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MAJOR LEAGUE CRICKET CHAMPIONSHIPS UPDATE | |
From the Council Office of Steve Rao
July 21, 2023
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Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes. | |
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Yesterday, I had the honor of bowling the first ball at the Opening Ceremony of the Major League Cricket Championships! It was an amazing experience and also was so moving to see the Honor Guard kick the event off and to hear Vaibhav Garimella sing our National Anthem!
I am so proud of our Town, and you the residents of Morrisville, whose passion and love for Cricket has led us to where we are!
All Games for the Championships are sold out!
We are the Cricket Capital of the United States!
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Alcaraz wins Wimbledon! A new Rivalry!
Good Luck to Team USA at Women's World Cup!
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CHURCH STREET PARK ALERT:
Church Street Park will be closed during the Cricket Tournament for all non-cricket activities. (July20-July 25th)
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MEDIA ALERT
Tune in at 4 pm to Radio Nyra on Sunday at 4 pm with Mark Stohlman on Major League Cricket!
Tune in every Friday to WPTF at 3 pm for my commentary
Radio Nyra - 99.9 FM HD4, 101.9 FM, and 1490 AM!
WPTF - 98.5FM and 680 AM.
PBS Carolinas Fall Season begins in August, State Lines and Black Issues Forum!
https://rss.com/podcasts/wptf-afternoon-news/
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Morrisville Means Business Deadline in Today! July 21
My Message on Morrisville Means Business: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/664106092250579
The application deadline for Morrisville's COVID-19 relief micro-grant program and Town-sponsored professional services is this Friday, July 21. Don't wait - apply today!
▶️ Financial Assistance (Micro-Grants) for COVD-19 Impacted Businesses:
Through this program, up to 30 Morrisville small businesses may receive COVID-19 micro-grants.
▶️ Direct 1:1 Business Assistance and Consulting for All Morrisville Small Businesses:
All Morrisville businesses are also encouraged to apply for free, one-hour business assessments with an attorney, CPA, or marketing professional.
Interested business owners can learn more and submit an application online today at https://lnkd.in/ecEJ8Mfw.
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Major League Cricket Kicked off on July 20th
Opening Ceremony of Championships: https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/964796881333932
My Perspective on Cricket from a great view:
https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/981648333252666
Major League Cricket has announced the full schedule for America’s first-ever professional franchise cricket league, set to launch on Thursday, July 13, 2023. Two cricket-specific venues in North Texas (Grand Prairie Stadium, 1600 Lone Star Pkwy, Grand Prairie, TX) and Morrisville (Church Street Park, 5800 Cricket Pitch Way, Morrisville, NC) will host 19 matches.
Many of the world’s top cricketers will represent six MLC teams competing to be crowned as the inaugural season champion on Sunday, July 30.
Tickets start at $15 for games in Morrisville. Tickets are on sale now at tickets.majorleaguecricket.com
Read the full news release at https://bit.ly/43YYfYt
Cricket Schedhule is Out! Get your tickets at www.majorleaguecricket.org! Play begins on July 20th
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MY THOUGHTS ON THE MORRISVILLE CRICKET TRANSFORMATION
WRAL Tech Wire Blog 07/18/23 www.wraltechwire.com
Cricket has a surprisingly long and rich history in America. The sport’s first ever international match was between America and Canada in New York in 1844. (Canada won.) Cricket was more popular than baseball before the civil war, and in recent years thanks to immigrants from all over the world, it has been gaining fans once again. CRICKET IS CURRENTLY BEING PLAYED BY OVER 200,000 PLAYERS IN THE UNITED STATES. These players participate in competitions in and more than 400 local leagues, tournaments, academies, college and school programs across the United States.
Last week, in an Economist e-newsletter, I read the following excerpt which really brought this point home for me.
Given the increasing number of immigrants from cricket-playing countries in America, Major League Cricket could be a lasting success. Owners of teams in the wildly successful, highly lucrative Indian Premier League have bought four of the MLC’s six sides. Their pulling power means that MLC teams are packed with some of the IPL’s top talent. America is also co-hosting the T20 World Cup—the shorter form of the game—with the West Indies in 2024.
Time for the locals to brush up on the laws of the game.
I think it is fair to say that our locals have done far more than brush up on their cricket skills at Church Street Park in Morrisville. Thanks to the leadership of the Triangle Cricket League, our region has witnessed the explosive growth of youth and adult cricket leagues. Many Indian American immigrants have brought their love and passion for cricket to the Town, leading to a growing fan base and the transformation of Church Street Park to emerge as one of the most remarkable cricket venues in the nation.
And as for Global Talent.
Morrisville has emerged as a destination for the best Cricket players in the nation and world, who have come here to train, and to vie for minor league cricket championships. The driving force behind this push is the rising number of immigrants in America from cricket-playing countries—in particular from the Indian subcontinent. The investors in Major League Cricket include high-profile Indian-Americans, such as Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft. (Economist, 07/06/23)
These investors are betting on the fact that their fellow countrymen provide a ready market for cricket. Major League Cricket's major multi-millionsuggests investment in Church Street really brings this point home. The evidence of America’s extensive amateur leagues suggest they might be right. Chicago’s “Premier League” already features ten full teams who play a dozen matches a week. There are over 2,000 players on the books, of whom nearly 300 have the surname “Patel.” (Economist, 07/06/23) All the more reason for a motivated Indian American Cricket fan base here in Morrisville, where South Asian Indians make up 47% of the Town's population.
Much of this cricket momentum was the result of the multi-million-dollar public-private partnership to jointly invest in the expansion of Church Street Park, upgrading the facility into an international-quality cricket venue.
The investment has now resulted in the addition of more than 2,000 permanent seats to the scenic venue, increasing Church Street Park’s capacity to over 3,500. Upgrades have also included the installation of state-of-the-art broadcast infrastructure, additional parking, and LED-illuminated natural and artificial turf practice pitches and nets.
These enhancements will allow Church Street Park to host world-class MLC matches and serve as a flagship facility for USA Cricket’s National Team games and training. We are now hopeful that our Cricket venue would meet the criteria necessary to host games at the 2024 T20 Men’s World Cup, an event viewed by over 500 million cricket fans worldwide. The USA host venues are expected to be announced later this year.
This week we have the opportunity to watch the best cricket players in the world firsthand as the first professional American cricket league, Major League Cricket will bring the Championships to the Town of Morrisville from July 20- July 24th.
A 19-match tournament, hosted primarily at a former baseball stadium in Dallas, kicked off this week. Six teams, representing five large American cities and Texas, will compete in “Major League Cricket” (mlc). They will play the Twenty20, or t20, format of the game, invented in 2003 as a faster version (by comparison, the current matches between England and Australia can each last for a gripping five days).
Professionals from all over the world are being flown in for these Major League Championships. In fact, on Tuesday, I welcomed the Washington Freedom with former Morrisville Mayor Mark Stohlman and Cricket fans as they arrived at RDU Airport from the games in Dallas. Australian Cricketer and Team Captain Mosies Henriques told me he was so excited to be playing the next round of matches at Church Street Park.
Yesterday I was finishing up my run on the Shiloh Greenway which runs through Church Street Park. On the last stretch of my run, I could not help but get a little emotional, as I ran up to the top of the new Stadium seating. It seemed like yesterday when we broke ground for Church Street park with our shovels in hand. At the time, my Colleagues on the Council and our residents were excited for a multi purpose park, with tennis courts, a track, and a playground.
Eventually, we would put in a Cricket pitch.
Fast forward nine years, and I was viewing the same Park from the expanded Stadium Seating. Never did any of us imagine that we would be hosting Major League Cricket Championships at Church Street Park and that fans from all over the nation and world would be watching Professional Cricket in a town, which was home to some of the first freed slaves who would go on to grow the Shiloh Community.
Who would have thought, that Cricket would be making a major resurgence in the united States so many years after the Civil War?
I could not help but think that Some of the last battles of the Civil War were fought not far from Church Street Park, and now, thanks to the passion and dedication of immigrants all over the world, we are seeing a Cricket Awakening and Transformation taking place before our very own eyes.
I run to music on my runs, and during my last mile was inspired by Carrie Underwood's Song Invincible, which spells out the word CHAMPION. The song reminded me of how proud we should be proud of bringing Major League Cricket to our Town.
As I sprinted the last quarter mile, I revised the words and spelled out the word CHAMPION.
C is for Courage of the Triangle Cricket League, who brought their passion from their home countries
H is for the Heart of our Cricket Fans.
A is for a never give up Attitude.
M is for Constant Motivation to develop the finest Cricket venue in the country.
P is for our Persistence.
I is for the Town of Morrisville's innovative, public private partnership and vision for executing on a world class Cricket Park.
O is for always being Optimistic.
N is for Never giving up.
CHAMPIONS, our Cricket Journey has certainly been more of a marathon than a sprint. At each mile marker, we faced some adversity, but never lost sight on the finish line, developing a Cricket Park, where Cricket fans from all over the nation can cheer on the best Cricket players in the world.
I am now leaving for my run. My song pics are:
Champions of the World because We are.
WE ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD: Because we are.
THE SHOW MUST GO ON: Because it will.
Who knows? With Cricket being considered as an Olympic sport at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, we may see a future Olympian in our midst.
We look forward to seeing you at the Cricket Capital and now can set our sights on T20 World Cup Games in 2024.
See you tomorrow at the Cricket Capital if you got your tickets! (www.majorleaguecricket.com)
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Council has a productive meeting as always!
Highlights from the June 27, 2023 Morrisville Town Council meeting include:
• Teen Morrisville 101 Graduation Recognition
• Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects
• UDO Text Amendment for Electric Vehicle (EV) Parking / Charging
• Advisory Committee Appointments
• Advisory Committee Application Update
• Town Council Roundtable
Read the full details at https://bit.ly/3JROzHx
#LiveConnectedLiveWell
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State of County, Schools and City inspires all of us!
(More on this event in next newsletter)
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Congrats to Teen Morrisville 101 Graduates!
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GET THE MORRISVILLE APP AT THE APP STORE!
Get all the latest information about news and events around Town with the authoritative app, Morrisville Central. Learn about free community events, view an interactive map of Town facilities and parks to learn about court and field status, and get the latest information about the Town straight from the source. You can also report concerns as you see them using the app’s interactive tool.
Download the app from the Apple App Store or from Google Play.
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NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK VISITS | |
PBS CAROLINAS:
STATE LINES AND BLACK ISSUES FORUM:
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Tune in on Friday at 7 pm and Sunday at 4 pm to PBS Carolinas Black Issues Forum for our engaging discussions on trending topics!
https://www.pbsnc.org/watch/black-issues-forum/
Engaging Discussion on PBS Carolinas Black Issues Forum on Affirmative Action, Election Security and other matters.
Link to the show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BIOR-ih-Fg
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Join us on Radio Nyra on Sunday at 4 pm for our interview with HSS on Darsana Exhibit. 99.9HD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!
Join us on Radio Nyra Sundays at 4pm for interesting interviews with local thought leaders
99.9FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!
Great Interview on Radio Nyra with Hill Carrow on the 2029 FISU World University Games.
https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/596450559170578/?t=18
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Great US Open Roku TV Interview with Andy Andrews!
https://youtu.be/-Uy7aX-M2AI?t=79
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On the Porch with Randy Voller on WCHL 97.9 FM!
https://chapelboro.com/?s=on+the+porch
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WPTF Steve O'Bryan show on the Dream Act and DACA!
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This Week in Morrisville. July 17- July 23 | |
Meetings: July 25 Town Council meeting 6 pm. | |
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Town Now Accepting Fats, Oils, and Greases to be Re-Purposed as Biofuel
The Town of Morrisville now has an FOG Collection for household fats, oils, and greases outside the Public Works Department building at 414 Aviation Parkway. The collection is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and it accepts fats including butter, shortening, cheese, and meat trimmings; oils including vegetable, olive, canola, and other cooking oils; and greases including bacon and sausage grease, gravy, mayonnaise and melted meat fats. A full list is included on the side of the collection. The FOGs can be repurposed into renewable biofuel. The collection also helps to keep these harmful substances out of the local water supply and protects household plumbing.
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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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Major League Cricket Games Slated for Church Street Park July 20-25
Tickets are on sale for Major League Cricket (MLC) matches that will be held in Morrisville July 20-25. Morrisville’s Church Street Park is one of two cricket-specific venues (the other is in Grand Prairie, TX) that will host matches this summer. Many of the world’s top cricketers will represent six MLC teams competing to be crowned as the inaugural season champion. Tickets can be purchased here. Prices start at only $15 for matches in Morrisville. General admission game parking will be at Wake Technical Community College (10908 Chapel Hill Road). Shuttles will begin running 90 minutes before game start times. Click here for more information and a game schedule.
Church Street Park will be closed to all non-cricket activities during this time. The Shiloh Greenway will be open, but access to park amenities will be cut off. Parking will be very limited at the park July 17-19, as they begin event set up, but the playground and tennis courts will be available. Parking will also be limited on July 26-27 during event cleanup and take down.
July is National Parks and Recreation Month
Since 1985, people in the United States have celebrated Parks and Recreation Month in July to promote building strong, vibrant, and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation and to recognize the more than 160,000 full-time parks and recreation professionals — along with hundreds of thousands of part-time and seasonal workers and volunteers — that maintain our country’s local, state and community parks. This year's theme — “Where Community Grows” — celebrates the vital role that parks and recreation professionals play in bringing people together, providing essential services, and fostering the growth of our communities. Join the Town of Morrisville in celebrating Parks and Recreation Month by enjoying one of our many beautiful parks, greenways, or community centers, and by thanking our Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources employees when you see them!
Morrisville Means Business Hosting Information Session on Micro-Grants and Services on July 15
Learn more about the Morrisville Means Business program at an information session at the UTSAV Event Venue, 4181 Davis Drive, #300, on July 15, from 10 a.m. to noon. Information will be provided about the ongoing COVID-19 micro-grant program and free professional services offerings for Morrisville small businesses. Paper applications will be available to apply on-site. Light refreshments will be offered. Please RSVP here. Learn more about the program online at www.townofmorrisville.org/MorrisvilleMeansBusiness.
Harris Mill Road Closed July 17-21 for Improvements
The Town of Morrisville has contracted with Turner Asphalt to complete the Harris Mill Road improvement project. This project will require a complete closure of Harris Mill Road from McCrimmon Parkway to J Morris Commons Lane July 17-21. This requires that any traffic for J Morris Commons Lane will have to detour and use Lakebrink Drive, Midvale Avenue, and Craigemeade Drive during the closure. This work is being timed with the construction of Fire Station No. 3 on Harris Mill Road, and it is being performed because the roadway is in poor condition and needs reconstruction. Click here to see a map of the closure.
Registration Now Open for Marbles Fall Track-Out Camps in Morrisville
Camp Marbles is coming to Morrisville! Turn your child’s next track-out week into an adventure with engaging activities, hands-on play, and a field trip to the Marbles Kids Museum. Camp Marbles will take place at Morrisville’s Historic Christian Church, 222 Church St., for four weeks in September, October, and November, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dates are Sept. 18-22, Oct. 16-20, Oct. 30-Nov. 3, and Nov. 13-17. Camp is open to students in kindergarten through fifth grade, and the cost is $338 for Marbles members and $375 for non-members. Click here for more information and to register.
Registration Open July 17 for Kayak and Stand-Up Paddle Board Class Offered by MAFC
Celebrate the Year of the Trail by attending the “Learn to Kayak and Stand-Up Paddle Board” class on Sunday, Aug. 20, from 8:15-10:15 a.m. at Lake Crabtree County Park, 1400 Aviation Parkway. This class is designed for those who want to learn basic skills for kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. You must be at least 16 years old to participate. The class will open for registration on July 17 for members of the Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center (MAFC) and Morrisville residents, then on July 20 for non-residents and non-members. Click here to learn about class details and prerequisites. Use the link to register starting July 17. Slots are limited.
Celebrate the Year of the Trail in July with Agents of Discovery Game on Shiloh Greenway
Join the Town of Morrisville in celebrating the N.C. Year of the Trail with an exploration of Shiloh Greenway using the Agents of Discovery mobile app. Agents of Discovery is an augmented reality, geo-triggered app that gets users outside, active, and engaged in the community. With Agents of Discovery, users become a top-secret agent, dedicated to solving the mysteries of science, culture, technology, and nature. Download the app from Google Play or the App Store, then head to Church Street Park and start your adventure into learning about Morrisville history by finding and solving the challenges in the game. This is a self-guided activity that can be performed at any time. Take pictures while you’re playing and send them to Leslie Haney at LHaney@townofmorrisville.org.
The 2023 N.C. Year of the Trail celebrates the state’s vast network of trails, greenways, and blueways, which showcase our diverse landscapes, including grand mountain vistas, quiet rivers, vibrant urban greenways, coastal forests, and the rolling hills of the piedmont. N.C. Year of the Trail is the largest statewide celebration of trails and outdoor recreation in state history.
Ramps at I-40 and Airport Boulevard to Close July 21 for Several Months of Work
Starting the night of Friday, July 21, road crews will close the I-40 westbound offramp to Airport Boulevard (Exit 284) and the I-40 eastbound onramp from Airport Boulevard over the course of the weekend. By the morning of Monday, July 24, both ramps will be completely closed off to traffic and signed detours will be posted, with an expected duration of least 120 days before the ramps will re-open. Below is a summary of the detours that will be posted to get around the two ramp closures:
Traffic traveling westbound on I-40 trying to access Airport Boulevard will detour to the I-540 interchange (Exit 283A) and immediately take exit 1A onto eastbound I-40 back to Airport Boulevard.
Traffic traveling north on Airport Boulevard trying to access I-40 eastbound will detour via the exit ramp to Aviation Parkway to access the I-40 eastbound ramp.
Traffic traveling south on Airport Boulevard trying to access I-40 eastbound will detour to McCrimmon Parkway and Aviation Parkway to access the I-40 eastbound ramp.
Click here to see a map of the closure and detours.
Morrisville Senior Center Offers Presentation on Medications and Usage on July 19
Join the Morrisville Senior Center (MSC), 4117 Davis Drive, for a free Resources for Seniors presentation about medications on July 19, from 11 a.m. to noon. Dr. Casey Baldwin will discuss the importance of medication management for safety and drug efficacy. Participants can then review their medications and ask questions. The program is free, but registration is required by calling the MSC at 919-463-7140.
Residents Encouraged to Share Thoughts on the Town's Smart Shuttle in Survey
The Morrisville Smart Shuttle Service provides residents, commuters, and visitors with free, on-demand transit throughout the Town of Morrisville. As part of its commitment to providing the highest level of service possible to the community, the Town is inviting riders to share their experiences on the Smart Shuttle with a brief survey, available through Sept. 30. The survey is designed to understand who the current and potential riders are, how riders are using the Smart Shuttle, and what barriers there may be for riders, or what improvements can be made to encourage usage.
Join Morrisville Esports Tournaments and Leagues with Mission Control
The Town of Morrisville continues to provide opportunities for the community to engage in Esports in more ways than one. The Mission Control platform is designed to expose youth and teens to recreational and competitive Esports gaming anywhere you have access to play. It is one of many ways we hope to build a community and develop players interested in participating in larger online tournaments.
Register to participate in free opportunities, as well as fee-based opportunities for prizes. You can participate on any platform that allows you to play games, including your computer, personal console, phone, or tablet. Check out the Mission Control account creation tutorial and join the Town of Morrisville Esports Community.
S'Morrisville to Share Sweet Treats with Community on Aug. 10
Morrisville residents are invited to take part in National S’mores Day in “S’Morrisville” each year. That’s right – the Town will change its name and become S’Morrisville as we honor and enjoy the delicious snacks made famous at campfires everywhere. The Town will hand out delicious s'mores and host other fun activities at Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway, on Aug. 10, from 6-7 p.m. There will also be a DJ and crafts for kids. Event parking is on site. Visit https://www.townofmorrisville.org/smorrisville for more information.
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July Senior Center Events
👉 July 28, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Free Blood Pressure Screenings Register now at https://bit.ly/3D2uQkz
The Morrisville Senior Center hosts activities all month long including bingo, chair yoga, zumba, and line dancing. Register for these and more at https://bit.ly/44wHqUL
📍 Morrisville Senior Center
4117 Davis Drive
919-463-7140
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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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Inspired at Morrisville Chamber First Responder Event! Congrats to Officer Ray Finch and Firefighter Dylan Briggs for their selection as First Responders of the Year!
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Pickleball Pick Up at Morrisville Community Park!
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Celebrating Major League Cricket Kick Off with CEO Sameer Mehta!
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Watch Cricket Match with Major League Cricket Founder Vijay Srinivasan!
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Great Conversation at RTA Bus Rapid transit Breakfast!
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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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Dr. Robert Taylor Selected as Wake County Superintendent
Taylor, who previously served 10 years as superintendent of Bladen County Schools, fills the vacancy left by former Superintendent Catty Moore, who retired June 30. School board leaders approved the appointment Tuesday.
The Wake County Board of Education, which oversees the state's biggest school district, approved the appointment with an 8-1 vote during a meeting Tuesday. Board members expressed universal excitement for the hire, though one had concerns about Taylor's salary.
Taylor was a deputy state superintendent of public instruction in 2021 and 2022, served 10 years before that as superintendent of Bladen County Schools and was an administrator before that in Clinton City School and Cumberland County Schools. He left the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction in 2022 after he was hired as the State Superintendent of Education for Mississippi.
A Mississippi native, Taylor moved to Mississippi in January before state lawmakers voted in March against confirming him to the position. According to Mississippi Today, lawmakers raised questions about comments Taylor, who is Black, had made about racism in Mississippi in 2020.
Former Superintendent Catty Moore, who spent more than three decades as a teacher and administrator in Wake County, retired on June 30. Randy Bridges, a retired superintendent of other North Carolina and Virginia school systems, has been interim superintendent since July 1.
Taylor starts Oct. 1. Before then, he'll be drafting a 100-day plan for when he takes office, Board Chairwoman Lindsay Mahaffey said.
Read More at https://www.wral.com/story/longtime-nc-schools-administrator-robert-taylor-named-wake-superintendent/20959338/
House Speaker Tim Moore will not seek re-election!
North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore confirmed on Friday that his record fifth two-year term presiding over the chamber will be his last, saying legislative colleagues have known about his decision going back a year.
Moore, a Cleveland County Republican, has served in the House since 2003 and was first elected speaker in 2015 while succeeding now-U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis at the job.
He’s helped push a conservative fiscal and social agenda through the General Assembly with Senate leader Phil Berger and built GOP seat margins back to veto-proof majorities.
Read More at https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-house-speaker-reelection-36e18feca956b0ebd4f58ac536be49ca
Senator Mike Woodard to run for Durham Mayor. Dedreana Freeman will join the race.
North Carolina state Sen. Mike Woodard filed Wednesday to be a candidate for mayor of Durham this fall.
Woodard, a Democrat who has served in the General Assembly since 2013, previously served on the Durham City Council for several years. First-term Mayor Elaine O'Neal announced last month she was not seeking reelection
At least three candidates have formally joined the race since filing began last week. The top two vote-getters during Durham's nonpartisan mayor primary in October advance to the general election in November.
Woodard, 64, said he plans to continue serving in the Senate during the campaign. He would step down if he was elected mayor. Woodard could remain in the Senate if he lost, since his two-year Senate term runs through the end of 2024.
Woodard told news outlets this week that he had heard from dozens of Durham community members and leaders asking him to run.
“Durham’s got a lot of great opportunities in next few years, and some challenges," Woodard said. "I’ve always liked local government.”
Other candidates who have filed with the Durham County elections board are community activist Charlitta Burruss and Sylvester Williams. Both have run unsuccessfully for the job in the past.
Council Members Dedreana Freeman and Leonardo Williams have announced they will be seeking the Office of Mayor.
AG Stein criticizes General Assembly for Budget Delay
With a budget deal already a couple of weeks late, North Carolina Democrats complained on Wednesday that the absence of a state government spending deal by Republicans is delaying the expansion of Medicaid and setting up more obstacles to hire and retain teachers and law enforcement.
2024 gubernatorial candidate and Attorney General Josh Stein joined House Democrats at a Legislative Building news conference to throw shade at GOP leaders who control the General Assembly and the behind-the-scenes budget negotiations for the delay.
With the GOP holding veto-proof majorities in both chambers, current Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and his allies have few tools at their disposal to influence the final budget product as long as Republicans remain united. So Democrats laid the blame for the wait on Republicans, some of whom suggested later Wednesday that a budget agreement may not get settled until deep in the summer.
New High School in Morrisville will be named Morrisville High
The Wake County school board’s facilities committee recommended Wednesday naming the school Morrisville High when it’s scheduled to open in 2027.
Due to high land prices, Morrisville didn’t get its first district high school until this school year when the Wake Early College of Information and Biotechnologies opened on Wake Technical Community College’s RTP campus. Even then, Heagarty noted that some town leaders had wanted to name that school after the town.
The school board recently finished acquiring another 34 acres on Wake Tech’s RTP campus for a second high school in Morrisville.
On Wednesday, school facilities staff proposed three names: Paramount Parkway High, Parkside High and Morrisville High.
The full board is expected to vote on the school name on June 6.
A special thanks to School Board Member Chris Heagarty and his colleagues for
his hard work on the high school.
Read More at: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/wake-county-town-expected-finally-094500671.html
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LATEST NATIONAL AND GLOBAL UPDATES | |
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American cluster bombs have been deployed by Ukraine in its counter-offensive against Russia, according to the White House. John Kirby, the national-security spokesman, said Ukrainian forces have been using the controversial weapons “effectively”. Earlier Russia attacked Ukrainian ports for a fourth consecutive night. The Kremlin has declared that all ships bound for Ukraine will be considered “potential carriers of military cargo”. Ukraine responded with a similar threat for vessels heading to Russia.
It was a difficult night for Britain’s ruling Conservatives, as they struggled in three by-elections. The Tories clung on—just—to the west London seat vacated by Boris Johnson, a former prime minister who resigned from the backbenches after being found to have misled Parliament. But they saw huge majorities overturned in two other seats, losing a rural constituency in the south-west to the Liberal Democrats and another, in Yorkshire, to Labour.
Thailand’s Move Forward party said it will allow Pheu Thai, another pro-democracy party and the runner-up in elections held in May, to try to form a government. On Wednesday the constitutional court suspended Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Move Forward, from parliament, which then voided his attempt to be elected prime minister. Thailand’s military, which appoints senators to parliament, has made continuous attempts to undermine democracy.
The Federal Trade Commission dropped its in-house case against Microsoft’s $69bn acquisition of Activision Blizzard, a games developer. Microsoft and Activision had asked the FTC to withdraw its case against the mega-deal, arguing that it is in the public interest. On Wednesday they extended the deadline for the close of the merger to October 18th, giving them time to win the approval of Britain’s trustbuster, another holdout against the deal.
India banned exports of non-basmati white rice to ensure “adequate availability” and “allay the rise in prices” in its domestic market. The announcement is expected to drive up global rice prices, which are already near ten-year highs. Wheat prices increased by more than 10% this week after Russia announced it would withdraw from the deal that allowed Ukraine to export grains from its ports.
FTX sued its founder Sam Bankman-Fried and three former executives, accusing them of misappropriating more than $1bn from the cryptocurrency exchange in the months leading up to its collapse last year. The lawsuit, filed by senior staff in the firm, alleges that Mr Bankman-Fried and his partners siphoned off the funds for luxury flats, political contributions and other “pet projects”.
Amsterdam banned cruise ships from docking at its ports, in an effort to reduce the number of tourists and limit pollution. The Dutch capital, which attracts 20m visitors annually, has made various attempts to repel raucous revellers. In March it launched a digital campaign warning rowdy British stag-doers to stay away.
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August 4th Music In the Park Concert at 6pm at HEALTHY FOOD HUB! | |
On August 10, The Town of Morrisville becomes Smore'sville!
at Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway, on Aug. 10, from 6-7 p.m
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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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