Author: Nina Davis

May Ukraine Have Peaceful Skies Again.

Here is what is happening in Lakeway…. 

May 6–ELECTION DAY

Lakeway Activity Center is our main polling place, but Lake Travis ISD Educational Development Center will also be open at 607 RR 620 N (off 620 to the right just before Kollmeyer). 

Hours are 7AM-7PM. 

GO VOTE!  Preferably for TOM KILGORE, DAN VARDELL and GRETCHEN VANCE.  But, mostly—VOTE!

May Art Display at Lake Travis Community Library

Local artist Judy Hazen displays her art in the library’s meeting room during the month of May. Her interest in watercolors developed from classes with local artists and workshops with the Lakeway Painters. Judy’s work is inspired by her RV travels and by her grandchildren.

Lakeway Arts District May Calendar

Check out all the local arts and cultural events during the month of May on this handy calendar: https://lakewayartsdistrict.com/calendar/

No More Oak Trimming Allowed

With the bulk of ice storm clean-up efforts complete, pruning or cutting of oak trees is no longer allowed per the city’s extended disaster declaration.  Due to the possible spread of oak wilt amongst our tree population, pruning or cutting of oaks is disallowed by city ordinance from February through June.  If you have questions for our City Forester, please contact Richard Leon at: RichardLeon@lakeway-tx.gov

Big Band Bash Visits Rough Hollow

For May only, on Monday, May 8, 7-9PM this FREE event will be held at the Rough Hollow Welcome Center Pavilion (901 Highlands Blvd.).  Bring your beverages and snacks, and dance the night away with the 17-piece Republic of Texas Big Band, featuring David Cummings and Lisa Clark on vocals.

High School Job Fair

The Lake Travis High School job fair is Monday, May 15, noon-3PM at the LTHS gym.  Local businesses can fill positions, with summer nearly here. Contact Dori Kelley with the City of Bee Cave at dkelley@beecavetexas.gov

Blood Drive at Lakeway Activity Center

The next blood drive at LAC is on Saturday, ­­­May 20, 8AM-noon.  The event is always well organized, clean and friendly.  You will be done and out the door in under 30 minutes. It is an important cause and helps countless people. Plus—FREE JUICE AND COOKIES! While walk-ins are welcome, those with appointments have priority. You can see upcoming dates and make an appointment to donate by entering your zip code here: https://weareblood.org/donor/schedule/

Masterpiece Concert at Lakeway Activity Center

On Sunday, May 21, 4PM, the public is invited to a FREE concert by Sandy Yamamoto and Sari Pearce (violin), Nick Hammel (viola), Andrew Pearce (cello), and Colette Valentine (piano). Repertoire: Franz Schubert: String Quartet No.13 in A Minor, ‘Rosamunde’ and Anton Dvorak: Piano Quintet in A Major, Op.81.

Aloha Pool Party

On Saturday, May 27, 5-8PM, the Lakeway Swim Center (3103 Lakeway Blvd.) presents the Aloha Pool Party.  Learn hula dancing, play luau games, compete in a limbo contest (prize is a ukulele), dine on Chick Fil A at the concession stand, enjoy the Leisure pool, and more.  Drop-In rates apply, or get FREE admission with a Summer Pass.  Luau attire is suggested.  Go here for more info: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1835/Aloha-Pool-Party

Memorial Day Ceremony

Lakeway’s annual Memorial Day observance is on Monday, May 29, at 11AM, at Lake Travis Performing Arts Center (3324 RR 620S).  FREE event.  Join together to honor military personnel who died while serving in the U.S. armed forces.  Special guest speaker will be Blair Didion, Sr. who served three terms in Iraq and one term in Afghanistan, receiving two Bronze Stars, a Silver Star with Valor, and three Purple Hearts; he is an upcoming Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.  For more info (plus a video of the 2022 ceremony) go here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1511/Memorial-Day-Ceremony

Summer Camps at Lakeway Activity Center

The upcoming summer schedule includes Coding Place, KidVenture, Camp Peniel, PlayWell, Mad Science, Martial Arts Sports Challenge, Ninja Camp, Skyhawks (baseball, basketball, cheer, dodgeball, football, golf, soccer, tennis, volleyball) Snapology, Young Rembrandts and more.  For info, go here and select the Youth Summer Camp tab: www.Lakeway-tx.gov/classes

Memorial Tiles Available at Lakeway Activity Center

LAC is now offering the next installment of “Pave the Way” tiles. This is the LAST area before completion.  Consider making a tax-deductible donation, recognizing a business, charity, family, or loved one.  Tiles are seen at special events held in the courtyard, and over 6,000 people pass through LAC each month.  Pricing (add $25 for clip art): 4 X 8 tile $125; 8 X 8 tile $250; 12X12 tile $375.  Email dallasgorman@lakeway-tx.gov for info.

Council Next Meets on May 15  

About 1 week prior, view the Agenda, Meeting Packet, and/or Presentation (scrolling down to City Council documents) here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx

Our Deer Herd

This special section will report on the size and condition of the herd, provide fawn season info, and showcase recent deer photos.

I’m on the Wildlife Advisory Committee, and we have a professional spotlight survey done every fall, with spotters driving a prescribed route through Old Lakeway (where nearly all the deer live) on 3 separate nights.  The 3 counts are averaged to produce a rough idea of our population. 

The survey done in fall of 2022 showed the herd size dropped slightly, just as it did in 2021.  That is to be expected during a drought; other factors could be all the development in Lakeway or coyote activity.  The surveyor noted the herd appeared healthy and well fed.

See the above chart.  Overall, in the 6 years that we’ve done annual surveys, the herd has remained stable in size or reduced slightly, all on its own.  The city last trapped and killed deer in early 2018.  WITHOUT inhumane and expensive culling, the herd regulates itself.  

FYI, the 2021 survey counted 12 coyotes (highest count ever, in the 6 annual surveys), while the 2022 survey only spotted 1 coyote. This could indicate that most of the coyotes have moved on.

And yes—we know that a deer survey isn’t perfect.  The only thing worse than doing a deer survey is NOT doing one. The survey gives the city a periodic look at herd size, location and condition.  Being able to compare data year after year is key.  In addition, the city tracks things like deer/vehicle accidents and carcass pick-ups.

In fact, the committee used ALL this information recently to select additional locations for Deer Crossing signs.  In addition, 1 or 2 radar signs will be placed on streets with the highest number of deer strikes.  I was just told the signs we ordered have arrived and placement is happening soon. 

Fawn season is here!  

On May 4, the very first image of a brand new fawn teetering around in Lakeway was posted on Next Door. It was NOT taken by me, but the baby was absolutely adorable, and now I’m scrutinizing every bush, swale and other sheltered area for parked fawns as I walk around town each morning. 

Don’t assume the wee fawns that you spot on a walk or in your shrubbery are abandoned; Mama Does leave their newborn fawns to rest, while they graze in the vicinity, before collecting the babies and moving on. 

Warning signs: 

–If the fawn is wandering around or bleating, it may need help.

–If the fawn’s ears are curled at the tips, its mouth is dry, or its bottom is dirty, Mama Doe hasn’t been around in a long time to nurse or clean the baby, and the fawn needs help.

–If the fawn has been injured or is being attacked by fire ants, it needs help. 

Otherwise, don’t get close enough to frighten the fawn into moving from its assigned parking spot, and let Mama Doe return.  Take a photo to post on social media for everyone to enjoy, and leave the fawn alone.

IF YOU DO FIND A FAWN IN DISTRESS:

Here are people and groups to call:

–Leanne Dupay, permitted wildlife rehabilitator with Texas Parks & Wildlife 512-694-1811. (She lives in The Hills.)

—Shandra Dettbarn, permitted wildlife rehabilitator with Texas Parks & Wildlife 512-660-3568.

–City of Austin Animal Services (512-974-2000) serves Lakeway.  An Animal Protection Officer will come out and likely take the animal to Austin Wildlife Rescue for care (see below).

–Austin Wildlife Rescue 512-472-9453  https://www.austinwildliferescue.org/  They are an intake center only and do not pick up animals. The location is at 5401 E. MLK Jr. Blvd., Austin, TX 78721.  Hours are Monday – Sunday 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

–All Things Wild is located just north of Georgetown  512-897-0806  http://allthingswildrehab.org/ Their “Found a Fawn or Deer?” page has specific info.  http://allthingswildrehab.org/deer/ Their “Contact” page has a lot of helpful info.  http://allthingswildrehab.org/contact-us/

Check here for more details on how to identify the RARE case of a fawn needing help (plus lots of adorable fawn photos from past seasons): https://ninawriteorwronginlakeway.com/parked-fawns-injured-deer/

FAWNS ARE BEING BORN NOW AND ARE WOBBLING AROUND TOWN.  PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE—SLOW DOWN AND DRIVE CAREFULLY.  Dozens of fawns are hit by cars in Lakeway each spring, and every time it is a heart-breaking tragedy for the fawn, the mama doe and the driver.  If you see a doe, assume there is a fawn with her; if you see one fawn, watch for ANOTHER fawn AND for their mama doe. 

DEER PHOTOS

Here are some recent photos I took in Lakeway.  I haven’t spotted any new fawns yet….

 Daring Mighty Things

The Japanese company Ispace came close to landing its robotic craft on the moon recently. But, communications were lost in the last stage of descent, with telemetry indicating the craft ran out of fuel and crashed.  Before that happened, it sent home the above image, beautifully capturing the splendid isolation of Earth, just past the moon’s edge. Japanese Company’s Spacecraft Likely Crashed During Moon Landing Attempt 4/25/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/25/science/ispace-moon-lander-japan.html

With liberty and justice for all … except women. 

Abortion bans failed to pass in Nebraska and South Carolina, on April 27.  In Nebraska, a bill limiting abortion to 6 weeks was just 1 vote short of advancing in the legislature.  In SC, a bill banning most abortions passed the state House but narrowly failed in the Senate.  In both states, current laws allowing abortion up to 22 weeks remain in effect.  Abortion Bans Fail in South Carolina and Nebraska 4/27/23  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/27/us/abortion-bans-nebraska-south-carolina.html#:~:text=South%20Carolina%20and%20Nebraska%2C%20two,victories%20to%20abortion%20rights%20advocates

North Dakota now has one of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the country.  Signed into law April 25, abortion is banned throughout pregnancy.  The only exceptions apply up to 6 weeks, in cases of rape, incest or medical emergency, such as ectopic pregnancy; after 6 weeks, those exceptions disappear.  North Dakota’s governor has signed a law banning nearly all abortions 4/25/23 https://www.npr.org/2023/04/25/1171816825/north-dakota-abortion-law

The North Carolina legislature, overwhelmingly Republican, passed a bill last week reducing the current 20 weeks abortion limit to 12 weeks with few exceptions.  Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, vows to veto the bill, but the legislature can use its Republican super-majority to override the veto and severely limit abortion availability in the state.  Since North Carolina now attracts women in need of abortions from all over the conservative South, the change would have far-reaching effects.  North Carolina Legislature Passes 12-Week Abortion Ban 5/4/23 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/north-carolina-abortion-ban-12-weeks/

In Texas, a man previously sued his ex-wife’s friends for helping her terminate her pregnancy via medication abortion.  Now, as that suit continues, the defendants are counter-suing, claiming the man found the pills and prescription and did nothing to stop his ex-wife from using them.  Women accused of facilitating abortion in Galveston wrongful-death lawsuit file countersuit 5/2/23 https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/02/texas-abortion-wrongful-death-lawsuit/

Also in Texas, a new law applies to all women who EVER had an abortion, no matter how long ago.  Doctors are required to submit their private medical information to a state-run website, without their knowledge or consent.  The little-known Texas law lists 28 medical issues as abortion complications, even though most have no connection to abortion.  Examples include adverse reaction to anesthesia and the absurdly generic “infection.” The list of complications was not compiled by medical personnel; it was drafted by Americans United for Life, an anti-abortion group that drafts pro-life legislation.  Still, doctors are required to report to the state any woman who develops one of these 28 conditions IF SHE HAD AN ABORTION AT ANT TIME IN HER LIFE.  A doctor who does not comply is fined for the first three violations, then they can lose their medical license.  Experts say the point of this oppressive reporting is to allow the state to build a data base they can say reflects complications following abortion—with zero cause and effect established and no mention of the amount of time between the abortion and the supposed complication.  Also, once a woman has an abortion, EVERY doctor she sees for the rest of her life is required to report her to the database, which does not sort out duplicate filings; after all, the point is accumulating overwhelming bogus data indicating abortion causes complications—all in support of banning abortion as a dangerous procedure. Texas is Fabricating Abortion Data 5/4/23 https://jessica.substack.com/p/texas-is-fabricating-abortion-data

The Coronavirus   

The World Health Organization announced on May 5 the end of its Covid-19 emergency, declared over 3 years ago. However, it cautioned that countries should maintain their Covid response systems.

The latest Omicron variant, called Arcturus/XBB.1.16, is driving a surge in India. 

In the US, in the last 2 weeks, the official stats show new cases fell 13% and hospitalizations dropped 15%.  Also, deaths decreased 20% to an average of 150 Americans per day.  See the chart below for current stats. The national testing positivity rate was 5%.  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/us/covid-cases.html

The C.D.C. is scaling back is coronavirus tracking and will no longer report the positive test percentage.

The federal government is lifting vaccination requirements, as the national public health emergency for the coronavirus ends.  As of May 11, federal workers and contractors, international travelers, Head Start employees, and health care workers at many hospitals will no longer be required to have been vaccinated.  Mandates remain for many employees of the National Institutes of Health, Indian Health Service, and Department of Veterans Affairs; these organizations implemented their own requirements for healthcare staff, which remain until lifted by these organizations.

Currently, in the US, Arcturus causes 10% of cases, and comes with a new symptom—conjunctivitis (pink eye).

Experts say that we in the US are likely experiencing our new normal.  Deaths from Covid-19 are the lowest since March of 2020.  Case rates have dropped as well (though infections are harder to track now, with home testing).  Hospitals aren’t overwhelmed; few Covid patients end up in the ICU on ventilators.  Most people sick enough for hospitalization are older, suffer from pre-existing conditions compromising their immune systems or lung function, or haven’t been vaccinated.  The improved situation is because nearly everyone now has some form of immunity now–from vaccines, past infection, or both. Plus, for those who do get infected, medications like Paxlovid significantly reduce the risk of serious illness.  Finally, while Omicron keeps shifting, no wildly new variant has developed in the last 18 months to challenge our system.

A New York Times article (linked in the section below) published a very extensive interview with Dr. Tony Fauci, looking back at what went right and what went wrong with the US response to Covid-19.  I found it very helpful in answering some nagging questions I had. This is where Dr. Fauci started: “I’m a physician. That’s my identity. I’ve taken care of thousands of patients in one period of my life during the early years of H.I.V. I believe that I have seen as much or more suffering and death as anybody has in most careers. I don’t mean to seem preachy, but I don’t want to see people suffer and I don’t want to see people die.”

Here are some key excerpts:

How America failed, compared to the rest of the developed world.

David Wallace-Wells: Three years ago, in March 2020, you and many others warned that Covid could result in as many as 100,000 or 200,000 American deaths, making the case for quite drastic interventions in the way we lived our daily lives. At the time, you thought “worst-case scenarios” of more than a million deaths were quite unlikely. Now here we are, three years later, and, having done quite a lot to try to stop the spread of the virus, we have passed 1.1 million deaths. What went wrong?

Fauci: Something clearly went wrong. And I don’t know exactly what it was. But the reason we know it went wrong is that we are the richest country in the world, and on a per-capita basis we’ve done worse than virtually all other countries. And there’s no reason that a rich country like ours has to have 1.1 million deaths. Unacceptable.

The divisiveness was palpable, just in trying to get a coherent message across of following fundamental public-health principles. I understand that there will always be differences of opinion among people saying, “Well, what’s the cost-benefit balance of restriction or of masks?” But when you have fundamental arguments about things like whether to get vaccinated or not — that is extraordinary.

Wallace-Wells: Even now, when we talk about pandemic response, we focus on things like school closures and masks, but it seems to me that Covid mortality has been shaped much more by the country’s vaccination levels. There have been three times as many American deaths since Election Day 2020 as before. And we’ve done much worse, compared with our peers, since vaccination began than we had before.

Fauci: I mean, only 68 percent of the country is vaccinated. If you rank us among both developed and developing countries, we do really poorly. We’re not even in the top 10. We’re way down there. And then: Why do you have red states that are unvaccinated and blue states that are vaccinated? Why do you have death rates among Republicans that are higher than death rates among Democrats and independents? It should never ever be that way when you’re dealing with a public-health crisis the likes of which we haven’t seen in over a hundred years.

That’s part of it. The other part of it has nothing to do with that divisiveness. It has to do with the fracturing of our health care delivery system in this country. We have let the local public-health and health care delivery system really suffer attrition. And the health disparities — racial and ethnic health disparities. Every country has a little bit of that, but we really have a lot of it.

The success of vaccine production.

Wallace-Wells: Mass vaccination in under a year.

Fauci: How much worse would it have been if we didn’t have a vaccine in 11 months? If it took three years to get a vaccine, we would have had five million deaths here. And the world, instead of having seven million deaths, which is an underestimate —

Wallace-Wells: It’s probably 20 [million dead worldwide.]

Fauci: Yes, it’s probably 20. And it would have been double that without vaccines. So I don’t think we should throw our hands up and say we could not have done any worse.

The failure of vaccine rollout.

Wallace-Wells: And what about rollout? So often Americans talk about vaccine hesitancy as you did a few moments ago: that fewer Republicans than Democrats are vaccinated, and that red states are less vaccinated than blue ones. But in addition to the partisanship gap, there were also large vaccine gaps by education, income and race. What could we have done better to promote vaccination among those groups?

Fauci: David, I don’t have a great answer for you. I don’t know. There are so many complexities involved here. I think we tried. I know we tried. How effective we were, that’s a different story. Even with the vaccine trials, we anticipated reluctance on the part of brown and Black people. And I personally put in a lot of effort, as did Francis Collins and some of my colleagues at the Vaccine Research Center, to make sure that there was proper representation in the clinical trials. But right off the bat, we were dealing with a new type of vaccine, an mRNA vaccine. And there was this smoldering level of suspicion and that divisiveness in the country. And then there was the whole idea of people not getting vaccinated, and then came mandating.

Wallace-Wells: You think that was harmful?

Fauci: Man, I think, almost paradoxically, you had people who were on the fence about getting vaccinated thinking, why are they forcing me to do this? And that sometimes-beautiful independent streak in our country becomes counterproductive. And you have that smoldering anti-science feeling, a divisiveness that’s palpable politically in this country.

The thing that astounded me is that when there were surges of infections in certain regions and the hospitals were being overwhelmed, people were still saying it’s fake news. I mean, people whose loved ones were in the hospital were denying that it was Covid. It seems inconceivable. That’s why I have to say I really don’t know. I wish I had an answer, but some very strange psychodynamics were going on in our country.

The shut downs.

Wallace-Wells: It sounds as if you are talking about this primarily as a phenomenon of the right. But you’ve been criticized a fair amount from the left as well, especially as the Biden years have worn on. This is an oversimplification, but on the right, you could say the main thrust of criticism was that the public response was too heavy-handed. On the left, it has been that it was too hands-off. That in the Biden era, guidance about masking and testing and quarantining were driven less by public-health concerns than by what was seen by the White House as economic, political and social realities — that people wanted to move on, however many people were dying.

Fauci: I certainly think things could have been done differently — and better — on both sides. I mean, anybody who thinks that what we or anybody else did was perfect is not looking at reality. Nothing was done perfectly. But what I can say is that, at least to my perception, the emphasis strictly on the science and public health — that is what public-health people should do. I’m not an economist. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not an economic organization. The surgeon general is not an economist. So we looked at it from a purely public-health standpoint. It was for other people to make broader assessments — people whose positions include but aren’t exclusively about public health. Those people have to make the decisions about the balance between the potential negative consequences of something versus the benefits of something.

Certainly there could have been a better understanding of why people were emphasizing the economy. But when people say, “Fauci shut down the economy” — it wasn’t Fauci. The C.D.C. was the organization that made those recommendations. I happened to be perceived as the personification of the recommendations. But show me a school that I shut down and show me a factory that I shut down. Never. I never did. I gave a public-health recommendation that echoed the C.D.C.’s recommendation, and people made a decision based on that. But I never criticized the people who had to make the decisions one way or the other.

Asymptomatic spread as the game changer no one predicted.

Wallace-Wells: But if you go back in time, if you put yourself in February 2020, you’re telling Helen Branswell,⁷ for instance, that this virus was low-risk and that you didn’t want to stake your credibility on what could be a false alarm. Do you wish you had said then more emphatically that this is a real, urgent threat and that we need to stand up our defenses immediately?

Fauci: Yeah, I think, retrospectively, we certainly should have done that. If you look at what we knew at the time, though — we didn’t know that in January. We were not fully appreciative of the fact that we were dealing with a highly, highly transmissible virus that was clearly spread by ways that were unprecedented and unexperienced by us. And so it fooled us in the beginning and confused us about the need for masks and the need for ventilation and the need for inhibition of social interaction.

Wallace-Wells: The asymptomatic spread.

Fauci: To me, that was the game-changer. And if we knew that very early on, our strategy for dealing with the outbreak in those early weeks would have been different. So when people say to me, “Could we have done better?” Of course, of course. If you knew many of the things then that now you know, definitely you would want to do things differently.

Why herd immunity never happened.

Fauci: The classical definition of herd immunity has been completely turned upside down by Covid. And let me go through the steps. Herd immunity is based on two premises: one, that the virus doesn’t change, and two, that when you get infected or vaccinated, the durability of protection is measured in decades, if not a lifetime. With SARS-CoV-2, we thought protection against infection was going to be measured in a long period of time. And we found out — wait a minute, protection against infection, and against severe disease, is measured in months, not decades. No. 2, the virus that you got infected with in January 2020 is very different from the virus that you’re going to get infected with in 2021 and 2022.

Wallace-Wells: Sometimes it seems to me we would be better off thinking of Omicron as an entirely different virus. It’s so distinct from not just the ancestral strain but also the early variants.

Fauci: Exactly. The vaccines protected well against infection and disease with Alpha, Beta and Delta. Then along comes Omicron. It evades immunity so well that a vaccine doesn’t even protect very well against infection. So with a changing virus and a duration of immunity that doesn’t last — what is herd immunity for that virus?

The entire interview is illuminating.  If interested, go read it all.  The link is the last article listed below.

In Texas, in the last 2 weeks, infections stayed the same and hospitalizations dropped 16%.  Deaths fell 11%, with an average of 10 Texans dying each day.  See the chart below for current stats. The positivity test rate fell to 6.6%.   https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/us/texas-covid-cases.html

Recent Covid Articles I Recommend

Do I need a new COVID-19 booster? What to know about new CDC, FDA vaccine recommendations 5/2/23 https://www.statesman.com/story/news/healthcare/2023/05/02/cdc-fda-guidelines-covid-vaccine-booster-2023-austin-texas-updated-recommendations/70150724007/

US to lift most federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates next week 5/1/23 https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-mandate-biden-emergency-3a4e68e7e54a005d8cc50b8756813adc

Our Covid Data Project Is Over, but the Need for Timely Data Is Not 4/30/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/30/opinion/pandemic-virus-response.html

Who’s to Blame for a Million Deaths? 4/26/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/26/opinion/whos-to-blame-for-a-million-deaths.html

What’s Going On With Covid Right Now? 4/24/23  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/24/well/live/covid-cases-deaths-spring.html

Dr. Fauci Looks Back: ‘Something Clearly Went Wrong’ 4/24/23 Dr. Fauci Looks Back: ‘Something Clearly Went Wrong’

EARLY VOTING ends Tuesday, May 2.  ELECTION Day is Saturday, May 6.

For EARLY VOTING, residents can vote at any polling place in Travis County, but the only local polling place is the Lakeway Activity Center. HOURS: Monday-Saturday 7AM-7PM, Sunday noon-6PM.

On ELECTION DAY, Lakeway Activity Center is our main polling place, but Lake Travis ISD Educational Development Center will also be open at 607 Ranch Road 620 North, Lakeway, TX 78734 (off 620, to the right just before Kollmeyer). HOURS: 7AM-7PM.

Note that Bee Cave had no contested races, so City Hall in The Galleria is NOT a polling place.

VOTE — KILGORE  VARDELL  VANCE  

How do you like your candidates?  Independent?  Or PAC?

The candidates are in 2 groups—running on their own or PAC-backed.  Three of the 7 candidates are endorsed and funded by a specific Political Action Committee.  The BAD thing about PACs is they hide the identity of those contributing to political campaigns.  Lakeway residents deserve to know exactly who is funding these campaigns, and to what extent. $50 is no big deal, but $500 may well come with strings.  

This PAC gave $20,000 to ONE candidate for Council LAST year. Wonder what they got for their money?  And who exactly is trying to BUY THE CURRENT ELECTION?  Well, the answer to THAT is set out very clearly below, but the bottom line is that this PAC dumped over $53,000 into this year’s Lakeway’s Council and Mayoral elections—and the PAC has $11,000 cash on hand for a last minute spending spree.

The PAC in question is The Committee to Protect Lakeway (CtPL), also known as the Lakeway Renewal Project, and it is funded by people (names and amounts shown below) in several groups; these include those in power during past administrations (often stained with scandal), those orchestrating recent ugly episodes involving our wonderful police force and our airpark, and developer-types intent on making even more money on Lakeway deals. 

The 3 PAC candidates who received the $53,000 (so far) are Ron Cooper, Kent O’Brien and Chris Forton.

As for campaign finances, the SECOND report required by law was due April 28 (covering activity from March 27-April 26).  Adding in the numbers from the first set of reports (and looking at the CtPL PAC’s own reports), here are some interesting points:  

Received the MOST contributions—Cooper ($31,500, closely followed by O’Brien and Forton—all including PAC money—see below).

Received the LEAST contributions—Bernzott ($1,880).

Largest candidate “LOAN” to campaign—Cooper ($42,000) followed by Bernzott ($30,000).

Spent the MOST money—Cooper ($59,000) followed by Bernzott ($45,000).

Spent the LEAST money—Vardell ($3,400).

Candidates who are directly paying STAFF to run their campaigns—Cooper and Bernzott.

CtPL PAC money breakdown—O’Brien–$21,282; Forton $20,717; Cooper $10,879.

To see ALL the reports that CANDIDATES filed with City of Lakeway, go here and scroll down to CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORT 4/6 and 4/28: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/427/Election-Information

The CtPL PAC filed its FIRST mandated report as of April 6 with the State of Texas.  In round numbers, as of March 27, it collected $45,000, paid $17,100 to 3 candidates (Cooper appears to have gotten $7,100—well over the $3,700 he reported–with $5,000 each going to O’Brien and Forton just as they reported) and after expenses held $25,000 in cash.

The major donors to the PAC :

4-6-23 report donors

–Erik Mulloy $12,000; PAC founder, pilot, Lakeway Police Foundation

–Dianne Brown $5,000; she doesn’t even live in Lakeway

–Gretchen Nearburg $5,000

–Tom McKnight $2,500

–Babin family $2,000; Lakeway Police Foundation

–Alan Fudge $2,000

–Mike Blahowski $1,000; another pilot

–Torrey Eltiste $1,000

–Sharon Gilmore $1,000

–Justin Hobson $1,000; airpark

–Jean Thompson $1,000; airpark

–Gates Walcott $1,000; he is a developer and a pilot

–David Deome $500; former mayor

–Logan Brown $500

–Barbara Beebe $500

–Joyce Christian $500

–Keith Trecker $500

–Keith Durio $500; airpark

–Scott Epley $500; airpark

–Daniel Foreman $500; airpark

–Terry Priestap $500; airpark

–Danny Diebel $500

–Mark Nearburg $500

–Gerry Ward $400; airpark

–Ken Treaccar $300

–Jason Buddin $250

–Jenna Burns $250

–Richard Morgan $250

–Tim Tolar $250

–Jim Powell $250

–Dennis Brown $250

–Michael Larocca $250

–Joe Bain $100; disgraced former mayor

4-28-23 report donors

–Maury Alkgelt $100

–Gail Arnn  $500 Lakeway Police Foundation

–Alain Babin  $1,500 Lakeway Police Foundation

–Judy Bond  $250

–Geraldine Boyce  $1,500, Lakeway Police Foundation

–Scott Epley  $1,500 pilot

–John Fletcher  $1,000

–Karen John  $100

–Georgia Jones  $250

–Tom McCann  $250

–Erik Mulloy  $2,000 PAC founder, pilot, Lakeway Police Foundation

–Shawn Parker  $50

–John Preston  $2,500

–Larry Ramsdell  $1,000

–Sharon Rogers  $100

Per the second report, as of April 26, the PAC collected an additional $12,600, gave $35,849 more to its 3 candidates (O’Brien– $16,282; Forton $15,788; Cooper $3,779), and held $11,477 cash to spend in the final days of the campaign.

So, the Committee to Protect Lakeway PAC dumped over $53,000 into Lakeway’s Mayoral and Council campaigns, through April 26.

To see ALL the PAC’s donors, amounts, payments and more in the 4/6 report, go here: http://204.65.203.5/public/100899496.pdf

To see all the PAC’s donors, amounts, payments and more in the 4/28 report, go here: http://204.65.203.5/public/100903100.pdf

Now, look through that LONG list of contributor names above.  Do you know those people?  Trust them?  Do they even live in Lakeway?  Are you comfortable with them using their money to buy City Hall?  Many of those people are connected to the airpark, a very intense special interest group where the Mulloys have deep ties.  Others are affiliated with the Mulloys’ other pet special interest group–the police fanatics cult. In my opinion, together they represent the most divisive interests and the very worst of Lakeway.

$53,000 and counting to buy City Hall….  Money still flows in and out during the final few days of the campaign.  Candidates are required to file either a final report or interim reports twice yearly; as a practical matter, that often fails to happen.

Here are the candidates I support in this election.

VOTE KILGORE and Re-Elect Mayor Tom! (And First Dog, Buck!)

I have known Tom Kilgore for many years and have seen him in action, testifying early on at Council meetings on the toughest issues, bringing our most basic governing document up to date on the Charter Review Committee, running fair and decent campaigns, and tirelessly guiding Lakeway through the mundane (such as necessary ordinance updates and budget matters) and the extreme (including ice storms and ugly community division).  I don’t agree with Tom on every issue, but that is not the test. What matters is that experience shows Tom can be trusted to protect Lakeway and all of its residents. Tom fulfilled his campaign promises from 2021, but there is much more to be done, particularly with the 620 expansion, connecting Main Street to Lohmans, and the 3 developments just starting to go into that area. This isn’t the time to switch leaders, and certainly not to someone new to Lakeway and lacking experience, qualifications and credibility.  Lakeway needs a dedicated and tested leader we know and trust, and that is Tom Kilgore.  https://kilgoreforlakeway.com/    https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064819487089

VOTE VARDELL and put Dan on Council!

I was really hoping that Dan would run for Council this cycle, and when he filed I breathed a sigh of relief.  Having watched him on Zoning and Planning for 2 years, I’m impressed by his in-depth understanding of the most complex city issues, as well as his ability to communicate and his fair and balanced views. His planning experience and his passion for green spaces and parklands will guide Lakeway in fulfilling a Parks Plan to serve us well currently and in the decades to come.  Plus, his experience on ZAPCO will help the city manage the 620 Overlay District and the Main Street developments. Most of all, Dan’s vision of Lakeway is someplace I want to live.  https://www.vote-vardell.com/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090762070845

VOTE VANCE and Re-Elect Gretchen to Council!

Gretchen has been on council for 4 years, demonstrating over and over the ability and enthusiasm to dig deep to understand and then resolve tough issues.  The city will need her experience as we deal with the 620 expansion, the massive Main Street development, and whatever else comes at us.  Just as she has in her first 2 terms, Gretchen will find common ground on Council to reach innovative solutions and move Lakeway forward. https://www.vote-vance.com/ https://www.facebook.com/gretchenvancelakewaycitycouncilmember/

And, the rest of the pack.

Now, feel free to stop right here, if all you wanted to know is how I voted (on the first day of Early Voting)—which is THE BIG question I’m getting lately. But, if you are curious about the other 4 candidates, read on to see why I did NOT vote for them.  That, by its nature, is negative, and—this being Lakeway–things will get rather dark. Either way, I urge everyone to watch forum videos, read Q&As, review campaign sites, etc. so you can make your own informed decisions.  And, you can start with my own 5-issue Candidate Q&A just below.

CHRIS FORTON works in life insurance and has lived in Lakeway for 8 years.  He serves on the city’s Zoning and Planning Commission.  He is endorsed and supported by the CtPL PAC (see above). Actually, I like Chris. I was happy when he filed to run for Council, but then I was horrified when he signed up with the PAC, considering the fiercely negative campaign it was already waging against Mayor Kilgore.  Life is full of tough choices, and I think Chris made the wrong choice there.  Now, voters have their own tough choice to make.

KEVIN BERNZOTT—NOT for Council

–This is a candidate who has only lived in Lakeway 3 years and lacks the understanding of our community to represent it on Council.

–He spent over $45,000 on campaign staff, polling, ads, and more.  Yes, it is nearly all his own money, but we do not need irresponsible spending habits at City Hall, where it is taxpayer dollars at stake.

–The campaign ad imaged above has offended and alienated a large segment of Lakeway residents.  It is especially inappropriate in a nonpartisan race, which is what our Charter mandates for local elections. In all the years I have attended Council meetings, there has NEVER been a vote on guns, nor will that issue ever come under local jurisdiction. Anyone living here for even a short time should know that Lakeway has never considered anything close to defunding our police, as proven by our state-of-the-art Police Station AND our fully staffed and equipped police force.  Bernzott likely has no idea about these things, but over 25% of the city’s budget goes to our Police Department, and rightly so. In line with this incendiary ad, at forums he frequently says violence and anarchy are coming soon to Lakeway.  Don’t fall for his shameful fear-mongering.  Lakeway does NOT need Kevin Bernzott reporting for duty.

–There are persistent and troubling rumors that Kevin Bernzott supports TEXIT (the movement for Texas to secede from the US).  When I asked him directly, he refused to deny or confirm.  This is divisive, dangerous, and NOT what we need on Lakeway Council.

KENT O’BRIEN–NOT for Council

–He is endorsed and supported by the CtPL PAC (see above).

–This is a personal observation, but I think it says a lot about this candidate’s character.   I was at LAC for the March blood drive, and so was Kent O’Brien.  But, instead of donating blood, he was trolling for votes, wandering around trying to get in his candidate spiel, holding folks up and delaying the process.  He even took a selfie in the room, and he posted the shot on his campaign’s Facebook page; I’m on a gurney behind his head. His behavior was intrusive, boorish and self-absorbed.  That’s NOT someone who should be on Lakeway Council.

RON COOPER—DEFINITELY NOT for Mayor

—He is endorsed and supported by the CtPL PAC (see above). 

–Running for mayor after living someplace only 3 years is something few people can make work.  Ron Cooper is NOT one of those people.

–In his short time in Lakeway, Cooper has done little to nothing in service of the city.  Yes, he is on Ethics Committee, but he was appointed by last year’s abundantly funded PAC candidate, Jennifer Szimanski. So, that’s just one hand of the PAC washing the other, really. Plus, I’m told Cooper only attended ONE Ethics meeting, and he left halfway through. 

–Cooper’s attitude and approach are not what I want representing Lakeway.  For instance, in the candidate forums, he was sullen, petulant, and detached; one minute, he looked like he had better places to be, and the next he lobbed a verbal grenade at his opponent.  We need a leader who is mature and stable, as well as up to the intellectual challenges and character tests surely ahead.

–Cooper claims to be conservative, and he prides himself on endorsements.  Oddly, that includes endorsements from some of Lakeway’s sketchy former mayors;  Cooper didn’t even live in Lakeway when those guys were in charge, so he has no clue how they ran things here in the bad old days.  As for the present, the Travis County Republican Party voted AGAINST endorsing Cooper in this race.

–Cooper clearly isn’t interested in the full-time job that Mayor of Lakeway is in 2023. He has a young family and an insurance business.  Plus—he is a developer (which, as he noted in the 2022 video linked just below, requires a lot of travel, across the country.)  Cooper has never attended a full Council meeting (of which there are usually 2 a month and they can go into the next morning); he showed up at 1 Council meeting but left early. The Mayor can’t do that.  Cooper has a staff paid to run his campaign, yet it is still a mess (ill-prepared financial reports, missed deadlines, little to no communication with media or residents, no social media presence, etc.  If Cooper thinks the Mayor’s staff can handle things, he needs to realize that the Mayor HAS NO STAFF.  (Yes, the City has quite a few employees, but none with the job description of “do the Mayor’s work” or even “Mayor’s Assistant.”)  Worst of all, Ron Cooper has no plans for Lakeway, no big ideas, no vision—just petty criticisms.  It really doesn’t feel like Cooper wants to be Mayor.  I don’t know why he is running, but I feel pretty sure that if Ron Cooper wins, it will be someone else slipping into City Hall through the back door and taking over. Question is—WHO would that be?

–Cooper’s professional status is murky. He filed to run for mayor as an insurance adjuster. It was only after months of equivocation that the truth came out.  Cooper is a property developer, both in partnership with Legend Communities and on his own. Haythem Dawlett and Ron Cooper were recently money partners in the Tiki Time resort community deal near Galveston.  https://moneyforlunch.com/legend-communities-and-tiki-time-llc-plan-upscale-waterfront-residential-community-on-tiki-island-near-galveston/ Among other things, this financial partnership means that, if elected Mayor, Cooper would have to recuse himself as to all matters relating to the several Legend Communities developments in Lakeway—Rough Hollow, Tuscan Village, Jovi/TV2, The Square at Lohmans, condo interests in the 2 new airpark hangers Council recently approved, etc.  Almost every Council Agenda has one or more Legends items, and Cooper would have to leave the Council Chamber during discussion and voting, every time.  What a mess!  We need a mayor legally able to be involved in the important decisions like those concerning our biggest developments.  And, even scrupulous recusals left and right would not keep Dawlett from having the inside track at City Hall, if his buddy is Mayor. 

That’s not all.  In 2022, Ron Cooper was telling people he is a developer.  Below is a link to a Facebook Live insurance talk that Ron Cooper gave in 2022.  At the start, he was shooting the breeze about his being a DEVELOPER and how he managed his DEVELOPMENT-related travel during Covid. Here is what Ron Cooper said in 2022: “As a DEVELOPER, I drive and travel all over to buy communities and develop communities….  During Covid, I had to pivot a little bit to figure out how I could travel most easily. So, we picked up a King Air C90, a Cessna 340 and a Prevost.”  To see and hear it, just click the link below and advance to the 3 minute mark; Ron Cooper will talk about being a DEVELOPER and be done by the 4 minute mark. (It does not come up again in the rest of the video.) https://m.facebook.com/PendariesNM/videos/pendaries-fire-relief-qa-1-how-to-navigate-the-insurance-claim-process/474923377721305/ An alternate link to the same video is there: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=474923377721305

All this flatly contradicts what Committee to Protect Lakeway PAC founders said about Ron Cooper, as their PAC’s endorsed and funded candidate for Mayor.  On Next Door, for instance, Cooper’s supporters posted over and over that Cooper has no business or personal relationship with developers and that Cooper is definitely NOT a developer himself.   

Clearly, Ron Cooper IS a developer.  He says so. That is not a crime, but it IS a big problem.  Why does it matter that Ron Cooper is a developer?  First, he has hidden that fact, calling himself an insurance adjuster on the candidate application and elsewhere; his people flatly denied his being a developer.  Second, if Lakeway’s mayor is a developer, then no other developer would feel fairly treated here.  They would go elsewhere, assuming the Developer/Mayor has an unfair advantage.  And, he would—a very lucrative one.

Ron Cooper is tough to corner for a frank discussion.  He doesn’t do social media.  He doesn’t respond to emails. He doesn’t answer his phone or return voicemails.  In public, he is surrounded by people who don’t let anyone near him.  So, unfortunately, despite 2 months of trying, I never got to ask Cooper to elaborate on a couple intriguing little rumors that just will not die.  1) If he went to Ohio State like his bio says, why do so many people recall him boasting about being an MIT grad? 2) Similarly, lots of folks have heard him reminisce about advising the Obama administration on the hunt for Osama bin Laden.  There’s GOT to be an interesting story there, that really should have gotten aired during the campaign.

Candidate Forum Videos

If you missed the events, here are links to watch the videos.

—Rough Hollow April 25 Candidate Forum—COUNCIL Section.  Video is 60 minutes.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2OuGYv42fE

—Rough Hollow April 25 Candidate Forum—MAYORAL  Section.  Video is 52 minutes.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihkY7UD1hpI

–LT Democrat’s April 18 Candidate Forum.  Video is 90 minutes total–be SURE to watch the LAST 20 minutes or so as it gets VERY interesting….  https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=145289588313574&ref=sharing

–We the People’s April 10 Candidate Forum

Watch 4 of the 5 candidates running for 3 Lakeway Council seats (Gretchen Vance was out of town) in this 1-hour video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9pDstuSqXA

Watch Mayor Kilgore and Ron Cooper in this 50-minute video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MaUH_EwCNU

–Tuscan Village Voters had a candidate forum on March 30.  Here are 3 quick videos featuring Mayor Kilgore and Ron Cooper. (Many thanks to a Lakeway Angel for these….) 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yYYD1oN5e6-MtUTtozwVH6tFApg_-nq8/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ga9MfJCxsogoASC9T_1GNTsnHx2MpNWs/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13YzslTghLyDs1gefYJjlT7C_IBo3O9qN/view

Nina’s Candidate Q&A

I emailed 5 questions to ALL the candidates, publishing responses in my blogs over the last several weeks.  Ron Cooper never responded.   Kent O’Brien did not respond to the last 2 questions.  Here are the 5 questions (in italics).  Each candidate’s responses are grouped together below.

— What is your solution to the severe shortage of workers available to staff our schools, restaurants, hotels, hospital, emergency services, offices and all other Lakeway businesses?

— Recently, there seems to be a growing split, with Old Lakeway on one side and the newer neighborhoods (notably Rough Hollow) on the other.  For instance, some Rough Hollow residents complain about the city’s primary amenities being inconvenient for them to access; others characterized last spring’s workforce housing proposal on Bee Creek Road as Old Lakeway distancing an undesirable development.  On the other hand, some Old Lakeway residents feel that those living in the newer areas don’t appreciate Lakeway’s history or value its peaceful charm.  What part of Lakeway do you live in, and, if elected, how would you represent the ENTIRE city?

 — Lakeway is rightly proud of its volunteer tradition.  The Mayor and Council members have always served without pay.   At some point, that may become untenable.  Currently, the position of Mayor appears to be a full-time job.  More is demanded of Council members all the time.  As a practical matter, the lack of salary shapes the pool of candidates.  Do you see Lakeway moving to salaried positions for our elected officials in the near future?  (The City Charter would need to be amended.  Otherwise, as a home rule city, Lakeway seems allowed to pay its officials, under Texas law.)  Should any change be keyed to population level?  Annual budget?  Something else? 

–Lakeway takes in considerable Hotel Occupancy Tax funds annually. By state law, these funds can only be used for specific purposes that boil down to getting more people to book hotel rooms in town.  With around $9 million in HOT funds currently on deposit and minimal annual expenditures, what should Lakeway do with these funds?

–You are running for office.  Every campaign cycle gets more expensive and more divisive.  What changes do you suggest to improve our election process? Examples are eliminating or limiting campaign signs and restricting contributions (such as a maximum of $100 per contributor, no PAC money, contributions ONLY from Lakeway residents, etc.).

MAYORAL CANDIDATES

Tom Kilgore  

Worker Shortage:The Mayor and City Council cannot “solve” a labor shortage across multiple industries. We owe our commercial properties, and business owners: clear regulations, uniform inspections, timely responses and a minimum of red tape. The council has updated our zoning ordinances, creating equal opportunities for property owners. The council is continuing to explore alternative transportation options. We meet with business owners on a regular basis to review alternatives, and continue to see if pilot programs in other municipalities might be solutions for us.

Representing Entire City: Thank you for this question. I live in “Old Lakeway” on Electra. For the last several years I’ve been the Mayor of Lakeway, all of Lakeway. I campaigned on making city hall more transparent, and treating everyone equally. It doesn’t matter if you have been here for 30 years or 30 days – you will get the same treatment from the Council and City Staff.

Rough Hollow residents correctly point out that our city facilities are far away from their neighborhoods. That will change with the city annexing Butler Park and significant areas of the greenbelts. Moving these green spaces to the city is long overdue; thankfully the prior council enforced the timeline. Now we will be able to develop the park for our residents.

The issue of the proposed and rejected workforce housing project wasn’t really a neighborhood problem. Occasionally, residents suggest solutions that move a problem from their neighborhood to another location. However, the council is focused on solving the underlying problem, not a location preference. The proposed workforce housing projects failed as they were incompatible with the underlying zoning and the city’s plans for commercial space. 

The way you represent the entire city, is to represent the entire city – as I have done since my election in May 2021.

Volunteers: I think our tradition of a volunteer city council is important and should be retained. 

After my election, I was surprised by two aspects of the position. The workload and demand for access to the office. I thought that the Mayor’s job might take 20-25 hours per week. And if all the Mayor did was to set the agenda, sign documents, prepare for and attend council meetings, committee meetings, and workshops – that’s probably the time required. However, that is only a portion of the Mayor’s role. The mayor is expected to represent the city with our neighbors, the county, state and federal elected officials. You are also the relationship person for our community partners, from the Chamber of Commerce, LTFR, the Special Olympics, and many others. That’s when I realized it was a full time job, if it’s going to be done right.

I also learned that our residents expect the mayor to be readily accessible to address their ideas, comments, and concerns. You have to be willing to meet people where they are; in our online world it’s not limited to your city email or voicemail.

Despite the demands of the role, I believe it should remain a volunteer position. I don’t think it limits the candidate pool. We have had a robust number of applicants in the last several elections.

HOT Funds: The legislature is working on bills that would expand the uses of this tax. However, if there are no changes we should still consider a City Civic Center to be built.

Campaign Finance: I am open to campaign finance reform. The problem isn’t the money in our elections, it’s the breakdown of civil norms and injecting partisanship into our elections.

Ron Cooper–NO RESPONSE.

COUNCIL CANDIDATES

Dan Vardell  

Labor Shortage: The labor shortages facing Lakeway businesses are a long-term problem that directly impacts quality of life for business owners and residents.  When local businesses struggle, or even fail, residents must deal with limited availability of services, poor service experiences, or being forced to drive longer distances to meet even basic needs.  When completing Lakeway’s 2020 Comprehensive Plan, we noted this as a high priority issue and recommended multiple steps be taken including: update the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) to identify appropriate areas for higher density, lower cost housing options (done), establish an economic development committee (done), work with developers to reserve a portion of built capacity for reduced cost housing (in progress), and collaborate with Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce as well as surrounding municipalities to build support for regional solutions (in progress).  Even though a couple of these are marked ‘done’, they all require ongoing attention to ensure we understand current needs and are making real progress.  In the past two years, several developments have been approved in the area that are planned to offer market rate housing options.  Similarly, when the new town center was approved, we requested developers reserve 10% capacity for worker-friendly housing options.  While I support all these actions, as a council member my focus will be on collaborating with surrounding municipalities to develop regional solutions.  If you take 20 minutes as a reasonable commute, this means Lakeway’s labor pool extends from 2222 (North) to Vista Oaks (West) to Oak Hill (Southeast).  This highlights that labor is fundamentally a regional issue and no one town can solve it alone.  The progress we’ve made the past two years indicates these are the right steps if we continue to maintain focus on this issue as the area grows.

Representing Entire City: One beauty of living in a small town is we are all in this together.  There is simply no upside in trying to invest in one area at the cost of another or ignoring one group of residents to benefit another.  When residents bring issues to ZAPCO or Council, we ask for their address to get a bit closer to the neighbor we are talking to.  This is never to identify a neighborhood to determine whether this resident’s opinion is to be valued more or less than another’s.  It is the responsibility of city leaders to ensure all areas are represented, investments and impacts are balanced, and residents in each neighborhood have a full and equal voice.  When I finally had the opportunity to buy a home in Lakeway, I intentionally targeted one of the more historic homes in Old Lakeway because I respect the history of this town and that neighborhood.  But that respect extends to the entire town and all our residents.  And, if elected, I will surely act to support them all because that is the only way Lakeway thrives. 

Volunteers: Lakeway follows the standard set by the vast majority of small cities and has all-volunteer leadership.  The focus is on service and giving back to the community – and that is where it should stay.  When cities, usually much larger than Lakeway, begin paying leaders; they open the door to individuals running for the wrong reasons.  We want leaders who are committed to helping neighbors, and the City, because they love helping the community thrive.

HOT funds:  Hotel occupancy tax revenues can be used for facilities or events that promote tourism.  In the past Lakeway has approved money for art, music and theater events and advertising to support them. This is a good use of the money and should continue. Larger expenditures, including convention and/or performing arts facilities and large events, have been considered many times over the years.  But they have been repeatedly rejected due to concerns over the burdens they place on the city such as high traffic on neighborhood streets and long-term facility maintenance.  This ‘hotel tax’ question has lingered for years.  I do not support collecting taxes without a clear purpose.  If we cannot put a long term plan in place for this money, the taxes should be reduced to a level sufficient to support existing programs for the arts.  That said, today there is a large, and growing, pot of money.  So if anyone reading this was not aware of the hotel tax fund and has ideas for a good use, please let us know!

Campaign Finance:  Politics divide.  There is no place for political machinery in local politics.  Large sums of money push elections, and candidates, to places they would not normally go.  I support limits on campaign finance in Lakeway.  

Gretchen Vance  

Labor Shortage: One solution that I feel is very viable is that we begin a program with LTHS where required service hours can be met by students who choose to work. Many students who are required to meet the 100 service hour requirement to meet specific graduation requirements simply don’t have time to have a job. By allowing students who work in lieu of providing service hours, we can tap into a workforce that is not currently available. 

Representing Entire City: Lakeway is a growing and diverse community. As a resident of neither Old Lakeway or Rough Hollow, our street is a microcosm of everything Lakeway is. Young families, working couples, retirees, business owners and a multitude of other residents that live on our street. Sometimes referred to as “Lakeway Proper” the area that spans Duck Lake, Clubhouse, Rolling Green, Lakeway Boulevard from 620 to Lohmans is a mix of “old” and “new” and a perfect example of how people from all walks of life make this city special. 

In regard to any new development in Lakeway, either parks & recreation, residential or commercial, the city’s “FLUM” or “future land use map” is a guiding document of zoning that helps the council place developments across the city that have the proper infrastructure and surrounding zoning to create a cohesive neighborhood. 

Volunteers: Lakeway was founded on volunteerism and is what it is today because of those volunteers. I am proud to volunteer my time as a council member. Although I would not want a current or future councils to vote on changing the process of serving, if a movement was brought forward seeking our council and mayor to be paid, I would have no issue placing it on the ballot for our voters to allow their voices to be heard. 

HOT funds: The HOT funds are a hot topic. I have been discussing with the Director of parks and recreation about possible ideas that would qualify for funding for possible new facilities in our parks department. These would include small meeting spaces or convention areas that could be used for small company events, family reunions, and weddings. If I am reelected, we will explore these options and hope we can find a multi use facility that meets the needs of Lakeway taxpayers and visitors. 

Campaign Finance: Even prior to this election cycle, I have discussed with city staff and other elected officials about exploring campaign finance reform. Although we are at the early stages of exploring these options, they could include but not be limited to: only allowing contributions by people who are registered to vote in the Lakeway precincts, limiting contributions, capping money raised, and money spent. Many municipalities throughout Texas apply these limits to their elections. This allows people who wish to volunteer for their community to be able to do so in a financially affordable way. 

Chris Forton 

Labor Shortage: The problem of a worker shortage isn’t unique to Lakeway. A common theme has developed everywhere that there aren’t enough workers to go around. There are many causes and to try and pinpoint a solution in a short couple paragraph response would be reckless at best and negligent at worst.

As a member of ZAPCO I have voted in accordance with our comprehensive plan to allow a variety of housing densities. While maintaining our single family residential we have also voted to allow townhomes, condos and an apartment. With the apartment the additional density was considered because the developer was going to give the city a park in exchange for the difference in density. All of which aligns with the comprehensive plan for increased park space, and density along 620/71. 

All options should be considered, but ultimately the taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for subsidizing a businesses workforce. I’m not insensitive to people having to commute long distances, I have a one hour commute each way, everyday. 

As a council member I will evaluate all proposed solutions and decide what action if any would best support and be accepted by the citizens of Lakeway. I will gladly welcome community feedback and utilize the comprehensive plan in my decision making process. 

Representing Entire City: I live in Lakeway! I don’t see the need to divide people into ever smaller categories. We are all fortunate to live in this great city, regardless whether your house was built last year or 30 years ago. 

I don’t agree with the assessment that there is a growing split between what you call “old” and “new” Lakeway. I actually feel it is opposite. Most people don’t seem to care where people live in the city. I have friends and supporters in all areas around Lakeway and I’ve only been asked where in Lakeway I live once, twice if you include query.  

The workforce housing wasn’t an “old” or “new” Lakeway issue. It was a Lakeway issue. The housing was denied on 620 the same as on 71. It wasn’t what the people wanted. The council was unanimous on that decision after considerable community feedback at both locations. Additionally, there were inconsistencies in the traffic impact analysis.  

The members of ZAPCO including myself voted for it because there was some merit for it once they included the restaurant to make it into a mixed use development. However, we vote based on the comprehensive plan. City council is the voice of the people.  

I will represent the citizens of Lakeway the same way I have been as chairman of ZAPCO. Listening to their concerns and utilizing the comprehensive plan. There are countless instances where we have listened to community concerns, worked together, and compromised to come up with what was best for the city. I feel that is the best approach ! 

Volunteers: The question to pay for city council and mayor is very intriguing , but I think right now these should remain volunteer positions. I feel there are people that enjoy volunteering for their community. Once you change it to being paid it becomes a job, and that isn’t necessarily a good thing. I’m happy with the cup of coffee I get at city hall once a month volunteering as head of ZAPCO. That’s compensation enough for me!

HOT funds: Fortunately there are several potential uses on the horizon. With the new county ball fields off Bee Creek Rd they can be used to support youth sports tournaments. The square at Lohmans will give a central meeting place and allow for small festivals and art fairs which can utilize those funds. The World of Tennis has started having a Pickle Ball championship that brings out thousands of people from across the state and country.  TexArts has been able to utilize those funds in recent past and I’m sure will continue to into the future. 

Campaign Finance: It has gotten out of hand. When I ran back in 2018 I spent $500 of my own money. Now the mayors spend about $50k and tens of thousands for council. Unfortunately most of what you suggested is against state law. However, one thing I would like to do and I’ve talked with another council member about is having a voluntary cap. An agreement from the candidates to not spend over $X amount. Or voluntary limits on the number of signs. The pool of candidates shouldn’t be limited to those that are independent wealthy or moderate a social media platform. The rest of us that are normal hardworking citizens that don’t have an extra $25k in the bank need the support of our friends and neighbors. The idea of having an agreement in place would open the pool of potential candidates and that I could support.  

Kevin Bernzott   

Labor Shortage: I don’t think there’s a shortage of workers in Lakeway any greater than in many other places – that’s driven by economics. The Thundercloud Subs store on Lohman’s Spur recently closed after several years, citing the unavailability of employees. More concerning to me is that we are protected by 35 sworn police officers and I understand none of them live in Lakeway. Few communities can accommodate everyone, and workforce housing is clearly an issue, but when our cops are commuting from Marble Falls, for example, that’s an issue.   

Representing Entire City: Lakeway has a total area of about 13 square miles, some 5% of which is water, and a population of around 20,000 folks. The statement that “some Rough Hollow residents complain about the city’s primary amenities being inconvenient to access” does not resonate with me. Everything in Lakeway is easy to access and the Rough Hollow residents allegedly complaining are closer to Lake Travis and the marinas. As a City Building Commissioner, I think an undesirable development is one that does not conform to our planning, zoning and building standards or does not adequately mitigate its traffic impacts. We live in Rough Hollow, and Lakeway’s peaceful charm is among the chief reasons we moved here. Given Lakeway’s size, I envision no conflicts representing all of it – all of us. I think the challenge is going to be insulating Lakeway from the anarchy overtaking Austin. Criminals don’t care about city limits. They can keep Austin weird – I’ll focus on keeping Lakeway… Lakeway. 

Volunteers: I am running for city council as a volunteer with no expectation of compensation.  I’m not sure what that point [of volunteerism becoming untenable] might be – but we are nowhere it today.  In this circumstance, I’m not sure I agree that lack of pay discourages qualified folks from advancing a prospective candidacy. And there are too many elected officials feeding at the public trough – we don’t need councilmembers of a small municipality with a population of around 20,000 being paid by the taxpayers to serve.  [As to Lakeway moving to salaried positions for our elected officials in the near future] Absolutely not. The Lakeway City Charter, §3.05 Compensation, says: “Members of the Council shall serve without pay or compensation; provided, however, that they shall be entitled to reimbursement for all expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as approved by the Council.” Prospective candidates looking for compensation should look elsewhere.

HOT funds: Every expenditure must “directly enhance and promote tourism and the convention and hotel industry.” There are nine statutory categories on which HOT revenue can be expended, many of which are impractical for Lakeway. Of the nine, I think Lakeway should focus primarily on creative “advertising, solicitations, and promotions that attract tourists and convention delegates” to our environs.

Campaign Finance: Civility is a tenet of my campaign – no more of this “we can’t be friends” nonsense. We’re a small city, some 13 square miles with a little more than 20,000 folks, so we’re all neighbors. We can disagree with one another without being disagreeable about it. Campaign signs are problematic every election. The large ones are arguably an eyesore. Every candidate must display them to remain competitive, but signs don’t vote. I’d be fine with no signs, or at least no signs larger than yard signs. “Money is the mother’s milk of politics,” quipped politician Jesse Unruh nearly six decades ago. There are a litany of Supreme Court cases ruling campaign contributions are “freedom of speech” protected to some extent by the First Amendment. I haven’t taken PAC money, but I don’t think prohibiting PAC contributions or prohibiting contributions from non-Lakeway residents would pass constitutional muster. I would support carefully crafted local campaign finance reform capping the amount per contributor and / or imposing spending limits.  

Kent O’Brien 

Labor Shortage: Although, I do not know all of the details, I was not in favor of the Work Force housing development as it was proposed that you note in your question.  I am very much in favor of creating opportunities to enhance the work force in our community and the region.  I know that our businesses and employers struggle to fill staffing needs and also to find the right staff.  When elected, I want to have a robust and comprehensive discussion with residents and businesses to identify concepts and alternatives that will enhance work force opportunities.  I will bring ideas to the discussion table that I have observed in other communities, as well as different ideas that I have been considering and formulating as I have watched this debate over the years.  Further, when I ran O’Brien Engineering Services which was located in Lakeway, I helped form and led a new LT Chamber of Commerce Mobility Advocacy Group that included representatives from all cities in this region, Travis County, Police Departments, LTFR, and others business representatives.  Our purpose sought to identify and advocate improvements to mobility in the area and also included discussions surrounding work force enhancement.  There were many ideas that were discussed and came from the very smart and experienced members of the Committee.   Unfortunately, this group has been dormant for the past several years, and as your City Councilor, I want to re-engage these same regional partners to bring those ideas, as well as new ideas into this robust discussion. While I know these discussions have been going on for sometime, we MUST continue the discussion to find effective solutions that help businesses, and at the same time fit within the fabric of Lakeway and the South Shore region of Lake Travis.

Representing Entire City: You are absolutely correct in that there is a peace and charm to this community that is unique.  Why would anyone want to change that?  We must hold tight to these treasures.  As your City Councilor, my focus will always be attentive to assure the specialness of Lakeway is maintained and pursued, and anything/anyone who wants to change this will be a non-starter.  We need to continue to build upon this specialness as the City continues to grow with new neighborhoods and developments and as older parts of Lakeway are reconstructed and rehabilitated.  Each and every resident and business must own its part in this effort.  I live in what I believe you characterize as “Old Lakeway”.  

 In all of my discussions with residents during my 15 years living in Lakeway and during my campaign, I have not heard much concern about a growing split between “Old Lakeway” and newer neighborhoods.  While I know there are different areas within the community, this is not uncommon or atypical of any community.  I do not perceive there are divisive splits in this community, but as humans, we sometimes allow divisive splits to generate, especially if one feels their voice is not being heard.

My response is that as a City Council member, I will represent all of Lakeway no matter the neighborhood, focused on serving all.  I will always look for the good of the community, listening to all parties to assure all voices are heard.  When I sat on the Lakeway Parks And Recreation Board in 2010 to 2012, we looked at the entire community to assess opportunities to enhance park amenities including new parks, existing park rehabilitation and improvements.  We heard from many members of this community.  We used this input to identify several opportunities and began to develop a plan and strategy to implement.  It was this plan and strategy that was part of the beginning of our current Parks Master Plan.  I commit to you to continue to implement this plan.  I also, have other ideas that I want to bring to Council to make the plan better and more comprehensive for all of Lakeway.

Unfortunately, I had to step off of this Committee due to City policies on conflict of interest as O’Brien Engineering Services began business and our desire was to serve Lakeway.  And, we were blessed with the opportunity to provide multiple improvement projects for the City including the parking lot and restroom improvements at Hamilton Greenbelt and other projects.

Volunteers: No to all. 

HOT Funds: NO RESPONSE

Campaign Finance: NO RESPONSE

MORE comments from the candidates:

—JUST RELEASED!  The League of Women Voters Guide for the May 6 election is available online.  Go here and click on the Voters Guide at the far left, then scroll down to page 8 for profiles and comments from all the Lakeway candidates: https://lwvaustin.org/Voter-Guide#gsc.tab=0   If you want a print version, the library usually has them at the coffee kiosk.

—Community Impact’s FULL Q&A with the 5 Council candidates is here in the digital version: See how the five candidates for Lakeway City Council answer four questions ahead of the May 6 election.  https://communityimpact.com/austin/lake-travis-westlake/election/2023/03/29/4-questions-with-lakeway-city-council-candidates/

—Community Impact’s Mayoral Q&A is here: 4 questions with the candidates for Lakeway mayor  https://communityimpact.com/austin/lake-travis-westlake/election/2023/03/29/4-questions-with-the-candidates-for-lakeway-mayor/

I tend to post about local politics on Facebook and Next Door, and lately things have gotten pretty hot and heavy about the election.  I’ll add one of my more substantial posts here.  It concerns the Committee to Protect Lakeway Political Action Committee/PAC.

There is an ugly video going around Lakeway.  It started out on a Political Action Committee (PAC) website for Lakeway Renewal Project, aka The Committee to Protect Lakeway (CtPL).  Now, it is being emailed, texted and posted in social media, in order to tank the upcoming election for mayor. Don’t be fooled. 

This website is devoted almost exclusively to hurling abuse, wild accusations, and incoherent rage toward Lakeway’s current mayor, Tom Kilgore, who is seeking re-election against the PAC’s candidate, Ron Cooper.  Last year, Mayor Kilgore dared to authorize city staff review of 2 areas that rocked the PAC’s 2 special interest groups to the core—the safety of airpark operations and proper reporting of gifts (as required by Lakeway’s Ethics Code) made to ALL city employees including our wonderful police department. Those moves made Mayor Kilgore Enemy #1 as far as the PAC is concerned. 

The video is the website’s crowning glory—a scurrilous hash of comments culled from several recordings of Council meetings last summer.  Lacking context, they are intended to smear Mayor Kilgore and fool Lakeway residents into voting for the PAC’s candidate instead.  

I attend a lot of city meetings, including Council meetings. So, I was present when these incidents happened.  I heard the comments as they were made.  The missing context is that the people who were at the heart of each incident and were removed from the meetings by our police officers were argumentative and even physically violent.  As an audience member, my only objection was that they were not removed SOONER.  Most were not even Lakeway residents—they were brought in from Austin and beyond; determined to push the PAC’s positions (as to the airpark and/or police gifts), they made false claims that confused and upset people.  Others were rude during Citizens Participation, refused to wrap it up and sit down when their 3 minutes expired, and basically stomped their dirty boots and whined like badly parented toddlers.  They were warned and then they were removed from the meeting.  In one case, the person left the Citizens Participation podium and struck someone in the audience, so she was removed immediately.  Is there some reason the usual rules of common decency and decorum at government meetings should NOT apply to PAC supporters? 

Here is a specific example of how the PAC’s site presents things backwards.  Its See For Yourself page says this:

July 18, 222 Regular City Council Meeting, Consent Agenda
9:30 (Citizen) “who are the toxic people now?”
KILGORE: “Remove [citizen] immediately!” …and… “If she wishes to press charges, she may do so.” https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/177302 

The above makes you think “Citizen” is the hero, and Mayor Kilgore is the bully, right?  NOPE.  

I attended this Council meeting and recall the details very well since I was assaulted by “Citizen” referenced above.  Her name is Nancy Clayton; she is identified on the linked recording.  She made a Citizen’s Participation comment at the start of the meeting, using her full 3 minutes to attack Mayor Kilgore.  She ended with “Who are the toxic people now?” and flounced back to her seat.  Having exercised her right to free speech, in public and recorded, she walked past me (sitting on the center aisle a few rows back) and used her sheaf of notes to strike me.  The noise of the blow is clearly audible on the recording.  While she did not knock me to the floor or draw blood, it was a physical attack; it was a shock.  Because that kind of thing should NEVER happen during a Council meeting, not to ANYONE.  Of course, Mayor Kilgore directed officers to remove the attacker from Council chambers.  But, what is relevant here is the baldly dishonest way the PAC site presents this event (reproduced above).  It was a resident arguing the PAC’s case who caused an ugly incident by striking an audience member during a Council meeting.  But, they summarize it to blame Mayor Kilgore, in a way that I see as vicious and malign. Watch the video yourself, but start around minute 6 to get Citizen’s full rant.  The camera loses her as she leaves the podium, but listen for the “thwack” (at 9 minutes and 34 seconds) as she hits me.  Then, Mayor Kilgore directs the violent individual be removed and notes that I can file charges against Ms. Clayton, if desired, for striking me.  https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/177302

Contrary to what the video specifically is pushing and the PAC/Lakeway Renewal Project in general are selling, Mayor Kilgore is NOT a bully.  He is also NOT a wimp, and the combative nature of certain PAC supporters makes me very glad of that fact.  Mayor Kilgore will stand up for residents who need help, for city employees being harassed, and for ALL of Lakeway.  The last thing Lakeway needs is a mayor who can be steamrolled by powerful folks behind the scenes, someone who is just fronting for the anonymous donors to the CtPL PAC and Lakeway Renewal Project.  

I find it obvious that the Lakeway Renewal Project’s goal is to deceive Lakeway, using PAC money to do so. Don’t fall for it.  And, don’t vote for candidates who are endorsed and funded by a group using these tactics. Lakeway deserves better–MUCH BETTER.

Don’t be fooled.  Protect Lakeway by voting for Mayor Tom Kilgore, plus Dan Vardell and Gretchen Vance for Council.

SPECIAL NOTICE: Next Saturday, April 29, I will post an ELECTION EDITION BLOG.  It will have NEW CONTENT not previously published. So, while there is considerable Lakeway Election coverage here, just below the current events listings, look for more/updated coverage on April 29—well into Early Voting and exactly 1 week before our May 6 Election Day.

May Ukraine Have Peaceful Skies Again.

Here is what is happening in Lakeway…. 

Mayor Kilgore’s Facebook Update

The mayor gave a live update on April 13.  Go here to watch: https://www.facebook.com/cityoflakeway/videos/1017235522573872

Lakeway Photo Festival

In its 21^st year, the Lakeway Photo Festival encourages amateur and professional photographers to participate.  Categories include Artistic, Community, Nature, Pets and Wildlife, and Heritage (a new category celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Lakeway).  Photos must be taken in the City of Lakeway and by residents of Lake Travis ISD.  Entry deadline is May 20.  For more information and to enter: https://lakewayartsdistrict.com/2023-lakeway-photo-festival/ 

Household Hazardous Waste Drop Off Day

Lakeway Public Works will offer free mulching material from the recent ice storm debris on Thursday, April 27 and Friday, April 28, 8AM-3PM, BY APPOINTMENT ONLY at 3303 Serene Hills Drive. The material is larger chunks about the size of a pen—see the above photo to be sure this suits your needs.  To participate, select a 30-minute slot as your reservation; if all slots are filled, email info@lakeway-tx.gov in case more times become available. BRING YOUR OWN SHOVELS/COLLECTION TOOLS and be ready to transport the mulching material.  Go here to make your reservation: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0945a4a82baafbc25-mulch#/

Hazard Mitigation Plan

Lakeway residents, are invited to participate in the planning process to update the Travis County Hazard Mitigation Plan, Thursday, April 27 at 5:30PM. Location is the Lakeway Police Station (1941 Lohmans Crossing Rd). The meeting’s goal is to create a project overview and solicit information from citizens.  (Residents of neighboring cities are doing the same.)

Spring Sing Along

Come On, Get Happy!  Choose from 2 performances: Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29, starting at 6PM both nights, at Lakeway Activity Center.  More info and tickets are here: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog/index?filter=c2VhcmNoPWdldCUyMGhhcHB5JnJlbnRhbCU1QmZyb20lNUQ9JnJlbnRhbCU1QnRvJTVEPSZiMWFjOWQ4NzQzMzNiOTZkZGU3ZmUzODI0ZTFjODBlOD02NDE1N2Q5YTBmY2VhYjg1ZGFhMjNkYjhlZTBjOTQ1NQ==

Star Wars Movie–May the Fourth Be With You 

On Thursday, May 4, Lakeway Parks and Rec presents STAR WARS: The Rise of Skywalker, at City Park (Lower Level, 502 Hurst Creek Road).  Opens at 5:30PM, with the movie starting at 6:30PM.  FREE event, with popcorn provided.  Bring chairs and blankets to spread out on the grass.  

Steel Magnolias

On May 4-6 (Thursday, Friday and Saturday), The Lakeway Players will present Steel Magnolias.  Doors open 6:30PM; curtain rises 7:30PM. Table seating (set-ups provided) with individual $25 tickets available online.  Call 512-261-1010 to charge tickets, or go here and choose Events & Performances: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog

Heritage Bus Tours in May

Register now for this popular and FREE event!  2023 is the 60^th anniversary of Lakeway’s founding, so explore our history on one of three available bus tours taking place on Friday, May 5.  Times are 9:15AM, 11:15AM, and 1:15PM.  Depart from Lakeway City Hall (1102 Lohmans Crossing Rd.).  Go here for more info and to register: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog/index?filter=c2VhcmNoPWhlcml0YWdlK2J1cyZyZW50YWwlNUJmcm9tJTVEPSZyZW50YWwlNUJ0byU1RD0

Council Met on April 17.  

Six members attended the meeting, all in person.  Council Member Trecker was absent. RESULTS:

ITEM 15: Financial Report.  REVENUE is $908K over budget (mostly due to permit fees on the Jovi project).  Expenditures are $385K over budget (mostly due to storm clean-up expenses).  Projected total for the storm clean-up is $1.3MIL, some of which will be covered by FEMA and grant money.

ITEM 16: Citizens Participation for items NOT on the agenda.  THREE PEOPLE SPOKE. 

ITEM 18 and 19: Preliminary Plan revision and Final Plat for 8.525 acres at 2111 Lohmans Crossing, Lakeway Towne Center.  UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED

ITEM 20: Special Use Permit for a short-term rental at 302 Timpanagoes.  UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED

ITEM 21: Special Use Permit for Gungho Golf to operate an indoor golf entertainment business for 99 years in the Lohmans Spur Shopping Center.  UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED

ITEM 22: Resolution setting the city’s agenda as to the 88^th Texas Legislature. NOTE: Issues with proposed legislation include land use, property tax relief, sales tax calculation, Hotel Occupancy Use tax, elections, and transportation.  Specific issues and bill numbers the city will support/oppose are detailed in the Meeting Packet.  UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED

ITEM 23: Discussion and update of parking enforcement at the pickleball courts on Sailmaster.  CONSENSUS was for staff to post signs on Sailmaster that pickleball players need to park at City Hall instead, to keep the Sailmaster courts from being closed before the new courts at City Park are ready for use.  (This discussion caused Council to return to ITEM 8–on the Consent Agenda–and specify design changes on the pickleball courts being created from the City Park basketball court.)

ITEM 24: Review request from Bianca King to operate a home occupation/DAYCARE at 702 Vanguard.  Note: Applicant has revised her business plan and is asking permission to go through the approval process for a third time.  UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED

ITEM 25: Sale of 2.92 acres of land along Highlands and Trophy to Lakeway MUD for $350, 400.  UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED

ITEM 27: FIRST READING of a new ordinance allowing Garage Sales, with certain restrictions.  The DRAFT ordinance specifies the hours as 7AM-6PM, allows goods to be displayed in the driveway, with no signs off the property and sales limited to 2 weekends per calendar year.  To be voted on at next meeting.

ITEM 28: Continuing the Declaration of Emergency as to Winter Storm Mara until Dec. 31, 2023.  UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED with the clarification that TRIMMING OF OAKS IS NO LONGER ALLOWED, due to danger of oak wilt this time of year.

ITEM 29: Discuss city participation in a traffic light at 620 and Palazza Alto.  WITHDRAWN

ITEMS 31 and 32: Executive sessions on litigation (over the real estate sign ordinance) and employment duties (Chief of Police).  NO ACTION as to the litigation.  As to employment, Council UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED the City Manager to entertain an employee agreement for the Chief of Police. 

ADJOURNED at 10:26PM

View the Agenda, Meeting Packet, and/or Presentation (scrolling down to City Council documents) here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx 

Go here to watch the Council meeting online: https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/224122

Lakeway ELECTIONS

This is ALL important for voters.  But, there is some crucial/NEW info, so watch for this:

ATTENTION VOTERS!

Local elections will be on May 6, with Early Voting starting April 24.

Polling Places

For EARLY VOTING, residents can vote at any polling place in Travis County, but the only local polling place is the Lakeway Activity Center. HOURS: Monday-Saturday 7AM-7PM, Sunday noon-6PM.

On ELECTION DAY, Lakeway Activity Center is our main polling place, but Lake Travis ISD Educational Development Center will also be open at 607 Ranch Road 620 North, Lakeway, TX 78734 (off 620 to the right just before Kollmeyer).  This location is NEVER crowded.

Note that Bee Cave had no contested races, so City Hall in The Galleria is NOT a polling place.

Meet the Candidates 

ATTENTION VOTERS!

–There is only ONE public forum left—the Rough Hollow Candidate Forum on Tuesday, April 25, 7PM, at Rough Hollow Welcome Center Pavilion.  It is open to all.

–See below for links to watch videos from past forums.

Candidate Forum Videos

If you missed the events, here are links to watch the videos.

–LT Democrat’s April 18 Candidate Forum.  Video is 90 minutes total–be SURE to watch the LAST 20 minutes or so….  https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=145289588313574&ref=sharing

–We the People’s April 10 Candidate Forum

Watch 4 of the 5 candidates running for 3 Lakeway Council seats (Gretchen Vance was out of town) in this 1-hour video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9pDstuSqXA

Watch Mayor Kilgore and Ron Cooper in this 50-minute video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MaUH_EwCNU

–Tuscan Village Voters had a candidate forum on March 30.  Here are 3 quick videos featuring Mayor Kilgore and Ron Cooper. (Many thanks to a Lakeway Angel for these….) 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yYYD1oN5e6-MtUTtozwVH6tFApg_-nq8/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ga9MfJCxsogoASC9T_1GNTsnHx2MpNWs/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13YzslTghLyDs1gefYJjlT7C_IBo3O9qN/view

SCROLL DOWN to see how the candidates answered the TWO NEW questions I sent them.

How do you like your candidates?  Independent?  Or PAC?

The candidates are in 2 groups—running on their own or PAC-backed.  Three of the 7 candidates are endorsed and funded by a specific Political Action Committee.  The BAD thing about PACs is they hide the identity of those contributing to political campaigns.  Lakeway residents deserve to know exactly who is funding these campaigns, and to what extent. $50 is no big deal, but $500 may well come with strings.  This PAC gave $20,000 to ONE candidate for Council last year. Wonder what they got for their money?  And who exactly is trying to BUY THE CURRENT ELECTION?  The PAC in question is The Committee to Protect Lakeway (CtPL), also known as the Lakeway Renewal Project, and it is funded by people in several groups, including those in power during past administrations (often stained with scandal), those orchestrating recent ugly episodes involving our wonderful police force and our airpark, and developer-types intent on making even more money on Lakeway deals. 

Follow the Money

ATTENTION VOTERS!

As for campaign finances, the first report required by law was due April 6.  That covers contributions and payments from the start of the campaign through March 27.  Here are some things I found to be noteworthy:  

–Kevin Bernzott loaned his campaign $30,000 and spent nearly all of it on polling, consultants and staff.

–Kent O’Brien and Chris Forton each received $5,000 in campaign services from The Committee to Protect Lakeway PAC. 

–Ron Cooper failed to meet the filing deadline but eventually got his report submitted to the city 4 days late, with an unsworn affidavit and a signature that is NOTHING like the one on his filing application.  He reported $3,700 in campaign services (logo shirts and ads) from The Committee to Protect Lakeway PAC. However, the PAC’s own report seems to indicate it gave Cooper $7,000; see below.  Cooper also loaned himself $21,000 and spent nearly all of it on campaign consultants.

You, too, can play detective!  To see the first set of campaign finance reports that ALL CANDIDATES filed with City of Lakeway, go here and scroll down to CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORT, APRIL 6: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/427/Election-Information

The CtPL PAC filed its mandated report as of April 6 with the State of Texas.  In round numbers, as of March 27, it collected $45,000, paying $17,000 to 3 candidates.  Cooper appears to have gotten $7,000—well over the $3,700 he reported–with $5,000 each going to O’Brien and Forton just as they reported.  After expenses, the PAC held $25,000 in cash that can still be given to its 3 candidates.  Just some of the 2023 donors to the PAC are:

–Erik Mulloy $12,000; PAC founder, pilot with airpark, Lakeway Police Foundation

–Dianne Brown $5,000; she doesn’t even live in Lakeway

–Gretchen Nearburg $5,000

–Tom McKnight $2,500

–Babin family $2,000; Lakeway Police Foundation

–Alan Fudge $2,000

–Mike Blahowski $1,000; another pilot

–Torrey Eltiste $1,000

–Sharon Gilmore $1,000

–Justin Hobson $1,000; airpark

–Jean Thompson $1,000; airpark

–Gates Walcott $1,000; he is a developer and a pilot

–David Deome $500; former mayor

–Logan Brown $500

–Barbara Beebe $500

–Joyce Christian $500

–Keith Trecker $500

–Keith Durio $500; airpark

–Scott Epley $500; airpark

–Daniel Foreman $500; airpark

–Terry Priestap $500; airpark

–Danny Diebel $500

–Mark Nearburg $500

–Gerry Ward $400; airpark

–Ken Treaccar $300

–Jason Buddin $250

–Jenna Burns $250

–Richard Morgan $250

–Tim Tolar $250

–Jim Powell $250

–Dennis Brown $250

–Michael Larocca $250

–Joe Bain $100; disgraced former mayor

To see ALL the PAC’s donors, amounts, payments and more (ONLY through March 27) go here: http://204.65.203.5/public/100899496.pdf

ATTENTION VOTERS!

So, look through that list of contributor names above.  Do you know those people?  Trust them?   Do they even live in Lakeway?  Are you comfortable with them using their money to buy City Hall? Many of those people are connected to the airpark, a very intense special interest group where the Mulloys have deep ties.  Others are affiliated with the Mulloys’ other pet special interest group–the police fanatics cult. In my opinion, together they represent the most divisive interests and the very worst of Lakeway.

Most campaign money flows in and out during the last month of a campaign. The NEXT campaign finance report is due on April 28.  Check the 2 links just above to see the candidates’ new reports and the PAC’s new report then.

Mayor’s Race

The *2 candidates remaining in the race for Mayor are:

–Incumbent Tom Kilgore was elected Mayor in 2021.  In a very busy 2 years, he helped the city recover from the pandemic’s economic effects, guided us through extensive and much-needed city ordinance updates, made possible the completion of Main Street, oversaw practical assistance to residents during the recent ice storm as well as collection of debris afterward, and much more.  Mayor Tom managed all this while keeping Lakeway’s share of our property tax bills low. https://kilgoreforlakeway.com/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064819487089

 –Ron Cooper is a Rough Hollow resident and associate/business partner of Legend Communities CEO Haythem Dawlett.  Declared as an insurance adjuster, Cooper has lived in Texas and in Lakeway for just 3 years; his only city service to date is a brief stint on the Ethics Committee.  He is endorsed and supported by the CTPL PAC (see above). https://www.roncooperformayor.com/     https://www.facebook.com/RonCooperForLakewayMayor

ATTENTION VOTERS!

On April 18, Travis County Republican Party considered whether to endorse Ron Cooper in this race; party hierarchy voted AGAINST endorsing him.

Then, there is the pesky question of: Is Ron Cooper a developer?  Let’s settle that. This 2020 article states Ron Cooper partnered with the notorious Haythem Dawlett of Legend Communities on a Galveston resort.  https://moneyforlunch.com/legend-communities-and-tiki-time-llc-plan-upscale-waterfront-residential-community-on-tiki-island-near-galveston/

Plus, in 2022, Ron Cooper was TELLING people he is a developer.  This is a Facebook Live insurance talk that Ron Cooper gave in 2022.  Near the start, he was shooting the breeze about being a DEVELOPER and how he managed his DEVELOPMENT-related travel during Covid. Ron Cooper in 2022: “As a DEVELOPER, I drive and travel all over to buy communities and develop communities….  During Covid, I had to pivot a little bit to figure out how I could travel most easily. So, we picked up a King Air C90, a Cessna 340 and a Prevost.” To see and hear it, just click the link below and advance to the 3 minute mark; Ron Cooper will talk about being a DEVELOPER and be done by the 4 minute mark. (It does not come up again in the rest of the video.) https://m.facebook.com/PendariesNM/videos/pendaries-fire-relief-qa-1-how-to-navigate-the-insurance-claim-process/474923377721305/

An alternate link to the same video is here. https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=474923377721305

That is very clear—Cooper is a developer.  He says so.

I DO wonder who the “we” is that he mentioned in the clip–who REALLY bought the 2 planes and the Prevost (luxury motorcoach).  Because, as of now, 2 other Lakeway developers own planes matching Cooper’s description in the 2022 video.

All this flatly contradicts what Committee to Protect Lakeway PAC founders say about Ron Cooper, as their PAC’s endorsed and funded candidate for Mayor.  On Next Door, for instance, Kim Mulloy states over and over that Cooper doesn’t have any business or personal relationship with developers and that Cooper is definitely NOT a developer himself.   

Why does it matter that Ron Cooper is a developer?  First, he has hidden that fact, calling himself an insurance adjuster on the candidate application and elsewhere; his people flatly deny his being a developer.  Second, if Lakeway’s mayor is a developer, then no other developer would feel fairly treated here.  They would go elsewhere, assuming the Developer/Mayor has an unfair advantage.  And, he would—a very lucrative one.

* Roy Paar withdrew from the race AFTER the county’s deadline to take his name off the ballot. Please don’t waste your vote there.

Council Race

–Incumbent Gretchen Vance was originally elected to Council in 2019 and currently serves as Mayor Pro Tem.  She is an entrepreneur who has lived in Lakeway for 13 years.https://www.vote-vance.com/ https://www.facebook.com/gretchenvancelakewaycitycouncilmember/

–Dan Vardell is a multi-disciplinary technology manager who has lived in Lakeway for 8 years.  He served on the Parks and Recreation Committee, was a member of the Comprehensive Plan Committee during recent updates, and now serves on the city’s Zoning and Planning Commission. https://www.vote-vardell.com/   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090762070845

 –Kevin Bernzott is a financial CEO and has lived in Lakeway for only 3 years.  He is a member of the City Building Commission.

ATTENTION VOTERS!

The campaign ad imaged above has offended and alienated a large segment of Lakeway residents.  The nastiness of the ad aside, running it displays shockingly poor judgment.  It also reminds residents that Kevin is a recent transplant from California—because that ALWAYS goes over well with Texans….

In addition, there are persistent rumors that Kevin supports TEXIT (the movement for Texas to secede from the US); when I asked him directly, he refused to deny or confirm. https://www.kevinbernzott.com/   https://www.facebook.com/kevinbernzott

–Chris Forton works in life insurance and has lived in Lakeway for 8 years.  He serves on the city’s Zoning and Planning Commission.  He is endorsed and supported by the CTPL PAC (see above). https://www.chrisforton4lakeway.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ChrisForton4Lakeway

–Kent O’Brien is an engineer who has lived in Lakeway for 14 years.  He served on the Parks and Recreation Committee from 2010-12. He is endorsed and supported by the CTPL PAC (see above). https://www.kentforlakeway.com/   https://www.facebook.com/kentforlakeway

CANDIDATE Q&A

I emailed 2 final questions to ALL the candidates back on April 14 (with a reminder on April 20).  Candidates Ron Cooper and Kent O’Brien did not respond.  

–Lakeway takes in considerable Hotel Occupancy Tax funds annually. By state law, these funds can only be used for specific purposes that boil down to getting more people to book hotel rooms in town.  With around $9 million in HOT funds currently on deposit and minimal annual expenditures, what should Lakeway do with these funds?

–You are running for office.  Every campaign cycle gets more expensive and more divisive.  What changes do you suggest to improve our election process? Examples are eliminating or limiting campaign signs and restricting contributions (such as a maximum of $100 per contributor, no PAC money, contributions ONLY from Lakeway residents, etc.).

MAYORAL CANDIDATES

Tom Kilgore

HOT Funds: The legislature is working on bills that would expand the uses of this tax. However, if there are no changes we should still consider a City Civic Center to be built.

Campaign Finance: I am open to campaign finance reform. The problem isn’t the money in our elections, it’s the breakdown of civil norms and injecting partisanship into our elections.

Ron Cooper–NO RESPONSE

COUNCIL CANDIDATES

Dan Vardell

HOT Funds:  Hotel occupancy tax revenues can be used for facilities or events that promote tourism.  In the past Lakeway has approved money for art, music and theater events and advertising to support them. This is a good use of the money and should continue. Larger expenditures, including convention and/or performing arts facilities and large events, have been considered many times over the years.  But they have been repeatedly rejected due to concerns over the burdens they place on the city such as high traffic on neighborhood streets and long-term facility maintenance.  This ‘hotel tax’ question has lingered for years.  I do not support collecting taxes without a clear purpose.  If we cannot put a long term plan in place for this money, the taxes should be reduced to a level sufficient to support existing programs for the arts.  That said, today there is a large, and growing, pot of money.  So if anyone reading this was not aware of the hotel tax fund and has ideas for a good use, please let us know!

Campaign Finance:  Politics divide.  There is no place for political machinery in local politics.  Large sums of money push elections, and candidates, to places they would not normally go.  I support limits on campaign finance in Lakeway.  

Kevin Bernzott

HOT Funds: Every expenditure must “directly enhance and promote tourism and the convention and hotel industry.” There are nine statutory categories on which HOT revenue can be expended, many of which are impractical for Lakeway. Of the nine, I think Lakeway should focus primarily on creative “advertising, solicitations, and promotions that attract tourists and convention delegates” to our environs.

Campaign Finance: Civility is a tenet of my campaign – no more of this “we can’t be friends” nonsense. We’re a small city, some 13 square miles with a little more than 20,000 folks, so we’re all neighbors. We can disagree with one another without being disagreeable about it. Campaign signs are problematic every election. The large ones are arguably an eyesore. Every candidate must display them to remain competitive, but signs don’t vote. I’d be fine with no signs, or at least no signs larger than yard signs. “Money is the mother’s milk of politics,” quipped politician Jesse Unruh nearly six decades ago. There are a litany of Supreme Court cases ruling campaign contributions are “freedom of speech” protected to some extent by the First Amendment. I haven’t taken PAC money, but I don’t think prohibiting PAC contributions or prohibiting contributions from non-Lakeway residents would pass constitutional muster. I would support carefully crafted local campaign finance reform capping the amount per contributor and / or imposing spending limits.  

Chris Forton

HOT Funds: Fortunately there are several potential uses on the horizon. With the new county ball fields off Bee Creek Rd they can be used to support youth sports tournaments. The square at Lohmans will give a central meeting place and allow for small festivals and art fairs which can utilize those funds. The World of Tennis has started having a Pickle Ball championship that brings out thousands of people from across the state and country.  TexArts has been able to utilize those funds in recent past and I’m sure will continue to into the future. 

Campaign Finance: It has gotten out of hand. When I ran back in 2018 I spent $500 of my own money. Now the mayors spend about $50k and tens of thousands for council. Unfortunately most of what you suggested is against state law. However, one thing I would like to do and I’ve talked with another council member about is having a voluntary cap. An agreement from the candidates to not spend over $X amount. Or voluntary limits on the number of signs. The pool of candidates shouldn’t be limited to those that are independent wealthy or moderate a social media platform. The rest of us that are normal hardworking citizens that don’t have an extra $25k in the bank need the support of our friends and neighbors. The idea of having an agreement in place would open the pool of potential candidates and that I could support.  

Gretchen Vance

HOT Funds: The HOT funds are a hot topic. I have been discussing with the Director of parks and recreation about possible ideas that would qualify for funding for possible new facilities in our parks department. These would include small meeting spaces or convention areas that could be used for small company events, family reunions, and weddings. If I am reelected, we will explore these options and hope we can find a multi use facility that meets the needs of Lakeway taxpayers and visitors. 

Campaign Finance: Even prior to this election cycle, I have discussed with city staff and other elected officials about exploring campaign finance reform. Although we are at the early stages of exploring these options, they could include but not be limited to: only allowing contributions by people who are registered to vote in the Lakeway precincts, limiting contributions, capping money raised, and money spent. Many municipalities throughout Texas apply these limits to their elections. This allows people who wish to volunteer for their community to be able to do so in a financially affordable way. 

Kent O’Brien–NO RESPONSE

MORE comments from the candidates.

—JUST RELEASED!  The League of Women Voters Guide for the May 6 election is available online.  Go here and click on the Voters  Guide at the far left, then scroll down to page 8 for profiles and comments from all the Lakeway candidates: https://lwvaustin.org/Voter-Guide#gsc.tab=0    If you want a print version, the library usually has them at the coffee kiosk.

—Community Impact’s FULL Q&A with the 5 Council candidates is here in the digital version: See how the five candidates for Lakeway City Council answer four questions ahead of the May 6 election.  https://communityimpact.com/austin/lake-travis-westlake/election/2023/03/29/4-questions-with-lakeway-city-council-candidates/

—Community Impact’s Mayoral Q&A is here: 4 questions with the candidates for Lakeway mayor  https://communityimpact.com/austin/lake-travis-westlake/election/2023/03/29/4-questions-with-the-candidates-for-lakeway-mayor/

Check back NEXT SATURDAY, April 29, for a new blog—SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION, featuring NEW info and some conclusions reached by connecting the dots.

Daring Mighty Things

Elon Musk’s Super Heavy Starship exploded just 4 minutes into its unmanned test flight out of Boca Chica Beach, Texas, early on April 20.  The SpaceX team cheered the launch and short flight time as a success, as the mission was an initial development test designed to gather information and improve both the Starship and its Raptor engines.  (Image credit—SpaceX)  SpaceX’s 1st Starship launches on epic test flight, explodes in ‘rapid unscheduled disassembly’ 4/20/23 https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-first-space-launch

The FAA was not amused, however, and immediately grounded all Starship rockets, pending investigation for public safety.  Concern seems to stem from SpaceX’s plans to send the giant stainless steel rocket on an attempted flight from Texas to Hawaii.  FAA grounds SpaceX’s Starship rockets after explosion minutes into launch 4/20/23 https://www.politico.com/news/2023/04/20/spacex-starship-explode-elon-musk-00093042

Thanks to the overwhelming success of mini-copter Ingenuity on the current Mars mission, NASA is designing its successor. The new helicopter not only needs to fly in a thin atmosphere, it will be doing heavy lifting—retrieving all the soil sample cannisters being filled by the Perseverance rover now traversing the Red Planet, then flying them back to a rocket that will bring them to Earth for analysis. The above images are the new helicopter as envisioned and dusty Ingenuity on Mars as of April 16, 2023.  (Image credits—NASA)  NASA sets sights on a next-generation Mars helicopter to return Red Planet samples 4/13/23 https://www.space.com/mars-sample-return-next-generation-helicopter

With liberty and justice for all … except women. 

In Florida, the governor signed a bill into law last week, prohibiting abortions after just 6 weeks of pregnancy, when most women are not even aware of the condition.  Physicians and anyone participating in a prohibited abortion is guilty of a felony.  There are exceptions when the mother’s life is at risk, plus abortions are allowed up to fifteen weeks for pregnancies caused by rape, incest or human trafficking. However, the law goes on to prohibit getting abortion pills via the mail or telehealth referrals, as well as state funds being used in any way to help a woman get an abortion from another state. DeSantis signs Florida’s six-week abortion ban into law 4/13/23 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/florida-six-week-abortion-ban-signed-into-law-ron-desantis/

Abortion pill availability continues to remain at risk, due to far-right courts. April has been busy…. 

On April 7, an Amarillo federal court judge revoked the FDA’s 2000 approval of mifepristone, in an attempt to stop use of the drug nationwide. The same day, a federal judge in Washington state issued the OPPOSITE ruling (forbidding the FDA from limiting availability of the drug), which teed up the case for appeal.  Federal judge in Texas suspends FDA approval of abortion pill 4/7/23  https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/07/texas-abortion-drugs-fda-ruling/

A 3-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on April 13 reversed the Amarillo court’s decision, but only in part.  It held that too much time had passed since the FDA’s 2000 approval to ban mifepristone, BUT the 2016 relaxation of rules could be rescinded.  It put those restrictions back in place, stopping mail distribution, limiting use to 7 weeks (instead of 10 weeks), and otherwise making medication abortion more difficult to obtain. Court Says Abortion Pill Can Remain Available but Imposes Temporary Restrictions 4/13/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/13/health/abortion-pill-ruling-appeal.html#:~:text=A%20federal%20appeals%20court%20ruled,ease%20access%20in%20recent%20years

DOJ then appealed to the US Supreme Court.  On April 14, Justice Samuel Alito issued a temporary stay keeping the abortion pill mifepristone fully available while the Supreme Court mulled taking formal action. Supreme Court Briefly Preserves Broad Availability of Abortion Pill 4/14/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/14/us/politics/supreme-court-abortion-pill.html

The stay was set to expire at midnight on April 18, but it was continued until midnight on Friday.  Supreme Court Delays Decision on Abortion Pill, Preserving Access for Now  4/18/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/19/us/politics/abortion-pill-supreme-court.html

Wrapping up this drama late on Friday evening, April 21, SCOTUS issued a single paragraph, decreeing that mifepristone, the common abortion-inducing drug, will remain on the market without additional restrictions while the legal challenge proceeds. The ruling was unsigned, but far-right Justices Thomas and Alito dissented.  This is only a temporary reprieve; the case now returns to the 5th Circuit Appeals Court, which will hear arguments in mid-May. In the meantime, nothing changes as to mifepristone availability or the legality of abortion in the various states. Supreme Court leaves abortion drug on the market, for now 4/21/23  https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/19/supreme-court-abortion-drug-fda/

With the surging popularity of medication abortions, many insurers are now covering telehealth abortion care.  (Of course, this could well be short-lived progress, depending on the mifepristone case result).  Insurers Are Starting to Cover Telehealth Abortion 4/18/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/18/upshot/abortion-pills-telehealth-insurance.html

And, while everything is in flux: doctors, clinics, hospitals and state agencies are buying as much of the drug as possible, so that medical abortions can continue where the law allows, despite this far-right created crisis.  Liberal states stockpile abortion pills after Texas court ruling 4/10/23 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65233537

Back to me….  

Jury duty.  Again.  REALLY???  As an reformed lawyer, I never get selected, but the process wastes tons of my time. 

Fawn season is imminent!  It used to happen in May, but in recent years, Lakeway residents posted photos of new fawns parked in their yards as early as the first week of April.  Don’t assume the wee fawns you spot on a walk or in your shrubbery are abandoned; Mama Does leave newborn fawns to rest, while they graze in the vicinity, before collecting the babies and moving on.  Check here for info on how to identify the RARE case of a fawn needing 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. 

Here are some recent photos taken, all of does anticipating arrival of their fawns.

The Coronavirus   

In the US, in the last 2 weeks, the official stats show new cases fell 26% and hospitalizations dropped 13%.  Also, deaths decreased 13% to an average of 190 Americans per day.  See the chart below for current stats. The national testing positivity rate was 7%. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/us/covid-cases.html

A new Omicron variant, officially XBB.1.16 but called Arcturus, is being watched by experts.  It looks to be more contagious than other variants but so far does not seem to cause more serious illness.  However, it does cause some new symptoms, including conjunctivitis (red and itchy eyes) especially in young patients.

Even with COVID-19 rates in the U.S. relatively low now, health experts recommend preventive measures, including frequent hand washing, avoiding close contact with sick people, and staying home when you have any Covid-19 symptoms.

The Biden administration announced a $5 billion program to accelerate the development of next-generation COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.  The plan has 3 primary goals—a nasal spray vaccine preventing infection as well as severe disease, longer-lasting vaccines, and broader vaccines that protect against all variants and several coronaviruses.  Also included is funding to develop more durable monoclonal antibodies resistant to new variants.

On April 18, the FDA authorized a second round of bivalent booster shots for people over 65 and for anyone who is immune-compromised.  The second booster is available to those over 65 at 4 months after getting the first booster, while immune-compromised people can get another booster after just 2 months. 

The Biden administrated announced on April 18 that coronavirus shots will remain free for uninsured Americans, even after the vaccines move to the commercial market later this year.  The new $1 billion program will cover roughly 30 million people, modeled on existing childhood vaccination programs so the government partners with pharmacy chains to pay the administrative costs of giving the doses to patients.

A Canadian study found that people infected with the coronavirus were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes within a year of their infection, compared with those not exposed to the virus. Severity of Covid disease mattered; being hospitalized doubled the likelihood of getting diabetes, while being in ICU tripled the likelihood of getting diabetes.  Men were more vulnerable than women.In Texas, in the last 2 weeks, infections decreased 14%, and hospitalizations dropped 8%.  Deaths fell 13%, with an average of 9 Texans dying each day.  See the chart below for current stats. The positivity test rate rose to 8.7%.  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/us/texas-covid-cases.html

Recent Covid Articles I Recommend  

F.D.A. Authorizes Another Covid Booster Shot for People Over 65 4/18/23 https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-changes-simplify-use-bivalent-mrna-covid-19-vaccines

Covid May Increase the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Researchers Find 4/18/23  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/18/health/covid-diabetes.html

Biden Administration Will Fund Program to Keep Covid Vaccines Free for the Uninsured 4/18/23  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/18/us/politics/covid-vaccines-uninsured.html

Mayo Clinic expert talks about the new omicron variant 4/13/23 https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-expert-talks-about-the-new-omicron-variant/

White House to invest $5 billion in next-generation COVID vaccines. Here’s why we need new ones. 4/10/23  https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2023/04/10/project-next-generation-coronavirus-vaccines-biden-administration/11636925002/

May Ukraine Have Peaceful Skies Again

Here is what is happening in Lakeway…. 

Debris Collection after Winter Storm Mara is COMPLETE!

On April 5, the city announced that curbside brush pick-up had been completed. Crews collected 1,367 large truck loads of tree limbs from all of Lakeway.  Most of the limbs were ground into chipped wood, now piled up at the Public Works facility.  To illustrate the resulting 23,923 cubic yards of chipped material: a 1” layer of the chips would cover 135 football fields. Public Works remains CLOSED until all of the chipped wood has been safely moved out of the facility. The City is looking at options to provide some of the mulched material to residents later in April. Go here to watch a 1-minute video shot by a drone on April 5 showing activity at Public Works: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=904348604189841

THANK YOU, Mayor Kilgore, for taking such good care of Lakeway residents!

City Hall Art Gallery

Local art is displayed at City Hall (1102 Lohmans Crossing Rd.), rotating every 3 months.  Currently, Lakeway’s Linda Wells is showing her landscapes, inspired by the wide open spaces and unique natural beauty of Texas.  Interested in showing your art?  For more info and to apply, go here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScRdg5S3zq-5Yi9BggZNohgFMjpf07CZKjeDGdxfPMuvLdUJw/viewform

Art at Lake Travis Community Library

During April, local artist Jay Ohlrich exhibits oil paintings in the meeting room.  The collection includes oil landscapes on canvas inspired by the rolling Midwest and Western topography.

Lakeway Photo Festival

In its 21^st year, the Lakeway Photo Festival encourages amateur and professional photographers to participate.  Categories include Artistic, Community, Nature, Pets and Wildlife, and Heritage (a new category celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Lakeway).  Photos must be taken in the City of Lakeway and by residents within Lake Travis ISD.  Entry deadline is May 20.  For more information and to enter: https://lakewayartsdistrict.com/2023-lakeway-photo-festival/

Sunday Concert Series—Ballet at LAC

On Sunday, April 16, 4PM, Metamorphosis Dance will perform The Coppelia Suite at Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). This FREE event is presented by Lakeway Arts Committee.

Enchanted Forest Walk  

April 17-30, dawn to dark,behind City Hall.Lakeway and other Lake Travis organizations are working together to bring the Enchanted Forest Walk to life. Want to create a whimsical miniature scene for display on the trail?  Contact the Parks Department at 512-314-7530.  More info is here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1816/Enchanted-Forest-Walk

SHRED DAY

On Saturday April 22, 8AM-noon, at Emmaus Catholic Church (1718 Lohmans Crossing), Lakeway Boy Scout Troop 52 will host its Bi-Annual Shred Day.  The Scouts will take the papers from your car trunk and put them in the shredder, making this a contactless event. Limited to 5 boxes per vehicle. FREE, but any donations will benefit Troop 52.

Earth Day

Celebrate Earth Day!  On Saturday, April 22, 11AM-1PM, volunteers will pick up trash along our local roadways and in our parks.  City of Lakeway will supply trash pickers, safety vests, trash bags and a map for volunteers, who will team up and head to their designated areas.  Afterward, everyone returns to City Hall for a certificate, snacks and more.  You’ll need a vehicle, plus comfy clothing and sturdy shoes.  Go there to sign up: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/FormCenter/Administration-5/Earth-Day-Volunteer-Form-80

Scholarships for 12th Grade Level Students.

Submissions are being accepted through April 22 for the annual City of Lakeway/Waste Connections $1,000 scholarships for 12th grade level students. This scholarship is only available to students whose parents are signed up for solid waste services with the City of Lakeway.  Go here for details and to apply: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1993/Waste-Connections-Scholarship

Spring Sing Along

Come On, Get Happy!  Choose from 2 performances: Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29, starting at 6PM both nights, at Lakeway Activity Center.  More info and tickets are here: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog/index?filter=c2VhcmNoPWdldCUyMGhhcHB5JnJlbnRhbCU1QmZyb20lNUQ9JnJlbnRhbCU1QnRvJTVEPSZiMWFjOWQ4NzQzMzNiOTZkZGU3ZmUzODI0ZTFjODBlOD02NDE1N2Q5YTBmY2VhYjg1ZGFhMjNkYjhlZTBjOTQ1NQ==

Star Wars Movie

On Thursday, May 4, Parks and Rec presents STAR WARS: The Rise of Skywalker, at City Park (Lower Level, 502 Hurst Creek Road).  Opens at 5:30PM, with the movie starting at 6:30PM.  FREE event, with popcorn provided.  Bring chairs and blankets to spread out on the grass. 

Steel Magnolias

On May 4-6 (Thursday, Friday and Saturday), The Lakeway Players will present Steel Magnolias.  Doors open 6:30PM; curtain rises 7:30PM. Table seating (set-ups provided) with individual $25 tickets available online, starting April 4 for members and April 10 for general admission. Call 512-261-1010 to charge tickets, or go here and choose Events & Performances: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog

Heritage Bus Tours in May

Register now for this popular and FREE event!  2023 is the 60^th anniversary of Lakeway’s founding, so explore our history on one of three available bus tours taking place on Friday, May 5.  Times are 9:15AM, 11:15AM, and 1:15PM.  Depart from Lakeway City Hall (1102 Lohmans Crossing Rd.).  Go here for more info and to register: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog/index?filter=c2VhcmNoPWhlcml0YWdlK2J1cyZyZW50YWwlNUJmcm9tJTVEPSZyZW50YWwlNUJ0byU1RD0

Books, Puzzles and Games Available at Lakeway Activity Center.

There are TWO lending libraries at LAC.  Little Free Library out front is a bin containing adult hardbacks, and children’s books.  Inside, Room E has paperbacks (for adults and kids), plus jigsaw puzzles and games.  Call 512-261-1010 for more information or to make a donation.

Volunteers Needed for July 4 Parade

Celebrate Lakeway’s 60^th anniversary by helping make the July 4^th celebration special!  Volunteers will help with staging, greeting guests, carrying the city banner, and much more. To sign up, go here and select 4th of July Celebration: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/FormCenter/Administration-5/City-of-Lakeway-Volunteer-Form-83

Council Next Meets on April 17.

Roughly a week beforehand, view the Agenda, Meeting Packet, and/or Presentation (scrolling down to City Council documents) here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx  Go here to watch the Council meeting online (live or later): https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/222340

Lakeway ELECTIONS

Local elections will be on May 6, with Early Voting starting April 24.

Polling Places

For EARLY VOTING, residents can vote at any polling place in Travis County, but the only local polling place is the Lakeway Activity Center. 

On ELECTION DAY, Lakeway Activity Center is our main polling place, but Lake Travis ISD Educational Development Center will also be open at 607 Ranch Road 620 North, Lakeway, TX 78734 (off 620 to the right just before Kollmeyer).  This location is NEVER crowded.

Note that Bee Cave had no contested races, so City Hall in The Galleria is NOT a polling place.

Meet the Candidates

—We the People’s City of Lakeway Candidate Forum is on Monday, April 10 at 7-9PM, at River in the Hills Church (1310 Ranch Road 620 S, Unit C10—near The League).  All candidates have been invited, and the event is open to the public.

—The Lakeway Civic Corp will present a candidate forum at the Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek) on Thursday, April 13 at 7-9PM.  Candidates for Mayor and Council will answer questions in a non-partisan format. Open to all Lakeway residents.

—Sweetening Up Lakeway Politics will be held on Tuesday, April 18, 3:30-5PM in the meeting room at Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing Rd.).  Instead of a row of candidates answering the usual questions and trying to score points on each other against a timer, this will be 4 of your neighbors informally discussing Lakeway’s past, present and future.  Mayor Tom Kilgore, Council Member Gretchen Vance, and Council Candidate Dan Vardell have confirmed attendance. Come join us!

There will be COOKIES…. 

—Lake Travis Democrats club on Tuesday, April 18 at 6:30PM, has invited the 7 active candidates to introduce themselves and speak briefly, followed by a group Q&A.  This is part of LT Dems’ monthly meeting, at the Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek).

—Rough Hollow Candidate Forum on Tuesday, April 25 at 7PM at Rough Hollow Welcome Center Pavilion.  It is open to all.

SCROLL DOWN to see how the candidates answered the new question I sent them all.

Quick Videos from a recent candidate forum–Kilgore and Cooper. (Many thanks for these….)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yYYD1oN5e6-MtUTtozwVH6tFApg_-nq8/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ga9MfJCxsogoASC9T_1GNTsnHx2MpNWs/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13YzslTghLyDs1gefYJjlT7C_IBo3O9qN/view

Independent?  Or PAC?  Info and Campaign Sites for All 7 Candidates–Plus Following the Money.

The candidates are in 2 groups—independent or PAC-backed.  Three of the 7 candidates are endorsed and funded by a Political Action Committee.  The BAD thing about PACs is they hide the identity of those contributing to political campaigns.  Lakeway residents deserve to know exactly who is funding these campaigns, and to what extent. $50 is no big deal, but $500 may well come with strings.  This PAC gave $20,000 to ONE candidate for Council last year. Wonder what they got for their money?  And who exactly is trying to BUY THE CURRENT ELECTION?  The PAC in question is The Committee to Protect Lakeway (CtPL), also known as the Lakeway Renewal Project, and it is funded by people in several groups, including those in power during past administrations (often stained with scandal), those orchestrating recent ugly episodes involving our wonderful police force and our airpark, and developer-types intent on making even more money on Lakeway deals. 

As for campaign finances, the first report required by law was due April 6.  Ron Cooper failed to file his report, so that info is not available to voters.  The good news is that City of Lakeway has the other candidate reports on its Election page.  Go here and scroll down to CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORT, APRIL 6: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/427/Election-Information Reports for Kent O’Brien and Chris Forton show they are partially funded by The Committee to Protect Lakeway PAC.  The PAC filed its mandated report as of April 6 with the state.  To see the PAC’s donors, amounts and more (so far) go here: http://204.65.203.5/public/100899496.pdf

Mayor’s Race

The *2 candidates remaining in the race for Mayor are:

–Incumbent Tom Kilgore was elected Mayor in 2021.  In a very busy 2 years, he helped the city recover from the pandemic’s economic effects, guided us through extensive and much-needed city ordinance updates, made possible the completion of Main Street, oversaw practical assistance to residents during the recent ice storm as well as collection of debris afterward, and much more.  Mayor Tom managed all this while keeping Lakeway’s share of our property tax bills low.  https://kilgoreforlakeway.com/   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064819487089

 –Ron Cooper is a Rough Hollow resident and associate/business partner of Legend Communities CEO Haythem Dawlett.  An insurance adjuster, Cooper has lived in Texas and in Lakeway for just 3 years; his only city service to date is a brief stint on the Ethics Committee.  He is endorsed and supported by the CTPL PAC (see above).  https://www.roncooperformayor.com/     https://www.facebook.com/RonCooperForLakewayMayor

* Roy Paar withdrew from the race AFTER the county’s deadline to take his name off the ballot. Please don’t waste your vote there.

Council Race

–Incumbent Gretchen Vance was originally elected to Council in 2019 and currently serves as Mayor Pro Tem.  She is an entrepreneur who has lived in Lakeway for 13 years. https://www.vote-vance.com/   https://www.facebook.com/gretchenvancelakewaycitycouncilmember/

–Dan Vardell is a multi-disciplinary technology manager who has lived in Lakeway for 8 years.  He served on the Parks and Recreation Committee, was a member of the Comprehensive Plan Committee during recent updates, and now serves on the city’s Zoning and Planning Commission. https://www.vote-vardell.com/   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090762070845

–Kevin Bernzott is a financial CEO and has lived in Lakeway for 3 years.  He is a member of the City Building Commission. https://www.kevinbernzott.com/   https://www.facebook.com/kevinbernzott  

–Chris Forton works in life insurance and has lived in Lakeway for 8 years.  He serves on the city’s Zoning and Planning Commission.  He is endorsed and supported by the CTPL PAC (see above).  https://www.chrisforton4lakeway.com/   https://www.facebook.com/ChrisForton4Lakeway

–Kent O’Brien is an engineer who has lived in Lakeway for 14 years.  He served on the Parks and Recreation Committee from 2010-12. He is endorsed and supported by the CTPL PAC (see above). https://www.kentforlakeway.com/   https://www.facebook.com/kentforlakeway

CANDIDATE Q&A

I emailed ONE question to ALL the candidates back on March 30 (with a reminder on April 6).  Candidate Ron Cooper did not respond.  (At least he is consistent.) Here are the responses I received, organized by office sought and in the order they arrived:

QUESTION— Lakeway is rightly proud of its volunteer tradition.  The Mayor and Council members have always served without pay.   At some point, that may become untenable.  Currently, the position of Mayor appears to be a full-time job.  More is demanded of Council members all the time.  As a practical matter, the lack of salary shapes the pool of candidates.  Do you see Lakeway moving to salaried positions for our elected officials in the near future?  (The City Charter would need to be amended.  Otherwise, as a home rule city, Lakeway seems allowed to pay its officials, under Texas law.)  Should any change be keyed to population level?  Annual budget?  Something else?  

MAYORAL CANDIDATES  

Tom Kilgore: I think our tradition of a volunteer city council is important and should be retained. 

After my election, I was surprised by two aspects of the position. The workload and demand for access to the office. I thought that the Mayor’s job might take 20-25 hours per week. And if all the Mayor did was to set the agenda, sign documents, prepare for and attend council meetings, committee meetings, and workshops – that’s probably the time required. However, that is only a portion of the Mayor’s role. The mayor is expected to represent the city with our neighbors, the county, state and federal elected officials. You are also the relationship person for our community partners, from the Chamber of Commerce, LTFR, the Special Olympics, and many others. That’s when I realized it was a full time job, if it’s going to be done right.

I also learned that our residents expect the mayor to be readily accessible to address their ideas, comments, and concerns. You have to be willing to meet people where they are; in our online world it’s not limited to your city email or voicemail.

Despite the demands of the role, I believe it should remain a volunteer position. I don’t think it limits the candidate pool. We have had a robust number of applicants in the last several elections.

COUNCIL CANDIDATES

Dan Vardell: Lakeway follows the standard set by the vast majority of small cities and has all-volunteer leadership.  The focus is on service and giving back to the community – and that is where it should stay.  When cities, usually much larger than Lakeway, begin paying leaders; they open the door to individuals running for the wrong reasons.  We want leaders who are committed to helping neighbors, and the City, because they love helping the community thrive.

Kevin Bernzott: I am running for city council as a volunteer with no expectation of compensation.

I’m not sure what that point [of volunteerism becoming untenable] might be – but we are nowhere it today.

 In this circumstance, I’m not sure I agree that lack of pay discourages qualified folks from advancing a prospective candidacy. And there are too many elected officials feeding at the public trough – we don’t need councilmembers of a small municipality with a population of around 20,000 being paid by the taxpayers to serve.

 [As to Lakeway moving to salaried positions for our elected officials in the near future] Absolutely not. The Lakeway City Charter, §3.05 Compensation, says: “Members of the Council shall serve without pay or compensation; provided, however, that they shall be entitled to reimbursement for all expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as approved by the Council.” Prospective candidates looking for compensation should look elsewhere.

Chris Forton: The question to pay for city council and mayor is very intriguing , but I think right now these should remain volunteer positions. I feel there are people that enjoy volunteering for their community. Once you change it to being paid it becomes a job, and that isn’t necessarily a good thing. I’m happy with the cup of coffee I get at city hall once a month volunteering as head of ZAPCO. That’s compensation enough for me!

Gretchen Vance: Lakeway was founded on volunteerism and is what it is today because of those volunteers. I am proud to volunteer my time as a council member. Although I would not want a current or future councils to vote on changing the process of serving, if a movement was brought forward seeking our council and mayor to be paid, I would have no issue placing it on the ballot for our voters to allow their voices to be heard. 

Kent O’Brien:  No to all.

For MORE comments from the candidates:

Community Impact’s FULL Q&A with the 5 Council candidates is here in the digital version: See how the five candidates for Lakeway City Council answer four questions ahead of the May 6 election.  https://communityimpact.com/austin/lake-travis-westlake/election/2023/03/29/4-questions-with-lakeway-city-council-candidates/

Community Impact’s Mayoral Q&A is here: 4 questions with the candidates for Lakeway mayor  https://communityimpact.com/austin/lake-travis-westlake/election/2023/03/29/4-questions-with-the-candidates-for-lakeway-mayor/

Daring Mighty Things

NASA recently named the crew for the Artemis II moon mission.  They are 3 American astronauts—commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialist Christina Koch—joined by 1 Canadian, mission specialist Jeremy Hansen.  The planned 10-day flight in an Orion spacecraft will swing around the moon and return to earth without landing.  (Landing on the moon will be the mission of Artemis III.)  Four for the moon! NASA names Artemis 2 astronaut crew for 1st lunar mission since Apollo 4/3/23 https://www.space.com/nasa-names-artemis-2-moon-crew

Ingenuity, the small but mighty helicopter that has flown all over Mars for over 2 years, completed its 49^th exploration mission on April 2.  Weighing in at 4 pounds, Ingenuity set records for both height and speed as it scouted out the best locations for Perseverance, the exploratory rover.  Ingenuity goes faster and higher than ever before on 49th Red Planet flight 4423 https://www.space.com/ingenuity-mars-helicopter-breaks-records-flight-49

With liberty and justice for all … except women. 

Limited funding to help Texas women travel out of state for abortion care is available again.  A temporary injunction in federal court is blocking criminal charges for this assistance post-Dobbs, and some abortion advocacy nonprofit groups are again providing financial help. Some Texas groups resume funding out-of-state abortions after court ruling 3/24/23 https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/24/texas-court-abortion-funds/

Idaho just became the first state to make it illegal for minors to cross state lines to get an abortion without parental consent.  The new law defines this as “abortion trafficking” with the crime carrying a penalty of 2-5 years in jail for anyone helping someone under 18 get an abortion OR obtain abortion pills without permission from a parent/guardian.  There are no exceptions for rape, incest, or teens impregnated by their legal guardians. Doctors performing such procedures, even if out of state, are purportedly covered by the law.  Legal experts see this law as an ominous step toward states forbidding adult women from crossing state lines to obtain an abortion, despite the rights to free commerce and travel having been constitutionally protected for over 200 years. The new law aside, Idaho’s abortion regulations are among the strictest in the country; it bans most abortions, with narrow exceptions to preserve the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest.  Idaho Bans Out-of-State Abortions for Minors Without Parent’s Consent 4/5/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/05/us/idaho-out-of-state-abortions-minors-ban.html#:~:text=As%20one%20of%2013%20states,cases%20of%20rape%20or%20incest

Florida has a 15 week abortion ban, with no exceptions for incest or rape.  But, the state is now fining abortion clinics for procedures done within 15 weeks, IF they don’t provide a 24 hour waiting period between visits by a patient.  This law was challenged as soon as it was passed, back in 2015, and remained in limbo until a federal court upheld it last April, in the current anti-abortion climate.  The state immediately began imposing fines, without allowing clinics to adjust their scheduling protocols.  To date, over $500,000 is now due the state.  How Florida uses a little-known law to punish abortion clinics 3/26/23 https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/26/florida-abortion-law-ban-00088815

Remember the ominous challenge to the FDA’s approval over 20 years ago of the abortion drug mifepristone, in an Amarillo federal court, before a Trump-appointed judge who has previously issued rulings hostile to abortion rights? After months of delays,the judge on April 7 issued a preliminary ruling invalidating the Food and Drug Administration’s 23-year-old approval of the abortion pill mifepristone.  This decision—if it stands—would deny the primary drug used for medication abortions to everyone in the US, even those living in states where abortion is legal.  However, there is a 7-day delay before the ruling takes effect.  The Biden administration immediately indicated the Justice Department will appeal the order to the 5^th Circuit.  In addition, a federal judge in Washington state clapped back promptly, ordering the FDA not to limit availability of the drug and setting the case up for immediate appeal to the US Supreme Court. Texas federal judge halts FDA approval of abortion pill mifepristone; Biden administration filing appeal 4/7/23 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/federal-judge-halts-fda-approval-of-abortion-pill-mifepristone/

Finally, over 100 scientific studies, across continents and decades, have examined the effectiveness and safety of mifepristone and misoprostol, the abortion pills that are commonly used in the United States. All conclude that the medications are a safe method for terminating a pregnancy.  Are Abortion Pills Safe? Here’s the Evidence. 4/1/23 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/04/01/health/abortion-pill-safety.html

Back to me….  

Fawn season is coming!  In recent years, Lakeway residents posted photos of new fawns parked in their yards as early as the first week of April.  Don’t assume the wee fawns you spot on a walk or in your shrubbery 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 on how to identify the RARE case of a fawn needing 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. 

I haven’t had much luck deer-spotting on my morning walks lately.  Here are a few photos of does, mostly clumped together in the trees. And, a cute little friend at the end….

The Coronavirus   

In the US, in the last 2 weeks, the official stats show new cases fell 16% and hospitalizations dropped 6%.  Also, deaths decreased 12% to an average of 228 Americans per day.  See the chart below for current stats. The national testing positivity rate was 6.8%.  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/us/covid-cases.html

A review of 41 studies (that included 860,783 patients during the first 2 years of the pandemic) analyzed who developed long Covid. It found that females, people over 40, smokers, obese patients, and those with previous health issues (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease, anxiety, depression, chronic kidney disease or diabetes) had the highest chance of developing long Covid.  Also, the sicker that people were during initial infection, the more likely they were to experience the lingering health problems of long Covid.  Long Covid was defined as having symptoms including shortness of breath, fatigue, brain fog, headache, or loss of taste and smell 3 months after the initial infection.  Vaccination lowers the risk; those receiving 2 doses of vaccine before becoming infected were 43% less likely to develop long Covid. (Boosters were not yet available during most of the studies so their role was not considered.)  Who Is Most at Risk for Long Covid? 3/23/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/23/health/long-covid-risk-factors.html

Look for the FDA to authorize a second updated/bivalent booster shot for seniors and immunocompromised people soon.  Free shots will be for people 65 and up plus those with immune deficiencies, who got their previous updated booster at least 4 months ago.  This reflects the fact that those currently dying from Covid in the US are overwhelmingly age 65 or older.  Later on, likely in the fall, another booster (formulated to fight the Covid variants then at work) should be available for the majority of the population, aligning with administration of the annual flu vaccine.  F.D.A. Plans to Allow a Second Updated Covid Booster for Vulnerable Americans  4/4/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/04/us/politics/updated-covid-booster-fda.html

In Texas, in the last 2 weeks, infections decreased 22%, and hospitalizations dropped 9%.  Deaths fell 15%, with an average of 10 Texans dying each day.  See the chart below for current stats. The positivity test rate dropped to 7.8%.  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/us/texas-covid-cases.html

Recent Covid Articles I Recommend 

F.D.A. Plans to Allow a Second Updated Covid Booster for Vulnerable Americans 4/4/23  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/04/us/politics/updated-covid-booster-fda.html

How Did No-Mandate Sweden End Up With Such an Average Pandemic? 3/30/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/30/opinion/sweden-pandemic-coronavirus.html

Who Is Most at Risk for Long Covid? 3/23/23  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/23/health/long-covid-risk-factors.html

May Ukraine Have Peaceful Skies Again

Here is what is happening in Lakeway…. 

Debris Collection after Winter Storm Mara  

Wow—that’s A LOT of pink!  The above map shows huge progress, with cleared streets traced in pink.  

As of March 22, the city reported that crews have collected nearly 1,100 large truck loads of debris from 266 streets, and crews have ground those limbs down to large chipped piles at Public Works.  (In April, free mulch will be available to residents.)  Equipment was brought in to assist in collection under a low tree canopy.  Completion of city-wide collection is expected around the end of March.

The city’s updated map page, where you can search by street and zoom in, is here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2053/30408/Brush-Tree-Limb-Curbside-Pick-Up-Map

Go here to see a March 22 1-minute video showing Public Works activity: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1257633061847654

Mayor Tom’s FB Live

On March 16, Lakeway’s Mayor Tom Kilgore gave a 10-minute update on storm debris collection, upcoming events, and more.  Watch here: https://www.facebook.com/cityoflakeway/videos/1685838781872237

Shred Day

LT Senior Services’ spring Shred Day is Tuesday, March 28, 9-11AM in the Lakeway Aquatic Physical Therapy parking lot (900 Ranch Road 620 S, Suite A103). Help will be available to unload papers into locked bins for shredding.  FREE event, but donations are accepted.

Eggstravaganza at the Park

On Saturday, April 1, 2-4PM, bring your basket to Lakeway City Park for a FUN and FREE Easter event.  There will be photo ops with the Easter Bunny, a petting zoo, giant bubbles, face painting, snacks and more.  For the age-structured egg hunt schedule and info on the event, go here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/717/Eggstravaganza

A Night with the Austin Symphony Orchestra

LAST CALL!  On Saturday, April 1, 2023, 7PM, members of the Austin Symphony Orchestra and students at Lake Travis High School will present a 3^rd annual performance at the Lake Travis Performing Arts Center.  Go here for details and tickets:  https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1960/A-Night-with-the-Austin-Symphony-Orchest

Sunday Concert Series 

On Sunday, April 16, 4PM, Metamorphosis Dance will perform The Coppelia Suite at LAC (105 Cross Creek)  This FREE event is presented by Lakeway Arts Committee.

Enchanted Forest Walk  

April 17-30, dawn to dark,behind City Hall.Lakeway and other Lake Travis organizations are working together to bring the Enchanted Forest Walk to life. Want to create a whimsical miniature scene for display on the trail?  Contact the Parks Department at 512-314-7530.  More info is here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1816/Enchanted-Forest-Walk

Spring Sing Along

Come On, Get Happy!  Choose from 2 performances: Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29, starting at 6PM both nights.  Ticket sales started March 20 for LAC members and begin March 27 for non-members.  More info and tickets are here: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog/index?filter=c2VhcmNoPWdldCUyMGhhcHB5JnJlbnRhbCU1QmZyb20lNUQ9JnJlbnRhbCU1QnRvJTVEPSZiMWFjOWQ4NzQzMzNiOTZkZGU3ZmUzODI0ZTFjODBlOD02NDE1N2Q5YTBmY2VhYjg1ZGFhMjNkYjhlZTBjOTQ1NQ==

Council Met on March 20

All 7 members attended at the start of the meeting, with Council Member Kumar on video.  He exited the meeting at the end of Item 14 (and that exit left 6 members present, which turned out to figure into how Item 15/Daycare was decided). 

RESULTS:

ITEM 12: Financial Report. REVENUE was $848K over budget projections (due to permit fees).  EXPENDITURES were $321K under budget projections (due to salary savings on unfilled positions).  STORM DAMAGE COSTS were at $965K, most of which is expected to be covered by federal relief funds.

ITEM 13: Citizens Participation.  ONE COMMENT.

ITEM 14: Update from Central Texas Water Coalition.

REPORT by President Jo Karr Tedder.  https://centraltexaswatercoalition.org/   NO ACTION TAKEN.

ITEM 15: Special Use Permit for Home Occupation/Daycare, as the owner of 702 Vanguard has made another request after denial in January. This is a review to see if the new request is significantly and relevantly different from the previous request; if so, the owner will be allowed to go through the zoning process again.  The new request seems to limit the number of children to 5 (plus applicant’s own 2 children), with a part-time worker. 

After lengthy discussion, VOTE WAS TIED 3:3 (Kilgore, Mastrangelo and Szimanski FOR; Vance, Trecker and Brynteson AGAINST).  The tie vote meant the applicant’s request to apply again for a permit FAILED. 

ITEM 16: Update on the Sailmaster Pickleball Courts and Parking, with more options and pricing.  NOTE: See the Meeting Packet (link below) for details on the options now presented. 

After numerous public comments and lengthy discussion on the dais, Council favored the recommendation of Parks and Rec Director Andra Bennett to go with OPTION 4:

–City Park’s basketball court would be left as is, with 6 new pickleball courts built next to it.  Estimated time is 5 months; cost is still being calculated but well within the savings realized by cancelling the Sailmaster parking lot;

–A temporary basketball area at City Park is needed since the existing court will be closed during construction;

–The pickleball courts on Sailmaster will remain open in the interim, provided the parking crisis there is calmed; and

–Once the new pickleball courts are open, the Sailmaster courts will be repurposed as a pocket park for residents (estimated cost of $45K).

Staff was directed to proceed on the path outlined above (including looking into a NO PARKING zone on Sailmaster and the city providing a shuttle service for pickleball players parking at City Hall or the old Justice Center), reporting back at the next Council meeting.  [Mayor Tom’s Pickleball Racket Gavel was awesome!]

ITEM 17: Special Use Permit for Short Term Rental at 1404 Lakeway Drive.  APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY

ADDENDUM ITEM A.1: Regional Lift Station on Main Street.  APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY

ADJOURNED at 9:10PM.

View the Agenda, Meeting Packet, and/or Presentation (scrolling down to City Council documents) here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx  Go here to watch the Council meeting online: https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/222340

As I noted on Facebook afterward: This really was a good meeting! I haven’t seen that many smiles up on the dais in a long time. Lots of opinions, but things stayed good-natured even with a rare tie vote. Best of all, important work got done–nothing glamorous, but a lot of residents were heavily invested in both the daycare and the pickleball agenda items. On the latter, staff clearly did BIG work in the 2 weeks since the last meeting to get Council the options and data needed. Kudos all around!

Lakeway ELECTIONS

The local election is on May 6, with Early Voting starting April 24.  (If you aren’t registered to vote, the deadline is April 6.)  

Polling Places

For EARLY VOTING, residents can vote at any polling place in Travis County, but the only local polling place is the Lakeway Activity Center. 

On ELECTION DAY, Lakeway Activity Center is our main polling place, but Lake Travis ISD Educational Development Center will also be open at 607 Ranch Road 620 North, Lakeway, TX 78734 (off 620 to the right just before Kollmeyer).  This location is NEVER crowded. 

Note that Bee Cave had no contested races, so City Hall in The Galleria is NOT a polling place this time.

Candidate Forums

–Tuscan Village will host a Meet the Candidates event at the TV clubhouse on Thursday, March 30, 6:30-8:00 PM. This event is for Tuscan Village residents only (due to the small venue). 

—UPDATE as of March 26 –We the People City of Lakeway Candidate Forum is on Monday, April 10, 7-9PM, at River in the Hills Church (1310 Ranch Road 620 S, Unit C10—near The League).  All candidates have been invited, and the event is open to the public.

–The Lakeway Civic Corp will present a candidate forum at the Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek) on Thursday, April 13 at 7-9PM.  Candidates for Mayor and Council will answer questions in a non-partisan format. Open to all Lakeway residents.

–Lake Travis Democrats club on Tuesday, April 18 at 6:30PM, has invited all 7 active candidates to introduce themselves and speak briefly, followed by a group Q&A.  This is part of LT Dems’ monthly meeting, at the Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek).

–Rough Hollow Candidate Forum on Tuesday, April 25 at 7PM at Rough Hollow Welcome Center Pavilion. It is open to all.

SCROLL DOWN to see how the candidates answered the question I sent them all.

Independent?  Or PAC?

The candidates are in 2 groups—independent or PAC-backed.  Three of the 7 candidates are endorsed and funded by a Political Action Committee.  The BAD thing about PACs is they conceal the identity of those contributing to political campaigns.  I think Lakeway residents deserve to know exactly who is funding these campaigns, and to what extent. $50 is no big deal, but $500 may well come with strings. And, this PAC gave $20,000 to ONE candidate for Council last year. Wonder what they got for their money?  And who exactly is trying to BUY THIS ELECTION?  The PAC in question is The Committee to Protect Lakeway (CtPL), also known as the Lakeway Renewal Project, and (going by the list of its 2022 contributors) it seems to be funded by people in several groups, including those in power during past administrations (often stained with scandal), those orchestrating recent ugly episodes involving our police force and our airpark, and developer-types intent on making even more money on Lakeway deals. I have asked the PAC founders, Kimberly and Erik Mulloy, to disclose their 2023 contributors so that Lakeway residents can be informed before voting, but they have refused.

Mayor’s Race

The *2 candidates remaining in the race for Mayor are:

–Incumbent Tom Kilgore was elected Mayor in 2021.  In a very busy 2 years, he helped the city recover from the pandemic’s economic effects, guided us through extensive and much-needed city ordinance updates, made possible the completion of Main Street, oversaw practical assistance to residents during the recent ice storm as well as collection of debris afterward, and much more.  Mayor Tom managed all this while keeping Lakeway’s share of our property tax bills low.  https://kilgoreforlakeway.com/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064819487089

 –Ron Cooper is a Rough Hollow resident and close associate/business patner of Legend Communities CEO Haythem Dawlett.  An insurance adjuster, Cooper has lived in Texas and in Lakeway for just 3 years; his only city service to date is a brief stint on the Ethics Committee.  He is endorsed and supported by the CTPL PAC (see above about the PAC). https://www.roncooperformayor.com/ https://www.facebook.com/RonCooperForLakewayMayor

* Roy Paar withdrew from the race AFTER the county’s deadline to take his name off the ballot. Please don’t waste your vote there.

Council Race

These 5 candidates are running for 3 seats (you can vote for up to 3 of them):

–Incumbent Gretchen Vance was originally elected to Council in 2019 and currently serves as Mayor Pro Tem. She is an entrepreneur who has lived in Lakeway for 13 years. https://www.vote-vance.com/ https://www.facebook.com/gretchenvancelakewaycitycouncilmember/

–Dan Vardell is a multi-disciplinary technology manager who has lived in Lakeway for 8 years.  He served on the Parks and Recreation Committee, was a member of the Comprehensive Plan Committee during recent updates, and he now serves on the city’s Zoning and Planning Commission. https://www.vote-vardell.com/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090762070845

–Kevin Bernzott is a financial CEO and has lived in Lakeway for 3 years.  He is a member of the City Building Commission. ttps://www.facebook.com/kevinbernzott https://www.facebook.com/kevinbernzott

–Chris Forton works in life insurance and has lived in Lakeway for 8 years.  He serves on the city’s Zoning and Planning Commission. He is endorsed and supported by the CTPL PAC (see above about the PAC).  https://www.chrisforton4lakeway.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ChrisForton4Lakeway

–Kent O’Brien is an engineer who has lived in Lakeway for 14 years.  He served on the Parks and Recreation Committee from 2010-12.  He is endorsed and supported by the CTPL PAC (see above about the PAC). https://www.kentforlakeway.com/ https://www.facebook.com/kentforlakeway

CANDIDATE Q&A

I emailed ONE question to ALL the candidates back on March 16 (with a reminder on March 23).  Candidate Ron Cooper did not respond.  Here are the responses I received, organized by office sought and in the order they arrived:

QUESTION–Recently, there seems to be a growing split, with Old Lakeway on one side and the newer neighborhoods (notably Rough Hollow) on the other.  For instance, some Rough Hollow residents complain about the city’s primary amenities being inconvenient for them to access; others characterized last spring’s workforce housing proposal on Bee Creek Road as Old Lakeway distancing an undesirable development.  On the other hand, some Old Lakeway residents feel that those living in the newer areas don’t appreciate Lakeway’s history or value its peaceful charm.  What part of Lakeway do you live in, and, if elected, how would you represent the ENTIRE city?

MAYORAL CANDIDATES 

TOM KILGORE: Thank you for this question. I live in “Old Lakeway” on Electra. For the last several years I’ve been the Mayor of Lakeway, all of Lakeway. I campaigned on making city hall more transparent, and treating everyone equally. It doesn’t matter if you have been here for 30 years or 30 days – you will get the same treatment from the Council and City Staff.

Rough Hollow residents correctly point out that our city facilities are far away from their neighborhoods. That will change with the city annexing Butler Park and significant areas of the greenbelts. Moving these green spaces to the city is long overdue; thankfully the prior council enforced the timeline. Now we will be able to develop the park for our residents. 

The issue of the proposed and rejected workforce housing project wasn’t really a neighborhood problem. Occasionally, residents suggest solutions that move a problem from their neighborhood to another location. However, the council is focused on solving the underlying problem, not a location preference. The proposed workforce housing projects failed as they were incompatible with the underlying zoning and the city’s plans for commercial space.  

The way you represent the entire city, is to represent the entire city – as I have done since my election in May 2021.

RON COOPER: NO RESPONSE.

COUNCIL CANDIDATES

DAN VARDELL: One beauty of living in a small town is we are all in this together.  There is simply no upside in trying to invest in one area at the cost of another or ignoring one group of residents to benefit another.  When residents bring issues to ZAPCO or Council, we ask for their address to get a bit closer to the neighbor we are talking to.  This is never to identify a neighborhood to determine whether this resident’s opinion is to be valued more or less than another’s.  It is the responsibility of city leaders to ensure all areas are represented, investments and impacts are balanced, and residents in each neighborhood have a full and equal voice.  When I finally had the opportunity to buy a home in Lakeway, I intentionally targeted one of the more historic homes in Old Lakeway because I respect the history of this town and that neighborhood.  But that respect extends to the entire town and all our residents.  And, if elected, I will surely act to support them all because that is the only way Lakeway thrives.

CHRIS FORTON: I live in Lakeway! I don’t see the need to divide people into ever smaller categories. We are all fortunate to live in this great city, regardless whether your house was built last year or 30 years ago.  

I don’t agree with the assessment that there is a growing split between what you call “old” and “new” Lakeway. I actually feel it is opposite. Most people don’t seem to care where people live in the city. I have friends and supporters in all areas around Lakeway and I’ve only been asked where in Lakeway I live once, twice if you include query.  

The workforce housing wasn’t an “old” or “new” Lakeway issue. It was a Lakeway issue. The housing was denied on 620 the same as on 71. It wasn’t what the people wanted. The council was unanimous on that decision after considerable community feedback at both locations. Additionally, there were inconsistencies in the traffic impact analysis.  

The members of ZAPCO including myself voted for it because there was some merit for it once they included the restaurant to make it into a mixed use development. However, we vote based on the comprehensive plan. City council is the voice of the people.  

I will represent the citizens of Lakeway the same way I have been as chairman of ZAPCO. Listening to their concerns and utilizing the comprehensive plan. There are countless instances where we have listened to community concerns, worked together, and compromised to come up with what was best for the city. I feel that is the best approach !

KEVIN BERNZOTT: Lakeway has a total area of about 13 square miles, some 5% of which is water, and a population of around 20,000 folks. The statement that “some Rough Hollow residents complain about the city’s primary amenities being inconvenient to access” does not resonate with me. Everything in Lakeway is easy to access and the Rough Hollow residents allegedly complaining are closer to Lake Travis and the marinas. As a City Building Commissioner, I think an undesirable development is one that does not conform to our planning, zoning and building standards or does not adequately mitigate its traffic impacts. We live in Rough Hollow, and Lakeway’s peaceful charm is among the chief reasons we moved here. Given Lakeway’s size, I envision no conflicts representing all of it – all of us. I think the challenge is going to be insulating Lakeway from the anarchy overtaking Austin. Criminals don’t care about city limits. They can keep Austin weird – I’ll focus on keeping Lakeway… Lakeway.

GRETCHEN VANCE: Lakeway is a growing and diverse community. As a resident of neither Old Lakeway or Rough Hollow, our street is a microcosm of everything Lakeway is. Young families, working couples, retirees, business owners and a multitude of other residents that live on our street. Sometimes referred to as “Lakeway Proper” the area that spans Duck Lake, Clubhouse, Rolling Green, Lakeway Boulevard from 620 to Lohmans is a mix of “old” and “new” and a perfect example of how people from all walks of life make this city special. 

 In regard to any new development in Lakeway, either parks & recreation, residential or commercial, the city’s “FLUM” or “future land use map” is a guiding document of zoning that helps the council place developments across the city that have the proper infrastructure and surrounding zoning to create a cohesive neighborhood. 

KENT O’BRIEN: You are absolutely correct in that there is a peace and charm to this community that is unique.  Why would anyone want to change that?  We must hold tight to these treasures.  As your City Councilor, my focus will always be attentive to assure the specialness of Lakeway is maintained and pursued, and anything/anyone who wants to change this will be a non-starter.  We need to continue to build upon this specialness as the City continues to grow with new neighborhoods and developments and as older parts of Lakeway are reconstructed and rehabilitated.  Each and every resident and business must own its part in this effort.  I live in what I believe you characterize as “Old Lakeway”.  

 In all of my discussions with residents during my 15 years living in Lakeway and during my campaign, I have not heard much concern about a growing split between “Old Lakeway” and newer neighborhoods.  While I know there are different areas within the community, this is not uncommon or atypical of any community.  I do not perceive there are divisive splits in this community, but as humans, we sometimes allow divisive splits to generate, especially if one feels their voice is not being heard.

 My response is that as a City Council member, I will represent all of Lakeway no matter the neighborhood, focused on serving all.  I will always look for the good of the community, listening to all parties to assure all voices are heard.  When I sat on the Lakeway Parks And Recreation Board in 2010 to 2012, we looked at the entire community to assess opportunities to enhance park amenities including new parks, existing park rehabilitation and improvements.  We heard from many members of this community.  We used this input to identify several opportunities and began to develop a plan and strategy to implement.  It was this plan and strategy that was part of the beginning of our current Parks Master Plan.  I commit to you to continue to implement this plan.  I also, have other ideas that I want to bring to Council to make the plan better and more comprehensive for all of Lakeway.

Unfortunately, I had to step off of this Committee due to City policies on conflict of interest as O’Brien Engineering Services began business and our desire was to serve Lakeway.  And, we were blessed with the opportunity to provide multiple improvement projects for the City including the parking lot and restroom improvements at Hamilton Greenbelt and other projects.

Daring Mighty Things

Black with orange and blue accents plus an attached backpack–instead of strutting down the runway, this fashion ensemble will walk on the moon.  NASA recently unveiled the privately sourced suits that Artemis astronauts will wear.  Axiom Space noted that when astronauts are on the moon’s surface, the top layer of the suit will be WHITE, to reflect sunlight and keep the wearer cooler.  Spacesuit for NASA’s Artemis III Moon Surface Mission Debuts 3/15/23 https://www.nasa.gov/feature/spacesuit-for-nasa-s-artemis-iii-moon-surface-mission-debuts

On March 17, astronauts on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket recorded a gorgeous video showing Earth (above left) in much the same way that Apollo 17 did in its iconic Blue Marble photograph back in 1972 (above right).   Spectacular SpaceX video shows Earth as beautiful blue marble in blackness of space 3/22/23 https://www.space.com/spacex-launch-video-earth-march-2023

Twice in 1 week, the ISS was forced to lurch out of the way as space waste hurtled by. These near-misses are becoming more frequent due to an escalation in the number of space vehicles and resulting debris. International Space Station fires thrusters to dodge space junk 3/14/23 https://www.space.com/international-space-station-dodge-space-junk-march-2023

With liberty and justice for all … except women. 

Republican legislators in South Carolina are considering enacting a law punishing women who get abortions with the death penalty. There is no exception for abortions after incest or rape. South Carolina GOP lawmakers propose death penalty for women who have abortions  3/13/23 https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3898383-south-carolina-gop-lawmakers-propose-death-penalty-for-women-who-have-abortions/

On March 17, abortion pills were banned in Wyoming, the first state to pass legislation of this type.  Going into effect in July, the law punishes doctors, pharmacists and anyone else prescribing, providing or selling drugs to induce abortion with 6 months in jail and a $9,000 fine.  On March 20, a law went into effect making it a felony to provide surgical and medication abortions in Wyoming.  Wyoming Becomes First State to Outlaw Abortion Pills 3/17/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/17/us/wyoming-abortion-pills-ban.html

Now, women nationwide are under threat from a “zombie law.”  An absurd Texas lawsuit remains pending, but now we know what is going on behind the scenes and causing the delay.  Conservative Christian plaintiffs are contesting the FDA’s approval over 20 years ago of the abortion drug mifepristone, in an Amarillo federal court, before a Trump-appointed judge who has previously issued rulings hostile to abortion rights.  A ruling was expected in February, but it turns out U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk set hearings in early March but refused to publish the schedule, for fear of protests.  The hearings were closed, but reportedly plaintiffs urged the judge to use the Comstock Act of 1873 to ban mailing anything related to contraception or abortion. The Comstock Act is an anti-obscenity law considered dormant for decades.  A ruling in favor of the plaintiffs would stop medication abortions nationwide, pending appeal that would likely end up in the US Supreme Court. How an old law found new life in lawsuit seeking to revoke approval of abortion pill 3/20/23  https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/20/texas-fda-abortion-pill-comstock-act/

Back to me….  

Happy 3^rd Anniversary to my blog!  Hard to believe, but I started this project in March of 2023. 

Still not adjusted to the time change.  For me, the bright evenings do not make up for the dark mornings.

Remember the odd situation back in 2021, when resident complaints revealed that Haythem Dawlett’s Legend Communities and the Rough Hollow HOA had installed surveillance cameras/license plate readers along Highlands Boulevard?  It was done without the City of Lakeway’s knowledge or approval, even though the cameras were placed in the right of way owned by the city.  Well, we now know a lot more about that bizarre chain of events, and also about former Police Chief Radford’s subsequent resignation. Read all about it here: https://theintercept.com/2023/03/22/hoa-surveillance-license-plate-police-flock/

Mr. and Mrs. Pickles recently welcomed triplets, named Dill, Gherkin and Jalapeño.  They are tortoises, and have lived together at the Houston Zoo since 1996.  He is 90 years old, and she is 53; their species (known as radiated tortoise, living up to 150 years) doesn’t reproduce easily or often.  So, WELL DONE!  [Credit Jackelin Reyna/Houston Zoo.]

Our deer are still in a decidedly anti-social mood. Small groups of does are camping out in wooded areas, concentrating on growing baby deer, and the bucks are completely AWOL (after a job well done, I guess).  But, we have FAWN SEASON to look forward to, starting mid-April.  Here are a couple photos I was able to get recently.

The Coronavirus 

In the US, in the last 2 weeks, the official stats show new cases fell 29% and hospitalizations dropped 10%.  Also, deaths decreased 2% to an average of 294 Americans per day.  See the chart below for current stats. The national testing positivity rate dropped to 6.9%.   

Covid-19 drove up the maternal death rate in the US by 40% in 2021.  The National Center for Health Statistics reports that 1,205 pregnant women died in 2021, a 40% increase in maternal deaths compared with 2020 (861 deaths) and a 60% increase compared with 2019 (754 deaths). Pregnancy is a serious risk factor for severe Covid, resulting in ICU stays or death, due to the stress being pregnant puts on the body.  The virus also makes it more likely that a woman will give birth prematurely and that the baby will require neonatal intensive care.

Paxlovid, used to treat Covid-19 in the last year under emergency authorization, has been endorsed by a panel of FDA expert advisors for treating adults with Covid who are at high risk for progression to severe illness.  This step is expected to lead to full approval of the drug soon.  The FDA found that Paxlovid reduced hospitalizations and deaths among both unvaccinated and vaccinated people.  Paxlovid could save 1,500 lives and avert 12.000 hospitalizations EACH WEEK in the US.

In Texas, in the last 2 weeks, infections decreased 59%, and hospitalizations dropped 10%.  Deaths fell 64%, with an average of 11 Texans dying each day.  See the chart below for current stats. The positivity test rate dropped to 8.2%.   

Recent Covid Articles I Recommend

Should You Get Another Covid Booster? 3/24/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/24/health/covid-booster-older-immunocompromised.html

The Times Switches to C.D.C. Covid Data, Ending Daily Collection 3/22/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/22/us/covid-data-cdc.html

America Has Decided It Went Overboard on Covid-19 3/17/23  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/17/opinion/covid-19-pandemic-masks-china.html

F.D.A. Advisers Endorse Paxlovid’s Benefits as a Covid Treatment 3/16/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/16/health/fda-paxlovid-covid.html

Covid Worsened a Health Crisis Among Pregnant Women  3/16/23  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/16/health/covid-pregnancy-death.html

What to Know about the Covid Lab Leak Theory  20-minute podcast 3/15/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/15/podcasts/the-daily/covid-lab-leak-theory-china.html

May Ukraine Have Peaceful Skies Again

What is going on in Lakeway? 

Debris Collection after Winter Storm Mara

The above map shows a lot of progress, with cleared streets traced in pink. 

The city’s updated map page, where you can search by street and zoom in, is here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2053/30408/Brush-Tree-Limb-Curbside-Pick-Up-Map

Per the March 8 update from City of Lakeway, crews have faced several issues delaying pick-up, including mechanical break-downs.  Also, they are having problems collecting debris under low hanging trees or other obstructions.  Where possible, homeowners are asked to move debris piles from under low-hanging limbs.  At this time, the city expects debris collection to be completed by the end of March.

Public Works remains CLOSED until curbside pick-up is complete.

The Sailmaster/Hurst Creek Greenbelt will remain closed until March 18. All other area parks and trails are currently open.  

Here is a March 1 video from the city showing Public Works activity—https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=533469332257523

FRAUD ADVISORY Issued by City of Lakeway on March 10

Beware phone calls that appear to come from Lakeway Police Department, asking for sensitive information.  Lakeway Police will never call and ask for information like bank account numbers or social security numbers.  Per the city, a resident reported that someone called from a number appearing to originate from LPD and impersonated the chief of police, telling the resident that Homeland Security was investigating them for suspicious activity. If you get this type of call: HANG UP and call the police department directly at (512) 261-2800 to report the incident.

New Assistant City Manager

On March 6, Council approved the hiring of Ashby Grundman as Assistant City Manager.  His first day at City Hall will be March 20.  He previously worked for the cities of West Lake Hills, Hutto and Pasadena, after  getting his degrees in Public Administration and Urban Planning at University of Texas and Texas A&M.  He will oversee the building and development services department, IT and grants program, along with guiding Lakeway’s economic development and assisting the city manager with strategic planning. Complete info is here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=1732

“Women in Art”at Lake Travis Community Library

Through March,  the Lakeway Arts District presents “Women in Art,” a special art exhibition celebrating Women’s History Month. This exhibit includes paintings, drawings, digital AI art, and mixed media sculptures by local women artists, inspired by women’s history, health, beauty, motherhood and equality.  Art events at the library in March are listed here: https://lakewayartsdistrict.com/women-in-art/

Save  Lives—GIVE BLOOD

The next Lakeway Community Blood Drive will be on Saturday, March 18, 8AM-noon, at the Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek).  The event is always well organized, clean and friendly.  You will be done and out the door in under 30 minutes. It is an important cause and helps countless people. Plus—FREE JUICE AND COOKIES!

While walk-ins are welcome, those with appointments have priority. You can see upcoming dates and make an appointment to donate by entering your zip code here– https://weareblood.org/donor/schedule/

Garage Sale at Lakeway Activity Center

The next community garage sale is Saturday, March 25, 8AM to noon.  Admission is FREE, but in the LAC lobby you can drop off non-perishable or canned food items, to be donated to local food banks and charities.  You can also donate new or gently used children’s books, for the Free Little Books bin at the entrance.

Want to sell stuff?  Booths measure 10X10. LAC members: $30; non-members: $35. Call 512-261-1010 to reserve a booth, space permitting. Click here to reserve a booth online/check availability: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog/index/6e27b884045052f2756fa61c687caf87?filter=c2VhcmNoPWdhcmFnZQ==

Airpark Movie Night

The Spring Airpark Movie Night is Saturday, March 25 at 7PM.  “Flying the Feathered Edge: The Bob Hoover Project” will be presented at 115 Flying Scot, with the movie starting at 7:15PM.  Hanger B2 will serve Craig’O’s pizza plus popcorn, refreshments and a gift for the kiddos.  ALL FREE.  Bring chairs or blankets.  Kids can play in the grassy area.

Eggstravaganza at the Park

On Saturday, April 1, 2-4PM, bring your basket to Lakeway City Park for a FUN and FREE Easter event.  There will be photo ops with the Easter Bunny, a petting zoo, giant bubbles, face painting, snacks and more.  For the age-structured egg hunt schedule and info on the event, go here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/717/Eggstravaganza

A Night with the Austin Symphony Orchestra

On Saturday, April 1, 2023, 7PM, members of the Austin Symphony Orchestra and students at Lake Travis High School will present a 3^rd annual performance at the Lake Travis Performing Arts Center.  Go here for details and tickets:  https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1960/A-Night-with-the-Austin-Symphony-Orchest

Sunday Concert Series 

On Sunday, April 16, 4PM, Metamorphosis Dance will perform The Coppelia Suite at LAC (105 Cross Creek)  This FREE event is presented by Lakeway Arts Committee.

Enchanted Forest Walk 

April 17-30, dawn to dark, behind City Hall. Lakeway and other Lake Travis organizations are working together to bring the Enchanted Forest Walk to life. Want to create a whimsical miniature scene for display on the trail?  Contact the Parks Department at 512-314-7530.  More info is here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1816/Enchanted-Forest-Walk

Earth Day

Celebrate Earth Day!  On Saturday, April 22, 11AM-1PM, volunteers will pick up trash along our local roadways and in our parks.  City of Lakeway will supply trash pickers, safety vests, trash bags and a map for volunteers, who will team up and head to their designated areas.  Afterward, everyone returns to City Hall for a certificate, snacks and more.  You’ll need a vehicle plus comfy clothing and sturdy shoes.  Go there to sign up: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/FormCenter/Administration-5/Earth-Day-Volunteer-Form-80

Spring Sing Along

Come On, Get Happy!  Choose from 2 performances: Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29, starting at 6PM both nights.  Ticket sales start March 20 for LAC members, March 27 for non-members.  More info and tickets are here: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog/index?filter=c2VhcmNoPWdldCUyMGhhcHB5JnJlbnRhbCU1QmZyb20lNUQ9JnJlbnRhbCU1QnRvJTVEPSZiMWFjOWQ4NzQzMzNiOTZkZGU3ZmUzODI0ZTFjODBlOD02NDE1N2Q5YTBmY2VhYjg1ZGFhMjNkYjhlZTBjOTQ1NQ==

Council Met on March 6.

Aside from the 2 incumbents (Mayor Kilgore and Councilmember Vance) sitting on the dais, of the 8 candidates for Mayor and Council, ONLY Dan Vardell (who is running for Council) attended the meeting.  Personally, I am at a loss to understand how the other 5 candidates for Mayor and Council could be so uninterested in city matters as to miss the meeting and the opportunity to listen to and meet the packed room of residents attending and participating in our process on a matter very important to them.

RESULTS:

ITEM 3: Approving the appointment of Ashby Grundman as Assistant City Manager. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

ITEM 4: Considering parking and other options for the pickleball courts on Sailmaster.

After lengthy Citizens Participation and extensive discussion by Council, they PASSED UNANIMOUSLY a motion to reprioritize the Parks Master Plan and amend the budget as recommended by the City Manager (to cancel the Sailmaster parking lot and use the previously budgeted funds as agreed for repurposing–as quickly as possible–the existing City Park basketball court for pickleball use, then adding more pickleball courts and a new basketball court at City Park, with staff reporting back to Council on this at the March and April regular meetings).

NOTE: The City on March 8 announced that in the interim the Sailmaster pickleball courts will be open daily from 9AM-8PM and suggested players park at City Hall (1102 Lohmans Crossing Road).  

ADJOURNED at 9:03PM.

View the Agenda, Meeting Packet, and/or Presentation (scrolling down to City Council documents) here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx   Go here to watch the Council meeting online: https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/210034

Council Next Meets on March 20. 

Council’s regular monthly meeting is on March 20 at City Hall.  A few days beforehand, view the Agenda, Meeting Packet, and/or Presentation (scrolling down to Council documents) here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx

Lakeway ELECTIONS

Local elections will be on May 6, with Early Voting starting April 24.  (If you aren’t registered to vote, the deadline is April 6.)  

EIGHT CANDIDATES will be on Lakeway’s ballot. As of today, however, Roy Paar says he is withdrawing from the race for Mayor; unfortunately, the deadline has passed to remove his name from the ballot (so any votes he gets will be wasted).

March 13 UPDATE: I do not pretend to understand it, but here is the message Roy Paar emailed me today:

Hello, residents of Lakeway. My name is Roy Paar. In the process of campaigning for mayor, I have come to doubt whether I am the best fit for the job. The other two candidates here seem like they are more deserving of your vote, so I have decided to withdraw from the race, however City Hall has informed me that the deadline has passed so my name will still appear on the ballot. I have posted a video on my website (roypaar.com) and you can judge for yourself whether you want someone like me as your mayor. If not, you have other great options. Best of luck to the other candidates and have a great day!

Even worse, at least 3 of the candidates are endorsed and funded by a certain Lakeway PAC.  The BAD thing about PACs is they conceal the identity of those contributing to political campaigns.  I think Lakeway residents deserve to know exactly who is funding these campaigns, and to what extent. $50 is no big deal, but $500 may well come with strings. And, this PAC gave $20,000 to ONE candidate for Council last year. Wonder what they got for their money? The PAC in question is The Committee to Protect Lakeway (CTPL), also known as the Lakeway Renewal Project, and it is funded by people in several groups, including those in power during past administrations (often stained with scandal), those orchestrating recent ugly episodes involving our police force and our airpark, and developer-types intent on making even more money on Lakeway deals. 

Some of the candidates have little to no experience with Lakeway government–not serving on committees, volunteering or even attending meetings. Yet, they expect to be elected….

The 2 candidates remaining in the race for Mayor are:

Incumbent Tom Kilgore was elected Mayor in 2021.  In a very busy 2 years, he helped the city recover from the pandemic’s economic effects, guided us through extensive and much-needed city ordinance updates, made possible the completion of Main Street, oversaw practical assistance to residents during the recent ice storm as well as collection of debris afterward, and much more.  Mayor Tom managed all this while keeping Lakeway’s share of our property tax bills low.  https://kilgoreforlakeway.com/    https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064819487089

Ron Cooper is a Rough Hollow resident and close associate of Legend Communities CEO Haythem Dawlett.  An insurance adjuster, Cooper has lived in Texas and in Lakeway for just 3 years; his only city service to date seems to be a brief stint on the Ethics Committee.  He is endorsed and supported by the CTPL PAC (see above). 

https://www.roncooperformayor.com/     https://www.facebook.com/RonCooperForLakewayMayor

The 5 candidates for Council are:

Incumbent Gretchen Vance was originally elected to Council in 2019 and currently serves as Mayor Pro Tem. She is an entrepreneur who has lived in Lakeway for 13 years. https://www.vote-vance.com/    https://www.facebook.com/gretchenvancelakewaycitycouncilmember/

Dan Vardell is a multi-disciplinary technology manager who has lived in Lakeway for 8 years.  He served on the Parks and Rec Committee, was a member of the Comprehensive Plan Committee during recent updates, and he now serves on the city’s Zoning and Planning Commission. https://www.vote-vardell.com/  

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090762070845

Kevin Bernzott is a financial CEO and has lived in Lakeway for 3 years.  He is a member of the City Building Commission. https://www.facebook.com/kevinbernzott   https://www.facebook.com/kevinbernzott

Chris Forton works in life insurance and has lived in Lakeway for 8 years.  He ran for Council back in 2019 and now serves on the city’s Zoning and Planning Commission.  He is endorsed and supported by the CTPL PAC (see above).  https://www.chrisforton4lakeway.com/   https://www.facebook.com/ChrisForton4Lakeway

Kent O’Brien is an engineer who has lived in Lakeway for 14 years. He served on the Parks and Recreation Committee from 2010-12.  He is endorsed and supported by the CTPL PAC (see above). https://www.kentforlakeway.com/  

https://www.facebook.com/kentforlakeway

MEET THE CANDIDATES

–Tuscan Village will host a Meet the Candidates event at the TV clubhouse on March 30, 6:30-8:00 PM. This event is for Tuscan Village residents only (due to the small venue). 

–The Lakeway Civic Corp will present a candidate forum at the Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek) on Thursday, April 13 at 7-9PM.  Candidates for Mayor and Council will answer questions in a non-partisan format. Open to all Lakeway residents.

 –Rough Hollow Candidate Forum is set for the evening of April 25.  I’m checking on details, including confirmation this is open to all (like it was last year).  More info to come.

CANDIDATE Q&A

I emailed ONE question to all the candidates back on March 2 (with a reminder on March 8).  Candidate Ron Cooper did not respond.  Here are the responses I received, organized by office sought and in the order they arrived:

QUESTION–What is your solution to the severe shortage of workers available to staff our schools, restaurants, hotels, hospital, emergency services, offices and all other Lakeway businesses?

MAYORAL CANDIDATES 

–TOM KILGORE: The Mayor and City Council cannot “solve” a labor shortage across multiple industries. We owe our commercial properties, and business owners: clear regulations, uniform inspections, timely responses and a minimum of red tape. The council has updated our zoning ordinances, creating equal opportunities for property owners. The council is continuing to explore alternative transportation options. We meet with business owners on a regular basis to review alternatives, and continue to see if pilot programs in other municipalities might be solutions for us.

—ROY PAAR: He responded early on but has now withdrawn from the race.

COUNCIL CANDIDATES

–DAN VARDELL: The labor shortages facing Lakeway businesses are a long-term problem that directly impacts quality of life for business owners and residents.  When local businesses struggle, or even fail, residents must deal with limited availability of services, poor service experiences, or being forced to drive longer distances to meet even basic needs.  When completing Lakeway’s 2020 Comprehensive Plan, we noted this as a high priority issue and recommended multiple steps be taken including: update the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) to identify appropriate areas for higher density, lower cost housing options (done), establish an economic development committee (done), work with developers to reserve a portion of built capacity for reduced cost housing (in progress), and collaborate with Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce as well as surrounding municipalities to build support for regional solutions (in progress).  Even though a couple of these are marked ‘done’, they all require ongoing attention to ensure we understand current needs and are making real progress.  In the past two years, several developments have been approved in the area that are planned to offer market rate housing options.  Similarly, when the new town center was approved, we requested developers reserve 10% capacity for worker-friendly housing options.  While I support all these actions, as a council member my focus will be on collaborating with surrounding municipalities to develop regional solutions.  If you take 20 minutes as a reasonable commute, this means Lakeway’s labor pool extends from 2222 (North) to Vista Oaks (West) to Oak Hill (Southeast).  This highlights that labor is fundamentally a regional issue and no one town can solve it alone.  The progress we’ve made the past two years indicates these are the right steps if we continue to maintain focus on this issue as the area grows.

–KEVIN BERNZOTT: I don’t think there’s a shortage of workers in Lakeway any greater than in many other places – that’s driven by economics. The Thundercloud Subs store on Lohman’s Spur recently closed after several years, citing the unavailability of employees. More concerning to me is that we are protected by 35 sworn police officers and I understand none of them live in Lakeway. Few communities can accommodate everyone, and workforce housing is clearly an issue, but when our cops are commuting from Marble Falls, for example, that’s an issue.   

–CHRIS FORTON: The problem of a worker shortage isn’t unique to Lakeway. A common theme has developed everywhere that there aren’t enough workers to go around. There are many causes and to try and pinpoint a solution in a short couple paragraph response would be reckless at best and negligent at worst. 

As a member of ZAPCO I have voted in accordance with our comprehensive plan to allow a variety of housing densities. While maintaining our single family residential we have also voted to allow townhomes, condos and an apartment. With the apartment the additional density was considered because the developer was going to give the city a park in exchange for the difference in density. All of which aligns with the comprehensive plan for increased park space, and density along 620/71. 

All options should be considered, but ultimately the taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for subsidizing a businesses workforce. I’m not insensitive to people having to commute long distances, I have a one hour commute each way, everyday. 

As a council member I will evaluate all proposed solutions and decide what action if any would best support and be accepted by the citizens of Lakeway. I will gladly welcome community feedback and utilize the comprehensive plan in my decision making process. 

–GRETCHEN VANCE: One solution that I feel is very viable is that we begin a program with LTHS where required service hours can be met by students who choose to work. Many students who are required to meet the 100 service hour requirement to meet specific graduation requirements simply don’t have time to have a job. By allowing students who work in lieu of providing service hours, we can tap into a workforce that is not currently available. 

—KENT O’BRIEN: Although, I do not know all of the details, I was not in favor of the Work Force housing development as it was proposed that you note in your question.  I am very much in favor of creating opportunities to enhance the work force in our community and the region.  I know that our businesses and employers struggle to fill staffing needs and also to find the right staff.  When elected, I want to have a robust and comprehensive discussion with residents and businesses to identify concepts and alternatives that will enhance work force opportunities.  I will bring ideas to the discussion table that I have observed in other communities, as well as different ideas that I have been considering and formulating as I have watched this debate over the years.  Further, when I ran O’Brien Engineering Services which was located in Lakeway, I helped form and led a new LT Chamber of Commerce Mobility Advocacy Group that included representatives from all cities in this region, Travis County, Police Departments, LTFR, and others business representatives.  Our purpose sought to identify and advocate improvements to mobility in the area and also included discussions surrounding work force enhancement.  There were many ideas that were discussed and came from the very smart and experienced members of the Committee.   Unfortunately, this group has been dormant for the past several years, and as your City Councilor, I want to re-engage these same regional partners to bring those ideas, as well as new ideas into this robust discussion.

While I know these discussions have been going on for sometime, we MUST continue the discussion to find effective solutions that help businesses, and at the same time fit within the fabric of Lakeway and the South Shore region of Lake Travis.

Daring Mighty Things

NASA astronaut Josh Cassada took the stunning shot above, on Feb. 28 as he was stationed on the International Space Station, orbiting 250 miles above Earth.  Recently, auroras (caused by interaction of the sun’s charged particles with Earth’s atmosphere) have been supercharged by strong sun activity, resulting in brilliant displays.

It worked!  An uncrewed Soyuz successfully docked with ISS late on Feb. 25, replacing the Soyuz whose coolant leak rendered it unable to return crew members to Earth.  Russia’s replacement Soyuz spacecraft arrives at space station 2/26/23 https://www.space.com/russia-soyuz-replacement-ms-23-international-space-station-docking

President Biden’s recent budget proposal would send over $27 billion to NASA in 2024.  That includes $8 billion for the Artemis moon exploration program.  NASA gets $27.2 billion in White House’s 2024 budget request 3/9/23 https://www.space.com/white-house-2024-budget-request-nasa

With liberty and justice for all … except women. 

The hits just keep coming for women’s rights….

A Galveston man is suing 3 women for helping his ex-wife obtain pills for a medication abortion in 2022.  The suit demands $1MIL in damages.  Three Texas women are sued for wrongful death after allegedly helping friend obtain abortion medication 3/10/23 https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/10/texas-abortion-lawsuit/

Last week, 5 Texas women sued the state, saying they were denied medically necessary abortions.  They are joined by 2 OB-GYNs alleging confusion in the medical community resulting in inability to perform their jobs.  Parties seek clarification as to when abortion is allowed under current Texas law.  Women denied abortions sue Texas to clarify exceptions to the laws 3/7/23  https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/07/texas-abortion-lawsuit/

Walgreens has caved to intimidation from conservatives and announced it will not sell abortion pills in Alaska, Iowa, Kansas or Montana—DESPITE abortion being legal in those states.  Overall, it sounds like the national drugstore chain won’t sell the medication anywhere in the US.  Walgreens won’t distribute abortion pills in some states where they remain legal 3/2/23  https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/02/walgreens-abortion-pills-00085325

There is STILL no ruling in the absurd Texas lawsuit contesting the FDA’s approval over 20 years ago of the abortion drug mifepristone.  The case remains pending in an Amarillo federal court, before a Trump-appointed judge who has previously issued rulings hostile to abortion rights.  A result is expected any day, and a ruling in favor of the conservative Christian plaintiffs would stop medication abortions nationwide, pending appeal that would likely end up in the US Supreme Court. What to know about Texas ruling that could see abortion drug taken off the market 2/8/23   https://abcnews.go.com/Health/texas-ruling-abortion-drug-off-market/story?id=96816852

In a related case, the attorneys general of 12 Democratic-controlled states recently sued the FDA in Washington state, asking a judge to remove special restrictions that the federal agency has long applied to mifepristone, the primary drug used in medication abortions.  This suit seeks an order that would effectively contravene steps expected to be imposed by a Texas judge in another case (see above).  The Washington suit seeks a declaration that the FDA’s approval of mifepristone is valid and enjoining the FDA from removing mifepristone from the market or reducing availability.  12 States Sue F.D.A., Seeking Removal of Special Restrictions on Abortion Pill 2/24/23  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/24/health/abortion-pills-fda-lawsuit.html

Nationwide, 40% of abortion clinics ONLY offer medication abortion, generally using a combination of 2 drugs (mifepristone and misoprostol).  Clinics that offer both surgical and medication abortion use the latter method about 60% of the time.  So, overall, over half the abortions in 2020 used the medication that is now under attack by conservatives.  That percentage grew considerably since Roe was abruptly overturned last summer, allowing states to immediately outlaw abortions.  Even if access to mifepristone were limited, abortion providers say they could rely solely on misoprostol; however, the result would be a less effective procedure. Where Restrictions on Abortion Pills Could Matter Most in the U.S. 3/2/22  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/03/02/us/abortion-pill-lawsuit-mifepristone.html

Back to me….  

March 11–Happy Birthday, Mom.

Having my neighborhood’s storm debris hauled out by the city last week was SUCH a blessing!  We have mature trees on every lot in St. Andrews, so there was a huge amount of damage, and our curbs were loaded with debris.  It is lovely to be back to normal.

What is NOT normal is how early spring arrived this year.  Bluebonnets are in bloom!   Plus, the trees are all budding out, hummingbirds have arrived, and my cats are definitely shedding.

The deer are very sedentary and reclusive this time of year.  I’m lucky if I spot a few does napping in the trees, on my morning walks these days.  Here are some recent photos I took of our deer herd.

The Coronavirus   

Hong Kong, a Chinese territory, has lifted its mask mandate, in place since mid-2020 (with fines up to $600 for refusing to mask).  As of March 1, people in Hong Kong are no longer required to wear masks indoors, outdoors or on public transportation.  However, facilities like hospitals and nursing homes can still require them.  Macau, the nearby island known as a gambling mecca and another Chinese territory, ended its mask mandate on Feb. 27. 

The Covid origins argument flared up recently, when the US Energy Department announced that an accidental laboratory leak in China most likely caused the coronavirus pandemic.  However, the agency immediately undermined its own conclusion by stating it was made with “low confidence.”  Other US agencies and groups worldwide champion competing theories, the most prevalent being that Covid-19 originated at a wet market (selling live and often exotic animals for food) in Wuhan, China.

Good news on preventing Long Covid!  A recent trial indicates the drug metformin, when given twice daily for 2 weeks, resulted in a significant reduction of subsequent Long Covid.  Since the side effects of metformin were near-zero and the cost of the drug is minimal, some experts are pushing for routine use.

Experts (mostly) agree we have finally entered an endemic phase with Covid-19. No new variants have appeared to edge out XBB.1.5, now dominant world-wide.  Even better, XBB.1.5 failed to cause a surge of hospitalizations or deaths in the US or in the rest of the world.

However, the baseline of hospitalizations and deaths in the US is high–double what it was back in summer of 2021 before the Delta variant hit.  With no official restrictions and people abandoning masks as well as low booster uptake, vulnerable people are getting Covid.

In the US, in the last 2 weeks, the official stats show new cases fell 15% and hospitalizations dropped 11%.  (At under 25,000 patients, hospitalization figures are the lowest in nearly a year.)  But, deaths INCREASED 20% to an average of 393 Americans per day.  See the chart below for current stats. The national testing positivity rate fell to 7.9%.  

In Texas, in the last 2 weeks, infections decreased 22%, and hospitalizations dropped 6%.  BUT, deaths rose 122%, with an average of 30 Texans dying each day.  See the chart below for current stats. The positivity test rate dropped slightly to 10%.  

Recent Covid Articles I Recommend

Early Metformin Cuts Long COVID Risk 3/8/23  https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/longcovid/103450

Long Covid Patients More Likely to Have Gastrointestinal Problems, Study Finds 3/7/23  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/07/health/long-covid-stomach-pain-acid-reflux.html

What We Know and Don’t Know About the Origins of Covid 2/27/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/27/us/politics/covid-origin-lab-leak-china.html

Hong Kong, One of World’s Last Holdouts, Ends Its Mask Mandate 2/27/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/27/world/asia/hong-kong-mask-mandate.html

What is going on in Lakeway? 

Big Freeze Clean Up

Debris Collection after Winter Storm Mara

Storm debris is being collected by the city, at no charge to residents, thanks to Mayor Kilgore.  BIG PROGRESS has been made!  Per the city’s last update, over 100 streets have been cleared and over 330 huge truckloads of debris hauled to Public Works for disposal. The task is immense, and work is expected to continue another week or so.

The REVISED map above shows 5 colored collection zones. NEW—the streets already cleared are shown with pink lines. Each zone has a giant claw collection truck and a team of workers going street by street to clear storm debris from the curbs.  

Here is the city’s updated map page where you can search by street and zoom in: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2053/30408/Brush-Tree-Limb-Curbside-Pick-Up-Map

Check here for the latest info: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1723  Email  info@lakeway-tx.gov  or contact Public Works at (512) 608-9000 with any questions. 

Here is a quick (45 seconds) but illuminating video from Feb. 14, showing one of the giant claw trucks collecting storm debris curbside, as well as views of the Public Works destination facility: https://www.facebook.com/cityoflakeway/videos/950666122959895/

Oak Wilt

Concerned about oak wilt?  Due to storm damage and the disaster declaration, oak trimming is allowed if needed, despite February being the start of the no-prune season.  Any fresh cuts must be sealed immediately, to guard against the beetles that spread oak wilt.  (Use professional tree sealer or latex paint.)  Breaks during the storm were sealed by the cold and ice; also, it is ineffective to seal wounds after a day has passed. Here are some helpful links: 

–Painting oak wounds: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/354/Paint-All-Wounds

–Preventing oak wilt: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/217/Oak-Wilt-Prevention

Insurance/Damage Claims 

The city’s Disaster Declaration will facilitate insurance claims.  Take pictures of damage to your property from the storm, including spoiled food, roof damage, broken windows, fallen trees, etc. Keep receipts for costs incurred.  IN ADDITION TO MAKING CLAIMS ON YOUR OWN INSURANCE, report damage to the state here: https://damage.tdem.texas.gov/

Plane Crash on Live Oak Golf Course.

On Feb. 12, a small private plane traveling from San Antonio to Tennessee experienced engine trouble and detoured to the Lakeway Airpark for an emergency landing.  Instead, it crashed behind the driving range of the nearby golf course, taking out fencing and equipment belonging to Lakeway MUD.  The pilot was alone in the plane and sustained no serious injury.  Happily, no one was hurt on the ground.  NTSB is investigating. Go here for several photos of the incident: https://www.facebook.com/lakewaypolice/posts/pfbid03txYUfHJjFmVBcbJterg3E298mNSuBF3iwtPkZm74d2iP17Kj8Z48Xd3McYk241Nl

LOTS going on at Lake Travis Community Library

Fraud/ID Theft Prevention Class  

On Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 10:30AM, Lakeway Police Sgt. Jason Brown will conduct a fraud and ID theft prevention class.  FREE and open to the public, this is an opportunity for residents to learn about deterring criminals from getting access to personal information and bank accounts.

“Women in Art” during month of March 

March 1-31, the Lakeway Arts District presents “Women in Art,” a special art exhibition celebrating Women’s History Month. This exhibit includes paintings, drawings, digital AI art, and mixed media sculptures by local women artists, inspired by women’s history, health, beauty, motherhood and equality. 

Check out the Artist Reception on March 4, 1:30-3PM AND the Art Demo on March 11, 1:30-3PM. MORE art events at the library in March are listed here: https://lakewayartsdistrict.com/women-in-art/

Lakeway is HIRING–including SUMMER JOBS

Open positions include summer jobs (lifeguard, swim instructor, concessions attendant) plus administrative assistant, events coordinator, facility attendant, accounting specialist, code compliance manager, permit technician, juvenile case manager, court supervisor, 911 operator, and police officer. Go here for info and to apply: https://tx-lakeway.civicplushrms.com/CareerPortal/Jobs.aspx

Save  Lives—GIVE BLOOD

The next Lakeway Community Blood Drive will be on Saturday, March 18, 8AM-noon, at the Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek).  The event is always well organized, clean and friendly.  You will be done and out the door in under 30 minutes. It is an important cause and helps countless people. Plus—FREE JUICE AND COOKIES!

While walk-ins are welcome, those with appointments have priority. You can see upcoming dates and make an appointment to donate by entering your zip code here– https://weareblood.org/donor/schedule/

Garage Sale at Lakeway Activity Center

The next community garage sale is Saturday, March 25, 8AM to noon.  Admission is FREE, but in the LAC lobby you can drop off non-perishable or canned food items, to be donated to local food banks and charities.  You can also donate new or gently used children’s books, for the Free Little Books bin at the entrance.

Want to sell stuff?  Booths measure 10X10. LAC members: $30 (starting Feb. 20); non-members: $35 (starting Feb. 27).  Call 512-261-1010 to reserve a booth, space permitting. Click here to reserve a booth online/check availability: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog/index/6e27b884045052f2756fa61c687caf87?filter=c2VhcmNoPWdhcmFnZQ==

Scholarships for 12th Grade Level Students

Submissions are being accepted through April 22 for the annual City of Lakeway/Waste Connections $1,000 scholarships for 12th grade level students. This scholarship is only available to students whose parents are signed up for solid waste services with the City of Lakeway.  Go here for details and to apply: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1993/Waste-Connections-Scholarship

Mayor Kilgore’s Facebook Update

Our fabulous mayor gave a live update on city matters on Feb. 16.  Go here to watch: https://www.facebook.com/cityoflakeway/videos/1452969672107772

Heritage Bus Tours in May

Register now for this popular and FREE event!  Explore the history of Lakeway through one of three available bus tours taking place on Friday, May 5.  Times are 9:15AM, 11:15AM, and 1:15PM.  Depart from Lakeway City Hall (1102 Lohmans Crossing Rd.). This is a great way to celebrate the 60^th anniversary of Lakeway’s founding.  

Go here for more info and to register: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog/index?filter=c2VhcmNoPWhlcml0YWdlK2J1cyZyZW50YWwlNUJmcm9tJTVEPSZyZW50YWwlNUJ0byU1RD0

Council had a SPECIAL Meeting on Feb. 13.

This was a follow up to the Feb. 6 Council meeting, with the ONLY Agenda item being final review of a streamlined Development Agreement for accelerated construction of LTISD’s Elementary School #8 on 25 acres of land on Bee Creek Road, in time to open in August of 2024.

RESULT: All members were present. 

They voted unanimously to DENY the Development Agreement (largely due to traffic issues as well as loss of commercial space/sales tax income, with the consensus being this school should be located in Sweetwater since it will primarily serve those families, rather than burden Lakeway).  LTISD is free to bring a new proposal if things change, but as of now there will not be a new elementary school built on Bee Creek Road. 

ADJOURNED: 7:56PM.

View the Agenda, Meeting Packet, and/or Presentation (scrolling down to City Council documents) here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx 

Go here to watch the Council meeting online: https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/208190

Council Met on Feb. 21.

All 7 members attended in person.  RESULTS:

ITEM 17: Financial Report.  Revenue was $197K below projections; however, this situation is improving, along with the flow of property tax payments from Travis County.  Expenditures were $583K below projections, due to employee vacancies.  

ITEM 18: Citizens Participation.  NONE. 

ITEM 19: Request for a total of $57,820 from the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax Fund for promotion of the 2023 Lake Travis Film Festival.  UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. 

ITEM 20: Replat of 8.985 acres, being Lot 1 Lake Travis Church of Christ at 1808 Lohman’s Crossing, into 2 lots, both with access and frontage onto Lohman’s Crossing.  UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. 

ITEM 21: Special Use Permit Amendment for Garages of Texas, at 1009 RR 620 North, to allow limited commercial uses.  UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. 

ADDENDUM ITEM A. 2: City Manager reported on his decision, as per Mayor Kilgore’s suggestion, to award $80,000 in merit bonuses among 35 city employees, due to excellent performance during the recent Winter Storm Mara.  NO ACTION NEEDED (as funds within budget).

ADDENDUM ITEM A. 3: Executive Session RE: Bianca King’s lawsuit against the city over denial of a permit for her daycare center on Vanguard. NO ACTION TAKEN.

ADJOURNED at 7:45PM.

View the Agenda, Meeting Packet, and/or Presentation (scrolling down to City Council documents) here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx  

Go here to watch the Council meeting online: https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/208793

Zoning and Planning Meets on March 1

ZAPCO’s monthly meeting is on Wed., March 1, 9AM at City Hall.  View the Agenda, Meeting Packet, and/or Presentation (scrolling down to Zoning and Planning documents) here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx

Lakeway ELECTIONS—Coming Soon

Local elections will be on May 6, with Early Voting starting April 24.  (If you aren’t registered to vote, the deadline is April 6.)  

EIGHT CANDIDATES will be on Lakeway’s ballot. 

Unfortunately, at least 3 of the 8 candidates are endorsed and funded by a certain Lakeway PAC.  The bad thing about PACs is they conceal the identity of those contributing to political campaigns.  I think Lakeway residents deserve to know exactly who is funding these campaigns, and to what extent. $50 is no big deal, but $500 likely comes with strings. And, this PAC gave $20,000 to ONE candidate for Council last year. Wonder what they got for their money? The PAC in question is The Committee to Protect Lakeway (CTPL), and it is funded by several groups, including those in power during past administrations (often stained with scandal), people orchestrating recent ugly episodes involving our police force and our airpark, and developers intent on making even more money on Lakeway deals.  Since the PAC’s website endorses 3 candidates it is currently supporting, I will note them below.

Also, every election we get a mystery candidate who no one knows—someone who has skipped all the wonderful opportunities to participate in city functions, volunteer to help with events or serve on committees, or just attend Council meetings and provide constructive comments.  They just deemed themselves ready run our city, without knowing the issues or the players—or even the way to City Hall….  This year, we are blessed with TWO of these charmers.  I will note the “Who is THAT?” candidates below, as well.

The 3 candidates* for Mayor are:

–Incumbent Tom Kilgore was elected Mayor in 2021.  In a very busy 2 years, he helped the city recover from the pandemic’s economic effects, guided us through extensive and much-needed city ordinance updates, made possible the completion of Main Street, oversaw practical assistance to residents during the recent ice storm as well as collection of debris afterward, and much more.  Mayor Tom managed all this while keeping Lakeway’s share of our property tax bills low.  His campaign site is here (this is the 2021 site which I assume will soon be updated for the current campaign): https://kilgoreforlakeway.com/

–Ron Cooper is a Rough Hollow resident and close associate of Legend Communities CEO Haythem Dawlett.  An insurance adjuster, Cooper has lived in Texas and in Lakeway for just 3 years; his only city service to date seems to be a brief stint on the Ethics Committee.  He is endorsed and funded by the CTPL PAC.  His campaign site is here: https://www.roncooperformayor.com/  

–Roy Paar has lived in Lakeway only 10 months (but seemingly will meet the 1-year residency requirement as of Election Day, just barely).  From Portland, Oregon, he lists his occupation as “consultant.” Prior to filing to run for mayor, he has not volunteered for any city service or even attended meetings, as far as I can tell.  His campaign site is here: https://roypaar.com/

 *There were 4 candidates, but Shiloh Newman withdrew from the Mayor’s race on Feb. 24.

The 5 candidates for Council are:

–Incumbent Gretchen Vance was originally elected to Council in 2019 and currently serves as Mayor Pro Tem. She is an entrepreneur who has lived in Lakeway for 13 years. Her campaign site is here: https://www.vote-vance.com/

–Dan Vardell is a multi-disciplinary technology manager who has lived in Lakeway for 8 years.  He was a member of the Comprehensive Plan Committee during recent updates, and he now serves on the city’s Zoning and Planning Commission.  His campaign site is here: https://www.vote-vardell.com/

–Kevin Bernzott is a financial CEO and has lived in Lakeway for 3 years.  He is a member of the City Building Commission. His campaign Facebook page is here: https://www.facebook.com/kevinbernzott

–Chris Forton works in life insurance and has lived in Lakeway for 8 years.  He ran for Council back in 2018 and now serves on the city’s Zoning and Planning Commission.  He is endorsed and funded by the CTPL PAC.  His campaign site is here: https://www.chrisforton4lakeway.com/

–Kent O’Brien is an engineer who has lived in Lakeway for 14 years.  Prior to filing to run for Council, he has not volunteered for city service recently or even attended meetings, as far as I can tell. He is endorsed and funded by the CTPL PAC.  His campaign site is here: https://www.kentforlakeway.com/

Upcoming blogs will include more info on the candidates and their positions on the issues, as well as details on upcoming forums, media questionnaires, etc., so we can all get to know them and assess how well their visions of Lakeway match ours.  Vote accordingly!

Daring Mighty Things

Moonwalkers—I want these!  Why walk when you can run, with the same effort?  These devices strap onto regular shoes and convert your walking stride into a glide that effortlessly increases speed to 7MPH, a normal running pace.  It looks like they will be available soon, retailing at $1,400.  “One small step for walking, one giant leap for urban mobility.”

Russia’s replacement ride home from the International Space Station launched on Feb. 23 (and is scheduled to dock at the station late on Feb. 25).  Last December, a Soyuz craft managed to dock with ISS and deliver 2 Russian cosmonauts and 1 American astronaut, despite experiencing loss of all coolant during the journey; this problem rendered the ship unable to fly crew members back to Earth.  Since then, the station was unable to evacuate all humans on board in the case of emergency.  The Russians eventually announced the Soyuz leak was caused by impact with a micro-meteoroid.  This was called into question when a Russian freighter that had been docked with ISS for several months suddenly developed a coolant leak a few weeks ago; however, Roscosmos insisted the leaks were a coincidence, with the freighter’s leak caused by “external influences.”  Russia launches replacement spacecraft for astronauts stranded by coolant leak 2/23/23 https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/23/world/russia-spacecraft-leak-rescue-soyuz-launch-scn/index.html

On Feb. 14, NASA’s mini chopper, Ingenuity, flew its 43^rd mission over Mars, increasing its total flight distance to nearly 6 miles.  The Red Planet’s Energizer Bunny weighs in at 4LBS and was created to experiment with flight in micro-gravity; only 5 missions were planned.  Its endurance has proven invaluable in scouting out pathways for the rover Perseverance as it searches for evidence of past or present life on Mars. Ingenuity helicopter aces 43rd Mars flight, its longest in 10 months 2/17/23 https://www.space.com/mars-helicopter-ingenuity-43rd-red-planet-flight

With liberty and justice for all … except women. 

States across the country are convening their first legislative session post-Dobbs, and abortion bills are running rampant.  Almost exclusively anti-abortion, these bills often propose punishing doctors and other medical workers (with fines, imprisonment and loss of license) for performing surgical abortions or prescribing abortion pills.  In a few blue states, legislatures are gearing up to protect doctors from out-of-state subpoenas and sanctions.  A New Goal for Abortion Bills: Punish or Protect Doctors  2/16/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/16/us/abortion-bills-doctors.html

The absurd Texas lawsuit contesting the FDA’s approval over 20 years ago of the abortion drug mifepristone is STILL PENDING in an Amarillo federal court before a Trump-appointed judge who has previously issued rulings hostile to abortion rights.  A result is expected any day, and a ruling in favor of the conservative Christian plaintiffs would stop medication abortions nationwide, pending appeal that would likely end up in the US Supreme Court. What to know about Texas ruling that could see abortion drug taken off the market 2/8/23  https://abcnews.go.com/Health/texas-ruling-abortion-drug-off-market/story?id=96816852

Back to me….  

I had the privilege of attending Michigan State University way back when for my undergraduate degree, so the recent mass shooting there really hit hard. SPARTAN STRONG—GO GREEN!

Driving along Lohmans Crossing lately, you will have noticed all the land stripped of trees and overrun by noisy machines and clouds of dust.  Starting near the elementary school and across from The Hills’ main gate, then running behind the police station and finally meeting up with Medical Drive behind HEB, construction of a church plus 3 large mixed use developments is all approved and underway. Legend Communities is building Tuscan Village 2 (which currently has no connection to the existing Tuscan Village) and The Square on Lohmans. Stratus Properties is supposed to (finally) finish building The Oaks. All told, there will be hundreds of single-family homes, hundreds more apartments and town homes, plus extensive retail, restaurant, entertainment, office and other commercial sites. The GOOD news is there will be a large park (at the HEB end and on the Rolling Green side).  The BEST news is that Lakeway will finally get Main Street connected to Lohmans Crossing at Wingreen Loop (with a stop light where The Hills’ gate is).  Lohmans Spur will also connect to Main Street at a roundabout (ugh) behind the police station.  Both developers are obligated to complete 4-lane roads on a set timetable.  However, Stratus hasn’t even begun ground work, so expect the CITY OF LAKEWAY to build that segment of Main Street meeting Medical Drive, along with a pricey bridge over an environmentally sensitive area that will drive costs up to $4MIL-5MIL (that amount having very smartly been included in the recently approved transportation bond).

So, if you notice deer, coyotes, foxes, or other wildlife in new areas around Lakeway, it could well be due to their having been displaced from all the acres that are suddenly a massive construction zone.

Here are some recent photos I took of our deer herd.

The Coronavirus   

China’s official estimate of Covid deaths in the months after the government’s abrupt removal of all restrictions is under 100,000.  Experts, however, point out glaring omissions and place deaths between 1 million and 1.5 million people.

The American elderly remain vulnerable to Covid-19, with 90% of those now dying from it being 65 and older.  People with medical conditions including asthma, diabetes and immune deficiencies are also at high-risk.  Yet, in this country precautions like masking and vaccine mandates rankled from the start.  Now, virtually no one takes any precautions, for themselves or others.  Ethical arguments aren’t even being made anymore.  Crucially, this attitude extends far beyond Covid (and clearly did not start with the pandemic).  As the following article sums up: “Americans do not agree about the duty to protect others, whether it’s from a virus or gun violence.”  For Older Americans, the Pandemic Is Not Over 2/11/23  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/11/health/covid-pandemic-seniors.html

The latest casualty due to lack of Covid funding is tracking data.  Many data trackers are shutting down, making it harder for individuals and even government agencies to gauge illness, hospitalization and deaths as the Covid emergency officially ends but the disease remains prevalent.

On Feb. 24, the FDA authorized emergency use of the first over-the-counter test that detects Covid-19 AND the flu.  Lucira Health’s test delivers results in 30 minutes, from a nasal swab.  Release to the public is not yet scheduled and could be complicated by Lucira Health’s recent bankruptcy filing.

In the US, in the last 2 weeks, the official stats show new cases fell 13% and hospitalizations dropped 5%.  Deaths decreased 27% to an average of 328 Americans per day.  See the chart below for current stats. The national testing positivity rate held steady at 10%.

The US as a whole is trending in the right direction, with the Northeast in particular seeing low case levels now.  However, western states, especially Utah and Nebraska, are seeing rising cases and hospitalizations.  Reporting sources caution that Covid death figures are artificially low now, due to data processing delays from the CDC.

In Texas, in the last 2 weeks, infections decreased 21%, hospitalizations dropped 14%, and deaths fell 55%, with an average of 14 Texans dying each day.  (BUT—see the caveat above on current data processing delays artificially suppressing death figures.)  See the chart below for current stats. The positivity test rate dropped slightly to 11%.    

Recent Covid Articles I Recommend

FDA authorizes first at-home combo flu/Covid test 2/24/23 https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/24/fda-at-home-flu-covid-test-00084420

What the end of COVID trackers means for the future of the pandemic 2/23/23  https://abcnews.go.com/Health/end-covid-trackers-means-future-pandemic/story?id=97399856

Is the United States Ready for Back-to-Back Pandemics? 2/22/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/22/opinion/bird-flu-pandemic-h5n1.html

As the Pandemic Swept America, Deaths in Prisons Rose Nearly 50 Percent 2/19/23  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/19/us/covid-prison-deaths.html

How Deadly Was China’s Covid Wave?  2/15/23  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/02/15/world/asia/china-covid-death-estimates.html

What is going on in Lakeway? 

Big Freeze Clean Up

Early February’s ice storm ravaged Lakeway, particularly in the older parts of town with mature landscaping.  Many of our gorgeous oaks lost major limbs, and some trees just toppled over completely.  Mayor Kilgore declared Lakeway a disaster zone, facilitating state and federal aid as well as insurance claims for damage. 

Yard Clean Up

Storm debris is being collected by the city, at no charge.  Mayor Kilgore spearheaded city assistance for residents’ clean-up efforts, and city trucks started collecting storm debris on Feb. 6.  Five additional crews with large trucks will join the effort starting Feb. 12, to speed up the process. 

Lakeway homeowners have been busy, creating truly impressive mounds of tree limbs and brush lining nearly every curb in town.  ALL city streets will be included in the free pick up, as shown on the map above, with 5 colored zones.

FEB. 13 EDIT: The REVISED map above shows the purple zone expanded to include St. Andrews (Troon and Muirfield Greens).

The 5 zones will be handled simultaneously, with 1 crew per zone.  The goal is to completely cover the city in 2-3 weeks.  So, GET YOUR STORM DEBRIS CURBSIDE BY FEB. 11.  Here is the map page where you can search and zoom in: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2053/30408/Brush-Tree-Limb-Curbside-Pick-Up-Map

The debris will be taken to the city’s Public Works grounds, where an industrial chipper is located. Due to the resulting high traffic of large vehicles, Public Works is now temporarily closed to the public, with no individual drop offs allowed.

Be sure to haul debris to the curb, as crews will NOT enter private property to retrieve limbs.  Also, they cannot hack dangling limbs off of trees.

Check here for the latest info: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1723  Email  info@lakeway-tx.gov  or contact Public Works at (512) 608-9000 with any questions. 

Concerned about oak wilt?  Due to storm damage and the disaster declaration, oak trimming is allowed if needed, despite February being the start of the no-prune season.  Any fresh cuts must be sealed immediately, to guard against the beetles that spread oak wilt.  (Use professional tree sealer or latex paint.)  Breaks during the storm were sealed by the cold and ice; also, it is ineffective to seal wounds after a day has passed. Here are some helpful links: 

–Painting oak wounds: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/354/Paint-All-Wounds

–Preventing oak wilt: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/217/Oak-Wilt-Prevention

Insurance Claims 

The Disaster Declaration will facilitate insurance claims.  Take pictures of damage to your property from the storm, including spoiled food, roof damage, broken windows, fallen trees, etc. Keep receipts for costs incurred.  Report damage by filing out the State damage survey found here (under the “Active Incidents” section, and then click on “Ice Storm/Winter Weather January 29 – Ongoing” button): https://damage.tdem.texas.gov/

Special Olympics

The Special Olympics Texas Winter Games 2023 will be held the weekend of Feb. 17-19.  Games will showcase over 1,000 participants in floorball, powerlifting, cycling, golf, and volleyball. Locations include Lake Travis Middle School, Bee Cave Middle School, Hill Country Indoor, and Star Hill Ranch.  Schedule and full info here: https://www.sotx.org/winter-games-schedule

LOTS going on at Lake Travis Community Library.

10^th ANNIVERSARY

Monday, Feb. 13 marks the 10^th anniversary of the library opening in its current location, 1938 Lohmans Crossing Rd.  (Remember—the library used to be in the Chair King shopping center, where Point of Origin is now.) Stop by at 4PM to help one of the gems of Lakeway celebrate the happy occasion with cake and other festivities.

Art Exhibit at the Library

Through February, Vandegrift High School student Shreya Poladia’s paintings will be on display in the library’s Community Room.  She uses pastels, watercolors, coffee, charcoal, pencils, and acrylics to depict nature in many formats. Proceeds from sales during the exhibit will benefit Safe in Austin Rescue Ranch, which rescues animals from severe abuse or neglect.

Fraud/ID Theft Prevention Class  

On Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 10:30AM, Lakeway Police Sgt. Jason Brown will conduct a fraud and ID theft prevention class.  FREE and open to the public, this is an opportunity for residents to learn about deterring criminals from getting access to personal information and bank accounts.

“Women in Art” during month of March 

March 1-31, the Lakeway Arts District presents “Women in Art”, a special art exhibition celebrating Women’s History Month, at the library. This exhibit includes paintings, drawings, digital AI art, and mixed media sculptures by local women artists, inspired by women’s history, health, beauty, motherhood and equality. 

Check out the Artist Reception on March 4, 1:30-3PM AND the Art Demo on March 11, 1:30-3PM. MORE art events at the library in March are listed here: https://lakewayartsdistrict.com/women-in-art/

Scholarships for 12th grade level students

Submissions are being accepted through April 22 for the annual City of Lakeway/Waste Connections $1,000 scholarships for 12th grade level students. This scholarship is only available to students whose parents are signed up for solid waste services with the City of Lakeway.  Go here for details and to apply: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1993/Waste-Connections-Scholarship

Council Called a SPECIAL Meeting for Feb. 6. 

All members were in attendance.  RESULTS: 

ITEM 8: Declaring Lakeway a disaster area for 90 days, subsequent to the recent severe winter weather and related power outages. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 

ITEM 9: Second reading of a streamlined Development Agreement for accelerated construction of LTISD’s Elementary School #8 on 25 acres of land on Bee Creek Road, with special attention to traffic issues.

After considerable discussion, mostly as to traffic issues, Council was largely satisfied with changes made to the Development Agreement; Council still wanted a guarantee the county will allow buses to access the SportsPark road and for LTISD to look at using a Park and Ride strategy to move kids between the school and an off-site parking lot.  However, since the revised Development Agreement was submitted by LTISD earlier that day, there was no public notice or review by the City Attorney.  PASSED UNANIMOUSLY to give public notice on the final Development Agreement later this week, and schedule another Special Council Meeting on Monday, Feb. 13 to resolve this matter.  

ITEM 10: Ordering an election on May 6 for Mayor and 3 Council seats (budget of $45,000).  PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 

ITEM 11: Annexation of Bee Creek Road, from the Highlands traffic circle to HWY. 71. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

ITEM 12: Discussion of the city’s position on various issues being considered by the Texas Legislature.  Issues include: Appraisal Caps and Property Tax Exemptions; Online Sales Tax; Marijuana Decriminalization; Police Reform; Dis-annexation and ETJ Reductions; Decreased Zoning Authority; and Stricter Platting Shot Clock.

After discussion, it was agreed that staff will concentrate on bills gaining traction on issues affecting Lakeway including: property tax assessments; online sales tax changes; limiting authority of home-rule cities, giving cities more access to state agencies; and legalization/criminalization of activities. 

ADJOURNED: 8:46PM.

View the Agenda, Meeting Packet, and/or Presentation (scrolling down to City Council documents) here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx 

Go here to watch the Council meeting online: https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/206967

Council set another SPECIAL Meeting for Monday, Feb. 13, 6:30pm, at City Hall.

This is a follow up to the Feb. 6 Council meeting, with the only Agenda item being final review and (it is hoped) approval of a streamlined Development Agreement for accelerated construction of LTISD’s Elementary School #8 on 25 acres of land on Bee Creek Road, in time for opening in August of 2024.

View the Agenda, Meeting Packet, and/or Presentation (scrolling down to City Council documents) here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx 

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

Council Will Meet on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 6:30PM.

Go here for the Agenda, posted a few days beforehand: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx

Lakeway ELECTIONS—Coming Soon!  

Local elections will be on May 6, with Early Voting starting April 24.  (If you aren’t registered to vote, the deadline is April 6.)  Campaigning will start soon….

Up for election are Mayor Kilgore’s seat and 3 City Council seats—now held by Kumar, Vance, and Trecker.  All 4 incumbents are eligible to run for another term.  So far, Mayor Kilgore and Councilmember Vance have filed to run in the election.  For Council, Kevin Bernzott, Christopher Forton, and Kent O’Brien have filed to run, as of Feb. 11. 

The candidate filing period ends Feb. 17.  The city’s election page, with full info, is here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/427/Election-Information

Daring Mighty Things

QUICK QUIZ—Which planet orbiting our Sun has the MOST MOONS?  Scroll down to the end of this section for the answer.

On Feb. 4, an American F-22 fighter jet destroyed the Chinese spy balloon with a Sidewinder missile.  The single shot was fired just as the intruder passed the South Carolina coastline, with debris raining harmlessly into the Atlantic. US military shoots down Chinese surveillance balloon 2/5/23 https://www.space.com/chinese-spy-balloon-destroyed-f-22-jet

On Jan. 31, former NASA astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken were awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.  They were honored for their bravery during NASA’s first commercial crew launch, SpaceX Demonstration Mission-2 to the International Space Station in 2020. VP Awards Former NASA Astronauts Congressional Space Medal of Honor  https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/vp-awards-former-nasa-astronauts-congressional-space-medal-of-honor

As seen in the image below, a comet–called C/2022 E3 (ZTF)–not seen from Earth since our Stone Age has come back around for a visit. Rare green comet’s close approach a once-in-50,000 years feast for astrophotographers 2/3/23 https://www.space.com/green-comet-close-approach-skywatcher-photos

Feb. 1 marked the 20^th anniversary of losing space shuttle Columbia, which exploded during re-entry and killed the 7 astronauts on board. 20 years after Columbia shuttle tragedy, NASA pledges ‘acute awareness’ of astronaut safety 2/1/23 https://www.space.com/columbia-space-shuttle-tragedy-20-year-anniversary

QUIZ ANSWER—Jupiter, which has 92 moons.Jupiter now has the most moons in the solar system, beating Saturn thanks to 12 newfound satellites 2/3/23  https://www.space.com/jupiter-moon-discoveries-total-92

With liberty and justice for all … except women. 

With Roe obliterated by the extreme Conservative SCOTUS, state constitutions are being examined for protection of women’s bodily autonomy.  Recently, courts in South Carolina found a state right to abortion, while a court in Idaho found none.  Do Abortion Rights Hang On State Constitutions? 1/29/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/29/us/abortion-rights-state-constitutions.html

In Texas (ugh, if it is egregious, it is ALWAYS Texas), a federal court decision is expected any day in a case brought by a conservative Christian group.  Despite wide use and an impressive safety record for over 20 years, the group is demanding that the FDA’s 2000 approval of the drug mifepristone be revoked, suspending use nationwide.  Currently, medication abortions account for over half of pregnancy terminations.  Plaintiffs forum-shopped, filing the case in Amarillo before a Trump-appointed judge who has previously issued rulings hostile to abortion rights.  What to know about Texas ruling that could see abortion drug taken off the market 2/8/23  https://abcnews.go.com/Health/texas-ruling-abortion-drug-off-market/story?id=96816852

Back to me….  

The best thing about cold weather is the dramatic increase in cat snuggles—love that!  Second best is the yummy vat of soup I made. 

Our deer herd seemed spooked by the ice storm and Mother Nature’s brutal rearrangement of Lakeway’s landscaping.  Plus, yard work cut into my daily walks, so I only got one recent deer photo, taken on Vanguard (but, she is adorable).

The Coronavirus   

In China, the tsunami of Covid cases after the government abruptly suspended restrictions seems to be ebbing.  Official disclosure is limited and reporting suppressed to some degree, but hospitals and funeral homes appear less overwhelmed in recent weeks. 

In the US, in the last 2 weeks, the official stats show new cases and hospitalizations both fell by 14%.  Coincidentally, deaths also dropped 14% to an average of 449 Americans per day.  See the chart below for current stats. The national testing positivity rate held steady at 11%.   

Even with the national decreases, most southern states are showing the opposite.  Alabama and Louisiana have the highest per capita case rates, up by 25% in the last 2 weeks.

Despite 450-500 daily Covid deaths–double those from the flu–emergency health provisions are largely ending in May.  This is in part due to Congress’ refusal to keep funding the cost of Covid testing, treatment and vaccines.  Hospitals and Medicare recipients will see most of the changes.  But, this also draws an official line closing out the pandemic and moving the country into the endemic phase of living with Covid-19; politically, this is a good thing.  Herd immunity will never happen, so to some extent Covid-19 is here to stay.  This 20-minute podcast is helpful in understanding why this is happening now and what changes to expect. The End of the Pandemic in the US  20-minute podcast 2/3/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/03/podcasts/the-daily/pandemic-emergency-end.html

A new interferon drug shows great promise treating even the latest Covid variants.  A single shot supposedly makes hospitalization half as likely; it also helps the body fight the flu and other viral diseases. But, it hasn’t been tested in in the US or per the FDA’s requirements, so even emergency approval here isn’t likely anytime soon.

In Texas, in the last 2 weeks, infections decreased 22% and hospitalizations dropped 15%.  But, deaths ROSE 29%, with an average of 30 Texans dying each day.  See the chart below for current stats. The positivity test rate dropped to 13%.    

Recent Covid Articles I Recommend

Why the Odds Are Stacked Against a Promising New Covid Drug 2/8/23  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/08/health/covid-drug-eiger-interferon.html

The End of the Pandemic in the US  20-minute podcast 2/3/23  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/03/podcasts/the-daily/pandemic-emergency-end.html

These benefits will disappear when Biden ends the Covid national and public health emergencies in May 1/31/23  https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/30/politics/may-11-end-of-covid-and-public-health-emergencies/index.html

Children lost about 35% of a normal school year’s worth of learning during the pandemic, study suggests 1/30/23  https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/30/health/covid-learning-loss-study-wellness/index.html

What is going on in Lakeway? 

Guess Who has a BIG Birthday this Year….

Founded in 1963, the City of Lakeway turns 60 in 2023!  The celebration started with the heritage bus tours earlier this month.  The 4^th of July parade theme will be “’63 and Free.”  More fun events are in the works. 

To brush up on Lakeway’s history, visit The Heritage Center (963 Lohmans Crossing).  The Center is open to the public January through November on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9AM-3:30PM, excluding holidays.

Get a start online by going here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1879/Lakeway-Historical-Documents

OAK TRIMMING Season

NEVER PRUNE FEBRUARY THROUGH JUNE.

If you plan to trim oaks, JANUARY IS THE LAST MONTH TO DO IT (until summer). Oak pruning is a violation of Lakeway ordinance February through June, due to higher likelihood then of spreading Oak Wilt. The fine is up to $1,000 per day. Trimming Oaks is allowed July-January.  But, when trimming, pruning seal must be applied within 10 minutes to all cuts on all Oak trees. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1059/Oak-Pruning-Schedule

Brush Recycling Offered 1st Thursday of Every Month

City of Lakeway offers free yard waste drop off for Lakeway residents the first Thursday of every month, at the Public Works Department (3303 Serene Hills Drive) 7AM-3:30PM.  Limit is one pickup truck load of yard waste or up to one 8’X5′ pile.  Go here for details, including what is accepted: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=1584

StoryWalk

Now through Feb. 14, enjoy a Valentine’s Day story while strolling the trail behind City Hall (1102 Lohmans Crossing).

You’ll find pages from the children’s book “If You Were My Valentine” (written by Lynn Plourde and illustrated by Jennifer L. Meyer).  

This FREE event emphasizes the importance of reading, spending time with friends, and connecting with nature.

Community Helper Story Time

On Monday, Jan. 30 at 10:30AM, Lakeway Police Officer Christie Carter will present a special story time at the Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing).  Officer Carter will discuss being a police officer and keeping the community safe, as well as reading a story to families attending.

Sock Hop

On Monday, Feb. 6, 7-9PM, the Lakeway Arts Committee presents a FREE and FUN 1940-50s dance event at the Activity Center (105 Cross Creek).  Nostalgic music will be provided by The Highlights, plus musicians from People’s Choice and vocalists Barbara Calderaro, David Cummings and Howard T. Levine.  Wear your favorite Memory Lane apparel and bring snacks and beverages.

Masterpiece Concert

On Sunday, Feb. 12, 4-5PM, the Lakeway Arts Committee presents the next Masterpiece Concert at the Activity Center (105 Cross Creek).  

FREE for residents, the concert will feature music performed by Andrew and Sari Pearce, along with other talented musicians on violin, viola and cello.

Garage Sale at Lakeway Activity Center

The next community garage sale is Saturday, March 25, from 8AM to noon.  Admission is FREE, but in the LAC lobby you can drop off non-perishable or canned food items, to be donated to local food banks and charities.  You can also donate new or gently used children’s books, for the Free Little Books bin at the entrance.

Want to sell stuff?  LAC members-$30 per booth; Non-Members-$35 per booth.   Call 512-261-1010  or go here for info and to reserve a booth (starting Feb. 20 for members, Feb. 27 for non-members):  https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog/index?filter=c2VhcmNoPWdhcmFnZSZyZW50YWwlNUJmcm9tJTVEPSZyZW50YWwlNUJ0byU1RD0=

A Night with the Austin Symphony Orchestra

On Saturday, April 1, 2023, members of the Austin Symphony Orchestra and students at Lake Travis High School will present the 3^rd annual performance at the Lake Travis Performing Arts Center. Go here for details and tickets:  https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1960/A-Night-with-the-Austin-Symphony-Orchest

Lakeway is HIRING

Open positions include Court Clerk Supervisor, Juvenile Case Manager, Permit Technician, Code Compliance Inspector/Officer, Code Compliance Manager, Facility Attendant, and Police Officer. (As of Feb. 1, the city will start hiring LIFEGUARDS.)  Go here for info and to apply: https://tx-lakeway.civicplushrms.com/CareerPortal/Jobs.aspx

Spring Break Camps at Lakeway Activity Center

Plan early to keep the little ones busy during spring break.  Go here for camp info and to register: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog/index?filter=c2VhcmNoPXNwcmluZyUyMGJyZWFrJnJlbnRhbCU1QmZyb20lNUQ9JnJlbnRhbCU1QnRvJTVEPQ==

Council Met on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

RESULTS: All 7 members attended in person.  

ITEM 10: Kay Andrews received a Lifetime Achievement Award. 

ITEM 11: Tamara Arguello was appointed Chief Court Clerk. 

ITEM 12: Financial Report—At the end of the first quarter of FY 2023, revenue was $235K below projections, due to slow property tax payments.  Expenditures were $430K below projections, due to salary savings from several unfilled positions. 

ITEM 13: Citizens Participation. One person spoke, as to traffic concerns on Flint Rock Road. 

ITEM 14: Special Use Permit for a Home Occupation/DAYCARE CENTER at 702 Vanguard.  The permit was DENIED 4:3 (Kilgore, Kumar and Mastrangello voting in favor of the permit). 

ITEM 15: Special Use Permit for a short-term rental at 811 Sunfish. Permit was APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. 

ITEM 16: First Reading—LTISD Development Agreement. After a presentation by LTISD officials and considerable discussion on the dais, Council made it clear the proposal for an elementary school to be built on Bee Creek Road would not be approved at the next meeting unless traffic concerns raised tonight were addressed and resolved. 

ITEM 19: Executive Session to obtain legal advice re: Charter Election and Texas Local Government Code chapter 143.  Council debated in private, then returned to the dais, PASSING UNANIMOUSLY a motion to support state legislation in the new session to protect disclosure of personal information and unfounded complaints. 

Adjourned at 9:11pm.  

View the Agenda, Meeting Packet, and/or Presentation (scrolling down to City Council documents) here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx  

Go here to watch the Council meeting online https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/205803

Upcoming City Meetings 

ZAPCO (zoning and planning) meets on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 9AM.  Council meets on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 6:30PM. Go here for Agendas: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx

Lakeway ELECTIONS—Coming Soon!

Local elections will be on May 6, with Early Voting starting April 24.  (If you aren’t registered to vote, the deadline is April 6.)  Campaigning will start soon….

Local elections include Lakeway’s Mayor Kilgore and 3 City Council seats—Kumar, Vance, and Trecker.  All 4 incumbents are eligible to run for another term.  The candidate filing period started Jan. 18 and ends Feb. 17.  The city’s election page, with full info, is here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/427/Election-Information

To date, only Mayor Kilgore and Councilmember Vance have filed to run in the election.

Daring Mighty Things

I aim for the full spectrum in this blog, from the ridiculous to the sublime.  So, here you go….

Competing in the Miss Universe pageant earlier this month, Miss USA R’Bonney Gabriel wore the moon, as an homage to the space program that anchors her hometown of Houston.  The elaborate costume included a scale-sized moon held up over her head by an intricate frame surrounded by gleaming silver stars; her wispy outfit was made of red, white and blue lights.  She carried an American flag–well, of course she did!  The costume weighed 33 pounds. 

A gorgeous comet with a green tail is closing in on Earth.  The image above was taken over Mount Etna and the Italian island of Sicily, on Jan. 23. On clear nights in dark areas, the comet–known as C/2022 E3 (ZTF)–is visible with the naked eye, but binoculars will help. Just after sunset, look to the north for a green glow.  How to See the green comet 1/23/23 https://www.space.com/comet-c2022-e3-ztf-how-to-see-approach-earth

Remember Ingenuity—the mini helicopter flying on Mars with the rover Perseverance?  After completing its 5 planned flights to experiment with flying in Mars’ ultra-thin atmosphere, the mighty Ingenuity has amazed NASA handlers by carrying on, and on, and on.  Weighing just 4 pounds, Ingenuity recently completed its 40^th flight, sending valuable data home to Earth.  Mars helicopter Ingenuity aces 40th Red Planet flight 1/20/23 https://www.space.com/mars-helicopter-ingenuity-40th-flight

With liberty and justice for all … except women.

Jan. 22, 2023 SHOULD have been the 50^th anniversary of women’s right to regulate their health care and make their own choices about their families.  Instead, 5 people who were granted black robes for life (at least 3 of them under highly dubious circumstances) decided to substitute their personal preferences for 5 decades of established Constitutional rights.  And, the country is divided—red vs. blue, oppression or freedom.

Now, the next step in protecting women’s rights is the shield law.  The idea is that blue states where abortion is legal pass laws to protect their doctors prescribing and mailing abortion pills to women living in red states where abortion is illegal.  Massachusetts already has a shield law, and New York will likely pass one soon.  With easy access to abortion pills mailed within the US, women in red states can manage their own terminations at home, without the expense and difficulties of inter-state travel, and without waiting the several weeks it takes to receive pills mailed from Europe or India.  The New Cutting Edge of Abortion-Rights Legislation 1/20/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/20/opinion/new-york-abortion-rights-legislation.html

Back to me….  

Nothing much going on—just trying to stay warm and find things to do OTHER than my taxes….

I spotted a few more deer lately, all sweet does. Here are a few photos I took. 

The Coronavirus   

In China, experts estimate that roughly 80% of the population (1.2 billion people) caught Covid 19 since restrictions were suddenly lifted in early December.  In addition, there have been over 1 million deaths.  Also, the government is currently arresting people who dared to protest the harsh rules back in 2022.  Nevertheless, pandemic control workers who abruptly lost jobs when the government abandoned its years-long zero Covid strategy are NOW protesting, demanding wages and new jobs.

In the US, in the last 2 weeks, the official stats show new cases and hospitalizations both fell by about 25%.  Deaths dropped 8% to an average of 521 Americans per day.  See the chart below for current stats. The national testing positivity rate fell to 11%. 

Experts are now saying the US avoided the usual winter surge this year. Instead, due to largescale immunity from vaccines and previous infections, we had a Covid bump—cases and hospitalizations went up, but not as dramatically as in the past.  States in the south and northwest had a steeper bump than states in the west.  As always, older and immunocompromised people suffer the most.  Currently, hospitalizations are five times higher among Americans 70 and older.  Over 90% of American Covid deaths are people 65 and older. 

Bump or surge, January of 2023 is a harsh opening month, Covid-wise.  Despite vaccines and boosters, as well as universal awareness of the virus and how to minimize it, we just aren’t bothering with any of that.  We traveled and gathered for the holidays and returned to life without pandemic.  The experts call it “collective forgetting.”  We decided to move on; too bad Covid had other ideas. This January, hospitalizations are at the 4^th highest rate ever, with hospitals across the country overwhelmed. “Official” new case rates are high but incomplete, since most people now test at home.  But, wastewater analysis shows a severe spike in infection, the largest since that technology became widely used.  Boosters, masking in public spaces, and practicing social distancing all minimize infection.  NOW is the time to take these steps to keep yourself and others safe.

The CDC has long had a program at several airports, with international arrivals being asked to swab their nostrils for Covid screening, including testing for new variants.  Now, the CDC plans to go further, testing wastewater collected from in-flight lavatories.  Because air travel wasn’t icky enough these days, I guess….

On Jan. 23, the FDA proposed an annual Covid vaccination for Americans, to be administered each fall. This approach, long used for flu, would allow the Covid vaccine to be updated yearly to better fight current variants.

The vaccination rate in the US remains at 68% overall.  For those age 65 and up, the rate is 93%.

The FDA is considering an in-house recommendation that the bivalent booster be used as the starter Covid-19 vaccine, replacing the 2020 formula for people getting their very first shots.  This is in response to studies showing the new booster formula is significantly more robust in preventing severe disease and death. 

GET BOOSTED!  A new CDC study shows that the Covid-19 bivalent booster reduces by 50% the risk of symptomatic infection from the most common subvariant now in the US.  Also, getting the bivalent booster doubles protection from death, compared to just having the regular vaccination.  And, getting the bivalent booster makes dying from Covid 19 times LESS likely, compared to having NO vaccination at all. 

In Texas, in the last 2 weeks, infections decreased 28% and hospitalizations dropped 26%.  But, deaths rose 28%, with an average of 24 Texans dying from Covid each day.  See the chart below for current stats. The positivity test rate fell to 15%.    

As of Jan. 20, Austin Public Health reported that  the “Kraken” variant of omicron formally known as XBB.1.5  has been detected in the Austin area.  This variant is responsible for over half the new cases nationwide.  The Austin area is composed of 5 counties, which are split into 2 hospital districts.  New Covid cases rose area-wide after the holidays.  However, the latest numbers show new hospitalizations dropping in Travis, Williamson and Bastrop counties (7.4 new admissions per 100,000 people and 4.2% of hospital beds occupied by someone with COVID-19); hospitalizations are still rising in Hays and Caldwell counties (20.1 new admissions per 100,000 people and 6.1% of the hospital beds occupied by someone with COVID-19)

Recent Covid Articles I Recommend

Covid Vaccines Targeting Omicron Should Be Standard, Panel Says 1/26/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/26/health/covid-vaccines-boosters.html

New booster works against dominant Covid strain 1/25/23 https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/25/bivalent-covid-booster-xbb-1-5-00079451

F.D.A. Outlines a Plan for Annual Covid Boosters 1/23/23 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/01/23/1150032238/fda-considers-major-shift-in-covid-vaccine-strategy

‘Kraken’ variant of COVID-19 arrives in Austin as cases rise. What you need to know. 1/22/23 https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/kraken-variant-of-covid-19-arrives-in-austin-as-cases-rise-what-you-need-to-know/ar-AA16dV6i

The global hunt for new Covid variants reaches airplane bathrooms 1/16/23 https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/16/covid-variant-airplane-bathrooms-00077979

‘People aren’t taking this seriously’: experts say US Covid surge is big risk 1/15/23 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/15/covid-19-coronavirus-us-surge-complacency

What is going on in Lakeway? 

Art at Lake Travis Community Library

At the library during January, photography by Bill and Rosemary Galloway, a husband and wife team, will be on display in the Community Room.

January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Nationally AND in City of Lakeway.

Human Trafficking includes forced labor and sex trafficking.  24.9 million adults and children are subjected to this crime worldwide, which grosses $150 billion a year. Signs someone is a victim of Human Trafficking include physical abuse (bruises, wounds in various stages of healing, and mutilations), a victim being accompanied by another person who is controlling, or a victim that refuses to make eye contact/is afraid to speak in the presence of others. If you think someone is a victim of Human Trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-2423. The Lakeway Police Department also has a dedicated Victim Assistant Coordinator on staff (call 512- 261-2800). More info here: https://www.state.gov/national-human-trafficking-prevention-month/

OAK TRIMMING Season

If you plan to trim oaks, JANUARY IS THE LAST MONTH TO DO IT (until summer). Oak pruning is a violation of Lakeway ordinance February through June, due to higher likelihood then of spreading Oak Wilt. Trimming Oaks is allowed July-January.  But, when trimming, pruning seal must be applied within 10 minutes to all cuts on all Oak trees. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1059/Oak-Pruning-Schedule

History of Lakeway Bus Tours

Usually held in spring, these popular bus tours will be offered on Friday, January 20, 2023.  Choose from 9:15AM, 11:15AM, and 1:15PM.  Register ASAP for this FREE event. More info and the registration link are here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1171/Heritage-Trail

GIVE BLOOD

The next community blood drive at Lakeway Activity Center is on Saturday, ­­­Jan. 21, 8AM-noon.  The event is always well organized, clean and friendly.  You will be done and out the door in under 30 minutes. It is an important cause and helps countless people. Plus—FREE JUICE AND COOKIES! While walk-ins are welcome, those with appointments have priority. You can see upcoming dates and make an appointment to donate by entering your zip code here– https://weareblood.org/donor/schedule/

StoryWalk

From Jan. 23 through Feb. 14, enjoy a Valentine’s Day story while strolling the trail behind City Hall. You’ll find pages from the children’s book “If You Were My Valentine” (written by Lynn Plourde and illustrated by Jennifer L. Meyer).  This FREE event emphasizes the importance of reading, spending time with friends and connecting with nature.

Community Helper Story Time

On Monday, Jan. 30 at 10:30AM, Lakeway Police Officer Christie Carter will present a special story time at the Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing Rd).  Officer Carter will discuss being a police officer and keeping the community safe, as well as reading a story to families attending.

Sock Hop

On Monday, Feb. 6, 7-9PM, the Lakeway Arts Committee presents a FREE and FUN 1940-50s dance event at the Activity Center (105 Cross Creek).  Nostalgic music will be provided by The Highlights, plus musicians from People’s Choice and vocalists Barbara Calderaro, David Cummings and Howard T. Levine.  Wear your favorite Memory Lane apparel and bring snacks and beverages.

Masterpiece Concert

On Sunday, Feb. 12, 4-5PM, the Lakeway Arts Committee presents the next Masterpiece Concert at the Activity Center (105 Cross Creek).  FREE for residents, the concert will feature music performed by Andrew and Sari Pearce, along with other talented musicians on violin, viola and cello.

Mayor Kilgore’s Facebook Update

The mayor gave a live update on Jan. 12.  Go here to watch: https://www.facebook.com/cityoflakeway/videos/566454588672195

Council Meets on Tuesday, Jan. 17, City Hall at 6:30PM.

Note that the meeting is on TUESDAY, due to the usual Monday being a federal holiday.  Happily, we are back to the usual 6:30PM start time.

Consequential Agenda items include: 

ITEM 10: Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Kay Andrews.

ITEM 11: Appointment of Tamara Arguello as Chief Court Clerk.

ITEM 12: Financial Report.

ITEM 13: Citizens Participation (up to 30 minutes, with the rest—if any–heard at end of meeting).

ITEM 14: Special Use Permit for a Home Occupation/DAYCARE CENTER at 702 Vanguard.

ITEM 15: Special Use Permit for a short-term rental at 811 Sunfish.

ITEM 16: First Reading—LTISD Development Agreement.

ITEM 19: Executive Session to obtain legal advice re: Charter Election and Texas Local Government Code chapter 143 (which, if adopted, would make Lakeway’s police officers civil servants instead of city employees).

View the Agenda, Meeting Packet, and/or Presentation (scrolling down to City Council documents) here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx 

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

Lakeway ELECTIONS—Coming Soon!

Ready or not, it is election season.  Yes–AGAIN.  Local elections will be on May 6, with Early Voting starting April 24.  (If you aren’t registered to vote, the deadline is April 6.)  Campaigning will start soon….

Local elections include Lakeway Mayor and City Council.  (Lake Travis ISD school board members will also be on the ballot.)  The city’s election page, with full info, is here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/427/Election-Information

Mayor Kilgore was elected in 2021, so he is eligible to run for a second term.  (I still have my yard sign, from last time, so I’m all set.) The same is true for Council Member Trecker (except for the yard sign bit).  Council Members Vance and Kumar were first elected in 2019 and so are eligible to run for a third (and last consecutive) term.  I expect all 4 incumbents will run for re-election this time, but we will know soon.  The filing period starts Jan. 18 and ends Feb. 17.  The City Secretary promptly posts all candidate applications at the above link, so everyone can follow along.

NOW is the time to speculate on who else will run for Mayor and Council, aside from the incumbents….  Of course, if NO ONE challenges the incumbents, no election is needed and the taxpayers save about $40,000.  (It happened in 2020, but that was due to Covid.)  In order to protect the innocent, I’ll just use initials for my speculations. 

For Mayor, there will likely just be 1 challenger, put forward by the rabid right (having spent the last 2 years waging toxic and even violent feuds over the airpark, workforce housing and multiple police matters).  Historically, it could well be a complete unknown, with zero city government involvement to date; let’s hope they don’t repeat that dumb move.  From folks who have at least darkened the doors of City Hall, I see the strongest possibility as either JS (confirming it was the plan all along) or GW (wresting control of City Hall away from Old Lakeway).  TR might agree to be used for all the wrong reasons, and THAT race would be bloody.  Or, we could be in for a blast from Lakeway’s scandal-ridden political past, with RM filing, or even JB (may the good Lord protect us). 

For Council, several people could vie for the 3 seats, which are at large, so the top 3 vote-getters win.  MS pops up everywhere lately so is likely to run, while CL hovers over Lakeway like a sour stench.  Other possibilities include AE, DV and CF. Again, the rabid right likes to shove forward neophytes who have never bothered to volunteer or serve on committees–so tiresome–so who knows who they will come up with this time….

Speaking of elections, the Texas legislature is now in session (so brace yourself).  Not surprisingly, there are a lot of quirks, when it comes to how bills become laws, or fail to do so, in Texas.  This article explains it all.  Texas Legislature 101: Understanding the state government and how it passes laws  1/10/23 https://www.texastribune.org/2023/01/10/texas-legislature-2023-bills-laws-governor-speaker-lieutenant-governor/

Daring Mighty Things

As noted last time, the International Space Station has a problem. The Soyuz spacecraft that delivered 2 Russian cosmonauts and 1 NASA astronaut in December for a 4-month mission on ISS is unsafe for the March trip home due to a severe coolant leak.  Russia has decided to send up an uncrewed Soyuz on Feb. 20, so it can transport the 3 crew members back to Earth on schedule.  In the meantime, any emergency requiring evacuation of the 7 people on duty on the ISS would be problematic, as the only intact craft at the station is a SpaceX Dragon with just 4 seats.  Russia to launch new Soyuz capsule to replace leaky spacecraft on space station 1/11/23 https://www.space.com/russia-replacement-soyuz-launching-february-2023

NASA will, in the next 2 years, begin construction of Gateway Station, orbiting the moon.  The facility will support the planned series of moon missions, including those with long-term stays by astronauts on the moon’s surface.  Unlike the fairly roomy International Space Station, Gateway is subject to strict weight limits, constricting its size. Plans currently call for a few segments, each just 6X6 feet, much of which space will be taken by equipment, leaving the 4-person crew very little space and zero privacy. NASA’s moon-orbiting space station will be claustrophobic, architect says  1/7/23 https://www.space.com/lunar-gateway-station-claustrophobic-architect-says

With liberty and justice for all … except women.

Two segments of the Biden administration’s plan to shore up women’s rights recently dropped into place. 

First, a federal legal opinion was issued, protecting individuals and entities mailing abortion pills into red states that prohibit abortion.  Justice Department clears Postal Service to carry abortion drugs into red states 1/3/23 https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/03/justice-department-postal-abortion-drugs-00076274

Second, the FDA announced that abortion pills can be sold at LOCAL PHARMACIES and not just at health clinics.  This makes getting these pills easier, quicker, and cheaper.  FDA allows abortion pills to be sold at retail pharmacies, say two drugmakers 1/3/23 https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-fda-says-abortion-pills-can-be-sold-retail-pharmacies-new-york-times-reports-2023-01-03/

Already, CVS and Walgreens say they will offer abortion pills in states that do not ban them. Other pharmacy chains should follow.  CVS and Walgreens Plan to Offer Abortion Pills Where Abortion Is Legal 1/6/23 https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-01-06/cvs-walgreens-say-they-will-offer-abortion-pills-in-some-states

But, ugly protests are coming soon to local drug stores.  Next frontier in the abortion wars: Your local CVS 1/11/23  https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/11/pharmacies-anti-abortion-pills-00077349

Worse, really, is how Alabama’s Republican Attorney General plans to prosecute women getting abortions.  Like most red states, Alabama’s law banning abortion only allows prosecution of PROVIDERS—not patients. But, the Alabama AG decided to get creative and will use a law intended to protect kids from exposure to meth labs, barring “chemical endangerment of a child.”  Applying that to women getting abortions will jail them as felons. The anti-abortion movement just had a mask-off moment in Alabama 1/13/23 https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/13/alabama-attorney-general-anti-abortion-movement

So, two steps forward… and at least two steps back, I guess.

Back to me….  

2023….  I’m still not convinced it can be trusted.

I managed to squeeze January’s daily yoga challenge into my schedule.  And, I’m also trying to walk more, even on cold mornings.  Pretty much, I have finally adjusted to working night shift; I love having my days free and am getting good at sleeping during the day.  Best of all, my sweet kitties are being very supportive; of course, everything I know about power naps I learned from my cats.

Still not seeing many deer (which is usual this time of year).  With rut season done, Lakeway has switched over to roadside banners featuring our sweet does. 

PLEASE WATCH FOR DEER AS YOU DRIVE, ESPECIALLY AROUND DUSK AND DAWN AND PARTICULARLY IN OLD LAKEWAY.

Here are a few recent deer photos.

The Coronavirus   

China’s tragic Covid odyssey continues.  December’s sudden reversal of government policy—from rigid testing and long-term isolation to zero controls—has resulted in widespread infections and resulting stress on the usual service providers. Hospitals are not only seriously over-crowded–they lack ventilators and even basic supplies like ibuprofen to bring down fevers in patients with Covid or other diseases.  Funeral operators are so overburdened that services are restricted to 10 minutes instead of allowing mourners the usual several hours of leave-taking.  Other countries experienced these things years ago when Covid first blazed through with little to no restrictions or vaccinations to impede it, but China failed to learn lessons from the rest of the world.  As always, the elderly are the most vulnerable to Covid, and in China that generation has the lowest vaccination rate, in part due to skepticism about China’s home-grown vaccines.  As the virus spreads through China’s cities and out into rural areas that have little to no medical resources, some see the older generation as being sacrificed by a government that over-protected against Covid for years and abruptly pivoted in order to reopen a rebelling society and restart a badly faltering economy.  Experts are concerned that Covid running through China’s immense unprotected population will result in a rise of new variants, which could be more deadly and/or more resistant to existing vaccines than the current variants.  Private enterprise is getting creative; a bank is rewarding wealthy new customers depositing the equivalent of $500,000 with free Covid vaccination shots—using proven safe and effective mRNA vaccines from the West.  In the meantime, the Chinese government is, according to the W.H.O., falsifying records to minimize current cases, hospitalizations and deaths. A reported death toll of 60,000 so far in 2023 is likely incomplete.

In the US, in the last 2 weeks, the official stats show new cases and hospitalizations rose slightly.  However, deaths soared 79% to an average of 566 Americans per day.  See the chart below for current stats. The national testing positivity rate was roughly stable at 14%.

In December, Covid infections in the US doubled over the previous month.  Also, over 10,000 Americans died, which is higher than any month since last summer.  The CDC blames the latest Omicron strain, XBB1.5.  Enabled by holiday travel and gatherings, this variant is more easily transmitted than others, though it does not seem to cause more serious disease.  The elderly are most at risk, but only 38% of those 65 and older have gotten the new booster shot formulated to better protect against the current variants.

Variant XBB.1.5, nicknamed Kraken, is one of the latest descendants of Omicron and a fusion of two different BA.2 variants.  It is the most transmissible variant yet, spreading faster worldwide than any other variant to date. It arose in or around New York state in late October and is now particularly prevalent in the Northeast (responsible for 75% of cases there), as well as causing 35-40% of all Covid infections in the US.  As of the end of December, the number of cases in the US doubled weekly.  BB.1.5 is spreading more than twice as fast as its closest competitor, the BQ.1.1 variant. Experts caution Kraken isn’t the last variant, stressing that the only way we can understand Covid-19’s evolution and prepare for even worse variants is to step up sequencing.  However, funding cut-backs in the US and worldwide have slashed budgets, with sequencing being cut and testing centers closing.

A recent study in Israel of 700,000 people age 65 or older showed that the new bivalent booster reduced hospitalizations by 81% and reduced deaths by 86%.  These results were mirrored in a new CDC report on Covid hospitalizations in the US, along with significant protection for younger people.  GET BOOSTED!

We now lack specialized Covid-19 treatments that can be used for the most vulnerable population.  The monoclonal antibodies that were so successful treating the early variants are useless against the current forms of Covid-19. That leaves antiviral drugs like Paxlovid; they DO work against the current variants.  BUT, they are not safe for immune-compromised people because they interact with drugs they likely take.  With Covid-related government funding largely dried up at this point, there is little impetus for pharmaceutical companies to develop new drugs.

In Texas, in the last 2 weeks, infections rose 10%, hospitalizations increased 26%, and deaths jumped 59%.  See the chart below for current stats. The positivity test rate rose to 21%.

Recent Covid Articles I Recommend

Health Experts Warily Eye XBB.1.5, the Latest Omicron Subvariant 1/7/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/07/science/covid-omicron-variants-xbb.html

Covid cases, hospitalizations spike as new variant gains foothold 1/6/23 https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/06/covid-cases-hospitalizations-spike-as-new-variant-gains-foothold-00076747

China is burying the stats on its Covid nightmare 1/5/23 https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/covid-china-deaths-rcna64453

Could new Omicron variant XBB.1.5 fuel further Covid infections? 1/3/23https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/03/could-new-omicron-variant-xbb15-fuel-further-covid-infections

Once-favored Covid drugs ineffective on Omicron may be putting millions at risk 1/1/23 https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/01/omicron-covid-antibody-drugs-immunocompromised-00075285