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MAJOR LEAGUE CRICKET WRAPS UP IN MORRISVILLE AND NATIONAL PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH UPDATE | |
From the Council Office of Steve Rao
August 1, 2023
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Estimated Read Time: 10 minutes. | |
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My Weekly Update
https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/693884265891977
In August, I will be addressing two very important issues, Affordable Housing and also the impact that a broken immigration system continues to have on our skilled based immigrants with H1B Visas.
In a work session with the Wake County Commissioners, we found out that there are 1100 Morrisville residents, who pay 30% of their income on housing. We are working on developing an Affordable Housing Program, which we can fund to address this housing gap.
Canada's new work permit law allows 10,000 H-1B visa holders in the U.S. to work in Canada and provide study or work permits for their family members as well. The new initiative, which is part of the country's new Tech Talent Strategy, is set to launch on July 16, 2023.
What impact will these efforts have on our economy in the U.S and North Carolina?
More on this in my next edition.
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Hyundai Steering Wheel Lock Alert:
Morrisville residents: If you own a Hyundai or Kia, come by the Morrisville Police Department (260 Town Hall Dr. #C) Monday-Thursday, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., or Friday from 8 a.m.-12 p.m., to pick up your free steering wheel lock.
You will need to bring a valid ID to be issued a lock.
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July 26 was National Disabilities Day
In the United States, July 26 is recognized annually as National Disability Independence Day, commemorating the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law in 1990. Local governments continue to make efforts to be ADA Compliant.
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TRANSPORTATION ALERT:
I 40 West and Eastbound Interchanges to Airport Blvd. will be closed starting July 21. (See This Week In Morrisville.)
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MEDIA ALERT
TUNE IN ON FRIDAY at 3 pm to WPTF 98.5 FM and 680 AM for my Commentary on the Nate Saunders show! Rich Callaghan from Marius Pharma will be our guest!
www.wptf.com
WPTF - 98.5FM and 680 AM.
PBS Carolinas Fall Season begins in August, State Lines and Black Issues Forum!
https://rss.com/podcasts/wptf-afternoon-news/
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IN MEMORIAM: TOMMY BUNN
Tommy Bunn, husband of Secretary of State Elaine Marshall passed away this week, and was honored at a service on Sunday at the NC Farm Bureau.
Our hearts and prayers go out to their family and to my dear friend, our Secretary of State Elaine Marshall.
He was a successful business leader and entrepreneur in the Agriculture industry and was a friend and mentor to so many leaders across the state.
He was a gem of a person, whose smile, grace, and charm was infectious. in 2019, I had the opportunity of spending great time with him and Elaine in Kolkata, as Mayor TJ and I were on a delegation to the Global Business Summit in Bengal, led by Swadesh Chatterjee.
Over the years, all of us were so honored to see this handsome couple, Elaine and Tommy grace the presence of many community events.
Last year, at the Nepal Day event in Morrisville, a Nepalese photographer, Sudar, took a beautiful picture of Tommy and Elaine at the event.
Binod Bhatta and Ananta Nepal reached out to me to set up a time to present this masterful photo to her at her office. Elaine and Tommy loved the photo, and I was just so happy to be with such a beautiful couple, as always.
oday, I am reminded of the famous quote from RFK after the assassination of the late Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
"Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God."
My heart and prayers are now with Elaine, our beloved leader and Secretary of State, who will now have another angel, her late husband Tommy watching over her as she continues her exemplary service to North Carolina as one of our finest Council of State Members.
We will stand with Elaine, and pray that not only the wisdom and grace of God, but the wonderful memories of her time with Tommy will mend her broken heart and inspire her to continue to do great things for our State.
May Tommy now rest in peace with God.
Pictured here with Anantha Nepal and Binod Bhatta, who took a beautiful picture of Elaine and Tommy at Nepal Day and presetnter to her at her office.
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Major League Cricket Transforms Morrisville!
Opening Ceremony of Championships:
https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/964796881333932
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Town of Morrisville Short Listed for 2024 Cricket T20 World Cup
My Champions Message https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/2408573776013651
The Town of Morrisville has been shortlisted as a venue for the T20 world T20 World Cup 2024, to be jointly hosted by the West Indies and the United States. the T20 World Cup could be played between June 4-30 next year. That is the window that has been identified by the International Cricket Council (ICC). It has also started touring venues in the US.
New York, Dallas, Lauderhill and Morrisville are some of the venues the inspection team has visited.
Lauderhill has the experience of hosting international matches. The city is also staging the fourth and fifth T20Is between India and the West Indies on August 12 and 13 this year.
Major League Cricket matches are currently being played in Dallas (Grand Prairie Stadium) and Morrisville (Church Street Park).
Both venues, however, are yet to receive international venue status from the ICC. Likewise with Van Cortlandt Park in New York.
Cortlandt Park has a capacity of nearly 35,000 and could host the high-wattage India-Pakistan fixture, given the high number of Indians and Pakistanis in New York.
“The ICC has support from New York City Hall and the Mayor. So, we expect the work to be completed on time. Everything is on course as most of India's matches will be played in the US," an ICC board member was quoted as saying by PTI.
Twenty teams will compete in the tournament. Recently, Ireland and Scotland qualified for the elite competition, which will certainly boost their morale as cricketing nations. Ireland ensured qualification when their match against Germany was washed off. Scotland defeated Denmark to guarantee their progress to the marquee event.
One of the reasons behind wanting the US to co-host the event is because the ICC believes this will improve cricket’s chances of being included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Read More at https://www.outlookindia.com/sports/t20-wc-2024-a-new-york-la-state-of-mind-news-306713
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July was National Parks and Recreation Month!
My Parks and Recreation Message:
https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/1030806548301935
This month was National Parks and Recreation Month.
Since 1985, people in the United States have celebrated Parks and Recreation Month in July to promote building strong, vibrant, and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation and to recognize the more than 160,000 full-time parks and recreation professionals — along with hundreds of thousands of part-time and seasonal workers and volunteers — that maintain our country’s local, state and community parks.
This year's theme — “Where Community Grows” — celebrates the vital role that parks and recreation professionals play in bringing people together, providing essential services, and fostering the growth of our communities.
Join the Town of Morrisville in celebrating Parks and Recreation Month by enjoying one of our many beautiful parks, greenways, or community centers, and by thanking our Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources employees when you see them!
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MY THOUGHTS ON THE MORRISVILLE CRICKET TRANSFORMATION
WRAL Tech Wire Blog 07/18/23 www.wraltechwire.com
Cricket has a surprisingly long and rich history in America. The sport’s first ever international match was between America and Canada in New York in 1844. (Canada won.) Cricket was more popular than baseball before the civil war, and in recent years thanks to immigrants from all over the world, it has been gaining fans once again. CRICKET IS CURRENTLY BEING PLAYED BY OVER 200,000 PLAYERS IN THE UNITED STATES. These players participate in competitions in and more than 400 local leagues, tournaments, academies, college and school programs across the United States.
Last week, in an Economist e-newsletter, I read the following excerpt which really brought this point home for me.
Given the increasing number of immigrants from cricket-playing countries in America, Major League Cricket could be a lasting success. Owners of teams in the wildly successful, highly lucrative Indian Premier League have bought four of the MLC’s six sides. Their pulling power means that MLC teams are packed with some of the IPL’s top talent. America is also co-hosting the T20 World Cup—the shorter form of the game—with the West Indies in 2024.
Time for the locals to brush up on the laws of the game.
I think it is fair to say that our locals have done far more than brush up on their cricket skills at Church Street Park in Morrisville. Thanks to the leadership of the Triangle Cricket League, our region has witnessed the explosive growth of youth and adult cricket leagues. Many Indian American immigrants have brought their love and passion for cricket to the Town, leading to a growing fan base and the transformation of Church Street Park to emerge as one of the most remarkable cricket venues in the nation.
And as for Global Talent.
Morrisville has emerged as a destination for the best Cricket players in the nation and world, who have come here to train, and to vie for minor league cricket championships. The driving force behind this push is the rising number of immigrants in America from cricket-playing countries—in particular from the Indian subcontinent. The investors in Major League Cricket include high-profile Indian-Americans, such as Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft. (Economist, 07/06/23)
These investors are betting on the fact that their fellow countrymen provide a ready market for cricket. Major League Cricket's major multi-millionsuggests investment in Church Street really brings this point home. The evidence of America’s extensive amateur leagues suggest they might be right. Chicago’s “Premier League” already features ten full teams who play a dozen matches a week. There are over 2,000 players on the books, of whom nearly 300 have the surname “Patel.” (Economist, 07/06/23) All the more reason for a motivated Indian American Cricket fan base here in Morrisville, where South Asian Indians make up 47% of the Town's population.
Much of this cricket momentum was the result of the multi-million-dollar public-private partnership to jointly invest in the expansion of Church Street Park, upgrading the facility into an international-quality cricket venue.
The investment has now resulted in the addition of more than 2,000 permanent seats to the scenic venue, increasing Church Street Park’s capacity to over 3,500. Upgrades have also included the installation of state-of-the-art broadcast infrastructure, additional parking, and LED-illuminated natural and artificial turf practice pitches and nets.
These enhancements will allow Church Street Park to host world-class MLC matches and serve as a flagship facility for USA Cricket’s National Team games and training. We are now hopeful that our Cricket venue would meet the criteria necessary to host games at the 2024 T20 Men’s World Cup, an event viewed by over 500 million cricket fans worldwide. The USA host venues are expected to be announced later this year.
This week we have the opportunity to watch the best cricket players in the world firsthand as the first professional American cricket league, Major League Cricket will bring the Championships to the Town of Morrisville from July 20- July 24th.
A 19-match tournament, hosted primarily at a former baseball stadium in Dallas, kicked off this week. Six teams, representing five large American cities and Texas, will compete in “Major League Cricket” (mlc). They will play the Twenty20, or t20, format of the game, invented in 2003 as a faster version (by comparison, the current matches between England and Australia can each last for a gripping five days).
Professionals from all over the world are being flown in for these Major League Championships. In fact, on Tuesday, I welcomed the Washington Freedom with former Morrisville Mayor Mark Stohlman and Cricket fans as they arrived at RDU Airport from the games in Dallas. Australian Cricketer and Team Captain Mosies Henriques told me he was so excited to be playing the next round of matches at Church Street Park.
Yesterday I was finishing up my run on the Shiloh Greenway which runs through Church Street Park. On the last stretch of my run, I could not help but get a little emotional, as I ran up to the top of the new Stadium seating. It seemed like yesterday when we broke ground for Church Street park with our shovels in hand. At the time, my Colleagues on the Council and our residents were excited for a multi purpose park, with tennis courts, a track, and a playground.
Eventually, we would put in a Cricket pitch.
Fast forward nine years, and I was viewing the same Park from the expanded Stadium Seating. Never did any of us imagine that we would be hosting Major League Cricket Championships at Church Street Park and that fans from all over the nation and world would be watching Professional Cricket in a town, which was home to some of the first freed slaves who would go on to grow the Shiloh Community.
Who would have thought, that Cricket would be making a major resurgence in the united States so many years after the Civil War?
I could not help but think that Some of the last battles of the Civil War were fought not far from Church Street Park, and now, thanks to the passion and dedication of immigrants all over the world, we are seeing a Cricket Awakening and Transformation taking place before our very own eyes.
I run to music on my runs, and during my last mile was inspired by Carrie Underwood's Song Invincible, which spells out the word CHAMPION. The song reminded me of how proud we should be proud of bringing Major League Cricket to our Town.
As I sprinted the last quarter mile, I revised the words and spelled out the word CHAMPION.
C is for Courage of the Triangle Cricket League, who brought their passion from their home countries
H is for the Heart of our Cricket Fans.
A is for a never give up Attitude.
M is for Constant Motivation to develop the finest Cricket venue in the country.
P is for our Persistence.
I is for the Town of Morrisville's innovative, public private partnership and vision for executing on a world class Cricket Park.
O is for always being Optimistic.
N is for Never giving up.
CHAMPIONS, our Cricket Journey has certainly been more of a marathon than a sprint. At each mile marker, we faced some adversity, but never lost sight on the finish line, developing a Cricket Park, where Cricket fans from all over the nation can cheer on the best Cricket players in the world.
I am now leaving for my run. My song pics are:
Champions of the World because We are.
WE ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD: Because we are.
THE SHOW MUST GO ON: Because it will.
Who knows? With Cricket being considered as an Olympic sport at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, we may see a future Olympian in our midst.
We look forward to seeing you at the Cricket Capital and now can set our sights on T20 World Cup Games in 2024.
See you tomorrow at the Cricket Capital if you got your tickets! (www.majorleaguecricket.com)
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CRICKET INSIGHTS FROM MLC FOUNDER! VIJAY SRINIVASAN!
https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/278289091515637
CRICKET INSIGHTS FROM WASHINGTON FREEDOM PLAYER AND MORRISVILLE NATIVE DANE PETE
https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/635946125155614
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Major League Cricket Wraps Up in Morrisville!
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MI New York defeats Seattle Orcas to win first Major League Cricket Championships!
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Town of Morrisville shortlisted as venue for 2024 Cricket T20 World Cup.
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Council Has Productive Meeting! Town Center continues to move forward!
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GET THE MORRISVILLE APP AT THE APP STORE!
Get all the latest information about news and events around Town with the authoritative app, Morrisville Central. Learn about free community events, view an interactive map of Town facilities and parks to learn about court and field status, and get the latest information about the Town straight from the source. You can also report concerns as you see them using the app’s interactive tool.
Download the app from the Apple App Store or from Google Play.
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US Women Advance to Round of 16 in World Cup with a draw against Portugal.
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NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK VISITS | |
PBS CAROLINAS:
STATE LINES AND BLACK ISSUES FORUM:
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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!
https://www.pbsnc.org/watch/black-issues-forum/
Engaging Discussion on PBS Carolinas Black Issues Forum on Affirmative Action, Election Security and other matters.
Link to the show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BIOR-ih-Fg
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Join us on Radio Nyra on Sunday at 4 pm for our interview with HSS on Darsana Exhibit. 99.9HD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!
Join us on Radio Nyra Sundays at 4pm for interesting interviews with local thought leaders
99.9FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!
Great Interview on Radio Nyra with Hill Carrow on the 2029 FISU World University Games.
https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/596450559170578/?t=18
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Great US Open Roku TV Interview with Andy Andrews!
https://youtu.be/-Uy7aX-M2AI?t=79
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On the Porch with Randy Voller on WCHL 97.9 FM!
https://chapelboro.com/?s=on+the+porch
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WPTF Steve O'Bryan show on the Dream Act and DACA!
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This Week in Morrisville. July 31- August 4 | |
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Aug. 1 – 6 p.m. – Public Safety Advisory Committee
Aug. 1 – 6:30 p.m. – Public Education Advisory Committee
Aug. 2 – 6:30 p.m. – Environment and Stormwater Committee
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Now Hiring: Join the MAFC Team
The Town of Morrisville is now hiring for both full and part-time positions including:
Check out additional employment opportunities in the Town here.
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Talk Morrisville
Have you ever wanted to the chance to connect with your fellow Town residents but were never sure where to start? Join us in the Facebook Group Talk Morrisville!
Talk Morrisville is a way not just for us to connect with you, but also to help you connect with fellow members of the community. Together, we want to foster a welcoming space for all your Morrisville-related questions and content, and maybe even share some of our own. Let's Talk Morrisville.
👉 Join the group at https://bit.ly/TalkMorrisville
S'Morrisville to Share Sweet Treats with the Community on Aug. 10
Morrisville residents are invited to take part in National S’mores Day in “S’Morrisville” each year. That’s right – the Town will change its name and become S’Morrisville as we honor and enjoy the delicious snacks made famous at campfires everywhere. The Town will hand out delicious s'mores and host other fun activities at Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway, on Aug. 10, from 6-7 p.m. There will also be a DJ and crafts for kids. Event parking is on site. Visit https://www.townofmorrisville.org/smorrisville for more information.
Sign-Ups Open July 31 for August 'How To' Classes at MAFC
The Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center (MAFC), 1301 Morrisville Parkway, will host seven how-to classes in August on a variety of topics, including water walking, racquetball, TRX, and more. Not only do these classes teach important skills, but they also give the community an opportunity to become familiar with the facility and its amenities. A MAFC membership or single visit pass purchase is required to attend each class. Each class will open for registration one week in advance, with registration for the first class – How to Utilize the Functional Storage Piece in the Cardio Hallway – opening on July 31. To sign up for one of these classes, visit www.tinyurl.com/signupmafc.
Town's Mission Control Esports Platform Hosting Madden NFL Meetup on Aug. 3
The Town of Morrisville invites youth ages 9 to 18 to sign up for the Mission Control platform and join others in a Madden NFL meetup for open, communal play on Aug. 3 at 5 p.m. The Mission Control platform allows users to sign up for open leagues or tournaments in which they can participate from anywhere that they feel more comfortable playing. Players can build community and gain experience. The Madden NFL meetup will include play on personal computers, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Playstation 4, and Playstation 5. Click here to sign up for Mission Control and join the fun.
Retro-Grade to Play at Music in the Park on Aug. 4
Join us on Aug. 4 to see Retro-Grade play at the free Music in the Park concert series at the Morrisville Healthy Food Hub, 280 Town Hall Drive, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Retro-Grade is a trio consisting of piano, upright bass, and drums, with influences that include vintage rock ‘n’ roll, blues, country, New Orleans R&B, and pop. They cover songs from musical acts including The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tom Petty, Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, and more. Bring a chair or blanket for a fun and relaxing evening. The Blue Window food truck and Bruster’s Ice Cream will be onsite with food for purchase.
Open House on Transit Oriented Development and Zoning Plan Set for Aug. 10
Please join staff from the Town’s Planning Department and the Town’s consultants, Houseal Lavigne, to learn about the proposed Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and Zoning Plan at an open house at Town Council Chambers, 100 Town Hall Drive, on Aug. 10, from 4-6 p.m. As part of the ongoing 2021 Land Use Plan implementation process, this plan provides a visualization of the TOD and will serve as the basis for future zoning text amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance to install the TOD zoning standards. The open house will not include a formal presentation. Instead, the consultants and Town staff will be available to review the proposed plan, including maps and conceptual images, with interested parties on a come-and-go basis. Click here for more information on the implementation of the Land Use Plan.
Morrisville Senior Center Hosting Senior Resources Fair on Aug. 18
The Morrisville Senior Center, 4117 Davis Drive, will host a Senior Resources Fair on Aug. 18, from 10 a.m. to noon, to help the community learn about the many resources available for seniors in Morrisville and the surrounding area. Multiple organizations and vendors will be at the fair, covering topics such as senior living options, Medicare, physical and speech therapy, homecare options, and more. For more information, please visit www.townofmorrisville.org/msc or call 919-463-7140.
International Festival Applications Open for Vendors, Performers, Organizations Until Sept. 1
The Morrisville International Festival will take place on Sept. 23, from noon-6 p.m., on Town Hall Drive. Applications are now open for vendors, local organizations, and performers who would like to be a part of the festival. Vendors who would like to participate in the festival must sell arts, crafts, clothing, or other items that are representative of a specific culture. Cultural organizations can also apply for a tent at the festival to share information about a specific culture. Performers of all types are welcome to apply.
Applications received by Sept. 1 will be considered. Please visit the Town website for more information about requirements, as well as links for each application.
Registration Now Open for Marbles Fall Track-Out Camps in Morrisville
Camp Marbles is coming to Morrisville! Turn your child’s next track-out week into an adventure with engaging activities, hands-on play, and a field trip to the Marbles Kids Museum. Camp Marbles will take place at Morrisville’s Historic Christian Church, 222 Church St., for four weeks in September, October, and November, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dates are Sept. 18-22, Oct. 16-20, Oct. 30-Nov. 3, and Nov. 13-17. Camp is open to students in kindergarten through fifth grade, and the cost is $338 for Marbles members and $375 for non-members. Click here for more information and to register.
Harris Mill Road Closed July 17-21 for Improvements
The Town of Morrisville has contracted with Turner Asphalt to complete the Harris Mill Road improvement project. This project will require a complete closure of Harris Mill Road from McCrimmon Parkway to J Morris Commons Lane July 17-21. This requires that any traffic for J Morris Commons Lane will have to detour and use Lakebrink Drive, Midvale Avenue, and Craigemeade Drive during the closure. This work is being timed with the construction of Fire Station No. 3 on Harris Mill Road, and it is being performed because the roadway is in poor condition and needs reconstruction. Click here to see a map of the closure.
Registration Now Open for Marbles Fall Track-Out Camps in Morrisville
Camp Marbles is coming to Morrisville! Turn your child’s next track-out week into an adventure with engaging activities, hands-on play, and a field trip to the Marbles Kids Museum. Camp Marbles will take place at Morrisville’s Historic Christian Church, 222 Church St., for four weeks in September, October, and November, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dates are Sept. 18-22, Oct. 16-20, Oct. 30-Nov. 3, and Nov. 13-17. Camp is open to students in kindergarten through fifth grade, and the cost is $338 for Marbles members and $375 for non-members. Click here for more information and to register.
Registration Open July 17 for Kayak and Stand-Up Paddle Board Class Offered by MAFC
Celebrate the Year of the Trail by attending the “Learn to Kayak and Stand-Up Paddle Board” class on Sunday, Aug. 20, from 8:15-10:15 a.m. at Lake Crabtree County Park, 1400 Aviation Parkway. This class is designed for those who want to learn basic skills for kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. You must be at least 16 years old to participate. The class will open for registration on July 17 for members of the Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center (MAFC) and Morrisville residents, then on July 20 for non-residents and non-members. Click here to learn about class details and prerequisites. Use the link to register starting July 17. Slots are limited.
Celebrate the Year of the Trail in July with Agents of Discovery Game on Shiloh Greenway
Join the Town of Morrisville in celebrating the N.C. Year of the Trail with an exploration of Shiloh Greenway using the Agents of Discovery mobile app. Agents of Discovery is an augmented reality, geo-triggered app that gets users outside, active, and engaged in the community. With Agents of Discovery, users become a top-secret agent, dedicated to solving the mysteries of science, culture, technology, and nature. Download the app from Google Play or the App Store, then head to Church Street Park and start your adventure into learning about Morrisville history by finding and solving the challenges in the game. This is a self-guided activity that can be performed at any time. Take pictures while you’re playing and send them to Leslie Haney at LHaney@townofmorrisville.org.
The 2023 N.C. Year of the Trail celebrates the state’s vast network of trails, greenways, and blueways, which showcase our diverse landscapes, including grand mountain vistas, quiet rivers, vibrant urban greenways, coastal forests, and the rolling hills of the piedmont. N.C. Year of the Trail is the largest statewide celebration of trails and outdoor recreation in state history.
Ramps at I-40 and Airport Boulevard to Close July 21 for Several Months of Work
Starting the night of Friday, July 21, road crews will close the I-40 westbound offramp to Airport Boulevard (Exit 284) and the I-40 eastbound onramp from Airport Boulevard over the course of the weekend. By the morning of Monday, July 24, both ramps will be completely closed off to traffic and signed detours will be posted, with an expected duration of least 120 days before the ramps will re-open. Below is a summary of the detours that will be posted to get around the two ramp closures:
Traffic traveling westbound on I-40 trying to access Airport Boulevard will detour to the I-540 interchange (Exit 283A) and immediately take exit 1A onto eastbound I-40 back to Airport Boulevard.
Traffic traveling north on Airport Boulevard trying to access I-40 eastbound will detour via the exit ramp to Aviation Parkway to access the I-40 eastbound ramp.
Traffic traveling south on Airport Boulevard trying to access I-40 eastbound will detour to McCrimmon Parkway and Aviation Parkway to access the I-40 eastbound ramp.
Click here to see a map of the closure and detours.
Morrisville Senior Center Offers Presentation on Medications and Usage on July 19
Join the Morrisville Senior Center (MSC), 4117 Davis Drive, for a free Resources for Seniors presentation about medications on July 19, from 11 a.m. to noon. Dr. Casey Baldwin will discuss the importance of medication management for safety and drug efficacy. Participants can then review their medications and ask questions. The program is free, but registration is required by calling the MSC at 919-463-7140.
Residents Encouraged to Share Thoughts on the Town's Smart Shuttle in Survey
The Morrisville Smart Shuttle Service provides residents, commuters, and visitors with free, on-demand transit throughout the Town of Morrisville. As part of its commitment to providing the highest level of service possible to the community, the Town is inviting riders to share their experiences on the Smart Shuttle with a brief survey, available through Sept. 30. The survey is designed to understand who the current and potential riders are, how riders are using the Smart Shuttle, and what barriers there may be for riders, or what improvements can be made to encourage usage.
Join Morrisville Esports Tournaments and Leagues with Mission Control
The Town of Morrisville continues to provide opportunities for the community to engage in Esports in more ways than one. The Mission Control platform is designed to expose youth and teens to recreational and competitive Esports gaming anywhere you have access to play. It is one of many ways we hope to build a community and develop players interested in participating in larger online tournaments.
Register to participate in free opportunities, as well as fee-based opportunities for prizes. You can participate on any platform that allows you to play games, including your computer, personal console, phone, or tablet. Check out the Mission Control account creation tutorial and join the Town of Morrisville Esports Community.
S'Morrisville to Share Sweet Treats with Community on Aug. 10
Morrisville residents are invited to take part in National S’mores Day in “S’Morrisville” each year. That’s right – the Town will change its name and become S’Morrisville as we honor and enjoy the delicious snacks made famous at campfires everywhere. The Town will hand out delicious s'mores and host other fun activities at Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway, on Aug. 10, from 6-7 p.m. There will also be a DJ and crafts for kids. Event parking is on site. Visit https://www.townofmorrisville.org/smorrisville for more information.
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Shop Local at the Western Wake Farmers' Market
The Western Wake Farmers' Market (WWFM) offers healthy and fresh food and goods from small and local businesses from 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. every Saturday at the Healthy Food Hub, 280 Town Hall Drive.
Visit http://wwfm.ag/ to see a complete list of local vendors and shop local.
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Ended last Monday evening watching Cricket with Mark and Kelly Stohlman.
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Am I getting addicted to Pickleball?
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Great time at Ice Cream Social at Morrisville Senior Center!
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On AMTRAK FROM CARY TO DC with Komal.
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Attended Wedding Reception with Brian Hamilton in DC!
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Small Business Listening Tour: | |
Send me an email at sr@steverao.com to book a Business Listening visit to your company. | |
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I had a wonderful visit with Jose Pecheco, CEO of ExtoBio, whose company pitched at the TIE Carolinas Launch Event at the American Underground Bull Penn in Durham. Leading with scientific research and a thorough dedication to data, ExstoBio is disrupting the pharmaceutical industry, formalizing cannabis-as-a-medicine, and personalizing patient care.
Congratulations to all of the Companies who pitched to the Expert Pitch Panel and a special congrats to Pitch Winner, Wolfspider. Wolfspider is an Ag Tech company that brings together genetics and robotics to ensure confidence in crop yield and limiting chemical use. The company would love to connect individuals with experience in the ag tech space.
Thanks to ExstoBio (UNC), Aurganics (Duke), Vistara (NCSU), WolfSpider (NCSU), BioSensys (NCSU), and Collab (UNC) for participating in the event.
WolfSpider will be going to Silicon Valley for a global pitch tournament with ~40 other companies to compete for $100K+ in cash prizes.
And Thanks to Tim Scales from American Underground for hosting and to all the judges and attendees!
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SBA ADMINISTRATOR THOMAS AND I VISIT SMALL BUSINESSES IN MORRISVILLE!
During Allen Thomas’ visit to Morrisville, he and I were able to drop in and visit some Small Businesses in Grace Park Office Center. During our visits, he was able to connect with these companies, and provide them guidance on how to navigate through a very complex system to get access to SBA resources.
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Elaine Marshall's Husband Tommy Bunn passes away
Jessie Thomas “Tommy” Bunn, a distinguished leader in national and state level agricultural policy and marketing, and the husband of North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall of Harnett County, died unexpectedly Monday night after suffering a traumatic brain event.
Bunn was named by the North Carolina State Grange as Man of the Year in 1988 and was honored as a Distinguished Alumni with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at N.C. State University in 2012, where he graduated with a degree in agriculture business/crop science in 1966.
Bunn, 79, was a native of Zebulon and formerly served as president of the U.S. Tobacco Cooperative following a 21-year career as executive vice president of the Leaf Tobacco Exporters Association and Tobacco Association of the United States.
In addition, he served as deputy director and acting director of the Agricultural Marketing Service Tobacco Division for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. and served under Commissioner Jim Graham with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. He was currently serving as a consultant to the tobacco industry.
Concerns mount about Overreaching of Legislature
Senate Bill 512 takes appointments held now by Gov. Roy Cooper and shifts them to the General Assembly. Nine boards would be affected, and the governor would still have at least some appointments to each board.
Here are the nine boards in the bill and a brief description of what would change:
N.C. Utilities Commission: Add two members for a total of nine, with four appointed by the General Assembly, four by the governor and one by the state treasurer. The governor currently appoints this full board, which regulates Duke Energy and other public utilities.
Economic Investment Committee: Add two members for a total of seven, with three members of the executive branch serving with two General Assembly appointees and two legislators. This committee decides economic incentive grants.
Environmental Management Commission: Currently the governor appoints nine members and the General Assembly six. The bill would give the governor seven appointments, the General Assembly six and the state’s commissioner of agriculture two. This commission sets pollution regulations.
Commission for Public Health: Right now the governor appoints nine members and the N.C. Medical Society, a doctors group, elects four. The bill would leave the governor five appointees, give four to the General Assembly and let the Medical Society elect four.
Board of Transportation: Now the governor appoints 14 members and the General Assembly appoints six.
The bill flips that, giving the legislature 14 appointments and the governor six. The Secretary of Transportation, appointed by the governor, would continue to serve as a non-voting board member.
Coastal Resources Commission: Right now the governor appoints nine members and the legislature four. The bill would give the General Assembly six appointments, the governor six and the state’s insurance commissioner one.
AG Stein says that this is a powergrab that violates Separation of Powers...
Fowell Concerned that Rising Health Care Costs May Affect State Workers
Since becoming North Carolina’s treasurer in 2017, Dale Folwell has energetically asserted that rising health care costs could significantly impact the State Health Plan.
It’s gotten to the point that lawmakers are considering a request from Folwell to force hospitals to cut what they charge the plan — or face shutdowns.
The plan, which Folwell’s office oversees, serves roughly 740,000 state employees, teachers, retirees and their dependents.
Adequate funding for it matters because it helps keep premiums low, co-pays at bay and benefits robust, he told The News & Observer.
If health care costs keep rising without adequate funding, Folwell said his office won’t be able to “hold the dam in terms of freezing family premiums and deductibles or copays,” which he said has been a priority for him.
Nationally, health care costs have increased faster than those in almost any other economic sector, according to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, which monitors the U.S. health system. From 2000 to 2021, health spending tripled, to $4.3 trillion, according to the tracker.
About half of that growth in spending can be attributed to hospital costs.
Is there a funding shortfall?
The revenue for the State Health Plan mostly comes from premiums paid by employees and contributions paid by employers, including state agencies, school systems, universities and community colleges.
The state, via the budget, funds the employer contributions for active state employees and qualifying retirees.
The State Health Plan had a cash balance at the end of May of $796.6 million. This was well above the target stabilization reserve, set at $359.9 million. This reserve is meant to tackle any unexpected costs and hiccups.
If the plan’s revenue increases by more than 18% from this year to 2027, and health care expenses grow by over 28%, there would be a nearly $1 billion deficit.
Read More at https://www.aol.com/news/rising-health-care-costs-might-090000079.html
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LATEST NATIONAL AND GLOBAL UPDATES | |
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France will evacuate its citizens from Niger, a former colony, amid fierce anti-French sentiment since a military coup last week. Earlier Burkina Faso and Mali, two neighbours also run by military officers, warned that “military intervention” would be a “declaration of war.” On Sunday the Economic Community of West African States, of which both Burkina Faso and Mali are also members, threatened to use force against Niger’s military.
Federal prosecutors filed several additional charges against Donald Trump for retaining classified documents at his Florida estate and misleading investigators about them. Mr Trump’s property manager, Carlos De Oliveira, was also charged with obstruction of justice. Mr Oliveira allegedly told a colleague that “the boss”—presumably Mr Trump—wanted security footage of the premises deleted (it had been sought by a grand jury).
The Bank of Japan loosened its yield-curve control policy, signalling a possible shift towards a monetary tightening. It maintained its negative 0.1% interest rate, but said that the cap on ten-year government bonds was not a “rigid limit”. The yen rallied on the news. The change in policy is a response to rising inflation: Tokyo’s consumer-price index rose by 3% year-on-year in July.
Brazil denied an American request to extradite Sergei Cherkasov, an alleged Russian spy. America had possibly hoped to swap Mr Chersakov for Evan Gershkovich, a correspondent for the Wall Street Journal jailed in Russia on trumped-up charges of espionage. America indicted Mr Cherkasov in March, accusing him of studying in the country under a false identity while gathering intelligence about the war in Ukraine.
Germany’s economy stagnated in the second quarter, under-performing expectations of slight growth. Europe’s largest economy is in bad shape: it contracted by 0.1% in the first three months of 2023. While it has now exited its mild recession, helped by recovering household spending, data released earlier this week showed sustained weakness in its manufacturing and services sectors.
Jake Sullivan, America’s national security adviser, held talks with Muhammad bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, in Jeddah. The pair discussed how to create “a more peaceful, secure, prosperous and stable Middle East region interconnected with the world”. America has been seeking a deal to normalise ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Supporters of a coup in Niger attacked the headquarters of ousted president Mohamed Bazoum’s political party. Mr Bazoum remains held in the presidential palace after Niger’s military leadership announced its support for the coup. Various countries, including America and Russia, have called for Mr Bazoum’s release. A group of soldiers announced the takeover on national television on Wednesday; they closed the country’s borders and imposed a nationwide curfew.
Britain’s defence ministry is investigating a typing error that resulted in emails containing classified information being sent to Mali, a west African country that is a close ally of Russia. America’s army, which uses the domain name “.mil”, was the intended recipient, but the sender missed out the letter i. Earlier this month the Financial Times reported that American officials had sent millions of emails to Mali because of the same mistake.
Figure of the day: $28m, the amount that Russia gave to African countries in bilateral aid in 2018. This is less than one-hundredth of Britain’s total.
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August 4th Music In the Park Concert at 6pm at HEALTHY FOOD HUB!
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Aug 9 Minority Small Business Event
Crescent Communities Annual Minority and Small Business Outreach Event is Wednesday, August 9th from 4 to 5:30 PM at the Innovation Barn, 932 Seigle Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205.
This event will inform small and minority-owned businesses of construction projects Crescent Communities has under way or in the pipeline in the Charlotte Region.
RSVP at https://web.cvent.com/event/bd1882b4-77ed-4c64-ab9b-487a48a94df8/regProcessStep1
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Aug 9th and 10th NC Leadership Summit.
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On August 10, The Town of Morrisville becomes Smore'sville!
at Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway, on Aug. 10, from 6-7 p.m
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Aug 18th RIOTDeveloper DAY 8 am to 3 pm at NC State.
Find out more at www.riotnc.org
Aug 24th NC Vet Biz Procurement Summit.
www.ncvetbiz.org
Aug 27th Emotional and Spiritual Well Being Seminar from 6 pm to 7 pm at HSNC.
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Sunday at 4 pm for our Radio Nyra Interview | Join me every Sunday at 4pm for a new show. 99.9FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM! | |
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Radio NYRA
Join me Sunday 4 PM on Radio NYRA for another update on local issues.
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99.9FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM! Listen at www.radionyrausa.com!
99.9FM HD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!
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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.
OFFICIAL International Broadcast Media
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.
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Council Member Rao holds office hours on Friday from 12:00-1:00 PM by appointment only at 100 Town Hall Drive in Morrisville.
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Council Member Steve Rao
Town of Morrisville
Dedicated to transforming Morrisville into an ideal place to work and raise a family!
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