Volume 1 Issue 5 - Sense of Community

It's good to be Morrisville ... Let's make it great!

It's Good to be Morrisville: A Diverse, Welcoming Community   Morrisville's town theme for 2013 is "Year of Community", and it's a great time to reflect on the broad spectrum of people, beliefs, cultures and ideas that mold us into a unique community and to celebrate both diversity and unity in our town. "I highly value Morrisville's strong and welcoming sense of community," says Mayor Jackie Holcombe. "It's reflected in our residential and business growth, and as we grow, new opportunities and choices arise in our community. Diversity makes our community strong, attractive and vibrant". Mayor Holcombe notes the tremendous diversity of Morrisville: The town's growing Senior population includes seniors who have lived in Morrisville their entire lives as well as seniors who have relocated to be close to their adult children and grandchildren. At the same time, our vibrant community is a magnet for young professionals. Morrisville has the third-lowest median age among Wake County municipalities. For a town of our size, Morrisville has a remarkable faith diversity, inlcuding Baptist, Holy Transfiguration Orthodox, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Hindu, Missionary Baptist, Islam and Nondenominational Christian worship opportunities. Morrisville is racially and culturally diverse -- one-fourth of town residents were born outside of the US. Asians make up 27% of our population -- 20% are Indian-American, nearly 500 are Chinese-American, and nearly 500 more are one of Korean-American, Vietnamese-American, Filipino-American or Japanese-American. African-Americans comprise 13% of our population. Like our region and nation, Morrisville's Latino population also is growing. Politically, we represent a broad spectrum: 41% Unaffiliated, 33% Democrat, 25% Republican and 0.6% Libertarian. Jackie also observes that Morrisville's diversity contributes to our sense of community: Our location – close to Raleigh-Durham airport, Research Triangle Park and several major universities -- makes our town appealing to world travelers. In 2013, Morrisville was recognized by Nerdwallet as the best place in North Carolina to raise a family. With more seniors and young people, and our family-friendly atmosphere, we're seeing an increase in multi-generational households. A diverse population promotes commerce, with new opportunities for business owners and more choices for customers. For example, 33% of Morrisville businesses are owned by women; and Morrisville is home to a wide variety of ethnic restaurants. A multicultural community brings a host of festivals and events, such as the 2013 inaugural East Meets West Festival, which was produced byMorrisville Innovation Foundation and offered food and entertainment representing cultures from around the world. Also new in 2013 was the firstInterfaith Breakfast, held in May. Other community celebrations include our traditional July 4th pancake breakfast and fireworks, the Dharma Yoga Fest, India Independence Day, Turkish-American Iftar and community dinners and the Islamic Center of Morrisville open house. Morrisville is a leader in disability inclusion. For example, we were recognized by the Triangle Down Syndrome Network for our proclamationrecognizing October as Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Jackie states, "It's a privilege to be Mayor of a town with such diverse and welcoming citizens. I believe that's what leads to our very strong sense of community". Want to learn more? Check out the latest video in the series It's Good to be Morrisville and consult the US Census Quick Facts. Or contact Jackie using one of the buttons at the top of this email. Many cultural events celebrate Morrisville's diversity Jackie promotes a strong sense of community Friend on Facebook Follow on Twitter Jackie's Blog Follow on Web Forward to a Friend Email Jackie Did you know? Morrisville's Shiloh community has a rich and unique history.  In the late 1820s, the Shiloh community north of Morrisville was settled by freeborn African Americans and freed former slaves.  CaryCitizen notes, "The unique community of Mayos, Barbees, Greens, Burroughs’, Weavers, Mills’ and others have had farms in their families as early as 1830 – during a time when most other African-Americans here were slaves." In his book Images of America: Morrisville, Ernest Dollar notes that "By 1870, Shiloh had grown into a self-sufficient community, with a public school, social clubs, a cooperative store, and a church". In 1987, the Shiloh community formally became part of the Town of Morrisville and continues to be a significant contributor to Morrisville's sense of community. Shiloh Community: One of many reasons why ... It's good to be Morrisville! Shiloh: A vibrant Morrisville community with a rich history

Follow on Twitter | Friend on Facebook | Follow on Web | Jackie's Blog EMail Jackie | Forward to a friend Copyright © Elect Jackie Holcombe, All rights reserved. Thank you for your support Our mailing address is: Elect Jackie Holcombe 124 Kalvesta Dr Morrisville, NC  27560 Paid for by the Elect Jackie Holcombe Committee

Volume 1 Issue 4 - Transportation

It's good to be Morrisville ... Let's make it great!

Keeping Morrisville Moving: Mayor Jackie Holcombe Talks Transportation Traffic congestion. It's the #1 concern of Morrisville residents and business owners. It can cause undesirable delays and safety issues. Of course, traffic happens in a dynamic and vibrant community -- people want to drive to and from Morrisville. But no one wants to sit in traffic, so after years of planning and talking about the problem, Mayor Jackie Holcombe is leading the effort to take action on Morrisville's transportation issues. "I enthusiastically support continuing our aggressive efforts to improve our transportation network and reduce traffic congestion," Jackie stated. "I was a proud, proactive advocate for the 2012 street improvement bonds that already are funding projects that will make a significant, positive difference in our community". Mayor Holcombe believes in getting things done. Under her leadership, Morrisville's transportation achievements include: Approval of the 2012 street bonds by an overwhelming 80% of voters. These bonds will provide up to $14.3 million for projects including the much needed NC54 bypass. After more than a decade of discussion, this major project is now set to begin construction in 2016, once engineering design is complete. Funded by the bonds backed by a 2-cent property tax increase, the NC54 bypass will take about 12 months to complete once construction begins. Meanwhile, the existing NC54 corridor remains an important transportation artery not only for Morrisville, but for the region. So the Town of Morrisville has partnered with the NC Department of Transportation, the Town of Cary, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) and Norfolk Southern Railroad to develop  the NC54 and More Feasibility Study. This study identifies improvements to the existing NC 54 corridor between NC540 and Northwest Maynard Road. Another major project on the horizon is the Morrisville Parkway Grade Separation, a federal project to build a railroad bridge over Morrisville Parkway. Slated to begin in the first quarter of 2014, this project will result in the closure of Morrisville Parkway for 6 - 9 months and take 3 years to fully complete. Although it will be a major inconvenience to commuters and residents for several months next year, this project will result in tremendous improvements in traffic flow and public safety for the long term. Morrisville adopted a comprehensive Transportation Plan in 2009. It's an excellent plan, but it does not include funding strategies to accomplish the plan. That's why, in 2011, Jackie proposed a Transportation and Transit Task Force to pursue funding initiatives for transportation improvements. Now known as the Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation Funding, this commission was approved by the Town Council just last month after being featured in Mayor Holcombe's State of the Town addresses and dedicated town transportation presentations. The Blue Ribbon Commission will identify and promote innovative, multi-stakeholder funding sources for Morrisville's transportation improvements. Applications to serve on the commission are being accepted now. When it comes to funding transportation projects, Morrisville (unlike our neighboring municipalities) does not have authority from the state legislature to collect impact fees for transportation improvements. Under Jackie's leadership, Morrisville for the first time has included matching funds in our current year's budget that will enable the Town to leverage additional funding from CAMPO's Locally Administered Projects Program. Morrisville citizens have made it clear that transportation is among their most pressing concerns. To improve focus and accelerate progress in this area, Mayor Holcombe instituted quarterly Transportation Updates in 2010. These updates are presented to the public and Town Council and serve as a measure of progress and future priorities and help to ensure that transportation remains at the forefront for elected officials and the community. There's more to comprehensive transportation solutions than just road improvements. The Town of Morrisville was the first municipality in Wake County to formally support a county-wide transit ballot referendum. This referendum, if approved by Wake County Commissioners, would enable voters to decide whether to fund regional transportation solutions. Mayor Holcombe strongly supports a regional transit system that would bring new transportation options to Morrisville. One simple and inexpensive way to improve the function of our existing transportation network is to ensure that our citizens are well informed. The Town of Morrisville issues regular notifications about a wide variety of topics, including transportation. Subscribe on the town's web site to receive up-to-date information. Jackie notes that "Transportation issues top the list of what our citizens are concerned about, and transportation affects public safety and quality of life. After years of discussion and planning, it's time for community investment and action. I've demonstrated collaborative leadership in this area, and we're making real progress". Want to learn more? Check out the latest video in the series It's Good to be Morrisville, the town's Transportation Plan and our latest quarterly Transportation Update. Or contact Jackie using one of the buttons at the top of this email. Moving from plans to actions: funding improvements such as the NC54 bypass Paving Barbee Road and Fiona Circle and installing sidewalks and lighting: real progress for Morrisville Friend on Facebook Follow on Twitter Jackie's Blog Follow on Web Forward to a Friend Email Jackie Did you know? Most of Morrisville’s major thoroughfares are owned and maintained by the State of North Carolina Department of Transportation.  These include NC 54/Chapel Hill Road, Morrisville-Carpenter Road, Morrisville Parkway, Aviation Parkway, Church Street, Davis Drive, McCrimmon Parkway and Airport Boulevard. The state has the final say on many of our road-related issues, such as speed limits and traffic light placement. The Town receives an allocation of the gasoline taxes collected by the state to use for local infrastructure maintenance.  For the current fiscal year, Morrisville expects to receive about $440,000 of this funding, which pays for less than half of the actual maintenance costs for our 30 miles of streets.  With limited state and local funding, it's important for our town leaders to collaborate with the state. As a full-time Mayor, that's something Jackie does on an ongoing basis. Improving transportation: One of many reasons why ... It's good to be Morrisville! Major road improvements require Town and State cooperation

Follow on Twitter | Friend on Facebook | Follow on Web | Jackie's Blog EMail Jackie | Forward to a friend Copyright © Elect Jackie Holcombe, All rights reserved. Thank you for your support Our mailing address is: Elect Jackie Holcombe 124 Kalvesta Dr Morrisville, NC  27560 Paid for by the Elect Jackie Holcombe Committee

Volume 1 Issue 3 - Parks & Greenways

It's good to be Morrisville ... Let's make it great!

Mayor Jackie Holcombe: For Parks and Greenways, It's Good to be Morrisville   One of Morrisville's greatest advocates for parks and greenways can be found in the Mayor's office. Jackie Holcombe is a proud supporter of the 2012 parks and recreational bonds, which were approved by an overwhelming 74% of voters. "I strongly support our parks and greenways system, including our great community centers," Jackie stated. "The recreation and fitness opportunities, open space preservation, events and activities all contribute to our high quality of life. Parks and greenways are one of the big reasons that it's good to be Morrisville". The town can count several accomplishmentsattributable to Mayor Holcombe's collaborative leadership. Among these are: $5.7 million investment from the 2012 bonds (approved by an overwhelming 74% of voters) will fund Phase 3 of the Morrisville Aquatic & Fitness Center (MAFC) and Morrisville Community Park and enable the potential moving of MAFC to the Town Center (discussions about this possibility, including much public input, will begin soon) Morrisville's comprehensive Parks & Recreation Master Plan was unanimously adopted in July 2011 and provides guidance for a vibrant parks and greenways system now and in the future. Morrisville currently enjoys six developed parks:Morrisville Community Park, Shiloh Community Park, Cedar Fork District Park (in partnership with Wake County), Indian Creek Trailhead Park, Ruritan Park and Sarah Woody Jenkins Park. The Town is well situated for the future with four undeveloped parks that will take shape over time: the as yet unnamed RTP Park that could honor Morrisville's founders (bonds sold in July of this year, construction bid recently awarded, groundbreaking very soon), the Northwest Park at Breckenridge (design approved in July),Cedar Fork Elementary School Baseball Fields (future plan discussion) and Crabtree Creek Nature Park, occupying 37 acres dedicated to the Town by Preston Development. Three community & recreation centers serve Morrisville citizens:Cedar Fork Community Center (in partnership with Wake County Schools), Morrisville Aquatic & Fitness Centerand Luther Green Center (in partnership with Shiloh Baptist Church). Our expanding greenway system includes 8 miles of completed greenways and multi-use paths; the Shiloh Greenway North (under construction now, partially funded with a federal grant); andShiloh Greenway South (also partially federally funded, currently in design) Morrisville’s Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee is one of our town's most active volunteer groups, providing volunteer staffing for community events and organizing work days for parks and greenways cleanup and maintenance As illustrated in the brief video, Good to be Morrisville – Parks & Greenways, our town offers a wide variety of facilities and activities to our citizens. Jackie observes that "It's no accident that Morrisville has good parks, greenways and community centers and that we've worked hard in the past few years to make them even better -- because our citizens told us they value our parks and greenways. It takes careful planning, community investment and collaborative leadership to build our future, and I'm proud of our progress in this area". As the town's Parks and Recreation Master Plan says: The availability of parks and recreational opportunities is one benchmark for high quality of life. This Region has been successfully providing many recreational opportunities for its residents for many years. The continued growth of the Region is testament to the success of creative and visionary leaders. Want to learn more? Check out Morrisville's Parks and Recreation Master Plan; the Good to be Morrisville – Parks & Greenways video,  and the Parks, Recreation and Cultural.Advisory Committee. Or contact Jackie using one of the buttons at the top of this email. Morrisville's parks & greenways offer places to play and reflect Morrisville's community & recreation centers leverage partnerships to offer a variety of activities Friend on Facebook Follow on Twitter Jackie's Blog Follow on Web Forward to a Friend Email Jackie Did you know? Parks come in all sizes, and two of Morrisville's smaller parks remain popular. Ruritan Park, adjacent to retro Fire Station #1 at 100 Morrisville-Carpenter Rd, served as Morrisville’s first Town Park. The gazebo and surrounding open space comprise less than 1/2 acre in Morrisville’s Town Center area. Smaller still and adjacent to NC 54, the Sarah Woody Jenkins Park is located wholly in the railroad right-of-way. Highly visible to commuters, the Town regularly uses the Sarah Woody Jenkins Park for community event signage. Great parks: One of many reasons why ... It's good to be Morrisville! Ruritan is Morrisville's first park

Follow on Twitter | Friend on Facebook | Follow on Web | Jackie's Blog EMail Jackie | Forward to a friend Copyright © Elect Jackie Holcombe, All rights reserved. Thank you for your support Paid for by the Elect Jackie Holcombe Committee