What is going on in Lakeway?
Sock Hop at LAC
Lakeway Arts Committee presents this fun and FREE event on Monday, Sept. 26, 7-9PM, at Lakeway Activity Center. It features The Highlights, plus musicians from People’s Choice. Renowned singers Barbara Calderaro, David Cummings and Howard T. Levine will provide vocals. Get dolled up in your best 40s and 50s fashions, and bring snacks and beverages.
Aging Well Expo at LAC
On Tuesday, Sept. 27, 8:30AM-12:30PM, the Lakeway Activity Center hosts the annual Aging Well Expo, presented by Lake Travis Senior Services. FREE event! Enjoy complimentary breakfast and coffee at 8:30 am, plus lunch at noon. Also–goody bags, door prizes, exhibits, expert speakers, and more. Flu shots will be available. Speakers will address topics including Medicare changes, scam prevention, Alzheimer’s, things you always wanted to ask a doctor about aging, and more. Come for the whole morning, or stop by as your schedule allows. Go here for speakers’ schedule and registration: https://ltseniorservices.org/aging-well-expo
Lake Travis Town Hall
Lakeway Mayor Tom Kilgore, Texas Rep. Vikki Goodwin, LTISD Trustee Lauren White, and Bee Cave Mayor Kara King will discuss traffic, schools and more on Thursday, Sept. 29, 6PM-8PM, at the Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing).
Saturday Night Concert Series
Hill Country Galleria hosts concerts on the Central Plaza Lawn every Saturday night through Oct. 22, 7-9PM. FREE, and dogs are welcome. Bring a blanket to lounge on the lawn. Go here for more info: https://www.hillcountrygalleria.com/event/Saturday-Night-Concert-Series-w-Vallejo/2145563721/
Masterpiece Concert Series
On Oct. 2, 4-5PM, at Lakeway Activity Center, Lakeway Arts Committee presents a FREE concert of live classical music. Go here for more info: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2026/Fall-Concert-Series
National Night Out
National Night Out this year is on Tuesday, Oct. 4. This annual event encourages citizen engagement with neighbors and with the police, to strengthen our community and heighten crime-prevention awareness. It supports local safety programs and organizes neighborhoods to take a stand against crime. BONUS—you get to know your neighbors and spend time with friends.
In addition, this year there will be a special Open House at the Lakeway Police Department, 4-6PM.
To register a block party, go here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/FormCenter/Police-Department-12/National-Night-Out-SignUp-Form-87
Public Safety Day
This FREE annual event takes place on Saturday, Oct. 20, 11AM-2:30PM, at Lake Travis Elementary School (15303 Kollmeyer Drive). Kids and adults can interact with first responders as well as their equipment. Central Texas agencies will attend with their helicopters, police cars, motorcycles, ambulances, fire trucks, rescue boats, ATVs, K-9’s, horses, fire mitigation equipment, incident command centers, SWAT apparatus, casualty tents and more.
Mayor Kilgore on Facebook Live
Go here for the mayor’s Sept. 15 update: https://www.facebook.com/cityoflakeway
Lakeway Transportation Bond–$17,500,000–on Nov. 8 Election Ballot.
Lakeway residents can vote up or down Proposition A, the city’s $17,500,000 (maximum amount) transportation bond, on the Nov. 8 ballot. Funds will be used “for the purpose of designing, acquiring, constructing, renovating, improving, upgrading, updating, and equipping streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, pathways, bike and pedestrian system improvements, demolition, repair, and rebuilding of existing streets and other transportation facilities.” Details are in the above image. NOTE: The last 2 items are likely either/or. If Stratus Development builds Main Street as recently agreed, the city will build out Birrell to meet it. If Stratus screws the pooch (which seems likely), then the city will have to build Main Street.
Council met on Monday, Sept. 12, AND on Tuesday, Sept. 13.
Monday meeting RESULTS:
The meeting began with a tribute to Richard Drury and Pat Pavone, two Lakeway residents who recently passed away. They were both WWII veterans, and video clips featuring these 2 residents were played from the Heritage Center’s video project.
ITEM 10: Amending the 2022 Budget to reflect end of year revenue and expenditures. UNANIMOUSLY PASSED.
ITEM 11: Adopting the $17MIL 2023 Budget as discussed at recent meetings. NO ACTION, as this is the first hearing, but items remain substantially as previously discussed.
ITEM 12: Adopting the 2022 Property Tax Rate as discussed at recent meetings. NO ACTION, as this is the first hearing, but the proposed tax rate remained 0.1290.
ITEM 13: Follow up from Aug. 15 meeting’s review of Stratus’ requested PUD amendment for The Oaks Phase 2 (where Main St. currently ends: 261 apartments, 28 townhomes and an 18-acre park, plus completion of Main Street and a bridge over an environmentally sensitive area). NOTE: Problem areas include high density, lack of parking, and the Main Street completion date. This was POSTPONED last month, with negotiations to continue on removing all the townhomes from the proposal (so the park is 22 acres) and having the city compensate Stratus for part of the road/bridge cost (Stratus demanded $1.6MIL). If agreement is not reached, the City will need to build the portion of Main Street with a bridge running through this tract, via funds on the November ballot as a transportation bond. PASSED 5/2 (Kilgore and Brynteson against), with the amendments of: reducing the payment by the city to $1M, waiving the $400K parkland fee, and moving forward dedication of the parkland. NOTE: Main Street/bridge construction is to begin within 6 months, AND construction must be completed within 2 years, or steep fines and loss of the $1M payment from the city could result. This is roughly a full year AFTER the other developer is due to complete its portion of Main Street. Also, Councilmember Szimanski failed to recuse herself from this issue and voted in favor of Stratus, despite her close family relationship with a Stratus executive.
ADJOURNED at 9:03PM.
View the Agenda, 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/184228
At Tuesday’s meeting, all members were present. There were no Citizens Participation comments.
On request, Council invited residents Charles Edwards and Clint Garza, plus Wendy Askey (Director of Human Resources) to join them in Executive Session, where it interviewed 4 candidates (including Interim City Manager, Joseph Molis) behind closed doors. After the interviews in Tuesday’s all-day Executive Session, Council agreed to have Human Resources proceed with background checks on the finalists, who were not disclosed.
Council also met on Monday, Sept. 19.
RESULTS:
All members were present initially, with Major Kilgore and Councilmember Kumar attending via teleconference; Kilgore lost connection at 6:26pm (during discussion of Item 16). Kumar exited after Item 17.
Consequential items include:
ITEM 12: Financial Report as of 8/31/22. REVENUE IS OVER projections by $1,295,626. EXPENDITURES ARE UNDER projections by $534,428. RESULT IS NET POSITIVE of $1,830,054.
ITEM 13: Adopting the 2023 Budget as discussed at recent meetings. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. FY 2023 revenue is projected at $17,959,712, with total General Fund expenditures at $17,824,660. (Property taxes are the largest funding source, at 39%. Lakeway Police Department gets the largest chunk of the budget–38%.) Including Capital Reserve Fund and other expenditures, a total of $31MIL in spending is planned for the coming fiscal year.
ITEM 14: Adopting the 2022 Property Tax Rate as discussed at recent meetings. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED the no new revenue rate of .1290, resulting in $40 tax savings for the average resident.
ITEM 16: Special Use Permit for a short-term rental at 154 World of Tennis. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED (6:0).
ITEM 17: Amendment to Tuscan Village 2 PUD (approved in 2014 for 270 housing units but not yet built) re: connecting Lohman’s Spur to Main Street AND removing the age 55 or older restriction originally in place for 231 housing units (21 cottages and 210 multifamily units) in the upcoming development. APPROVED 4:2 (Trecker and Brynteson against) with the age restriction removed for all the cottages but only for half of the apartments.
ITEM 18: Traffic Signal Cost Sharing Agreement for the planned signal on Lohmans at Wingreen Loop, to access the new Main Street. The estimated cost of $400,000 is proposed to be paid as follows: City of Lakeway–$200,000; The Hills–$100,000; developer Legend Communities–$100,000. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED (5:0)
ITEM 19: Discussion of the city’s no thru trucks ordinance. City staff provided traffic accident statistics for Flint Rock Road and Serene Hills. Possibility of restricting truck use/cut through traffic on various roads (especially Flint Rock, which is partially in Travis County’s jurisdiction) was discussed, along with doing speed and/or traffic studies. NO ACTION TAKEN. Staff was instructed to continue looking into a city-wide strategy on this issue.
ITEM 21: Citizen’s Participation. NONE.
ADJOURNED at 8:32PM.
View the Agenda, 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/184613
Daring Mighty Things
The interstellar Webb telescope sent home a gorgeous image of the Orion Nebula.
Webb also captured this stunning view of Neptune.
Artemis 1 is ready to go back to the moon. Sort of…. To date, 2 scheduled launches have been scrubbed on the pad (due to an engine bleed and a hydrogen leak). Then, those problems seemed solved so a launch was scheduled for Sept. 27. However, the approach of Tropical Storm Ian nixed that, so we’re now looking at October. In the meantime, the 32-story high rocket will likely be rolled off the pad and under shelter. Watch for updates here: https://www.nasa.gov/
With liberty and justice for all … except women.
VOTE BLUE. Or, risk having Ted Cruz loitering in the waiting room for all your reproductive health appointments….
Gov. Newsom of California has erected billboards in several red states that have highly restricted or banned abortion, including this billboard in Texas.
Last week, a bill was introduced in the US Senate that would make abortion a federal crime, nationwide. VOTE DEMOCRAT–because if the Republicans get control of Congress, this will just be the start of how they turn back the clock on human rights in America. GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham introduces 15-week abortion ban in the Senate 9/13/22 https://www.npr.org/2022/09/13/1122700975/gop-sen-lindsey-graham-introduces-15-week-abortion-ban-in-the-senate
Along with many other issues, the loss of reproductive rights has changed the electorate, just in time for the 2022 midterms. ‘I can’t stay silent’: Roe reversal powers new generation to sign up and vote 9/18/22 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/18/roe-v-wade-abortion-us-politics-november-midterms
Texas November Election
Mark your calendar to watch the Beto/Abbott debate on Sept. 30. Gov. Greg Abbott, Beto O’Rourke agree to debate Sept. 30 in Edinburg 9/1/22 https://www.texastribune.org/2022/09/01/greg-abbott-beto-orourke-debate/
Candidate yard signs are now available, FREE–including delivery within Lakeway.
As Dem Chair for precinct 375 in Lakeway, I’m part of Western Travis Dems. We have a PAC that is taking donations to buy Dem candidate signs in bulk, and we are distributing them all over the area. Here are the candidates (some signs are in VERY short supply): Beto O’Rourke (Governor); Mike Collier (Lt. Governor); Rochelle Garza (Attorney General); Pam Baggett (HD19 Representative); Vikki Goodwin (HD 47 Representative); Janet Dudding (Comptroller); Susan Hays (Ag Commissioner); and Jay Kleberg (General Land Office Commissioner).
Request yard signs here: https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSdk5o…/viewform
Or, you can email me at macwestie99@gmail.com I just need to know your address and which signs you want.
If you can donate to the PAC, so that we can purchase more signs—GREAT! Go here to donate: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/western-travis-democrats-1
Voter registration ends Oct. 11. Early voting is Oct. 24-Nov. 4. Election Day is Nov. 8.
This in-depth account covers ALL the Texas races. Just add your address, and it fills in the local races you will see on your ballot. Here’s your ballot for the Nov. 8 Texas midterm elections https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2022/texas-ballot-2022-midterm-election-nov-8/
Candidates aside, Lake Travis ISD 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….
GET YOUR NEW COVID SHOT. I was at the Lakeline Walmart a couple weeks ago and heard they just got the NEW Covid vaccine, formulated to protect against the latest variants. It was the Pfizer version, and I was able to get a shot then and there. Since my original Covid card was full (with the 2 initial shots and 2 boosters), they started a new card for me. As for reaction, it was minimal–my arm was sore and I had a mild headache for half a day. I’m thrilled to get that done!
Recently, I increased my work schedule to full-time. And, I’m currently on the night shift. Adopting the vampire lifestyle is a process….
Rut season is near–when the bucks chase the does, and no one is looking both ways before crossing the street. SLOW DOWN AND DRIVE CAREFULLY. Roadside in Old Lakeway, the current “Deer live here, too” banners will soon be replaced with rut banners featuring impressive bucks, including a new image (one of my photos) that Wildlife Committee recently selected in order to add variety.
Here are recent photos I took of our herd.
The Coronavirus
Worldwide, 12.7 billion shots have been given, with 63.4% of the planet’s population fully vaccinated.
In China last week, protests against the government’s pandemic restrictions followed a horrific bus crash. The bus was carrying people to mandated Covid quarantine, and 27 died in the accident. Massive online protests railed against China’s continuing zero Covid tolerance, with its resulting harsh treatment of citizens and nationwide economic losses.
In the US, in the last 2 weeks, the new case rate was down 18%, hospitalizations dropped 14%, and deaths increased 12%. We are averaging 54,000 new cases per day. 30,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with Covid, and an average of 430 people die each day. The national testing positivity rate is 11%.
Of late, new cases, hospitalizations and the test positive rate all dropped significantly. Deaths from Covid remain high, roughly twice the death rate seen in a bad flu season.
One in 3 women and one in 5 men are likely to develop long Covid, per a study done in Europe. Data showed that 10%-20% of Covid patients ended up with long-term symptoms including severe fatigue, breathlessness and cognitive dysfunction. The study found that at least 17 million Europeans developed long Covid during the first 2 years of the pandemic.
Thirteen Covid variants were discovered in rapid succession in 2020, identified with Greek letters. (Remember Delta?) But the last one, Omicron, arrived on the scene nearly a year ago, last November. Since then, Omicron has undergone several changes of its own, but no new variants have been found. Experts think the future of Covid-19 will be based on Omicron. Omicron’s BA.5 causes the vast majority of current Covid cases, but its latest spawn, BA.2.75.2, seems to be even better at evading immunities.
As for vaccinations in the US, 68% of the entire population is fully vaccinated (no change in the last 4 weeks). Nearly 110 million booster shots have been given. Average shots administered per day rose to 484,000.
In the last 2 weeks, millions of doses of boosters targeting the hyper-contagious Omicron variant became available at pharmacies, nursing homes and clinics across the country. These new shots from Pfizer and Moderna are called bivalent vaccines, protecting against the hyper-contagious Omicron variants. Very likely, this is the start of an annual Covid inoculation routine, just like with flu shots, with the goal of avoiding fall and winter infection surges. Anyone 12 and over is eligible. If it has been at least 2 months since your last booster shot, check your local pharmacy, health clinic and doctor’s office to get a free bivalent booster.
According to doctors and immunologists, in order to get maximum effect from the bivalent booster, people should wait 4-6 to six months after immunization OR getting Covid.
Seriously, GET THE NEW BIVALENT BOOSTER. The last time vaccines matched the circulating strain of Covid, early in the pandemic, they were 90 to 95 percent successful in preventing infections. That is what the new vaccine offers now. Plus, it will provide greater protection against future variants and may even help to prevent long Covid. Contact your local pharmacy or doctor’s office to schedule an appointment.
Boosters aside, only 6% of kids under five have had their first shots, according to the CDC. That is the lowest rate by far of any age demographic.
In Texas, the positivity test rate is 14%. In the last 2 weeks, new cases decreased 41%, hospitalizations dropped 20%, and deaths ROSE 16%. We are averaging 3,500 new daily cases, and an average of 23 Texans die each day. As of now, there are 2,200 Texans hospitalized for Covid-19.
Only 62% of all Texas residents are fully vaccinated.
Recent Covid Articles I Recommend
Why Omicron Might Stick Around 9/22/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/22/science/omicron-covid-variant.html
Covid vaccination rates in US children under five lag despite effectiveness 9/22/22 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/22/covid-child-vaccination-rates-us-low
‘Very Harmful’ Lack of Data Blunts U.S. Response to Outbreaks 9/21/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/20/us/politics/covid-data-outbreaks.html
How do I know if my symptoms are from Covid or the flu? 9/20/22 https://www.nytimes.com/article/covid-flu-symptoms.html
How long should I wait to get a bivalent booster if I recently had a shot or contracted Covid? 9/20/22 https://www.nytimes.com/article/bivalent-booster-covid.html
New Boosters Test Covid-Weary Nation. Shots Are Here. Do Americans Care? 9/18/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/18/us/covid-vaccine.html
There’s Terrific News About the New Covid Boosters, but Few Are Hearing It 9/15/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/15/opinion/covid-booster-shot.html
WHO: 17 million in Europe experienced long COVID-19 9/13/22 https://apnews.com/article/health-covid-pandemics-united-nations-tel-aviv-ae0256b4bd88670f91672ead7c3be608