USA Cricket Board community meeting

USA Cricket Board will host a community meeting at Church Street Park on Friday at 5:30 pm to talk about the future of Cricket!

U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss

U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss names most diverse cabinet in history.  No white males in prominent roles. 

https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/uk-news/liz-truss-forms-most-diverse-cabinet-in-uk-history-with-no-white-males-in-prominent-roles-articleshow.html

Wake County offering new Covid Boosters

Wake County offering new Covid Boosters for Pfizer and Moderna. 

Make an Appointment at www.wakegov.com.  

https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/how-to-make-an-appointment-for-updated-covid-booster-shots-near-you/20451854/

Airport Boulevard Road Closure Alert: 

Starting at 8 p.m. on Sept. 6, crews plan to close the ramp from Airport Boulevard to I-40 West. Detours will follow either Aviation Parkway back to I-40 West, or for those coming from Pleasant Grove Church Road, McCrimmon Parkway to Aviation Parkway to I-40 West.

Starting at 8 p.m. on Sept. 7, crews plan to close the ramp from I-40 East to Airport Boulevard. The detour for this closure will have drivers continue to the next exit and follow Aviation Parkway to McCrimmon Parkway to access Airport Boulevard.

Pop-up Dog Park Friday, September 9

The next pop-up dog park is Friday, September 9, from 4-9 p.m. at Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway.

Owners will need to register and sign a waiver.

Learn more at https://bit.ly/MSVDogPark2022

Radio Nyra Sunday at 4 pm - Interview with Wake Tech President Scott Ralls

Join us on Radio Nyra on Sunday at 4 pm for our interview with Wake Tech President Scott Ralls!

99.9FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!

My Message Community Meeting with USA Cricket:

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/1092613691381010

Community Meeting with USA Cricket

Friday, September 9

5:30-7:30 p.m.

Church Street Park Shelter, 5800 Cricket Pitch Way

The public is invited to attend a meeting with representatives from USA Cricket and Morrisville Town Council on Friday, September 9, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Church Street Park Shelter (5800 Cricket Pitch Way).

This meeting will give members of the public, the Triangle Cricket League and others the opportunity to listen in and discuss matters related to cricket in the Town of Morrisville.

My Message on Chris Heagarty:  

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/396146495982050

https://heagarty4schools.com/

Over the past few years, our Council and the residents of Morrisville and much of Cary have been the beneficiaries of the strong leadership and advocacy of Chris Heagarty, currently Vice Chair of the Wake County School Board.  Chris currently represents School District 7 for the School Board.  

Chris has been a successful advocate for new schools, leading efforts for Parkside Elementary, the Wake Early College of Bioinformatics and Information Technology at Wake Tech RTP, and has been instrumental in the recent announcement of the new Public High School at Wake Tech.  He meets the community, listens to parents and families, and works every day on the job to make sure our children are getting the best education possible. 

Finally, Chris and his colleagues successfully kept our kids safe during the Pandemic, adhering to CDC guidelines and basing their decisions on the data and science.  We are very grateful for his calm, steadfast, and dynamic leadership and need him back for another four years to fight for schools and a world class education for our kids! 

We pray for him and his family as he lost his mother last week.  

ABOUT CHRIS HEAGARTY

Chris Heagarty is a proud Wake County public schools graduate, and father of two current WCPSS students, who has worked with our community to create inclusive public schools that inspire imagination and cultivate critical independent thinking where ALL students can learn, thrive, and prepare to live fulfilling lives. He has worked to:

• Raise pay for teachers and school staff
• Build schools to address growing needs
• Partner with the community to foster safe and healthy learning environments.

US Congresswoman Ross Headlines Chris Heagarty Event on Sept. 7th 6:30 pm! At Joslin Garden.  

Rep. Ross will be the special guest at a fundraiser for Chris Heagarty on Wednesday, September 7th in Raleigh. If you would like to attend the fundraiser, or donate to the campaign, please visit the link below. 

Rep. Ross is joined in supporting Chris by many other public officials who have endorsed his re-election campaign as well, such as North Carolina Senators Jay Chaudhuri, Sarah Crawford and Wiley Nickel, NC Representatives Gale Adcock and Joe John, Wake County Commissioners Vickie Adamson, Matt Calabria, Maria Cervania, and Commission Vice Chair Shinica Thomas and many others.

The event will be held on Wednesday, September 7 from 6:30PM - 8:00PM at Joslin Garden (2431 W. Lake Drive) in Raleigh.

Donate at

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/h4sross?utm_source=Heagarty4Schools&utm_campaign=7562dd80f1-meet_chris_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ec235f2493-7562dd80f1-362443773. 

If you would prefer to donate by check, please send it, along with your employer and occupation information, to:

Heagarty 4 Schools

PO Box 987

Raleigh, NC 27602

Questions? Please call 919-355-6998

Join the Team and Help us Keep Great Schools in Wake County

Wake County residents know how important our schools are to our community and we cannot take them for granted.  We need common sense, collaborative leaders like Chris Heagarty to help navigate the challenges ahead.  

Join our team, and help spread the word by volunteering on the Heagarty 4 Schools campaign today!

https://heagarty4schools.com/

In my last WRAL Tech Wire Blog, I referenced our Town as the Cricket Capital of the US

This past weekend, we were grateful to have the men’s USA National Cricket Team practice at our Church Street Park cricket facility Friday, Sept. 2, through Sunday, Sept. 4. Practices took place from 3-6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 12-7 p.m. on Sunday. ! I was honored to meet Coach Arun Kumar Jagdish and some of the team yesterday and to also catch up with former Morrisville resident and National Team Member Jess Malhotra. 

The team is preparing for the ICC Cricket World Cup in Papua New Guinea, which is scheduled for Sept. 11-21.

Good Luck Team USA, and once again, another game changing event in our Cricket transformation!  

Cricket is on the move in Morrisville!

My Message to Pakistani Community:

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/1100028347306571

We pray and support Pakistan during the tragic floods.  1265 dead, 3,641 Non Fatal Injuries, 482,000 displaced, 33 million affected, and billions in damage.

Join us next Sunday, Sept 11 at 300 Preston Valley Way, Cary, NC 27519 4 pm for a Fundraiser for Pakistani Flood Relief!  

For all Ganesh Festival Events at HSNC, visit

https://hsnctemple.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Ganesh-Festival-2022-Schedule-1.jpg

In Person Voter Registration is Oct 14: 

North Carolina offers online voter registration to existing customers of the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles. You can register by mail to vote in North Carolina by printing a voter registration form, filling it out, and mailing it to your local election office. You can also register to vote in person if you prefer.

Registration deadlines

• In person during early voting : Oct 20 - Nov 5
• In-person at local election office : Oct 14
• Online : Oct 14
• By mail (postmarked by) : Oct 14

Church Street and Morrisville Carpenter Road Intersection is Right In and Right Out. 

(See This Week in Morrisville Updates) 

Teen Morrisville 101 Registration Now Open!:

The annual citizen’s academy for teens will be held on four consecutive Wednesdays, October 5-26, from 4-6 p.m. The deadline for registration is Sept. 23.

More information can be found here:

https://www.townofmorrisville.org/residents/community-programs/teen-morrisville-101

Fall Into Fitness

Fall Into Fitness starts Friday, September 9 with eight weeks of FREE fitness classes and activities hosted by some of MAFC's top instructors!

All classes and activities will be held on Fridays from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. at Morrisville Community Park - Field 1.

Get details and SIGN-UP AT WWW.TINYURL.COM/MAFCFALL starting September 2.

Cedar Fork Community Center Hiring Before and After-School Counselors

The Cedar Fork Community Center is looking for counselors for its before and after-school programming. Before-school counselors work Monday through Friday from 6:50 to 9 a.m. and make $13 per hour. After-school counselors work Monday through Friday from 3:30 to 6 p.m. and make $11 per hour. After-school counselors must also be available to work on school early release days. For more information and to apply, visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/morrisvillenc. 

Resources for Seniors Presentation to be Given at Morrisville Senior Center September 7

A representative from Resources for Seniors will offer a presentation on the services the non-profit offers at the Morrisville Senior Center, 4117 Davis Drive, on Sept. 7, from 1-2 p.m. Get help navigating the aging services network to optimize successful aging and support independent living. Call (919) 463-7140 for more information. 

Model Railroad to be on Display at Morrisville Senior Center September 10

The North Raleigh Model Railroad Club will put on a model train display and exhibition at the Morrisville Senior Center, 4117 Davis Drive, on Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendees will be able to observe creative miniature scenes from city to farm, and from sci-fi to Lego. A fun scavenger hunt will also be available to find items across the detailed display. Admission is free. 

Morrisville Senior Center to Host Trip to N.C. Museum of History on September 14

Those 55 and older are invited to join the Morrisville Senior Center for a trip to the N.C. Museum of History on Sept. 14. The group will leave the MSC at 4117 Davis Drive at 9:30 a.m. and will be returning around 3 p.m. The cost is $5 for residents and $8 for non-residents. Lunch will be at the Daily Planet Cafe, which will be a separate cost. For more information and to register, please call (919) 463-7140 or click here. 

Morrisville Senior Center to Host Finance Friday Event on September 16

You’ve worked hard to provide for your family. Whether you’re approaching retirement or are recently retired, your focus may begin to shift from building your financial foundation to protecting the financial resources you’ve created for you and your family. Edward Jones will present information at the Morrisville Senior Center, 4117 Davis Drive, on Sept. 16 about how you can address key risks you may encounter and what strategies you can use to help prepare for the unexpected. The presentation will be at 12 p.m., and snacks will be served. 

Morrisville Senior Center Hosts Durham Bulls Baseball Game Outing September 25

Those ages 55 and older are invited to join the Morrisville Senior Center for a Durham Bulls baseball game on Sept. 25 at 1:05 p.m. Watch the Durham Bulls take on the Norfolk Tides. The group will be leaving the MSC at 4117 Davis Drive at 12 p.m. The cost is $22 for residents and $25 for non-residents. Lunch will be a separate cost. The group should arrive back at the center around 5 p.m. For more information and to register, please call (919) 463-7140 or click here. 

Morrisville Senior Center to Start Closing on Saturdays

Beginning Saturday, Sept. 3, the Morrisville Senior Center will be closed on Saturdays except for special events or scheduled program hours.

Please contact the Senior Center at 919-463-7140 or seniorcenter@townofmorrisville.org if you have any questions.

Eight Weeks of Free Fall Fitness Classes Starts September 9

The Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center will be offering eight weeks of free fall fitness classes, with the first class on Sept. 9. All classes and activities will be held on Fridays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Morrisville Community Park – Field 1, 1520 Morrisville Parkway. Classes will include recreational games, family yoga, running fundamentals, dance party, badminton, tai chi, and ultimate frisbee. Sign up at www.tinyurl.com/mafcfall. 

Pop-up Dog Park Friday, September 9

The next pop-up dog park is Friday, September 9, from 4-9 p.m. at Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway.

Owners will need to register and sign a waiver.

Learn more at https://bit.ly/MSVDogPark2022

Winston Salem Open

Great time at Winston Salem Open with Mike Fox, NC DOT Chair and Head of the Piedmont Triad Partnership!  

Congrats to Adrian Mannarino for his win and to Mike for presenting to runner up Laszlo Djure! 

Minor League Cricket Championships

Minor League Cricket Championships a Success!  Congrats Seattle Thunderbolts!  

Great to Hang out with Sig Hutchison and Shinica Thomas at Minor League Cricket Championships!

Ganesh Festival

Ganesh Festival Kicks off at HSNC!  Great to be with Chris Heagerty!

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/810476343461977

African American Cultural Festival

Great time at African American Cultural Festival! Great to Catch up with Jessica Holmes, Gerald Givens and NAACP!  

Catching up with Gerald

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/1320772685123187

Anurag Foundation Run

Inspired at Anurag Foundation Run!  Thanks to Credit Suisse for sponsoring and to Murali Sagali for organizing. 

Going the Distance at the 5k!

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/1992963827560177

My Insights on Credit Suisse for sponsoring: 

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/1125667951663771

Honored to welcome Andrapradesh Commissioner of Food Service and Consumer Affairs, Girija Shankar

Rush Hour Karting

Visit with Adam and Tamer Saad Rush Hour Karting! Opening this year near Wake Competition Center!

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/1403043800177000

Chutney’s

Thanks to Chutney’s for hosting India Pakistan Cricket Match!  Great Match!

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/808974113609759

Wake County Commissioners Consider Changing Outdoor Shooting Ordinance 

Wake County Commissioners are contemplating changing the outdoor shooting ordinance. This comes after residents in Knightdale have complained about stray bullets hitting their property.

Over the last year, deputies responded to 128 shots fired calls around Knightdale. Over the course of that year, those shots have hit homes, split fences and rattled the neighbors’ sense of safety.

Under the current ordinance, you are not allowed to fire a gun within 100 yards of a home.

The discussion will continue at the next public hearing on this topic scheduled for September.

A current proposal would change the minimum distance to 300 yards.

The recommendation would also require a backstop to contain projectiles once fired.

34% of NC Schools are low performing.  

North Carolina education officials released testing results for each district statewide for the 2021-22 school year Thursday, and the results showed most schools are still feeling the effects of learning loss from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Nearly 400 more schools will be on the state's "low-performing" schools list this fall, according to the data released Thursday. About one in three schools will now be on the list, with 864 total designated under new test scores, up from 488 during the 2018-19 school year, WRAL found. 

The Department of Public Instruction released full data for each district in the state, including breakdowns by race and other subgroups for every school in North Carolina. State leaders said there was an improvement from the 2020-21 school year, when districts struggled to establish effective teaching habits at the onset of the pandemic. 

Schools placed on the low-performing list must draft plans to improve their test results. Schools that have been on the list for two out of the past three testing years will be considered "recurring" or "continually" low-performing. 

Those schools will be eligible to apply for the Restart program, which gives public schools charter school-like flexibility to change how they operate for the sake of improved academic performance. 

The North Carolina General assembly defines low-performing schools as those that receive a school performance grade of D or F and a school growth score of "met expected growth" or "not met expected growth". 

Growth is a measurement of how much a student has learned. The NC DPI says it's determined by measuring expected progress against actual progress.

North Carolina Supreme Court Hears Leandro Case

North Carolina Supreme Court justices questioned attorneys Wednesday over a riddle that’s key to unlocking billions of dollars to fix deficiencies in the state’s public schools: who has the authority to order such a spending plan — and is one needed in the first place?

Lawyers for parents, school boards and legislative leaders argued over whether a court can even order a remedy to the problems it finds.

Lawmakers’ attorneys argued that the court doesn’t have that authority, and that problems with the state’s schools were isolated to one county. Meanwhile, attorneys for parents and school boards say the deficiencies are statewide, that they require billions of dollars to fix, and that the court indeed has the right to order the funding.

The remedial plan that was borne from the lawsuit calls for $785 million this year, and eventually billions more, toward increased funding for students with disabilities and other disadvantaged students, as well as other education programs and policy changes.

The plan comes from a consent order in 2021, agreed to by plaintiffs in the Leandro case and the state’s executive branch.

Despite the agreement, which was signed by a judge, lawmakers didn’t fund the plan in the months immediately following its approval.

Judge W. David Lee, who previously presided over the case, issued another order in November telling a handful of state executives to cut a check of state surplus funds to do so. A North Carolina Court of Appeals panel halted the order, and the parties in the lawsuit appealed that decision to the state Supreme Court.

How the court rules could determine whether the state’s 1.5 million public schoolchildren see a resolution to this case any time soon. Justices have not issued a timetable for ruling.

The Leandro lawsuit — known for a former plaintiff — was filed against the state in 1994 by five lower-income school boards and families who said they were being denied an adequate education. The state Supreme Court ruled in 2004 that students had been denied the opportunity to access a “sound basic education” and ordered the state to fix that, leaving it up to lawmakers and the governor for the time being.

The so-called Leandro Plan from 2021 calls for at least $5.6 billion in new, annual education spending by 2028, as well as numerous policy changes concerning school improvement and accountability.

The state’s education budget is more than $11 billion.

On Wednesday, Justices heard oral arguments on the appeal for more than an hour and a half. Arguments rehashed months of debate but featured two new things: The first state Supreme Court appearance in the case for the state’s top two legislative leaders and extensive debate brought by those legislators over whether shortcomings in the state’s education system had ever really been proven.

This is not a contest between those that want to fund education and those that don’t,” Matthew Tilley—a lawyer for state Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, and House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, who are intervenors—told justices.

Rather, Tilley said, the state Supreme Court must weigh whether a judge can order lawmakers or others to fix — in a specific way — what the court says they’re failing to do and determine the extent a resolution is necessary. Berger and Moore don’t like the plan, though Democratic lawmakers favor it. Berger and Moore argue only lawmakers have the power to decide how to spend the state’s money.

Meanwhile, plaintiffs and attorneys for the governor and attorney general argued the court must be able to order a resolution.

For years since the state Supreme Court found the state was not providing an adequate education, the state’s legislative and executive branches — including prior governors and attorneys general, including current Gov. Roy Cooper — had not come up with a plan to fix the situation, lawyers for the legislators argued

TAHTS HEALTHFAIR

Registration for TAHTS HEALTHFAIR is Sept 1.  

Fair is Oct. 22 at HSNC from 9 am to 1 pm! 

Atlantic Tire Championships Sep 11-18

Watch Pro Tennis at

https://atlantictirechampionships.com/  

Sept. 11- Sept 18th 

Sept 10th – Reception in Support of Cheri Beasley

Join Cheri Beasley In Raleigh

Join us for a Reception hosted by

AAPI Victory Fund, Hon. Maria Cervania, Amalendu & Arundhati Chatterjee, N.C. Senate Democratic Whip Jay Chaudhuri & Sejal Chaudhuri, Dilip Gandhi, Hon. Satish Garimella, Subhash Gumber, Vinod Jindal, Hon. Ya Liu, Shekar Narasimhan, Hon. Steve Rao, Carey & B.J. Rudell, Bharat Vedak & Madhu Sharma, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, Mani Sundaram

with

Cheri Beasley

Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senate in NC 

Date: September 10, 2022

Start Time: 4:00 PM ET

Location: Raleigh, NC

(address will be provided via email 48 hours prior to the event)

Checks can be sent to PO Box 28778, Raleigh, NC 27611

With questions, please email anthony@cheribeasley.com or call (919) 827-7258

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/091022vf

Sept 11 - Fundraiser for Pakistani Flood Relief

Join us next Sunday, Sept 11 at 300 Preston Valley Way, Cary, NC 27519 4 pm for a Fundraiser for Pakistani Flood Relief!