Town of Morrisville breaks ground on Fire Station Number 3!  

Great to be with Raleigh Council Member Storme Forte at the Raleigh Chamber Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summit.

Please join us for a virtual meet and greet and discussion with Chief Justice Cheri Beasley. This will be an opportunity to learn more about the issues facing North Carolina and hear directly from Cheri about her vision for the state. 

Please RSVP ahead of time to ensure you receive the zoom link - contributions are not required to join the zoom meeting. 

Zoom link sent 24 hours before event

RSVP HERE: https://secure.ngpvan.com/G8bkh7WTSkSTrt27-n6eog2 

For more information, or to RSVP, please call (781) 999-0554 or email janani@cheribeasley.com.

DATE: Aug. 13th 

TIME: 2 pm 

VENUE: Paramount Event Venue Center

For more information, to join the Host Committee, or to RSVP, please contact the campaign at avery@cheribeasley.com!

World Health Organization Declares Monkeypox a Global Emergency.

Gas Prices in North Carolina fall to 9 cents to $4.43/Lower prices could mean a looming recession

USE WRAL Fuel Tracker app at

National Disability Independence Day is celebrated every year on July 26. It commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disability Act (A.D.A.) in 1990. This civil rights law criminalizes any kind of discrimination against individuals with disabilities and assures them full participation in the community, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency. The Americans with Disability Act covers the following areas: public accommodation, employment, transportation, and state and local government services. A.D.A. is a life-changing act for many people. Today, one in four Americans with a disability can access and participate better in their workplaces and general communities.

The American disability movement started in the 1960s, aiming to resist the age-old notion that people with disabilities are defective, and as such, need to be segregated from civic life. The movement was inspired by the broader civil rights struggles of the time. It rejected cruel attitudes and advocated for full access to opportunities in education, public life, and employment.

The passage of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was a major step for the betterment of people with disabilities. This section prohibited recipients of federal funds from discriminating against people with disabilities. Section 508 of the same act, which was later updated in 1998, included that federal information, which was distributed electronically, should be made accessible to those with disabilities. This section was updated again in 2017, to make all digital information accessible to the disabled.

The A.D.A. was first introduced in 1988, designed to build on the progress of the Rehabilitation Act and expand the rights of the disabled community into a single law to ensure their freedom from discrimination in employment, transportation, communication, and government and public establishments. Peter Berg, the project coordinator of technical assistance at the Great Lakes A.D.A. Center, states that A.D.A. has integrated people with disabilities across society.

1. 15% of the population is disabled

2. India is the world’s blind capital

3. Disability correlates with unemployment

4. 19% of people have a disability

5. Many disabled people are not assisted

1. It spreads awareness

2. It acknowledges the struggle

3. It is not enough

Willie Rowe

Congratulations to Willie Rowe for his win in the Primary.  

District C Cary: JACK SMITH  

At Large Cary: CARISA JOHNSON

Charlotte Mayor: VI LYLES  

Charlotte City Council Member at Large: DIMPLE AJMERA 

Greensboro Council At Large: MARY KAY ABUZUIATER

North Carolina ranked # 1 place to do business by CNBC!  More on this in next newsletter!

Apply to Launch Morrisville Program at www.launchmorrisville.org!

Thanks to everyone who came out to the July 21st Information Session. We will send recording and there will be another!

BA 5 Variant increases NC Covid Case Numbers.  Be Careful.

For Covid Updates and Data, visit https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard and for Covid Testing visit https://www.wakegov.com/covid-19-information.

The Hum Sub Youth Achievement Award recognizes youth who have attained outstanding achievements in various fields such as Volunteering, Community Service, Leadership, Research, Academics, Extra-curricular activities such as sports, music and arts, etc. This award is based on Lord Buddha’s parting message to his disciples “Aapo Deepo Bhava” which means “Be a light unto yourself.”

11:59pm ET September 11th, 2022

On Saturday, July 16, the U.S. will transition the 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to 988 – an easy-to-remember three-digit number for 24/7 crisis care.

The lifeline, which also links to the Veterans Crisis Line, follows a three-year joint effort by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to put crisis care more in reach for people in need.

Starting tomorrow, simply calling or texting 988 or chatting https://988Lifeline.org will connect you to compassionate care and support for mental health-related distress. #988Lifeline

Learn more at https://www.samhsa.gov/

Thanks for Joining us on Radio Nyra for our interview with North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell!  99.9FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!

99.9FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!

Interview with State Treasurer Dale Folwell

On the Porch with Randy Voller on WCHL 97.9 FM!

WPTF Steve O'Bryan show on the Dream Act and DACA!

Get with the Program with Gary Jones!

Tune in on Friday at 7 pm and Sunday at 4 pm to PBS Carolinas Black Issues Forum for our engaging discussions on trending topics!

Link to the Show:

Sonia Rao is a student at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She has previously written for the Virginian-Pilot and the Charlotte Observer.

Steverao app can be downloaded at Apple App store by searching for "Steverao" app in Apple store and Google Play store.

Other Way to download the app is by below scan for Apple store scan code and Google Play store link.

Below are two links to download app from Apple App store and Google Playstore.

July 26 – 6:00 p.m. – Town Council Meeting

July 27 – 6:00 p.m. – Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Committee

July 28 – 6:30 p.m. – Morrisville Smart City Steering Committee

Aug 8th - 2 pm - Wake County work session.

Morrisville, NC— The Town of Morrisville will break ground on Fire Station No. 3, located at 1021 Harris Mill Road, on Wednesday, July 27, at 10 a.m. Members of the Morrisville Town Council, Wake County Commissioners and other local leaders will participate in the groundbreaking ceremony. Morrisville residents and media are invited to attend.

The new fire station is being built to improve the distribution and level of service for areas north and east of Town. Doing so will reduce response times, improve the reliability of fire protection to all areas of Town, and increase capacity. Once the new fire station is completed, the Town will also be able to relocate fire resources that are currently at a shared site in the Town of Cary.

“We are excited about all of the opportunities building this facility offers the department and residents,” said Morrisville Fire Chief Scott Criddle. “For the department, the station will include the latest in station design to reduce response times, protect equipment, and improve the health and safety for our staff. Our entire community will benefit from improved response times leading to improved outcomes.”

Construction cost for the fire station is $8.8 million, with much of the funding coming from the 2021 Morrisville Bond Referendum, which passed in November 2021 and provided $8 million for public safety improvements. Wake County contributed approximately $1.4 million to the project.

The Town acquired 6.3 acres of land at the location of the new fire station. Approximately 2.7 acres will be used for the station, and the remaining land will be allocated for other uses, which have yet to be determined.

“Breaking ground on what will become Fire Station No. 3 is a momentous occasion for the Town of Morrisville,” said Morrisville Town Manager Martha Paige. “Improving our public safety facilities is a high priority for Town Council and staff, and this fire station is a direct result of important work performed by many stakeholders.”

The fire station, which will be approximately 15,700 square feet, will have double deep bays and administration and personnel quarters for four to nine staff per day. A third bay will be available for a Wake County EMS station.

Construction is estimated to be completed in the summer of 2023, and the project will include landscaping improvements at the site.

For more information about the project, please visit https://bit.ly/firestation3. For questions, please contact Eric Pearson, the Capital Projects Manager, at (919) 463-6214 or epearson@townofmorrisville.org.

For more information or questions about the groundbreaking ceremony, please contact Public Information Officer Maria Bajgain at (919) 463-6207 or mbajgain@townofmorrisville.org.

GrassStreet will perform at the Music in the Park concert series on Aug. 5, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Healthy Food Hub, 280 Town Hall Drive. GrassStreet is based in Central North Carolina and plays a mix of original material and bluegrass standards. They also cover songs from genres ranging from rock to blues to jazz, setting them apart from the average bluegrass band. They put on a high-energy and entertaining stage show, with a balance of musical precision and humor.

The concert is free, and the food truck “And Also with ‘Cue” will be on site. Feel free to bring a blanket or chair to get comfortable on the lawn, as well as cash for food and beverages.

Visit the Music in the Park webpage for more information about the series.

Morrisville residents are invited to take part in National S’mores Day in “S’Morrisville” on Wednesday, Aug. 10. The Town will change its name to S’Morrisville for the day, and we’ll be serving up these beloved treats from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway.

Residents are also invited to create a short video (one minute or less) sharing a fond memory related to s’mores and upload it to social media. Use the hashtag #smorrisville and tag the Town of Morrisville on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or LinkedIn.

The Town of Morrisville and the Morrisville Veterans Memorial Foundation are working together to bring a veterans memorial to Morrisville. We are currently developing the site plan for the memorial, and we want your input! You’ll have a chance to share your thoughts at S’Morrisville on Wednesday, Aug. 10, from 6 - 7:30 p.m., at Morrisville Community Park. Stop by the Veterans Memorial Foundation to share your thoughts before or after you grab a delicious s’more. We hope to see you there!

The Town of Morrisville Police Department will host its first Law Enforcement Torch Ride for Special Olympics on Saturday, Aug. 13, from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost to participate is $30 for motorcycle riders and $10 for passengers, and proceeds will support the Law Enforcement Torch Run, which supports the Special Olympics and nearly 40,000 athletes across the state.

The charity run will begin and end at Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway. Registration begins at 8 a.m., or participants can register online before the event. Snacks will be provided at the start of the ride, as well as at pit stops, and lunch will be served at the conclusion of the ride.

For questions, contact Tracy Skeeter at tskeeter@townofmorrisville.org.

Town of Morrisville residents, please help us shape the future of Morrisville! The 2022 Morrisville Community Survey is now open for all residents. Your participation in this survey is very important as your feedback will help Morrisville make decisions that affect our Town.

Your responses are confidential and no identifying information will be shared.

Please click here to take the survey in English, or click here to take the survey in Hindi.

The Town of Morrisville is committed to sustainable development and practices, and the Sustainability program is pleased to share the news that homeowners may soon have more options for installing their own solar panels. Last month, the N.C. State Supreme Court ruled in favor of homeowners involved in a dispute with their Homeowners’ Association about their ability to install solar panels on their roofs. The ruling may open the way for other homeowners to install their own solar panels. Additionally, Duke Energy is expected to offer another round of solar rebates in January 2023. Check here for updates.

Phase 3 work on the Morrisville Carpenter Road Improvements Project between Page Street and Old Savannah Drive is estimated to begin near the end of July or early August. During this phase of the project, the contractor will pour the median on Morrisville Carpenter Road in front of Church Street, which will require a traffic shift. Traffic will become "right-in/right-out" only on Church Street at the intersection of Morrisville Carpenter Road.

For more information on the Morrisville Carpenter Road Improvements Project, and for regular updates, please visit the project page.

The Town of Morrisville and the Morrisville Police Department advise pedestrians not to walk on either side of Morrisville Carpenter Road between Town Hall Drive and Misty Groves Circle. This section of the road is an active construction zone area and does not have a sidewalk and is not safe for pedestrians. Please observe the posted sidewalk closed signs.

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

The Town has contracted with Precision Infrastructure Management (PIM) to develop an ADA Transition Plan. As part of the plan development, sidewalks along public streets throughout the town will be surveyed and assessed. Over the next several weeks, you may notice PIM vehicles and personnel throughout Town performing this assessment.

The Morrisville Community Park Phase III construction is taking shape. The contractor has finished 99 percent of the building pad grading, and is continuing stormwater pipe installation. Additionally, the contractor has started installing concrete storm structures. The crew has finished excavating the footing for the retaining wall and poured concrete and rebar.

The tennis court lights have been installed, and work is commencing on finishing the grading at the tennis court area before they start pouring the asphalt for the court surfacing. The invoice has been processed for Duke Energy to conduct electrical utility boring and to run electric power to the site.

The contractor has begun work on constructing the boardwalk and bridges onsite for the walking trails. These are currently anticipated to be complete within the next four weeks or so. Work will be continuing on establishment of the foundation and utilities for the restroom shelter building.

Click here to read more on MCP Phase III.

North State Resurfacing has been contracted to repair and resurface the tennis courts at Church Street Park, 5817 Cricket Pitch Way. The painted surface of the tennis courts has faded over time, and cracks and other imperfections have also formed. This project will make repairs to the asphalt and then repaint the surface. The work will require that the courts be closed for approximately two weeks.

The Town’s first sustainability newsletter was sent out on July 1. This quarterly publication will include a message from MESC, information on current projects, a sustainability spotlight feature, and information about upcoming or past events.

If you’d like to subscribe to the newsletter, contact sustainability@townofmorrisville.org.

Puttin Around Town is a program that places a temporary disc golf basket at a different park on a rotating basis to give people the opportunity to practice throwing discs so they can work on their mid-range game or putting. Plans are being finalized for a temporary course to return to Cedar Fork District Park in July.

The Town is continuing to explore effective uses of temporary baskets in open to encourage outdoor recreation.

Read more about Puttin’ Around Town here.

The Morrisville Pop-up Dog Park is back! Bring your dogs out to enjoy the sunshine at Morrisville Community Park. The dog park will be open May 8 - September 18 on select days. Click here for more information and to register.

Baseball camps will be offered in partnership with Diamond and Aces. Run by professional coaches, this camp provides young players a unique opportunity to take their game to the next level. Players of all ability levels will be challenged with specific skill instruction and drill work. Drill progressions will be focused on developing good habits while improving overall game skills. Each camp will cover the skills of pitching, hitting, catching, fielding, baserunning, position work, and mental preparation. The camp will be held at Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway.

Developmental sports camps will also be offered in partnership with Skyhawks, the country's leader in providing a safe, fun, and skill-based sports experience for kids between the ages of 4 and 14.

Registration for fall leagues will also start on June 6. Fall leagues will include tee-ball, coach pitch, minor and major baseball, and junior volleyball.

Visit the Parks and Recreation website for additional information and updates.

Beginning the week of April 11, the MAFC program pool will be unavailable for public use on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Open rec swim and water aerobics participants will be accommodated in lanes 5 and 6 of the lap pool. Additionally, the Friday morning water aerobics class has been cancelled.

The Morrisville Aquatics and Fitness Center is hiring for part-time lifeguards. Applicants must be 16+, and scheduling hours include morning, mid-day, after school, evenings and weekends. Not certified? The MAFC will train you free of charge. Learn more and apply here.

The Town of Morrisville has launched the Sustainability Dashboard on Morrisville's Open Data Portal. The dashboard provides residents with tracking data showing the Town's progress in implementing sustainability practices. Data for the solar panel array on Morrisville Fire Station No. 1 and recycling participation rates for each of Morrisville's five GFL Environmental service routes are currently available. For details, 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 Morrisville Smart Shuttle node at the Morrisville Aquatics and Fitness Center is now open and available for rides.

With the new MAFC node, the service will connect residents with 15 locations in Morrisville. An additional node is located at the Regional Transit Center near RTP. A Morrisville Smart Shuttle rider can arrange their pick-up and drop-off from their computer or smartphone. Learn more and download the app here.

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. (summer hours) every Saturday.

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

Great to be with Raleigh Council Member Storme Forte at the Raleigh Chamber Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summit.

My Time at Raleigh Chamber and Diversity Summit:

Governor Cooper and Rufus Edmisten inspire us at Wiley Nickel for Congress Event in Cary!

Attended Reception for Ya Liu and Maria Cervania with special guest Jay Chaudhuri

Recorded another show with Gary Jones!

Ice Cream Social in Fuquay Varina Mineral Springs Park with Commissioner Bill Harris!

Wonderful time at the Mayors Association Outing at Mudcats Game!

Wonderful Movie at the Paragon Theater at the Fenton! Thor, Love and Thunder!

Kelly home in Providence almost back! Lost the home to fire last year!

Visited with Brian Lora, CEO and Founder of Social Equity, a local start up focused on assisting with Affordable Housing needs!

More on his company in next newsletter!

On Wednesday: The Federal Reserve, the U.S. central bank, is expected to raise interest rates for the fourth time this year. This is one of its main tools to fight rising prices.

On Thursday: The GDP report will tell us whether the U.S. economy grew or shrank over the past three months.

Why this matters: Policymakers are trying to bring prices down by cooling the economy — but without causing a recession. The GDP report will provide another snapshot of how that going.

Why? More than 16,800 cases of the virus, which causes lesions and rashes, have been reported this year, with at least 2,890 in the U.S.

What this does: It puts pressure on countries to take action and should lead to more funding.

What else to know: Experts are concerned because it’s spreading in new ways. In the past, monkeypox spread through contact with animals; this time, it’s concentrated among men who have sex with men.

The latest: Biden, 79, still had a sore throat — an “encouraging” sign that “his body is clearing the virus,” his doctor said yesterday. He will stay isolated until he tests negative.

What else to know: The president, who tested positive Thursday, probably has the BA.5 omicron variant, his doctor said. No close contacts have tested positive.

What happened: Russia launched a missile strike on the port city less than 24 hours after signing a deal to guarantee safe passage from Odessa and two other ports.

What it means: Resuming exports — and easing worldwide shortages — will not be easy, and the attack raises questions about Russia’s commitment to the agreement.

What to know: At least 17 people died, and more are missing. Twenty-five have been rescued; as many as 60 were on the boat when it left the Bahamas.

This is the latest tragedy involving migrants trying to reach the U.S. Last month, the bodies of 46 migrants were found in a truck in Texas, the deadliest incident of its kind in U.S. history.

Why? Ginni Thomas, who is married to Justice Clarence Thomas, tried to push the White House to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

The House panel investigating the 2021 attack on the Capitol could try to force Thomas to testify, a committee member said yesterday.

In other news: Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) said the committee hasn’t decided whether to make criminal referrals of former president Donald Trump to the Justice Department.

The Oak Fire began Friday and, as of yesterday afternoon, had burned more than 14,500 acres. Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate.

What else to know: It’s California’s peak fire season, which climate change is making longer and more intense this year.

Wake County's Democratic Party declined to endorse Raleigh's sitting mayor, Mary-Ann Baldwin, in her race for reelection in November, the party said in a release Monday night.

Instead, the party endorsed one of Baldwin's opponents in the race, Terrance Ruth.

Why it matters: Baldwin, who has served as Raleigh's mayor since 2019, faced criticism most prominently for her votes to disband and replace the city's 18 Citizen Advisory Councils and reduce the amount of time residents can speak at city council meetings, WRAL recently reported.

What she's saying: "I have $500,000 in the bank," Baldwin told The News & Observer. "I’m going to take my message to all the voters of Raleigh, and not just a few radical activists."

Those activists, she told The N&O, are people within the Democratic party with "radical ideas."

Wake County's Democratic Party also endorsed a slate of other candidates for city council running for the upcoming November election:

Congresswoman Kathy Manning (NC-06), joined by Congresswomen Nikema Williams (GA-05), Sara Jacobs (CA-53), and Angie Craig (MN-02), introduced the Right to Contraception Act. This critical legislation would codify the right for Americans to access birth control into federal law.

Rep. Manning’s bill introduction follows the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which upended reproductive and substantive due process rights, and Justice Thomas’ concurrence explicitly calling for the reconsideration of the constitutional right to contraception.

Specifically, the Right to Contraception Act would:

Tune in on Friday at 7 pm and Sunday at 4 pm to PBS Carolinas Black Issues Forum for our engaging discussions on trending topics!

Please watch for the Black Issues Forum on UNC-TV!  Fridays at 7 pm and Sundays at 4 pm!

Link to the Show:

Website: https://video.pbsnc.org/search/?q=black+issues+forum

Join me every Sunday at 4pm for a new show. 99.9FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!

Thanks for Joining us on Radio Nyra for our interview with North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell!

Interview with State Treasurer Dale Folwell

On Aug. 2, community leaders, stakeholders and members will come together to discuss how best to use money from the National #OpioidSettlement Fund to help those harmed by the opioid epidemic. We'll hear from a keynote speaker and then break out into groups to talk about possibilities and priorities.

The meeting takes place from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Wake County Commons. You can also attend virtually if you prefer.

Learn more about register at wakegov.com/opioidsettlement.

Join us Aug. 16th at 8 am for the NC Vet Biz Procurement Summit at McKimmon Center.

RSVP at https://www.ncvetbiz.org/upcomingevents.

JJoin us on Sunday at 4 pm on Radio Nyra for our interview with North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell!

99.9FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!  Listen at www.radionyrausa.com!

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.