Be brave like Ukraine.
Here is what’s happening in Lakeway….
August remains searingly hot.
Stay hydrated. Avoid outside activity, or do it early in the morning. Shade is your friend. Remember sunscreen. Check on your neighbors. Dream of needing a jacket, cuddling up under blankets, and sprawling in front of a crackling fireplace….
WILDFIRE DANGER—Travis County remains under a Burn Ban, so NO BURNING ALLOWED. Current dry and windy conditions make wildfires a big danger. Keep hoses on your outside spigots, ready to go.
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.)
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.
Art at Lake Travis Community Library
The embroidery artwork of local artist Carol Williard van Ginkel will be exhibited in the library’s meeting room the month of September. Plus, the public is invited to her reception on Saturday, Sept. 16, 1:30-3PM.
Brush Recycling Offered 1st Thursday of Every Month
City of Lakeway offers free yard waste drop off for Lakeway residents the first Thursday of every month, at the Public Works Department (3303 Serene Hills Drive) 7AM-3:30PM. Limit is one pickup truck load of yard waste or up to one 8’X5′ pile. Go here for details, including what is accepted: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=1584
Lakeway Garden Club Member Mixer
On Thursday, Sept. 7 at 10:30AM, pop into the Lake Travis Community Library to learn and share knowledge on Central Texas gardening. There will be group discussions on waterwise gardening, native plants, and vegetable gardens, as well as photos of members’ gardens. The Lakeway Garden Club is free to join and open to all local gardeners. For more info, please visit https://LakewayGardenClub.com
Puzzle Exchange
On Saturday, Sept. 9, 10:30-11:30 AM, exchange your puzzles with other puzzlers, at Lake Travis Community Library. Puzzles must contain all pieces and be in good condition.
City Garage Sale
The next Lakeway Garage Sale is on Saturday, Sept. 9, 8AM-noon at the Activity Center. Call 512-261-1010 to reserve a booth ($30 for members, $35 for non-members), space permitting. Or, go here and click on Garage Sales: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog
Admission is FREE, but in the LAC lobby you can drop off non-perishable or canned food items, to be donated to local food banks and charities. You can also donate new or gently used children’s books, for the Free Little Books bin at the entrance.
College Gameday
Join fellow football fans on the Lakeway Swim Center (3103 Lakeway Blvd) lawn on Saturday, Sept. 9 and watch TEXAS vs. ALABAMA on the jumbo LED screen. Game starts at 6PM. FREE EVENT! Bring your own lawn chairs to set up on the grass. Food vendors available, plus beverage stations, free giveaways, yard games, inflatables, face painting, and more. Go here for more info: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2077/College-Gameday
Lake Travis FILM FESTIVAL
Our own slice of Hollywood runs Sept. 14-17, with movies, music, and more. The festival opens on Thursday, Sept. 14, with a red carpet screening of “Halfway to Amarillo” at Cinemark Hill Country Galleria and an opening night party at Star Hill Ranch. Go here for festival offerings, locations, and tickets: https://www.ltff.net/
Sunday Afternoon Concert–Balcones Community Orchestra
On Sunday, Sept. 24 at 4PM, Balcones Community Orchestra will present a FREE CONCERT at Lakeway Activity Center. Director Dr. Robert Alan Radmer and the 36 all-volunteer group of musicians will perform a variety of pieces. Go here for more info: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1862/Sunday-Afternoon-Concert-Series
National Night Out
On Tuesday, Oct. 3, this national happening has 2 local events:
–POLICE DEPARTMENT OPEN HOUSE: From 4-7PM, stop by the police station to meet officers in various police department divisions, receive crime prevention material, and take a tour of the facility. On the tour, you can check out the shooting simulator and take a test with the drunk goggles. For kids, there will be stickers, coloring books and wristbands.
–NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERINGS: Strengthen your community by encouraging citizen engagement with neighbors and with the police. In addition, heighten crime-prevention awareness, build support and participation in local anti-crime programs, and send a message that our neighborhoods are organized and taking a stand against crime. Best of all–get to know your neighbors and enjoy an evening among friends, while taking basic steps to keep our city safe.
Go here for info and to request an officer and/or city official visit your community’s NNO event: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/formcenter/police-department-12/national-night-out-signup-form-87
Nosferatu, “A Symphony of Horror”
On Friday, Oct. 13, 7PM, at the Lakeway Activity Center, the classic movie will celebrate its 101-year anniversary, brought to life by the Lake Travis High School Chamber Orchestra. Concessions available. Dress as a vampire for the costume contest! Go here to purchase $5 tickets: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTI2MDE5OTA=
Lakeway Players present: “Deathtrap”
On Oct. 26, 27, 28, 8PM at the Lakeway Activity Center,The Lakeway Players will perform Ira Levin’s twisty comedy-thriller classic. Tickets are $25 each, with assigned tables. Ticket sales for members will begin on Tuesday, September 12 and for non-members on Monday, September 18. To purchase, go here and click on City Events & Performances: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog
Lakeway is hiring
Open positions include part-time facility attendant, Code Enforcement Officer, 911 dispatcher, Telecommunications Supervisor, and Police Officer. Go here for info and to apply: https://tx-lakeway.civicplushrms.com/CareerPortal/Jobs.aspx
Mayor Kilgore’s Facebook Update
The mayor gave a live update on Aug. 17. Go here to watch: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=search&v=681690553331349
Council Met on August 21
All 7 members attended in person, on the dais. RESULTS:
ITEM 6 (within the Consent Agenda): Provides for the creation of a Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, to be composed of 2 Council members, 2 Zoning and Planning Commissioners, and 5 residents of the community (all to be named later by Council).
Entire Consent Agenda was PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
ITEM 11: Financial Report.
Ten months into the fiscal year, REVENUES are $1,045,000 in excess of estimates (largely due to sales tax revenue). EXPENDITURES are $98,300 in excess of estimates (due to the ice storm).
ITEM 12: Citizen Participation for Items NOT on the Agenda.
TWO PEOPLE spoke, both insisting the Men’s Breakfast Club is more important than our elections, when it comes to getting a suitable venue at the Activity Center.
ITEM: 13: Integrated Water Management ordinance (first reading). This includes water conservation, use of gray water, guidelines for artificial turf, prohibiting certain plants, and more.
After hearing from representatives of 2 local MUDs plus discussion on capturing rainwater, artificial turf, rocks and gravel, and low water plants, Council DIRECTED STAFF: Add specifics and tighten up rules and definitions as to drainage and aesthetics before the next review.
ITEM 14: Main Street/City Center Update.
After a brief review of the 3 developments in the area (Square at Lohmans, Jovie/TV2, and The Oaks), it became clear that the project as a whole is BEHIND SCHEDULE, which is being blamed on a troublesome wastewater lift station. Legend Communities faces an agreed Nov. 2023 deadline for completing the Main Street and Lohmans Spur sections on its Square at Lohmans tract, and will be applying to ZAPCO for a 6-month extension. As for The Oaks, the developer has reduced the number of apartments from 270 to 210. NO ACTION was taken by Council.
ITEM 17: Special Use Permit for 1300 Sparrow, for a Short Term Rental.
APPROVED for a 2-year permit 4:3 (Kilgore, Vance, Brynteson).
ITEM 18: Special Use Permit for 15402 Cavalier Canyon (just off 620), for a boat and auto detail shop.
DENIED 6:1 (Szimanski) due to the landowner failing to attend the meeting for the second time.
ITEM 19: Accept a $15,000 donation to the city by Tom and Caren Kilgore, to be used for victim services ($3,000) and employee medical bills ($6,000 for police officers and $6,000 for other employees).
NOTE: This should have been a pro-forma item, plus a heartfelt “THANK YOU!” After all, what elected city official could be AGAINST a generous donation for these purposes? Well, it turns out 2 such elected officials were sitting on the dais. After 30 minutes of Councilmembers O’Brien and Szimanski bizarrely arguing that a donation helping city employees cope with medical bills is a BAD THING, the nakedly partisan interlude finally ended and the item PASSED 4:2 (O’Brien and Szimanski); Mayor Kilgore recused himself.
ITEM 20: FY 2024 Budget and Proposal of 2023 Tax Rate. At the 8/7 meeting, Council AGREED ON A MAXIMUM TAX RATE OF 0.1446. This is the highest rate allowed without residents voting to approve it. The actual rate will be adopted on 8/21; it can be lower than 0.1446—and it sounded like Council might lower it to 0.1440—but the adopted rate cannot be higher than 0.1446. For the average Lakeway home valued at $780,000, a rate of 0.1446 would mean an additional $216 in property tax.
After considerable discussion, the 8/21 consensus was to increase employee salaries to market rate; various other items were also deemed necessary. Council VOTED 5:2 (Mastrangelo and Brynteson against) for $0.1440 as the maximum rate, in order to balance next year’s proposed budget (roughly $19MIL). The final rate will be adopted in September; it can be lower than $0.1440 but not higher. The CURRENT rate is 0.1290 per $100 in value. For the average Lakeway home valued at $780,000, a rate of 0.1440 would mean an additional $211 in property tax.
ITEM 21: Dark Skies ordinance (first reading). This item would amend the code to promote Dark Skies principles throughout the city, without pursuing formal designation as a Dark Skies Community.
After discussion, Council DIRECTED STAFF to tighten and clarify language on various points prior to the next review.
ITEM 22: Garage ordinance change. This item would allow homes with more than 2 garage bays to orient those excess bays to face the street (reflecting the City Building Commission’s current variance policy).
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY, with the provision that no more than 2 garage bays can face the street.
ITEM 23: Sign ordinance change, allowing EITHER one brochure box up to 9X11” OR one standard “For Sale”/”For Lease” sign up to 18X24” as temporary signage in a residential district. This item relates to an ongoing lawsuit against the city.
Given the current lawsuit over sign restrictions, the City Attorney first tried to curb discussion then advised moving to a closed Executive Session. When Council returned to the dais, the item PASSED 6:1 (Kilgore), with the provision that the sign can be up to 3’ tall.
ITEM 24: HOA Payment for “PD Coverage.” This item seems to be discussion of allowing Lakeway neighborhoods to pay for extra police patrols, something Bee Cave recently instituted as a pilot program; there, officers wanting to earn extra funds take available shifts in neighborhoods requesting additional patrols, and the neighborhoods reimburse the city for the officers’ over-time.
DELAYED until a later session.
ADDENDUM ITEM A.3: Pickleball—Discussion of hours, parking and operation at Sailmaster courts.
APPROVED returning pickleball start time at Sailmaster to 8AM (with staff able to change this if needed for safety purposes) 6:1 (Brynteson). NOTE: The new pickleball courts at City Park are scheduled to open by Oct. 1.
ADJOURNED at 12:30AM.
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/269755
Council next meets on Sept. 5
Roughly a week in advance, view the Agenda, Meeting Packet, and/or Presentation (scrolling down to City Council documents) here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
Daring Mighty Things
We get an extra big full moon on Aug. 30. Since it is the second full moon of the month, it will be a “Blue Moon.” Because the moon is now swinging very close to Earth, it will also be a “Super Moon.” August Super Blue Moon guide 2023: The biggest and brightest moon of the year snuggles up to Saturn 8/14/23 https://www.space.com/blue-moon-supermoon-august-2023
India, on Aug. 23, SUCCESSFULLY LANDED an unmanned craft near the moon’s south pole. The solar-powered lander named Vikram plus a companion rover named Pragyan will search the area, as yet unexplored, for water ice; that prized commodity could be used for rocket fuel and life support for future crewed missions. (Credit for above image: ISRO.) India’s first attempt at a lunar touchdown ended with a 2019 crash on the lunar surface due to a software glitch. India on the moon! Chandrayaan-3 becomes 1st probe to land near lunar south pole 8/23/23 https://www.space.com/india-chandrayaan-3-moon-landing-success
Russia’s unmanned Luna-25 spacecraft, on Aug. 19, “ceased its existence as a result of a collision with the lunar surface,” according to Roscosmos. During de-orbit maneuvers, it crashed-landed on the lunar surface, and communications were never re-established. This was Russia’s first lunar mission in nearly 50 years, intended to explore the south pole region for water ice deposits for a full year. Additional missions in the Luna series are now likely to be delayed. Russia says its Luna-25 lunar lander has crashed into the moon 8/20/23 https://www.space.com/russia-says-luna-25-crashes-into-moon
SpaceX and NASA launched 4 astronauts toward the ISS in the wee hours of Aug. 26, using a Dragon rocket. The diverse Endurance crew (citizens of Denmark, Japan, Russia and the US) is scheduled to dock with ISS early on Aug. 27, starting 6 months of science experiments and station maintenance. SpaceX launches truly international astronaut team on Crew-7 flight to space station for NASA 8/26/23 https://www.space.com/spacex-nasa-crew-7-launch-international-space-station
However, the FAA isn’t happy with SpaceX, which is suspended from private launch after the spectacular explosion of an unmanned Starship soon after launch in April that rained down debris all over South Texas. SpaceX’s final mishap report is under evaluation, to see if it even hints at how Elon Musk plans to avoid another catastrophic mess at and around the Brownsville base. Plus, environmental and Indigenous groups have sued over damage that Starship launches cause the ecosystem and community of South Texas. Finally, the US Justice Department recently accused Musk and SpaceX of violating federal law by refusing to hire foreign nationals who were granted U.S. work permits as asylum-seekers or refugees. SpaceX submits Starship mishap report to the FAA 8/16/23 https://www.space.com/spacex-submits-starship-mishap-report-faa
Even the universe seems to have questions these days…. The above image recently sent back to Earth from the James Webb Space Telescope clearly shows a question mark dead center. And no—it wasn’t photoshopped. (Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA. Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale–STScI.) According to NASA experts, the very distant odd shape likely shows multiple galaxies twisted together by gravity. So, while it looks like a question mark from our perspective, that is really just an optical illusion on a galactic scale. James Webb Space Telescope spies giant cosmic question mark in deep space 7/28/23 https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-question-mark-galaxy-photo
Yet again, a chunk of space junk was headed toward the International Space Station, forcing the orbiting structure to get out of the way. Last week, a Russian module tethered to the ISS powered up its engines for 21 seconds, nudging the ISS onto a safe path. The need for this kind of emergency course-correction is escalating, as more space debris accumulates, from countless satellites and space craft that exploded or simply disintegrated over time. ISS fires thrusters to avoid oncoming space junk 8/24/23 https://www.space.com/international-space-station-debris-avoidance-maneuver-august-2023
With liberty and justice for all … except women
At last, the mifepristone case moves forward! Last spring, a federal judge in Amarillo ruled that the drug should never have been approved by the FDA (back in 2000) and tried to ban it nationwide. On 8/16, the conservative 5th Circuit appeals panel said it was too late to contest the 2000 FDA approval of the drug. BUT, the panel invalidated the FDA’s more recent dispensing changes to prohibit the pill from being ordered online, sent through the mail or prescribed via telemedicine; in addition, it restricted use to 7 weeks, as opposed to the current 10 weeks. The Justice Department immediately appealed to the US Supreme Court. If SCOTUS decides to review the case, a ruling will take months. In the meantime, the appeals panel ruling has no effect, and mifepristone remains available, even by mail and prescribed via telemedicine. Abortion pill ruling sets up Supreme Court showdown 8/16/23 https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/16/abortion-pill-restrictions-00111499
That Amarillo district judge, Matthew Kacsmaryk, is very popular with extreme right plaintiffs. Texas chose his court to sue Planned Parenthood, alleging fraudulent Medicaid billing practices in an effort to stop the organization from providing non-abortion care, such as birth control and cancer screenings. The demand of nearly $2 billion in damages is designed to make continued operation of Planned Parenthood financially impossible nationwide. The initial hearing was held Aug. 14, but no ruling has yet been issued. Even after Planned Parenthood stopped performing abortions, Texas is still trying to shut it down 8/14/23 https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/15/texas-abortion-planned-parenthood-lawsuit/
In South Carolina, the all-male state Supreme Court upheld a new law prohibiting abortions after 6 weeks. The law has exceptions to save the pregnant woman’s life and for fatal fetal anomalies, as well as limited exceptions up to 12 weeks for victims of rape and incest. One justice wrote: “a woman’s interest in autonomy and privacy does not outweigh the interest of the unborn child to live.” South Carolina Supreme Court upholds 6-week abortion ban 8/23/23 https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/23/politics/south-carolina-supreme-court-six-week-abortion-ban/index.html
In West Virginia, a federal district judge held that the state has the right to block sale of the abortion drug mifepristone, even though federal regulators decided the medication is safe. The state’s AG successfully argued that the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision placing surgical abortion in the states’ realm of authority also applied to medication abortion. Judge rejects argument by abortion pill maker that state ban violates Constitution 8/24/23 https://abcnews.go.com/Health/judge-rejects-argument-abortion-pill-maker-state-ban/story?id=102545092
Back to me….
I’m still in shock over the Maui wildfire disaster. This 40-minute podcast is hard to listen to in many parts, but it really conveys what happened in Lahaina Town. (Image credit—NY Times.) How paradise became a death trap. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/18/podcasts/the-daily/hawaii-deaths.html?action=click&module=audio-series-bar®ion=header&pgtype=Article
They grow up so fast…. Our wee spring fawns are suddenly tall and lanky, with rapidly fading spots. Here are my recent photos.
The Coronavirus
As of Aug. 12, the New York Times correlated the CDC’s statistics for the US. Across the country, a daily average of 3,056 people were being hospitalized for Covid-19, which is a rise of 24% over 2 weeks. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/us/covid-cases.html
So, there continues to be an increase in Covid cases nationally. (Personally, I have heard of many more local cases lately—friends, neighbors, work colleagues, etc.–than EVER before. Happily, these cases are mostly mild.) School being back in session will likely make things worse, along with Labor Day travel and events coming up soon.
As of Aug. 12, EG.5 (aka Eris) became the dominant variant in the US. It is a descendant of Omicron variant XBB.1.9.2, with a mutation that allows it to evade antibodies developed by the immune system after vaccines and exposure to earlier variants. That advantage made EG.5 the dominant strain worldwide, causing Covid cases to rise again. However, so far, experts are NOT seeing EG.5 causing faster contagion, more severe disease, or more deaths than recent variants.
On Aug. 18, a brand new Covid strain known as BA.2.86 was announced by the CDC. BA.2.86 was found in Michigan, exists in several other countries, and is said to be highly mutated from the now-dominant XBB variant (much as Omicron was highly mutated from the original Covid virus). Experts are watching to see if it is more transmissible or causes more serious disease than other variants.
Recent Covid-19 articles
—CDC tracking new COVID variant BA.2.86 after highly mutated strain reported in Michigan 8/18/23 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-covid-variant-ba286-who-monitor
—How Bad Is a Second (or Third or Fourth) Case of Covid? 8/17/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/17/well/live/covid-reinfection.html
—What to Know About the New Dominant Covid Variant 8/12/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/11/well/live/covid-variant-eris-eg5.html