What’s happening in Lakeway….
FAWN SEASON—Drive carefully.
Our fawns are more active these days, running around some instead of just napping in place while mom is off feeding. This means they are EVEN MORE likely to run onto the road. As always there are twins—even occasional triplets. So, when you see one fawn safely cross the road, LOOK FOR ANOTHER. And, ANOTHER. Keep dogs leashed. Leave parked fawns alone; they are waiting around (pretty much) as instructed for their mamas to come back and feed them, clean them up, and move them to the next safe parking spot. IF the fawn is injured, crying, stretched out instead of curled up like a cat, has a dirty bottom or curled ears, THEN contact a rehabber. (See the image above for contact info.)
ROADWORK UPDATE: Lohmans Crossing/Lohmans Spur
The city’s May 22 timeline for the Lohmans road work has NOT been updated, as of June 7:
- June 7 (approximately): Lohmans Spur to reopen.
- June 9: Intersection improvements begin at Bella Toscana and Lohmans Crossing (traffic signal, median redesign, paving).
- Week of June 23: Target for project completion.
Art Displays in June
- Lake Travis Community Library’s meeting room presents local artist Candy Hahn’s mosaic artwork during the month of June. She creates mixed-media mosaic art using things we see as broken, such as shards of glass and tile, bringing to life beautiful new forms
- City Hall’s Lobby Gallery shows the work of local artist Charlotte Michelson during June and July. On Monday, June 16, 5:30-6:30PM, stop by for an Artist Reception to enjoy light refreshments and meet the artist.
Medicare Talk at the Library
On Thursday, June 12, 10:30-11:30, local licensed Medicare Agent Lee Green will talk about Medicare health insurance (coverage options, costs, sign-up time frames, and more). Stop by Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing) for valuable info and get your questions answered. (I went to Lee’s talk a couple years ago, and it helped me A LOT. Lee really knows his stuff, and there is no charge for his help. This is a complex area, with serious negatives for screwing up, so you need an expert in your corner.)
Upcoming Council Meeting
Lakeway Council next meets on Monday, June 16, 6:30PM at City Hall. A few days prior, check here, scrolling down to City Council Agenda and Meeting Packet: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
Fun at the Pool
- Shark Pool Party: On Sunday, June 22, 1-3PM, Lakeway Swim Center (3103 Lakeway Blvd.) hosts its annual Shark Pool Party. Enjoy giveaways and the always-popular MECHANICAL SHARK. Daily Swim Center Fee Applies.
- Under the Sea: On Sunday, July 20, 1-3PM, come to Lakeway Swim Center (3103 Lakeway Blvd.) for a magical underwater adventure with the center transformed into a vibrant sea kingdom. Enjoy delicious snacks, giveaways, live mermaids, and face painting. Daily Swim Center Fee Applies. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2188/Under-the-Sea
Summer Camps at LAC
Camps start in June. Go here and click on Youth Summer Camps for info: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog Or, for a full list of camps, email lac@lakeway-tx.gov or stop by Lakeway Activity Center and pick up a printed copy.
REGISTER to participate in Lakeway’s July 4 Parade—deadline is June 23.
Celebrating 50 YEARS as a beloved tradition in Lakeway, our 2025 parade will be held on Friday, July 4. The theme is: Lakeway: A Golden Legacy. Register now (FREE of charge), to participate. Deadline to register is June 23. More info and registration here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/718/July-4th-Celebration
July 4 Parade
Attend Lakeway’s favorite event, the Independence Day parade, Friday, July 4. The parade starts at 8:30AM, at the Live Oak Golf Course driving range, running up Lakeway Drive, and culminating at the Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). The LAC hosts a Hotdog Reception at 9:30AM. Come early to get a good vantage point along Lakeway Drive. Parking is NOT permitted on Lakeway Drive; parking is available at the Activity Center, Justice Center, Lakeway City Hall, the Lakeway Church, and on side streets. This FAQ has info for spectators as well as parade participants: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/Faq.aspx?QID=142
July 4 Celebration at the Galleria
The Hill Country Galleria celebrates Independence Day on Friday, July 4. In addition to all the usual shops and restaurants at the Galleria, from 4PM-10PM you can browse over 40 unique vendors lining the Galleria streets. Plus, there will be food vendors, music, fair rides, water games and more. After sunset, enjoy a fireworks display. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and relax on the lawn as you take in the show.
Spirit of Freedom Monument Applications—DEADLINE: July 5
Periodically, past and present Lakeway veterans are honored, with their names placed on the Spirit of Freedom Monument system at Heritage Park. Applications will be accepted now until July 5. Send the completed application along with proof of Lakeway residency and Service record information as instructed on the form. The monument honors those residents who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during specified periods of armed conflict, including World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Panama, and Operations Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Iraqi Freedom (Iraq), and the Global War on Terror. Application and more info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/97/Heritage-Center-Park
Event: End Impaired Driving, at Justice Complex
On Wednesday, July 23, 10AM to noon, Lakeway Municipal Court will host an event focused on ending impaired driving, at the Justice Complex (104 Cross Creek). TAKE A STAND to end driving while impaired, which endangers lives in our community. The event includes educational presentations, first responder meet-and-greets, free Kona Ice and more. Go here for more info: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2244/100-Deadliest-Days
FREE Notary Services at the library
Lake Travis Community Library has several certified public notaries on staff, offering FREE notary services at BOTH branches and via the Bookmobile. Call or email for more information and to confirm availability: Lakeway branch (512) 263-2885, West branch (512) 222-6366, librarian@laketravislibrary.org
Looking for a way to help local families? Consider 12:31.
12:31 is a LOCAL, registered, 501(c)(3),with over 7,000 members serving students and families within LTISD. (Tax ID number–EIN: 88-2279325.) This group helps with meals, school clothes, decent housing, getting a battered mom and her kids moved into a safe place, and much more–right here in our community. Email mike.dahlhauser@twelvethirtyone.org or go here to join the Facebook group and see what you can do locally: https://www.facebook.com/groups/twelve31
Wildfire Prevention begins at home.
Worried about wildfire risk here in Lakeway? Lake Travis Fire and Rescue offers FREE risk assessment of your property. An expert comes and walks the exterior of your home with you, discussing problem areas and solutions, then following up with a written assessment. [I did this a few years back and found it very helpful.] Sign up for your free assessment today by emailing wildfire@ltfr.org In addition, City of Lakeway has a wildfire page with good info and resources to explore: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/235/Wildfire-Readiness
Protect yourself and your family–Get Emergency Alerts.
The Capital Area Council of Governments/CAPCOG provides an emergency notification system to residents of Central Texas. Registering with WarnCentralTexas allows local officials to contact you by phone, email and text in case of a disaster or public safety event. As noted at the Feb. 3 Council meeting, this is how residents would be notified of evacuation routes from a wildfire, as well as provided with many other types of emergency information. Sign up—FREE—for Warn Central Texas Alerts here: https://warncentraltexas.org/
Lakeway Council Called a Special Meeting on June 2.
RESULTS: Six members attended the meeting, all in person, with Council Member Szimanski absent.
ITEM 4 [within the Consent Agenda]: Approving Council’s last 3 nominees for Zoning and Planning Commission. NOTE: Councilmember Brynteson nominated Andrew Smith and Councilmember Sherman nominated Pat Hall as members, while Mayor Pro Tem Mastrangelo nominated Ed LeBlanc as an alternate member.
—PASSED UNANIMOUSLY as part of Consent Agenda (except that ITEM 5 Safe Haven Baby Box was pulled from consideration due to lack of information on the interlocal agreement).
ITEM 6: Presentation and discussion regarding Texas Health Benefits Pool insurance renewal rate for city employee coverage.
–The Benefits Pool agent presented 2 options for continuing coverage, each with slightly lower rates than currently. Council voted UNANIMOUSLY to have the Mayor and City Manager select the option that is preferred by city staff (after they review the materials and watch the meeting video), before the July 18 deadline.
ITEM 7: Training in Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Public Information Act, and Ethics.
–City Attorney Cobby Caputo presented a superficial review of state law in these areas. No Council action was needed.
ITEM 8: Training on Lakeway’s Social Media and AI policies.
–Communications Director Jarrod Wise presented the highlights. No Council action was needed.
ITEM 9: Training on City Council’s Message Board.
–City Secretary Desiree Adair presented info on the Message Board, which will soon be activated on the city’s website. NOTE: Only Council members can post comments on this Message Board, but the public can view their comments; it came out that the City Manager ran this project without Council discussion or vote (or even knowledge, it seems). There was skepticism but consensus that Council would give this a try, as a pilot program.
ITEM A.1: Update on 620 projects (widening, breakout projects and right-turn-only lane at Lohmans Crossing).
–Council Member O’Brien reported on 3 items: 1) TXDOT plans to split the long-anticipated 620 expansion project into sections, beginning construction on each section when right of way acquisition and utility work are complete; it looks like the first section will be in Bee Cave (from the High School down to 71), likely starting in fiscal year 2027; 2) TXDOT indicated the suggested intersection expansion to allow easier u-turns in the Lakeway section might be done along with the Bee Cave section in fiscal year 2027; and 3) re-striping the auxiliary lane on 620 from Birrell to Lohmans Crossing to RIGHT-TURN-ONLY was completed last week, though TXDOT did not provide any related signs. Council discussion indicated concern at the abruptness of the lane change (without the usual traffic modeling done, without local feedback, and without notice to the public), as well as early observations that the change is causing congestion in the other lanes and other problems. Council PASSED UNANIMOUSLY that the City Manager formally request that TXDOT place maximum signage making it clear that traffic in the 620 auxiliary lane must turn right onto Lohmans Crossing, as well as share any modeling or other studies on likely consequences of the change.
ITEMS A.2, A.3 and A.4: EXECUTIVE SESSIONS on: West Austin Business Park Legal Intervention, City Center, and Litigation.
–No action was taken in Executive Session or in Open Session.
ADJOURNED at 10:20PM.
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/344465
Daring Mighty Things
The first selfie on Mars was taken back in 2021. Early in its exploration of the Red Planet, rover Perseverance held out a robotic arm and snapped 62 shots that became the mosaic seen above. (Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, MSSS.) Sitting 13 feet away is Ingenuity, the experimental mini-helicopter that scouted Mars on 72 flights through the thin atmosphere before suffering a debilitating crash in early 2024. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250607.html
Elon Musk went ka-boom, again. (And that was BEFORE he and Trump went nuclear on each other—more on that below.) Test flight #9 of SpaceX’s Starship made it to space but failed in returning to Earth. Launched May 27 from South Texas, the 40-story tall Starship sprang a propellant leak mid-journey. It spun out of control, breaking up as it fell back into the atmosphere. The good news is that this time the debris fell into the Indian Ocean, away from inhabited areas. The bad news is that test flights #7 and #8 also failed explosively; even worse, #9 failed to conduct several system and process tests that had been planned, including testing heat protection systems for the craft’s underside during re-entry, which Musk billed beforehand as the most important facet of the flight. Finally, Starship 9’s reusable Super Heavy booster rocket failed to land in the Gulf of Mexico as planned, instead exploding above the water. (Image credit: SpaceX.) SpaceX reached space with Starship Flight 9 launch, then lost control of its giant spaceship 5/27/25 https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-launches-starship-flight-9-to-space-in-historic-reuse-of-giant-megarocket-video
Trump on May 31 pulled his nomination of Jared Isaacman to run NASA, right before the Senate was expected to confirm him. Isaacman is a billionaire who donated $2MIL to Trump’s inaugural campaign, as well as a close associate of Elon Musk (he bought seats to fly on 2 early SpaceX flights, and there was speculation Musk pressured Trump into putting his pal in charge of NASA). The cause of Trump’s snit could well be finding out belatedly that Isaacman made large campaign contributions to Democrats in the past. (Or, maybe it was an early sign that Trump and Musk were on the outs.) Isaacman had no scientific training and was completely unqualified for the NASA role, but Trump’s second pick (when he gets around to making it) is unlikely to be any better in that regard. (Image credit:John Raoux/AP.) Trump withdraws Jared Isaacman’s nomination to lead NASA ‘after a thorough review of prior associations’ 5/31/25 https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/31/politics/nasa-jared-isaacman-trump-pull
Last week’s Trump/Musk incendiary breakup could have major consequences for American space flight. (Image credit: NYPost.) Or, the mess could be just another distraction from the many deeply dangerous steps the Trump administration is taking regarding voting rights, free speech, due process, separation of powers, and more. But, if this doesn’t blow over and Trump goes ballistic against Musk like he has with his other declared enemies, then what happens regarding SpaceX and Starlink? Of Musk’s various companies, those 2 are the most thoroughly enmeshed with our space programs, not to mention our military. SpaceX is America’s only non-Russian way to ferry astronauts, supplies and cargo to and from the International Space Station. Plus, SpaceX has the contract to decommission the current ISS in the next few years AND assemble a new model up there. Don’t forget the scheduled missions to the moon and beyond; all are via SpaceX. The Pentagon also relies heavily on SpaceX (including for classified stuff we don’t even know about). Starlink cocoons the planet with satellites, controlling everything from GPS to communications worldwide; under Trump, all federal agencies are using Starlink. I’m no fan of Musk, but if Trump and his sycophant appointees cancel contracts or otherwise harass the world’s wealthiest drug-addled amoral man-child, Musk could well pull the plug in ways we cannot compensate for or even imagine now. This article discusses the issues, as they seem to exist in this early stage. How Musk’s ‘soap opera’ with Trump could dent his businesses — and upend federal policy 6/7/25 https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/07/elon-musk-donald-trump-doge-ai-00392529
With liberty and justice for all … except women.
This 28-minute podcast explains shield laws, one way that blue states like New York protect their doctors who prescribe abortion pills to residents in red states like Texas. A New Front Line for Abortion Rights 5/27/25 https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/27/podcasts/the-daily/abortion-pill-shield-law.html
The 2025 Texas legislative session ended on June 2 without passage of a feared crack down on abortion pills. The Senate passed its version back in April, allowinganyone who manufactured, distributed, prescribed or provided abortion pills to be sued for $100,000, expanding the wrongful death statute and empowering the attorney general to bring lawsuits on behalf of “unborn children of residents of this state. However, the House version failed to get reported out of committee by the deadline, and it never came to a vote. Bill curbing the flow of abortion pills into Texas likely dead 5/28/25 https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/28/texas-abortion-pill-bill-dies/
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) requires hospitals to stabilize all patients, including pregnant patients in distress, providing life-saving care. Under the Biden administration, hospital emergency rooms accepting Medicare (so, almost ALL hospitals) had to follow EMTALA as to pregnant women, performing an emergency abortion if necessary to prevent organ failure or severe hemorrhaging. Now, the Trump administration has declared it will not enforce this. So, hospitals in red states banning abortion with no medical exemption or with vague language can allow women to die rather than provide life-saving care. Trump rescinds guidance protecting women in need of emergency abortion 6/3/25 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/03/trump-admin-emergency-abortion-emtala
License plate cameras, like the ones now used in Lakeway, are being used to track people for immigration purposes. They also track women suspected of having abortions. In May, a sheriff in Johnson County, Texas, used Flock’s nationwide network of license plate cameras to track a Texas woman suspected of having a self-administered abortion. (Image credit: Flock media kit.) With Flock, no warrant or court order is needed. When the cameras were proposed in Lakeway a couple years back, we were told they would stop construction site thefts and locate missing kids. Now: Immigration. Abortion. What else? WHO ELSE? In the current political climate, the possibilities for abusing this coast-to-coast surveillance system are endless.
As the article states: The news shows in stark terms how police in one state are able to take the ALPR technology, made by a company called Flock and usually marketed to individual communities to stop carjackings or find missing people, and turn it into a tool for finding people who have had abortions. In this case, the sheriff told 404 Media the family was worried for the woman’s safety and so authorities used Flock in an attempt to locate her. But health surveillance experts said they still had issues with the nationwide search. “You have this extraterritorial reach into other states, and Flock has decided to create a technology that breaks through the barriers, where police in one state can investigate what is a human right in another state because it is a crime in another,” Kate Bertash of the Digital Defense Fund, who researches both ALPR systems and abortion surveillance, told 404 Media. … Earlier this week, 404 Media reported about the use of Flock cameras and its lookup tools to help the Department of Homeland Security and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Ling of If/When/How said the use of Flock in that context cannot be separated from the use of it in an abortion context. “This use of license plate recognition in an immigration context is not separate and apart from the criminalization of abortion. In both cases we’re talking about the state wanting to control what people do with their bodies,” Ling said. “There is a firmly established constitutional right to travel, but unfortunately that does not mean that the state will not do everything in its power to infringe on people’s bodily autonomy. It’s really important to understand that this is happening at the county level, because regardless of what is happening at a national level, there are decision makers at the state and county levels who feel emboldened to use these tools of punishment and surveillance.” A Texas Cop Searched License Plate Cameras Nationwide for a Woman Who Got an Abortion 5/29/25 https://www.404media.co/a-texas-cop-searched-license-plate-cameras-nationwide-for-a-woman-who-got-an-abortion/
Back to me….
It is that time of year, when a bowl of clean water is vital to local wildlife.
FAWN SEASON!
Want your own yard sign (above) to protect fawns in your neighborhood? Local artist Victoria Waite created these a while back and sells them for $20 each (to cover printing costs). She will even deliver to your house, locally. Contact her at victoria.waite.art@gmail.com to get a sign.
The above chart has great info on fawns and other baby wildlife in Lakeway this time of year. (Take a photo and keep it on your phone for future reference.)
Here are some deer photos I took recently–fawns and does and young bucks.
Coronavirus Update
The various Covid activity charts show little to no change in the last month, but there was Covid news recently regarding vaccinations.
VACCINATION UPDATE
The federal government on May 27 removed COVID-19 vaccines from the list of shots recommended for healthy pregnant women and children. Trump’s Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (who lacks any medical training, has a history of flagrant drug abuse plus dead worms in his brain, flouts deeply unpleasant personal habits, and never met a wacko conspiracy theory he didn’t try to monetize) made the announcement online: “I couldn’t be more pleased to announce that as of today the COVID vaccine for healthy children and healthy pregnant women has been removed from the CDC recommended immunization schedule. We’re now one step closer to realizing President Trump’s promise to make America healthy again.” RFK Jr. says COVID shots no longer recommended for kids, pregnant women 5/27/25 https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/05/27/nx-s1-5413179/covid-vaccine-children-pregnant-rfk-cdc
BUT, WAIT. The CDC soon contradicted Kennedy (its own Chief). As the article below states: “The reality of the recommendations is more nuanced.” (The “you bozo” was understood.) See these articles for real info on Covid shots for kids and pregnant women:
- RFK Jr.’s stance on Covid vaccines for pregnant women is profoundly unethical: Removing the Covid vaccine recommendation jeopardizes the health of pregnant women and babies alike 6/3/25 https://www.statnews.com/2025/06/03/covid-vaccine-pregnant-women-cdc-recommendation-rfk-jr-ethics/
- CDC recommends parents talk to a doctor about getting COVID-19 shots for kids 5/30/25 https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/05/30/nx-s1-5418506/cdc-covid-19-shot-kids-pregnant-women
- Why healthy children may need vaccination as RFK Jr. cuts COVID shot recommendation for some kids 5/29/25 https://abcnews.go.com/Health/healthy-children-vaccination-rfk-jr-cuts-covid-shot/story?id=122303993