Wake County Commission Vice Chair Vicki Adamson, Wake Forest Mayor Vivian Jones, Wake County School Board Member Chris Heagarty, Morrisville Council Member Satish Garimella, Cary Council Member Ya Liu and Fuquay-Varina Commissioner Bill Harris. I am looking forward to more endorsements over the coming weeks.

I also look forward to getting the support Independents and Republicans as we lead an engaged, and non-partisan Town! Let’s keep the Partisan Politics on Jones Street or in Washington D.C!

Join us on Sunday, Oct 10th from noon to 7 pm at Morrisville Community Park for Bathakumma and Dusshera celebrations. 

 

Bathukamma is floral festival celebrated predominantly in Telangana and some parts of Andhra Pradesh.

Bathukamma represents cultural spirit of Telangana. Bathukamma is a beautiful flower stack, arranged with different unique seasonal flowers most of them with medicinal values, in seven concentric layers in the shape of temple gopuram. In Telugu, ‘Bathukamma' means ‘Mother Goddess come Alive’ and Goddess Maha Gauri-‘Life Giver’ is worshipped in the form of Bathukamma – the patron goddess of womanhood, Gauri Devi.

Historically, bathukamma meant "festival of life" and was celebrated to thank Goddess Parvati for her blessings for the crop harvest and income she helped generate this (current) year and again ask her blessing for the next year.

It is the festival for feminine felicitation. On this special occasion women dress up in the traditional sari combining it with jewels and other accessories. Teenage Girls wear Langa-Oni/Half-Sarees/Lehenga Choli combining it with jewels in order to bring out the traditional grace of the attire.

Smart Cities Council, the sector’s largest coalition, today announced the next winner of the 2021 Smart Cities Council Readiness Challenge, North Carolina’s Research Triangle - joining Orange County, FL, Nashville, TN and Brisbane, Queensland.

The Town of Morrisville, N.C. took the lead by applying to the Readiness Challenge and expanded its scope to include surrounding cities including Cary, Raleigh, Wake County, Apex as well as RDU Airport and Triangle J Council of Government (TJCOG).

The Town expanded our program based on the urgent needs in each of our communities and the need to identify priorities to restructure transportation around the region.  I will be sharing more information on this over the next few months.

The Challenge will help Research Triangle develop a data sharing roadmap over the next several months focusing on:

Smart Cities Council Partner, Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone), is sponsoring the Research Triangle’s Collaborative Engagement bringing its expertise in connecting customers with sustainable mobility solutions that create value for society and inspire meaningful environmental and social benefits. Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Bridgestone is a global leader providing tires and advanced mobility solutions that improve the way people move, live, work and play.

Morrisville Chamber Hosts East Meets West Festival  Sept. 1- Oct. 10

The East Meets West Festival celebrates Morrisville, Wake County’s most diverse community, with food, culture, and music from around the world.

Join us on PBS Carolina Black Issues Forum this Sunday at 4pm for our discussions on Rent Evictions and the Changes in Historic Black Colleges and Universities infrastructure investments.

Blue Fox Indian Cuisine (2325 Gathering Place Circle, Cary NC)

October 9th - 12 pm to 2 pm.

Rsvp to: sr@steverao.com and Checks Made Payable to "Citizens For Rao" or donate at www.steverao.com.

In an effort to educate the community about key issues impacting economic development and quality of life, the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce plans to hold a forum featuring all candidates on Wednesday, October 13th. The forum will be from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. to allow for maximum attendance from both residents and businesses in the area. The current plan is to hold the forum in person at the Paramount Event Venue, located at 5180 Paramount Pkwy.

For more information and to register, please visit www.townofmorrisville.org

Join us every Friday on World Edition at 10 am for the Great America Project Panel where we discuss how we rebuild Americas' image with leaders from around the country and world.

Public Open Dialogue TV is a worldwide multilingual, multi-demographic network focused on inspiring, educating and entertaining the global community. We provide unique programming in areas not covered by traditional media, and provide a platform for the audience to engage with those shows. Formerly IBMTV.