What is going on in Lakeway?
Season of Giving
Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek) makes it easy to give this holiday season. Through Dec. 15, just drop off these items at LAC:
–new kids’ toys (unwrapped) for LTLOV-Green Santa.
–non-perishable food items for Lake Travis Crisis Ministries.
–pet food, toys, blankets, supplies, etc. for local pet charities.
–new and gently used books for LittleFreeLibrary.org and LAC’s library.
Trail of Lights
Stroll through Lakeway’s holiday light show any night, behind City Hall (located at Lohman’s Crossing and Sailmaster; park at City Hall or the adjacent Activity Center). Lights will be on through Jan. 2.
Lakeway Sing Along Christmas Show for Green Santa
On Dec. 4, there will be TWO performances at the Lakeway Activity Center of the Sing Along’s Annual Green Santa Performance. Choose from 2PM and 4PM. Price of admission is an unwrapped gift for a child 17 or under.
Polar Express + Train Rides
On Dec. 9, 6-8PM, Lakeway Parks and Rec will present “The Polar Express” along with trackless train rides, in the City Hall parking lot (1102 Lohmans Crossing). Wear holiday PJs and bring lawn chairs and snacks to this FREE event. Hot chocolate and smores will be provided.
Piano Concert
On Sunday, Dec. 11 at 4PM, Lakeway Arts Committee hosts a FREE piano concert by Kiyoshi Tamagawa at the Activity Center.
Menorah Lighting
Starting Sunday, Dec. 18 and for 8 nights at 5:30PM, local Jewish families will light the menorah in front of City Hall. The community is welcome to attend. To participate in the lighting, email info@lakeway-tx.gov
Holiday Camps
Lakeway Activity Center offers kid camps in December. For info and to sign up, go here and look under the “Holiday Camps” tab: www.lakeway-tx.gov/classes
Polar Bar Plunge
Celebrate one year ending and another beginning at the Lakeway Swim Center (3103 Lakeway BLVD) on Dec. 30, 9-10AM. After taking the big slide into the leisure pool for a chilly dip, warm up with hot chocolate and snacks. The first 20 participants get a Lakeway towel. FREE and FUN event! Go here for info: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2034/Polar-Bear-Plunge
A Night with the Austin Symphony Orchestra
CHRISTMAS GIFT ALERT!
On Saturday, April 1, 2023, members of the Austin Symphony Orchestra and students at Lake Travis High School will present a 3rd annual performance at the Lake Travis Performing Arts Center.
Tickets will be on sale starting Dec. 16.
Go here for details: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1960/A-Night-with-the-Austin-Symphony-Orchest
Art Exhibit at Lake Travis Community Library
Through December, Lake Travis Community Library’s meeting room will display award-winning entries and honorable mentions from the annual Teen Read Week Art Contest. Participants created original art inspired by personal reading experiences, and Friends of the Library provided cash prizes.
Suicide and Crisis Hotline
This isn’t specific to Lakeway—it is a free national resource that can save lives, and the contact number recently changed. Sure, the holidays are fun and full of joy, but they are also stressful and can trigger pain and depression. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org
Lake Travis Community Library provides TECH HELP
Drop in from noon to 2PM Monday-Thursday and work with one of the tech coaches. They can help with questions about your smartphone, tablet computer OR any of the library’s own services like the Libby app. They also provide help via email or phone, and there is a weekly ZOOM session. More info is here: https://laketravislibrary.org/tech-coach/
Lakeway is HIRING
Open positions include Assistant City Manager, Code Compliance Manager, Multimedia Specialist, Aquatic Specialist, Plans Examiner, Building Inspector, and Police Officer. Go here for info and to apply:https://tx-lakeway.civicplushrms.com/CareerPortal/Jobs.aspx
Contact City of Lakeway
Complaint? Question? Trenchant observation? Let city staff and elected officials know, here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/FormCenter/Contact-Us-3/Citizen-Feedback-70
Stay Informed
City of Lakeway will send you notices, via email or text, so you stay up to date on local events. Go here to sign up: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/list.aspx
Council met on Nov. 21.
Topics included building more hangers at the airpark, a 2nd reading of the request that the city vacate and sell a lot in Cardinal Hills, paying Lakeway’s $3MIL share of right-of-way fees to expand 620, several special use permits, hiring a new City Manager, and more.
RESULTS:
ITEM 29: Executive Session re: filling City Manager position—Moved to the start of the meeting, Council went into a brief private session and then came back to the dais and announced the selection committee’s choice of JOSEPH MOLIS. Council UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED the choice. (Mr. Molis has served as Assistant City Manager since late 2020 and as Interim City Manager since September. Go here for his profile: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1696 )
ITEM 11: Nov. 26 was designated as SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY.
ITEM 12: Financial Report–As of Oct. 31 (one month into fiscal year 2023), REVENUE was $139K above projections, and EXPENDITURES were $12K less than projected.
ITEM 13: Citizens Participation—2 PEOPLE SPOKE (One was rather testy, but there was no argument, shouting, or fisticuffs—progress!)
ITEM 15: Acceptance of the Nov. 8 election’s passage of Proposition A/Lakeway Transportation Bond– UNANIMOUSLY PASSED.
ITEM 16: Payment of $3,222,096.70 to TXDOT, being Lakeway’s previously agreed 10% share of costs associated with acquiring the right of way needed for the upcoming widening of Highway 620– UNANIMOUSLY PASSED.
ITEM17: Special Use Permit for a Short Term Rental at 4 Casa Verde–UNANIMOUSLY PASSED.
ITEM 18: Special Use Permit for a Short Term Rental at 105 Palos Verdes–UNANIMOUSLY PASSED.
ITEM 19: Special Use Permit (term of 99 years) for Haythem Dawlett to build (and sell condo units from) 2 new hangers at the airpark–UNANIMOUSLY PASSED with a limit of 4 planes per hanger and requiring the new hangers to match existing hangers in design and exterior color.
ITEM 20: Special Use Permit (term of 30 years) for a liquor store at 2303 RR 620 South (Vista Ridge Shopping Center, by Randalls) –UNANIMOUSLY PASSED. (How many liquor stores does Lakeway need? I think this will be #4 or #5….)
ITEM 21: Final Plat of Lakeway Highlands Phase 3 Section 7, in Rough Hollow–UNANIMOUSLY PASSED.
ITEM 22: Second Reading (and vote on) a request that the City of Lakeway vacate an undeveloped portion of Sparrow Lane extending north of Dave Drive and abutting Lot 99 of Cardinal Hills Subdivision, Unit 4, then selling the land to the owner of Lot 99 (the land’s value being $55,221 per the lot owner but $96,510 per the city)—request was UNANIMOUSLY DENIED.
ITEM 26: Revising the ordinance as to storm sewers and illicit discharge of materials–UNANIMOUSLY PASSED.
ITEM 27: Changing Council meetings BACK to 6:30PM start time—PASSED 5:1 (Byrnteson against), with the proviso that regular meetings return to the good old 6:30PM start time in JANUARY.
ITEM 28: Additional Citizens Participation, if needed–NONE.
ADJOURNED at 8:40PM.
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/190050
Council Will Meet Monday, Dec. 5, 6PM, at City Hall.
Consequential Agenda items include:
ITEM 5: Transportation Bond Update.
ITEM 6: FY 2022 Budget Amendment.
ITEM 7: Update on RM 620 overlay zoning district project (staff having completed Task 1 of 5 Tasks).
ITEM 8: Amendments to Tree Ordinance.
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 (live or later): https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events
Daring Mighty Things
The Artemis I mission is going well. Orion left lunar orbit as planned on Dec. 1. It is scheduled to return to Earth and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on Dec 11.
Above, with Earth very far away, Artemis’ capsule Orion looms over the moon, getting within 81 miles from the surface before sling-shotting into orbit.
Here, while flying in a distant retrograde lunar orbit last week, Orion views both the moon and Earth.
Back to me….
Another busy holiday season….
Remember to keep pets safe.
Here are recent photos I took of our herd.
The Coronavirus
Worldwide, vaccination rates vary widely by region.
In China, unprecedented public protests against the government’s stringent Covid policy started at Beijing universities but spread to Shanghai and throughout the massive country. Protestors are daring to call for democracy and the end of permanent President Xi Jinping’s rule. Despite the precaution of holding up BLANK signs, oppressive government forces track citizens via their phones and have responded by beating protesters in the streets and arresting them in droves. Unlike any other country in the world, China has enforced strict restrictions for close to THREE YEARS. The last straw may have been a fire in an apartment building, killing a dozen people who were trapped inside by Covid blockades. Beijing schools switched to online teaching as of Nov. 21, with residents of several districts required to limit their movements as the city’s Covid cases climbed. The south China city of Guangzhou locked down its largest district on Nov. 21; in-person classes and public transit were suspended, with residents required to present a negative test to leave their homes. As China’s death rate climbs, the government is pressing the elderly to get vaccinated; that cohort is the most vulnerable yet has the lowest vaccination rate.
In Australia, cases doubled during November, and hospitalizations rose 20%. Authorities predict the surge there will peak by Christmas.
In the US, in the last 2 weeks, new cases and hospitalizations rose sharply. See the chart below for current stats. The national testing positivity rate rose to 11%.
This increase in cases and hospitalizations is the norm for this time of year, with Thanksgiving travel and gathering, plus winter weather keeping people indoors. The entire country is affected, with California and New Mexico seeing the strongest surges.
Incredibly, only 15% of Americans have gotten the new bivalent booster. This shot was created to fight the current Omicron variants. The data shows it works—reducing the infection rate and making severe disease/hospitalization/death far less likely. GET THE NEW BOOSTER. All the local pharmacies have it, so the process is easy, quick, and free. GET IT NOW, so you and those you love are protected over the Christmas holiday.
After over a year, Omicron variants (BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 at present) still dominate the pandemic. Omicron first made news LAST Thanksgiving, taking over as the new big bad variant, after Delta had held sway since summer of 2021. In the US as of the end of November, our variant soup includes once-dominant BA.5 accounting for just 19% of new cases. Its descendant BQ.1 accounts for 28%, with its offspring, BQ.1.1., causing 29% of new cases. Thirteen other Omicron subvariants make up the rest.
Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean reinstated mask mandates and other restrictions after recent Covid outbreaks on cruise ships.
The FDA has revoked Covid authorization for the monoclonal antibody known as bebtelovimab (manufactured by Eli Lilly), because it is not effective against the current Omicron variants. This treatment was previously used to good effect on immune-compromised patients unable to take the oral antiviral Paxlovid.
Twitter users beware. Per the new and chaotic management: “Effective November 23, 2022, Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19 misleading information policy.”
In Texas, in the last 2 weeks, hospitalizations rose by 49%. See the chart below for current stats. The positivity test rate rose to 12%.
Recent Covid Articles I Recommend
FDA pulls Covid antibody treatment because it’s not effective against dominant omicron variants 12/1/22 https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/01/covid-fda-pulls-antibody-bebtelovimab-because-not-effective-against-omicron-bqpoint1.html
Happy Birthday, Omicron 11/26/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/26/science/omicron-birthday-variant-evolution.html
RSV, covid and flu push hospitals to the brink — and it may get worse 11/20/22 https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/11/20/hospital-capacity-rsv-flu-covid/