Author: Nina Davis

How to help Ukraine—DONATE with confidence the funds will be used to help those who need it.

—Mercy Corps is near the top of every list I’ve seen of groups doing life-saving work in Ukraine.  Plus, it has an A rating from CharityWatch.  https://www.mercycorps.org/

—Charity Watch (a watchdog group that monitors charities and investigates donation fraud) lists several Top-Rated Charities Providing Aid In Ukraine. Go here for info on what each group is doing, with links to click and donate with confidence.  https://www.charitywatch.org/charity-donating-articles/top-rated-charities-providing-aid-in-ukraine?fbclid=IwAR0v_F0qrm5YiOIjpk6YQdUAHr7QVmCcwsrgF3tXj3R0y6JjVcEk-jPrbJY

Council Campaign Updates

Nina KNOWS Lakeway 

It has been 2 months since I filed to run for Lakeway City Council.  Busy times!  Campaign signs, creating a website and a Facebook page, talking to groups, attending meetings, getting to know SO MANY people and LISTENING TO THEM. 

That’s what really matters.  People always ask me what I think about this issue or that one, and I get that; everyone wants to know what a candidate thinks.  But, what really matters is what Lakeway residents think—what they are interested in and are concerned may be going wrong.  So, I have a plan to get more input from all over Lakeway.  More on that COMING SOON!

Current HOT TOPIC in Lakeway: Workforce Housing PUD proposed for Hwy. 71 and Bee Creek Road.  Workforce housing provides reduced rent to workers earning up to 60% of the area’s median income, allowing people to live where they work.  Lakeway needs workers, and workers need housing. This looks like the right project in the right location.  Lakeway Council considers it on April 4.  My campaign’s Facebook page has all the details (look for my March 16, 11 and 2 posts), and updates will be posted there. https://www.facebook.com/Nina4Lakeway

My Policies page has detailed info on my position on TEN ISSUES now facing Lakeway. https://www.nina4lakeway.com/policies

Local CANDIDATE FORUMS 

Municipal Elections Candidates Forum presented by Lake Travis Progressives, Lake Travis Democrats, and Tuscan Village Voters

NOTE: THE DATE HAS CHANGED.  This Forum will now be held on Tuesday, April 19.

Lakeway Council candidates will lead off at 6PM, followed by LTISD School Board candidates at 7PM, and Bee Cave Mayoral candidates at 8PM. This forum is ONLINE, open to all to VIEW LIVE here: www.facebook.com/LakeTravisProgressives/

Candidate Forum presented on behalf of Rough Hollow

Thursday, April 14, with a Meet and Greet at 7PM and the Q&A session at 8PM, at the Rough Hollow Highland Village Pavilion (next to the swimming pools).  While the event is targeted to Rough Hollow, all Lakeway residents are welcome to attend.

Voters Guides COMING SOON! 

The League of Women Voters Austin Area will create a May 2022 Local Election Voters Guide.  It will be published online at www.LWVAustin.org  and at www.VOTE411.org  prior to April 25 (start of early voting).

Community Impact Newspaper will publish a Voters Guide (print version and online) in April.  Watch your mailbox for the April issue.  Here is a link to the online newspaper: https://communityimpact.com/news/austin/lake-travis-westlake/

YARD SIGNS are available 

If you want a yard sign delivered, let me know. nina4lakeway@gmail.com

How to contribute 

CONTRIBUTIONS are gratefully accepted, so I can win a seat in this crowded election.

*Venmo: @Nina4Lakeway *PayPal: There is a PayPal button on the campaign website.  https://www.nina4lakeway.com/

*Check: Make it out to Nina Davis Campaign Fund and contact me for the mailing address OR to have it picked up.

Facebook

Stay updated via my Facebook page.  https://www.facebook.com/Nina4Lakeway

Let’s Make Lakeway Even Better!

What is going on in Lakeway ….

Actually, a LOT is going on.  Lakeway is in full bloom with fun activities and opportunities!

Swim Lessons AND Hiring Opportunities at Lakeway’s Swim Center

Online registration is NOW OPEN for group and private swim lessons at the Lakeway Swim Center. Lessons for kids 6 months to 12 years are Monday through Thursday, June 6 through August 4. Register here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1840/Swim-Lessons

The Swim Center is looking for lifeguards, swim instructors and front desk/concession attendant for the upcoming season. If interested, apply here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/84/Swim-Center

20^th Annual Lakeway Photo Festival

This fun event celebrates the unique beauty of our area and the amazing talents of our local photographers.  Categories include Nature, Wildlife, Community, Artistic and Student plus two brand new categories: Pets and Foodie. Amateur or professional photographers as well as LTISD photography students can enter. All photos must be taken in the City of Lakeway.  Submissions accepted April 1 through May 10. Awards reception will be held May 22nd at 4pm at the Lakeway Activity Center. Sponsored by the City of Lakeway Arts Committee. Go here for more info: https://lakewayartsdistrict.com/2022-photo-festival/

Garage Sale at Lakeway Activity Center

The next community garage sale is Saturday, April 9 from 8AM to noon.  Admission is FREE, but in the LAC lobby you can donate non-perishable food items and items for pets, going to local community food banks and animal shelters.

EGGstravaganza!

Bring your baskets to Lakeway City Park on Saturday, April 9, 2PM.  This free event features vendors, bunny photos, and chalk art competitions.  Age-specific egg hunts will take place between 2:45 and 3:45 PM, each with a ‘golden egg’ and a special prize inside.  Details are here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/717/Eggstravaganza

Protest your property taxes online

Lakeway Activity Center is offering Texas Property Tax Protest – 101, a 2-hour workshop on protesting your own property taxes online. $18 charge. Workshop covers the documents involved, deadlines, procedures, and how to present an effective case.  Taught by Rachel Duck, senior tax consultant at the property tax law firm, Popp Hutcheson PLLC.  There are 3 days/times to choose from: April 9 10am-12pm, May 7 10am-12pm, May 11 6pm-8pm.  https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTE4OTU5MzA=

Transportation Town Hall

Town Hall Series with City Manager Julie Oakley continues Thursday, April 21 5:30-6:30PM at the Lakeway Activity Center. Topic: Transportation, reviewing potential upcoming projects. After an introduction by City Manager Oakley, residents can visit stations ask questions of city staff and leave feedback.

If you missed the first meeting in this series, covering Building Development Services, go here to watch the 50-minute video: https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/154791

Lakeway Sing Along Returns with All You Need is Love

On April 29 and April 30, Lakeway Sing Along returns to the Activity Center in “All You Need Is Love,” celebrating the glories and heartbreaks of love with dinner and music.  Dinner is at 6:30PM, with the performance at 7:30PM. Tickets are $38, available now for Activity Center members, with general sales starting March 28. Call the LAC (512) 261-1010 for info.

Lakeway Players presents Rough Crossing

This Tom Stoppard comedy runs May 5, 6 and 7.  Members can buy tickets starting March 28.  Non-member purchases start April 4.  https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog/index?filter=dGFiJTVCNzI4MiU1RD0xJnNlYXJjaD0mcmVudGFsJTVCZnJvbSU1RD0mcmVudGFsJTVCdG8lNUQ9

Lake Travis Community Library offers tech assistance

Those with questions about a computer, phone, tablet, or other tech can drop in for one-on-one technology assistance from volunteer tech coaches.  Sessions are on a first come, first served basis, Monday through Thursday from 12pm to 2pm.  Also, you can email the tech coaches at techcoach@laketravislibrary.org for assistance with any tech questions or challenges you have.  More tech help here– https://laketravislibrary.org/tech-coach/

Lake Travis Film Festival

LTFF offers much more than just watching movies; participants become part of the film-making process. Plus, there are lots of ways to get involved –membership, badges, donation, volunteering, and more. Check it out! https://www.laketravisfilmfestival.com/ Save the date for this year’s film-making adventure—Sept. 15-18.

Blood Drive info

I had a great experience donating blood last week at the Activity Center. Everything was well organized, and I was done and out the door in under 30 minutes. It is an important cause, of course. Plus—FREE JUICE AND COOKIES!

It was run by the group We are Blood, and they are at LAC every 2 months. Some other options nearby are Rough Hollow Yacht Club and BSW Hospital in Lakeway. You can see upcoming dates and make an appointment to donate by entering your zip code here– https://weareblood.org/donor/schedule/

City of Lakeway is HIRING

Open positions include park maintenance, deputy court clerk, accountant, environmental coordinator, police officer, plus (for summer season) lifeguard, swim instructor and front desk concessions.  To get complete info and apply, go here: https://tx-lakeway.civicplushrms.com/CareerPortal/Jobs.aspx

COUNCIL MEETINGS

Severe weather caused Council’s March 21 meeting to be cancelled.  The Agenda was jam-packed with important and sometimes controversial items.  The Agenda items from March 21 are being split into 2 meetings, on March 31 and April 4.

Thursday, March 31 Council Meeting, in-person, 6:30PM at City Hall

It will include appointments to the new aviation study committee, adding 2 Main Street-related items to the ongoing transportation engineering study, and some budgetary/spending items.

Consequential Agenda items include:

ITEM 6 (within the consent Agenda): Creating Aviation Zoning District Study Commission and appointing members as follows:

Mayor Kilgore appoints Ron Massa
Mayor Pro Tem Mastrangelo appoints Matt Sherman
Councilmember Higginbotham appoints William Cotton
Councilmember Kumar appoints Chris Lee
Councilmember Smith appoints Ed LeBlanc
Councilmember Trecker appoints JoAnn Anderson
Councilmember Vance appoints Randy Adams

ITEM 13: Citizens Participation for items NOT on the Agenda.

ITEM 16: Amending the budget to purchase 4 additional police patrol vehicles and 1 motorcycle unit (for $300K from the Capitol reserve Fund) in fiscal year 2022 rather than in fiscal year 2023 as planned, due to supply chain problems that have delayed 2021 purchases and are expected to continue.

ITEM 17: Lakeway Resort and Spa requests $120,000 in hotel occupancy tax funding for an advertising campaign.

ITEM 18: Adding 2 more projects to the ongoing transportation engineering study (increasing cost of the study by $39K).  The projects are: 1) connecting Birrell Street from Medical Drive to Lohmans Spur; and 2) connecting Main Street through Phase 2 of The Oaks PUD, but being REVIEW ONLY of the pricing presented by the developer for a 130 ft. bridge spanning Yaupon Creek and connecting to the adjacent property.

ITEM 19: Funding the city’s required share (10%) of right of way costs associated with the upcoming Hwy. 620 expansion, the amount now due being $3,222,096.

ITEM 21: Executive Session covering police matters.

The Meeting Packet is here– https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3275

To send comments to Council beforehand (by noon on Monday, March 28) about any agenda item, go here and create a Public Comment Form– https://lakeway-tx.civicweb.net/Portal/CitizenEngagement.aspx

Go here to watch the Council meeting online (live or later)— https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events

Monday, April 4 Council Meeting, in-person, 6:30PM at City Hall

It will include consideration of a workforce housing project on Hwy. 71 and Bee Creek Road.

Consequential Agenda items include:

ITEMS 4 and 5: As to 16419 Clara Van, being 1.571 acres near the Marina, amending the Future land Use Map from residential to commercial, and also changing zoning from R-6 single-family to Marina. (ZAPCO recommended denial of both actions.)

ITEM 6: Special Use Permit covering 99 years for a 24-hour convenience store and gas station at 1301 RR 620 N. and Debba Drive.

ITEM 7: As to Lakeway Highlands and Rough Hollow, approval of the resubmitted consolidated and amended preliminary plan, with the addition of added water quality ponds at LCRA approved locations and the removal of the gas station.  (ZAPCO recommended approval.)

ITEMS 8 and 9: As to 18214 W. Hwy. 71 at Bee Creek Road, a 14.89 tract, amending the Future land Use Map from Commercial to Mixed Use, and also changing the zoning from C-1 (office/retail) to PUD (Planned Unit Development), to include 276 workforce housing apartments and a restaurant. (ZAPCO recommended approval of both actions.) [The meeting packet, linked below and starting at page 109, includes detailed info on the apartments and on traffic issues, graphics showing the planned improvements, and an LTISD study relevant to the project’s projected impact on area schools.]

ITEM 10: License Agreements between Lakeway and various Rough Hollow subdivisions, to legitimize ongoing use of land in the city’s right of way for walls, lights, irrigation, signs, monuments and the like.

The Meeting Packet is here– https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3276

To send comments to Council beforehand (by noon on Friday, April 1) about any agenda item, go here and create a Public Comment Form– https://lakeway-tx.civicweb.net/Portal/CitizenEngagement.aspx

Go here to watch the Council meeting online (live or later)— https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events

Daring Mighty Things 

SLS, the mega-rocket designed to go to the moon, rolled out of NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building, carrying the Orion spacecraft as far as the launch pad on March 18.  Testing will happen well into April, checking out all systems right up to launch.  The first planned mission, Artemis 1, will be an uncrewed flight around the moon, tentatively scheduled for May. Artemis 2 will be a crewed flight around the moon, likely in 2024.  Artemis 3 will land a crew on the moon, not done since 1972, and is planned for 2025. NASA’s new moon rocket, its most powerful ever, rolls out for 1st time 3/17/22 https://www.space.com/nasa-artemis-1-moon-mission-rollout-launch-pad

Three cosmonauts docked at ISS on March 19, wearing yellow suits with blue trim.  The official statement is that crews always get to choose the color of their suits, and this time it just happened to match Ukraine’s flag.  Russian cosmonauts board ISS wearing colours of Ukraine flag 3/19/22 https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/mar/19/russian-cosmonauts-board-iss-wearing-colours-of-ukraine-flag

Back to me….  

Here is a good book I recently finished (available at Lake Travis Community Library):

Watergate–A New History, 2022, by Garrett M. Graff—I thought I knew pretty much what happened with Watergate.  Turns out, I did not.  This amazing book covers EVERYTHING, including scores of other plots and scandals with tangential connections to what finally brought Nixon down.

Fawn season is coming!  In recent years, Lakeway residents posted photos of new fawn parked in their yards during the first week of April.  Don’t assume the fawns you spot on a walk or in your yard are abandoned; Mama Does leave newborn fawns to rest, while they graze in the vicinity, before collecting the babies and moving on.  Here is more info here on how to tell if a fawn needs help (plus lots of adorable fawn photos from past seasons): https://ninawriteorwronginlakeway.com/parked-fawns-injured-deer/

Drive carefully!  Dozens of fawns are hit by cars in Lakeway every spring.  If you see a doe, assume there is a fawn with her; if you see one fawn, watch for another.  COMING SOON: New roadside banners (courtesy of the Wildlife Advisory Committee) reminding drivers about wobbly and erratic fawns. Here are some recent photos of our deer herd. 

The Coronavirus   

Worldwide, the new BA.2 subvariant of Omicron became the dominant variant, per the W. H. O on March 23.

Asia and Europe are fighting Covid surges, causing new cases globally to start rising again.

In Asia, Omicron is the culprit.  Hong Kong is the world’s hot spot, largely due to vaccine skepticism, which in turn arises from distrust of the increasingly repressive Chinese government.  The new case rate there finally started dropping last week, but the death rate (already the highest in the world) is expected to continue rising for several weeks.

China continues to battle an Omicron surge, reporting the highest number of cases since the start of the pandemic and locking down province after province.  China is one of very few countries still working a zero tolerance policy, as opposed to shifting toward endemic strategies.  Disney Shanghai has closed, due to the surge.

South Korea, Singapore, New Zealand, Singapore, and many other Pacific countries are also battling Covid surges.

In Europe, the problem is BA.2, Omicron’s even more contagious variant. Britain, Germany, France, Italy and some other European countries are starting to report a surge of cases.  Austria reinstituted an indoor mask mandate.  Yet, Poland is dropping its indoor mask mandate and other restrictions next week, despite a low vaccination rate (59% of its population).

As for vaccinations, 11.2 billion shots have been given, with 57.9% of the planet’s population fully vaccinated. 

Africa has the lowest vaccination rate, still only 14% across the continent.

Canada still prohibits unvaccinated foreign visitors from entering the country.  So, unvaccinated MLB players cannot enter Canada to play against the Toronto Blue Jays.  Per the league’s new labor agreement, these players will not be paid while the team is abroad.

In the US, in the last 2 weeks, cases have decreased 14%, hospitalizations are down 38%, and deaths decreased 37%.  We are averaging 30,000new cases per day. 19,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with Covid, and the death rate averages 800 people per day.

Cases are still falling overall, but the Covid pendulum may well be swinging us back into a surge. Last week, the 7-day average of new Covid cases in the U.S. rose for the first time since January.  New York, Connecticut and Arkansas reported cases rising by over 20%.  But, hospitalizations are still falling.  Deaths are under 1,000 per day for the first time since Omicron appeared.

In the US, BA.2 accounts for a growing proportion of new infections, about 25% as of March 20.  This variant is estimated 30-50% more contagious than original Omicron.  If BA.2 continues to spread, the 2-month long trend of falling case totals will reverse–just in time to ruin another summer.  In another worrisome indicator, agencies that monitor Covid via wastewater report rising levels.  Finally, experts point to the new surge in Europe; since the beginning of the pandemic, surges in the US have been presaged by surges in Europe.  On the other hand, all the recent Omicron infections may protect people from this variant.  Plus, being vaccinated and boosted all but guarantees very mild disease. 

The US Capitol, closed to the public for over 2 years due to Covid, will begin reopening to tourists next week.

As for vaccination, in the US, 65% of the entire population is fully vaccinated (no change in 2 weeks).  Average shots administered per day decreased to 224,000.  97 million booster shots have been given.

U.S. Covid vaccination rates have stalled. About a quarter of eligible adults remain unvaccinated, and half haven’t gotten a booster shot, as the loosening of pandemic restrictions lessened demand for vaccinations.

On March 16, Pfizer requested emergency authorization from the FDA for a second booster for those age 65 and older.  On March 18, Moderna Pfizer requested emergency authorization from the FDA for a second booster for ALL adults.

The Biden administration has been debating a second booster, with experts split on the need for it.  One view cites incomplete data on the waning of immunity from the first booster; there is also concern that, absent another virulent wave of infection, the vaccine would be largely wasted, while much of the world waits on any shots at all.  The other view is that another wave is inevitable, and a second booster for older Americans would save countless lives as well as guard against minor cases causing hospitalization and/or resulting in long Covid, just as the first booster did against Omicron.  As of March 26, it appears that a second booster (patient’s choice of Pfizer or Moderna) for those age 50 and up will be made available as an option in the US, but without specific recommendation that it is needed.  The FDA and CDC would need to approve, but Americans 50+ could be getting second boosters at their local pharmacies as soon as early April.

New studies indicate the J&J vaccine is better than was thought, likely as effective at Moderna and Pfizer for preventing Covid-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths.

In Texas, the current positivity test rate is 2.6%.  In the last 2 weeks, new cases increased 5%, hospitalizations dropped 38%, and deaths fell 46%.  We are averaging 4,700 new cases and 52 deaths daily.  As of now, there are 1,700 Texans hospitalized for Covid-19. 

New cases are on the rise again in Texas.  We had 32,000 new cases last week, as opposed to 25,000 new cases two weeks ago.  Travis County reported the same trend.

However, Travis County ended COVID-19 restrictions last week.  Austin Public Health Risk-Based Guidelines remain at Stage.

In Texas, only 61% of all residents are fully vaccinated.  

Recent Covid articles I recommend…. 

Biden Administration Plans to Offer Second Booster Shots to Those 50 and Up 3/25/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/25/us/politics/biden-second-booster-shot-older-americans.html

Drugmakers, scientists begin the hunt for long COVID treatments 3/25/22 https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/drugmakers-scientists-begin-hunt-long-covid-treatments-2022-03-25/

Another Covid Surge May Be Coming. Are We Ready for It? 3/19/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/19/health/covid-ba2-surge-variant.html

Once again, America is in denial about signs of a fresh Covid wave 3/16/22 https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/mar/16/once-again-america-is-in-denial-about-signs-of-a-fresh-covid-wave

Pfizer and BioNTech Seek Authorization of a Second Booster Shot for Older Americans  3/16/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/15/us/politics/pfizer-second-booster-shot-older-americans.html

As Virus Data Mounts, the J.&J. Vaccine Holds Its Own 3/15/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/15/health/covid-johnson-vaccine.html

How to help Ukraine—DONATE with confidence the funds will be used to help those who need it.

Charity Watch (a watchdog group that monitors charities and investigates donation fraud) lists several Top-Rated Charities Providing Aid In Ukraine. Go here for blurbs on what each group is doing, with links to click and donate.  https://www.charitywatch.org/charity-donating-articles/top-rated-charities-providing-aid-in-ukraine?fbclid=IwAR0v_F0qrm5YiOIjpk6YQdUAHr7QVmCcwsrgF3tXj3R0y6JjVcEk-jPrbJY

What is going on in Lakeway ….

Nina KNOWS Lakeway

For years now, I’ve attended Council and ZAPCO meetings.

I regularly post on Next Door and Facebook, letting people know what is happening in city government.

I have published this blog, covering all things Lakeway, for over 2 years now.

I serve on the new Wildlife Advisory Committee.

So, I know how the city works. I know the issues and the players. Unlike others in the race who are new to city government, I will jump right in, without a steep learning curve.

VOTE for the candidate who KNOWS Lakeway.

–UPDATE: My campaign website now has 10 items on the Policies page. https://www.nina4lakeway.com/policies

Wildlife       Traffic      Airpark     Golf Carts         New Development   Home Businesses (AKA the daycare fiasco) 

Justice Center      YMCA Sidewalks New Stratus Proposal to Complete The Oaks and Connect Main Street  

Be warned, I go into detail, not only stating my position but demonstrating how I got there. I believe in showing my work. Personally, I’m disappointed when candidates point at a problem, offer platitudes, and then act like they have accomplished something.

Are there other local issues YOU are concerned about and think need review? Let me know.

–Amazing local photographer Ron Brauer allowed me to use his GORGEOUS Sunset in Lakeway shot (taken recently) on my campaign site’s Policies page.

–BALLOT ORDER: City of Lakeway did its random drawing on Feb. 28, determining the order of the 6 candidates on the ballot.  And, I will be number 4.  Oh well, I’ve gotten this far without being particularly lucky!  I’ll just need people to VOTE FOR ME INTENTIONALLY, as opposed to relying on a bump from a few voters who just check the first 3 boxes.

–Upcoming MEDIA: The League of Women Voters will publish (print and online) a Council candidate survey in its April Voters Guide.  Also, Impact Magazine will cover the Council race in the election guide of its April issue.

–Stay updated via my Facebook page.  https://www.facebook.com/Nina4Lakeway

If you want a yard sign delivered, just let me know. nina4lakeway@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTIONS are gratefully accepted; they will help me win a seat in this crowded election.

Venmo: @Nina4Lakeway PayPal: There is a PayPal button on the campaign website (link above).

Check: Make it out to Nina Davis Campaign Fund and contact me for the mailing address or to have it picked up.

Let’s Make Lakeway Even Better!

LTISD election

VOTE Laurie Higginbotham for LTISD Place 3 on May 7!

After 2 terms on Lakeway Council, Laurie decided to run for LTISD.  Our schools need her, but she will be missed on Council.  Check out Laurie’s website: https://laurieforltisd.com

Laurie’s campaign sign is in my yard, and she has my vote.

Mayor Kilgore’s Live Update

The Mayor’s next live update is Wednesday, March 16, 2PM.   https://www.facebook.com/cityoflakeway

OPEN HOUSE for proposed Workforce Housing PUD on Hwy. 71

The developers will present their vision and take questions from the public, on Wednesday, March 16, 5-7PM, at the Activity Center.  (See ZAPCO March 2 meeting below for a full review of this proposal.)

A Night with the Austin Symphony Orchestra

The Austin Symphony Orchestra performs with Lake Travis High School students on Saturday, March 26, at 7pm.  Brought to you by the City of Lakeway Arts Committee, this concert will take place at the Lake Travis Performing Arts Center. Tickets, $15-50, are on sale online at www.ltisdschools.org/finearts

Household Hazardous Waste Day

On Wednesday, March 30 Lakeway residents can drop off batteries, paint, cleaners and more hazardous waste (NO LIGHT BULBS ACCEPTED) at the Lake Travis Regional Reuse & Recycling Center, 3207 Neidhardt Dr., Lakeway, TX 78734.  A reservation is required.  Go here for a list of what is accepted and to make a reservation: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c44aca728a1f4c07-household2

Lake Travis Community Library

During March, the watercolor art of mother-daughter duo Helen Faythe Green and Amanda Green is exhibited.  Award-winning works as well as new pieces are on display, some drawing from nature and others portraiture.

Lakeway Arts District website

Looking for a resource for all things ART in the Lakeway area?  Interested in local artists, upcoming events, arts and culture articles?  Check out Lakeway Arts District!  https://lakewayartsdistrict.com

ZAPCO March 2 meeting

VERY interesting meeting, as to 2 different matters.

FIRST, a new workforce housing project had its first airing.  The proposal is for 276 apartments with amenities on 14.89 acres out on 71, at the corner of Bee Creek Road.  There will also be a restaurant; having both residential and commercial on the tract requires Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning.  The surrounding properties are all commercial.  Density will be less than the 20 units per acre allowed for R-9 multi-family housing. 

The location complies with the Comprehensive Plan, which calls for this type of project along our major highways, so that traffic concerns in town are minimized.  Plus, the restaurant will provide sales tax revenue.

Variances requested are few and minor.  The slope allows for buildings to be 3 stories from frontage, with a 4^th tucked under the slope.  The total number of parking spaces will exceed the statutory requirement, but most will be covered (in a parking garage), so a variance is needed there.  Inside the garage, turning radius would be reduced (to what, it seems, is standard for the industry).  Cut and fill is increased.  The developer will pay $1.2MIL as fee in lieu of parkland.  That is ALL being asked for, as variances—a HUGE change from the outrageous laundry list that other projects demand.

Lakeway’s need for workforce housing is obvious.  Teachers, police officers and fire personnel cannot afford to live in or near Lakeway; with commuter traffic so bad and no mass transit available, people take jobs elsewhere.  This also applies to medical, restaurant, hotel, retail, and office staff.  Our business owners cannot hire and retain the staff needed.  Residents habitually complain that places open and close before they even get a chance to try them.  They also bemoan our lack of certain high-end restaurants and stores.  Well, a lot of that is because of staffing problems that are due to the lack of housing options.

Lakeway desperately needs workers, and workers need housing.  Per the info available to date, this looks like the right project in the right location.  ZAPCO agreed, voting to recommend to Council changing the Future Land Use Map from the existing commercial to mixed use, as well as changing zoning from the existing commercial to PUD.   I do think that details on how applicants qualify for the project and what rates are changed/discounts given need to be made crystal clear during Council review.  In addition, references to things like exterior materials used for the buildings being the same as in the 2021 Nightingale proposal need to be replaced with exact language in the current PUD document.  But, overall, I see this proposal as an exciting and overdue step forward for Lakeway!

IMPORTANT UPDATE: The developers will present their vision and take questions from the public, on Wednesday, March 16, 5-7PM, at the Activity Center.

SECOND, many Rough Hollow residents have been upset lately over learning that a gas station in Rough Hollow was approved many years ago, in the original development agreement.  And, Legend Communities appeared ready to build it, by the Welcome Center.

The consolidation of Rough Hollow’s several development agreements was on ZAPCO’s agenda as a seemingly routine matter.  This was resolving a water quality issue from last fall; LCRA changed Legend’s suggestion for location of retention ponds.  As ZAPCO was preparing to accept that change, the City Manager mentioned this would also be a good time to consider the gas station.  First, everyone sat there, jaws dropped.  Then, Commissioners noted there is widespread public opposition to the gas station.  And, they voted to recommend Council approve consolidation of the Rough Hollow development agreements, with LCRA’s retention pond location and WITHOUT the gas station.

In all the Council, ZAPCO and committee meetings I have attended over the last several years, I have never been as shocked, in a GOOD way, as I was at this one. Go here to watch the meeting online: https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/155516

Council meets Monday, March 21

The Workforce Housing PUD should be on the agenda, which will be posted on the city site next week.  If planning to attend in person, be warned that the last Council meeting adjourned at 1AM.  Given the rancor of opponents already gearing up to kill the project, this meeting is likely to be a real pajama party. 

Texas elections–March 1 primary election results

Less than 20% of registered voters in Texas bothered to cast a ballot in this election. 

O’Rourke, Abbott and Patrick won their primaries, as expected.  Parties’ activist wings see mixed results in Texas as Abbott advances, progressives fall short of goals 3/2/22 https://www.texastribune.org/2022/03/02/texas-primary-2022-results/

But, the Democratic slot for Lt. Governor will be decided at the run-off election on May 24.   So will BOTH sides of the Attorney General race.  Land Commissioner and Railroad Commissioner will also go to run-off.  Here is a good review of ALL the races heading to run-offs in May. These statewide Texas races are heading toward a runoff 3/3/22  https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/2022/03/03/texas-primary-races-heading-may-24-runoff/9342824002/

Garza will face Jaworski in AG run-off. Democrat Lee Merritt suspends campaign for attorney general nine days after election day, clearing path for runoff 3/10/22  https://www.texastribune.org/2022/03/10/texas-attorney-general-election-lee-merritt-runoff/

Daring Mighty Things 

The US and Russia have partnered for decades on running the International Space Station, largely immune from political friction.  Now, due to Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine and resulting sanctions, ISS is in jeopardy.  Plus, after the space shuttles were retired in 2011, US astronauts were ferried to the ISS and back on Russian Soyuz craft, along with supplies; recently, private companies started doing some of that, but an American astronaut is scheduled to return from ISS on a Soyuz March 30.  How Sanctions on Russia Affect International Space Programs 3/7/22 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sanctions-on-russia-reach-outer-space-180979679/

Back to me….  

Yesterday was my Mom’s birthday. Some of you knew her, Deanna Davis-Turner. She moved here with me from Maui, back in 2009. She would have been 83 yesterday–though she would NEVER have admitted it! Mom passed in 2016, but I still see or hear something fun and just for a tiny second think “Gotta tell Mom.”

Here are 2 good books I recently finished (available at Lake Travis Community Library):

The Deepest of Secrets (2022), by Kelley Armstrong—The unusual detective series set in the Yukon wilderness continues, but this time the town of Rockton—whose very existence is shrouded in secrecy—finds its own dirty secrets exposed, resident by resident. This 7^th book in the series manages something rarely done, upending the entire premise in a credible and plot-driven way.  Can’t wait to see how book 8 proceeds.

A Game of Fear (2022), by Charles Todd—The excellent Inspector Rutledge series set in post-WWI England was written for decades by a unique duo—mother and son.  Well, Caroline Todd died in 2021, leaving son Charles to carry on alone.  This book presents an intriguing mystery, solved by a detective like none other.  Happily, it also manages to transport the reader instantly to a radically different world as it existed 100 years ago.

Fawn season is just around the corner.  Look for parked fawns all over Lakeway, starting in early April.  Don’t assume they are abandoned; Mama Does park newborn fawns to rest, while they graze in the vicinity, before collecting the babies and moving on.  More info here on how to tell if a fawn needs help, plus lots of adorable fawn photos from past seasons: https://ninawriteorwronginlakeway.com/parked-fawns-injured-deer/

Drive carefully!  A shocking number of fawns are hit by cars every spring.  If you see a doe, assume there is a fawn with her; if you see one fawn, watch for another.  Look for new roadside banners (courtesy of the Wildlife Advisory Committee) reminding drivers about wobbly and erratic fawns.

Here are some recent photos of our deer herd. (This time of year, it is fun to look for the fawn bumps.)

The Coronavirus   

Worldwide, the official death toll from Covid19 exceeded 6 million people last week.

Two years ago, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a global pandemic.  More memorably, perhaps—that day, the NBA suspended its season, and Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson announce they had tested positive.

Now, 2 new variants are being watched.  “Stealth Omicron” or BA.2 is worldwide but milder than Omicron and not predicted to cause new surges; the vaccines and immunity from an Omicron infection protect against it.  However, BA.2’s extremely high transmissibility may slow the end of Covid outbreaks and complicate treatment. Just announced last week, the newer Deltacron is a recombinant virus with genes from both Delta and Omicron.  It has been found in Europe and in the United States.  Deltacron is still new enough and rare enough that experts cannot assess its severity or how well vaccines and treatments will work against it.

Hong Kong continues to struggle with its Omicron surge, reporting the highest death rate in world.  Mortuaries are overwhelmed, leaving bodies of the dead at hospitals far beyond their storage capacities; photos showed bodies stacked high in rooms with living patients.  Ambulance wait times can stretch to a full day.  A threatened lockdown has caused a panic over groceries and essentials, emptying stores.

South Korea experienced a severe Covid surge during an important and close national election. On election day, March 9, the general public voted 6AM to 6PM, and then people diagnosed with Covid were asked to vote 6PM-7:30PM, in order to minimize infections.

China has also been hit by the current Omicron surge through Asia.  Lockdowns are in force in Shanghai and over a dozen provinces.

Germany reported over a quarter million new cases on March 10, a record for that country.  Officials have announced all restrictions will be lifted by the end of March.

Canada is dropping its indoor mask mandate, due to a sharp drop in current cases.

As for vaccinations, 11 billion shots have been given, with 57% of the planet’s population fully vaccinated. 

After nearly 2 years, Australia opened ALL borders to travelers, provided they are FULLY VACCINATED.

Austria dropped its vaccine mandate, due to Omicron’s milder cases.

In the US, in the last 2 weeks, the Omicron surge continued to subside.  Cases have decreased 49%, hospitalizations are down 43%, and deaths decreased 33%.  We are averaging 35,000 new cases per day.  31,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with Covid, and the death rate averages 1,200 people per day.

As America approaches the milestone of 1 million dead from Covid-19, many millions more mourn the people who were lost.  Studies show that every death left behind, on average, 9 close family members.

Remember ordering 4 FREE Covid test kits back in January, with the federal government mailing them to you via USPS?  Well, everyone can now order 4 MORE FREE TEST KITS.  (I ordered mine on March 7, and they were delivered on March 11.)  Just go here and complete the form again—https://special.usps.com/testkits

The Biden administration announced expansive plans for the country to move into a new normal with Covid.  One new process is called “test to treat.”  People will get tested (free of charge) at pharmacies, and those with positive results will be issued antiviral pills on the spot (again—free of charge) to minimize the chance of serious disease, hospitalization and death.

Mask mandates for the vaccinated were lifted for the White House and Congress as of March 1.  Several states followed suit, leaving only Hawaii with an indoor mask mandate; state officials announced on March 8 that, in light of its Omicron surge rapidly subsiding, the mask mandate there will end on March 26.

Masks will continue to be required by TSA, through April 18. So, passengers on planes, buses and trains still must wear masks, along with anyone in airports, stations and transit hubs.  The CDC is considering a change in guidelines for travelers, so this will likely change in April.

The NFL lifted Covid restrictions, the first athletic league to do so in the US.

As for vaccination, in the US, 65% of the entire population is fully vaccinated (no change from 2 weeks ago).  Average shots administered per day decreased to 266,000.  96 million booster shots have been given.

In Texas, the current positivity test rate dropped to less than 3%.  In the last 2 weeks, cases decreased 22%, hospitalizations dropped 46%, and deaths fell 42%.  We are averaging 4,500 new cases and 96 deaths daily.  As of now, there are nearly 2,900 Texans hospitalized for Covid-19. 

On March 5, Travis County dropped to Stage 2 guidelines, for the first time since Delta appeared last summer.  (It was just on March 1 that we moved down to Stage 3.)

In Texas, only 60% of all residents are fully vaccinated (no change in last 2 weeks).  

Recent Covid articles I recommend….

The Covid cloud is starting to lift – but two years on, its legacy of grief lingers 3/12/22 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/mar/12/covid-pandemic-two-years-later

What is the Deltacron variant of Covid and where has it been found? 3/11/22 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/11/what-is-deltacron-covid-variant-uk

‘Stealth’ Omicron Is Stealthy No More: What’s Known About the BA.2 Variant 3/11/22 https://www.nytimes.com/article/omicron-variant-ba2.html

Do Covid Precautions Work? 3/9/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/09/briefing/covid-precautions-red-blue-states.html

Covid May Cause Changes in the Brain, New Study Finds 3/7/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/07/health/covid-brain-changes.html

Pfizer Shot Is Far Less Effective in 5- to 11-Year-Olds Than in Older Kids, New Data Show 2/28/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/28/health/pfizer-vaccine-kids.html

New Research Points to Wuhan Market as Pandemic Origin 2/27/22 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/02/26/science/covid-virus-wuhan-origins.html

We all know that what is happening in Ukraine is wrong. 

In 2022, the world should be better than this.

Also, watching the news coverage, I’m struck by all the beloved pets in jeopardy along with their owners.  It really brings the situation home, when TV coverage shows a Ukrainian fleeing with a dog on a leash or a cat in a carrier, while leaving behind keepsakes and essentials.  Painful as it is, I can’t help but identify with that.  I say an extra prayer that they find refuge.  This notice from Poland is comforting.

In Lakeway 

Nina4Lakeway!

The deadline to file for a slot on the ballot has passed, and there are 6 candidates running for 3 seats.  Voters can choose up to 3 candidates.  These are open seats, so the 3 people getting the most votes will win. 

Interesting tidbit: On Monday, Feb. 28, the City Secretary will draw candidate names out of a bag, to determine the order we appear on the ballot. 

People are already asking me how they should vote.  Well, VOTE FOR ME, of course!  Beyond that, I suggest researching ALL the candidates. 

Here’s my take:  The 3 other women running are new to city government and would face a STEEP learning curve if elected.  And, at least 2 of them are SINGLE-ISSUE candidates; I worry they don’t have the interest or desire to handle ALL the important city issues.  Plus, Lakeway politics must stay LOCAL and not be diverted into some EXTREME AND DIVISIVE NATIONAL AGENDA, so please keep that in mind as you evaluate them. Finally, the 2 men on the ballot have been on Council the last 4 years, so my advice is to consider exactly what they have done in that time to take care of Lakeway and improve your quality of life; if nothing much comes to mind, maybe it is time for a change.

Starting in March and heating up in April, there will be question/answer surveys published, from League of Women Voters and Impact Magazine.  Groups will also sponsor forums (in person, I hope, and not just via Zoom).  These will be publicized here and on my campaign’s Facebook page.  https://www.facebook.com/Nina4Lakeway

And, if YOU would like to host a small gathering, I would be happy to come and talk about Lakeway’s current issues, things coming up for review by the city, and more.  Just let me know!

Here is an item from my Policies page:

Sidewalks are good, and Lakeway should have more of them. 

Residential streets without sidewalks can be dangerous.  I walk a couple hours every morning, and I get all over Old Lakeway.  We have groups walking for their health, joggers wearing earbuds who cannot hear oncoming traffic, folks with dogs on leashes, parents pushing strollers, kids going to school or bus stops, and more.  I have seen many close calls.  Maybe it was fine decades ago when Lakeway got started, but now it is a problem for pedestrians to be sharing our tight and twisty roads with cars.

At a recent Council meeting, I suggested during Citizens Participation that the code be amended to require sidewalks in all new residential developments. 

I also asked the city to look into fixing some of our existing streets that need sidewalks the most.  Start by seeking input from residents on what roads really need sidewalks and then have Public Works assess options for those streets.  Only one side of the street is fine, and it doesn’t have to be the entire street—just where walking on the street is dangerous.  All of Lakeway’s residential streets can’t be fixed, obviously; retrofit is difficult and expensive.  But, to the extent some sidewalks are installed where really needed, Lakeway will be a better place to live.

Keep an eye on the Policies page, as MUCH MORE will be added soon. https://www.nina4lakeway.com/about-4  Be warned, I go into detail, not only stating my position but demonstrating how I got there. I believe in showing my work. Personally, I’m disappointed when candidates point at a problem, offer platitudes, and then act like they have accomplished something.

Follow my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Nina4Lakeway If you want a yard sign delivered, let me know. nina4lakeway@gmail.com Donations are gratefully accepted; they will help me win a seat in this crowded election. –Venmo: @Nina4Lakeway –PayPal: There is a PayPal button on the campaign website (link above). –Check: Make it out to Nina Davis Campaign Fund and contact me for the mailing address or to have it picked up.

Let’s Make Lakeway Even Better!

Garage Sale

Lakeway’s next city-wide indoor garage sale happens on Saturday, March 5, 2022.  It runs 8AM to noon, at the Activity Center on Cross Creek.

POSTPONED–Fun Run/Walk for Animals

Texas Animal Fund’s Fun Run/Walk at Lakeway City Park was scheduled for Feb. 26.  Bad weather forced postponement until Saturday, March 5.  Funds raised will benefit a spay/neuter program in the Rio Grande Valley, where the level of unaltered cats and dogs is critical.  Go here for details and to register to participate or sign up as a volunteer: https://www.texasanimalfund.org

Lakeway Council met Tuesday, Feb. 22.

RESULTS are in ALL CAPS. Councilmember Trecker was absent.

ITEM 12: Feb. 25, 2022, was DESIGNATED AS Jerry Hietpas Day.

ITEM 13: Police Chief Glen Koen was SWORN INTO OFFICE.

ITEM 14: Citizens Participation for items NOT on the Agenda. 3 PEOPLE SPOKE

ITEM 16: Creating an Aviation District Study Committee (with 6 members), and appointing Mayor Kilgore, Councilmember Vance, and Assistant City Manager Molis as the city’s 3 members.  Instead of a study committee, Council decided to create a REGULAR COMMITTEE OF 7 RESIDENT VOLUNTEERS, WITH EACH COUNCIL MEMBER TO NOMINATE SOMEONE AT THE MARCH 21 COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 17: Update from the Wildlife Advisory Committee. COUNCIL ACCEPTED THE COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATION THAT NO ACTION BE TAKEN TO CONTROL THE DEER HERD, AS THE RECENT SURVEY FOUND IT TO BE STABLE IN SIZE AS WELL AS HEALTHY, SUGGESTING CONTINUED DATA COLLECTION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION AS TO DEER AND OTHER WILDLIFE INCLUDING COYOTES.

ITEM 18: Special Use Permit for a medical lab [TABLED from the previous meeting].  UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED

ITEM 20: Replat of 1303 Teck Circle, in the ETJ.  APPROVED 5:1

ITEMS 21 and 22: Second Reading of requests to approve changes to the Eastside Landings Development Agreement and grant R-1 and R-1* zoning for 43 acres at 17301 Flint Rock Road. The development changes (Item 21) were APPROVED 4:2. The zoning changes (Item 22) were UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

Addendum item A.1 Memorial Day.  COUNCIL AGREED TO MOVE THE CITY’S MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE FROM THE TRADITIONAL FRIDAY TO THAT MONDAY.

Executive Sessions:

–ITEMS 25 and 26: Executive Sessions to consider matters relating to the Police Department and a Lakeway MUD property request.

–Addendum items A.2 Executive Session on litigation (new lawsuit, King vs. City of Lakeway) and A.3 Executive Session on security issues of city officials.

NO ACTION TAKE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION OR LATER AS OF ANY OF THE 4 ITEMS.

ADJOURNED 12:59am

Go here to watch the Council meeting online:  https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/155043 Go here for the Agenda, Meeting Packet and Presentation: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx

Texas elections 

March 1 primary election

Early voting is over for the March 1 PRIMARY RACES.  If you haven’t voted, be sure to do so on Tuesday, March 1.  Lakeway’s polling place on Election Day is the Activity Center.

As of today, Feb. 26, only 7% of the registered voters in Texas had cast a ballot.

Go here to see your ballot and get answers to all your election questions: https://www.texastribune.org/2022/01/17/texas-primary-election-2022-voter-guide/?mc_cid=96c4eebded&mc_eid=fc281ae7cc

Go here to see how redistricting changed voting districts for you in the various races. https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2021/texas-redistricting-map/

The League of Women Voters has published its guide, with detailed profiles on all the candidates.  Given redistricting changes and especially with some of the down ballot races that have gotten less publicity, this guide provides info to help you make your decisions.   Here is the link: https://lwvaustin.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=334869&module_id=474680

May 7 municipal election

VOTE FOR NINA  VOTE FOR NINA  VOTE FOR NINA  VOTE FOR NINA   VOTE FOR NINA

Actually, I covered the who-to-vote-for thing at the top of this blog….  Do your research!

The May 7 election will include 2 state-wide propositions related to property taxes going to school districts.  One would reduce property taxes paid to public schools by elderly and disabled Texans.  The other would raise Texas’ homestead exemption from $25,000 to $40,000 for school district property taxes.  Texas voters will decide whether to lower some property tax bills in May election 2/17/22 https://www.texastribune.org/2022/02/16/texas-school-property-tax-school-election/

Daring Mighty Things

After a full year, the mini chopper called Ginny is still flying high.  1 year later, Ingenuity helicopter still going strong on Mars 2/17/22  https://www.space.com/nasa-ingenuity-mars-helicopter-one-year-anniversary

Back to me….  

Running for office has its ups and downs, that’s for sure. Also, it is exhausting. But fun! Once the primary election has passed, attention will turn to the local races, and there are already some events planned. Exciting times to come!

Have a few minutes and need to clear your head?  Name some colors.  This site will show you a “new” color, and you can suggest a name for it—something that would be used on paint samples.  The name has to be unique, so you’ll need to be creative to get a name accepted. Oddly soothing, or maybe just odd…. https://colornames.org/color/07c7a0

Here’s a good book I recently finished (available at Lake Travis Community Library):

Something to Hide (2022), by Elizabeth George—This isn’t an easy read, given the plot revolves around FGM, but as always the author beautifully writes a complex mystery for Lynley and Havers to solve in modern-day London.

Our deer are relieved that the annual survey results confirmed the herd is stable in size, as well as healthy.  Plus, the ones I see regularly are happy and loving Lakeway, just like the rest of the residents.  Here are a few recent photos.

The Coronavirus   

Worldwide, ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­countries fall into 2 wildly different categories: waving bye-bye to Covid or awash in the pandemic.

In the UK, it was announced on Feb. 20 that Queen Elizabeth, age 95, was ill with Covid-19.  She has cancelled activities since then.  Prince Charles contracted Covid-19 for the second time in mid-February, and his wife, Camilla, also tested positive; they had mild cases due to vaccination. At the same time, the UK ended nearly all its Covid restrictions.

Europe is moving on from Covid—or trying to do so.  Many countries (Germany, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Slovakia, Poland) are lifting restrictions currently or over the next 2 weeks. Italy will end restrictions March 31.

Per the World Health Organization, the subvariant of Omicron, BA.2 is now the dominant variant in China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Philippines.  BA.2 is even more contagious that Omicron.

Hong Kong is experiencing a fierce surge.  Lines for testing circle soccer fields.  Patients are overflowing hospitals out onto sidewalks and parking lots; the government retained 10,000 hotel rooms to use for patients.  Officials there avoided mandates, trying to “live with Covid,” in part as rebellion against China’s rigid restrictions.  The elderly In Hong Kong are at high risk, as that group is not well vaccinated.  In an effort to control spread, the government announced that the entire 7.5 million population will be tested 3 times during the month of March.

South Korea on Feb. 18 reported over 100,000 new daily cases, for the first time in the pandemic.

Singapore is re-instituting restrictions, as another surge hits.

In the US, in the last 2 weeks, cases have decreased 63%, hospitalizations are down 44%, and deaths decreased 23%.  We are averaging 68,000new cases per day.  55,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with Covid, and the death rate averages 1,800 people per day.

The continued high death rate remains disproportionately large in Republican areas of the country, due to the continued partisan slant on vaccination.

Omicron’s high death toll is surprising, given the early determination its infections were milder than other variants.  It killed mainly unvaccinated people, which is no surprise.  Most of the dead are in their 30s and 40s with no underlying health issue—and that is a huge surprise.

In January, more people caught Covid-19 WHILE HOSPITALIZED than ever before during the pandemic.  Each week in January, over 3,000 patients hospitalized for other things caught Covid.

Washington, D.C., New Mexico and Maryland are relaxing mask rules.  Washington state will end mask mandates in March.  That will leave Hawaii as the only state mandating masks.

Virginia’s new Republican governor has banned masks requirements in schools and is limiting remote instruction.

Omicron is fading, and many businesses are yet again looking at return-to-office schedules.  Microsoft is leading the pack, along with many national banks.  Several such schedules have evaporated during the surges of the last 2 years.

On Feb. 25, the CDC issued new guidelines for countries to use in calculating risk factors of high, medium and low.  This, in turn, allows the populace to know whether we should wear masks, avoid indoor spaces, and social distance.  Vaccinated people only need to mask and follow other precautions in high-risk situations.  Unvaccinated people need to do so all the time.  To calculate the risk factor, counties consider new Covid hospitalizations, percentage of hospitalizations for Covid vs. other causes, and the rate of new Covid cases per 100K people during the last week.  As a result, about 70% of the US population is now at low to medium risk and need not take precautions IF vaccinated.  This does apply to schools, essentially cancelling mandatory masking in school.  But, the federal rule requiring masks on public transportation, including on airplanes, is still in effect, though under review.

In Texas, the current positivity test rate is 7%.  In the last 2 weeks, cases decreased 65%, hospitalizations dropped 46%, and deaths fell 19%.  We are averaging 5,800 new cases and 164 deaths daily.  As of now, there are nearly 5,400 Texans hospitalized for Covid-19. 

Travis County dropped to Stage 4 of the Austin Public Health risk-based guidelines last week due to a lower number of hospitalizations.

Vaccinations–the safe path to herd immunity

Worldwide, 10.7 billion shots have been given, with 56% of the planet’s population fully vaccinated. 

Sweden advises people 80 and over get a second booster.

Two UK studies found that vaccinated people were less likely to develop LONG COVID (medium or long term fatigue, headache, weakness in the limbs, muscle pain, hair loss, dizziness, shortness of breath, loss of smell, lung scarring).  Plus, people who already have long Covid often find symptoms ease after being vaccinated.

In Canada, the long-running anti-vax protests staged by truckers blockading numerous border crossings and occupying the nation’s capital city of Ottawa were finally countered by the government in the last week.  After emergency measures were enacted, police made hundreds of arrests and hauled away vehicles. During the weeks of the siege, the movement morphed from vaccination complaints to more general anti-government rants.  Many protesters wore body armor and were armed, some carrying assault rifles.  Overall, it became Canada’s Jan. 6, sparking illegal activity and violence distinctly out of character for the Canadian populace, known as unfailingly nice and typically law-abiding.

Israel is opening up to unvaccinated tourists, as of March 1.  Tourists must pass 2 PCR tests—before departure and after arrival.

In the US, 65% of the entire population is fully vaccinated.  Average shots administered per day decreased to 372,000.  94 million booster shots have been given.

A new, two-shot Covid vaccine demonstrates 75% efficacy against moderate disease, and 100% efficacy against severe disease.  It may be an effective booster for other vaccines.  Created by European companies Sanofi and GSK, this is a traditional vaccine and not an mRNA product.  The manufacturers received billions of dollars for development from Operation Warp Speed early I the pandemic, and they will apply for authorization for the vaccine from European and U.S. regulators.

On Feb. 14, New York City fired 1,400 workers (less than 1% of the city’s workforce), for failing to get vaccinated.

Tyson Foods is starting to relax is mask requirement for fully vaccinated workers.

Coachella and Stagecoach festivals announced there will be no mask or vaccination requirements for attendees this year, and no testing will be done.

In the US, a 4^th booster is not planned in the foreseeable future, with experts saying adequate immunity will last months to years after 2 or 3 shots, particularly the T-cell response.

In Texas, only 60% of all residents are fully vaccinated.  

Recent Covid articles I recommend…. 

CDC eases masking recommendations for 70% of country, including inside schools 2/25/22 https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/cdc-eases-masking-recommendations-70-country-including-inside/story?id=83111596

Got a Covid Booster? You Probably Won’t Need Another for a Long Time 2/21/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/21/health/covid-vaccine-antibodies-t-cells.html

Who is dying of COVID amid omicron surge and widespread vaccine availability? 2/21/22 https://abcnews.go.com/Health/dying-covid-unvaccinated/story?id=82834971

Experts warn ‘not to get too cocky’ as US contemplates life after Covid 2/20/22 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/20/us-covid-coronavirus-mask-mandates-warning-experts

How Long Covid Exhausts the Body 2/19/22 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/02/19/science/long-covid-causes.html

Nowhere is safe: Record number of patients contracted Covid in the hospital in January 2/19/22 https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/19/covid-hospitals-data-00010283

Red Covid, an Update 2/18/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/18/briefing/red-covid-partisan-deaths-vaccines.html

Vaccination reduces chance of getting long Covid, studies find 2/15/22 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/15/vaccination-reduces-chance-of-getting-long-covid-studies-find

Controlled studies ease worries of widespread long Covid in kids 2/14/22 https://www.statnews.com/2022/02/14/controlled-studies-ease-worries-widespread-long-covid-kids/

In Lakeway 

May 7 Council election

Let’s Make Lakeway Even Better!

Nina4Lakeway!  Check out my WEBSITE: https://www.nina4lakeway.com/ and my FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/Nina4Lakeway

SIGNS are going up, BIG roadside signs and yard signs.  If you want a yard sign delivered, let me know nina4lakeway@gmail.com

Donations are gratefully accepted; they will help me win a seat in this crowded election.

–Venmo: use @Nina4Lakeway

–PayPal: There is a PayPal button on the campaign website (link above).

–Check: Make it out to Nina Davis Campaign Fund and contact me for the mailing address or to have it picked up.

Here is a brand new POLICY POSITION for my campaign—it isn’t even on my campaign site yet.  (Full details on the development proposal are below under Special Joint City Council & Zoning & Planning Commission Meeting.)

The Stratus proposal to (finally) complete The Oaks and connect Main Street

In my opinion, rejecting the proposal would be a financial disaster and a transportation nightmare for Lakeway.

Anyone worried about the density of this development needs to realize that far worse has already been approved and is on the way for that area.  Rejecting this proposal on density grounds would do no good.  But, it would do a great deal of harm–we would lose Main Street.

I’m not happy about it, but (based on what is known now) I think Lakeway should take the deal.  BUT, don’t bother pretending it is a great development or that residents favor it.  Admit that it is extortion by Stratus, enabled by the gross mismanagement of past administrations, such that we are stuck with numerous dense projects AND we now have no good options to get Main Street connected.  If the city builds that segment of Main Street and the bridge, the cost for engineering and construction is estimated at $5MIL.  Sure, the city could sue Stratus, but litigation is never the quick, simple or cheap way to get results.

Before signing anything, the city should at least try to negotiate and improve the development.  Items really needed include reducing the number of apartments as needed so that the buildings are 3-story and NOT 4-story, more workforce housing (15-25% instead of the paltry 5% offered), moving the townhouses to the apartment side so the park is a full 16 acres, generous parking areas so everyone can use the park, and a trolley to connect that entire area to The Square at Lohmans above and The Oaks shopping area below. 

The documentation must be airtight as to the timeline for start and completion of the road, with heavy fines if violated.  Also, make it clear that no additional variances will be approved down the line, so Stratus doesn’t nickel and dime the city to death like Legend Communities habitually does.

For complete info and to see how I came to this conclusion, read the material below under Special Joint City Council & Zoning & Planning Commission Meeting.

Town Hall Series

The City is hosting a series of Town Halls with City Manager Julie Oakley.  Four meetings are planned for 2022, and the first will be on Thursday, Feb. 17, 5:30-6:30PM, at City Hall.  The discussion with CM Oakley and various city staff members will cover local development, along with permits, code compliance and other aspects of the building & development services department.  The event can be watched online here– https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events

Fun Run/Walk for Animals

Texas Animal Fund is hosting a Fun Run/Walk at Lakeway City Park on Feb. 26.  Funds raised will benefit a spay/neuter program in the Rio Grande Valley, where the level of unaltered cats and dogs is critical.  Go here for details and to register to participate or sign up as a volunteer: https://www.texasanimalfund.org

Lake Travis Community Library DELIVERS

The library offers a Monthly Home Delivery service.  Patrons who are unable to visit the library or bookmobile due to diminished mobility can pick favorite authors with current titles, and they will be delivered by a volunteer.  If you or someone you know needs this service, call at (512) 263-2885 for details and sign-up.

Special Joint City Council & Zoning & Planning Commission Meeting held Feb. 9.

Starting with some history, Stratus developed the commercial part of The Oaks (HEB and the rest) back in 2015, then ignored the residential portion of the project, as well as failing to build Main Street heading toward Lohmans.  For over a year now, the city has strongly urged Stratus to complete the project, Main Street in particular.

The meeting was informative, yet incredibly frustrating.  Here are the highlights:

–For the 24-acre tract (sitting between HEB and Legend’s very dense City Center development approved in 2021) the NEW PROPOSAL is for 261 multifamily units (1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, with amenities) in 5 buildings up to 4 stories high, on the Birrell side of Main Street, plus 28 townhouses (2 or 3 stories) and a 14-acre park on the Rolling Green side of Main Street.  With a total of 289 units, that comes to 12 units per acre (which is medium density).

–Compare this to what was approved in the Stratus PUD back in 2014—100 patio homes, a 200-room 5-story hotel, and assorted tidbits no one recalls at this point (but NO PARK).  That comes to 300 units on 24 acres—slightly MORE dense than the new proposal.

–As to dense development, the City Manager showed a drawing of ALL the developments in the Lohmans/Main Street area.  Several of them—some built, others on the way, and a few likely dead on the vine—were already approved with more dense housing than 12 units per acre.  Looking at that patchwork of disjointed city planning over the last decade should make us all weep.

–Stratus has zero interest in building the patio homes and hotel, so unless the city agrees to changes, nothing will happen—just like nothing has happened since HEB and The Oaks were allowed to open without adequate roadways to handle the traffic.  That includes Main Street; thanks to mishandling by city officials back in 2014-15, the legal document requiring Stratus to build the road WAS NOT SIGNED. 

–The Main Street segment on this tract goes over a creek.  Turns out the area is environmentally sensitive.  So, traditional bridge construction with pilings in the creek bed would require state and federal environmental review; that equals YEARS of delay in building the bridge and the road.  The solution is $$$$$.  It will cost roughly an additional $1.8 Mil to build the bridge spanning 140 feet over the creek, bringing the cost to build the bridge up to $3.1 Mil. Stratus says the 26 townhomes are needed to pay for the extra cost to build the bridge without triggering environmental concerns and delays.

–Stratus indicated that, once agreement is reached and the PUD changes are approved, it could complete the fancy bridge and its segment of a 4-lane Main Street in about 1 year.  After that, building of the rest of the development would commence.  Legend is committed to completing its segment of Main Street by November of 2023.  The long-threatened widening of 620 through Lakeway remains an ominous cloud over the city, with no hard timeline.

And these are my primary concerns:

–The Stratus rep was vague and inaccurate, corrected multiple times by officials and city staff on many different points.  To every suggestion, he sort of agreed, even when he should have said “No.”  That is never good….  Overall, my impression was the proposal isn’t very serious, and I question if Status would really move forward promptly, if the city agreed.  Is this just another delaying tactic, trying to keep the city from suing?  The PUD Committee has been working with Stratus for a long time now, so they are in the best position to judge.  But, if Stratus is screwing around, then the city needs to cut bait, build the bridge and the road, and then sue Stratus to recoup some of the cost.

–The city needs to be SURE Stratus is right about the bridge issue and capable of building it without triggering environmental concerns and resulting delays. 

–The city must nail Stratus down to a timeline for start and completion of Main Street, with heavy and enforceable fines if dates are missed.  The same goes for the bridge issue.

–I’m happy to see high-end apartments in the center of town.  Seniors downsizing or escaping yard work, as well as newcomers to town, need that option.  Plus, residents sick of paying high property taxes will have a local apartment alternative.

–Stratus agreed to 5% of the apartments being in some form of work-force/affordable housing program. That is only 13 units, which is ridiculous.  The city should negotiate that up to 10% or 20%.  Our business owners are unable to hire restaurant and retail workers, due to the lack of housing awful commute, and Lakeway will benefit if our teachers, first responders and medical workers are able to live in our community.

–As far as traffic—who can really say at this point?  A traffic study will be done.  People living in this development may well drive less, due to the nearly amenities.  That is doubly true for those who also work here; they will no longer be commuting.  The graphic showing the many dense development already approved in the area—Legend’s Square on Lohmans and all the rest—makes it clear that Lakeway officials have been approving dense development for decades. Hitting the brakes now—and sacrificing Main Street—might be emotionally satisfying, but is it logical?

–Walkability was mentioned a lot, but walking is feasible here for less than half the year.  Have Stratus look into running a trolley, looping from HEB, past the park, up between the apartments and the town homes, and even connecting to Legend’s mess above. 

— I REALLY want that park, for all of us.  Residents are always asking for more green space and natural areas, for public use and as breathing room for our wildlife.  Well, this would be 12 acres of it, right in the center of town, including a gorgeous pond.  And surely the park would be a boon to the homes on neighboring Rolling Green, who have long fought building next to them.  BUT, generous parking areas, along Main Street and down at the bottom on the park must be added, so people from all over town can use it.

In the end, there was no vote, as this was just a work session.  Council agreed city staff should continue working with the developer with an eye to moving forward, also working on communicating all this to residents and gathering feedback.  As always, I urge people to watch the meeting and form their own opinions.  https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/154254

Texas elections 

Early voting is Feb. 14-25 for the March 1 PRIMARY RACES.  Dems and Reps choose candidates to face off in November for congressional and legislative offices, plus State Board of Education and judicial seats.  Feb. 18 is the last day to apply to vote by mail in this election. 

Lakeway’s early voting location is Lake Travis ISD Educational Development Center, 607 Ranch Road 620 North; this is near Kollmeyer and Lake Travis Elementary School  But, you can vote at ANY early voting location in Travis County. Go here to see your ballot and get answers to all your election questions: https://www.texastribune.org/2022/01/17/texas-primary-election-2022-voter-guide/?mc_cid=96c4eebded&mc_eid=fc281ae7cc

This 7-minute video covers the 3 Republicans trying to beat Ken Paxton in the March primary for Attorney General, by hammering Paxton as unfit to serve due to the multiple federal indictments pending against him for many years now.  Watch: Embattled Attorney General Ken Paxton fights for political life in GOP primary 2/4/22  https://www.texastribune.org/2022/02/03/ken-paxton-attorney-general-primary-texas/

Daring Mighty Things 

NASA scientists have started the 7-phase alignment process on the Webb telescope, now orbiting Earth 1 million miles out.  Estimates put operational status at late summer.   The alignment of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has begun 2/3/22  https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-alignment-begins

Back to me….  

Running for Council is definitely interesting—as in the Chinese curse: May you live in interesting times. 

Just in case I am not the LAST person on the planet to stumble onto Wordle, give it a try. (It is a good thing there is only 1 word per day, or I would get NOTHING done). https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html

Loving the figure skating at The Olympics.  Nathan Chen’s blowout win was sweet redemption!  Watch his awesome long program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zVL9WY3dUw The latest Russian doping scandal is shocking but not really a surprise; Russia is currently banned from international competition due to widespread state-sponsored doping scheme at the 2014 Olympics.  However, Russian athletes are allowed to compete if they prove they are drug-free.  Clearly, some Russian athletes are finding ways to compete with drugs on board.  Figure skating has long been rife with bizarre doings, from Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan’s whacked knee in 1994, through MANY sexual abuse allegations, to the judging scandal in 2002 that resulted in gold medals awarded to TWO teams in the pairs competition.

Here’s a good book I recently finished (available at Lake Travis Community Library):

Robert B. Parker’s Bye Bye Baby, by Ace Atkins (2022)—This is the 8^th book in Atkins’ continuation of Parker’s excellent Spenser detective series.  The first few books were a bit rocky, but Atkins has broken the code; in this one, he even got Hawk pitch-perfect.  I really needed some comfort fiction, and this book was perfect.

Our deer herd is happy and healthy.  Here are some recent photos.

The Coronavirus   

Worldwide, reported Covid-10 cases soared past the 400 million mark last week.

Countries are on wildly different paths now, some deep in the worst throes of Omicron infections and deaths, but others rushing to declare themselves done with the pandemic.

Poland’s Omicron surge is just beginning, with new cases skyrocketing; the country has only vaccinated 57% of the population, the lowest rate in Europe.  During the last 2 weeks, Iran reported new cases doubling every 24 hours; as of Feb. 4, half of its 290-member Parliament had Covid.  Since early February, Turkey has had record daily case numbers, with soaring deaths as well; Turkey’s president announced Feb. 5 that he and his family had Omicron.  Russia has reported new cases at record levels for weeks now, including Feb. 11 at 200,000 cases.  South Korea is also reporting more new cases than ever before.  On Feb. 4, Japan reported 100,000 daily cases, a new record. Hong Kong’s Covid surge has resulted in severe restrictions including business closures, a ban on public gatherings, and mandatory use of an app that requires proof of vaccination to enter shopping and restaurant districts.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada tested positive on Feb. 1, along with family members; fully vaccinated and boosted, he was in isolation after being exposed. 

As of Feb. 4, India’s Omicron surge had crested, with daily infections finally starting to decline.

Many European countries, including Britain, France, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, and Denmark, are essentially ending their Covid restrictions.  This is generally due to a combination of high vaccination rates, sharp Omicron downturn, insecure politicians, and overwhelming public exhaustion over all things pandemic.

Australia, with 95% of adults vaccinated, has lifted lockdowns and stopped contact tracing, indicating the country is ready to live with Covid.  Its citizens aren’t so sure; Facebook groups are doing their own contact tracing, and people in many areas remain at home.

China is strictly policing The Olympics, making every attempt to keep Covid from passing to Chinese residents.  All participants (from athletes to media) arrive in the country via special planes and are met by medical personnel in hazmat suits.  After passing rigorous testing, the participant is assigned to a bubble that ONLY includes the competition venue/assigned housing/official transportation in between; no shopping, sight-seeing or restaurants are allowed.  And, the housing facilities are surrounded by 10’ fences with armed guards.  Everyone is tested daily; that comes to over 70,000 tests done PER DAY.  Several headline athletes have tested positive, forcing last minute withdrawal from competition.  To keep human workers to a minimum, robots perform many cleaning and food service duties.  The human workers who are in the bubbles will live there inside 2 months; they will quarantine when the games are over, not allowed to go home until March.

In the US, in the last 2 weeks, cases have decreased 66%, hospitalizations are down 33%, and deaths decreased 2%.  We are averaging 187,000 new cases per day.  99,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with Covid, and the death rate averages 2,400 people per day.

Last week, the US passed the milestone of 900,000 dead people from Covid-19.  That is like burying the entire population of San Francisco, or of Indianapolis.  The US has suffered more Covid deaths than any other country in the world, whether calculated by total numbers or proportion of population, despite free and safe vaccines being available to all for the past year. (Indeed, HALF the deaths occurred after vaccines were available, so those deaths were avoidable.)  Due to idiotic vaccine conspiracy theories and Omicron, the latest 100,000 of America’s pandemic death toll were added in under 2 months. Experts project the 1 million mark being reached by April.

Some states, especially those where Omicron hit early and has now eased, are relaxing Covid restrictions.  The strategy is to shift from the pandemic outlook to an endemic one, where people learn to live with Covid.  (Also, officials up for election soon or just desperate to shore up polling are looking to endear themselves to pandemic-weary voters.)  Delaware dropped its indoor mask rule last week, and it will drop mask rules for schools as of March 31.  New Jersey is dropping its statewide mask rule for schools as of March 7; however, localities will be allowed to require masks as needed.  New York dropped its statewide indoor mask rule last week.  Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Rhode Island followed suit.  California also signaled that rules on masking and mass gatherings will soon be modified. 

Amazon announced Feb. 11 that fully vaccinated employees could work without masks,

However, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Oklahoma are still recording record new case numbers, with overwhelmed hospitals.

Rapid tests will be available to Medicare enrollees, from local pharmacies at no charge.  This federal program should be running by early spring.

On Feb. 11, the FDA gave emergency approval to a new monoclonal antibody drug by Eli Lilly that effectively fights Omicron infections.  The drug, called bebtelovimab, is given as a quick intravenous injection by a health care provider and must be administered within seven days of the onset of symptoms.

In Texas, the current positivity test rate is 17%.  In the last 2 weeks, cases decreased 62%, hospitalizations dropped 30%, and deaths are up 23%.  We are averaging 16,000 new cases and 202 deaths daily.  As of now, there are nearly 10,000 Texans hospitalized for Covid-19. 

Vaccinations–the safe path to herd immunity

Worldwide, 10.3 billion shots have been given, with 54% of the planet’s population fully vaccinated. 

A big change in vaccines may be coming.  Researchers are experimenting with NASAL SPRAYS instead of shots.  This would deliver the vaccine directly to the location the virus invades and colonizes, providing early protection to vulnerable airways.  Also, this type of vaccine is easier to administer than an injection and is more appealing to many people.

Africa has only vaccinated 11% of its population.  Significant vaccine supplies are on hand, but funds are needed to organize distribution throughout the continent, in order to get shots in arms.

Australia is welcoming VACCINATED visitors, as of Feb. 21.

Austria is the first western country to require by law that all adults be vaccinated for Covid-19, starting Feb. 5.  Only very narrow medical exceptions exist.  By March, heavy fines will be assessed on those violating the law.  Currently 76% of the population is vaccinated.

Canadian truckers, protesting vaccine requirements, have staged blockades at several US border crossings over the last week.  The result is an increasingly serious stoppage of trade across the border.  US car manufacturers have shut down production due to the blockade.  If Canada allows this to continue, the US supply chain will be severely impacted.

In the US, 64% of the entire population is fully vaccinated (no change since January).  Average shots administered per day decreased to 569,000.  91 million booster shots have been given.

Moderna’s vaccine for adults was granted full use approval by the FDA on Jan. 31.  Pfizer’s vaccine received full use approval last August.

On Feb. 11, the FDA announced a 2-month delay in approval of vaccines for kids under 5, in order to collect more data.

GET BOOSTED.  The US lags all other wealthy nations in booster administration, with less than 30% of the population boosted.

Again, GET YOUR BOOSTER.  As have many other studies, the CDC found that being vaccinated strongly protects people from dying of Covid, but getting boosted takes the protection to a whole new level. Only 1 in a million boosted people die from Covid.

In 2020 and 2021, the leading cause of death among police officers in the US was Covid-19.  Vaccination rates are notoriously low among police.

T-Mobile will fire corporate employees not fully vaccinated by April 2, unless they received an exemption on medical, religious or state law ground.  Oddly, this does NOT apply to most workers at the company’s retail stores.

The US Army, with a 97% vaccination rate, is starting the process of dismissing roughly 3,000 service members who have failed to get vaccinated, as required by law.  The Navy, Air Force and Marines have already dismissed a miniscule number of unvaxed troops.  National Guard members are also required to be vaccinated, as part of the military’s combat readiness requirement, but they have another month to get vaccinated.

Since SCOTUS cravenly voided the OSHA mandate for vaccines in large businesses, companies are at the whim of state laws that vary widely.  So, Disney DOES require workers to be vaccinated in California, but it does NOT require workers to be vaccinated in Florida.  Plus, in Texas, asking CUSTOMERS about vax status can get a business fined or result in loss of state licensing.  Before, companies scouted states to locate in based on taxes and regulations; now, they must look at how state vaccination rules will impact them.

In Texas, only 59% of all residents are fully vaccinated (no change since January).   

Recent Covid articles I recommend…. 

Covid booster effectiveness wanes after 4 months, but still provides protection against hospitalization, CDC study shows 2/11/22 https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/11/covid-booster-effectiveness-wanes-after-4-months-but-still-provides-protection-study-shows.html

Vastly unequal US has world’s highest Covid death toll – it’s no coincidence 2/6/22 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/06/us-covid-death-rate-vaccines

US Covid death toll surpasses 900,000 2/4/22 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/04/us-covid-death-toll-surpasses-900000

“Light at the end of the tunnel”: Texas COVID-19 hospitalizations down as omicron wave appears to crest 2/2/22 https://www.texastribune.org/2022/02/02/TEXAS-OMICRON-HOSPITALIZATIONS/

U.S. Has Far Higher Covid Death Rate Than Other Wealthy Countries 2/1/22 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/02/01/science/covid-deaths-united-states.html

A Conversation with Dr. Fauci. 1/31/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/31/podcasts/the-daily/we-need-to-talk-about-covid-part-2-a-conversation-with-dr-fauci.html

In Lakeway 

Local election on May 7 will fill 3 Council seats.

To date, 6 residents have filed to run.  Including Nina4Lakeway—that’s me!

Let’s Make Lakeway Even Better!  I’m happy to “Talk Lakeway” with one and all, to get a clear idea of the current issues and concerns residents have regarding our lovely city.  I would greatly appreciate your support. Yard signs will be available soon. https://www.nina4lakeway.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Nina4Lakeway Venmo: @Nina4Lakeway

Lakeway’s Wildlife web pages are ready!

The newly constituted Wildlife Advisory Committee was tasked with providing residents with helpful information on our deer herd and all the other wildlife we live with here in Lakeway. An education subcommittee was created, and we greatly expanded the existing pages. Now, there is a page for the DEER, covering everything from parked fawns to dangerous fences (and how to make them safe for animals and people). In addition, there is a page with sections on all our OTHER wildlife–coyotes, foxes, skunks, birds, snakes, and many more amazing creatures. You will find tips on co-existing with local wildlife, rescue help and info on rehabbers, links to additional resources, and much more. Of course, there are gorgeous photos, nearly all locally sourced.

Start on the deer page (link below). You can just scroll down for section after section, or use the left-side menu to jump around. Don’t forget to use that menu to access the Lakeway Wildlife page; you will see a list of species you might be curious about or need help with, and the left-side menu lets you navigate, as well.

Many thanks to the City’s Communication office for bringing our vision to life. Enjoy!  https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/…/Lakeways-White-Tail-Deer-Herd

City of Lakeway is HIRING.

There are 4 positions open at The Swim Center for the summer season—Head Lifeguard, Lifeguard, Swim Instructor, and Front Desk-Concession.  Plus, Lakeway is looking for a 911 Dispatcher for the Police Department.  Go here for info– https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/124/Current-Job-Openings

Oak pruning season ends Jan. 31 and will not return until July.

Pruning in the interim is dangerous to the trees, due to high risk of deadly oak wilt. There is also a city ordinance fining pruning done February-June.

RESULTS of Lakeway Council’s Jan. 18 meeting:

Lakeway Council met in Regular Session on Tuesday, Jan. 18.  All members attended; Councilmembers Smith and Mastrangelo did so remotely.  Consequential Agenda items include:

ITEM 9: Lake Travis Film Festival requests $43,000 of Hotel Occupancy Tax funds.  (POSTPONED from last meeting.) UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED

ITEM 10: Proposal to refund certain existing bonds and replace them with 1 large new bond at a better rate. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED

ITEM 11: Proposal to move forward with engineering services ($191,000) as to several transportation projects (roads, drainage, sidewalks).  UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED

ITEMS 14 and 15: Annexation into Lakeway from the ETJ and designation of R-1* zoning for 6.34 acres located at 314 Clubhouse Drive, with 16 single-family homes to be built per a Development Agreement.  UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED

ITEM 16:  Special use request for a medical lab on Cavalier Canyon Drive.  (TABLED from the last meeting after discussion, as Council had several questions for the owner, who was not able to attend that meeting.)  POSTPONED to the next regular meeting, so staff can gather information on safety procedures and equipment, waste disposal contracts, state license requirements, traffic expectations, and more.

ITEM 18: Revising the code to make the offices of physicians, dentists, optometrists, and chiropractors a permitted use by right in a commercial zoned space, while clarifying that medical offices such as rehab facilities, labs, and testing facilities remain conditional uses when within 300 feet of a residence or school, requiring Council approval.  (TABLED from the last meeting for staff to refine the language used.)  UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED

ITEM 19: First Reading: Amendment of Eastside Landing Development Agreement.  (POSTPONED from Council’s November meeting.)  NO ACTION TAKEN, SINCE FIRST READING, but there was considerable discussion on the requested changes to the development agreement and on the viability of a Flintrock Road connection.

ITEM 20: Discussion of communications strategy and new social media use policy.  (POSTPONED from the last meeting, as presenter was unavailable.)  The new social media policy was UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

ITEM 21: Approval of the May 7, 2022, city election, as terms are expiring for Councilmembers Higginbotham, Mastrangelo, and Smith.  UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED

ADJOURNED at 10:01pm.

Go here for the Agenda, Meeting Packet and Presentation— https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx

Go here to watch the Council meeting online– https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/153088

Texas elections 

This is a handy voters guide.  Texas’ primary election is March 1. Here’s what you need to know to vote. 1/17/22 https://www.texastribune.org/2022/01/17/texas-primary-election-2022-voter-guide/

Here are the details on the 3 Dems vying for Lt. Governor in the March primary.  Meet the three Democrats competing to oust Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick 1/26/22 https://www.texastribune.org/2022/01/26/texas-democrats-lt-governor-primary/

This article details contributions received by Paxton, Guzman and Bush, in addition to latecomer Gohmert.  Louie Gohmert said he’d run for attorney general if he could raise $1 million in 10 days. He didn’t get close. 1/20/22 https://www.texastribune.org/2022/01/20/louie-gohmert-texas-attorney-general/

How long will voters tolerate Paxton’s defiant malfeasance?  Attorney General Ken Paxton defies county official’s order to release records related to Jan. 6 Trump rally 1/21/22 https://www.texastribune.org/2022/01/21/ken-paxton-travis-county-jan-6-texas/

Daring Mighty Things 

On Jan. 24, the Webb telescope arrived at its L2 destination and entered Earth orbit roughly 1 million miles away.  WEBB update site: https://www.space.com/news/live/james-webb-space-telescope-updates

Back to me….  

Having never run for elected office before, I’m learning a lot.  There is so much to do, and much if it is way out of my comfort zone.  The saving grace is being surrounded by a team of really savvy and helpful people.  I’m confident I will be a good Councilmember, but most days I feel like a terrible candidate.  And, then—something good happens!  So, all’s well.

I’m seeing fewer deer these days, but that is the usual pattern this time of year.  Here are a few recent photos.

Just finished this excellent book (available at Lake Travis Community Library):

Justice on the Brink: The Death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Rise of Amy Coney Barrett, and Twelve Months that Transformed the Supreme Court (2021), by Linda Greenhouse—Fascinating analysis of the Supreme Court’s shocking shift on several areas of law, due to personnel changes on the bench, political upheaval, personal agendas, Covid-19, and more.  Greenhouse won a Pulitzer Price for her lifetime spent reporting on the court, and it shows in this book; SCOTUS is notoriously opaque, but Greenhouse teases out and explains every nuance, to make sense of what they rule AND when they don’t bother to do anything at all.

On the other hand, I gave up on Diana Gabaldon’s latest in the intriguing Outlander series, Go Tell the Bees that I Am Gone (2021).  I’m sure it is excellent, but at 902 pages, I can’t help thinking her editor needs to get to work; reading a book shouldn’t feel like perpetual bicep curls.  I’ll just watch the series unfold on Starz.

I’m looking forward to The Olympics, despite all the weirdness due to Covid and China.  I’ve been an avid figure skating fan since forever. Of the 4 skating disciplines, the US is a 2022 medal contender in Men’s and Ice Dance.  2022 Olympics: U.S. figure skating team, schedule, medal contenders 1/28/22  https://theathletic.com/news/2022-olympics-us-figure-skating-roster-schedule-medal-contenders/FSUMKOH5qN2f/

The Coronavirus   

Worldwide, the Omicron surge is subsiding in some areas, while still rising in others.

New cases on the continent of Africa dropped 20% during the last week. While some European countries are seeing cases decline, Eastern Europe is still in a worsening Omicron surge.  Nations reporting cases still on the rise include Russia, Germany, New Zealand, and Australia.  Russia broke its record for new cases several days in a row last week.

BA.2 is the new variant to watch.  It is an offshoot of Omicron and sometimes called Stealth Omicron.  The new strain has been found in over 40 countries including the US, Britain, and India. Denmark reports BA.2 caused 45% of recent infections there, is more contagious than Omicron, but does not cause more severe disease than Omicron.  This variant is still being studied, but so far the World Health Organization has not designated BA.2 a “variant of concern.”

New Zealand, the poster country for Covid success, announced a surge in Omicron cases on Jan. 22.  As a result, restrictions were imposed including mask wearing and gathering limits.  The Prime Minister also postponed her planned Jan. 29 wedding until the surge is contained.

The UK abruptly lifted most Covid restrictions on Jan. 19, including public masking, vaccine passes for large events, and working from home.  New cases are on the downturn in the country.  However, the move seems to be the Prime Minister’s effort to appease calls for resignation in light of an ugly scandal involving wild parties at Downing Street (then lying about it in a months-long cover-up), in violation of the Covid lockdown he had imposed on the nation.

Pacific island nations (including Kiribati, Samoa, Palau and Solomon Islands) are experiencing Omicron surges, after being largely Covid-free for the last 2 years.  Caribbean island countries are seeing more new cases than ever before during the pandemic.  Tourism is likely responsible for the spread in these areas.  Due to limited health care and remote locations, officials are highly concerned. 

Central and South American countries (including Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina) report sharp increases in cases and hospitalizations.

Bangladesh on Jan. 21 shut down all schools and colleges for at least 2 weeks, due to a rapid rise in new cases.

Canada’s Prime Minister went into isolation on Jan. 27 after being exposed to someone with Covid.

In China, as athletes and support personnel arrive for the Olympics, stringent testing is turning up a multitude of positive results, including after people have been living in the Olympic bubble for several days. As of Jan. 29, several athletes testing positive on the way to China have withdrawn from competition. On Jan. 22, Beijing residents were advised not to leave the area, due to a rash of Omicron cases found in the city; 2 million tests will be conducted there.  Back on Jan. 17, China announced that tickets to Olympic events will not be sold to Chinese citizens, due to fear of Omicron spread.  With foreign spectators already banned, officials said “screened spectators” (likely vaccinated government workers) would attend some events.  Meanwhile, all over the world athletes scheduled to compete at the Olympics are sequestered in training bubbles away from the public, many dropping out of interim competitions to avoid possibly catching Covid and being disqualified.  China has reason to worry about Omicron spread in that nation; the shots given in China are inactivated vaccines, which seem to be far less effective against Omicron than the mRNA activated vaccines.

In the US, in the last 2 weeks, cases have decreased 31%, hospitalizations are down 2%, and deaths increased 30%.  We are averaging 555,000 new cases per day.  149,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with Covid, and the death rate averages 2,500 people per day.

Omicron accounts for over 99% of new infections in the US, per the CDC on Jan. 22.  With new daily cases now well below mid-January’s 800,000 record, the Omicron surge has crested.  Improvement is clearest in the northeastern states where Omicron struck early on.  Several states scattered across the nation are still seeing rising infections and hospitalization, including Montana.

Death rates are still rising nationally, despite Omicron’s reputation for generally causing milder cases.  On Jan. 26, the country’s daily death count exceeded the high during the Delta surge. 

On Jan. 18, the federal site providing free test kits to Americans went live, a day early.  Each household can request that 4 free rapid tests be mailed by USPS.  (I ordered Jan. 18, and my 4 free tests arrived Jan. 25.)  https://special.usps.com/testkits

Starting the week of Jan. 23, free N95 masks were available to the public, at retail pharmacies and community health centers.  (Eventually a nation-wide program, this is rolling out regionally, and it doesn’t seem to have reached Central Texas yet.)   

All over the country, Broadway road shows of Hamilton, Harry Potter and more have shut down due to infections among the players.  Buffalo, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Baltimore and San Antoni had shows pause until Omicron passes.

NBC announced on Jan. 21 that ALL its Olympic coverage will be done remotely from a facility in Stamford, Connecticut. No play-by-play announcers, broadcast crews, etc. will travel to China, due to Covid concerns.

In Texas, the current positivity test rate is 31%, down slightly from the record 36% in mid-January.  In the last 2 weeks, cases decreased 29%, hospitalizations rose 16%, and deaths are up 72%.  We are averaging 44,000 new cases and 165 deaths daily.  As of now, there are 14,000 Texans hospitalized for Covid-19. 

As of Jan. 29, the Texas “hot spot” map is blazing pretty much EVERYWHERE.

For the period Jan. 9-18, Austin/Travis County posted record numbers of hospitalizations, more than ever before in the pandemic.  Over 70 Texas hospitals were out of ICU beds, during the week of Jan. 17.  On Jan. 27, Texas had the lowest available ICU capacity at any time during the pandemic.

While case numbers started falling last week, Austin Public Health issued a warning on Jan. 28 that the new Omicron variant, BA.2, has been found in Texas AND in our area.  It is spreading quickly. Even more contagious than Omicron, BA.2 could launch a fresh surge.

Vaccinations–the safe path to herd immunity

Worldwide, 10 billion shots have been given, with 52% of the planet’s population fully vaccinated. 

The billionth Covid-19 vaccine shot under the global Covax initiative was delivered on Jan. 15, in Rwanda.

Australia eventually booted unvaccinated tennis star Novak Djokovic out of the country prior to his playing in the Australia Open, for lying on his Visa application and being a public health risk and an all-around jerk. 

In Italy, nearly 2,000 doctors and dentists had their licenses suspended for failing to get vaccinated, as the national mandate requires.

Switzerland now reports Covid deaths in 3 categories—unvaccinated, fully vaccinated, and boosted.  This recent table shows that VACCINATIONS SAVE LIVES, and BOOSTERS SAVE EVEN MORE LIVES.

Pakistan is only allowing fully vaccinated people into mosques.

In France, officials are questioning whether patients who refused vaccination should have their Covid hospital bills paid by public insurance in the country’s universal healthcare system.

In the US, 64% of the entire population is fully vaccinated.  Average shots administered per day decreased to 865,000.  87 million booster shots have been given.

New Jersey mandated booster shots for prison, nursing home and hospital workers.

Starbucks no longer requires workers to be vaccinated or tested for Covid-19.  Adjust your beverage needs accordingly….

Department of Homeland Security is requiring proof of Covid-19 vaccination for ALL foreign travelers coming in via land ports of entry and ferry terminals from Mexico or Canada.  (Air travelers were already subject to this rule.) This means that the previous exceptions for foreign essential workers (truck drivers, nurses, students and others) are void, as of Jan. 22.

GET BOOSTED.  A recent US study found that booster shots kept people from being hospitalized due to Omicron 90% of the time. Boosters also reduced visits to ERs and urgent care centers.  Another study showed that unvaccinated Americans 50 years and older were 45 times more likely to be hospitalized that were people fully vaccinated and boosted.

In Texas, only 59% of all residents are fully vaccinated. 

Recent Covid articles I recommend…. 

New Research Hints at 4 Factors That May Increase Chances of Long Covid 1/26/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/25/health/long-covid-risk-factors.html

Charting an Omicron Infection 1/22/21 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/01/22/science/charting-omicron-infection.html

What we now know about lingering COVID-19 known as long COVID 1/23/22 https://www.statesman.com/story/news/healthcare/2022/01/23/what-we-now-know-lingering-covid-19-known-long-covid/6592875001/

Covid Hospitalizations Plateau in Some Parts of the U.S., While a Crisis Remains in Others 1/21/22 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/01/21/us/covid-hospitalizations.html

Booster shots are instrumental in protecting against Omicron, new C.D.C. data suggest. 1/21/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/21/health/cdc-covid-booster-omicron.html

How to Reuse N95, KN95, and Other Disposable Masks 1/20/22 https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/how-to-reuse-n95-kn95-and-other-disposable-masks/

In Lakeway 

Christmas tree recycling

Through Jan. 21, Lakeway residents can place trees on the curb, but they must be cut into 3-foot sections, for Waste Connection trash pick-up.  Please remove lights and decorations beforehand.

Art Display at LTCL

The art of Andy Hempel is on display at Lake Travis Community Library, in the meeting room.  The artist highlights Texas locations and icons.  Take the time on your next library visit to view the collection. 

A Night with the Austin Symphony Orchestra

Plan ahead for March 26, when the Austin Symphony Orchestra performs with Lake Travis High School students.  According to the city’s press release, ASO Maestro Peter Bay will conduct the performance with participation by Anna Macias, Director for the Lake Travis High School Orchestra, and Richard Hicks, Director for the Lake Travis High School Band. Brought to you by the City of Lakeway Arts Committee, this concert will take place at the Lake Travis Performing Arts Center on Saturday, March 26, at 7p.m. Tickets, $15-50, are on sale online at www.ltisdschools.org/finearts

RESULTS of Lakeway Council’s Jan. 3 meeting

I attended the first half of this meeting in person, watching the rest online.  Starting with an ominous comment made during Citizen’s Participation (Item 11) and culminating with several outrageous remarks against Item 24 (with accompanying misconduct in the gallery disrupting the meeting), I was both saddened and disgusted.  Certain people now living here fear the creation of housing options in Lakeway to allow people we desperately need to WORK here–including our police officers, firefighters and teachers–to afford to LIVE here.  This smug comment was actually made: “Let them commute!”  (Yet, as any thoughtful person knows, it is largely today’s excessive commuting that CAUSES our traffic problems.)  Anyone who doubts that bigoted privilege, intolerance, and ignorance exist in our lovely town need only listen to the comments made during Item 24.  To understand the origin and scope of the problem, also listen to the first comment during item 11’s Citizen’s Participation.  It looks like we have an ugly Council election ahead in May—but also a very important one.

All members were present for the meeting, though Mayor Kilgore and Councilmembers Smith and Trecker attended by video.  Mayor Pro Tem Mastrangelo helmed the meeting from the dais.  With RESULTS IN ALL CAPS, Consequential Agenda items included:

On Dec. 28, an addendum was published, adding an item to the Consent Agenda for appointment of the Board of Ethics Chair.  THIS AND THE REST OF THE CONSENT AGENDA UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

ITEM 6: The Consent Agenda includes a schedule for Council meetings in 2022.  It ONLY shows meetings on the 3^rd Monday, eliminating additional scheduled meetings on the first Monday of each month as have recently been held.  THIS AND THE REST OF THE CONSENT AGENDA UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

ITEM 9: Also in the Consent Agenda, ZAPCO meetings are moved to the first Wednesday of the month, instead of the second Monday of the month.  The reason is to better coordinate handling of issues first by ZAPCO and then by Council.  THIS AND THE REST OF THE CONSENT AGENDA UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

ITEM 11: Citizens Participation for items not on the agenda.  2 PEOPLE SPOKE.

ITEM 14: Waste Connections has requested a 2-year extension of its solid waste collection, recycling and disposal services contract, at the current rate, plus discussion of composting programs.  UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED (with details and pricing on composting options to follow soon).

ITEM 16: Lake Travis Film Festival requests $43,000 in Hotel Occupancy Tax Funding.  POSTPONED UNTIL NEXT MEETING (as LTFF’s representative could not attend tonight’s meeting).

ITEM 17: Sweetwater Development Agreement. In July, Council repealed a 2008 ordinance and thereby captured within the city’s ETJ property on Hwy. 71 not already claimed by City of Bee Cave. This includes the ongoing Sweetwater residential development. This agreement states Sweetwater can continue construction under Travis County rules and oversight, and Lakeway will not impose its building code.  UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

ITEM 18: Approval of final plat for Hillsong Planned Unit Development, 126 detached single-family homes on 22.859 acres and a commercial component with park amenities on 3.09 acres of land, located at the intersection of Flint Rock Road and Wild Cherry Drive.  UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

ITEM 19:  A special use request for a medical lab on Cavalier Canyon Drive turned unexpectedly controversial at the meeting, despite being unanimously approved by ZAPCO (with a limit on daily trips/traffic generated).  TABLED UNTIL NEXT MEETING (as Council had several questions for the owner, who was not able to attend tonight’s meeting). 

ITEM 20: Revising the ordinances as to permitting of non-residential fireworks displays and general fireworks rules.  This would bring the code up to date, require 10 days notice to the city, only allow aerial displays, limit displays to 10pm or earlier (except for 4^th of July and New Years celebrations), and set a $500 fine for all fireworks violations.  (Residential fireworks are still NOT allowed.)  UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

ITEM 21: Revising the PUD ordinance to require an approved preliminary plan within 12 months or the PUD zoning reverts to the original zoning, and to allow a PUD for less than 8 acres if ZAPCO recommends this and Council approves it.  UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

ITEM 22: Revising the building code to make medical offices a permitted use by right in a commercial zoned space (C-1 or C-2).  TABLED UNTIL NEXT MEETING (for staff to refine the language used).

ITEM 23: Revising the building code to make R-5 (condominium) an active zoning designation.  UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

ITEM 24: Revising the building code to designate R-8 zoning (multifamily residential, 12 units per acre maximum) as medium density, and to create R-9 zoning as high density multifamily residential (20 units per acre maximum).  PASSED 6/1 (Trecker voting against). 

ITEM 25: Discussion of communications strategy and social media use policy.  POSTPONED UNTIL NEXT MEETING (as presenter unavailable tonight).

ITEMS 26-28: Executive sessions on “Legal Issues Relating to Former City Attorney,” police department, and economic development.  COUNCIL WENT OUT FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 9:20. THE RECORDING ENDED THERE, WITH NO COVERAGE OF RETURN AND ADJOURNMENT. I have been assured that no action was taken on these items, with adjournment happening around 10:30pm.

Go here for the Agenda, Meeting Packet and Presentation— https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx

Go here to watch the Council meeting online— https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/152325

Lakeway Council meets in Regular Session on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 6:30pm, in-person at City Hall

Consequential Agenda items include:

ITEM 7: Citizens Participation.

ITEM 9: Lake Travis Film Festival requests $43,000 of Hotel Occupancy Tax funds.  POSTPONED from last meeting.

ITEM 10: Proposal to refund certain existing bonds and replace them with 1 large new bond at a better rate.

ITEM 11: Proposal to move forward with engineering services ($191,000 fee) as to several transportation projects (roads, drainage, sidewalks).

ITEMS 14 and 15: Annexation into Lakeway from the ETJ and designation of R-1* zoning for 6.34 acres located at 314 Clubhouse Drive, with 16 single-family homes to be built per a Development Agreement.

ITEM 16:  Special use request for a medical lab on Cavalier Canyon Drive.  TABLED from the last meeting after discussion, as Council had several questions for the owner, who was unable to attend that meeting.

ITEM 18: Revising the code to make the offices of physicians, dentists, optometrists, and chiropractors a permitted use by right in a commercial zoned space, while clarifying that medical offices such as rehab facilities, labs, and testing facilities remain conditional uses when within 300 feet of a residence or school, requiring Council approval.  TABLED from the last meeting for staff to refine the language used.

ITEM 19: First Reading: Amendment of Eastside Landing Development Agreement.  POSTPONED from Council’s November meeting.

ITEM 20: Discussion of communications strategy and social media use policy.  POSTPONED from the last meeting, as presenter was unavailable.

ITEM 21: Approval of the May 7, 2022, city election, as terms are expiring for Councilmembers Higginbotham, Mastrangelo, and Smith.

Go here for the Agenda, Meeting Packet and Presentation— https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx

To send comments to Council beforehand (by 3pm Tuesday) about any agenda item, go here and create a Public Comment Form– https://lakeway-tx.civicweb.net/Portal/CitizenEngagement.aspx

Go here to watch the Council meeting online (live or later)— https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events

Texas elections 

This article covers the start of the race for Governor.  Abbott, O’Rourke lead off election year with visits to border cities 1/8/22  https://www.texastribune.org/2022/01/08/texas-governor-abbott-orourke/

A lot has changed, for the 2022 election cycle in Texas.  This page shows how the redistricting changes impacted you— https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2021/texas-redistricting-map/

Go here and enter your address, to see your ballot for the March primary election—https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2022/texas-2022-election-ballot-primary/?mc_cid=303e225272&mc_eid=fc281ae7cc

Daring Mighty Things 

So far, things seem to be going well for the James Webb Space Telescope.  The complex unfolding process continues.  As of Jan. 15, it is 88% of the way to its destination orbit, about 1 million miles away from Earth.  Track Webb here—https://webb.nasa.gov/content/webbLaunch/whereIsWebb.html

This 14-minute video has everything you need to know about this incredible telescope and what it is expected to show us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shPwW11MEHg&t=4s

Back to me….

I had a closet full of extra paint from the home reno and decided to use it to freshen up my garage.  Sure, why not…  Over a month later (and after neck and back rebellions and a hand that still alternates spasms and numbness), it is DONE.  Walls, ceiling, trim, all the storage items, and floor.  The floor was the worst; scrubbing 25 years of oil and general grime off the concrete first was especially awful, but the results are outstanding.

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A good book I recently finished (available at Lake Travis Community Library):

Betrayal—The Final Act of the Trump Show (2021), by Jonathan Karl—Having read a lot of these books lately, by politicians and reporters, I figured I would just skim this one.  Nope—it turned out to be the best record of 2020’s politics to date.  Well written and carefully researched, it has considerable and well-sourced new information, presented rationally.  If you only read one of these political tell-all books—this should be it.

Rut season is done.  On my morning walks these days, the does are all sedately over here, and the bucks are all resigned to being over there….  It always amazes me how different our deer look in winter—their coats suddenly thick and rough, bleached out to mushroom gray instead of summer’s vibrant caramel.  Here are some recent photos.

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The Coronavirus   

Worldwide, the milestone of 300 million reported cases was passed. The global new case average was 2 million per day, for most of January to date.  Highest case numbers were recorded in Europe, the USA and Canada.

The W.H.O. projected that 50% of Europe would be infected with Omicron by the end of February.

The UK has reinstated an indoor mask requirement for schools and universities, in an effort to keep them open despite Omicron.  Also, the government is shipping air purification systems to educational institutions later this month. 

A UK study found that Omicron cases are half as likely as Delta to require hospitalization.  That is consistent with findings in other countries that Omicron infections are milder in most people, especially the fully vaccinated/boosted.

Ontario, Canada’s largest province, has shut down due to the Omicron surge.  Schools, indoor dining, theaters and other indoor gathering places are closed.

India’s major cities are seeing Omicron cases doubling daily.  Covid curfews and restrictions are at odds with the government continuing to hold political rallies.

Kuwait and Qatar are recording daily new case at record levels.

Japan requested US military bases there be locked down, to keep Covid surges from leaking into nearby Japanese communities.  In response, starting Jan. 10, US military personnel are confined to base except for essential activities.

Rio de Janeiro canceled street celebrations for Carnival.

Romania reinstated restrictions, including business closures and mandatory masking, trying to stem a surge of infections.

Sweden announced restrictions, including public gathering limits, early business closures, and requiring people to work from home whenever possible.

Italy operated under new restrictions as of Jan. 10, requiring proof of vaccination and upgraded masks to use mass transit or enter public places.  Working from home is strongly encouraged.

Rolls-Royce reports selling more vehicles in 2021 than ever before in 117 years of making luxury cars.  It credited the milestone to Covid-19 making people realize time is short so they should indulge while they can.

In the US, in the last 2 weeks, cases have increased 113%, hospitalizations are up 73%, and deaths increased 55%.  We are averaging 806,000new cases per day.  151,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with Covid, and the death rate averages 1,900 people per day.

On Jan. 4, over 1 million people tested positive for Covid-19, a record for the US.  Also, the US is the first country reporting that many new cases in a day. 

Experts tracking Omicron expect cases to peak during January.  New York and other areas hard hit early on seem to be peaking already.  Other parts of the country should peak later in January.

Yes, Omicron tends to cause milder disease than the other variants.  But, Omicron is still a huge problem, due to it being far more contagious.  The avalanche of cases sends hoards of people hospitals, at the same time, clogging the medical system.  If Omicron infects 5 times as many people as Delta, then even if these Omicron sufferers are only half as likely to need hospitalization, that is still a massive increase in hospitalizations.  The best explanation I’ve heard for Omicron’s counterintuitive results goes like this:  Think of Delta as an extremely powerful Category 5 hurricane; the results are terrible.  Think of Omicron as a Category 3 hurricane; the results are much less bad.  BUT, due to Omicron infecting so many people at the same time, there are FOUR Category 3 hurricanes, at once.  So, we’re back to terrible.  For a lot of good Omicron and Covid info presented clearly, listen to this podcast– Why Omicron is Counterintuitive 1/3/22  https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/03/podcasts/the-daily/omicron-variant-hospitalizations-cdc-isolation.html

Hospitals are filling up nationwide, many moving to crisis care standards as a result.  As always, the sickest patients are unvaccinated.  But, so far, officials are reporting fewer Covid patients ending up in ICUs and on ventilators; in addition, hospital stays are shorter with Omicron.  This supports the idea that Omicron creates a milder disease, for most people, with the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions at high risk. Still, hospitals are overwhelmed with Covid patients, in addition to dealing with seasonal flu patients and those who delayed handling various medical issues during the first 2 years of the pandemic.  Even patients hospitalized for another reason but testing positive for Covid have to be isolated, creating extra work and risk for staff.  The final puzzle piece is that hospital workers themselves are catching Omicron in huge numbers, just like the rest of the population, exacerbating staff shortages.  National Guard troops have been deployed in a dozen states to assist.

In late December, Maryland had a 500% increase in daily cases.  The accompanying 50% increase in hospitalizations caused several facilities to implement crisis-mode standards of care. Maryland declared a state of emergency on Jan. 4, due to more Covid hospitalizations now than ever before in the pandemic. 

New York’s hospitals were over-capacity as of Jan. 10.  As of Jan. 14, over 2 dozen states reported shortages of hospital beds in general and ICU beds in particular.  The most dire situations are in Alabama, Missouri, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Texas, Georgia, Maryland and Massachusetts.  Experts project 7 other states (including Texas and California) to be over-capacity by Jan. 20.

US territory Puerto Rica had a mind-boggling 4,600% increase in cases during December.  The incredible surge is blamed on a series of super-spreader concerts and other events leading up to the holidays.  Hospitalizations doubled mid-December, then doubled again at Christmas.  Restrictions have been put in place, but the crisis is expected to continue through January.

Chicago on Jan. 5 cancelled school due to conflict with the teachers’ union over Covid protections; schools finally reopened with increased safety procedures on Jan. 12. Many other school systems are delaying the post-holiday return to classes, either adding more days off or shifting to remote learning, due to high infection rates among staff as well as students.  Health concerns aside, many schools lack enough healthy personnel to operate.  Even NYC’s new mayor has stepped back from an earlier vow to continue in-person learning at any cost.

In NYC, over 20% of subway workers were out last week due to Covid.  As a result, multiple routes were closed or routinely delayed.

The Grammys were postponed, and Sundance Film Festival cancelled in-person events.

On Jan. 7, Royal Caribbean Cruises “paused” several of its scheduled cruises, due to widespread Covid infections.  Per the CDC as of Jan. 12, Covid cases increased 30-fold in the last 2 weeks.  Further, ALL the cruise ships now carrying passengers in US waters (roughly 100 ships) have reported enough Covid-19 cases to trigger CDC investigation.

In Texas, the current positivity test rate is a record shattering 36%, up from 26% as of 2 weeks ago.  In the last 2 weeks, cases have increased 314%, hospitalizations rose 114%, and deaths are up 80%.  We are averaging 62,000 new cases and 96 deaths daily.  As of now, there are 12,000 Texans hospitalized for Covid-19. 

Texas’ previous high positivity rate was 25%, back in early 2021.  The state is on track to shatter very soon the hospitalization record, set on Jan. 11, 2021, at 14,218 hospitalizations. 

On Jan. 6, Austin Public Health shifted the area to Stage 5, the most severe Covid situation with the strictest guidelines. Anyone NOT fully vaccinated and boosted should avoid indoor and outdoor gatherings and travel, and only participate in takeaway and curbside dining and in curbside shopping. Those who ARE fully vaccinated and boosted should wear a mask for all indoor and outdoor gatherings, when shopping and traveling, and when dining outdoors; further, they should only dine indoors with a mask at places that require vaccinations and masks.  Those fully vaccinated and boosted but at high risk for severe disease should avoid all indoor and outdoor gatherings and non-essential travel, wear a mask when dining outdoors, dine indoors with a mask only at places that require vaccinations and masks, and avoid all shopping except for takeaway and curbside.

University of Texas suspended in-person classes for the first 2 weeks of the spring semester. Instead, remote classes may resume Jan. 18.  Austin Community College announced on Jan. 6 that all classes that can operate remotely will do so, for at least 2 weeks.

For the entire week ending Jan. 14, the Austin area set new records for hospitalization rate, exceeding any other period in the pandemic.

Vaccinations–the safe path to herd immunity

Worldwide, 9.3 billion shots have been given, with nearly 50% of the planet’s population fully vaccinated. 

Israel offered a second booster shot to medical workers and people age 60 and over.  Experts there claim the 4^th shot gives a 5-fold increase in antibodies.

The UK decided against pushing a second booster to vulnerable people and instead is concentrating on getting all adults to take the first booster.

The latest studies on Omicron from the UK show that people with 2 Pfizer shots are 65% less likely to be hospitalized than unvaccinated people.  Add a booster shot, and you are 81% less likely to be hospitalized. So, just like Delta, Omicron proves vaccines work to minimize hospitalization and death.

In Italy, vaccination is now mandatory for those 50 and older.

Germany is requiring unvaccinated people AND those just missing a booster to provide a negative test before entering restaurants, cafes and similar establishments.

Qatar has banned unvaccinated people from entering shopping malls and restaurants and returned to distance learning for schools through January.

Greece has banned unvaccinated people from indoor spaces (restaurants, cinemas, museums, gyms, etc.) even with a negative test.  That will be expanded to include unboosted people as of Feb. 1.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron’s stated policy is to “irritate the unvaccinated by making their lives so difficult they get the jab.”  Also in France, anti-vaxxers pelted a French MP with seaweed after he supported Health Pass legislation.

Pope Francis urged Catholics to ignore vaccine misinformation and get the shots, declaring “health care is a moral obligation.”

In Canada, the province of Quebec saw shot appointments surge when it was announced that proof of vaccination would be required to enter liquor stores and pot shops.  In addition, Quebec will be assessing a fine on unvaccinated residents, designed to help compensate for additional expenses caused to the health system.

In the US, 63% of the entire population is fully vaccinated; 74% of adults are fully vaccinated.  Average shots administered per day increased to 1.3 million.  About 79 million booster shots have been given.

The CDC has been busy.  On Jan. 4, the CDC recommended a booster shot 5 months after the 2^nd Pfizer shot, instead of waiting 6 months.  (It is still 6 months after Moderna and 2 months after J&J.)  On Jan. 5, the CDC authorized kids age 12 and older to get a Pfizer booster.  Booster shots brought the definition of “fully vaccinated” into question; the CDC left that as meaning you got the 2 original shots, while being boosted means you are “up to date.”

The Mayo Clinic dismissed about 700 workers (a mere 1% of its staff) for failing to get vaccinated by the stated deadline.  As the world-renown health system with facilities in MN, FL and AZ stated: “The needs of the patient come first.”

New York state is requiring health care workers to get boosters.

On Jan. 13, the Supreme Court upheld the Biden administration’s rule that medical facilities receiving federal funds (Medicare/Medicaid) require health care workers be vaccinated.  However, the Supreme Court at the same time struck down OSHA’s requirement that businesses employing 100 or more workers be vaccinated or tested weekly.

The benefit of vaccine mandates is demonstrated by United Airlines’ recent announcement that, in the 8 weeks since requiring workers be vaccinated, ZERO WORKERS DIED FROM COVID, despite Omicron’s surge.  Pre-mandate, United average 1 worker death per week.

In Texas, only 58% of all residents and 68% of adults are fully vaccinated. 

Recent Covid articles I recommend…. 

How to Find a Quality Mask (and Avoid Counterfeits) 1/14/22 https://www.nytimes.com/article/covid-masks.html

Is your at-home COVID-19 test real? Know how to spot the fakes and where to find tests 1/13/22 https://www.statesman.com/story/news/healthcare/2022/01/13/your-home-covid-test-real-where-find-tests-and-spot-fakes/6510755001/

Is Omicron Peaking? 1/13/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/13/briefing/omicron-peak-us-northeast.html

Disruption, Dismay, Dissent: Americans Grapple With Omicron’s Rise 1/9/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/09/us/united-states-covid-pandemic-omicron.html

Austin has officially returned to Stage 5 of COVID guidelines 1/6/22 https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2022/01/06/austin-shifts-back-stage-5-guidelines-what-change-you/9114944002/

Lifesaving Covid Treatments Face Rationing as Virus Surges Again 1/6/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/06/business/covid-paxlovid-antibodies-omicron.html

Why Omicron is Counterintuitive 1/3/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/03/podcasts/the-daily/omicron-variant-hospitalizations-cdc-isolation.html

In Lakeway 

Christmas tree recycling

Through Jan. 7, Lakeway residents can take trees to Public Works (3303 Serene Hills Drive).   Gates are open 7am-3:30pm Monday through Friday.  (If outside open hours, place the tree near the front gate but not blocking the entrance.)

Through Jan. 21, Lakeway residents can place trees on the curb, but they must be cut into 3-foot sections, for Waste Connection trash pick-up.

Either way, please remove lights and decorations beforehand.

Winter Weather Preparedness Supply Give-Away

The Young Men’s Service League Cavalier’s Chapter at LTHS and Lakeway’s Office of Emergency Management are hosting a Winter Weather Preparedness supply give-away event on Saturday, Jan. 8, 10am-3pm, at the Lakeway Justice Complex parking lot (104 Cross Creek). Residents can pick up basic supplies including firewood bundles, blankets, hand wipes, water, first aid kits, space heaters, batteries, ER supply checklists, and more. Quantities are limited, and distribution is first-come, first-served. 

Special thanks to Council Member Laurie Higginbotham for organizing this timely event.  

City of Lakeway site and contact info

The city website is really a treasure trove of info.  Spend some time poking around so you know where things are located. https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/

Be sure to keep an eye on the calendar: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/Calendar.aspx

News items are here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx

Here is a good list of local resources: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/956/Resident-Resources

This page answers a lot of questions: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/577/How-Do-I

Agendas, meeting packets and minutes for Council and committee meetings are here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx

The City Charter and all our ordinances are here and searchable by topic: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/108/City-Charter-Code-of-Ordinances

If all else fails and you still need help, email info@lakeway-tx.gov  or call 512-314-7500.

Lakeway Council meets Monday, Jan. 3, 6:30pm at City Hall

If this looks familiar, that’s because this Agenda was sent out for the Dec. 20 meeting that was cancelled.  On Dec. 28, an addendum was published, adding an item to appoint the Board of Ethics Chair.  Consequential Agenda items include:

ITEM 6: The Consent Agenda includes a schedule for Council meetings in 2022.  It ONLY shows meetings on the 3^rd Monday, eliminating additional scheduled meetings on the first Monday of each month as have recently been held.

ITEM 9: Also in the Consent Agenda, ZAPCO meetings will be moved from the second Monday of the month to the first Wednesday of the month.  The reason is to better coordinate handling of issues first by ZAPCO and then by Council.

ITEM 11: Citizens Participation for items not on the agenda.

ITEM 14: Waste Connections has requested a 2-year extension of its solid waste collection, recycling and disposal services contract, at the current rate, plus discussion of composting programs.

ITEM 16: Lake Travis Film Festival requests $43,000 in Hotel Occupancy Tax Funding.

ITEM 17: Sweetwater Development Agreement. In July, Council repealed a 2008 ordinance and thereby captured within the city’s ETJ property on Hwy. 71 not already claimed by City of Bee Cave. This includes the ongoing Sweetwater residential development. This agreement states Sweetwater can continue construction under Travis County rules and oversight, and Lakeway will not impose its building code.

ITEM 18: Approval of final plat for Hillsong Planned Unit Development, 126 detached single family homes on 22.859 acres and a commercial component with park amenities on 3.09 acres of land, located at the intersection of Flint Rock Road and Wild Cherry Drive.

ITEM 20: Revising the ordinances as to permitting of non-residential fireworks displays.  This would bring the code up to date, require 10 days notice to the city, only allow aerial displays, limit displays to 10pm or earlier (except for 4^th of July and New Years celebrations), and set a $500 fine for violations.

ITEM 21: Revising the PUD ordinance to require an approved preliminary plan within 12 months or the PUD zoning reverts to the original zoning, and to allow a PUD for less than 8 acres if ZAPCO recommends this and Council approves it.

ITEM 22: Revising the code to make medical offices a permitted use by right in a commercial zoned space (C-1 or C-2).

ITEM 23: Revising the code to make R-5 zoning (condominium) an active designation.

ITEM 24: Revising the code to designate R-8 zoning (multifamily residential, 12 units per acre maximum) as medium density, and to create R-9 zoning as high density multifamily residential (20 units per acre maximum).

ITEM 25: Discussion of communications strategy and social media use policy.

ITEMS 26-28: Executive sessions on “Legal Issues Relating to Former City Attorney,” police department, and economic development.

Go here for the Agenda, Meeting Packet and Presentation— https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx

To send comments to Council beforehand (by 3pm Monday) about any agenda item, go here and create a Public Comment Form– https://lakeway-tx.civicweb.net/Portal/CitizenEngagement.aspx

Go here to watch the Council meeting online (live or later)— https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events

Texas elections 

Crickets….  The filing deadline to run for state office passed on Dec. 13, and things pretty much went into hibernation for the holidays.  That won’t last. 

These executive offices are up for election in 2022: Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, State Board of Education (7 seats), Agriculture Commissioner, Public Lands Commissioner, Railroad Commissioner.

Plus, ALL Texas state legislative positions and ALL national Congress seats are up for election this year.

The PRIMARY election is on March 1, with the general election on Nov. 8.  Unless, the controversial redistricting that Texas Republicans forced through last fall is struck down in the courts; that would re-open candidate filing periods and delay elections.  Good info here–Statewide elections, a redder South Texas and Beto-mania: the biggest Texas political stories to watch for in 2022 12/30/21  https://www.texastribune.org/2021/12/30/texas-politics-2022-biggest-stories-elections/

Plus, here in Lakeway, 3 Council seats are up for election on May 7.  Councilmembers Laurie Higginbotham, Steve Smith and Louis Mastrangelo are all eligible to run for a 3^rd term, if they so desire.  Should be interesting….

Daring Mighty Things 

A new interstellar telescope was launched on Christmas Day, and astronomers say it is powerful enough to peer back through time to the earliest stars, as well as search for life where even the famed Hubble telescope cannot penetrate.  The joint US/Canada/Europe endeavor was plagued by decades of delays and massive budget over-runs, as well as by scandal attached to its namesake, James Webb, a NASA administrator in the 1960s.  The infrared telescope launched from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on an Ariane rocket.  It will be a month before the telescope establishes Earth orbit a million miles out, and then the apparatus will go through a complex set-up.  Images are expected to be transmitted in summer of 2022.  Nasa launches $10bn James Webb space telescope 12/25/21 https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/dec/25/nasa-launches-james-webb-space-telescope

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Back to me….  

Still time to get in on a whole month of FREE daily ONLINE YOGA, to do AT HOME and on your own schedule, with Austin’s Adriene Mishler and her very Zen doggie, Benji.  Sign up now for January’s MOVE program.  I have done this with her several years now, and it is a fabulous way to start the year.  https://do.yogawithadriene.com/move

So, I’m THAT close to being done painting my garage….  Before and after photos next time.

Books—1 good and 1 bad (both available at Lake Travis Community Library):

The Last Flight (2020), by Julie Clark—The premise (2 strangers swap airline tickets and identities) isn’t new, but the writing is excellent and the plot lines intriguing.  I had trouble putting it down and found the book thoroughly enjoyable start to finish.

Our Country Friends (2021), by Gary Shteyngart—UGH, no thanks.  I only slogged to page 30 before finding better use of my attention.  Despite all the plaudits this book has received, I found the writing, characters, and storyline all sorely lacking. 

Here are some recent photos of our gorgeous deer, taken on my morning walks.  Rut season seem to be done, and everyone is settling down for winter.

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Remember Biscuit, AKA Xiao, the panda cub born at The Washington Zoo during the pandemic?  He turned 1 year old last September.  Here are a couple video updates on Xiao and his mom:

—https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-dz_-k9czI

—https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alq3jTmHrFU

If you somehow missed the Olive and Mabel doggie phenomenon, along with their deliciously-accented owner Andrew Cotter, check out this video (and know there are MANY others in the series, chronicling in a unique way the last couple years).

The Coronavirus   

Worldwide, the Omicron explosion continues.  In late December, new daily cases exceeded 1 million for the first time ever; by Dec. 29, the total grew to over 1.5 million new daily cases, edging toward 2 million.  Projections call for over 3 BILLION new cases globally in the next 2 months—as many cases as in the entire previous 2 years of the pandemic.

Omicron is burning through Africa, with countries reporting positivity rates up to 50%.  However, South Africa, where Omicron was first identified, reported on Dec. 30 that its Omicron surge has peaked and is on the wane.

Omicron is responsible for over 90% of new cases in the UK.  Hospitalizations are at their highest since Jan. of 2021, with medical staff numbers now significantly reduced due to illness.  For political reasons, the government is resisting returning to restrictions; some seem inevitable very soon, including requiring working from home.

European countries (including France, the UK, Spain, Denmark, Greece, Italy, and Portugal) are routinely reporting new daily case rates higher than ever seen during the pandemic.  In response, most European countries have instituted restrictions, ranging from mask mandates and work-from-home requirements to full shutdown.  For instance, officials in the Netherlands announced immediate lockdown on Dec. 18, closing all public places until at least Jan. 14, with the only exception being essential shops; schools are closed, as well, and gatherings beyond one’s household limited to 2 people, indoors or outside.

Cities all over India are enacting lockdowns, trying to stem rampant Omicron infections.

Israel banned its citizens from traveling to the US or the UK.  The UAE isn’t allowing citizens to leave the country unless they are fully vaccinated and boosted. 

New Year’s celebrations were cancelled all over the world, including in Rome, Paris and Tokyo.

China will forbid spectators at February’s Winter Olympics from cheering or yelling during performances.  Instead, people should clap, in order to minimize contagion.  No overseas spectators will be allowed.  All participants (athletes, coaches, judges, journalists, etc.) must be vaccinated, and everyone will be tested daily; no one can leave the “closed loop” of venue, hotels, and special transportation.  

Russia’s pandemic death toll (over 650,000 people) has exceeded that of Brazil (around 620,000 people), putting Russia in second place behind the US (over 825,000 people).

In the US, in the last 2 weeks, cases have increased 200%, hospitalizations are up 25%, and deaths decreased 4%.  We are averaging 378,000 new cases per day.  86,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with Covid, and the death rate averages 1,200 people per day.

As of Dec. 28, the CDC estimated Omicron was responsible for 60% of Covid infection in the US.  This is a sharp jump from just 1% as of mid-December.  Experts say Omicron cases are doubling every 1.5 to 3 days, depending on the region.  Data from other countries, and recent studies in the US indicate that Omicron infections may be milder than Delta infections. One reason seems to be that Omicron concentrates in the nose, mouth and throat, so it is less likely than Delta and other variants to invade and severely damage the lungs.  (The upper respiratory concentration also explains Omicron’s easy transmissibility, since infection is simply breathed out into the air without deep-lung coughing.)  Various other factors (young populations, high vaccination rates in some areas, etc.) may also be responsible for ameliorating the disease.  There is an indication that survivors of Omicron may be immune, at least temporarily, to the deadlier Delta variant.  Regardless, experts found that Omicron’s sky-high infection rate makes it more dangerous overall than any other variant; vulnerable people will be among the infected, overwhelming hospitals and spiking death rates.  As a practical matter, symptoms of Omicron are much the same as from Delta (but less likely to include loss of smell and taste); however, people start feeling ill quicker with Omicron—likely within 2-3 days of infection, as opposed to up to a week later with Delta.

New cases spiked from Dec. 1 to Dec. 22, exceeding the Delta peak.  On Dec. 29, the US recorded a record number of new cases–over 267,000. This was higher than our previous record during the pandemic, 251,000 back in January of 2021 (before vaccines were widely available).  On Dec. 30, the total was 488,000 new cases.

Experts predict Omicron will fuel 1 million new cases per day in the US later in January.

Keep in mind that the new case numbers reflect PCR test results processed in labs and largely do NOT include the tests people buy and administer themselves.  (There is a way to report home test results to your local health authority, but almost no one does this.)  So, ACTUAL new cases are surely much higher than the PCR numbers indicate. 

Complicating care of Omicron patients is the fact that 2 of the 3 approved monoclonal antibody therapies have proven ineffective against the new variant.  Products created by Eli Lilly and Regeneron have failed.  The 3rd therapy is called sotrovimab; created by GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnolog, it was approved for use last May and the supply is still very limited.  The Biden administration is working to get production and distribution of this therapy accelerated.

On Dec. 27, the CDC shortened quarantine time from 10 days to 5 days after testing positive, but ONLY if symptoms are gone within the 5 days.  After quarantine, the person should wear a mask around others for another 5 days.  The reason for the shortened quarantine is that spreading the disease to others seems to be most likely while symptomatic and very early in the infection cycle.

The Washington, DC, mayor reinstituted a mask mandate indoors.  On Dec. 22, the city recorded a daily new case number that was TRIPLE its previous high.  By the end of December, daily case rates were 6 times that of 2 weeks prior.  Many prominent politicians reported breakthrough infections, including Congress members Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren, Jason Crow, and Jim Clyburn.  Staffers of both Pres. Biden and V-P Harris have been infected.

Since mid-December, NYC has recorded record-breaking daily new case totals—each day more people are getting Covid than ever during the pandemic. By the end of December, daily case rates were 8 times that of 2 weeks prior.  Some subway lines are closed due to workers being out sick with Covid.  Paramedic and ambulance services are hampered by severe shortage of healthy workers.  Holiday leave for police has been cancelled, as precincts try to cover for sick officers.  Museums and libraries are closing, along with many restaurants and businesses, due to widespread staff illness.  Broadway shows are either operating with numerous understudies filling in for sick cast members, or closing entirely. Hospitals have cancelled elective procedures.  The New Year’s celebration in Times Square was scaled back; participants were limited to 15,000 (instead of 58,000), all of whom had to show proof of full vaccination and wear masks.  Instead of a separate ceremony, newly elected mayor Eric Adams was sworn in right there in Times Square just after the Ball Drop, as 2022 arrived.

Boston and Chicago are requiring proof of vaccination to enter indoor public spaces.

Massachusetts is supplementing hospital workers with National Guard troops.

A Royal Caribbean cruise ship returned to port in Miami on Dec. 18, with 50 people on board testing positive for Covid.  Several other ships did the same over the holidays.  The CDC on Dec. 30 raised the Covid threat level for cruises to 4 (the highest), stating what should be obvious: “Avoid cruise travel regardless of vaccination status.”

The National Hockey League on Dec. 20 paused games, due to so many Covid infections among players that teams could not compete.  The NHL also reversed a previous decision to send top players to the Olympics in February, due to Omicron.  After over 90 players tested positive, the NFL adopted the CDC’s 5-day quarantine plan.

The airline industry was set to return to pre-pandemic volume over the holidays, with Americans intent on returning to normal.  But, Omicron sickened large numbers of pilots and crew members, causing over 5,000 flights in the US to be cancelled Dec. 22-28, delaying or completely grounding holiday travelers.  Since then, cancellation of 1,000 or more flights per day has become routine.

Across the country, colleges and universities are delaying the start of classes in 2022 or returning to online learning.

On Dec. 25, states as disparate as Delaware, New Jersey and Florida recorded their highest new daily case rates of the entire pandemic. Since then, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Puerto Rico, Colorado, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC reported record numbers of cases.  This points out a big difference with this surge.  Previously, Covid surges hit America regionally, maybe starting in the south and moving to the west before hitting the northeast, allowing resources (extra medical workers, ventilators, medications, etc.) to be sent where needed.  But, Omicron is hitting the entire country at once, top to bottom and end to end, making it much harder for hospitals to cope.

A nation-wide increase in Covid cases and even hospitalizations among kids has prompted school officials to delay re-openings after the holidays, many returning temporarily to remote learning.   Most experts disapprove, instead urging vaccination and utilizing the precautions learned over the last year to keep schools safe.  In addition, the uptick in pediatric cases seems due to so many kids (even those age-eligible) still being unvaccinated, with Omicron so far not proven to target kids or cause worse cases in children.

In rare good news, the FDA authorized use of Pfizer’s new treatment for high-risk patients with a recently confirmed Covid case.  The 5-day course of pills can be taken at home, and the treatment reportedly prevents serious disease in the majority of cases IF started within 5 days of starting symptoms.  However, supplies will be limited until production is stepped up, and potency against Omicron is unproven. 

In Texas, the current positivity test rate is 26% (calculated Dec. 30), up from 11% as of 2 weeks ago. We are averaging 15,000 new cases and 53 deaths daily.  As of now, there are 5,500 Texans hospitalized for Covid-19.  In the last 2 weeks, cases have increased 214%, hospitalizations rose 50%, and deaths are down 15%. 

As of Dec. 27, officials announced that 90% of Texas’ Covid cases were Omicron.

The first American death attributed to Omicron occurred in Harris County, on Dec. 20.

Texas A&M withdrew from the Gator Bowl, due to a surge in Covid cases.

Texas had 35% MORE Covid deaths in 2021 than in 2020, despite the availability of free and safe vaccines for anyone with the sense God gave a goose.

Health authorities announced Dec. 27 that infusion centers in Texas have run out of the only monoclonal antibody treatment that works against Omicron.  The federal government is ramping up production of GlaxoSmithKline’s new product, sotrovimab, but additional shipments are not yet scheduled.

Currently, hospitals in El Paso and the Panhandle are overwhelmed with Covid patients, as well as dealing with a large number of breakthrough cases among medical staff.

On Dec. 29, Austin Public Health shifted to stricter Stage 4 pandemic recommendations.  Fully vaccinated people are to wear masks when gathering with people outside of their household, traveling, dining, and shopping.  Unvaccinated/not fully vaccinated people should wear masks, avoid gatherings with people outside of their household, only travel and shop if essential, and choose takeaway options for dining; also–GET VACCINATED.

ACL Live canceled its New Year’s Eve show.

Vaccinations–the safe path to herd immunity

Worldwide, 8.8 billion shots have been given, with nearly 48% of the planet’s population fully vaccinated. 

The world’s vaccines are having different results fighting Omicron.  All seem to protect against severe illness and death—the primary goal.  But, so far, only Phizer and Moderna are stopping infections in most cases (with breakthrough cases rare and mild).  Globally, Phizer and Moderna are not available.  Other countries are using AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and several vaccines made in Asia and Russia; they are doing little or nothing to stop infection from Omicron.

The Philippines is recommending people get booster shots THREE months after their original vaccination was complete.  Israel recommends a 4^th shot soon, basically a second booster, to immune-compromised people (and may broaden that recommendation soon).

Saudi Arabia already requires proof of vaccination to enter public places, using a government phone app.   Proof of a booster shot will be required as of Feb. 1.

In the US, 62% of the entire population is fully vaccinated; 71% of adults are fully vaccinated.  Average shots per day dipped to just over 1 million during the holidays.  About 68 million booster shots have been given.

As of Dec. 26, only 20% of children 5 to 11 years old have gotten vaccinated. And only 30% of fully vaccinated Americans have gotten a booster.  Low vax rates are heavily concentrated in rural areas and the South, with Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Arkansas and Alabama circling the drain at 50%.

OSHA’s vaccine mandate for large employers was upheld in federal appeals court, with the US Supreme Court hearing arguments on Jan. 7.  At 9am Central on Jan. 7, go here to listen to the Justices question the attorneys and debate the issue: https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/live.aspx  Due to delays and confusion the lawsuits caused, the deadline for compliance has been extended until Feb. 9.

The US Marines gave general honorable discharges to 206 members who refused vaccination.  95% of active-duty Marines are vaccinated.  The other military branches have the same or higher vaccination rates, with similarly minuscule numbers being discharged for non-compliance.

Nationwide, colleges and universities are requiring students and staff get booster shots, in order to participate in person.

NYC set up a program to pay people $100 to get a booster during the final week of 2021.

California is requiring health care workers to get booster shots.

GET BOOSTED: Studies show that getting your booster shot cuts your chance of getting a Covid infection in half.

In Texas, only 57% of all residents and 68% of adults are fully vaccinated. 

Recent Covid articles I recommend…. 

Studies Suggest Why Omicron Is Less Severe: It Spares the Lungs 12/31/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/31/health/covid-omicron-lung-cells.html

Covid vaccines rarely lead to problems in younger children, according to two C.D.C. reports 12/30/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/30/science/covid-vaccine-5-11-years-old-cdc-report.html

On cusp of new year, omicron prompts Austin to adopt stricter Stage 4 pandemic guidelines 12/29/21 https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/12/29/omicron-prompts-austin-adopt-stricter-stage-4-covid-guidelines/9038281002/

The C.D.C. shortened isolation periods as Omicron cases soared 12/27/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/27/us/quarantine-5-days.html

US hospitals struggle with staffing shortages and Omicron outbreaks 12/23/21 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/23/us-hospitals-staffing-shortages-omicron-covid

F.D.A. Clears Pfizer’s Covid Pill for High-Risk Patients 12 and Older 12/22/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/22/health/pfizer-covid-pill-fda-paxlovid.html

Omicron Infections Seem to Be Milder, Three Research Teams Report 12/22/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/22/health/covid-omicron-delta-hospitalizations.html

I’m a Parent. How Can I Protect My Family From Omicron? 12/22/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/22/opinion/omicron-children.html

Hospitals Scramble as Antibody Treatments Fail Against Omicron 12/21/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/21/health/covid-monoclonal-antibodies-omicron.html

In Lakeway 

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Trail of Lights

This beloved tradition of holiday lights continues every night through the end of the year, at City Hall.

New Year’s Swim Challenge

Lakeway Swim Center hosts a fun family event on Thursday, Dec. 30, 9am-noon, with snacks, hot drinks, music, plus a heated pool.  Registration deadline is Monday, Dec. 20. Contact the Lakeway Swim Center at (512) 261-3000 to register.

Lake Travis Community Library tech assistance is back

LTCL is again offering in-person assistance from their tech coaching team.  Just drop in Monday-Thursday, noon to 2pm, with your questions about smartphone, tablet or computer issues (including how to use the library’s Libby app to access materials).  This one-on-one tech assistance is on a first come/first served basis.  (Masks are requested.)

Lakeway Residents should be aware of coyotes in the area, taking steps to safeguard pets. 

The city’s Wildlife Advisory Committee included a discussion of coyotes on the agenda for its Dec. 9 meeting, in response to recent resident complaints about coyotes in the area and attacks on local pets. Some committee members attended Travis County’s Dec. 3 webinar, Co-Existing with Coyotes, and the consensus was that residents would benefit from the helpful information and coping strategies provided in that presentation, summarized below.  To watch the one hour presentation by Danielle Gay, City of Austin’s Wildlife Protection Officer, go here–https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=611647003620525

The Travis County Wildlife Protection Officer is Officer Gay’s colleague, Emery Sadkin: 512-978-0514  emery.sadkin@austintexas.gov  In addition to Lakeway PD, this is who Lakeway residents should contact about coyotes.

General coyote info:

–Most active at dusk and dawn.  But, coyotes are commonly seen in our area during the daytime.  This is NOT indicative of rabies.  It means they have habituated to the urban environment and find daytime a good time to hunt for food here. 

–Coyotes are NOT hunting people.  There is a bigger risk of a person getting bitten by a dog than being attacked by a coyote.

–Coyotes eat rodents, rabbits, insects, snakes, fruit, nuts, plants, etc.  They will kill unattended pets, as well as fawns and injured/sick deer.

–Size: 25-35 pounds (but their shaggy coats make them look bigger than they are).  Roughly 2’ tall and 4’ long, they are about the size of a Collie or German Shepherd.

–Howling exaggerates their number. Their vocalizations make a few animals sound like a dozen or more.

–Native to Texas.  There is plenty of food in the Hill Country, in rural and urban areas, plus no predators; wolves used to prey on coyotes, but there are no wolves left here.

–Life cycle: Jan.-March–they mate.  April-June—pups (usually 5-7) are born in dens.  July-Sept.–pups mostly remain in dens.  Oct.-Dec.—pups emerge from dens and soon are sent off on their own.

—Most complaints about coyotes come in the fall, largely due to juveniles newly out on their own.

–Clearing land and massive construction exposes coyotes who have been there all along.  Careless and messy humans supply a variety of bountiful food.

–Austin prohibits killing coyotes, instead handling them with public education.  Austin has had NO HUMAN ATTACKS.

It is illegal in Texas to trap and relocate coyotes.  State law prohibits relocation, because coyotes are a rabies vector species. 

Killing is not the answer.  Killing 1 or a few coyotes gives humans a false sense of security; other coyotes will soon replace them.  (Instead—change the situation that attracted coyotes to your area.) In a stable pack, ONLY the alpha pair mates and produces pups.  When a pack loses a member, it destabilizes.  Other coyotes join the pack.  More adults mate, producing extra pups.  As a result, there are more coyotes than ever.  Traps are inhumane, grievously harming wild animals, pets, and even kids.  Poisons kill indiscriminately.  Guns may NOT be discharged within City of Lakeway; this includes high-powered BB guns and pellet guns. (This was confirmed with Lakeway Police Officer Andrea Greig.)

Coyotes are a real danger to pets.  Coyotes will snatch small dogs as well as cats.  KEEP PETS INDOORS, day and night.  Build a secure catio to allow cats safe outside time.  Walk dogs on short leashes (4’-6’).  Extendable leashes let the dog get too far away for the owner to protect or control it.  Also, with a long or extendable leash, the coyote sees 2 smaller prey options instead of 1 larger opponent.  Be vigilant on walks; if you or your dog comes too close to a den, the adult coyote will stalk you out of the area, to protect the pups. Even if your backyard is fenced, accompany your dog when you let it outside.  Make your fence more secure by adding coyote rollers.

EXCLUDE coyotes by eliminating these attractions in your yard:

–Access to trash and recycling.

–Access to compost piles.

–Pet food left on porch or in yard. 

–Dirty BBQ grills.

–Fruit and nuts fallen on the ground (including birdseed).

–Brush piles (because they harbor rodents that coyotes will hunt).

–Open structures (sheds, decks, etc., where coyotes can shelter, especially sick or injured ones).

Actively DETER coyotes:

–Install motion sensors that produce light, sound and/or water when an animal passes.

–Add coyote rollers to the top of fences to make it harder for coyotes to get into backyards.

–Carry a security whistle when off your property.

–NEVER FEED COYOTES.

–HAZE them.

HAZING: Scare or intimidate coyotes so they leave.  Co-existence is NOT blind acceptance.  The goal is to share SPACE with coyotes but not TIME; they can be in the area when people are not around.  That is mostly at night, so discourage them from coming into your area during the day via hazing.

–Maintain eye contact.

–Make NOISE—whistle, airhorn, yelling, clanging pots and pans, etc.

–Wave your arms, whip a jacket over your head, etc. (to seem bigger).

–Spray a hose at the animal.

–Throw something (NOT food) toward the animal (don’t try to hit it, just unnerve it).

–Be erratic and unpredictable.

–Be aggressive.

–Be persistent.  Doing this once won’t be enough; do it every time you see the coyote.  Get the whole neighborhood involved.

–Do NOT haze pups, an adult who has pups along, animals around at night, or animals who are far away, cornered, or sick/injured.

–NEVER USE A GUN OF ANY KIND.  NEVER USE FIREWORKS TO HAZE AN ANIMAL.

Lakeway Council meets Monday, Dec. 20, 6:30pm at City Hall

UPDATE as of 12/19: Council’s 12/20 meeting CANCELLED.  Next meeting as of now set for Jan. 3.  I’ll add the city’s cancellation notice below.

As announced 12/19: The City Council meeting scheduled for Monday, Dec. 20, 2021 has been cancelled. The meeting will move to Monday, Jan. 3, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall (1102 Lohmans Crossing Road). The updated agenda will be posted on our city website. City Council no longer has a quorum due to health concerns. Additionally, some city staff members were recently exposed to COVID-19. With those details, and out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our residents, elected officials and staff, the decision was made to move the meeting.

Consequential Agenda items include:

ITEM 6: The Consent Agenda includes a schedule for Council meetings in 2022.  It ONLY shows meetings on the 3^rd Monday, eliminating additional scheduled meetings on the first Monday of each month as have recently been held.

ITEM 9: Also in the Consent Agenda, ZAPCO meetings will be moved from the second Monday of the month to the first Wednesday of the month.  The reason is to better coordinate handling of issues first by ZAPCO and then by Council.

ITEM 11: Citizens Participation for items not on the agenda.

ITEM 14: Waste Connections has requested a 2-year extension of its solid waste collection, recycling and disposal services contract, at the current rate, plus discussion of composting programs.

ITEM 16: Lake Travis Film Festival requests $43,000 in Hotel Occupancy Tax Funding.

ITEM 17: Sweetwater Development Agreement. In July, Council repealed a 2008 ordinance and thereby captured within the city’s ETJ property on Hwy. 71 not already claimed by City of Bee Cave. This includes the ongoing Sweetwater residential development. This agreement states Sweetwater can continue construction under Travis County rules and oversight, and Lakeway will not impose its building code.

ITEM 18: Approval of final plat for Hillsong Planned Unit Development, 126 detached single family homes on 22.859 acres and a commercial component with park amenities on 3.09 acres of land, located at the intersection of Flint Rock Road and Wild Cherry Drive.

ITEM 20: Revising the ordinances as to permitting of non-residential fireworks displays.  This would bring the code up to date, require 10 days notice to the city, only allow aerial displays, limit displays to 10pm or earlier (except for 4^th of July and New Years celebrations), and set a $500 fine for violations.

ITEM 21: Revising the PUD ordinance to require an approved preliminary plan within 12 months or the PUD zoning reverts to the original zoning, and to allow a PUD for less than 8 acres if ZAPCO recommends this and Council approves it.

ITEM 22: Revising the code to make medical offices a permitted use by right in a commercial zoned space (C-1 or C-2).

ITEM 23: Revising the code to make R-5 (condominium) an active zoning designation.

ITEM 24: Revising the code to designate R-8 zoning  (multifamily residential, 12 units per acre maximum) as medium density, and to create R-9 zoning as high density multifamily residential (20 units per acre maximum).

ITEM 25: Discussion of communications strategy and social media use policy.

ITEMS 26-28: Executive sessions on “Legal Issues Relating to Former City Attorney,” police department, and economic development. Go here for the Agenda, Meeting Packet and Presentation— https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx

To send comments to Council beforehand (by 3pm Monday) about any agenda item, go here and create a Public Comment Form– https://lakeway-tx.civicweb.net/Portal/CitizenEngagement.aspx

Go here to watch the Council meeting online (live or later)— https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events

Texas elections 

Two more candidates filed for the Governor’s race—a political novice and some guy named Rick Perry: 

—Former Austin public radio reporter Joy Diaz launches campaign for Texas governor 12/8/21 https://www.kvue.com/article/news/politics/vote-texas/joy-diaz-launches-campaign-for-texas-governor/269-b61b58d0-23fa-4d5c-bc20-6dd988521801

–A Rick Perry — no, not that Rick Perry — files to run for Texas governor 12/13/21 https://www.texastribune.org/2021/12/13/rick-perry-texas-governor-springtown/

One candidate withdrew from the Lt. Gov. race and another jumped in:

— Democrat Matthew Dowd ends campaign for Texas lieutenant governor, citing need for “greater diversity” 12/7/21https://www.texastribune.org/2021/12/07/matthew-dowd-texas-lieutenant-governor/

— President of Texas Democratic Party reportedly running for lieutenant governor 12/13/21 https://www.kvue.com/article/news/politics/vote-texas/carla-brailey-texas-democratic-party-lieutenant-governor/269-4959eecf-af46-4e00-a318-9bd51032109a

Paxton ran unopposed for AG in the 2018 primary. Not this time.  Republican primary for attorney general heats up, with challengers taking aim at Ken Paxton’s legal troubles 12/15/21https://www.texastribune.org/2021/12/15/texas-ken-paxton-republican-primary/

Daring Mighty Things 

NASA announced a new class of 10 astronauts, who will train to go to ISS and eventually the moon.  NASA Selects New Astronaut Recruits to Train for Future Missions  12/6/21  https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-selects-new-astronaut-recruits-to-train-for-future-missions

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa and his production assistant recently flew on a Russian rocket to become the first tourists to visit the International Space Station in over a decade.  During their 12-day stay, they will record daily life on the ISS.  In the future, Maezawa also plans to ride a SpaceX craft to visit the moon.  ‘Dream come true’: Japanese billionaire blasts off for ISS 12/8/21  https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/dec/08/dream-come-true-japanese-billionaire-blasts-off-for-iss

Back to me….  

Plan your holiday recovery now.  One way is with a whole month of FREE daily ONLINE YOGA, to do AT HOME and on your own schedule, with Austin’s Adriene Mishler and her very Zen doggie, Benji.  Sign up now for January’s MOVE program.  I have done this with her several years now, and it is a fabulous way to start the year!  https://do.yogawithadriene.com/move

My garage beautification project continues.  The ceiling, walls and storage all looked so great with fresh paint that I decided to tackle the floor.  Turns out that painting a concrete floor to withstand tire tread is NOT simple….  So far, half is painted navy blue, and I’m letting that cure for a week while I park my car on the unpainted side.  But, I’m determined to wrap this up before 2022.

Here are some recent photos of our deer, taken on my morning walks.

• 

• 

The Coronavirus   

Worldwide, as of Dec.18 and according to the World Health Organization, Omicron has been detected in nearly 100 countries.  The new variant’s cases are doubling every 2-3 days.

Per research conducted to date, experts say Omicron is far more contagious than other variants, even Delta; when Omicron enters a community, the new case metric becomes a vertical line.  This means that the UNvaccinated are even more at risk than before, making it imperative to get vaccinated—and boosted—ASAP.  This also means, we are warned, that even the vaccinated are impacted by Omicron, with a sharp increase in breakthrough cases.  But, these breakthrough cases in vaccinated people tend to be mild, indicating that even against Omicron the vaccines are doing their most important job—guarding against serious disease and death.  The only goodish news about Omicron is that, so far, the disease it causes seems to be no more severe than what we get from other variants. The problem is—MANY more people will get Omicron than we experienced with other variants, and hospitals are already overwhelmed.

South Africa continues to report rapidly escalating numbers of Covid cases, both Delta and Omicron.  Its president has tested positive.  Africa as a whole is seeing a huge rise in cases, with Omicron spreading across most countries on the continent.

The UK is now seeing more new cases than ever before during the pandemic.  The government reinstituted restrictions; face masks are again required indoors in public places, and a vaccination pass must be shown to enter nightclubs, sports stadiums and other large venues.  The country has a strong genome sequencing program and reports Omicron cases doubling every 3 days; at that rate, half of its cases will soon be caused by Omicron.  (Scotland already reached that milestone.)  The UK started recording deaths from Omicron as of Dec. 13.

France closed night clubs for 4 weeks, hoping that other internal restrictions won’t be needed to stem its surge.  However, as of Dec. 18 it will allow entry by people (vaccinated or not) from the UK only for essential travel—not tourism or business purposes; those allowed in must provide a recent negative test and quarantine upon entry.

Denmark closed schools, restaurants, bars and nightclubs until after Christmas, to try to control its rapid Covid surge. Norway announced a massive rise in Covid cases, as well.  Both countries project Omicron becoming the primary variant within days.

Canada has urged its citizens not to travel internationally and reinstituted domestic Covid restrictions and border controls.

In the US, in the last 2 weeks, cases have increased 20%, hospitalizations are up 18%, and deaths increased 15%.  We are averaging 125,000 new cases per day.  68,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with Covid, and the death rate averages 1,300 people per day.

As of Dec. 14, the CDC announced Omicron is nationwide, and its infections are rapidly escalating.  Rates vary, but the percentage of Omicron cases is doubling every 2 days in the northeast; Omicron could take over from Delta as the dominant variant next week.  Experts predict a heavy winter surge hitting America soon, with booster shots the best defense.

The US instituted stricter rules for international travelers on Dec.6, requiring proof of a negative test no more than 1 day old.

The official tally of confirmed Covid cases in the US exceeded 50 million last week.

Another huge and awful milestone has been reached.  Covid has killed over 800,000 Americans.  The toll on our elderly has been horrific: 75% of the deaths (600,000 people) were age 65 or older.  Of that age group, 1 in 100 have died of Covid, so far.  We went from 700K to 800K deaths in just 71 days.

California has reinstated a state-wide mask requirement, for all indoor public spaces.

Michigan’s surge continues to worsen; the state is now reporting the most new cases and the most hospitalizations, of the entire pandemic.  Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Indiana are also experiencing a heavy Covid surge.

New York City last week reported a strong surge of cases, with its positivity rate tripling in 3 days.  Restaurants are closing due to sick staff. Theaters there just recently re-opened, but frequent Covid outbreaks have forced many Broadway productions to cancel shows (despite an industrywide vaccine mandate for audiences and workers and requiring patrons to wear masks).  The Radio City Rockettes cancelled all its shows through the end of the year.  The city’s recovery is further hampered by countless businesses indefinitely postponing the return of their workers to offices for in-person work; having a large segment of the workforce continue to work from home hurts a myriad of businesses that support office workers—everything from lunch counters to dry cleaners.  Plus, many companies are cancelling holiday parties, due to the winter surge. The latest triumph for Scrooge is that Saturday Night Live cancelled its live studio audience for tonight’s show.

New Jersey, Maine and Connecticut are also experiencing explosive Covid surges.

Sports leagues are postponing or cancelling games due to Covid outbreaks among players.  The NBA is considering having teams hire a roster of replacement players, in order to be able to play games as scheduled.

More and more, experts are suggesting people pay less attention to new case rates and instead watch HOSPITALIZATIONS in their area, in calibrate their Covid concern.  This is because—particularly among the vaccinated—cases are often mild and of little concern.  As a practical matter, with continued vaccine recalcitrance and repeated variants emerging, waves of cases seem to be our future.  On the other hand, hospitalization for Covid indicates serious disease; it also results in general medical mayhem, with staff and facilities not available for other health concerns from auto accidents to heart attacks to cancer treatment.

In Texas, the current positivity test rate is 11.5%, up from 9% as of 2 weeks ago. We are averaging 4,800 new cases and 63 deaths daily.  As of now, there are 3,700 Texans hospitalized for Covid-19.  In the last 2 weeks, cases have increased 22%, hospitalizations rose 5%, and deaths are down 12%. 

State authorities announced on Dec. 6 that the first Omicron case was found in Texas, in Harris County. The patient was a woman in her 40s who had not traveled recently, so Omicron was already passing via community spread.  

On Dec. 13, it was announced that Omicron was detected in at least 3 people in Travis County, specifically in the University of Texas community.  None had recently traveled, so they caught the variant via community spread.  By Dec. 16, UT was reporting a record number of new cases, 7 times the number reported just 1 week earlier.

Vaccinations–the safe path to herd immunity

Worldwide, 8.4 billion shots have been given, with nearly 46% of the planet’s population fully vaccinated. 

Austria announced plans to make vaccination compulsory for everyone age 14 and older.

Germany mandated vaccinations for health care workers, after projecting a winter surge worse than anything seen in the pandemic to date.

In the US, 61% of the entire population is fully vaccinated; 71% of adults are fully vaccinated.  We are averaging around 1,600,000 shots per day, including boosters.  About 58 million booster shots have been given.

As of Dec. 10, 200 million Americans were fully vaccinated.  That is amazing, considering the first shot was given less than 1 year back, on Dec. 14. 

While roughly 60% of the population is fully vaccinated, coverage varies wildly across the country.  Some counties (in the west and south and populated by Republicans) are less than 30% vaccinated, making those areas highly vulnerable to surges. 

The CDC now advises that Americans get the Phizer or Moderna vaccine, instead of the J&J vaccine.  This is due to the J&J vaccine being associated, in very rare cases, with a blood clot side effect.  (So, people should get a Phizer or Moderna booster, even if they originally had a J&J shot.)  Both the Phizer and Moderna vaccines are readily available nationwide.

New York City is requiring all private employees working in-person be vaccinated by Dec. 27.  About 90% of NYC adults are already vaccinated, but officials say this step is needed to combat a winter surge made worse by Omicron.

Philadelphia will require proof of vaccination for people to eat or drink at indoor public spaces, as of Jan. 3.

The Air Force gave an administrative discharge to a grand total of 27 members for refusing to get vaccinated; over 97% of its members are vaccinated.  The Army and Navy both report 98% vaccination and will be discharging the few holdouts soon.  Over 95% of Marines are vaccinated.

Kroger has removed benefits and imposed a surcharge on UNvaccinated workers.

Google is requiring all workers to be fully vaccinated by Jan. 18, or they will be put on leave and ultimately fired.  Many other large tech employers have issued similar mandates, including Uber and Facebook.

The NFL is experiencing a surge of cases among its players and as a result is mandating booster shots.

While numerous groups are trying to sue their way out of vaccine mandates, they are losing.  In a crucial development, the US Supreme Court on Dec. 13 refused to take a case by medical workers complaining that New York state’s mandate violated freedom of religion by not allowing a religious exemption.  Also, a federal appeals court upheld OSHA’s nation-wide mandate that companies with 100 or more workers require vaccination or regular testing.

Finally, Phizer announced its low-dose 2-shot trial for kids age 2-4 did not produce sufficient immunity.  It will start a trial for a 3-dose regimen.  The result is delay in getting vaccine ready for kids in this age group.

In Texas, only 56% of all residents and 67% of adults are fully vaccinated. 

Recent Covid articles I recommend…. 

–CDC recommends mRNA Covid vaccines over J&J shot amid blood clot risks 12/16/21 https://www.politico.com/news/2021/12/16/cdc-covid-vaccine-johnson-525153

–Expecting a Surge–We look at the latest on Omicron 12/16/20 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/16/briefing/omicron-update-spread-vaccines.html

–‘A terrible tragedy’: US passes 800,000 Covid deaths – highest in the world 12/15/21 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/15/a-terrible-tragedy-us-tops-800000-covid-deaths-highest-in-the-world

–Covid’s deadly trade-offs, by the numbers: How each state has fared in the pandemic 12/15/21 https://www.politico.com/interactives/2021/covid-by-the-numbers-how-each-state-fared-on-our-pandemic-scorecard/

–As U.S. Nears 800,000 Virus Deaths, 1 of Every 100 Older Americans Has Perished 12/13/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/13/us/covid-deaths-elderly-americans.html

–A Scientist’s Guide to Understanding Omicron 12/12/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/12/opinion/covid-omicron-data.html

–The Coronavirus Attacks Fat Tissue, Scientists Find 12/8/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/08/health/covid-fat-obesity.html

• 

• 

In Lakeway 

Trail of Lights

This beloved tradition opens with a special “Lights On!” Ceremony tonight–Saturday, December 4, 6pm, at City Hall.  After that, you can stroll through the light display every night.

Hanukkah Menorah Lighting

This brand new tradition continues tonight and tomorrow night (December 4 and 5) at sunset/5:15pm, at City Hall.

Holiday Singalong

There are 2 shows on Sunday, December 5, at 2pm and 4:30pm, at the Activity Center.  Admission is free, but please bring an unwrapped toy or a gift card, for local charities.

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

A short ceremony at 4pm on Tuesday, December 7, at the Lakeway Heritage Center (963 Lohmans Crossing) will honor our WWII veterans and the Americans killed 80 years ago, in the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. 

Train rides and a showing of The Polar Express

On Friday, December 10, Lakeway’s Parks and Rec committee is hosting trackless train rides, followed by an outdoor showing of the holiday film, The Polar Express, in the City Hall parking lot.  Train rides start at 6pm, and the movie starts at 6:15pm.  No charge!  Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, snacks, etc., for a magical evening under the stars. 

Local Holiday Giving Opportunities

The Activity Center makes it easy to be Santa.  Through December 15, you can drop off:

–Unwrapped toys and gifts to be donated to local charities:

–Non-perishable items for local food banks; and

–Pet food and other items for local animal shelters.

Lakeway Council’s Dec. 6 meeting was cancelled.

The next meeting will be on Dec. 20.

Coyotes

As happens from time to time in Lakeway, we are seeing a lot of active (and hungry) coyotes, day and night.  Omnivores, coyotes mostly eat rodents, but they will snatch and kill cats and or small dogs.  Lately, several residents have witnessed this happening to their pets.  Please, please, please do not let your cat outside at any time. Also, never let your dog out alone, even in a fenced yard as coyotes can scale most fences.  On walks, use a short leash (so you and your dog look like 1 large adversary instead of 2 smaller prey objects).  For protection, carry a security whistle.

If you want to make your back yard safer, aluminum rollers can be added to the top of a metal or wooden fence, to discourage coyotes from scaling the fence.  Check these fence company sites for photos and info–https://www.alliedfence.com/coyote-rollers https://coloradocoyoterollers.com

Texas elections 

Beto O’Rourke for Governor!

People stopped caring about this actor’s over-hyped decision long ago.  Matthew McConaughey says he won’t run for Texas governor 11/28/21  https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/28/matthew-mcconaughey-texas-governor-2022/

As threatened, Rep. Louis Gohmert will challenge Ken Paxton in the crowded GOP Primary for Texas AG. Maybe this far-right oddball can’t compete for attention with the extreme Republican nutjobs in the US Congress these days….  U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert joins Texas Republicans running against Attorney General Ken Paxton 11/21/22 https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/18/louie-gohmert-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton/

And the crowded GOP primary race for AG got less crowded, when Matt Krause dropped out. Republican state Rep. Matt Krause drops out of attorney general’s race to run for Tarrant County district attorney 11/23/21   https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/23/matt-krause-texas-attorney-general-tarrant-district-attorney/

Daring Mighty Things 

NASA is going all Armageddon on an asteroid.  On Nov. 24, it used a SpaceX rocket to launch its Double Redirection Test (DART) mission.  The plan is to travel 6 million miles and crash the 1,200LB refrigerator-sized Falcon 9 craft into Dimorphos, an asteroid the size of a football field that is harmlessly orbiting a larger asteroid. The point is target practice, in case we ever need to re-direct an asteroid heading toward Earth.  Due to the distance involved, the big crash won’t happen until next fall.  This has got to be one of the best uses of testosterone ever….  Nasa launches spacecraft in first ever mission to deflect asteroid 11/24/21 https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/nov/24/nasa-launches-dart-mission-to-deflect-asteroid-in-planetary-defence-test

Humanity’s litter orbiting Earth is not just messy—it’s dangerous.  International Space Station forced to swerve to avoid US space junk 12/3/21 https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/dec/03/international-space-station-forced-to-swerve-to-avoid-us-space-junk

Back to me….  

Got my Covid booster right before Thanksgiving.  Last spring, I got Pfizer shots so wanted to mix and match now for maximum effect.  I got a Moderna booster at HEB Lakeway–quick and easy!  Go here to create an appointment– https://vaccine.heb.com/scheduler

I read that, in Japan, older adults now use more diapers than babies do.  Just wanted other people have that bit of info in their brains that so I’m not the only one…. 

I’m painting my garage.  FYI—a garage is NOT a small room….  But, the ceiling and walls are done.  As soon as my neck and back resume normal operations, I’ll start on the cabinets, shelving, doors, windows, etc. 

Books I recently finished (available at Lake Travis Community Library):

State of Terror (2021), by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny—Well, I got through it, but around the middle it was a real slog.  I did appreciate the several Twin Pines Easter eggs saluting Penny’s stellar Gamache books.  Overall, the writing of this “thriller” was dumbed down, compared to Penny’s usual high-caliber work.  I’m sure it was a lucrative endeavor that increased her stature in the literary world, but I was disappointed when the ending clearly set up a possible sequel; I really hope she doesn’t spend more time on this project, at the expense of her Gamache series.  Clearly, THAT is her calling.

Peril (2021), by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa—The veteran journalist famous for exposing Watergate teamed up with one of today’s top political reporters to dive deep into Trump’s last year in office.  The title they chose rings true over and over as they detail the presidential campaign, Trump’s Covid failures, how generals evaded annihilating racial protests with military might, Biden’s resounding win that was re-branded a steal to save face, the resulting insurrection, and Trump’s second impeachment. 

Here are some recent photos of our deer, taken on my morning walks.

• 

• 

• 

• 

The Coronavirus   

Worldwide, Omicron is the latest threatening variant.  It was announced by authorities in South Africa on Nov. 25; they called it “a big jump in evolution.”  Initial examination found “a very unusual constellation of mutations,” including over 30 mutations in the spike protein alone.  The part of the new variant that creates the entry point for the virus to infect human cells has 10 mutations; Beta has three and Delta has two.  Originally, dozens of Omicron cases were identified in South Africa, Botswana, and nearby countries. Within a few days, cases were found throughout Europe (Belgium, Czech Republic, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Austria, France, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain), as well as in Hong Kong, Israel, Australia, Canada, Brazil, Japan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Korea, and USA.  Internationally, stock markets fell sharply due to the news. Some countries (including Japan, Israel and Morocco) closed their borders to ALL travelers. Many countries, including the US, have imposed travel restrictions against people coming from South Africa and neighboring countries, but obviously Omicron is already worldwide. 

More study is needed to determine the danger of Omicron, compared to the other Covid-19 strains. 1) Is this variant more transmissible?  2) Does it cause more serious disease?  3) Can it evade the current vaccines?  However, South Africa now reports Omicron is spreading there twice as quickly as Delta did, with cases doubling every 3 days.  In addition, Omicron is frequently infecting South Africans who previously had Covid, indicating that past infection provides no immunity to Omicron. 

Europe is now the epicenter of the pandemic, regardless of variant.  Many countries are experiencing more cases than ever, and restrictions are being re-instituted. The UK reverted to mask mandates in stores and for public transit.  France’s prime minister tested positive for a breakthrough case of Covid.

South Korea also reports a record number of new cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

In the US, in the last 2 weeks, cases have increased 13%, hospitalizations are up 18%, and deaths dropped 2%.  We are averaging 104,000 new cases per day.  58,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with Covid, and the death rate averages 1,100 people per day.

Authorities announced on Dec. 1 that the first case of the Omicron variant had been found in the US.  The patient, now in isolation, traveled from South Africa to San Francisco on Nov. 22, is fully vaccinated, and seems to have a mild case.  Since then, cases were found in Colorado, New York, Hawaii, Maryland, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, Utah, and Pennsylvania.

As of Nov. 20, the number of US Covid-19 deaths recorded in 2021 had surpassed the toll in 2020, according to federal data and Johns Hopkins University. The total number of reported US deaths linked to the disease now exceeds 780,000, which is more than twice 2020’s death toll of 385,343. And, this is despite the blessing we received of safe and effective vaccines being widely available in 2021. 

Michigan is experiencing its worst surge yet, with new daily cases doubling since early November.  During Thanksgiving week, 1 in 10 of new US cases were located in Michigan.

New Hampshire and Minnesota are also reporting surging cases.  Massachusetts is coping with a surge in Covid hospitalizations by stopping elective procedures. 

Upstate New York hospitals are overwhelmed with Covid patients.  The governor declared an emergency, and National Guard troops are being deployed to assist.

Many companies were planning to return workers to the office in January.  Now, Google and others are delaying that indefinitely, due to Omicron.

In Texas, the current positivity test rate is 9%, up from 7% 2 weeks ago. We are averaging 4,000 new cases and 70 deaths daily.  As of now, there are 3,500 Texans hospitalized for Covid-19.  In the last 2 weeks, cases have increased 14%, hospitalizations rose 6%, and deaths are down 14%. 

El Paso is experiencing a surge, with many ICUs full of unvaccinated Covid patients.  The Panhandle is also surging.

Vaccinations–the safe path to herd immunity

Worldwide, 7.8 billion shots have been given, with nearly 43% of the planet’s population fully vaccinated. 

Germany has locked down UNvaccinated people, banning them from non-essential travel, shopping, etc. 

Greece now bars UNvaccinated citizens from entry to all enclosed public spaces, including restaurants, bars, gyms, cinemas and museums.  The country’s death rate is twice the EU average.

EU leaders are considering a vaccine mandate, to combat the current surge raging throughout Europe.

In the US, 60% of the entire population is fully vaccinated; 70% of adults are fully vaccinated.  On average, we are averaging around 1,700,000 shots per day, including boosters.  About 44 million booster shots have been given.

The threat of the Omicron variant has strengthened the case for booster shots.  The CDC upgraded its November advisory from allowing them to urging Americans to get boosters right away.

Also, Omicron seems to have scared some reluctant people into getting vaccinated after all.  Shots were given last week at a high rate not seen since last May. On Dec. 2 alone, over 2.2 million shots went into arms.

The good—no, great—news is that fully vaccinated people are safe from serious illness and death.  However, age matters. Studies show that, in the rare cases of breakthrough infections, ZERO fully vaccinated people UNDER AGE 50 died in 2021.  For fully vaccinated people UNDER AGE 65, less than 1% died.  Now, people older than that—in their 70s and up—are more vulnerable, as are people of any age who are immune-compromised. 

As of the Nov. 22 deadline of Pres. Biden’s mandate, over 90% of federal workers received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine.  The vast majority of the remaining workers have exemptions granted or in process.

More companies, large and small, are following Delta’s lead and charging UNvaccinated employees a hefty surcharge for health insurance.  This reflects the huge cost of Covid treatment and hospitalization.

In Texas, only 55% of all residents and 66% of adults are fully vaccinated. 

Recent Covid articles I recommend…. 

3 Questions We Must Answer About the Omicron Variant  11/27/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/27/opinion/omicron-variant-questions-coronavirus.html

South Africa detects a new variant 11/25/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/25/world/variant-south-africa-covid.html

The Latest Covid Surge 11/23/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/23/briefing/us-covid-surge-thanksgiving.html

In Lakeway 

Passing along some holiday news from the Lake Travis Community Library

Local families in need will get holiday cheer from Lake Travis Labor of Love’s Green Santa program. LTlov takes donations of NEW AND UNWRAPPED GIFTS for Lake Travis area children. Registered children range in age from infant to 17 years and are living at or below the poverty line. Suggested gifts include sports equipment, dolls, puzzles and games, gift cards, toddler toys, and art supplies. You can drop off your donations at the library; the deadline is Monday, November 29th. CASH donations are also encouraged; checks can be made out to LTlov or send funds via Venmo to @DonateLTlov.

LTCL has re-started its rotating ART EXHIBITS.  Through December, the photography of Beth Yoder and Caitlin Yoder can be seen in the meeting room during library hours.

Meet and Greet for Police Chief Glen Koen

On Thursday, December 2, between 5:30 and 7pm, stop by the Police Station (1941 Lohmans Crossing Road) to say hello to Chief Koen, along with other PD officers, and enjoy light snacks.

Trail of Lights

This beloved tradition opens with a special “Lights On!” Ceremony on Saturday, December 4, 6pm, at City Hall.  After that, you can stroll through the light display every night.

• 

• 

Road work

Less fun that holiday activities, but much needed!  Asphalt overlay is scheduled for Nov. 22-24, as well as the week of Nov. 29 on these streets: Debba Drive, Cavalier Canyon Drive, Sparrow Lane, Knarr Street, Schooner Drive, Tallstar Drive, Dolphin Drive, Indian Bend Drive, Robin Dale Court, Robin Dale Drive, Cutlass, Bermuda Street, Dragon, Highlander Street, Flamingo, and Dart.

Lakeway Council met in Regular Session on Monday, Nov. 15

11/21/21 UPDATE: Per Mayor Kilgore on the 2-year deadline (Item 11) for extending Main Street and Lohmans Spur: “The clock started Nov. 16th when I signed the ordinance.”

Consequential Agenda items include these (RESULTS IN ALL CAPS):

ITEM 11–Lohmans Spur Road Phasing Agreement.  Pursuant to Council’s Oct.18 approval of the Square on Lohmans PUD, the developer agreed to begin the Main Street and Lohmans Spur extension within 1 year and complete these roads within 2 years.  This Item 11 agreement includes in the timeline the portion of Lohmans Spur that is contained within the developer’s Tuscan Village PUD.  PASSED UNANIMOUSLY [NOTE: per Mayor Kilgore, the agreement was signed Nov. 16, starting the clock.]

ITEM 13–Revise and consolidate the Preliminary Plans covering Phases 1, 2 and 3 of Legend’s Lakeway Highlands/Rough Hollow 1,555 acre development.  This item was heard at the Oct. 18 Council meeting but was TABLED due to needing info from LCRA and/or the city engineer on water quality issues.  Now, the staff report states that the city met with LRCA, with this result: “CBD is asking to move ahead with the approval of this revised and consolidated preliminary plan with the condition that a water quality treatment plan is approved by LCRA. Such plan could include a batch extended detention pond with an automatic shut-off valve and gabion wall.”  PASSED 6:0 (Council Member Kumar had stepped out and did not vote.)

ITEM 14—Second Reading for Amendment to Eastside Landing Development Agreement to eliminate the requirements for the developer to 1) construct Flint Rock Road and 2) subdivide the north side into R-1 lots.  Per the developer, the topography complicates road construction at this time, so it proposes dedication of the 100-foot wide right of way and making an agreed upon payment so the City takes on responsibility for the future extension of Flint Rock Road through the property. Also, the developer wants to transfer the north side as 1 single-family lot, instead of dividing that area into R-1 lots at this time. At the Nov. 1 Council meeting, staff instructed to continue working on the issues.  Now, the developer specifies payment of $160,707.50 to aid the City in the future development of Flint Rock Road.  Another change is that the parkland dedication will be up to 3 acres of land, with any additional obligation in the form of payment in lieu of land.  DENIED UNANIMOUSLY [This action retains the original development agreement, with staff instructed to work with the developer.]

ITEM 15–Zoning Eastside Landing property as R-1 and R-3. DEVELOPER WITHDREW THIS ITEM (due to the action immediately above).

ITEM 16—Sweetwater Development Agreement, FIRST Reading. In July, Council repealed a 2008 ordinance and thereby captured within the city’s ETJ property on Hwy. 71 not already captured by City of Bee Cave. This includes the ongoing Sweetwater development. This agreement states Sweetwater can continue construction under Travis County rules and oversight, and Lakeway will not impose its building code.  NO DECISION (as this was just the first reading).

ITEM 20—Zoning request for the Nightingale Project.  Owners of 7.76 acres on 620 at Nightingale Road want to build 248 apartment units in dense configuration with several variances.  It is proposed as a PUD, which allows the city considerable control. The land is now zoned as commercial and agricultural, yet nearby home owners are upset by this proposed residential use of the property.  Many local business owners support the project, as it would be workforce housing and should help with Lakeway’s long-time hiring problems. The matter was reviewed over the summer; ZAPCO denied approval, then the owner withdrew the item from Council review.  Now, the project is back; TXDOT’s assurance of a stop light is firmer, and the retention pond is under the park.  Several variances would be needed, including for density, parking spots, and park size and use. ZAPCO again denied approval on Nov. 8.  (Hence, a supermajority vote—three-quarters of Council–would be required to approve the request.) THE 3 REQUESTS WERE HANDLED IN 1 MOTION AND DENIED 4:3.

ITEM 21—Executive Session re: an economic development prospect. NO ACTION

ADJOURNED 11:36PM. 

Go here for the Agenda, Meeting Packet and Presentation— https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx  

Go here to watch the Council meeting online— https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/148212

Texas Elections 

Finally, we have Beto!  “I’m running to serve the people of Texas, and I want to make sure that we have a governor that serves everyone, helps to bring this state together to do the really big things before us and get past the small, divisive politics and policies of Greg Abbott.  It is time for change.”  That is a tall order, but if anyone can do it now, it is Beto O’Rourke.  Beto O’Rourke says he’s running for Texas governor 11/15/21 https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/15/beto-orourke-texas-governor-2022/

Plus, this lackluster maybe/maybe not candidate falters. Matthew McConaughey is hesitant about COVID-19 vaccines for young children. Experts urge otherwise. 11/11/21 https://news.yahoo.com/matthew-mcconaughey-hesitant-covid-19-140025217.html

Another Democrat entered the race for Lt. Governor, which already has Dems Matthew Dowd and Mike Collier challenging Republican incumbent Dan Patrick.  Michelle Beckley, one of the Texas House’s most liberal members, joins Democratic primary for lieutenant governor 11/16/21 https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/16/texas-lieutenant-governor-2022-michelle-beckley/

So, where can this nutbar do the least amount of damage—US Congress or Texas AG’s office?  U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert exploring run against Attorney General Ken Paxton in increasingly crowded GOP primary 11/9/21 https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/09/louie-gohmert-texas-attorney-general-2022/

Another Democrat will vie for Land Commissioner.  Jay Kleberg, an Austin-based conservationist whose family owns the King Ranch, wants to use the office (which handles the state’s mineral rights and 13M acres of land) to fight climate change, manage the state’s disaster recovery, and improve veterans’ benefits.  Three other Dems are also in the race, plus four Republicans, including Trump-endorsed state Sen. Dawn Buckingham of Lakeway.  Jay Kleberg of Texas’ King Ranch family is running for land commissioner as a Democrat  11/18/21 https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/18/texas-land-commissioner-2022-democrats/

Daring Mighty Things 

Anyone interesting in astronomy should make a habit of clicking on this US government site: Astronomy Picture of the Day.  Every day, it offers a new and fascinating celestial image with professional explanation.  https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

See something in the night sky?  Here you go!

Russia’s surprise weapons-test destruction one of its old satellites on Nov. 15 forced the ISS crew of American and Russian astronauts to take shelter in their Dragon and Soyuz spacecraft, in case the station was damaged by debris and they had to make an emergency return to Earth.  While things are now back to normal on the space station, NASA estimates that over 1,500 new debris projectiles are orbiting the planet, posing hazards to the ISS, satellites and all spacecraft.  Satellite debris forces space station crew to take shelter; U.S. blames “reckless” Russian missile test 11/15/21  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/satellite-debris-space-station-crew-take-shelter/

One troubled NASA mission finally returned from ISS to Earth, the crew in diapers for the 8 hour flight due to a busted toilet.  SpaceX Carries NASA Astronaut Mission Home With Safe Water Landing 11/9/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/09/science/spacex-nasa-water-landing.html

Two days later, the next NASA mission blasted off for ISS, again via a SpaceX Dragon craft.  The new mission will last 6 months.  NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 Astronauts Headed to International Space Station 11/10/21  https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-spacex-crew-3-astronauts-headed-to-international-space-station

Commuting to the ISS is one thing, but going to the moon is something else.  NASA recently delayed by a year (at least) its timeline for returning to the moon, saying “The Trump administration’s ambitious goal was not grounded in technical feasibility.” NASA delays moon landing to ‘no earlier than 2025’ 11/9/21  https://www.politico.com/news/2021/11/09/nasa-delays-moon-landing-2025-520468

Back to me….  

I’m getting ready to tackle a new paint project—always exciting!  This time, I am re-painting the inside of my garage.  Somehow, I ended up with an extra 5 gallon bucket of Agreeable Gray after painting the house interior in 2018, so I may as well use it.

Good books I recently finished (available at Lake Travis Community Library):

Midnight in Washington (2021), by Adam Schiff—The good Congressman’s subtitle says it all—How we almost lost our democracy and still could.  Schiff spent the Covid lockdown writing this book, and he relates the behind the scenes details of the Trump presidency, including countless moral outrages, myriad legal entanglements, numerous Constitutional gaffes, TWO impeachments, and one insurrection.  Early on, it is clear that Schiff is on Trump’s most hated list—and why.  Not only is the material fascinating, but the book is very well written, something professional writers in the political field rarely attain.

A Death in the Small Hours (2012), by Charles Finch—This Charles Lenox mystery is new to LTCL’s holdings, and I enjoyed it even though the series has progressed considerably in recent years.  These books are among my favorite period detective tales, effortlessly conjuring up Victorian England in all its sordid glory.

Here are some recent photos of our deer, taken on my morning walks.

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The Coronavirus   

Worldwide, Europe continues to account for well over half the world’s Covid deaths, as it did in October.

Romania has the highest rate of death from Covid, in the entire world–7 times the death rate per capita in the US.  Officials blame rampant misinformation and scare tactics deployed by religious leaders and politicians, with fake news stoked by social media.  As a result, Romania has a vaccination rate of only 44% (among the lowest in Europe).

The Czech Republic is fighting a record-breaking surge by banning all UNvaccinated people from public events and services.

Austria tried to quell its worst Covid surge ever by implementing a nation-wide lockdown on all UNvaccinated people age 12 and up, confining them to their homes for 10 days.  When that failed to make the needed improvement in cases and hospitalizations, officials extended the lockdown to EVERYONE; the only exceptions are grocery stores and schools (where students and staff are regularly tested). 

Germany has been setting daily records for new cases, during its fourth wave.  Testing is again being done free of charge.  Proof of vaccination, recent Covid recovery or negative test are required to use public transit, go to work in person, or access entertainment venues.

Russia has exceeded 250,000 Covid deaths.  Only four other countries have officially surpassed the grim quarter-million milestone (US—760K; Brazil—610K; India—470K; and Mexico—290K).

Greece now prohibits UNvaccinated people from entering cinemas, theaters, museums and gymnasiums, even if they show a recent negative test.

The Netherlands last week initiated a lockdown to fight its fourth wave of Covid.  Rotterdam experienced “an orgy of violence” as a result, causing  police to fire warning shots and make arrests.

In the US, in the last 2 weeks, cases have increased 30%, hospitalizations are up 3%, and deaths dropped 6%.  We are averaging 93,000new cases per day.  49,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with Covid, and the death rate averages 1,100 people per day.

That 30% increase in cases is concentrated in the west, midwest and northeast.  A winter surge seems inevitable.

Minnesota is the current Covid hotspot, with confirmed cases rising over 50% in the last 2 weeks.  The state is experiencing hospitalizations and deaths on the same high level as last winter, and federal teams of medical personnel are being mobilized to assist. 

New Mexico is also experiencing a strong surge.  Some experts point to the fact the state has a high proportion of young children not yet vaccinated.  Others wonder if the state’s early success at vaccinations means more people’s protection is waning.

In Texas, the current positivity test rate is 7%, up from 5% 2 weeks ago. We are averaging 3,400 new cases and 82 deaths daily.  As of now, there are 3,300 Texans hospitalized for Covid-19.  In the last 2 weeks, cases have increased 6%, hospitalizations dropped 12%, and deaths are down 20%. 

Experts are concerned that the improvement Texas saw in the last few months slowed then started to turn in the other direction, and there are signs the state is heading for yet another surge.

To date, Texas has had 4.25 million confirmed Covid cases. Over 70,000 Texans have died—over 10% of the national death total.  Only California has suffered to a larger extent.  Now, Texas is on pace to surpass that more densely populated state and will soon have the shameful distinction of leading the country in confirmed cases and deaths.

Vaccinations–the safe path to herd immunity

Worldwide, 7.6 billion shots have been given, with 42% of the planet’s population fully vaccinated. 

India has given over 1 BILLION vaccine shots.

Cambodia, with 88% of its population vaccinated, has opened to fully vaccinated tourists.  Thailand and Vietnam are doing the same, although with some destination restrictions and interim testing.

Singapore’s government has stopped paying the cost of Covid care for people who choose not to be vaccinated.  Latvia has banned UNvaccinated lawmakers from voting in parliament.

Austria got a wave of shots in arms when it barred UNvaccinated people from restaurants, pubs, salons, gyms, and theaters.  But, its vax rate is still just 66%, one of the lowest in Europe.  A recent surge is being combated with a nationwide lockdown, and officials just announced a vaccine mandate, as of Feb. 1.  Austria is the first western democracy to mandate vaccination nationwide.

Switzerland has low vaccination rates, especially in its German-speaking region.  Along with neighbors Austria and Germany, Switzerland’s vaccination attitude has been politicized nearly to the extreme degree seen in America.

Israel credits widespread booster shots with rapidly bringing its summer surge under control. 

The Australian Open will require all players to be fully vaccinated, in order to participate in the January competition.

In the US, 59% of the entire population is fully vaccinated; 69% of adults are fully vaccinated.  On average, we are now giving around 1,500,000 shots per day, including boosters.  About 33 million booster shots have been given.

Roughly 100 million Americans have yet to receive a single dose of the coronavirus vaccine. 

In the first week of eligibility, over 1 million children age 5-11 got their first vaccination shots.  To date, nearly 10% of kids in this age group have gotten a shot.

On Nov. 19, the CDC approved booster shots for all adults.  Now, everyone is eligible for a booster 6 months after the second Phizer or Moderna jab and 2 months after a J&J shot, regardless of age or medical condition.  As before, mix and match is allowed; experts suggest getting a Moderna booster after 2 original Phizer shots, and vice versa, could provide maximum immunity.  This comes after numerous studies showed immunity fading over time.  In fact, several states (Colorado, California, New York, New Mexico, West Virginia, Arkansas, and Massachusetts) were already urging all adults to get booster shots, as they tried to curb growing caseloads.

NYC is planning to return this year to its usual New Years celebration in Times Square.  Proof of vaccination will be required in order to attend.

Disney Cruise Lines requires all passengers over age 5 to be fully vaccinated.

Not only do we now have a pandemic of the UNvaccinated, but we increasingly have a REPUBLICAN pandemic.  In October (and using 2020 election stats), 25 out of every 100,000 residents of heavily Trump counties died from Covid; that is over THREE TIMES HIGHER than the Covid death rate in heavily Biden counties (7.8 per 100,000). October continued the trend of this gap widening, month by month.  This correlates with the current stats showing 40% of Republican adults still not vaccinated, versus just 10% of Democratic adults.

The Biden’s administration’s OSHA rule that workplaces with over 100 employees require vaccination or frequent testing is moving through the federal court system, to be decided by the US Supreme Court, likely this winter.  First, several similar cases are being combined, to be heard by a randomly selected 6^th Circuit Court of Appeals.  6th Circuit Court ‘wins’ lottery to hear lawsuits against Biden’s vaccine rule  11/16/21 https://www.npr.org/2021/11/16/1056121842/biden-lawsuit-osha-vaccine-mandate-court-lottery

In Texas, only 54% of all residents and 64% of adults are fully vaccinated. 

Texans–GET VACCINATED.  Latest study of the 29K Texans who died of Covid in 2021 shows that 92% were NOT vaccinated.  ONLY 8% of the dead were vaccinated, and most of those were over age 75, making them the most vulnerable.

Recent Covid articles I recommend…. 

CDC chief approves Covid-19 boosters for all adults 11/19/21 https://www.politico.com/news/2021/11/19/cdc-vaccine-advisors-endorse-boosters-for-all-adults-523058

Can Covid Winter Be Merry and Bright? We Asked the Experts. 11/17/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/17/opinion/covid-thanksgiving-holiday-risk.html

Why Don’t We Have a Covid Vaccine for Pets?  11/15/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/15/health/coronavirus-vaccine-cats-dogs-pets.html

Covid cases are surging in Europe. America is in denial about what lies in store for it 11/12/21 https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/12/covid-cases-surging-europe-america-denial

Texas schools can again set their own face mask rules after federal judge overrules Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban 11/10/21https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/10/texas-schools-mask-mandate-ban-overturned/

Ready to holiday? Before you gather with family and friends, think about COVID-19 safety 11/8/21 https://www.statesman.com/story/news/healthcare/2021/11/08/austin-covid-safety-holiday-season-how-gather-celebrate-lower-risk/6179753001/

U.S. Covid Deaths Get Even Redder 11/8/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/08/briefing/covid-death-toll-red-america.html

Unvaccinated Texans make up vast majority of COVID-19 cases and deaths this year, new state data shows 11/8/21https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/08/texas-coronavirus-deaths-vaccinated/