US Open Starts Tomorrow!

My Pod TV Monologue on Tragedy in Kabul: 

My Weekly Update: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/1193595081051758/?t=17

Council Approved a Vaccine Incentive on Tuesday. Town staff who were employed on or before August 23 and have received the required vaccination dose(s) no later than September 30 are eligible for a $500 (after taxes) incentive (this includes staff vaccinated earlier in the year). Staff was also informed that effective October 1, all employees are required as a condition of employment to be fully vaccinated or to submit to weekly COVID testing.

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

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

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

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

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

Projects: 

Bond Amount: 8,000,000 

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

 

Potential Projects:  

Bond Amount:  $11,700,000

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

 

Potential Projects: 

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

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

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

Early Voting Starts Oct 14th!  

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

information/absentee-mail-voting.  

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

 

05/01 Precinct

1519 Morrisville Pkwy, Morrisville, NC 27560

05/03 Precinct

107 Quade Dr, Cary, NC 27513

05/07 Precinct

332 Parkside Valley Dr, Morrisville, NC 27560

05/08 Precinct

309 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC 27560

Category 4 Hurricane Ida expected to make landfall in Louisiana today. 

House Votes for $3.5 trillion Blue Print Infrastructure Bill.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-24/house-adopts-3-5-trillion-budget-blueprint-backed-by-biden

Kabul Attack Kills 13 US Troops and 60 Afghans.

President Biden warns of another possible attack as we approach Aug 31 Deadline.

In response to the increase in COVID-19 cases across Wake County, the Town of Morrisville is requiring face coverings in indoor public places, including public transportation facilities and public vehicles as of 7 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 20. Face coverings will be required for everyone, regardless of vaccination status.

The move aligns Morrisville with Wake County’s State of Emergency Declaration and the most recent CDC guidance on use of face coverings to stop the spread of COVID-19.

For more information, visit TownofMorrisville.org and follow the Town of Morrisville on Facebook and Twitter.

Town leaders will continue to monitor the situation in coordination with the Wake County Public Health Division and the State of North Carolina. The Town of Morrisville strongly encourages the proactive use of the following simple precautionary measures to remain healthy:

For the most up-to-date information about the local COVID-19 response, please visit WakeGov.com. You can also email questions to covid19.questions@wakegov.com, or call the COVID-19 information line at 919-856-7044

I continued my Listening Tour across the Town this week to neighborhoods and businesses about my vision for the Town in my next term.  This year, I have chosen to have more of a conversation with each of you, sharing the great things happening and addressing the challenges, we all face.  The Town should not be divided by neighborhoods! We are one Morrisville!  A civil and positive conversation!

Dates and Times will be sent out in my next newsletter.  Let's develop our Playbook together to transform the Town into the best place to live, work, and play in the nation!

Providing citizens choices in our Democracy is always a good thing. Looking forward to a positive campaign!  If you are interested in joining our volunteer and canvassing team, please shoot us an email to sr@steverao.com!

I am proud to have the endorsements of Wake County Commissioner Sig Hutchison, Wake County School Board Member Chris Heagarty, NC Senator Wiley Nickel, Morrisville Council Member Satish Garimella, Cary Council Member Ya Liu and Fuquay Varina Commissioner, Bill Harris. I am looking forward to more over the coming weeks.

  

I also look forward to getting the support Independents and Republicans as we lead an engaged, and non partisan Town!  

https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/4293600470694198/?t=19 

As my friend John Chambers reminded us at our last Start Up Summit, any organization needs a playbook, a set of plays, that can help them get through tough times, invest in their future, and then break away to excellence and top performance in their markets.

Please visit www.steverao.com to view the first set of Plays, which are:

 

North Carolina providers have administered 10,043,074 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccinations are trending upward as the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus spreads through the state, officials said.

Unvaccinated people in North Carolina were 15.4 times, or 1,540 percent, more likely to die from COVID-19 during the four-week period ending Aug. 21, 2021. This comes as the state hit a pandemic high on Aug. 26 with 912 adults in the ICU with COVID-19. The number of COVID-19 patients on ventilators also reached a record high at 574.

During the week ending Aug. 21, 2021, unvaccinated people were also 4.4 times, or 440 percent, more likely to catch COVID-19 than vaccinated people, according to NCDHHS.

The difference between vaccinated and unvaccinated teens was even greater during the week ending Aug. 21, 2021, with unvaccinated people aged 12 to 17 being 6.3 times, or 630 percent, more likely to get COVID-19 than vaccinated people in the same age group. 

There were 187 deaths among unvaccinated persons younger than 65, compared with eight deaths among vaccinated persons younger than 65 during the four-week time period. There were 215 deaths among unvaccinated persons older than 65, compared with 67 deaths among vaccinated persons older than 65.

Beginning Wednesday, the Durham County Department of Public Health will adjust its weekly vaccination schedule to add Thursday clinic hours for all people 12 and older, and it will offer third doses of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines each day for people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.

New clinic hours will be Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. This clinic will remain closed Fridays-Sundays. This will affect only the DCoDPH vaccination clinic located at 414 E. Main St., Durham, NC 27701. Walk-ins and scheduled appointments will be offered for all vaccine doses. To schedule an appointment, call 919-560-9217.

Cape Fear Valley Health's COVID-19 vaccine clinics is offering third-dose shots for immunocompromised individuals. Booster doses for non-immunocompromised individuals who have gone at least 8 months since their second dose will be available starting Sept. 20.

People must self-attest that they are immunocompromised. These additional third-dose shots are only for people who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

Immunocompromised patients must be at least 28 days post their second dose to receive their third dose. When available after Sept. 20, non-immunocompromised patients must be at least 8 months post their second dose to receive a new booster.

Walk-ins are welcome at Cape Fear Valley Health's clinics but appointments are preferred for first or third doses.

Make an Appointment here at https://www.capefearvalley.com/coronavirus/index.aspx. .

Appointments are open through Sept. 17.

Health Pavilion North ExpressCare in North Fayetteville, 6387 Ramsey St.

Express Care in Elizabethtown:

Reopened: Bladen Hospital Main Lobby in Elizabethtown, 107 E. Dunham St.:

Hoke Pharmacy in Raeford, 300 Medical Pavilion Drive, Suite 100:

Center Pharmacy in downtown Fayetteville, 101 Robeson St., Suite 107

My Message: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/527543148324361/?t=16

What better sport to watch in the All-America City of Morrisville, than Professional Cricket?  Come out this weekend to cheer on our Professional Team, the Morrisville Cardinals!   

On Saturday, the Morrisville Cardinals played Orlando at Church Street Park (5800 Cricket Pitch Way, Morrisville, NC 27560).  They play again on Sunday at 11 am.   Thanks to everyone who came out to watch the Beamers! 

Special thanks to Chainyard, all of the sponsors, and of course, Praveen Chakkaraj and all of the owners for bringing Professional Cricket to Morrisville!   Thanks to former Mayor Mark Stohlman for all his work getting Banner Sponsors.

To learn more about the team and to find the schedule of matches, visit http://morrisvillecardinals.com/ and see the Schedule Banner posted here.

September 1 - 6:30 p.m. Morrisville Environment & Stormwater Committee

September 7- 6 pm  Morrisville Town Council Meeting  

Live Stream will be at www.townofmorrisville.org.

The Town Administrative Offices will close on Monday, September 6, in observance of Labor Day. All essential services will remain open.

As part of the road improvements project, for four days – Monday, August 30 through Thursday, September 2 – Morrisville Carpenter Road will be closed for both eastbound and westbound traffic at the culvert area between Town Hall Drive and the entrance to Morrisville Square Shopping Center (just east of Misty Groves Circle). The road will be re-opened earlier if the work is completed ahead of schedule. Westbound traffic on Aviation Parkway will be detoured and directed north on Chapel Hill Road (N.C. - 54), west on McCrimmon Parkway, and south on Davis Drive back to Morrisville Carpenter Road. Eastbound traffic on Morrisville Carpenter Road will be directed north on Davis Drive, east on McCrimmon Parkway, and south on Chapel Hill Road (N.C. - 54). Access to all residents and businesses that are off of Morrisville Carpenter Road will be open and accessible. See the detour map link and for additional project details click here.

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

In alignment with new guidance from the Wake County government issued today, July 30, the Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center will begin requiring face coverings for all patrons inside the building, regardless of vaccination status, on Monday, August 2.

Though approximately 70 percent of the Wake County population is vaccinated at this time, surges in coronavirus cases stimulated by the Delta variant have led Wake leaders to operate out of an abundance of caution. The health and safety of our members has been and continues to be paramount, and we believe that encouraging face coverings and social distancing is the best way to protect our community at this time.

As of Friday, August 20, in response to the increase in COVID-19 cases across Wake County, the Town of Morrisville is requiring face coverings for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, in indoor public places, including public transportation facilities and public vehicles. The move aligns Morrisville with Wake County’s State of Emergency Declaration and the most recent CDC guidance on the use of face coverings to stop the spread of COVID-19. Town leaders will continue to monitor the situation in coordination with the Wake County Public Health Division and the State of North Carolina. For details and mandate exceptions click here.

Registration for Teen Morrisville 101 is now open. Teen Morrisville 101 is an annual citizen's academy for teens interested in local government, specifically in Morrisville. This is a free program for youth in grades 9-12. The program begins October 6 and will be held from 4-6 p.m. once a week for four weeks. Sessions will take place at Morrisville Town Hall, located at 100 Town Hall Drive. While the program is open to all high school students, preference will be given to those who live in Morrisville.

Registration ends on September 24, 2021. For more information and to reserve your spot visit the Teen Morrisville 101 webpage by clicking here.

Town Council unanimously adopted the formal actions on August 10 required to officially endorse and set the bond categories on the ballot for November 2, 2021, for Public Safety, Parks, Recreation and Amenities, and Streets, Sidewalks, and Connectivity improvements – that will impact our growing community for years to come. Voters will have the power to decide if Morrisville should be authorized to raise funds through the sale of bonds for $37 million in future investments for specific purposes noted above through General Obligation Bonds. This form of financing is the least costly financing option for local governments.

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

Morrisville's next "pop-up" dog park is Sunday, Sept 12, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Morrisville Community Park. Waivers are due Friday for Sunday reservations.

Participating dog owners must register in ActiveNet and fill out a waiver prior to participating.

Click here to visit the Town’s webpage for additional information, future dates, rules, requirements, and forms.

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

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

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

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

Evacuation flights resumed this morning from Kabul, less than a day after a suicide attack killed scores of Afghan civilians and at least 13 U.S. troops outside the airport. President Biden warns of another possible attack as we approach Aug 31 Deadline of Troop Withdrawal. 

 

The bombs went off near a crowd of families at the airport gates trying to get onto evacuation flights.  

For President Biden, the attack was just the sort of tragedy that he had pledged to avoid. Read more from Michael Shear, one of our White House correspondents.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack on behalf of its Afghan affiliate, Islamic State Khorasan.

As the U.S. left Afghanistan, the C.I.A. expected to shift its focus from counterterrorism to traditional spycraft against China and Russia. The explosions upended those plans.

Wake County and City of Raleigh - Government have teamed up to provide eligible renters who are behind on their monthly payments help towards unpaid balances since April 2020. 

To qualify, you must be a Wake County renter, have suffered financially due to COVID-19, meet income requirements and be at risk of becoming homeless if rent or utility bills remain unpaid.

Get all the details at wakegov.com/housing or call 919-899-9911.

Mask mandates go back into effect in five Wake County towns starting at 7 a.m.
Garner, Knightdale, Morrisville, Rolesville and Zebulon -- as well as all unincorporated areas of the county -- will require everybody, regardless of vaccine status, to wear masks in indoor public places.

Raleigh and Cary restarted their masks mandates days ago.

Farther south in Fayetteville, a new mask mandate will go into effect at 5 p.m. today.

These mask mandates are coming back as the state reports troubling COVID-19 metrics.

For the first time since February, the state reported more than 7,000 new COVID-19 cases in a single day. Plus, 3,083 people are now in the hospital being treated for the virus.

UNC Health said it is currently treating 400 COVID-19 patients--a number that's up from about 50 in late June.

More than 14,000 people have died from the virus since the pandemic started more than a year ago.

WCPSS announced it is making updates to its COVID-19 safety practices. The changes take effect Aug. 16:

Wake County Public School System has voted to make masks a requirement indoors at all schools this year. So far in our region, 10 school districts have voted to mandate mask wearing: Wake County Public School System, Durham Public Schools, Cumberland County Schools, Wilson County School District, Hoke County Schools, Lee County Schools, Nash County Public Schools, Granville County Schools, Orange County School District and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.

On the other hand, Clinton City Schools, Harnett County Schools, Johnston County Schools, Sampson County Schools, and Wayne County Public Schools have voted to keep masks optional for fully vaccinated students and staff.

Cape Fear Valley Health announced that it will make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for employees, physicians, students, vendors, and volunteers. The deadline is Oct. 1, 2021

Congresswoman Ross visited the Cardinals Game Last Night!  She tossed the coin and it was so great to have her at Church Street Park!  Maybe, she can get us some Federal Money for a Cricket Stadium!

Thanks to everyone who came out for my visit to Northwest Park.  I was honored to take the lead with Satish Garimella, Mark Stohlman and Robert Crawford to get this Park approved and developed in 2013 and 2014!  It shows what we can all do when we come together to make things happen!  Just Get it Done!  

On Thursday, I visited the Wake Competition Center!  It was so amazing to see where the Canes Practice (I think there were some Team Members there, of course, I visited the Soccer and Gymnastics.

Thanks to Jeff Ammons and his team for working with Wake County to bring this Facility to Morrisville!

Jeff and his team have invested over $25 million into Morrisville, and have plans for another $5 million expansion.  Just Get it Done!

Aug 28 3 pm Radio Nyra Interview with Wake County Commissioner Sig Hutchison  99.9 FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM.

Fireside Chat with Commissioner Hutchison at https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/1710545115822487/?t=20

Listen Live at https://radionyra.com/.

Join us next Monday Evening at 6 pm for a Virtual Town Hall with Senator Wiley Nickel, where I will provide a Morrisville Update, along with getting a Legislative Update from the Senator on the current Legislative Session.

Date: Monday, August 30, 2021

Time: 6- 7 pm. EDT

Note: This Event has been rescheduled from August 31st

Register Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AbWwKYw-RRaHxOGqpebYCw

Aug 31 NC Digital Summit

Register at https://events.govtech.com/North-Carolina-Virtual-Digital-Government-Summit.html

Sept 9th 6pm- 7:30 pm.  AI, Machine Learning and the Future of Cities in a Post Covid World with Special Guest, Richard Boyd, CEO, Tanjo.

Wok and Fire Grill 1216 Parkside Main St, Cary, NC 27519

Join us for this Reception where we gather with leaders from the Technology Industry to talk about how Cities and better leverage AI to make better decisions and keep us safer and stronger!   Contributions Optional and can be made to Citizens for Rao.  

Masks are required and Social Distancing will be followed.

RSVP to sr@steverao.com

9/11 Morrisville Fire Department Open House  

Fire Station 1

11 am- 1 pm. 

Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships Sept. 12- Sept 19th  

Tickets at:

Sept 16th NC Vet Business Association Procurement Summit. 10 am – 3 pm.   

Save the Date Start Up Summit! Sept. 22

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

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