Here is what is happening in Lakeway.
Veterans Day Observance
Join the Lakeway community on Monday, Nov. 11, at 11AM, at the Activity Center (105 Cross Creek) to honor our military veterans. Check here for more details as the date nears: https://lakeway-tx.gov/2142/Veterans-Day
Lane Closures Continue—Lohmans Spur
Utility work is ongoing related to the future extension of Lohmans Spur into the new City Center development area. As a result, the right northbound lane of Lohmans Spur, on BOTH sides of Lohmans Crossing, is closed starting Oct. 7 and continuing for several weeks. Expect congestion and delays at the Lohmans Crossing light near the Police Station.
Give Blood at Lakeway Activity Center.
The next blood drive at LAC is on Saturday, Nov. 16, 8am-noon. The event is always well organized, clean and friendly. You will be done and out the door in under 30 minutes. It is an important cause and helps countless people. Plus—FREE JUICE AND COOKIES! While walk-ins are welcome, those with appointments have priority. You can see upcoming dates and make an appointment to donate by entering your zip code here: https://weareblood.org/donor/schedule/
College Gameday
On Sat., Nov. 16, 11AM, head over to Lakeway Swim Center Field (3103 Lakeway Blvd.) for a Watch Party and Tailgate. Catch the Texas Longhorns wrapping up their .SEC season, playing the Arkansas Razorbacks, the with the game streamed live on a giant LED screen. Plus– featuring food vendors, yard games, inflatables, face painting, and more. Info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2077/College-Gameday
Sunday Afternoon Concert
On Sunday, Nov. 17, 4-5PM, pianist James Speer presents the latest FREE Sunday Afternoon Concert at Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek).More info here: https://lakeway-tx.gov/1862/Sunday-Afternoon-Concert-Series
Art Reception at City Hall
On Monday, Nov. 18, 5:30-6:30PM, stop by Lakeway City Hall (1102 Lohmans Crossing) for a reception with light refreshments and view the winning entries in the Lakeway Photo Festival.
Art Demonstration at the Library
Drop in at Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing), on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 10:30-11:30AM, to catch a painting demonstration by artist Penny Jamrack. Plus, her watercolor and acrylic paintings are on display in the meeting room all month.
Lake Travis Democrats Club
- Monthly meeting: Tuesday, Nov. 19, 6:30PM at Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). Speaker is Bruce Elfant, Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar.
- Banned Book Club: Wednesday, Nov. 20, 6:30PM at Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing). The book is Carl Hiaasen’s Squeeze Me, a novel filled with political intrigue and social absurdity.
- Holiday Party: Tuesday, Dec. 17, 6PM at LaQuinta Inn & Suites (1943 Medical Drive in Lakeway). Enjoy food, music, and fun with your Dem friends. Details and ticket sales will be announced soon, but save the date!
- Check https://www.laketravisdemocrats.com/ for club activities each month.
Drop off Unwanted Medications at Lakeway Police Station.
Monday through Friday, 8AM-5PM, residents can drop off expired/unwanted controlled pharmaceuticals AND over the counter medications at Lakeway Police Station (1941 Lohmans Crossing). Just go inside, and the volunteer at the reception desk will assist in depositing items into the secure bin. (Liquids and needles are NOT accepted.)
Books, Puzzles and Games Available at Lakeway Activity Center.
There are TWO lending libraries at LAC. Little Free Library out front is a bin containing adult hardbacks, and children’s books. Inside, Room E has paperbacks (for adults and kids), plus jigsaw puzzles and games. Call 512-261-1010 for more information or to make a donation.
House Watch
If you are traveling over the holidays or only occupy your home here part-time, Lakeway Police Department provides a House Watch program, at no charge. Just let them know, and officers will perform close patrols of the address and contact you if anything appears suspicious. Call 512-261-2800 for info and go here to sign up: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1305/House-Watch-Request
TexArts Productions
TexArts has holiday and winter productions scheduled, all presented at its NEW theater located in the heart of Lakeway at 1110 Ranch Road 620 South. Go here for details and to buy tickets: https://www.tex-arts.org/upcoming-productions
- Nov. 22-Dec. 15: Elf–The Musical
- Feb. 14-March 2: Tick, Tick … Boom!
Lights On!
Lakeway kicks off the holiday season on Friday, Dec. 6, at 6PM, with the official lighting of the Trail of Lights. This FREE annual family event takes place in the Lakeway City Hall Parking Lot (1102 Lohmans Crossing); additional parking is available nearby at Lakeway Activity Center and the Justice Center. In addition to the light ceremony, Santa, Mrs. Claus, and their elves will be there to meet children, listen to holiday wishes, and pose for photos. Plus—live music, s’mores and a variety of food from local vendors, and more holiday cheer. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1427/Lights-On
Lakeway’s Trail of Lights
Enjoy all the holiday light scenes, traditional and modern, at the annual Trail of Lights. It starts on Dec. 6 and continues nightly 6PM-midnight throughout December. The walkable display is located below City Hall, at 1102 Lohmans Crossing Road. More parking is available at the adjacent and connected Activity Center,105 Cross Creek. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/721/Trail-of-Lights
Singalong Christmas Show at Lakeway Activity Center.
On Sunday, Dec. 8, there are TWO showings for Sing We Now of Christmas: 2PM and 4PM, at LAC(105 Cross Creek). Price of admission is an UNWRAPPED TOY for child to age 17 (for LTlov’s Green Santa to distribute to children in needy local families).
Movie Night: A Christmas Story at Lakeway Activity Center.
On Friday, Dec. 13, at 6PM, bring the family over to the LAC parking lot (105 Cross Creek) for a FREE outside showing of the holiday film, A Christmas Story, on the massive LED screen. Bring blankets and chairs, and enjoy hot chocolate and food from vendors. Later, stroll through the Trail of Lights next door at City Hall. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2109/Christmas-Movie
Classical Ballet: The Nutcracker at Lakeway Activity Center.
On Sunday, Dec. 15, 3PM at LAC (105 Cross Creek), Metamorphosis Dance presents excerpts from The Nutcracker. This FREE performance is sponsored by Lakeway Arts Committee. More info here: https://lakeway-tx.gov/2212/Nutcracker
Council met on Nov. 4 for a Special Meeting.
RESULTS: All 7 members attended the meeting, all in person.
ITEM 8: Discussion of the city’s legislative agenda for the upcoming 89th session of the Texas Legislature. [NOTE: The Consent Agenda included an item approving Kilgore, Brynteson and O’Brien as the Legislative Subcommittee.]
After discussion, Council UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED watching for related legislation as to staff’s 6 suggested items plus 2 more items, as follows:
- Oppose any legislation that would erode authority of home rule cities;
- Oppose any legislation that creates unfunded mandates;
- Oppose any legislation that changes sales tax from destination to origin;
- Support legislation that allows cities alternate methods for publications of legal notices;
- Support legislation that expands allowable uses for Hotel Occupancy Tax Funds including proposed City of Lakeway carve out to provide for sports as an acceptable use for HOT funds;
- Support legislation that will make beneficial amendments to HB 3167 (Shot Clock Bill), including applying it to ALL regulatory bodies and not just to municipalities;
- Allow police to use non-lethal weapons; and
- Provide standardized protection of all peace officers’ records/personnel files.
ITEM 9: Discussion and action on a Capital Improvement Plan and a City Fund Subcommittee.
Amidst repeated and unprofessional sniping by one Council Member against 2 others, Council agreed on the need for establishing a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) as a sub-fund of the existing Capital Reserve Fund. The CIP would identify upcoming improvement projects (such as renovating City Hall, road work, etc.) with a cost estimate and time line, allowing Council to dedicate funds as needed. Goals are streamlining the annual budget process and funding projects over time, making bond requests the last resort and relatively rare. Further, Sherman, O’Brien and Kilgore agreed to serve on a new (and temporary) CIP Subcommittee to get this project up and running. STAFF WAS DIRECTED to draft a resolution declaring the above, to be included in the Consent Agenda of the next Council meeting.
ITEM 10: Discussion of Council objectives for FY 2025 and beyond.
During discussion, including input from Staff Department Heads, the following priorities for the next year were mentioned:
- Charter Review completed and language drafted for the May ballot;
- Launching the Loyal to Lakeway project (retail expansion/retention);
- Emergency management, including costs;
- Strengthening the noise ordinance;
- ETJ issues;
- Stratus parkland (including looking at building a wedding venue/small events venue there, possibly with HOT Funds and including a trolley connecting the 5 Lakeway hotels);
- Sidewalk ordinance (restricting use by bikes, carts, etc.);
- Create a new no-camping ordinance directed at the homeless;
- 620 traffic mitigation;
- Water conservation (make sure all ordinances support this);
- Better communication with HOAs and other residential groups;
- Wildfire prevention;
- Traffic mitigation on Flint Rock, Highlands and Serene Hills;
- Clarify responsibilities of Economic Development Committee members and city staff;
- Comprehensive Plan update; and
- Review of the Tri-City Emergency Management set-up, including Bee Cave and The Hills possibly adding an Assistant to report to Director Yousofzoy, and a review of what Travis County emergency services continues to do for us.
NO ACTION NEEDED.
ADJOURNED at 8:15PM.
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/319239
Council next meets on Nov. 18.
A few days prior, check here for the Agenda: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
Daring Mighty Things
The Orion Nebula, shown above, is an immense nursery for stars. It is only 1,500 light-years from Earth and positioned in the same spiral arm of our Milky Way galaxy as our Sun. (Image credit: Fenyes Lorand.) https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241104.html
Nov. 8 was the beginning of the end for the International Space Station. A SpaceX Dragon cargo vehicle intentionally bumped ISS just so, boosting it into a slightly higher Earth orbit. (Image credit: NASA/Don Pettit.) This is a frequent utility procedure, to keep the ISS from falling out of orbit due to Earth’s gravitational pull, but previously the boost was delivered by a parked Russian Soyuz. The ISS has been in continuous use for 25 years, and Dragon’s handling the boost procedure was in order to collect data so SpaceX can design a deorbit vehicle; sometime after 2030, that vehicle will shove the decommissioned space station downward, causing it to plunge into the Pacific Ocean. SpaceX Dragon fires thrusters to boost ISS orbit for the 1st time 11/8/24 https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/spacex-dragon-fires-thrusters-to-boost-iss-orbit-for-the-1st-time
On July 4, 1054 AD—nearly 1,000 years ago–people on Earth noticed a new bright light in their sky. It started out so bright it was easily seen even during the daytime; after about 2 years, it became too dim to see even at night. It was a supernova, and the above image (which we call the Crab Nebula) is what modern instruments show us today as the remnants of that long-ago explosion, that happened 6,500 light-years from Earth. (Image credit: NASA/ESA and Jeff Hester/Arizona State University.) A star exploded almost 1000 years ago and left us with the gorgeous Crab Nebula. Here’s how to see it 10/25/24 https://www.space.com/the-universe/stars/a-star-exploded-almost-1000-years-ago-and-left-us-with-the-gorgeous-crab-nebula-heres-how-to-see-it
With liberty and justice for all … except women.
More reports of Texas women dying from Trump’s abortion ban:
— Josseli Barnica, age 28, wanted to give her daughter a sibling, but she experienced a miscarriage at 17 weeks. However, her fetus failed to emerge fully, and she suffered in a Houston hospital bed for 40 hours while doctors dithered. Afraid of legal repercussions, they refused to speed up the delivery or empty her uterus to deter fatal infection. Three days after she finally delivered a stillborn fetus, Josseli Barnica died of massive infection. Medical experts say her death was preventable; they also call her case horrific. A Woman Died After Being Told It Would Be a “Crime” to Intervene in Her Miscarriage at a Texas Hospital 10/30/24 https://www.propublica.org/article/josseli-barnica-death-miscarriage-texas-abortion-ban
—Nevaeh Crain was 18 years old and 6 months pregnant on the day of her baby shower, when she became ill, feverish and vomiting. The first hospital said she had strep and sent her home without investigating her sharp abdominal cramps. At the second hospital, she tested positive for sepsis but doctors said her fetus had a heartbeat and sent her home. The third hospital—20 hours into her ordeal—finally admitted her, bleeding and crying in pain. But, an obstetrician insisted on two ultrasounds to “confirm fetal demise.” By then, her blood pressure had plummeted and her organs were failing. Within hours, Nevaeh Crain died. Instead of receiving prompt and life-saving care like other emergency patients, pregnant women in Texas are medically untouchable. A Pregnant Teenager Died After Trying to Get Care in Three Visits to Texas Emergency Rooms 11/1/24 https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/01/nevaeh-crain-death-texas-abortion-ban-emtala/
On Nov. 3, 111 Texas OB-GYNs released a letter to elected state leaders, urging them to change abortion laws they say have prevented them from providing lifesaving care to pregnant women. They referenced recent reporting on two Texas pregnant women who died after medical staff delayed emergency care. Per the letter: “Josseli Barnica and Nevaeh Crain should be alive today. As OB-GYNs in Texas, we know firsthand how much these laws restrict our ability to provide our patients with quality, evidence-based care.” In 2021, Texas lawmakers passed a law prohibiting doctors from performing an abortion after six weeks. It allows members of the public to sue doctors or anyone who helps perform an abortion for $10,000. In addition, doctors who violate the law risk losing their medical license and spending life in prison. Texas OB-GYNs urge lawmakers to change abortion laws after reports on pregnant women’s deaths 11/3/24 https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/03/texas-ob-gyn-letter-abortion-laws/
On Nov. 5, Amarillo voters resoundingly rejected a proposal to make it illegal to use local streets and highways to obtain an out-of-state abortion. Proposition A lost by 20 percentage points, making conservative Amarillo the first Texas city to reject an anti-abortion ordinance placed on a citywide ballot. Residents have debated the issue at Council meetings for the past year. Supporters promoted the ordinance as a way to stop “abortion trafficking.” Debate centered on enforcement. Amarillo residents could have sued someone for violating the ordinance, with awards beginning at $10,000. Some doubted that Amarillo had jurisdiction to create such a law. (Regardless, many Texas communities have passed similar laws.) Amarillo voters reject abortion “travel ban,” a rare rebuke of anti-abortion movement in Texas 11/5/24 https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-abortion-travel-ban-vote-amarillo-election-2024/
Abortion was on the Nov. 5 ballot in 10 states: RESULTS.
- Missouri: Voters passed (52%) a law enshrining in the state constitution abortion rights until fetal viability, reversing the current complete abortion ban.
- Arizona: Voters passed (62%) a law establishing abortion as a fundamental right under the state constitution, using the Roe. v. Wade viability standard.
- Florida: 57% voted to end the current 6-week abortion ban and instead add abortion rights to the Florida constitution. But, Florida requires a 60% super-majority to revise its Constitution, so Trump’s abortion ban remains in effect.
- South Dakota: Voters (41%) failed to approve allowing abortion in the first trimester, so the current full abortion ban remains in place.
- Nebraska: Voters had to choose between 2 opposing propositions, and campaign ads seemed aimed at confusion. The one that narrowly passed (55%) mirrors current law and only allows abortion in the first trimester; the other measure that protected abortion rights got 49% of the vote.
- Colorado, Maryland, New York, Montana: Voters passed by wide margins laws that guarantee abortion protection, so that current laws allowing abortion cannot be changed.
- Nevada: Voters passed (63%) a law guaranteeing abortion rights until viability. But, state law requires TWO such votes to amend the state constitution. So, the proposal will be voted on again in the next general election. (Image credits: NYTimes.) How Ballot Measures Will Change Abortion Access 11/7/24 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/11/06/us/elections/abortion-ballot-results-laws-election.html
Back to me….
Rut season is underway. I only managed a couple morning walks lately, due to poll working and other stuff, but one morning I came across 3 does in a yard, being stalked by a very interested mature buck. (One doe was melanistic—darkly pigmented—which is a common anomaly in the Texas Hill Country, with no adverse health issues. I call them chocolates.) The does ignored their suitor for awhile, then suddenly 2 of the does ran off, with the buck racing after them out of sight. That left the third doe contentedly munching in the yard and looking quite pleased with herself. Here are photos of that little group.
Coronavirus Update
Covid-19 infections may have leveled off, ending the downturn seen in the last month or so. Indicators (test positivity, ER visits, hospitalizations and deaths) flattened or ticked up slightly, as of Nov. 2. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home
As of Nov. 2, national wastewater viral testing remains LOW (and Texas as a state tested MINIMAL). https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/index.html
This fall’s edition of the Covid-19 vaccine is available in local pharmacies.
Have you gotten the UPDATED Covid-19 shot? I got mine in early October; during 13 days of poll working, several of my co-workers caught Covid, but I did not. If you want to be protected this winter, start here: https://www.heb.com/pharmacy/vaccinations This new vaccine was formulated to work against recent variants, so everyone is urged to get vaccinated. Consider getting it along with your annual flu shot. Check with your doctor or pharmacist for the best timing, if you recently had Covid or recently got vaccinated. New COVID, flu vaccines arrive in Austin 8/31/24 https://www.statesman.com/story/news/healthcare/2024/08/28/covid-flu-vaccine-2024-near-me-austin-texas-tips-pharmacy-doctors-office/74965044007/