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From the Council Office of Steve Rao
February 18, 2021
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Governor Cooper announces that North Carolina has administered almost two million doses of vaccine. The state is working to make progress in the equity of vaccine distribution. Last week, 23% of doses were administered to Black North Carolinians, up from just 13% five weeks ago. |
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Morrisville Carpenter Road Project |
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Remember Phase 3 Vaccinations will begin Feb 24.
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Imagine Morrisville Listening Sessions/Focus Groups |
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Over the next few weeks, I will be putting together listening sessions and Focus Groups across the Town with the Business Community, Neighborhoods, Technology Leaders/CEOs, and entrepreneurs, to to develop a Long Term Vision for the Town, as I look to continue to serve in my Seat or another role on the Council.
It is time to imagine what Morrisville can be, and to develop a Play Book so we can be the Number One Town to Live, Work, and Play in!
Please email me to sr@steverao.com to set up a Listening Session. Let’s Imagine Morrisville Together and develop our playbook together. It is time to win Championships! We can be the Champions of the World! |
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Celebrating a Decade in Morrisville with Movers and Shakers with Jeevan Puri.
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The Wake County Health Department has canceled its large-scale COVID-19 vaccine event at the PNC Arena set for Thursday, Feb. 18 due to the threat of winter weather and has been rescheduled for Monday.
(See Vaccination Section for More Details on Wake County Vaccination Site)
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Brier Pointe Retirement Community Breaks Ground in Morrisville!
(See Brier Pointe Community Section)
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Morrisville Aquatics and Fitness Center Opened at 10 am today!
(See MAFC Opens Section for Details and remember that Town of Morrisville Stay at Home Order Extension is in effect until Feb 28th)
Non-Field Personnel worked remote today/Thanks to Public Works for salting and brining roads at 4 am and to Fire/Police for working today!
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President Biden News Items |
Biden Immigration Moves US Citizenship Act of 2021 to Congress!
(See Immigration Section Below)
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Travel to India new travel restrictions effective from Feb 22, 2021 |
Under the new rules, only passengers who test negative in RT-PCR tests 72 hours ahead of departure will be allowed to board the aircraft. The exception will be passengers who are traveling because of a death in the family.
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The North Carolina General Assembly passes Back to Classroom Bill, called In-Person Learning Choice for Families, which requires state schools to offer some sort of in-person learning option amid the ongoing pandemic.
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BIDEN IMMIGRATION PLAN MOVES TO THE HOUSE AND SENATE |
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My WRAL Op Ed on Immigration:
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Today, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) introduced the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 in the Senate and the House, a comprehensive immigration reform bill that includes reforms to our legal immigration system and a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants.
As a Member of the New American Economy, I support this bill because I am convinced that this kind of legislation will provide much needed relief and certainty for Dreamers, TPS holders, farmworkers, and so many other undocumented immigrants who have already spent years as contributing members of their communities and drive economic growth.
But Congress needs to hear from you: Please email and call your Congressional and Senate Representatives to support this Bill! It is time for a better, smarter, and more human immigration system that strengthens our economy through jobs and innovation!
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Winter Storm Update (Message from Marty Clayton, Duke Energy) |
Customers and communities should prepare for multi-day power outages.
Fortunately, the threat of ice accumulation has decreased across our local area and power outages were fewer than expected.
We are grateful for the extra crews who traveled to our community and have now completed all restoration efforts for customers who lost power during the initial wave of icy precipitation.
Please remain vigilant this evening as travel conditions remain treacherous and everyone should take care while traveling.
Thank you for your partnership throughout this storm to keep your community informed of our restoration efforts.
Reporting outages and receiving updates
Customers can sign up to receive outage alerts, and ensure contact information is current and communication preferences specified. Throughout the storm, we will also provide updates to customers via email, phone, text and the website.
Customers who experience a power outage can report it the following ways:
- Visit duke-energy.com on a desktop computer or mobile device.
- Use the Duke Energy mobile app – download the Duke Energy App from a smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play.
- Text OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply).
- Call Duke Energy’s automated outage-reporting system:
- Duke Energy Progress: 800.419.6356
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BRIER POINTE BREAKS GROUND IN MORRISVILLE! |
I was honored to attend this afternoon the ground breaking of the newest Retirement Community/Resort in Morrisville, Brier Pointe. Thanks to Manager Sean O’Neil and his team for bringing this much needed amenity to our Town.
Brier Pointe will offer an all-inclusive experience where one price covers all residents' daily needs, including chef-prepared meals and a full calendar of life-enriching activities and entertainment options. In addition, on-site staff will provide assistance through the 24/7 emergency call system, as well as scheduled appointment transportation, concierge services, weekly housekeeping, and valet parking.
Residents will also enjoy the convenience of an in-house bank, pharmacy, general store, and salon – all of which will be open to the public. Residents needing home care have the freedom to contract with their choice of providers. All-inclusive monthly rent for studio, 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartments are competitively priced with no buy-in fee.
The $30 million, 180,000-square-foot Brier Pointe Retirement Community is the second RLC location in North Carolina and will provide an array of significant long-term benefits to the area, including the creation of more than 35 local jobs. The greatest community benefit will be a safe, compassionate lifestyle for senior residents, and total peace of mind for their families. The community will be located at 5911 McCrimmon Parkway in Morrisville.
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Details on MAFC Operations |
Note: All reservations in SignUp Genius prior to 10 a.m. Feb 19 were cancelled on your behalf, and those of you holding those time slots should receive a confirmation email shortly
The Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center reopened on Monday, February 15, 2021. The decision to reopen our facility was based on the continued stabilization of COVID-19 metrics, distribution and availability of vaccinations in Wake County, and Wake County Public School System’s return to in-person instruction.
Memberships and SignUp Genius
- The freeze placed on all month pass and punch pass memberships will be lifted, thus extending whatever your original expiration date was by 35 days. This will give you adequate time to use your existing membership before having to renew again.
- SignUp Genius will go live for Monday, February 15, one week ahead on Monday, February 8. At that point, our normal schedule of SignUp Genius slots becoming available one week in advance will resume.
Fitness
- Group fitness classes will pick up upon our reopening, with some fun, new classes added to the schedule! Visit our website to see the full schedule and corresponding class descriptions.
- Water aerobics classes will be reduced to a maximum of five people for added safety, due to the inability of participants to wear masks in the water.
- Our free pickleball clinic that was originally to be held on January 13 will be postponed until further notice. Those who were registered will be contacted with the new date as soon as one is confirmed by USA Pickleball.
- Karate participants who were affected by our closure will be automatically re-enrolled into the new course that is set to begin on March 2.
- Doors throughout the facility, including those in the cardio area, will be opened to promote cross-ventilation. This area will be cooler than usual for the foreseeable future, so please plan accordingly.
Aquatics
- Doors throughout the facility, including the pool exit doors, will be opened to promote cross-ventilation. The air temperature at the pool will be cooler for the foreseeable future, so please plan accordingly.
Health and Safety
- Face coverings are required at all times inside the facility, including during exercise and when using the locker room. They may only be removed for showering and swimming and must be worn immediately before and after these activities.
- Face coverings must be covering your nose and mouth at all times.
- We will continue to close twice daily on weekdays, and once daily on weekends, to complete a robust sanitization of the facility. The cleaning times are noted in SignUp Genius.
As we prepare to reopen, we implore you to be exceedingly vigilant and compliant when it comes to visiting our facility. As always, we expect all members to abide by the 3Ws – wearing a face covering, washing hands and waiting six feet apart – and to stay home if you are particularly high risk, feeling sick or have had an exposure.
By showing courtesy and respect for one another at MAFC, we can do our part to slow the spread AND provide our community with a safe place to exercise, interact and have fun.
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PHASE 3 Vaccination Begins on Feb. 24. |
Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. have outlined a timeline for Group 3 frontline workers becoming eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, beginning with anyone working in child care or in PreK – 12 schools on February 24.
Because vaccine supply continues to be limited and the Group 3 population of frontline essential workers is so large, the state needs to move to the next group gradually. Those working in child care and schools, such as teachers, bus and van drivers, custodial and maintenance staff, and food service workers, will be eligible first. This includes staff in child care centers and homes, Head Start Programs, Preschool and PreK programs, traditional public schools, charter schools and private schools.
States must vaccinate people in groups due to limited supply. North Carolina is currently vaccinating people in Groups 1 and 2, which include health care workers, long-term care staff and residents and people 65 and older. In the coming weeks, providers will continue to vaccinate these groups. More than 40 percent of North Carolina’s residents 65 and older have been vaccinated.
Under the timeline outlined today, the state plans to move to additional frontline workers on March 10th.
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Wake County: Wake County Public Health Vaccine Hotline 919-250-1515. It is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or visit website at https://covid19.wakegov.com/vaccine!
Duke Raleigh Hospital at (19) 620- 5167.
Process is to Call or visit website, join the waiting list, receive notification, and get your Vaccination Appointment!
Walgreens will offer Covid 19 Vaccine in 300 Stores (31,200 doses) in North Carolina starting on Feb 12 as a distributor under the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program and is planning to distribute 1 million doses of the Moderna Vaccine. For more information, sign up at walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19.
(See Wake County Mass Vaccination Information Below)
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Wake County Mass Vaccination AT PNC Arena |
Alert: Mass Vaccination at PNC Arena will be closed Feb 18th due to the Winter Ice Storm
Wake County Public Health is collaborating with UNC Health, Duke, and Wake Med to launch a mass vaccination site starting Feb. 11. And the site will be open six days per week. at PNC Arena, the home of the Carolina Hurricanes and NC State University Men’s Basketball, agreed to turn its 8,000-space parking lot into an appointment only drive-thru vaccine clinic.
The site will begin with two days of vaccinations next week, with the goal of inviting more than 2,100 health care workers and those 65 and older from the county’s growing COVID-19 vaccine waitlist.
Appointments are required to receive a vaccination, and vaccinations will not be available without confirmation of a spot. Starting Friday, health care workers and those over 65 years of age, will be notified by email, phone and text.
- First link is to Enroll and sign up at https://covid-vaccine-portal.ncdhhs.gov/s/
- The second link is to make an appointment to receive the vaccine. Printing out appointment information or taking a screenshot on a smartphone will speed up the check-in process at the site.
In addition to the more than 2,000 appointments available at the new appointment only drive-thru site next week:
- 3,500 appointments will be made at the county’s two indoor locations (Wake County Public Health Center and the Wake County Commons Building).
- 200 vaccines will be administered by Wake County strike teams dispatched to long-term residents and staff.
- 800 vaccines will be delivered to historically marginalized populations by mobile strike teams heading out into the community.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:
- Take Edwards Mill Bus 26 to the stop at Edwards Mill Road at Trinity Road Northbound; or
- Take Blue Ridge Bus 27 to the stop at Blue Ridge Road at Westchase Boulevard Southbound
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Sunday, Feb 21st - Black Issues Forum |
Join me for Political Commentary on PBS Carolina on Channel 4 on Sunday, Feb 21 on Black Issues Forum!
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Check out NC Riot Diversity Events at
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Feb 20, Morrisville CERT Blood Drive |
Feb 20, Morrisville CERT is sponsoring a Blood Drive!
#BloodDrive #MorrisvilleCERT
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Feb. 20th 9-11am - Future of Black History Month |
Feb. 20 Future of Black History Month from 9 am- 11 am A Call To Action; Moving Forward Together”.
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Feb 21st - TIE Carolinas Hackathon |
Sign up for TIE Carolinas Hackathon by Feb 21!
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Feb. 23rd 2pm - Black History Month Fireside Chat
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Feb. 23, Black History Month Fireside Chat with Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker
Please join us on Tuesday, Feb 23 at 2 pm for our final Black History Month Virtual Fireside Chat with Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker, as he discusses systemic bias and racism in America, his perspectives on Leadership, and an update on Public Safety in Wake County.
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Feb 23th 6pm - Virtual Town Council Meeting |
Feb 23, Virtual Town Council Meeting 6 pm.
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FEB 25th 7- 8:30 pm FAITH COMMUNITIES SUPPORTING DEMOCRACY |
The N.C. Council of Churches in partnership with Triangle Interfaith Alliance (TIA) and the Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA-NCC) invite you to join us for the 2021 Triangle Interfaith Alliance Annual Meeting: Faith Communities Supporting Democracy. The evening will begin with an introduction to the work of the N.C. Council of Churches, TIA, and MFSA-NCC, and ways you can engage in this work. Following this introduction will be a keynote address delivered by the Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Spearman, former President of the N.C. Council of Churches Governing Board and current President of the N.C. NAACP.
Come together with fellow people of faith and to learn how to mobilize, advocate, and stand-up for positive social change.
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Join me Sunday 4 PM on Radio Mirchi for another update on local issues.
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.
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- For latest Covid 19 information, please dial 2-1-1 or 888- 892-1162.
- Get Updates by texting COVIDNC at 898211.
- For unemployment insurance, please visit NC Dept of Employment Security at https://des.nc.gov/.
- 1,443,640 NC citizens have applied for UI Benefits, 962,556 have been paid benefits, and $10 billion of benefits have been issued. Appeals of denied jobless benefits are taking many months.
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Apply for Wake Forward program at https://covid19.wakegov.com/wakeforward/.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported 3,916 new COVID-19 cases in the state.
That's an increase from days prior but more tests were also recorded -- more than 47,000 in the last day.
1,892 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in the state. 214 confirmed COVID-19 patients were admitted in the last 24 hours.
The percent of positive tests is at 6.2 percent -- nearing the goal of 5 percent.
The University of North Carolina System announced campuses will soon operate COVID-19 vaccine clinics with an emphasis on reaching underserved and rural populations.
University of North Carolina Asheville, University of North Carolina at Pembroke and Western Carolina University will open their community clinics this week. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University launched its vaccine operation on Feb. 11 and will administer up to 700 doses each week in conjunction with Cone Health.
CASES:
3,916 Newly reported Cases
+ N.C. = 833,423 Cases (Deaths = 10,766)
+ 6.2% Positive Rate
+ Wake County = 71,825 Cases (Deaths = 515)
+ Durham County = 20,908 Cases (Deaths = 191)
+ Orange County = 7,467 Cases (Deaths = 91)
+ US = 27.9 million Cases/490,000 deaths
+ Worldwide = 110 million/2.43 million deaths
+ Completed Tests: 9,774,085
+ 1,892 Hospitalized
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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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See what's happening on our social sites: |
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