Be brave like Ukraine.
Here is what’s happening in Lakeway….
Lakeway’s Own Police Officer/Animal Protection Officer Needs Our Help.
Andrea Greig, one of our police officers since 2005 and now our Animal Protection Officer, is currently fighting a very tough form of cancer. She is always there for Lakeway–helping people, their pets and our wildlife with endless energy, compassion and devotion. Now, if you can, please be there for her and donate to a GoFundMe account, helping cover her medical expenses. Here is the link for info and donations: https://www.gofundme.com/f/4q2ytg-help-andrea-kick-cancers-butt
CPR Class at the Library
On Tuesday, Jan. 30, 10:30AM-12:30PM, VIK Complete Care and Republic EMS will present an American Heart Association CPR class at Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing). It covers CPR and choking in infants, children, and adults, plus using an AED (automated external defibrillator). Must be 12 years of age or older. Those who successfully complete the class get a 2-year AHA Heartsaver Certification; the class does not satisfy certification requirements for healthcare providers. Call 512-263-2885 for info or help registering; this registration link (after clicking on the link, scroll down and click on GOING) works best from home computers: https://laketravislibrary.org/event/cpr/
Oak Trimming Season ENDS Jan. 31.
Oak pruning is a violation of Lakeway ordinance February through June, due to higher likelihood then of spreading Oak Wilt. Trimming Oaks is ONLY allowed July-January. 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
Art at the Library
The pen and ink drawings of local artist Jack Williams will be shown in Lake Travis Community Library’s meeting room during February. He specializes in the old buildings and churches of Southern Louisiana. Everyone is invited to a reception on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2-3:30PM, as well as an artist demonstration on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at 2PM.
Lake Travis Democrats Club
Feb 1: Happy Hour, 5:30PM at the Meridan 98 (in the Sonesta Hotel at the Hill Country Galleria).
Feb. 20: Monthly Meeting, 6:30PM at Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). Speaker is Joshua Blank, a polling specialist and Director of Research for the Texas Politics Project, College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin.
Feb. 27: Banned Book Club, 6:30PM at Travis County Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing). Book is: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,by Jesse Andrews (which LTISD may ban in 2024).
March 7: Happy Hour, 5:30PM at the Meridan 98 (in the Sonesta Hotel at the Hill Country Galleria).
March 19: Monthly Meeting, 6:30PM at Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). Speaker is Wendy Davis Former Texas Representative and now the senior adviser to Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, which serves as Planned Parenthood’s political fundraising and advocacy arm.
Check https://www.laketravisdemocrats.com/ for details on Happy Hour, Movie Night, Book Club, and more activities each month. Also, watch for fun opportunities to volunteer for block-walking, phone-banking and more efforts to TURN TEXAS BLUE in 2024!
Million Dollar Quartet
TexARTS Theatre presents Million Dollar Quartet, through 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 rousing 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
The Addams Family: The Musical
Feb. 1, Feb. 2, Feb. 3, and Feb. 5 at 7PM, Lake Travis High School Fine Arts will present a comical original story celebrating the wackiness of every family. Tickets are $15-20, with performances at Lake Travis Performing Arts Center (3324 RM 620 S.). Go here for info and tickets: https://www.ltisdschools.org/Domain/32
Masterpiece Concert
On Sunday, Feb. 4, 4PM, enjoy the classical music of Schubert and Dvorak performed by Andrew and Sari Pierce, Sandy Yamamoto, Nick Hammel, and Colette Valentine. Another FREE EVENT at the Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1862/Sunday-Afternoon-Concert-Series
Love Letters on Valentines Day
For Valentines Day, treat yourself to Love Letters, a timeless love story of romance blooming through old-fashioned letter-writing. Presented at 8PM on Feb. 14 by the Lakeway Players as a Benefit Gala, at Lakeway Activity Center. Each $50 ticket includes a $30 charitable contribution. Doors open at 6:30PM for a Silent Auction, light bites, drinks, and desserts, with live music by Presley Grace. Info and tickets here: https://www.thelakewayplayers.com/home.html
Brown Bag Lunch Series is BACK in 2024!
On Thursday, Feb. 15, noon-1PM, bring your lunch to Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek) and enjoy music from Lake Travis High School Fiddlers. Free event! More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/932/Brown-Bag-Luncheon-Concert-Series
PRIMARY ELECTION voting starts Feb. 20.
2024 brings FOUR election cycles—primary, county/local (3 Lakeway Council seats are up for grabs in early May—see item below), primary run-off (in late May), and general (including US President, in November). So, brace yourself for a year of political sign clutter (already popping up!) and social media mayhem (pretty much constant these days….).
First up is the Primary Election, for state and national offices. Early Voting starts on Feb. 20, with Election Day on March 5. Enter your address on this Texas Tribune site for your personal voter’s guide, showing the primary races you can vote in, plus everything you need to know about voting in this election. Here’s how to vote in Texas’ March 5 primary elections 1/15/24 https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/15/texas-voting-primary-2024/
Lakeway Council Election
Three Council seats are open. Two incumbents, Kelly Brynteson (16-year Lakeway resident living in Flintrock) and Jennifer Szimanski (12-year Lakeway resident living in Rough Hollow), have filed to run for another term. (The third incumbent, Louis Mastrangelo, has served 3 consecutive terms and so is ineligible this time.) Matt Sherman (5-year Lakeway resident living in The Preserve) has also filed to run in this election. The candidate filing period ends Feb. 16. Early voting starts April 22, with Election Day on May 4.
Lakeway WANTS You. And not in a good way….
Warrant Roundup starts March 1, when Lakeway PD will focus on locating people with outstanding warrants for the City of Lakeway. BUT, now through Feb. 29, the city will provide amnesty for those individuals resolving outstanding warrants. Contact Lakeway Municipal Court at 512-314-7560 option 8, email court@lakeway-tx.gov or visit the Lakeway Justice Center (104 Cross Creek, 2nd floor) to get things settled before March 1, when offenders are subject to arrest. Go here to check the active warrant list for your name and for more info: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=1844
A Night with the Austin Symphony Orchestra
Tickets are the perfect VALENTINES DAY GIFT! This 4th annual concert is set for Sunday, March 3, 4PM, at Lake Travis Performing Arts Center (3324 Ranch Rd 620 S). Members of the Austin Symphony Orchestra and student musicians with Lake Travis High School will collaborate on one stage. Symphony Maestro Peter Bay will conduct with participation by Anna Macias, director of orchestras for Lake Travis High School, and Richard Hicks, director of bands for Lake Travis High School. Tickets:$60/$40/$20. OR–the VIP package is $200 (4 tickets, VIP Buffet Dinner on Saturday, March 2 with the chance to meet the musicians, Maestro Peter Bay and other dignitaries). Go here for info and tickets: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1960/A-Night-with-the-Austin-Symphony-Orchest
ArtWalk coming in April
April 19-21, City of Lakeway and its Arts Committee will bring us the FIRST ANNUAL ARTWALK! The FREE event will showcase art, music, food, community and culture in Lakeway, taking place in the Hamilton Greenbelt, Hurst Creek Sculpture Garden, and various local art studios. It will feature vocal, dance and instrumental performers, along with those in the culinary arts and visual arts and crafts.
Deadline for local artists to apply is March 10. Register to participate here: https://lakeway-tx.gov/2129/ArtWalk
$1,000 Scholarships for Lakeway Seniors
Waste Connections again offers $1,000 Scholarships to eligible high school seniors whose parent/guardian is a customer in good standing of trash and recycling services with the City of Lakeway. Deadline for essays and applications is April 22. Go here for full info on eligibility and how to apply: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1993/Waste-Connections-Scholarship
Council met on Jan. 16.
RESULTS:
Mayor Kilgore inserted an opportunity near the start of the meeting for Citizen’s Participation on items not on the agenda. No one spoke.
ITEM 10: Introduction of Officer Elianna Vela. She is Lakeway’s newest POLICE OFFICER.
ITEM 11: Financial Report. REVENUES are $40K under projections, and EXPENDITURES are $350K under projections.
ITEM 12: Presentation from Emergency Services District 8. Chief TONY HADEN discussed Pedernales Fire Dept., whose territory includes Rough Hollow.
ITEM 13: Community Survey Results. Communications Director JARROD WISE provided highlights of results seen from last November’s survey, which had roughly 2,400 responses. [Watch Item 13 on the video for specifics.]
ITEM 14: Parks Bond Discussion/Parks and Rec Strategic Plan. After considerable discussion, Council trimmed some items and AGREED to cap the Parks Bond (previously $24MIL) at $19.5MIL, asking staff to use that budget to revise the various park proposals, with projects prioritized in this order: 1) Rough Hollow’s Butler Park (with the splashpad removed)–$2.85MIL; 2) Swim Center (with no Surf Pool and a modified Lazy River)–$4.9MIL; 3) City Park (without the $1.9 requested for a new Activity Center)–$9MIL; 4) existing Activity Center; and 5) Live Oak Tennis Courts (with the pickleball court removed). Council will review this again at its Feb. 5 Special Meeting, likely making a final decision on a Parks Bond for the November ballot.
ITEM 15: Parks and Rec Reservation System Update. Council AGREED that the proposed new reservations software ($40K initial cost plus $27K annual fee) was reasonable, initiating budget approval.
ITEM 16: Special Use Permit to allow Spinners Sweepstakes to continue operating an arcade at 107 RR 620 South. After an abrupt break and then going into Executive Session to obtain legal advice, Council APPROVED for 1 year 5:2 (Kilgore and Mastrangelo against).
ITEM 17: Special Use Permit to allow the owner of 214 Capri to operate a short-term rental. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
ITEM 18: Discussion of changes to the city’s permit process for special uses and short-term rentals. After discussion, Council AGREED for staff to draft ordinance language allowing the BDS Director to review and decide short-term rental requests for condos, and ZAPCO to review and decide short-term rental requests for single-family homes (with Council approval no longer required for either). ZAPCO and then Council will vote on the proposed changes in upcoming meetings.
ITEM 19: An ordinance revising street cut procedures by utility companies, in order to facilitate upcoming installation of internet cable/microtrenching. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
ITEM 20: Discussion of the Polling Location at Lakeway Activity Center. After considerable and lively discussion, Council VOTED 4:3 (Kilgore, Brynteson and Forton against) to have staff draft an ordinance change, so that Election Day voting would be held in Room A but Early Voting would be held in Room F. [It was unclear if Room A would host Election Day for ALL elections or only for Presidential Elections and possibly contested ISD elections. Also, Council seemed to decide against a formal space survey, in favor of the City Manager documenting the staff’s fruitless search within Lakeway for any viable voting location aside from the Activity Center.]
ADJOURNED: 12:09AM
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://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events
Next Council Meeting—Feb. 5.
Agenda will be posted the week prior: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
Garage Sale at Lakeway Activity Center
The next community garage sale is Saturday, March 2 from 8AM to noon. Admission is FREE, but in the LAC lobby you can drop off non-perishable/canned food items, as well as pet food, 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 are 10’X10’ and include a 6’ x 3’ foot table and 2 chairs. LAC members pay $30 per booth and can reserve a space starting Feb. 1; Non-Members pay $35 per booth and can reserve a space starting Feb. 13. Call 512-261-1010 for info. See booth locations and register online registration here (in the Garage Sale tab): https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog
Daring Mighty Things
Rest in peace, Ginny. Ingenuity, the mini-chopper whose original 30-day mission included just a handful of test flights over Mars, miraculously completed 72 flights across nearly 3 years. Nicknamed Ginny by NASA handlers, her last flight was on Jan. 18, when she suffered a damaged rotor such that she could no longer fly. As her companion rover Perseverance continues to explore Mars, Ingenuity has been left behind. Weighing just 4 pounds, Ingenuity was only meant to test the possibility of flight in the ultra-thin atmosphere of Mars. Accomplishing that handily, the craft was re-tasked by NASA to assist in planning Perseverance’s exploratory path by ascending and beaming back to Earth footage of upcoming terrain. In all, Ingenuity flew over 129 miles and was aloft more than 11 minutes. She was such a success that 2 similar choppers will soon be sent to Mars, to assist in packaging surface samples to be returned to Earth. Future generations of helicopters will explore Mars and beyond, thanks to Ingenuity. (Image credits: NASA.) NASA’s Mars helicopter Ingenuity has flown its last flight after suffering rotor damage 1/25/24 https://www.space.com/nasa-ingenuity-mars-helicopter-mission-ends
SpaceX’s Boca Chica Spaceport facility in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas has elbowed its way into the territory of 10 threatened or endangered species, including the ocelot, aplomado falcon, and Kemp’s Ridley Sea turtle. The launch site is surrounded by national wildlife refuge land and state park land. These protected areas and species are bombarded by sound waves, explosion blasts, wildfires, and hails of debris from the site during launch activity. Defenders of Wildlife created a 6-minute video showing the area, its natural inhabitants—human and otherwise–and the effect of SpaceX’s blast-offs there. (The text below the video itself includes the video’s transcript.) Small Cats vs. Big Rockets https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ztREVSbtUg
In what may be a related issue, SpaceX has proposed a land swap with Texas Parks and Wildlife, so its launch facilities can be enlarged. It isn’t clear if this would protect endangered species or reduce damage done to vulnerable areas; Elon Musk may just want to do even more damage to the area. SpaceX wants to expand Starship launch site with a Texas land swap 1/22/24 https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-launch-activities-texas-land-swap
The newly released film I.S.S. was NOT shot on the International Space Station. The above images show the movie version at the top compared to the real thing on the bottom; the main difference is that the actual ISS is FAR more cluttered than the film version. (Image Credit: (Bleecker Street/NASA.) Keep that in mind when watching the movie, and consider whether it all being recreated for film is more or less impressive. Plus, the actors had to fake zero gravity…. This site has a cool 2-minute trailer: ‘I.S.S.’ filmmakers recreate ISS to ground thriller in realistic setting http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-011924a-i.s.s.-movie-recreates-space-station.html
The above image from 2019, taken in Iceland, shows a gigantic dragon-shaped aurora. (Image Credit & Copyright: Jingyi Zhang & Wang Zheng.) The aurora was caused when a hole in the Sun’s corona expelled charged particles into a solar wind. Some of those particles struck Earth’s atmosphere, exciting atoms to emit light—and creating the gorgeous color-show. The good news is that in 2024 the Sun will generate a high number of prominences, filaments, sunspots, and large active regions, as it heads toward solar maximum in 2025. So, more dramatic auroras are likely coming our way. Check out this government site to see daily space-related images, with understandable explanations https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
Japan became the 5th nation to land successfully (as opposed to crash-landing) on the moon, when last week its uncrewed craft soft-landed on the surface. Due to malfunction of its solar panels, the craft very soon stopped communication, presumably permanently. This article has gorgeous illustrations showing 60 years of moon landings. (Image Credit: NYTimes.) Racing to Land, or Crash, on the Moon updated 1-19-24 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/08/22/science/moon-landing-crashes.html
Following up on Japan’s troubled moon landing (see above item), it turns out the craft landed UPSIDE DOWN and ON ITS NOSE, instead of on its 4 landing pads. (Image credit: JAXA/Takara Tomy/Sony Group Corporation/Doshisha University.) The lander remains non-communicative, but the mission is not a complete loss; 2 mini rovers aboard the lander deployed and are exploring the moon’s surface. One is the size of a tennis ball and took the above image of its troubled companion. Japan’s SLIM moon lander photographed on the lunar surface — on its nose 1/25/24 https://www.space.com/japan-slim-moon-lander-photo-lunar-surface
The above image was recently sent to Earth by the interstellar Webb Telescope. It shows N79, a star-forming region of the Large Magellanic Cloud, which is a satellite galaxy of our Milky Way. (Image credit: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, O. Nayak, M. Meixner.) Nearby star factory shines in stunning James Webb Space Telescope photo 1/23/24 https://www.space.com/star-factory-n79-james-webb-space-telescope-photo
With liberty and justice for all … except women.
SCOTUS continues to ponder the 2023 Texas court ruling banning mifepristone, the drug used for medication abortions in the US. Last week, the Biden administration filed its Supreme Court brief, arguing that restricting access—such as stopping mailing of the pills–would harm women across the country. In her brief for the Justice Dept., Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar wrote: “The loss of access to mifepristone would be damaging for women and healthcare providers around the nation. … For many patients, mifepristone is the best method to lawfully terminate their early pregnancies. They may choose mifepristone over surgical abortion because of medical necessity, a desire for privacy, or past trauma.” Prelogar also pointed out that the FDA approvals were supported not just by scientific studies but also by “decades of safe use of mifepristone by millions of women in the United States and around the world.” Oral arguments will be held in early spring, with a ruling expected by the end of June. Abortion pill restrictions would be ‘damaging for women,’ Biden admin tells Supreme Court 1/23/24 https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/abortion-pill-restrictions-filing-justice-department-supreme-court-rcna135255
More births in Texas, especially by Hispanics and teens. Since Roe v. Wade was struck down and SCOTUS stripped women of their Constitutional right to control their own medical care, women in Texas are having more babies. The state immediately enacted a 6-week abortion ban, and the fertility rate in Texas rose for the first time since 2014. In 2022, Texas women had 16,000 more babies than in 2021, a 2% increase overall. Hispanic women age 25-44 had an 8% jump, the largest increase. In addition, Texas teenagers had a 0.4% birth rate increase, reversing the long-time trend of teen pregnancy significantly decreasing each year. Hispanic and teen fertility rates increase after abortion restrictions 1/26/24 https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/26/texas-abortion-fertility-rate-increase/
Also, of course, more BIRTHS FROM RAPES in Texas. Since June of 2022, when Roe v. Wade was overturned, more than 26,000 Texans got pregnant via rape. In Texas, the current abortion ban has NO EXCEPTION FOR RAPE. Texans have had 26,000 rape-related pregnancies since Roe v. Wade was overturned, study finds https://www.statesman.com/story/news/state/2024/01/25/texas-rape-statistics-pregnancies-roe-v-wade-overturned-abortion-ban/72339212007/
Back to me….
Tulip has progressed from sitting ON TOP of the new kitty bed to actually climbing inside. Still no catnaps in there, though.
I’m very much enjoying my gainful unemployment. For February, I signed up for a seminar, and also as a Poll Worker for Early Voting in the Primary Election. So far, daily yoga plus several long overdue home and internet projects have kept me busy. And, I’m loving the US National Figure Skating Championships, watching while bundled up on the couch with all 3 cats snuggled in as well. Life is very good….
Thanks to a week of bitter cold, followed by a week of drizzle and fog, my morning walks have been curtailed. Even when I went looking, spotting deer in the mist was a challenge. But, I got a few photos, including a group of amiable bucks (who have been AWOL for months) chewing their cuds under the trees and some moody shots of does lounging around in a foggy wooded lot.
Coronavirus Update
The winter surge worsens. As of Jan. 6, the New York Times correlated the CDC’s statistics for the US, showing another big increase. Across the country, a daily average of 7,660 people were being hospitalized for Covid-19, which is a 21% RISE over 2 weeks. Total hospitalizations rose by 29% over that time, to 20,397 Americans. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/us/covid-cases.html
REMINDER—If you still haven’t gotten the updated Covid booster, get it now. Shots are available at local pharmacies.
But, if you do catch Covid, consider taking Paxlovid. It prevents severe illness and death in people at high risk; studies show it is effective in nearly 75% of cases. And “high risk” covers most American adults, including those with depression, obesity, asthma or a history of smoking. Anyone age 50 or older should take Paxlovid, regardless of health status. Lots more good info in this article: I Have Covid. Should I Take Paxlovid? 1/11/24 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/11/well/covid-paxlovid-treatment.html
Recent Covid-19 Articles
—Eric Topol interviews Jonathan Howard, author of We Want Them Infected 1/25/24 https://erictopol.substack.com/p/jonathan-howard-author-of-we-want
—Why many more people are lining up for a flu shot than a Covid vaccine 1/22/24 https://www.statnews.com/2024/01/22/flu-vaccine-demand-covid-vaccine/
—In a break with CDC, California quietly changed its Covid isolation guidelines–People in California no longer need to stay home if they’re symptom-free. Oregon implemented the same guidance in May. 1/19/24 https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/california-changed-covid-isolation-guidelines-differ-cdc-rcna134696
—Could long Covid’s signs of immune dysregulation in the blood lead to a diagnostic test? 1/18/24 https://www.statnews.com/2024/01/18/long-covid-new-research-blood-samples-show-immunity-link/