Your perseverance through this pandemic has proven that you are resilient leaders, not only on how you bounce back but how you Bounce Forward.

We look forward to your bright futures!  Make your Dreams come true and change the world!

Rayan is now a Senior!

Wishing my college sweetheart and wife Komal a Happy 28th Anniversary.

We met when we were 18 at Emory University, and for almost three decades plus, she has been a wonderful wife, mother, and the quiet and steady strength of our family.  I am also grateful for her support of my public service.

Happy Anniversary Komal, looking forward to the next phase, in 2023, Empty Nesters!  But she will never be an Empty Nester as I am her first child!

During this weekend, we want to take time to let our Fathers know how grateful we are for all they have done for us.   

I want to thank my Dad for being one of my best friends, and for always being there when I needed someone to talk to and for standing with me not only during good times, but when I have faced setbacks and adversity. I also want to say that I have been a very proud Father to Sonia and Rayan! 

Finally, we pray for any family who has lost a father or loved one this year due to Covid or any illness.  

Enjoy quality time with your fathers this weekend!   

Enjoyed a visit with the Father of Hindu Society of NC, Dr. G.D. Sharma!

Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. On June 17, 2021, it officially became a federal holiday. 

Confederate General Robert E. Lee had surrendered at Appomattox Court House two months earlier in Virginia, but slavery had remained relatively unaffected in Texas—until U.S. General Gordon Granger stood on Texas soil and read General Orders No. 3: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”

During this Juneteenth celebration, let us also take time to reflect on the injustices towards black Americans, be inspired by our courage to face racism and racial bias head on, and always be reminded that we can be dedicated to transforming our nation where the words equality applies to anyone, regardless of their race or color of their skin.  

This week, I enjoyed visiting with Barbara Blair, owner of the Exercise Coach, located in McCrimmon Corners!   Her state of the art facility, guarantees 20 minutes intense workouts and a fit and healthy community!  Thanks for being in Morrisville!  

Great visit with Lashonda Modest, a Black Business Owner and Founder of Melanated Wine, transforming wine experience into an engaging and creative experience!  

Visit https://melanatedwine.com/ !

Tune in Sunday at 4 pm to Radio Nyra for our Interview with Dreamer Shrishti Sharma!  99.9FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!  

Thanks for listening to our Radio Nyra Interview with Secretary of State Elaine Marshall! We look forward to our interview with her on POD TV on ROKU tomorrow at 10 am, live on Facebook.

On the Porch with Randy Voller on WCHL 97.9 FM!

WPTF Steve O'Bryan show on the Dream Act and DACA!

Get with the Program with Gary Jones!

Mar. 25th Black Issues Forum Discussion!

Sonia Rao is a student at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She has previously written for the Virginian-Pilot and the Charlotte Observer.

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.

Juneteenth Proclamation: Town Council proclaimed June 19, 2022 as Juneteenth in the Town of Morrisville to recognize the abolition of slavery in the United States and encouraged everyone to celebrate the culture and achievements of African Americans. I was honored to read this proclamation!  

National Pollinator Week: Town Council recognized the week of June 20-26, 2022 as National Pollinator Week and calls upon all community members to acquaint themselves with the value and benefits derived from planting native species to help keep birds and insects equipped to support the pollination of our food supply. 

LGTBQ+ Pride Month: Town Council proclaimed the month of June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month and invites everyone to reflect on ways we can all live and work together with a commitment to respect and dignity and to celebrate our diverse community. 

Affordable Housing Plan Implementation Update: Danielle Kittredge, Senior Planner, provided an administrative report to Town Council that included the Public Employee Housing Choice Program Survey that will be sent to Town of Morrisville and WCPSS employees. The survey feedback will give staff and the consultant an understanding of the current housing needs and choices of public employees, which will assist in the development of a potential public employee housing choice program.

Senior Center Operations Review: Parks and Recreation staff provided an overview of the first year of Senior Center operations and activities, including historical data and usage information, current and future programming plans, and marketing and outreach efforts. 

FY 2023 Proposed Annual Operating Budget and Capital Investment Program: Town Council adopted the FY 2023 operating budget and CIP. 

Appointed Public Bodies Administrative Policy Update: Town Council received a comprehensive overview of the updates to the Appointed Public Bodies Administrative Policy. The Conduct section was expanded to include guidelines for complaint communication, investigation, and resolution. A new section outlining a social media policy was added to the document. Other minor edits and clarification are also included. Action is anticipated on June 28. 

Advisory Committee Work Plans: Town Council reviewed the Advisory Committee 2022 work plans and provided feedback for Eric Smith, Town Clerk, to share with the committees.

The Morrisville Town Council approved a $46,208,000 Annual Operating Budget & Capital Investment Program for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY2023) at their June 14 Town Council Meeting. While the budget includes a three-cent tax rate increase (from $0.36 to $0.39), the funds will be solely dedicated to bond projects approved by voters in November 2021 for public safety, parks and recreation, and streets, sidewalks and connectivity projects, and are not being used to add additional operational budget capacity for services and programs. 

The FY2023 budget includes some moderate user fee adjustments to reflect additional costs to provide services, as well as utilization of $1,841,400 of general fund balance appropriations (approximately 4% of expenditures) for one-time expenses. American Rescue Plan Act funds ($2,551,500) were also used to support budget requests for key projects and initiatives prioritized by Town Council and align with community input that includes sustainability and smart solution initiatives, a future dog park and renovation of Shiloh Park and basketball court. The capital budget allocates another $2,686,000 that initiates bond projects for phase one intersection improvements, a future phase for sidewalk connections and public safety radio replacements in addition to other roadway improvements.

Other core initiatives addressed in the FY2023 budget include: 

The Vehicle Decal Fee remains at $30 per vehicle per year. The Stormwater Fee increased from $25 to $40 per ERU to support the stormwater operations and capital infrastructure studies that were completed in FY 2022. This increase will position the Town to better meet state mandates relating to protecting water quality and the environment and funds the establishment of a new Stormwater Capital Investment Program to address long-term operations and capital needs.

National Pollinator Week is June 20-25. Pollinator Week is an international celebration promoting the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats, beetles, moths, wasps, and flies.

Check out events in our area: 

This spring, the Public Works Department, including Sustainability, and the Stormwater Department collaborated to identify a pollinator garden area at the southwest corner of Cedar Fork District Park. This garden provides landscaping appeal and enhanced stormwater features and includes all native plant species. This specially designed landscaping is part of the Town’s Mayors Monarch Pledge, which advocates for the creation of habitats for the monarch butterfly and other pollinators while increasing awareness on the importance of integrating native plants. A sign will be added to the garden, indicating species planted and the benefits of providing pollinator habitats in our community.

The Morrisville Fire/Rescue Department is conducting a live fire training on Sunday, June 19, from 8 a.m.–3 p.m. at 604 Airport Blvd. Access on Airport Blvd. and McCrimmon Pkwy. will be limited. Area residents can expect to see smoke and numerous public safety vehicles. For questions, contact Assistant Fire Chief Nathan Lozinsky at nlozinsky@townofmorrisville.org. 

Family Fun Festival: July 3

Join us as we celebrate Independence Day! The Family Fun Festival will have live entertainment, food trucks, face painters, family-friendly games, giveaways, local vendors, and will conclude with a fireworks show. Attendance is free but bring money for food, games and vendors. Check out all the details here.

 

Music in the Park: July 8

Performing Friday, July 8 is Big Chief. Their set list ranges from authentic New Orleans music to country and rock to classic music from the '50s. Food truck: Baton Rouge Cuisine

Concerts are held at the Healthy Food Hub, 280 Town Hall Drive.

Calling all makers! We are looking for arts and craft vendors for our Family Fun Festival. The Festival will be held on Sunday, July 3, from 4-9 p.m., on Town Hall Drive. Vendor spaces are free and sized 10' x 10'.

For details and to submit an application, click here.

Learn more about the festival at https://bit.ly/MSVJuly3Festival

The Town is growing, and your opinion matters! Advisory Committees offer residents a chance to be involved in the Town’s decision-making processes by providing input on important matters to Town Council. 

The deadline to apply is Monday, July 18, at 5 p.m. Apply now on the Town website. Contact Town Clerk Eric Smith with any questions at (919) 463-6168 or esmith@townofmorrisville.org.

The Western Wake Farmer’s Market will partner with the American Red Cross to conduct a blood drive June 25, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Red Cross mobile blood donation unit will be parked at the farmer’s market at 280 Town Hall Drive. The Red Cross will also be giving donors a $5 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice. For more information, contact debbie@wwfm.ag or call 800-RED-CROSS.

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

Work will continue on the Town's paving project. Weather permitting, work for the week of June 13 will include:

This work may cause minor traffic delays for short periods of time.

Music in the Park is coming back to Morrisville! Join us for this free and fun outdoor concert series featuring live music and food trucks. All shows are from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at the Healthy Food Hub, 280 Town Hall Drive.

Check out more about Music in the Park here.

As work continues on Morrisville Community Park and restroom building by the future tennis courts, additional space is needed by the contractor for materials. Beginning on Wednesday, June 22, until October (estimated), an additional section of the Kudrow Lane parking lot will be fenced off and unavailable to the public. 

The contractor will be working on establishing the retaining wall and stormwater pipes in the northwest corner of the project throughout June. This work required a temporary demolition of the greenway connector within the fenced-in area of the project. Once work is completed in this area, contractors will adjust the fencing and reopen the trail connector for use by the public.

Additionally, the crew will be working on finishing grading the pad for the tennis courts and pickleball courts and establishing the foundation for the restroom building. The paving of walking trails and the establishment of the boardwalk will occur over the coming months.

Click here to read more on MCP Phase III.

Morrisville Public Works has temporarily closed the Dinosaur Stairs portion of the Morrisville Community Park Playground due to wear and tear to ensure visitor safety. The stairs will remain closed until Public Works obtains a replacement equipment piece and gets it installed. The rest of the playground structure will remain open for use.

North State Resurfacing has been contracted to repair and resurface the tennis courts at Church Street Park, 5817 Cricket Pitch Way. The painted surface of the tennis courts has faded over time, and cracks and other imperfections have also formed. This project will make repairs to the asphalt and then repaint the surface. The work will require that the courts be closed for approximately two weeks.

The Town of Morrisville has a new Lending Library! The Crossroads FLEX Student Council worked to build and install a new lending library next to the playground at Indian Creek Trailhead at 101 Town Hall Drive. Books are available for the whole family.

Registration is now open for the Morrisville Police Department’s Teen Citizen Police Academy.

The academy is a five-week program, held June 15-July 23, and is designed to give participants a working knowledge of the department. It is intended to increase transparency and enhance understanding between the community and the police. Learn more and register here.

Puttin Around Town is a program that places a temporary disc golf basket at a different park on a rotating basis to give people the opportunity to practice throwing discs so they can work on their mid-range game or putting. The schedule has been adjusted, and the basket will be at Church Street Park from May 31 to June 30. Plans are being finalized for a temporary course to return to Cedar Fork District Park in July.

The Town is continuing to explore effective uses of temporary baskets in open to encourage outdoor recreation.

Read more about Puttin’ Around Town here.

The Morrisville Pop-up Dog Park is back! Bring your dogs out to enjoy the sunshine at Morrisville Community Park. The dog park will be open May 8 - September 18 on select days. Click here for more information and to register.

Baseball camps will be offered in partnership with Diamond and Aces. Run by professional coaches, this camp provides young players a unique opportunity to take their game to the next level. Players of all ability levels will be challenged with specific skill instruction and drill work. Drill progressions will be focused on developing good habits while improving overall game skills. Each camp will cover the skills of pitching, hitting, catching, fielding, baserunning, position work, and mental preparation. The camp will be held at Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway.

Developmental sports camps will also be offered in partnership with Skyhawks, the country's leader in providing a safe, fun, and skill-based sports experience for kids between the ages of 4 and 14.

Registration for fall leagues will also start on June 6. Fall leagues will include tee-ball, coach pitch, minor and major baseball, and junior volleyball.

Visit the Parks and Recreation website for additional information and updates.

Beginning the week of April 11, the MAFC program pool will be unavailable for public use on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Open rec swim and water aerobics participants will be accommodated in lanes 5 and 6 of the lap pool. Additionally, the Friday morning water aerobics class has been cancelled.

The Morrisville Aquatics and Fitness Center is hiring for part-time lifeguards. Applicants must be 16+, and scheduling hours include morning, mid-day, after school, evenings and weekends. Not certified? The MAFC will train you free of charge. Learn more and apply here.

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

The Morrisville Smart Shuttle node at the Morrisville Aquatics and Fitness Center is now open and available for rides.

With the new MAFC node, the service will connect residents with 15 locations in Morrisville. An additional node is located at the Regional Transit Center near RTP. A Morrisville Smart Shuttle rider can arrange their pick-up and drop-off from their computer or smartphone. Learn more and download the app here.

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

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

Black Issues Forum | PBS North Carolina (formerly UNC-TV) (pbsnc.org)

Enjoyed Briefing from Broadband Deputy Secretary Nate Denny! 

Thanks to Scot Wingo for hosting another Tweener event! 

Enjoyed Southern Cooking at the Morrisville Senior Center! 

Welcomed Bangladesh Embassy to NC State! 

Attended June 18th BAPS "In the Joy of Others" Walkathon to support Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure at Cedar Fork Community Center!

Donald Trump pressured Mike Pence to overturn the 2020 election results after being told that the plan was illegal.

John Eastman, a conservative lawyer who pushed the plan, asked for a presidential pardon.

Pence told Trump he didn’t believe he had the power to overturn the results. Trump called Pence a “wimp.”

A mob chanting “hang Mike Pence” came within 40 feet of the vice president.

The committee is requesting to interview Ginni Thomas, the wife of Justice Clarence Thomas.

Some European leaders said they would support Ukraine’s candidacy to join the E.U.

European cities were playgrounds for Russia’s superwealthy. But sanctions have closed off much of the world.

Herschel Walker, the Republican nominee for Senate in Georgia, acknowledged that he had fathered two more children than he had previously mentioned.

One sticking point holding up the Senate’s gun safety bill: What’s a boyfriend?

Democratic campaigns are bolstering some far-right Republican candidates in hopes of beating them in November. It’s a risky bet.

A Florida synagogue is challenging the state’s restrictive abortion law, arguing that it violates Jewish law.

Gov. Kathy Hochul sparred with her two Democratic rivals for governor of New York over crime, credentials and … cream cheese.

Stocks fell sharply again. President Biden said a recession was “not inevitable.”

U.S. and Israeli officials say a new tunnel network in Iran is part of a plan to build nuclear facilities that can withstand bunker-busting bombs.

Elon Musk told Twitter’s roughly 8,000 employees about wanting to expand the platform to more than one billion users.

A baby formula plant in Michigan that resumed production less than two weeks ago shut down because of flooding.

Britain approved an order to extradite Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder, to the U.S. He’s likely to appeal.

The Golden State Warriors beat the Boston Celtics to win their fourth N.B.A. championship title in eight seasons.

On Sunday June 12, Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut announced that a group of U.S. senators had reached agreement on a package of gun reforms. Both of North Carolina’s senators, Republicans Thom Tillis and Richard Burr, were part of this bipartisan working group.

Murphy then laid out six elements of the framework:

The bill is likely to pass the Senate, considering 10 Republican senators were involved in drafting it — enough to pass the 60-vote filibuster threshold if Democrats all back the bill — and since Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said he was in favor of the bipartisan gun workgroup and their efforts — although he was more vague on whether he supported the details of their plan.

The more difficult lift could be to pass the legislation through the U.S. House. While there is no filibuster in the House, as there is in the Senate, many progressives have made clear they are unsatisfied with the scope of the plan and many conservatives are skeptical of red-flag laws.

The Wake County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the fiscal year 2023 budget.

The budget will include a 1.95-cent increase to property taxes. For a house worth $337,000, that adds up to an extra $66 a year in taxes.

The tax increase would be used for general funds and create an additional $29 million to help pay for things like staffing as the county deals with a staffing shortage and aims to increase pay and add more jobs.

The county manager initially recommended a 1.5-cent property tax increase in May. The board said the 0.45 cents added by Monday's vote will generate $8.75 million in revenue.

In the new fiscal year, the commissioners will receive a total annual salary of $37,856 with $9,000 in allowances for travel and technology.

In fiscal year 2022, they received $25,288 with $3,300 in allowances.

"This salary adjustment is in line with the county’s efforts to set a living wage for its employees. In the adopted budget, all regular staff will receive at least $18.20 an hour," said the county in a press release.

Funding for the Wake County Public School System comprises 52% of the adopted budget. Investments include a $50 million increase in funding for the Wake County Public School System.

The county manager had initially recommended a $38 million increase for the school district in May. The board opted to raise that amount by $12 million.

The board said these increases bring the county’s total investment in the WCPSS operating budget to more than $594.2 million.

The 2023 fiscal year in Wake County runs from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023.

North Carolina lawmakers advanced legislation last Wednesday that would prohibit classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for some public school students, a move decried by opponents as harmful to LGBTQ youth.

The “Parents’ Bill of Rights,” a broad piece of legislation that opponents say mirrors Florida’s so-called Don’t Say Gay bill, cleared the state’s Republican-led Senate and will head to the House of Representatives, which also has a Republican majority.

It could reach the desk of Governor Roy Cooper as soon as this week. Cooper, a Democrat, has spoken against the bill and is all but certain to veto it.

Advocates and civil rights groups have tracked hundreds of bills this year across state legislatures directed at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, including many that target transgender youth specifically.

Florida measure, officially titled the Parental Rights in Education Act, was signed into law in March. In April, the governor of Alabama signed a bill prohibiting classroom discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in certain grades, and similar measures are being considered in Louisiana and Ohio.

The North Carolina measure would prohibit mention of sexual orientation or gender identity in curricula for students from kindergarten through third grade. Schools would also have to notify parents if a student requests to be addressed by a different name or pronoun.

Governor Cooper says he will veto bill if it reaches his desk and the State Senate has now indicated that they will not push this bill forward this session to avoid a Veto.

Watch Sunday at 4pm for a new Forum.

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

Website: https://video.pbsnc.org/search/?q=black+issues+forum

Tune in Sunday at 4 pm to Radio Nyra for our Interview with Dreamer Shrishti Sharma!  

June 21 International Day of Yoga at Morrisville Community Park from 4- 5 pm.

Celebrate International Yoga Day with a free outdoor yoga session on Tuesday, June 21, at Morrisville Community Park.

Limited spots available.

Register now at https://bit.ly/3MpM8dF

Join me on June 28th at the Frontier 800 North Carolina Now Results 9 am to 10:30 am with Brian Hamilton and WRAL anchor and Interim PBS Carolina CEO, David Crabtree.

Join us this Sunday at 4 pm for our Radio Nyra program with Democratic Sheriff Candidate Roy Taylor followed by a Sustainability interview with Shanthanu Agarwal, CEO Susteon.

99.9FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!  Listen at www.radionyrausa.com!

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.