What is going on in Lakeway?
Celebration in honor of City Manager Julie Oakley
Attend a casual, come-and-go style gathering on Tuesday, August 30, 4:30PM-6PM at City Hall. Julie’s last day is Sept. 2, so don’t miss this chance to wish her well. (Assistant City Manager Joseph Molis will serve as Interim City Manager upon her departure.)
Display YOUR Art at Lake Travis Community Library!
The library’s meeting room displays local art, rotating monthly. In September, Friends of the Library Art Committee Apply selects artists to be featured in 2023. To showcase your art, pick up an application at the library or contact (512) 263-2885 or librarian@laketravislibrary.org
Garage Sale at Lakeway Activity Center
The next community garage sale is Saturday, Sept. 10, from 8AM to noon. Admission is FREE, but in the lobby you can drop off non-perishable or canned food items, to be donated to local food banks and charities. You can also donate new or gently used children’s books, for the Free Little Books bin at the entrance.
Want to sell stuff? LAC members–$30 per booth; Non-Members–$35 per booth. Call 512-261-1010 to reserve a booth, space permitting.
MISSING DOGGIE—Help Find Leia the Mini Labradoodle.
Leia is still missing. Her owners think she may have been sold.
Leia is a 1.5 year old spayed female, weighing 16 lbs., with green eyes, a pink nose, and a red/brown coat. She is microchipped. She was wearing a light blue harness.
She disappeared June 26 from a dog sitter’s care in Stoney Creek condos on Lakeway Blvd. (just below Lakeway Drive, near Chandon and backing Live Oak Golf Course). Her humans and her litter mate, Luke, miss her terribly. There is a REWARD. Here is the owners’ website, with updated info. You can contact them with any sightings, as well as make a donation to help cover search efforts. https://findleia.com/
Brush Recycling Offered 1st Thursday of Every Month
City of Lakeway offers free yard waste drop off for Lakeway residents the first Thursday of every month, at the Public Works Department (3303 Serene Hills Drive) 7AM-3:30PM. Limit is one pickup truck load of yard waste or up to one 8’X5′ pile. Go here for details, including what is accepted: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=1584
OAK TRIMMING Season
Oak pruning is a violation of Lakeway ordinance February through June, due to higher likelihood then of spreading Oak Wilt. Trimming Oaks is allowed July-January. But, when trimming, pruning seal must be applied within 10 minutes to all cuts on all Oak trees. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1059/Oak-Pruning-Schedule
Witches Ride is Back
Register now (at no charge, but staff needs numbers for planning) for this year’s Witches Ride, happening on Saturday, October 22. That night, residents will gather on bicycles, tricycles, unicycles, skates, scooters, wheelchairs, golf carts, wagons, and their own walking feet on Live Oak Golf Course’s Driving Range. Parks & Rec will provide decorations for the “flight” down Lakeway Drive. Decorate at 5:30PM, ride/roll/stroll at 6PM, then enjoy the carnival until 9PM. FREE for everyone. For more info and registration, go there: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1882/Witches-Ride
Lakeway is HIRING
Open positions include Environmental Coordinator, Emergency Management Coordinator, Chief Building Official, Senior Administrative Assistant, and Finance Director. Go here for info and to apply: https://tx-lakeway.civicplushrms.com/CareerPortal/Jobs.aspx
ZAPCO meets Wednesday, Sept. 7, 9AM, at City Hall.
Check for the Agenda here, after Sept. 1: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
Council met Monday, Aug. 15, 6:30PM at City Hall, debating airpark rules, Stratus development project/Main Street, property tax rate, transportation bond, Ethics Code changes on employee gifts (yes, AGAIN), and more.
RESULTS:
ITEM 7: Appointing Joseph Molis as Interim City Manager. UNANIMOUSLY passed (as part of Consent Agenda)
ITEM 14: Financial Report. REVENUE is $1,049,927 OVER budget projections, and EXPENDITURES are $414,932 UNDER budget projections.
ITEM 15: Officer Pinning Ceremony. NEW OFFICERS Kent Kurz and Timothy Stack were WELCOMED to Lakeway.
ITEM 17: Ordinance amending Aviation District zoning rules (commercial activity, flying clubs, night flights, flying lessons, aircraft rentals, and more), including presentation by the study committee chair. RECOMMENDED ORDINANCE CHANGES UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED, with modifications suggested by the city’s aviation attorney, an effective date of Nov. 1, and the understanding that enforcement provisions will be set up in the interim.
ITEM 18: Accepting $15,000 Donation to City of Lakeway, for Employee Medical Expenses and Victims Assistance Program, from Mayor Tom and Mrs. Caren Kilgore. APPROVED 4/2 (Mayor Kilgore having recused himself, with Trecker and Szimanski against).
ITEM 19: Stratus’ requested PUD amendment for The Oaks Phase 2 (where Main St. currently ends: 261 apartments, 28 townhomes and a 12-acre park, plus completion of Main Street and a bridge over an environmentally sensitive area). After discussion, this was POSTPONED until Council’s Sept. 12 meeting, with negotiations to continue on removing all the townhomes from the proposal (so the park is 18 acres) and having the city compensate Stratus for part of the road/bridge cost (up to $1M, compared to the $1.6MIL Stratus now demands).
ITEM 20: Special Use Permit (50 years) for a car wash at 1501 RR 620 S. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
ITEM 21: Special Use Permit (50 years) for expansion of CubeSmart Self Storage at 15616 Stewart Road. APPROVED.
ITEM 23: Final Plat of The Enclave at Lohmans Phase 2 (part of The Square at Lohmans Crossing approved PUD, including Main Street, Lohmans Spur, the Roundabout, and the townhouse lots). UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
ITEM 25: Approve FY 2023 Budget and Propose 2022 Tax Rate. Various PARKS PROJECTS were reviewed, with at least partial work on priorities (Heritage Center, Live Oak Tennis and Pickle Ball Courts, Activity Center, Swim Center, and Hurst Creek Greenbelt/Sailmaster parking being moved forward to some extent. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED a budget as crafted over the summer. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED a maximum property tax rate of 0.1290, being the no new tax rate and providing an average tax savings of $40/household. (Final action on both matters to happen in September.)
ADDENDUM ITEM A-1: Ordinance calling a Bond Election on Nov. 8, 2022. APPROVED at $17,500,000 (costing $80/household, and the vote being 6/1, Szimanski against), with the understanding that even if approved by residents in November, the entire amount need not be issued, but the funds to complete Main Street—with a bridge—would be available IF the city cannot reach a feasible agreement with Stratus.
ITEM 27: Starting REGULAR Council meetings (on 3rd Mondays/Tuesdays) at 6:00PM (instead of 6:30PM). APPROVED (starting in October).
ITEM 28: Reconsideration of action taken at the last meeting as to proposed Ethics Code changes re: gifts to police and other city employees. DENIED request to handle the matter piecemeal now, but APPROVED an additional instruction to Ethics Committee to provide alternative recommendations in time to be heard at Council’s October regular meeting (5/2, Trecker and Szimanski against).
ITEM 29: Resolution to join with other local municipalities and direct LCRA to protect the city’s future water supply with certain water management policies. PASSED 5/2 (Vance and Mastrangelo against).
ITEM 30: Citizens Participation. THREE PEOPLE ranted with reckless disregard for truth, justice and the American way.
ITEM 31: Executive Session on Lakeway MUD property request. NO ACTION TAKEN.
ADJOURNED at 1:19AM.
View the Meeting Packet and/or Presentation (scrolling down to City Council documents) here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
Go here to watch the Council meeting online: https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/178876
Daring Mighty Things
The Webb space telescope recently sent home this incredible image of Jupiter.
Webb also provided gorgeous details of the “winking galaxies” featured in the 1946 holiday classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Stephan’s Quintet: ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ — and a wonderful James Webb Space Telescope image! 8/19/22 https://www.space.com/stephans-quintet-its-a-wonderful-life
9/6/22 UPDATE: The Artemis launch was scrubbed AGAIN on Saturday morning, Sept. 3, due to a hydrogen leak. The next launch window is Sept. 19-Oct. 4. Watch for updates here: https://www.nasa.gov/
8/29/22 UPDATE: The Artemis launch was scrubbed Monday morning due to an engine bleed. Next available window is Friday morning, Sept. 2. Watch for confirmation here: https://www.nasa.gov/
Artemis 1 is ready to go back to the moon. The uncrewed mission is scheduled to launch on Aug. 29. Its moon-orbiting assignment paves the way for a crewed moonshot in 2024, followed by a moon landing in 2025. NASA’s Artemis 1 megarocket rolls back to launch pad for moon mission 8/17/22 https://www.space.com/nasa-artemis-1-moon-megarocket-launch-pad-rollout
Launch is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 29, 8:30AM Eastern/7:30AM Central. Here is how you can watch it: https://www.space.com/nasa-artemis-1-sls-moon-rocket-launch-webcasts
Why not celebrate with a doughnut? ONLY on Monday, Aug. 29, Krispy Kreme will offer its Artemis Moon Doughnut, featuring cheesecake filling and dipped in cookies and cream icing with a swirl of cookie pieces.
To commemorate the Artemis program, 2 astro-photographers created this composite image showing the moon in the most detailed ever.
Even Snoopy has moon fever. Snoopy is ‘home again’ on revived NASA poster promoting Artemis I mission success 8/18/22 https://www.space.com/nasa-artemis-moon-mission-snoopy-poster
Remember the Apollo moon missions? This article has astronaut recollections and iconic photos from our past moon visits. ‘Look closely and there’s a tear in Armstrong’s eye’: the Apollo space missions as you’ve never seen them before 8/26/22 https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/aug/26/apollo-space-moon-missions-photographs-remastered-neil-armstrong
With liberty and justice for all … except women.
As of Aug. 25, abortion is illegal in Texas at any point during pregnancy under the so-called trigger law now in effect. It increases criminal and civil penalties for violations. Abortion was effectively outlawed in Texas under a statute predating Roe v. Wade. Plus, the procedure was severely curtailed in Texas since September of 2021, when a state law took effect prohibiting abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Texans who perform abortions now face up to life in prison, $100,000 fine 8/25/22 https://www.texastribune.org/2022/08/25/texas-trigger-law-abortion/
The far-right’s newest strategy to ban abortion nation-wide is to grant personhood from the moment of conception, thus making any pregnancy termination murder. Yet another reason to VOTE DEMOCRAT! Is a Fetus a Person? An Anti-Abortion Strategy Says Yes. 8/21/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/21/us/abortion-anti-fetus-person.html
This 35-minute podcast examines the current push from the right to criminalize abortion as murder, with no exceptions. Over a dozen states controlled by Republicans are considering this type of legislation, some even pressing for the death penalty for women and those who help them end pregnancies. The Effort to Punish Women for Having Abortions 8/23/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/23/podcasts/the-daily/abortion-abolition-roe-v-wade.html?rref=vanity
Rape and domestic violence have always been rampant in Texas. Now, we have forced pregnancy. Texas has always been tough on women 8/21/22 https://www.statesman.com/story/opinion/columns/guest/2022/08/21/commentary-texas-has-always-been-tough-on-women-its-worse-now/65407739007/
But, it isn’t just Texas. Women are still on the losing side of double standards worldwide. Women’s Work Is Never Done 8/27/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/27/opinion/sanna-marin-women-abortion.html
Keep these things in mind when you vote!
Texas November Election
The November 2022 election is headed our way. Voter registration ends Oct. 11. Early voting is Oct. 24-Nov. 4. Election Day is Nov. 8.
Texas will elect its Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, and many more officials. The governor’s race in particular will be hot and heavy, and the result is key not just for our state but for the country. Abortion rights, gun safety, election integrity, immigration policy, the power grid—those are just SOME of the issues to consider when evaluating candidates. For a long time now, Texas has elected the worst among us. This time, let’s elect the BEST. This article covers ALL the Texas races. Just add your address, and it fills in the local races on your ballot. Here’s your ballot for the Nov. 8 Texas midterm elections 8/23/22 https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2022/texas-ballot-2022-midterm-election-nov-8/
Travis County needs POLL WORKERS. They train and pay; you can request your preferred location. Anyone interested in working Early Voting (choose morning or afternoon shift) and/or Election Day (work the entire day), go here to get started: https://countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov/departments/elections/election-workers/poll-worker-form/
I’m the new Democratic Precinct Chair for 375 (the blue squarish area in the above image). Your 2022 voter registration card shows your precinct number. Or, go here and fill in your details for Voter Lookup: https://www.votetravis.com/vexpress/display.do
Several Lake Travis area precincts are working together as a Super Precinct. We are supporting Beto O’Rourke, Mike Collier, Rochelle Garza, and Democratic candidates all the way down the ballot.
Now, we are gearing up for the November election, starting with block-walking. People will be walking their home streets and immediate neighborhoods, using our custom maps of likely Democratic voters and handing out Travis County Democratic Party literature. If you live in Precinct 375 and are interested in getting involved, I would love to hear from you. Email me at macwestie99@gmail.com
Candidates aside, Lake Travis ISD (which ALREADY gets the largest chunk of our sky-high property tax payments) will ask voters to approve $703 million in bonds, during the November election. There are 3 separate bond issues to vote yes or no on–for new facilities, district technology and athletic facilities. Go here for details: https://communityimpact.com/austin/lake-travis-westlake/education/2022/08/18/lake-travis-isd-to-hold-703-million-bond-election-in-november/
Back to me….
I’ve been busy working a new job, praying for rain, and jumping into Dem Precinct Chair duties. Of course, I have to dress the part for THAT….
Over 40 years into being a vegetarian, I decided to get off cow’s milk. So, I’m auditioning several of the options. So far, I’ve tried soy, rice, almond, and oat milks. Coconut is up next, and I want to try pea and hemp milks. As of now, soy is the winner….
I had a few early morning commitments, and a couple other days my morning walks got rained out. But, here are recent photos I took of our herd.
The Coronavirus
Worldwide, 12.6 billion shots have been given, with 63% of the planet’s population fully vaccinated.
The Marshall Islands, located halfway between Hawaii and the Philippines, is just now having its very first Covid surge. The remote island nation had no community spread in over 2 years and zero cases in 2021. Nevertheless, 4,000 people (out of 60,000 total living in the islands) suddenly tested positive in early August. The capitol city of Majuro is particularly hard hit. Despite a high vaccination rate (72% of people in Majuro), hospitalizations are climbing; plus, there is a high infection rate among health care workers so many facilities are short-staffed. The US government has provided CDC staff and Covid treatments including Paxlovid.
China’s latest surge and lockdown is in the city of Chongqing. Over 10 million people were required to undergo mandatory testing last week, during a heat wave and severe drought. With temperatures over 100 degrees and power outages from high demand, the streets were jammed with people waiting all day in line for testing. In the distance, smoke from heat-sparked wildfires stained the sky.
In the US, in the last 2 weeks, the new case rate was down 13%, hospitalizations dropped 11%, and deaths decreased 2%. We are averaging 91,000 new cases per day. 38,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with Covid, and an average of 481 people die each day. The national testing positivity rate is 15%.
First Lady Jill Biden tested positive for the coronavirus on Aug. 15. She reported mild symptoms, was prescribed Paxlovid, and quarantined in South Carolina (where she and President Biden had been vacationing). She tested negative and returned to her Delaware home on Aug. 22. Then, on Aug. 24, she remained symptom-free but tested positive, in what is known as Paxlovid rebound. She will remain isolated in Delaware until testing negative again.
THANK YOU, DR. FAUCI !
Dr. Anthony Fauci announced on Aug. 22 that he will leave government service in December “to pursue the next chapter” of his career. Age 82 at that time, he will step down as President Biden’s top medical adviser and as Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; he held the latter position for 38 years, with over 50 years of service to the agency.
About 16 million Americans have suffered extended Covid symptoms, known as long Covid. Currently, roughly 4 million are out of work, due to their continuing illness.
As for vaccinations in the US, 67% of the entire population is fully vaccinated (no change in the last 12 weeks). Nearly 109 million booster shots have been given. Average shots administered per day fell to 193,000.
The next generation of coronavirus booster shots should be available to Americans age 12 and older as soon as September. Both Moderna and Pfizer have requested emergency authorization from the FDA for booster shots aimed at BA.5 and another subvariant of Omicron. Early review shows the new shots, which target the versions of the virus NOW circulating, are effective and safe. Getting the new shots in arms this fall should minimize the usual winter surge in Covid cases.
Moderna has sued Pfizer and BioNTech over the Covid vaccines. Moderna claims competitors infringed on patents by copying its groundbreaking mRNA technology.
In Texas, the positivity test rate is 25%. In the last 2 weeks, new cases decreased 23%, hospitalizations dropped 26%, and deaths fell 10%. We are averaging 7,500 new daily cases, and an average of 28 Texans die each day. As of now, there are 2,700 Texans hospitalized for Covid-19.
For the first time since mid-June, as of Aug. 19 Travis County’s COVID-19 spread dropped to a low level, using CDC guidelines. CDC Covid threat levels are based on three things: transmission level (the number of recorded cases per 100,000 people), the number of new COVID-19 cases in area hospitals per 100,000 people, and the percentage of hospital beds taken up by people with COVID-19. Travis County’s transmission rate was 178.5, below the 200 rate that would push it to the medium level. Hospitalizations for Travis County that week were 8.1 for new admissions. The percentage of people in the hospital with COVID-19 was down to 3.4%. With a low level of spread, CDC guidelines recommend that people up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters who are not at risk for severe disease don’t need to take precautions such as masking.
Only 62% of all Texas residents are fully vaccinated.
Recent Covid Articles I Recommend
Moderna sues Pfizer and BioNTech for patent infringement on Covid vaccine technology 8/26/22 https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/26/moderna-sues-pfizer-biontech-patent-infringement-00053903
Biden Administration Plans for New Booster Campaign Soon After Labor Day 8/23/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/23/us/politics/covid-booster-shots-biden.html
‘Most have thrown their hands up’: has the US forgotten about Covid? 8/19/22 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/aug/19/us-covid-cases-mandates-deaths
Walensky, Citing Botched Pandemic Response, Calls for C.D.C. Reorganization 8/17/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/17/us/politics/cdc-rochelle-walensky-covid.html
Covid vaccine designed to target two variants approved for use in UK 8/15/22 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/15/covid-vaccine-two-variants-approved-use-in-uk-moderna-omicron
‘Living with Covid’ should be countered by containing the virus once and for all 8/15/22 https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/15/cdc-living-with-covid-should-be-countered-by-containing-virus
‘Left to rot’: The lonely plight of long Covid sufferers 8/14/22 https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/14/left-to-rot-long-covid-patients-around-the-world-call-for-more-government-action-00051161