Pete Acosta sworn in as the Morrisville Police Chief.

Town of Morrisville Designated as SolSmart Community.

Cary Citizen closing shop after 12 years!  

Russia invades Ukraine. We pray for Ukraine.

President Biden nominates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to Supreme Court.

In continued alignment with Wake County, the Town of Morrisville will be lifting its mask mandate at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25. As a result, face coverings will no longer be required in Town facilities or anywhere else within the town. Smart Shuttle riders will still be required to wear a mask, based on a federal mandate for masks on public transportation.

While the mandate is ending, masking as a mitigation tool has proven effective in helping minimize transmission.

Use of masks should be supported by all who want to use them and are recommended for:

Employers are free to maintain mask mandates on their premises and are encouraged to make the choices they believe best fit their circumstances. Employers should post any specific mask-related rules at their facilities.

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

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 NC Vaccine help desk at 1-888-675-4567.

Masks will be optional at MAFC effective, Friday, February 25th at 5pm.

All guests should respect personal masking decisions and provide proper 6-foot social distancing whenever possible. To safeguard our staff and participants, all guests should avoid MAFC after possible exposure and when not feeling well or experiencing symptoms of COVID19.

MAFC will be closed March 18th from 10am-2:30pm to honor the life of Pat Rower, an eleven-year veteran of the MAFC desk staff. The death of Pat on February 15th has hit the MAFC community and her family hard.

We appreciate your understanding in allowing MAFC staff to take time to reflect on Pat and her legacy.

For the most up to date programming and event news remember to check the MAFC webpage www.townofmorrisville.org/MAFC and SignUp Genius http://tinyurl.com/signupmafc.

Highlights from the Morrisville Town Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022 include:

For details, visit https://bit.ly/3sey7sm

#LiveConnectedLiveWell

We are proud to share that the Town of Morrisville has been awarded a SolSmart Gold designation for our efforts to make it faster, easier, and more affordable to go solar! We are proud to be recognized as a national leader in advancing solar energy.

Michelle Wright, Morrisville Environment & Stormwater Committee Chair, presented the Town’s designation at the Feb. 22 Town Council meeting.

Learn more at SolSmart.org and view the Town’s Sustainability Dashboard here: https://bit.ly/3IFhR9f.

I was honored to attend the Swearing In of Police Chief Pete Acosta last week.  We look forward to his leadership of the Department and are very happy for him and his family.  I also want to congratulate Officer Campbell for joining our Police Department!   Pictured here with Pete Acosta, and Apex Police Chief, Jason Armstrong.

The Town Council, along with the Morrisville Public Education Advisory Committee, proclaimed March 2, 2022 as Read Across America Day in the Town of Morrisville.

Join the Morrisville Community Library to celebrate Dr. Seuss, Read Across America, and make Thing 1 and Thing 2 pencils to share with a friend.

Events will be on Tuesday, March 1 at 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday, March 2 at 6 p.m. Space is limited. Call the library at 919-463-8460 or visit https://www.wakegov.com/events to register.

It has come to my attention that Parkside Elementary could be capped this upcoming school year, and the closest school would be Adams Elementary in Cary, which is located on Cary Town Boulevard.  I am working with my colleagues on the Council, and the Wake County School Board on what other options could be and I am going to make this a high priority for this year, along with our Council.

We do plan to discuss this topic at the next during our brainstorming work session tomorrow and next week as well.

Please visit https://www.wcpss.net/student-assignment for more information on School Assignment.

I wanted to take a moment and thank Hal Goodtree and Lindsay Chester for their wonderful work at Cary Citizen over the pst 12 years.  They worked with me on Morrisville issues over the years and we do wish them all the best in their new ventures.  All of us were the beneficiaries of their wonderful publication and exciting stories!  

We will miss Cary Citizen!  Good Luck!  

In the days of segregated libraries, a bookmobile visited Shiloh Baptist Church once a month, allowing residents to borrow and return books. The bookmobile was founded by Mollie Huston Lee, the first African American librarian in Wake County.

#MorrisvilleBlackHistoryMonth

As we end Black History Month, I wanted us to take a moment and remember Frederick Douglas, one of the greatest Black Leaders in our nation.

Frederick Douglass was a formerly enslaved man who became a prominent activist, author and public speaker. He became a leader in the abolitionist movement, which sought to end the practice of slavery, before and during the Civil War. After that conflict and the Emancipation Proclamation of 1862, he continued to push for equality and human rights until his death in 1895.

Douglass’ 1845 autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, described his time as an enslaved worker in Maryland. It was one of five autobiographies he penned, along with dozens of noteworthy speeches, despite receiving minimal formal education.

An advocate for women’s rights, and specifically the right of women to vote, Douglass’ legacy as an author and leader lives on. His work served as an inspiration to the civil rights movement of the 1960s and beyond.

Steverao app can be downloaded at Apple App store by searching for "Steverao" app in Apple store and Google Play store.

Other Way to download the app is by below scan for Apple store scan code and Google Play store link.

Below are two links to download app from Apple App store and Google Playstore.

March 1 – 6:00 p.m. Public Safety Advisory Committee (In-Person, FS1 Training Room)

March 1 – 6:30 p.m. Public Education Advisory Committee (Virtual)

March 2 – 6:30 p.m. Environment & Stormwater Committee (Virtual)

In continued alignment with Wake County, the Town of Morrisville will be lifting its mask mandate at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25. As a result, face coverings will no longer be required in Town facilities or anywhere else within the town. Smart Shuttle riders will still be required to wear a mask, based on a federal mandate for masks on public transportation.

Employers are free to maintain mask mandates on their premises and are encouraged to make choices they believe best fit their circumstances. Employers should post any specific mask-related rules at their facilities.

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

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 NC Vaccine helpdesk at 1-888-675-4567.

Did you miss the EngageMorrisville COVID-19 Q&A with Duke University's Dr. Turner?

View all questions and answers on EngageMorrisville.

Tell us what is important to you. The Town has opened a Budget Portal Gateway to collect community insight that serves to inform the development of Town Council’s priorities and goals for the next budget year. Input will be collected through Tuesday, March 15 at midnight. View the portal and share your input here.

The Town of Morrisville is adding new amenities to Morrisville Community Park. We will be constructing some new tennis courts, pickleball courts, a restroom building, picnic shelter, and walking trails through the park.

We are currently anticipating breaking ground in March of 2022 and finishing work up in Fall of 2022.

Read more about the project at https://bit.ly/MSVCPIII

#LiveConnectedLiveWell

Phase 2 of the Morrisville Carpenter Road Improvements Project will begin on March 7. As a result, there will be changes to traffic flow patterns on Morrisville Carpenter Road and on Town Hall Drive. Town Engineer and Director of Engineering Mark Spanioli talks about the updates in this video.

The traffic pattern changes on Morrisville Carpenter Road (Church Street to Morrisville Square) and on Town Hall Drive (Morrisville Carpenter Road to Fire Station 1) will now happen on Friday, March 11.

The Town of Morrisville and the Morrisville Police Department advise pedestrians not to walk on either side of Morrisville Carpenter Road between Town Hall Drive and Misty Groves Circle. This section of the road is an active construction zone area and does not have a sidewalk and is not safe for pedestrians. Please observe the posted sidewalk closed signs.

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

Registration will start soon for Cedar Fork Community Center summer camp. Residents and Town staff in-person or online registration will open at 7 a.m. on Feb. 21. Non-resident registration will open at 7 a.m. on March 7. For more information, contact the center’s supervisor by calling (919) 463-7101.

Join us at the Cedar Fork Community Center on Saturday, March 12, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., as we celebrate Holi, the ancient Hindu festival marking the end of winter and welcoming the spring season.

The Festival is free to attend, and will feature dancing, Holi powders, and food for purchase from Nukaad Indian Street Food and Curry in a Hurry. Music will be provided by DJ Chirag.

Overflow parking will be available at Iron Mountain, 826 Church Street. The Morrisville Smart Shuttle has a node on Town Hall Drive next to CFCC, accessible from 15 other nodes around Town. Service is free and can be booked through the app.

Morrisville Creek Week will be held March 12-19 in conjunction with NC Clean Water Education Partnership’s (NC CWEP) Regional Creek week. Celebrating Creek Week serves the purpose of educating the public about issues related to stormwater pollution and keeping our waterways clean.

Businesses are invited to register their business as in-kind supporters for Creek Week. Businesses will receive a number of benefits in exchange for their support. Interested businesses should reach out to tvictor@townofmorrisville.org to receive additional information about this opportunity.

The Town of Morrisville has launched the Sustainability Dashboard on Morrisville's Open Data Portal. The dashboard provides residents with tracking data showing the Town's progress in implementing sustainability practices. Data for the solar panel array on Morrisville Fire Station No. 1 and recycling participation rates for each of Morrisville's five GFL Environmental service routes are currently available. For details, click here.

The Morrisville Smart Shuttle, the Town’s newest public transit service, allows riders to request a pick-up or drop-off from one of 15 nodes, or stops, located around the Town using the Smart Shuttle application on their smartphone.

Watch this short video on how to use the Morrisville Smart Shuttle App by clicking here!

The service runs seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Additional details on the Morrisville Smart Shuttle visit TownofMorrisville.org/SmartShuttle

Starting Dec. 4, the WWFM is shifting to winter market hours, 9:30 a.m. to noon. Visit http://wwfm.ag/ to see a complete list of local vendors and shop local!

Get Free Covid Tests at https://www.covidtests.gov/

This information is provided for COVID-19 testing sites in Wake County and please visit https://www.wakegov.com/covid-19-information/no-cost-covid-19-testing.

New sites continue to be added in Wake County through partnerships with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and other community testing providers.

All Mako Medical/NCDHHS sites will remain open through March 1. WakeMed Soccer Park hours are changing - they're now 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., starting Monday.

Radeas Labs has partnered with Baptist on Mission to offer drive-thru testing in Wake County AND Radeas has opened back up its Wake Forest drive thru-site. No appointments, no pre-registration, and no out-of-pocket costs. Insurance accepted, but not required.

All Mako Wake County Testing Sites Open Until March 1:

Hindu Society of NC: Drive thru testing in HSNC parking lot. Do not step out of your car . You will be provided with instructions for registration. No prior appointment is required. Testing is being performed by: Ottendorf Laboratories, LLC. Monday thru Friday - 8 to 5 pm Address: 309 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC 27560

Registration can be done with the QR code:

Note that you can get Pfizer and Moderna First, Second and Booster Shots at Morrisville Pharmacy and Compounding (3500 Davis Drive Market Place Shopping Center, Morrisville, NC 27560) (919) 463-7990.

I enjoyed hearing an Update from RDU Airport CEO, Michael Landguth at the Cary Chamber Breakfast!  It was always great to see everyone at this event!

The Umstead Coalition, Sierra Club Capital Group, and Triangle Off-Road Cyclists (TORC) hosted a celebration gathering this Saturday at 1pm along the East Coast Greenway and the Odd Fellows Tract.

Congratulations to the multitude of Park and open space supporters, along with numerous organizations, businesses, elected officials, and community leaders who helped sustain the past six-year effort that led to the Mining Permit Denial on February 17th!

I also want to thank Mayor Mark Stohlman, for all his efforts and my colleagues on the Council!  I missed meeting my best friend Rufus, but I will see him soon!

Ukrainian fighters waged ferocious battles to maintain control of Kyiv and other cities.

“Everybody in our country needs to defend”: Ukrainian civilians are taking the fight to Russian troops.

The war is already costing Russia’s economy. Airlines canceled flights, demands for cash spiked and economists warned of more inflation.

European foreign ministers will meet today to come up with more ways to help Ukraine.

Biden will deliver his State of the Union address on Tuesday.

The 2022 election season begins Tuesday with the Texas primary. The governor and the attorney general, both Republicans, face challengers from the right.

Major League Baseball set a deadline of tomorrow to reach a bargaining agreement with its players’ union before it would begin canceling games.

Mardi Gras is Tuesday, and parades are returning to New Orleans.

Wake County's indoor mask mandate to slow the spread of COVID-19 will end at 5 p.m. Friday. Several cities and towns within the county, including Raleigh, Garner, Morrisville, Knightdale, Zebulon and Rolesville will also end their mandates.

Many of the county's towns have already lifted the mask mandate, including Cary, Fuquay Varina, Apex, Holly Springs and Wake Forest.

The mandate applies to indoor, public buildings, but individual businesses will be allowed to make their own decisions about requiring masks.

Cumberland County lifted its mask mandates last weekend.

Durham County is expected to keep its guidelines in place until at least the end of March.

Wake County Public School System plans to make masks optional for students and staff in the "coming days."

The district made that announcement Friday morning on the heels of recommendations from Gov. Roy Cooper and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

Cooper and NCDHHS said improving COVID-19 metrics across the state meant it was safe to make masking optional in low-risk settings. The Governor encourages all school districts to consider optional mask requirements.

The decision also comes a day after the North Carolina House passed the Free the Smiles Act in a veto-proof, bipartisan vote.

The UNC System announced that all system schools should be mask-optional starting March 7 unless their local guidelines require masks.

For UNC-Chapel Hill, for example, since the Orange County Health Department announced last week that the county's indoor mask requirement would remain in place, the university will continue to follow that guidance and require masks indoors on campus.

That policy will remain in effect for UNC-CH until Orange County drops the mask mandate.

UNC-Chapel Hill said the number of COVID-19 cases and positivity rates for the campus community continue to decrease.

Moore County offices will move to a mask-optional policy effective Monday.

.

The county said it took Gov. Roy Cooper's support of dropping mask requirements into consideration, along with case metrics declining, and with support of the Moore County Health Department.

This change does not include county agencies/operations that are still required by state or federal requirements to continue with "mask required" policies.

The County will continue to make face masks available to those who want them.

Watch Sunday at 4pm for a new Forum.

It was great to be at Black Issues Forum on Friday.  Join us on Sunday at 4pm for our discussion on Biden first year, Voting Rights, other issues.

Please watch for the Black Issues Forum on UNC-TV!  Fridays at 7 pm and Sundays at 4 pm!

March 3, Morrisville Chamber C-Suite Conversations at Wake Tech RTP from 8 am- 9 am.

Register at https://business.morrisvillechamber.org/events/details/c-suite-conversations-2459

March 4th NC Tech Association Outlook for Tech.

Register at

Tickets on sale at https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/2D005B96CE0C4911

Follow our facebook event page at https://fb.me/e/2Mq6HG6IT

For more information contact Sanskriti at 919-355-6265 or email ishanyaco@gmail.com. 

March 12th Town of Morrisville Holi Festival at Cedar Fork Community Center from 10 am to 2 pm!  Come out and douse yourself with colors!

May 5 Morrisville Chamber Annual Meeting at Prestonwood Country Club from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.

Award Applications are open!

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.