Wake County (919) 250-1515 or www.yourshotyourspot.nc.gov!    

Durham County: 919-635-8150 or email at DCoCOVIDvaccines@dconc.gov. 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162.   

Duke Raleigh Hospital at (19) 620- 5167.

To set up an Appointment with any County Department, please visit covid19.ncdhhs.gov/findyourspot

Governor Cooper Extends Modified Stay At Home Order until Feb 28th, retains moratorium on evictions and to go mixed drinks through March. 

(See Stay at Home Order Sections

The Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center and Cedar Fork Community Center will be closed until at least February 12.  

All Town Offices Closed to the Public and Feb 9th Morrisville Council Meeting and Feb 11th PZB Meeting Fully Virtual.   

(See Morrisville Operations Section) 

President Biden signs four Executive Orders to address Racial Equity/Pushes for Harriet Tubman to be on $20.00 bill. 

https://www.npr.org/sections/president-biden-takes-office/2021/01/26/960725707/biden-aims-to-advance-racial-equity-with-executive-actions  

Biden has signed over thirty executive orders, including immigration reversals, ending the abortion funds rule and reopening Obamacare enrollment.   (See Biden Addresses Race Section)  

Biden Executive Orders at:

Morrisville Community Library is Now Open! Get Your Books on the Go!   

Morrisville Carpenter Road Project began on Jan 25th! ReceiveText Alerts for Morrisville Carpenter Road

Share your opinions by Jan 31 at the Bond Portal:

https://www.townofmorrisville.org/government/2021-general-obligation-bond-referendum/-fbclid-IwAR20OWQFmHNtjzl3FUdoeuy8Je3uLE4e5Cm2VMTDb5zeJ_hUWo1SjtI5wOs.

Wake County Schools Plan to Offer Virtual Learning in Fall.

77,322 students enrolled in Virtual Academy.

My Message:  https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/10157556944951360

This February marks the 45th annual Black History Month, a celebration of the achievements and advancements Black Americans have added to the history of America. Unfortunately, these contributions to history are often ignored or underrepresented. After a 2020 filled with national calls for racial equality and international Black Lives Matter protests, many are wondering what they can do to support the Black community and celebrate Black history in 2021.

However, I believe that discussions of Black history and culture should continue through the entire year, rather than a single month.

Past the advancements of Black politicians and leaders, Black History Month is also a time to reflect on the everyday person: the struggles and history of Black Americans across the country. In 2017, then California Senator Kamala Harris made a Facebook post commemorating Black History Month. In her post, Harris advocates for a more personal approach to Black History Month, using the holiday as a means of celebrating all Black Americans, past and present. “Let’s use Black History Month to honor not only figures like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks, but also the Wiley Manuels, the grandmothers, the teachers, and the neighbors — all of whom have contributed to making our communities, state, and country more just places for all.”

95 years after the first Negro History Week and 45 years after the national recognition of Black History Month, America is once again faced with its history and the current state of racism. 2020 was marked as the year of Black Lives Matter, with the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Atatiana Jefferson, and countless other Black Americans sparking international protests and calls to dismantle and reform racist systems.

While the last half century has seen great progress for civil liberties, there have (and continue to be) tremendous setbacks. Racism may seem like an insurmountable issue in modern American society, but there are steps we can all take to dismantle the systemic forces working against Black citizens. 

With the power of listening and education, we can all rally for a more just and equitable country and heal the wounds of centuries of oppression.

Please send me any ideas you may have on how we can better address systemic racism in our communities so I can share these ideas with the North Carolina League of Municipalities Task Force on Race and Equity.

Racism is a social construct, which enforces divides based on superficial differences such as creed and skin color. However, these beliefs are often codified in larger systems, creating racism that is systematically enforced. NAACP President Derrick Johnson defines systemic racism as “systems and structures that have procedures or processes that disadvantage African Americans,” and the events of 2020 have brought these very systems into sharp focus. 

The best way to achieve equality is through reforming larger systems by updating laws and governmental procedures, rewritten to better protect the rights of Black Americans.  Here are a few organizations that are stepping up to the Challenge!  

Campaign Zero https://www.joincampaignzero.org/?gc=undefined

While a multitude of issues face Black Americans, one dominated the discourse of 2020: police brutality. Black people are disproportionately targeted by the justice system, and this extends deeply into law enforcement. Campaign Zero has made it their mission to combat this issue head-on, collecting and presenting data on discrimination in American police forces, advocating for widespread reform and reconstructing power structures.

Color of Change https://colorofchange.org/?gc=undefined

Inaccurate portrayals of Black people in the media feed false notions of violence and aggression, which directly influence voters and lawmakers to continue legal practices that target Black Americans. Color of Change aims to change the narrative, arguing “We cannot end racism in one area without tackling it in all areas.” Targeting racism from all angles, Color of Change advocates for fairer depictions of Black people in Hollywood, an end to voter suppression and intimidation, and justice for victims of police brutality.

BLACK LIVES MATTER 

Since the Civil Rights Movement, few social movements have been as ubiquitous or monumental as Black Lives Matter. While Black Lives Matter is an organization in itself, its message and name have grown into a rallying cry for equality, embodying a call for the end to systemic racism and police brutality the world over. Employing hashtag activism and peaceful protesting, Black Lives Matter empowers, motivates and organizes actions for change, inspiring millions of Americans to tell their representatives, families and neighbors that Black lives do matter.

President Biden on Tuesday signed four executive actions aimed at advancing racial equity for Americans the White House says have been underserved and left behind.

Biden said Tuesday that the measures follow one of his core campaign promises: to restore "the soul of the nation," as he often said during the presidential race.

In announcing the actions, Biden cited the killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by a Minneapolis police officer last May, which touched off demonstrations in cities across the United States. Biden called the killing "the knee on the neck of justice," and said that because of it, "the ground has shifted. It changed minds and mindsets."

The four executive actions Biden signed:

We are pleased to announce the Morrisville Community Library (MCL) opened to the public Friday, January 29 (Updated) at 10 a.m. by offering Express Library Experience, brief visits focusing on recreational reading, lifelong learning, and services for children. 

I dropped in the Library to pay Library Manager Helen Yamamato a visit and checked out my first books with the Express Service!   

MCL has been equipped with environmental controls, social distancing queues, health screening stations, and hand sanitizing areas for both staff and patrons. Masks are required for all patrons over five (5) years of age. Capacity will be limited.  

Due to COVID-19, a traditional soft opening celebration ceremony will not be possible and maybe scheduled later in the year.

MCL will continue offering Books on the Go, allowing patrons to reserve up to 30 books and materials and schedule contact-free pickup. 

For details on the Morrisville Community Library, visit www.townofmorrisville.org!

Governor Roy Cooper has the current modified Stay-At-Home order until Feb. 28and plans to keep the eviction moratorium and statewide order allowing to-go mixed drinks sales in place through March.

In early December, Gov. Cooper announced the modified Stay-At-Home order, which was the first set of such restrictions since Memorial Day. The order was extended for three weeks in early January.

The order imposes measures closing non-essential businesses like gyms, restaurants and retail at 10 p.m. nightly, and allowing them to reopen at 5 a.m.

The restrictions also included moving the alcohol curfew to 9 p.m. Gov. Cooper extends the sale of to-go mixed drinks will be in effect until March 31. That order was originally issued on Dec. 22 and seeks to reduce the number of people gathering in bars while allowing businesses to increase revenue.

In alignment with the state of North Carolina’s January 27 extension of the Modified Stay at Home Order, the Town of Morrisville is continuing additional safety precautions and changes to its daily operations, through at least Sunday, February 28.

Today Gov. Roy Cooper announced the latest extension of the Modified Stay at Home Order. Executive Order 189 outlines the details of the extended Order. 

The Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center and Cedar Fork Community Center will be closed until at least February 12. No outdoor classes will be conducted, but virtual programming will be available (parks, greenways, tennis courts and the Healthy Food Hub will remain open).

Town staff will continue to work mostly remotely, with a limited number of employees in Town buildings. 

If there is a spike in infections, tightening of restrictions may be needed temporarily.

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

Morrisville residents who have non-emergency questions about issues specific to the Town of Morrisville can contact the Town’s Community Information Line at 919-463-7065 or by email at eoc@townofmorrisville.org.

Town leaders will continue to monitor the situation in coordination with the Wake County Public Health Division and the State of North Carolina.

Recently, I have been fielding a number of phone calls from our Seniors in Morrisville with confusion as to how to get an appointment for a vaccination.  Here are some of the best ways to move forward with securing an appointment.

Go to covid19.ncdhhs.gov/findyourspot to see a list of Counties and I have seen some seniors get appointments at other Counties by going to this site and setting up an appointment.  You do not have to reside in the County of where you get vaccinated.  Lines may be shorter in other counties.

Wake County Covid Vaccine Hotline is open!  Call (919) 250-1515 to set up your appointment and go online to fill out request form!  and visit https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/findyourspot ! You can fill out the wait list and you will be texted when vaccine is available after you fill out the on line form. https://covid19.wakegov.com/wake-county-public-health-vaccine-request-form/

For answers to Durham County COVID-19 vaccine questions, call our hotline at 919-635-8150 or email us at DCoCOVIDvaccines@dconc.gov. 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162.

There will be a mass vaccination site in Durham this week which will vaccinate as many as 45,000.

Call Duke Raleigh Regional Hospital at (919) 620-5167 even on the Weekend to set up appointments.

Information from Rep. Kelly Alexander:

Right now, frontline healthcare workers and adults 65 and over are eligible to receive the vaccine. This week, the state government has shifted strategy to mass vaccinations in large public spaces. They already had a mass event at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend that vaccinated approximately 16,000 people.

Currently, the only mass vaccination event that is still open for appointments is through Atrium Health at the Bank of America stadium.

Sign up and schedule your appointment through the Atrium Health online portal, which you can find https://my.atriumhealth.org/MyAtriumHealth/Authentication/Login?&_ga=2.39295655.567024748.1611581563-1192070116.1611581563 

PLEASE SCHEDULE AS SOON AS YOU CAN; spots are filling up quickly. The vaccine is FREE.

These are the days and times available:

Dose 1:

— Friday, January 29, 8AM-1PM

— Saturday, January 30, 8AM-6PM

— Sunday, January 31, 8AM-6PM

Dose 2:

— Friday, February 26 to Sunday, February 28 (no times listed)

Wake Med Covid 19 Vaccine site: https://www.wakemed.org/patients-and-visitors/covid-19-information/covid-19-vaccine/

UNC Health Covid 19 Vaccine Site: https://www.unchealthcare.org/coronavirus/vaccines/

Duke Health System Covid 19 Site:  https://www.dukehealth.org/covid-19-update/covid-19-vaccine-update

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is partnering with health systems, local health departments and community health centers across the state to host large community vaccine events for people currently eligible to be vaccinated. More than 45,000 vaccines are expected to be given through these events.

“The state will continue to support our local health departments and hospitals to get shots in arms faster,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D. “These partners were selected because they were able to rapidly increase the number of vaccines they could deliver as part of this effort.”

Partners were selected based on their ability to administer a large number of vaccine doses or to provide access to vaccine doses to marginalized communities. NC Emergency Management and the National Guard are also providing support in some locations. Vaccine events will be held in the following counties:

Some locations are providing the vaccine by appointment only. To learn more about the events, visit the websites of the providers listed above. Their websites can be found, listed by county, at covid19.ncdhhs.gov/findyourspot.

Thanks to Swadesh Chatterjee for sharing his thoughts on the US India Relationship on Indian Republic Day with IBMTV!   

season 2, episode 17. 

Jan 30 Noon USINPAC IMMIGRATION HOUR AT NOON

Today!

Jan 31 at 4 pm on PBS North Carolina Black Issues Forum for Political Analysis on the Biden Executive orders on Race and Harriet Tubman on the $20.00 bill.  

2/1 Virtual Wake County Commissioners Meeting 5 pm

Register at:

http://business.morrisvillechamber.org/events/details/30th-annual-meeting-february-2021-2370.

FEB 2nd 7 pm  Next Generation Race Relations Forum with Tru Pettigrew!

Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, Feb 2, 2021 at 7 pm.  Tru Pettigrew and International Author Mike Rosas on FB Live as we discuss Race Relations in America and how to heal and move forward with and for the next generation!

JAN 26th Virtual Town Council Meeting 6 pm   Stream Live at https://www.facebook.com/TownOfMorrisville/.

Email comments to publicomments@townofmorrisville.org by 3 pm!

Join me Sunday 4 PM on Radio Mirchi for another update on local issues.

99.9FM HD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!

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.