MERRY CHRISTMAS to all! And, a prayer for the gift of peace in Ukraine.
Here is what’s happening in Lakeway….
Trail of Lights
Nightly until Jan. 1, from 6PM to midnight, enjoy Lakeway’s own Trail of Lights. The self-guided Christmas lights trail runs below City Hall (corner of Sailmaster and Lohman’s). Parking is available at the adjacent Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). FREE event. Info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/721/Trail-of-Lights
Letters to Santa
Kids can use the SPECIAL DELIVERY mailbox located at the Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek) to send their XMAS wish lists to the Big Guy. One of Santa’s Helpers will respond to letters dropped off early AND with name and address printed legibly. (Parents wanting letters returned as keepsakes can stop by LAC in January.)
Ice Skating at The Galleria
Now through Jan. 15, enjoy ice skating Texas-style at Hill Country Galleria (12700 Hill Country Blvd.). Rink is outdoors, and hours vary. Cost is $15 for 1 hour, including skate rental; on Tuesdays, cost is just $10. MUST PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE. Go here to check hours and buy tickets: https://www.beecavetexas.gov/residents/culture/events___activities/rink
Council meets on Monday, Dec. 18, 6:30PM, at City Hall.
Consequential Agenda items include:
ITEM 8: Financial Report.
ITEM 9: Citizen’s Participation for Items NOT on the Agenda.
ITEM 12: Report on Winter Storm Mara, from the Emergency Management Coordinator.
ITEM 13: Request for Hotel Occupancy Tax Funds by 3 area hotels (Lakeway Resort and Spa–$150,000; Springhill Suites–$25,000; La Quinta–$15,000), to be used for advertising and promotion.
ITEM 14: Revising the ordinances to remove the deer trapping provision, as surveys show the herd is not expanding despite no trapping for the last 5 years. (The prohibition against feeding the deer remains in place.)
ITEM 15: Parks bond discussion (likely $20-30MIL bond on the 2024 ballot).
ITEM 16: Special Use Permit to continue operating an arcade at Spinners Sweepstakes, 107 RR 620 S, Ste. 110.
ITEM 18: Re-zoning 14.866 acres at Hwy. 71 and Bee Creek Road from C-1 (Office/Retail) to PUD (Planned Unit Development), specifically for a pharmacy, medical offices and 135 car condos.
ITEM 19: Revising the ordinances as to hours allowed for construction, early concrete pours and power tool usage.
ITEM 20: Discussion of amending the golf cart ordinance to include other vehicles.
ITEM 22: Discussion of microtrenching (related to Google Fiber).
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
Lake Travis Democrats Club
CHRISTMAS PARTY–Join local Dems to celebrate the holidays and gear up to GO BIG in 2024! The party is on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 6PM, at the La Quinta in Lakeway. Advance tickets are available at the DISCOUNTED Early Bird price of $25; in addition to a taco dinner with a dessert buffet, there will be a silent auction, entertainment, and a donation bar. Avoid paying MORE AT THE DOOR, and go here today to get your tickets: https://www.laketravisdemocrats.com/event-details/holiday-party-1
Jan. 16, 2024 Meeting: Speaker will be former Texas Representative Wendy Davis. She is now the senior adviser to Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, which serves as Planned Parenthood’s political fundraising and advocacy arm. All are invited to attend, 6:30PM, Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek).
Check https://www.laketravisdemocrats.com/ for updates.
Lakeway Names Top Volunteers and Community Partner.
At a recent banquet, City of Lakeway recognized top volunteers and Community Partner:
Top Community Partner–Lake Travis Fire Rescue.
Volunteer of the Year–Vickie Taylor, Chair for the Lakeway Heritage Committee.
Unsung Hero–Janet Wright, Chair for the Lakeway Arts Committee.
Lifetime Achievement–Al Purcell, Volunteer Reserve officer for the City of Lakeway Police Department for over 25 years. More info and photos here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=1834
Mayor Kilgore’s Facebook Update
The mayor gave a 9-minute live update on Dec. 14. Go here to watch: https://www.facebook.com/cityoflakeway/videos/1619980581872185
2024 SYMPHONY TICKETS on sale NOW
“A Night with the Austin Symphony Orchestra” concert with LTISD high school musicians is set for Sunday, March 3, 2024, at 4PM.
SANTA’S hot tip for a great gift: Early Bird tickets are on sale NOW–$50 / $30 / $15. The VIP package is $200 (4 tickets, VIP Buffet Dinner on Saturday, March 2 where you will have the chance to meet the musicians, Maestro Peter Bay and other dignitaries). Go here for info: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1960/A-Night-with-the-Austin-Symphony-Orchest
Lake Travis Community Library’s Capital Campaign for the new WEST LOCATION
Our library is expanding, having purchased property at 21209 State HWY. 71. (Image credit: Ascension Architecture.) The building there (formerly Pizzeria Casa Nostra) needs renovating. In order to reach a fundraising goal of $1M, several naming opportunities are available. Honor a loved one while supporting literacy in our community, starting at $1,000 (for a table) and running all the way up to $150,000 (for an entire area). Go here for complete info and to donate: https://laketravislibrary.org/fundraising/
House Watch
If you are traveling over the holidays or only occupy your home here part-time, Lakeway Police Department provides a House Watch program, at no charge. Just let them know, and officers will perform close patrols of the address and contact you if anything appears suspicious. Call 512-261-2800 for info and go here to sign up: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1305/House-Watch-Request
Polar Bear Plunge
On Friday, Dec. 29, 9-10AM, brave the elements to usher out 2023 at Lakeway Swim Center (3103 Lakeway Blvd.). Take a brisk ride down the big slide and warm up with hot chocolate and snacks. FREE EVENT. Participants must be at least 48 inches tall. The first 20 participants get a free Lakeway towel. The Lakeway Polar Bear will be there!
FREE Daily ONLINE Yoga Sessions the Entire Month of January
Give yourself the gift of yoga! This is a great way to recover from the holiday madness and gear up for 2024. Yoga instructor Adriene Mishler lives in Austin; she hosts a thriving online community, and every January she offers FREE daily yoga sessions that people can access on their own schedule. Watch the videos on YouTube, as and when you have the time– morning, night, daily, binge on weekends, whatever works for you. You will get a downloadable calendar with video length times to support you on your journey. (Image credit: Yoga with Adriene.) Kick off/orientation drops on Jan. 1. Daily sessions start on Jan. 2. (I have done this every January for several years now, and IT IS FABULOUS!) SIGN UP HERE—Completely FREE: https://do.yogawithadriene.com/flow
Million Dollar Quartet
TexARTS Theatre presents Million Dollar Quartet, Jan. 19-Feb. 11, 7:30PM. Back on Dec. 4, 1956, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley came together at Sun Records in Memphis, resulting in one of the greatest jam sessions ever. The show features a score of rock ‘n’ roll, gospel, country, and R&B performed by world-class actors and musicians. Tickets ($45-$75) and info here: https://www.tex-arts.org/our-season
Heritage Trail Bus Tours
Tours are on Friday, Jan. 26, at 9:15AM, 11:15AM, and 1:15PM, leaving from Lakeway City Hall. These popular tours fill up fast, so make reservations NOW. Go here for info and to sign up: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1171/Heritage-Trail
Daring Mighty Things
On Dec. 6, astronauts orbiting Earth celebrated 25 years of existence for their vehicle, the International Space Station. Since 1998, the ISS expanded from 2 to 6 bedrooms, hosted 273 individuals from 21 countries, had 270 spacewalks, and completed countless experiments. But, after 25 years, the ISS is considered antiquated, and NASA intends to retire it by 2030. Plans are underway for several commercial replacements to be operated by private companies, with NASA as a customer. When the time comes, the ISS will be deorbited—steered into Earth’s atmosphere to burn up. (Image credit: NASA.) The ISS just turned 25, and NASA is getting ready for the end 12/7/23 https://www.space.com/international-space-station-25th-anniversary-nasa-planning-end
NASA has an identity crisis. Or, maybe just 2 sides to its personality. Its original logo was a blue disc (representing the planets), white stars, a white orbital path (symbolizing spacecraft) and a red vector (representing aeronautics). Some considered this complex logo messy, like a bowl of spaghetti.—hence, it was called the meatball. In 1975, the meatball was replaced by the worm—a sleek, tubular design consisting solely of those 4 iconic letters flowing in neon red. Lately, the meatball has come back in style, though the worm remains in place for many items and locations. (Image credits: NASA.) NASA dedicates giant ‘worm,’ honors logo designer Richard Danne 11/7/23 https://www.space.com/nasa-worm-logo-designer-richard-danne-honor
In spring of 2024, the US Mint will release a $1 commemorative coin honoring the Saturn 5 rocket that took Apollo flights to the moon. Each state has a commemorative coin, and this one represents Alabama; Huntsville, Alabama, is the home of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, where the rocket was designed and built. Today, a Saturn 5 rocket remains on display at Huntsville’s US Space and Rocket Center. (Image credits: U.S. Mint; EverGreene.) Saturn V moon rocket art revealed for 2024 American Innovation $1 coin 12/14/23 https://www.space.com/saturn-v-moon-rocket-alabama-innovation-2024-coin-design
With liberty and justice for all … except women.
THAT SINGLE STAR ON THE TEXAS FLAG IS ACTUALLY A REVIEW.
Egregious case in point:
Over the last couple weeks, one Texas woman’s personal tragedy played out in court, revealing that cruelty really is the point for Texas Republicans determined to control women and their reproductive choices. Kate Cox, already mother of 2, found out at 20 weeks that her 3rd pregnancy was doomed due to a rare chromosomal abnormality. Her doctors advised an abortion in order to protect her health and future fertility; however, the supposed exceptions to the Texas abortion ban are vague and do not clearly cover medical situations like this. Instead, the law threatens doctors with long prison sentences, huge fines and loss of license to practice medicine. Family members paying for the abortion or transporting a woman to the procedure can be prosecuted. Seeking clarity, Cox filed a lawsuit, asking for a ruling allowing her to have an abortion. A district court agreed, but AG Ken Paxton immediately appealed, putting her doctors, hospital and the Cox family on notice that he would prosecute them all. Within hours, the Texas Supreme Court vacated the lower court’s ruling while it considered Paxton’s appeal. Days passed before that court—composed of all Republicans—held Cox was not covered by any exception to the abortion ban, requiring her to complete the pregnancy. By then, Cox’s condition had deteriorated, and she left the state to obtain an emergency abortion elsewhere. Her attorney said what most women suspected all along: “They never meant the medical exemption to mean anything at all.”
–Texas Supreme Court blocks order allowing abortion; woman who sought it leaves state 12/11/23 https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/11/texas-abortion-lawsuit-kate-cox/
–The Daily 31-minute podcast: The Woman who Fought the Texas Abortion banhttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/14/podcasts/the-daily/texas-abortion-ban.html
Yet another Texas atrocity, now advancing to SCOTUS:
Remember the Amarillo District Court judge (and Trump appointee) who last spring suspended the FDA’s 2000 approval of mifepristone? (That is one of the drugs used in medication abortions, up to 10 weeks.) The 5th Circuit upheld most of his ruling, but the drug has remained available pending appeal to the US Supreme Court. SCOTUS finally acted, agreeing to hear the case, with a decision likely coming next June. Currently, more than half the abortions in the US are via this medication, a procedure proven safe over the last 20 years. In the 22 states banning abortion since Roe fell, getting pills via a medical teleconference and mailed from out of state may be the only practical solution. At issue is the original FDA approval of the drug, as well as more recent administrative rules streamlining the process by allowing telemed visits and mail order delivery. SCOTUS should first consider standing, since the case was brought by several doctors who claim to be concerned they would be asked to treat future patients with bad results from taking mifepristone. So, in addition to shameless forum-shopping by seeking out that ultra-conservative Amarillo judge with a history of anti-abortion rulings, these plaintiffs have no past or current harm to remedy and therefore lack standing to sue at all. Supreme Court to hear abortion pill case 12/13/23 https://www.npr.org/2023/12/13/1218332935/mifepristone-abortion-pill-supreme-court
Back to me….
I got packages wrapped and mailed and the house decorated. It gets harder every year, somehow…. But, so pretty. Even the cats are being good, though I dare not put any presents under the tree—that would just be too tempting.
Rut season continues. Senior does preside over groups made up of their offspring from last spring and recent years. Bucks wander around trying to look important.
Here are some of my recent photos of our precious herd.
Coronavirus Update
As of Nov. 25, the New York Times correlated the CDC’s statistics for the US, showing another rise. Across the country, a daily average of 4,493 people were being hospitalized for Covid-19, which is a 10% RISE over 2 weeks. Total hospitalizations rose by 11% over that time. So, we are experiencing the usual winter surge of Covid, though it remains mild (so far). https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/us/covid-cases.html
REMINDER—If you haven’t gotten the updated Covid booster this fall, now is the time to do so. This will protect you and your family during holiday gathering and traveling. Shots are available at local pharmacies.
There’s a new variant in town, called JN.1, and it is taking over fast. In October, it was discovered in Europe, where it rapidly became established. Now heading for global dominance, JN.1 is blamed for rising death rates in Scandinavia. In the US, current national wastewater analysis shows JN.1 as highly active, especially in the eastern and midwestern states. Experts predict JN.1 becoming the dominant strain in the US soon. Also, JN.1 is already evolving, adding a spike mutation. The good news is that testing shows the updated booster vaccine works well against JN.1. So—GET VACCINATED!
Recent Covid-19 Articles
—1,374 Days: My Life with Long Covid 12/14/23 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/12/14/opinion/my-life-with-long-covid.html
–Reporting on Long Covid Taught Me to Be a Better Journalist 12/11/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/11/opinion/long-covid-reporting-lessons.html
–From a detour to global dominance: The rise of the JN.1 variant 12/5/23 https://erictopol.substack.com/p/from-a-detour-to-global-dominance?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2