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BELATED MOTHERS DAY AND POLICE MEMORIAL DAY EDITION WEEK | |
From the Council Office of Steve Rao
May 16, 2023
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Estimated Read Time: 10 minutes. | |
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SAVE THE DATE:
MAY 25 MORRISVILLE COMMUNITY PARK PHASE III RIBBON CUTTING 10:30 am- 11:30 am!
New tennis and pickleball courts!
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WONDERFUL END TO PANTHER CREEK MENS TENNIS! PROUD OF RAYAN & THE TEAM!
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On Thursday, we celebrated North Carolina Technology Day, and I am going to highlight and share insights on the Tech industry in my June Newsletter. Thanks to the Governor for his proclamation and to the industry which employs 340,000 residents in 100 counties, contributes $37 billion in wages, and makes NC the 5th largest growth rate in Tech in the Nation!
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Congratulations to the Town of Morrisville Tech Team, who are on their way to Denver to be recognized for two of the top 50 transformative Smart City Projects in the nation at the Smart Cities Connect Conference! (Connected Parks and Mobile App)
See www.ncstir.com for more details.
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I HOPE YOU HAD A WONDERFUL MOTHERS DAY! | |
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My Mothers Day Message:
https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/6152453574831173
I hope everyone had a wonderful Mothers’ Day.
They were there when we took our first steps, went to our first day of school, graduated from high school, college, got our first job, married, raised families, encouraged us to dream big, succeed in our careers, and stood with us during our most successful and challenging times!
Our Moms.
We want to wish all our Moms a Happy Mothers Day and also pray for anyone who has lost a mother this year.
I hope you got some precious time with your Mom, gave her a hug and let her know how much you love her and appreciate her.
A special thanks to my wife, Komal, for being a wonderful Mom and for raising such great kids, Sonia and Rayan, now young adults!
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MAY 15- MAY 19 IS NATIONAL POLICE MEMORIAL DAY AND WEEK
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https://www.policeweek.org/
My Message to Police:
https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/215077237987134
National Police Week offers honor, remembrance, and peer support, while allowing law enforcement, survivors, and citizens to gather and pay homage to those who gave their lives in the line of duty.
Peace Officers Memorial Day is an observance in the United States that pays tribute to the local, state, and federal peace officers who have died, or who have been disabled, in the line of duty and is observed May 15th of each year. The event is sponsored by the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and is implemented by the FOP Memorial Committee.
HISTORY
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Currently, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington, DC to participate in a number of planned events which honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
The Memorial Service began in 1982 as a gathering in Senate Park of approximately 120 survivors and supporters of law enforcement. Decades later, the event, more commonly known as National Police Week, has grown to a series of events which attracts thousands of survivors and law enforcement officers to our Nation's Capital each year.
The National Peace Officers Memorial Service, which is sponsored by the Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, is one in a series of events which includes the Candlelight Vigil, which is sponsored by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) and seminars sponsored by Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.)
National Police Week draws in between 25,000 to 40,000 attendees. The attendees come from departments throughout the United States as well as from agencies throughout the world. This provides a unique opportunity to meet others who work in law enforcement. In that spirit, the Fraternal Order of Police DC Lodge #1 sponsors receptions each afternoon and evening during Police Week. These events are open to all law enforcement personnel and are an experience unlike any other.
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CHIEF ACOSTA PRESENTED WITH NATIONAL POLICE WEEK PROCLAMATION | |
Chief Acosta was presented with National Police Week Proclamation! We thank our Police Department for the remarkable work they do every day! | |
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Thanks for Speaking or Attending the Wake County Commission Budget Public Hearing tomorrow at 2 pm.
Support paying school workers with higher wages! Submit your feedback by May 19th at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HRCK9V2
New High School in Morrisville will be named Morrisville High! (See NC News)
Town of Morrisville IT Team on their way to Denver to win Smart City Awards for Connected Parks Initiative and Mobile App.
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Town of Morrisville Small Business Recovery Program | |
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In September 2022, Morrisville received a $300,000 grant from the Small Business Administration (SBA). The goal of the grant is to develop a small business program that includes Covid 19 Relief micro-grants. To best understand what the small business program should include, the Town put out a Survey to businesses in late 2022.
Using these results, we have developed and are now offering Direct 1:1 Business Assistance and Counseling and Financial Assistance ($4500 Micro Grants for Covid 19 Impacted Businesses)
More Details will be shared on this program by May 22.
Please contact Julia Walker at (919) 463-6129 or at jwalker@townofmorrisville.org for more information.
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Town Manager Martha Paige presents 2024 Fiscal Budget!
Review the budget, leave comments and feedback, and view the budget process and additional engagement opportunities at https://bit.ly/MSVBudget24
TUESDAY MAY 16th is BUDGET DAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA. Leave your feedback on the Fiscal Year 2024 Proposed Annual Operating Budget and Capital Investment Program (CIP) in the comments below and your questions will be answered by our budget team.
More on the Budget in next newsletter!
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Town of Morrisville Spring Fest was a blast!
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MAY 9 COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS | |
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Highlights from Your Morrisville Town Council Meeting this week include:
Proclamations: Town Council issued the following proclamations:
• National Foster Care Month – received by Karen Morant and staff with Wake County.
• National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day – received by Police Chief Pete Acosta and his staff.
• Building Safety Month – received by Inspections Director Shandy Padgett and her staff.
• National Public Works Week – received by Public Works Director Jeffery Brown.
• Mental Health Awareness Week – received by Morrisville Public Education Advisory Committee Chair Faith DeVaughn.
TOWN CENTER: Town Council authorized an extension of the Memorandum of Understanding with Singh Development LLC, the Town’s development partner for the Town Center Phase I project. The extension allows additional time for completion of the Development Agreement. Town Council also authorized a Pre-Development Agreement with Singh Development LLC for an amount not to exceed $900,000 to conduct pre-development work this year in advance of the Development Agreement being completed. Personnel Policies:
PERSONNEL POLICIES UPDATE: Town Council received a presentation from the Human Resources Department regarding proposed changes to the Town’s personnel policies. The changes include a renewed emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as well as new policy additions related to bereavement leave and two additional days of holiday leave for Town employees. This will come back to Town Council for action at the May 23 Council meeting.
BUDGET PRESENTATION: Town Council received a presentation on the Town Manager’s proposed FY 2024 Budget; the proposed budget is $49,500,000 and maintains the current tax rate of 39 cents per $100 of valuation. Further discussion of the proposed budget will occur in work sessions scheduled for Thursday, May 11 and Thursday, May 18.
UPCOMING MEETINGS: Budget Work Session – May 11, 2023 Budget Work Session – May 18, 2023 Council Meeting – May 23, 2023.
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CANES STILL LEAD 2-1!
Next game Tuesday in Raleigh!
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NATIONAL AND GLOBAL BREAKING NEWS: | |
NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK | |
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My Small Business Message
https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/6549268721774365
Learn more about National Small Business Week at: https://www.sba.gov/national-small-business-week
Last week I enjoyed celebrating National Small Business Week in Morrisville.
For more than 50 years, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has celebrated National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. NSBW is co-hosted by SCORE, mentors to America's small businesses and a resource partner of SBA.
Small Businesses are critical to our economic growth in NC as there are 961,000 small businesses that employ over 1.7 million residents. Last year in the US, there were 10 million new business starts and over 33 million small businesses in the country. Providing support and resources to these small businesses is critical in enabling them to not only survive but thrive and accelerate job creation. (for every company we start, we create about 6 jobs and last year, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall incorporated over 100,000 companies. Do the Math. 450,000 jobs!
During this week, I dropped by some businesses for a visit and plan to continue to do so every week this year.
Please check out my Small Business Visit Section and we will be posting these on our new website soon. .
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Town of Morrisville Small Business Recovery Program
In September 2022, Morrisville received a $300,000 grant from the Small Business Administration (SBA). The goal of the grant is to develop a small business program that includes Covid 19 Relief micro-grants. To best understand what the small business program should include, the Town put out a Survey to businesses in late 2022. Using these results, we have developed and are now offering Direct 1:1 Business Assistance and Counseling and Financial Assistance ($4500 Micro Grants for Covid 19 Impacted Businesses)
I will be sharing more details in my next newsletter on these programs but please contact Julia Walker at (919) 463-6129 or at jwalker@townofmorrisville.org for more information.
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NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK VISITS | |
SWADESH CHATTERJEE NAMED TO UNC BOARD OF GOVERNORS. | |
Council Member Satish Garimella sworn into his second term at the North Carolina League of Municipalities! | |
(SEE TRAILBLAZER SECTION) | |
CELEBRATING ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH! | |
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My Message on AAPI Month:
https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/561019539500404
This week is marks start of AANHPI Heritage Month. This is a time to celebrate the rich diversity of our Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities and to highlight all of the magnificent contributions that the AANHPI community has made to our nation throughout history. Today, there are over 18 million Asian Americans in our nation.
From Representative Dalip Singh Saund to Vice President Kamala Harris, we have seen AANHPI leaders at the forefront of our country for decades. So many have paved the way for us to celebrate our cultures, our identities, and our communities, and we hope to continue to do the same for those that come after us.
The AANHPI community has been vital to the fabric of this nation for centuries, and we will continue to be for centuries to come.
In North Carolina, we have 308,000 Asian Americans, and of course our Town of Morrisville, is 47% South Asian. We celebrate this diversity every day in our All America City, and are reminded that we must always strive to be united in our diversity! I could not think of a better example of American Democracy at its best, than our Town and Region, an everlasting reminder that the All America Project is alive and well: That we can all come away from far away places, live up to our God Given Potential and achieve our dreams!
So let us all take some time this month to reflect on the giants on whose shoulders we stand on, and to also continue to build the foundation for a more equitable society for all in the future. This week, I am highlighting Asian Americans trailblazers in STEM. I also will feature every week this month, local Asian Trailblazers in our state, paving the way for future generations and who are serving our community very well.
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HISTORY OF ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
https://asianpacificheritage.gov/about/
May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month – a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. A rather broad term, Asian/Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island).
Like most commemorative months, Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month originated with Congress. In 1977 Reps. Frank Horton of New York introduced House Joint Resolution 540 to proclaim the first ten days in May as Pacific/Asian American Heritage Week. In the same year, Senator Daniel Inouye introduced a similar resolution, Senate Joint Resolution 72.
Neither of these resolutions passed, so in June 1978, Rep. Horton introduced House Joint Resolution 1007. This resolution proposed that the President should “proclaim a week, which is to include the seventh and tenth of the month, during the first ten days in May of 1979 as ‘Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.’” This joint resolution was passed by the House and then the Senate and was signed by President Jimmy Carter on October 5, 1978 to become Public Law 95-419 (PDF, 158kb). This law amended the original language of the bill and directed the President to issue a proclamation for the “7 day period beginning on May 4, 1979 as ‘Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.’”
During the next decade, presidents passed annual proclamations for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week until 1990 when Congress passed Public Law 101-283 (PDF, 166kb) which expanded the observance to a month for 1990. Then in 1992, Congress passed Public Law 102-450 (PDF, 285kb) which annually designated May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.
The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869.
The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.
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Dr. Margaret “Mom” Chung
Dr. Margaret “Mom” Chung was the first Chinese American woman to become a physician. She founded one of the first Western medical clinics in San Francisco’s Chinatown in the 1920s. During World War II, she and her widespread network of “adopted sons,” most of them American soldiers, sailors, and airmen who called her “Mom,” became famous.
Although she faced prejudice because of her race, gender, and sexuality, Dr. Chung forged a distinctive path throughout her life.
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Dr. Chien-Shiung Wu
Physicist
Chien-Shiung Wu, known as the first lady of physics, was the only known Chinese person to work on the Manhattan Project in 1944. She made major contributions in detecting radiation poisoning and decay and was the first woman to be president of the American Physical Society, according to the National Park Service.
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Ajay Bhatt
Ajay Bhatt is an Indian-born computer architect who led the team at Intel who created the Universal Serial Bus, more commonly known as a USB.
Bhatt also created the PCI Express which is a connector most computers possess that increases bandwidth and speeds up computers.
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Dalip Saund
In 1957, Dalip Saund, who was often referred to as "Judge," was the first Asian-American, Indian-American and first Sikh U.S. Representative to be sworn into Congress.
The former judge was a fierce advocate for the farmers in his southern California district and championed efforts to open citizenship to people of Indian descent who were living in the states in the 1940s.
"He worked long hours to build support, and, eventually, Congress passed a bill allowing Indian immigrants to pursue naturalization. Saund became a U.S. citizen three and a half years later on December 16, 1949," according to the U.S. House of Representatives.
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LOCAL ASIAN AMERICAN TRAILBLAZERS | |
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Swadesh Chatterjee
Swadesh Chatterjee is an Indian American leader and activist dedicated to fostering a better relationship among American and Indian people, politicians and businesses. In recognition of his contributions, the President of India conferred on him the Padma Bhushan award in 2001. He was the first Indian American to receive this award in the public affairs category. Chatterjee was inducted as a member of India's Prime Minister's Global Advisory Council of Overseas Indians in January 2009.
Chatterjee was chairman and co-founder of the U.S.-India Friendship Council, a coalition of prominent Indian American individuals and associations that lobbied U.S. Senators and House members that was instrumental in the passage of the US-India Civilian Nuclear Deal. The historic bill was signed into law by President George W. Bush on Wednesday, October 8, 2008.
Last year, he was presented the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, by Governor Roy Cooper, and recently, hosted Indian Ambassador Taranjit Sandhu with the Chancellor of UNC Chapel Hill, NC Commerce Secretary Machelle Sanders, Speaker Moore and the General Assembly and other North Carolina Leaders.
I encourage everyone to read his book, Building Bridges, which talks about his personal journey on strengthening the US-India Relationship.
Swadesh was just appointed last week to the UNC Board of Governors!
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NC Senator Jay Chaudhuri
Democratic Minority Whip
Jay Chaudhuri (born August 6, 1969) is an American attorney, professor, politician and a Democratic member of the North Carolina Senate. First appointed to fill a vacancy in April 2016 caused by the resignation of Josh Stein (to run for North Carolina Attorney General), Chaudhuri was later elected and re-elected, becoming North Carolina's first Indian-American state legislator.[5] In January 2019, he was elected by his colleagues to serve as Senate Minority (Democratic) Whip, the second-highest ranking position in the Democratic caucus.
Some of his landmark achievements were working to recruit Infosys to start their global innovation hub in Wake County, getting HOLI as a Teacher Workday, sponsoring hate crime legislation (focus on Asian Americans). I thank him for his support and friendship, and most importantly, his service to the citizens of North Carolina!
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Council Member Satish Garimella
Town of Morrisville
Satish Garimella occupies a unique position in Morrisville—one that goes well beyond the typical scope of a locally elected councilperson. It’s not something bestowed on him by election at all. Rather, it’s built on a burgeoning reputation for effectiveness and representation, both towards the town as a whole and the individuals that reside in it. Garimella was born and raised in Mumbai, and nearly 47 percent of Morrisville is of Asian descent—the vast majority being Indian. “Morrisville has a lot of immigrants, and they want someone they can relate and talk to about shared experiences and opportunities to be a part of this community,” said Garimella. “They want someone to help provide them a voice for awareness and understanding.”
Today, Satish works as a Vice
President in Data/Analytics at GSK, and is also a Board Member for the North Carolina League of Municipalities and at Wake Med.
I am proud to call him a friend, and colleague.
Read More at https://www.southerncitymagazine.org/morrisville-councilman-satish-garimella-is-on-call/.
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Charlotte Council Member
Dimple Ajmera
Dimple Ajmera, City Council At Large, is proud to be living the American dream. With little means, her parents immigrated to the U.S. to provide their children with greater opportunities. Proving her tenacity, Ajmera graduated from Southern High School in Durham, graduated from the University of Southern California and later became a certified public accountant. After joining City Council, Ajmera left her six-figure career in order to devote her full attention to her City Council position and a mission she values – helping to make Charlotte a place where everyone has a chance to succeed and prosper, regardless of background or geography. As a mother, she is dedicated to ensuring that all children in Charlotte are given equal opportunity to succeed including access to healthcare and housing.
Ajmera became the first Asian American and youngest woman to be elected to City Council with her historic victory in 2017. Ajmera received the 2018 Global Service Award by Rotary International, the 2019 Blue Sky Award for Public Policy Work by Clean Air Carolina, the Community Advocate Award by Café Mocha Radio, and one of Longleaf Politics' 54 Top Young Political Stars in North Carolina. She has been recognized as one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Mecklenburg County by The Mecklenburg Times and named Charlotte Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. Most recently, she received the NAACP Excellence in Leadership Award.
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REPRESENTATIVE YA LIU
Democrat Ya Liu was elected to the state House in November, making her one of the first two Asian American women ever elected to the state legislature. She was elected in 2019 to the Cary Town Council as the first Asian Councilmember. Ya’s story is so inspiring as she came to the United States to pursue a high education and better opportunities. She came with no connections, no money, and spoke very little English. Now she represents House District 21.
The American Dream is powerful.
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SARIKA BANSAL
CANDIDATE FOR CARY COUNCIL DISTRICT D
Indian American businesswoman, Sarika Bansal announced her campaign for Cary Town Council District D on February 16, 2023. “I am running for Town Council because we must embrace Cary’s potential. We must include more voices from the community so the town can make strategic investments for future generations,” Bansal said launching her campaign.
The cybersecurity professional said her focus as an elected member will be on public safety, smart growth, and investments in the town’s future. “I know the importance of community services. By providing access to essential services, it will help improve the well-being of individuals and families, build relationships, engage meaningful activities, and strengthen overall vitality of the community.
If elected, Sarika will become the first Indian American elected to the Cary Town Council and the third Asian American woman to serve as an elected official.
I am looking forward to her joining the Trailblazer Club!
To Learn more, visit https://www.sarika4cary.com/.
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HOMETOWN HERO: VIMAL KOLAPPA | |
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My Message to Vimal Kolappa:
https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/801806541502078
Mr. Vimal Kolappa, CEO of East Coast Hospitality made a generous donation of $100K to the University of North Carolina System of colleges. Chancellor of UNC, Kevin Guskiewicz received the check at a private event held at Lime & Lemon Restaurant in Chapel Hill on Saturday April 29th. He also gave a separate donation of $50K to North Carolina School of Science & Math (NCSSM) received by Chancellor Todd Roberts.
Mr. Vimal Kolappa owns and manages 18 mid-range to luxury hotels under Hilton, Marriott, IHG & Choice brands. In his speech, he emphasized that it is our duty & responsibility, as a North Carolina resident, to contribute and support the UNC school system (nation's top schools) known to nurture the best of every student and make them a responsible future citizen. He mentioned that his contribution may be minimal compared to many others who donated but appealed to every Indian-American to make every effort to the best of their abilities to take care of our education system which is how we as a nation can stand tall.
Some of the honorable guests in attendance included:
Speaker of the House, Tim Moore, NC Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby, US Congresswoman Deborah Ross, Minority leader & Senator Jay Choudhury, Former Senator Floyd McKissick, Town council members, TJ Cawley, Steve Rao, Satish Garimella, Jennifer Robinson and other republican & democratic leaders.
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ASIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH SMALL BUSINESS VISIT OF THE WEEK
More Visits to Asian businesses next week, and for the rest of the month!
Please email me at sr@steverao.com to set up a Small Business Visit!
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Morrisville Named Top 10 Small City in the U.S. to Start a Business | |
NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK
The Town of Morrisville has been recognized as one of the top 10 best small cities in the country to start a business by WalletHub, a leading personal finance education website. Morrisville ranked No. 10 on the list, coming behind cities in Utah, Montana, Florida, and Idaho. No other North Carolina cities were in the top 40. WalletHub drew on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the FDIC, Yelp, Indeed, and other sources to create its rankings.
Congratulations to our Council, Staff and Chamber for this great accomplishment, and how fitting that this was announced after our Small Business Event!
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Suicide Prevention Line to 988 |
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
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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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Sen. Tillis’ immigration bill was a rare display of political courage | Opinion
Read my Op Ed in Raleigh News and Observer
https://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/article270762997.html
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This Week in Morrisville: May 15-19 | |
Become a Town Advisory Committee Member
The Town is growing, and your opinion matters! Advisory Committees offer residents a chance to be involved in the Town’s decision-making processes by providing input on important matters to Town Council. The following committees have vacancies or expiring terms that may be filled during this appointment cycle: Environment and Stormwater, Smart City Steering, Parks and Recreation, Performance Measures, Public Education, Senior Advisory and Public Safety.
The deadline to apply is Wednesday, May 31, at 5 p.m. Apply now on the Town website. Contact Town Clerk Eric Smith with any questions at 919-463-6168 or esmith@townofmorrisville.org.
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Have You Joined Engage Morrisville?
Engage Morrisville is a place for residents and businesses to get involved by sharing ideas and feedback with Town staff on various projects and topics affecting the Morrisville community. Current topics of conversation include the Town Center Project, What's Happening Around Town, and the Morrisville Smart Shuttle. Register and join the conversation today.
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Join the Talk Morrisville Group on Facebook
Have you wanted the chance to connect with your fellow Town residents but weren’t sure where to start? Join us in the Talk Morrisville group on Facebook! 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 here.
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Town Invites Feedback on Fiscal Year 2024 Budget
The Town manager’s recommended budget and CIP will be presented to Town Council on May 9 for deliberations, direction, and adoption. A public hearing is scheduled for May 23 at 6 p.m.
To stay engaged and in-the-know during the budget process, please visit the budget website. Additional engagement and feedback opportunities will be shared on the webpage and on the Town’s social media. Email Budget@townofmorrisville.org for any questions about the process and to provide feedback once the budget is posted. (All emails are reviewed by the budget staff and shared with Town Council.)
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Sign Up for Fortnite Leagues and Tournaments through Mission Control
The Town of Morrisville invites youth ages 9 to 18 to sign up for Mission Control to join leagues and tournaments to play Fortnite competitively with other players. The Mission Control platform allows users to sign up for open leagues or tournaments that they can then join from anywhere they feel most comfortable playing. Players can build community and gain experience. Current opportunities include the MSV Solo Cup Fortnite League starting on May 20, and the MSV Duo Console Challenge and MSV Cup Tune Up, both starting on May 24. Learn more about the Mission Control tournament experience here, and sign up through this link. Participants must create an account through Mission Control and join the Town of Morrisville esports community to be a part of the leagues and tournaments.
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New Online Tool Makes it Easy for Residents to Report Concerns to the Town
In keeping with its commitment to service, the Town of Morrisville has created a new Concern Reporter tool that will make it easy to report issues around Town, such as potholes, graffiti, clogged drains, roadway flooding, and more. The tool is designed for issues that are not emergencies, and it will replace the previous “Report a Problem” link listed on the Town’s website. The tool will be available on the website and in the forthcoming Morrisville app.
With the new tool, users will be able to report concerns, track the status of their requests, and see other reported concerns. Users can also get email updates about action taken on their reports, if they choose. Users can make reports anonymously. Click here to check out the new tool or to report a concern.
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Free Fortnite Meetup to be at Esports Arena on May 22
Join the Town of Morrisville for a free Fortnite meetup at the Wake Tech Community College Esports Arena, 10908 Chapel Hill Road, Building RT 1, on May 22 from 4-7 p.m. The meetup is open to all ages, and participants must have their own login information for the gaming platform, as well as access to the game. Participants will be assigned to an open station and must use the keyboard, headphones, and mouse provided. No personal equipment or devices will be allowed. Reserve your space and register now.
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Free Lifeguard Training Course Starts at MAFC on May 16
Signups are open for the May session of free lifeguard training at the Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center (MAFC), 1301 Morrisville Parkway. The course will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays May 16-25, from 5:30-8:30 p.m., and May 20-21, from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Attendance at all sessions will be required to complete the course. This training is available to those applying to work part-time at MAFC. To signup, please email Water Safety Specialist Kasey Martin at kmartin@townofmorrisville.org.
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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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Construction Work at Smart Shuttle Node on Morrisville Carpenter Road Ongoing through May
The Town of Morrisville is installing a shelter at the Smart Shuttle node on Morrisville Carpenter Road near Madres Lane, as well as replacing the concrete shelter pad and performing associated improvements. The work began on April 25, and it will be ongoing for three to four weeks. There will be short-term closures to the right-side, eastbound street lane, sidewalks, and the bus pad while this work is being performed. Please contact Project Manager Kitty Thomas at 919-463-6917 for questions or 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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GREAT TIME AT SPRINGFEST!
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WELCOMED DELEGATION FROM INDONESIA TO DISCUSS DATA AND SMART CITY INNOVATION.
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GUEST AT THE STUDENT PRESENTATIONS AT WAKE TECH EARLY CAREER HIGH SCHOOL! GO MAVERICKS!
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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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NC GENERAL ASSEMBLY CROSS OVER DEADLINE UPDATE
Thursday marked the last day for most legislation in the General Assembly to pass out of one chamber.
The chamber unanimously approved a measure to require police departments to consult a statewide disciplinary database before hiring any officers and to require officers to intervene if a colleague employs excessive force. Lawmakers added a provision to require the immediate disclosure of body camera footage to the family of anyone killed or injured by a police officer upon their request, a response to the killing of Andrew Brown Jr. in Elizabeth City.
On the other side of the building, House lawmakers united behind a bill to prohibit any state agency or local government entity from paying a ransom in the event of a ransomware attack like the one that shut down the Colonial Pipeline this month. The bill was filed four days before the Colonial attack became public knowledge.
On a more partisan note, Senate Republicans have approved legislation to allow concealed carry in churches and to require full medical care for any child born alive after an attempted abortion. Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed similar so-called “born alive” legislation last year. For their part, House Republicans advanced a measure on Wednesday to prohibit schools from teaching that the United States was created for the purpose of oppressing any members of a particular race or sex. Critics say this would prevent schools from fully exploring the long-term effects of past racist policies in the United States, such as slavery and segregation.
Read More at: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/politics/2021/05/13/crossover-deadline-in-general-assembly
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LATEST NATIONAL AND GLOBAL UPDATES | |
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A record number of people have crossed the border illegally this week.
• What to know: More than 10,000 people have entered per day, and those numbers are expected to grow.
• Why? A pandemic-era border rule, which let the U.S. turn asylum seekers away, expired yesterday at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
• The immediate impact: Border Patrol stations and processing centers are maxed out, raising questions about humane treatment and how the government plans to handle the surge.
Ukraine’s leader privately plotted attacks in Russia, leaked documents show.
• The details: President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed occupying Russian cities and pined for long-range missiles to hit Russian targets, according to U.S. intelligence files.
• What else to know: Another leak showed the chief of the Wagner mercenary group offering to give Russian troop locations to Kyiv if Ukraine withdrew from the city of Bakhmut.
• The big picture: These are part of a broader leak of U.S. secrets that surfaced on the Discord messaging platform.
A pivotal election in Turkey appears headed for a runoff.
• The contest: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has led the country for two decades, is facing a serious challenge from opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
• The latest: Neither candidate seems to have passed the 50% mark needed to be declared the winner of yesterday’s election. A runoff would take place May 28.
• Why it matters: The result could have big implications for NATO and the war in Ukraine.
The number of people crossing the U.S. border fell this weekend.
• What’s happening? A pandemic-era border rule, which let the U.S. turn asylum seekers away, expired last week. There was a record surge of crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border leading up to that change.
• The numbers: There were 4,200 crossings on Saturday, government data showed, down from more than 10,000 a day early last week.
North Carolina’s governor vetoed an abortion ban on Saturday.
• The details: The bill, passed by the state legislature this month, would ban nearly all abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy. It was blocked by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
• What now? Republicans hold supermajorities in both chambers of the legislature and could override the veto. But Democrats are trying to pull some to their side.
States are sending people to college for free to fight a teacher shortage.
• The idea: Apprenticeships allow trainees to make money while they learn the craft and earn their credentials. In the past 17 months, programs have been certified in 16 states.
• Why is there a teacher shortage? It’s a combination of low pay, exhaustion and a feeling of being increasingly under attack, experts say.
The NBA conference finals are set.
• In the Eastern Conference: Jayson Tatum scored 51 points yesterday as Boston beat Philadelphia, 112-88. The Celtics host the Miami Heat in Game 1 on Wednesday (8:30 p.m. Eastern on TNT).
• In the Western Conference: The Denver Nuggets take on the Los Angeles Lakers. Game 1 is tomorrow in Denver (8:30 p.m. on ESPN).
• When are the NBA Finals? Game 1 is June 1. Find the full schedule here.
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FEB 24th Join us on PBS CAROLINAS BLACK ISSUES FORUM at 7 pm and on Feb 26th at 4 pm!
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!
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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PBS NC
- Fridays at 7 p.m. (premiere)
- Sundays at 4 p.m.
- Thursdays at 1:30 a.m.
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NC Channel
- Fridays at 8:30 p.m.
- Saturdays at 1:30 a.m.
- Sundays at 6 p.m.
- Mondays at 12 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
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May 20 TAHTS Health Fair
Registration opens April 1st, 2023!
https://www.tahts.org
The blood test panel consists of a complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, cholesterol panel, hemoglobin a1c, magnesium level, Vitamin B12, and thyroid stimulating hormone, which usually costs approximately $300 and is only $25 (for aged 18 years and older)
- LabCorp. is a leading global life sciences company delivering world-class diagnostic solutions. Your family and friends can take advantage of it anywhere in North Carolina.
- Consult the physician of your choice in person on Health Fair Day. Saturday May 20th,2023
- Fee of $25 is required for registration. (Non-Refundable) and Blood Draw Day (Select any Day) May 01, 2023, to May 15, 2023 At Any LabCorp. Service Center
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May 18th Triangle Community Coalition NC DOT Briefing
Date: May 18, 2023
Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM EDT
Event Description:
Hear from deputy division engineer Tracey Parrott at the DOT with updates regarding current active projects, upcoming projects, and other ideas in the pipeline.
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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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