May Ukraine Have Peaceful Skies Again.
Here is what’s happening in Lakeway….
Hell’s Front Porch
High summer isn’t a passing fad this year; it is deadly. So, please, put water out for wildlife and wandering pets. An old ceramic pot or planter base will do; put it in the shade and rinse/refill it daily. (Thanks to Angels Among Us Animal Rescue for the water bowl image below.)
DO NOT LEAVE PETS IN THE CAR—not even for a minute. Be careful walking dogs; sidewalks and pavements will burn paws. Even in your yard–make sure there is always shade and fresh water.
ATTENTION Local Artists: Register for Cool Arts.
Registration is now open to participate in this year’s Cool Arts Show and Studio Tour. This FREE event is hosted by the Lakeway Arts Committee; this will be the 8th annual rendition of this popular celebration of our local artists.
The SHOW will be on Saturday, Aug. 26 1-5PM, at the Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek), with a fine arts display in the courtyard by 20 or so local artists, accompanied by live music and kids’ activities.
The STUDIO TOUR will be on Saturday and Sunday, Aug 26-27 noon-5PM, at various area locations to be announced. Sign up as a participating local artist by contacting the Lakeway Activity Center, by phone (512-261-1010), or in person at 105 Cross Creek. Artists MUST be Lakeway Activity Center members to participate. The registration fee for artists to display their work is $25 (non-refundable). Space is limited. Booths will be assigned in the order of registration. More info is here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1858/Cool-Arts-Show-Studio-Tour
Swim Center Fun on Sundays in July.
–Pirate Canoe Battle on Sunday, July 23 at 6PM. Go here for more info: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2005/Pirate-Canoe-Battle
–Shark Pool Party on Sunday, July 30 at 1PM. Go here for more info: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1867/Shark-Pool-Party
Mayor Kilgore’s Facebook Update
The mayor gave a 12-minute live update on July 13. Go here to watch: https://www.facebook.com/cityoflakeway/videos/937219064040096
Lakeway’s Diamond Jubilee
July 12 marked Lakeway’s 60th anniversary. Back on July 12, 1963, at the end of Lakeway Drive the ribbon was cut opening the Lakeway Inn. (Now, that is Lakeway Resort and Spa.) Read all about Lakeway’s history here: https://texashistory.unt.edu/explore/partners/CLWY/
Sunday Afternoon Concert Series
On July 23, 4-5PM, at the Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek), world renowned classical pianist Kiyoshi Tamagawa will give a FREE concert, open to the public. Go here for more info and program details: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1862/Sunday-Afternoon-Concert-Series
TexArts
—Summer Camps: Lakeway’s TexArts offers Performing Arts Camps this summer, running to Aug. 11. Campers are divided by age, and there is a live performance at the end. General info: https://www.tex-arts.org/academy Register: https://app.iclasspro.com/portal/texarts/booking
—9 to 5, the Musical, runs Aug. 4-27. Tickets: https://www.tex-arts.org/upcoming-productions
—2023-2024 season subscriptions are on sale. https://www.tex-arts.org/our-season Call 512-852-9079 ext.101 or email boxoffice@tex-arts.org.
—Moving soon to a new home: TexArts (now located at 2300 Lohman’s Spur, Ste. 160) recently purchased the old bank building at 1110 RR 620 S. After renovations, the nearly 10,000 sf property on 3 acres will house a customized performance area plus abundant classrooms, spacious practice spaces, and multiple workrooms.
Lake Travis Community Library
Our amazing library doesn’t JUST offer books, DVDs, audiobooks, magazines and newspapers at no charge. There’s a lot more:
—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/
—Delivery to the homebound. For those with mobility or medical issues, staff will deliver books, DVDs, audios and more, on a monthly basis. Call (512) 263-2885 to get started.
—Book Clubs. The library offers a variety of book clubs, for teens and adults. More info here: https://laketravislibrary.org/book-clubs/
—Events calendar is here: https://laketravislibrary.org/calendar/
—Meeting Room accommodating up to 60 people can be reserved by not-for-profit organizations and noncommercial groups. More info here: https://laketravislibrary.org/meeting-room/
In addition, the library (1938 Lohmans Crossing) offers curbside pick-up, free notary service, Chromebooks and mobile hot spots you can borrow, on-site computers, printing, WiFi, and much more. Call or email for info: (512) 263-2885 librarian@laketravislibrary.org
Lakeway is HIRING
Open positions include administrative assistant, facility attendant, code compliance officer, juvenile case manager, police telecommunications supervisor, police cadet, police officer, and police lieutenant. Go here for info and to apply: https://tx-lakeway.civicplushrms.com/CareerPortal/Jobs.aspx
Council Meets TWICE on Monday, July 17, at 2PM and at 6:30PM.
1–Lakeway Special/BUDGET Council Meeting on Monday, July 17, 2pm, at City Hall.
Agenda includes review of employee compensation study and benefit subsidy, as well as committee budget requests and a FY 2024 Work Session.
2–Lakeway Regular Council Meeting on Monday, July 17, 6:30pm, at City Hall.
Consequential Agenda items include:
ITEM 3: Staff Honors and Recognition.
ITEM 11 (within the Consent Agenda): Decreasing the speed limit on all of Serene Hills Drive from 35 to 30 miles per hour.
ITEM 15: Financial Report.
ITEM 16: Citizens Participation for Items NOT on the Agenda.
ITEM 17: Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce request for $18,500 in Hotel Occupancy Tax Funds, for its Taste Lake Travis event in September, 2023.
ITEM 19: Special Use Permit for an auto and boat detail business at 1542 Cavalier Canyon (just off 620).
ITEM 20: Special Use Permit for an automobile service station (no gas sales, minor service/repairs only) at 16728 Hwy. 71 West (at Serene Hills).
ITEM 21: Amending the ordinances to require a special events permit for private social gatherings when participants exceed 500.
ITEM 24: Amending the ordinances to prohibit use of motorized bikes, off-road vehicles, etc. in our parks and greenbelts, except motorized bicycles and mobility vehicles as defined in the Texas Transportation Code.
ITEM 25: Discussion of creation and timing of Comprehensive Planning Steering Committee and Charter Review Committee.
ITEM 26: Discussion of xeriscaping.
ITEM 27: Discussion of City of Lakeway assuming control of traffic signal operation on 620.
ITEM 29: Executive Session—Police Department.
View the Agendas, Meeting Packets, and/or Presentations (scrolling down to City Council documents) here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
Go here to watch the Council meetings online (live or later): https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events
Daring Mighty Things
The James Webb Space telescope celebrated its 1-year anniversary with the above image of the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex. At just 390 light-years away, this stellar nursery is the closest star-forming region to Earth. [Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Klaus Pontoppidan.] James Webb Space Telescope celebrates 1st year of science with jaw-dropping view of cosmic nursery 7/12/23 https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-new-image-rho-ophiuchi-celebrate-year-science-july-12
NASA recently locked 4 volunteers into a habitat designed to simulate life on Mars. Located at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, the 3D-printed base is known as Mars Dune Alpha. The 1,700sf habitat is connected to the 1,200sf “outdoor” space, used to simulate EVAs. The 4 anagram crew members (a US Navy microbiologist, an emergency medicine physician, a research scientist, and a structural engineer) will live there for a year, performing Mars-like activities and coping with the same 22 minutes comms delay as exists between Mars and Earth. Each will be paid $60,000 for the mission. [Image credit: NASA.]
—Article on the habitat and the 1-year experiment 7/3/23 https://www.space.com/nasa-mock-mars-dune-alpha-chapea-habitat-video-tour
—Direct link to a quick video tour of the habitat: https://twitter.com/NASA_SLS/status/1649835644494008320
Astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi from the UAE took the above photo from the ISS on July 5, as the moon set below Earth’s horizon. [Image credit: NASA.]
El Niño and La Niña [no relation!], where space and atmosphere meet, produce Earth’s weather. [Image credit: NOAA.] Great article here: What are El Niño and La Niña and how do they affect Earth’s weather? 7/13/23 https://www.space.com/el-nino-la-nina-causes-effects-weather-explained
The Royal Observatory of Greenwich’s 15th annual astrophotography competition released nineteen photographs in the running, one of which will be announced as the overall winner in September. Enjoy the pretty pictures! One of these 19 amazing night sky images will win 2023 Astronomy Photo of the Year 7/2/23 https://www.space.com/astronomy-photo-of-the-year-shortlist-2023
With liberty and justice for all … except women.
The FDA just approved the first hormonal contraceptive pill to be sold without a prescription. The drug is called Opill, by the manufacturer Perrigo. Opill is known as the “mini-pill” since it only has one hormone, progestin. Taken daily, it was approved by the FDA for prescription use in 1973. Starting in early 2024, the over-the-counter version will be sold at drug stores, convenience stores, grocery stores and online; it will be available to users of reproductive age, including teenagers. FDA approves first over-the-counter birth control pill 7/13/23 https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/13/fda-approves-over-the-counter-birth-control-opill-00105711
In Iowa, the Republican-controlled legislature last week passed a 6-week abortion ban. The Republican governor, who called the legislative session for this sole purpose after a pre-Dobbs ban was blocked in the courts, promptly signed the bill into law. It took effect immediately. Iowa governor signs 6-week abortion ban into law 7/14/23 https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/14/politics/iowa-abortion-ban-reynolds-sign/index.html
A recent study indicates that a single drug, misoprostol, safely ends pregnancy. In addition, it does so as late as 16 weeks into pregnancy. Currently in the US, misoprostol is used in combination with mifepristone; however, mifepristone is now under fire from the far right, and a federal court is considering stripping it of FDA approval. Also, medication abortion is usually recommended up to 12 weeks, but with abortion in general being less available and taking longer to arrange after the Dobbs decision, some women are farther along at termination. Misoprostol Alone Safely Ends Pregnancies After 10 Weeks, Study Suggests 7/6/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/06/health/abortion-misoprostol.html
Still no update on the extreme right’s attempt to ban mifepristone. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals panel continues to stall deciding whether to invalidate the FDA’s 2020 approval of mifepristone, the first pill in a two-drug abortion regimen. All 3 judges were appointed by Republican presidents. A ruling could come any day now, and either way it will be appealed–first to the entire 5th Circuit and then to the US Supreme Court.At stake is the continued use of the primary drug for medication abortions NATIONWIDE. Appeals Court Seems Skeptical of F.D.A.’s Approval and Regulation of Abortion Pill 5/17/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/17/us/politics/abortion-pill-case-arguments.html
Back to me….
105 degrees is JUST TOO HOT. And here it is definitely NOT a dry heat. I keep going on my morning walks earlier, but it doesn’t help. Sunscreen can also do just so much, for someone like me. I keep seeing mention of a new beauty trend—adding freckles with temporary tattoos; now, THAT is something I don’t need….
Remember celebrating America’s Bicentennial—the 200th anniversary, back in 1976? I do. And, now we’re looking at America’s 250th anniversary, coming in 2026. (It is called the semiquincentennial, which is a bizarre word.) So, fifty years have gone by…. THAT makes me feel old.
The herd’s fawns are happily wandering all over Old Lakeway now, at high risk as they cross our roads. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE—SLOW DOWN AND DRIVE CAREFULLY. Dozens of fawns are hit by cars in Lakeway each spring/summer, and every time it is a heart-breaking tragedy for the fawn, the mama doe and the driver. If you see a doe, assume there is a fawn with her; if you see one fawn, watch for ANOTHER fawn AND for their mama doe.
I came across this lovely little family on the morning of July 4, on Lido.
The Coronavirus
As of July 1, the New York Times correlated the CDC’s statistics for the US. Across the country, a daily average of 2,033 people were being hospitalized, which is 15 people per 100,000 population. This indicated a drop of 11% over 2 weeks. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/us/covid-cases.html?campaign_id=185&emc=edit_yct_20230713&instance_id=97443&nl=coronavirus-tracker®i_id=122311001&segment_id=139223&te=1&user_id=85e9340cba
