May Ukraine Have Peaceful Skies Again.
Here is what’s happening in Lakeway….
Still hot, hot, hot here … and NOT in a good way.
Please, it is brutal out there, and likely will continue this way in Lakeway until well into fall.
It’s time to put out water for wildlife and wandering pets. An old ceramic pot or planter base will do; put it in the shade and rinse/refill it daily. (Thanks to Angels Among Us Animal Rescue for the above water bowl image.)
DO NOT LEAVE PETS IN THE CAR—not even for a minute. Be careful walking dogs; sidewalks and pavements will burn paws. Even in your yard–make sure there is shade and fresh water.
HAPPY Independence Day!
–Lakeway’s parade is on Tuesday, July 4, 8:30AM. The route is along Lakeway Drive, starting down at the clubhouse of Live Oak Golf Course. At 9:30AM, there will be a Hot Dog Reception at the Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). The theme is ’63 and Free’ to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Lakeway’s founding in 1963.
—Shooting off fireworks is illegal in the City of Lakeway, with a fine up to $500 for each offense. Fireworks are also banned in The Hills and in Bee Cave.
Still, people will ignore this, like always. If you have PETS, don’t be caught off-guard. Plan ahead for a safe and happy holiday. Make sure pets are safe and as calm as possible during this always-loud holiday. Keep cats and dogs INSIDE, distracted (toys, music, calming products/meds, your reassuring presence) and IDENTIFIED (microchip and/or collar with tags–just in case). Image credit: www.RedandHowling.com
Of course, some PEOPLE are triggered by fireworks’ booms, too.
And, stay alert to WILDFIRE risks. It’s smart to have hoses on your exterior faucets and ready to go.
OAK PRUNING Season is BACK.
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
Monthly Drop-Off of Brush and Tree Trimmings Resumes.
Public Works is re-opening to residents and resuming its FREE drop-offs, on the first Thursday of each month. That begins on Thursday, July 6, 7AM-3:30PM. Drop off brush, tree trimmings, shrubs, palm fronds, leaves, etc. at 3303 Serene Hills Drive. Contractors are not allowed to deliver for residents. Go here for more info: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/62/Public-Works
Lake Travis Community Library–Puzzle Exchange, Art Display and MORE July Events.
Our amazing library (1938 Lohmans Crossing) hosts a puzzle exchange on Saturday, July 8, 10:30-11:30AM. Local artist Larry Bishop displays his work in the conference room during July, with a reception on Saturday, July 15, 2:00-3:30PM. Go here for ALL of the library’s July events: https://laketravislibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/July-2023.pdf
Lakeway Arts District JULY Calendar.
Check out local arts and cultural events on this handy calendar: https://lakewayartsdistrict.com/calendar/
Swim Center Fun on Sundays in July.
–Mermaid Day on Sunday, July 9 from 1-3PM. Go here for more info: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1834/Mermaid-Day
–Pirate Canoe Battle on Sunday, July 23 at 6PM. Go here for more info: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2005/Pirate-Canoe-Battle
–Shark Pool Party on Sunday, July 30 at 1PM. Go here for more info: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1867/Shark-Pool-Party
Donate Blood at Lakeway Activity Center.
The next community blood drive at Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek), is on Saturday, July 15, 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/
Sunday Afternoon Concert Series.
On July 23, 4-5PM, at the Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek), world renowned classical pianist Kiyoshi Tamagawa will give a FREE concert, open to the public. Go here for more info and program details: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1862/Sunday-Afternoon-Concert-Series
PREPARE for Wildfire Season.
City of Lakeway has a great page on wildfire dangers in our area and how to protect your home. https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/235/Wildfire-Readiness
Consider having an expert with Lake Travis Fire Rescue visit your property and provide a FREE home ignition zone assessment. You will get a helpful written report covering the fire risks on your property, with suggestions on mitigation. Just email wildfire@ltfr.org to schedule an assessment.
Transportation Town Hall RECAP and VIDEO.
The June 21 Transportation Town Hall hosted the transportation officials involved with area roadways. Go here for a recap and links to a 35-minute video from the event, presentation slides, photos, and more: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1794/Transportation-Connectivity-Updates
Council Met on June 20.
All members were present on the dais. RESULTS:
ITEM 36: Open Meetings Act. TRAINING for Council and the public was presented by the City Attorney.
ITEM 17: Financial Report. REVENUE was $735K over budgeted projections. EXPENDITURES were $555K above budgeted projections. Costs for the ice storm now stand at $1.4M, pending reimbursement from The Hills and FEMA.
ITEM 18: Citizens Participation. TWO PEOPLE spoke.
ITEM 19: Employee Health Care Plan. After considerable discussion on accepting the current provider’s offer of a 7.66% rate increase vs. taking it out for bid, Council agreed to TABLE the matter until the July 26 Budget meeting. [UPDATE—At the July 26 meeting, the current provider’s benefit plan was accepted, with a 7.66 rate increase.]
ITEM 20: Special Use Permit/Home Occupation for a daycare business at 702 Vanguard. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
ITEMS 23 and 24: Re-Plat and Final Plat approval for a new road and the subdivision at 314 Clubhouse, with 16 single family homes and known as Enclave at Yaupon. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
ITEM 26: Adoption of the 2021 International Building Code and the 2023 National Electric Code. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
ITEMS 27 and 28: Status update on the RR 620 Overlay Zoning District, plus a Resolution granting existing/non-conforming status to properties on 620. NO ACTION TAKEN on the status update. The Resolution was UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
ITEM 29/Addendum: Discussion of operation, parking and hours for pickleball play at the Sailmaster courts. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED to extend the No Parking zone to both sides of the entrance to the courts, ask Patrol to visit and enforce this, and change hours to 8AM-9PM until school is back in session on Aug. 16 when start time returns to 9AM.
ITEM 30: Resolution on the location and operation of upcoming elections. APPROVED 6:1 with the addition that, in the event there is a problem with a designated room in the Activity Center, city staff may select another room.
ITEM 31: Discussion of campaign finance reform. After considerable discussion, Council AGREED 4:3 to instruct staff to explore options for campaign finance reform.
ITEM 32: Discussion of Charter review process. Council AGREED to pursue review of the Comprehensive Plan, prior to handling review of the Charter.
ITEM 33: Discussion of the committee and board appointment process. It was far from clear, but the result seemed to be a loose CONSENSUS directing staff to make a note that any Charter Review Committee created in the future consider having Zoning and Planning Commission members nominated by each Council member, instead of all by the Mayor and then approved by Council as the Charter now provides.
ITEM 34: Executive session for legal advice as to city regulation of propane. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED to ask the Railroad Commission for clarification as to residential propane fire code regulations.
ITEM 35: Executive session for legal advice as to pending litigation. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED to review the sign ordinance for possible amendment.
ADJOURNED: 1:40AM
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/245497
Upcoming Council Meetings.
The regular monthly meeting is set for July 17, at 6:30PM. Budget sessions will be held on July 17 at 2PM and on July 31 at 6:30PM. Agendas will be available roughly a week in advance. All meetings are held at City Hall.
Daring Mighty Things
For the Russian cosmonauts on the International Space Station, taking out the trash involves a spacewalk and then letting gravity do the work. (Image credit for the above photo–NASA TV.) Russian cosmonauts toss old equipment overboard on ISS spacewalk 6/22/23 https://www.space.com/iss-spacewalk-russian-equipment-jettison-june-2023
On the ISS, the American astronauts’ water reclamation hit a new high recently, thanks to an improved filtration system. As a result, 98% of the roughly 1 gallon of water used daily by each astronaut is reclaimed, filtered and cleaned to standards exceeding those of most municipal systems on Earth. Necessities like water, food and air must be recycled or regenerated when humans live in space for extended periods. NASA just recycled 98% of all astronaut pee and sweat on the ISS (engineers are thrilled) 6/25/23 https://www.space.com/astronaut-pee-iss-water-recycling-98-percent-milestone
On Mars, the exploring rover Perseverance also runs a multitude of experiments, including creating oxygen. Onboard the rover is a toaster-sized device called MOXIE (Oxygen In Situ Resource Utilization Experiment) that transforms Mars’ thin, carbon dioxide-laden air into oxygen. The experiment has run since 2021, but in June MOXIE was successfully recalibrated to double its oxygen production. Astronauts on Mars would need oxygen for rocket fuel as well as for breathing. Mars rover Perseverance sets new record for making oxygen on Red Planet 6/27/23 https://www.space.com/mars-perseverance-rover-oxygen-experiment-moxie-record
NASA reports that Ingenuity, the mini helicopter exploring Mars, is back in contact. NASA hadn’t heard from Ingenuity since the middle of its 52nd flight, back on April 26. That flight took Ingenuity to the other side of a hill from its companion, the rover Perseverance, whose job it is to relay communications back home to Earth. Perseverance finally crested the hill on June 28; with Ingenuity in sight again, comms were restored. NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Phones Home 6/3/23 https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-ingenuity-mars-helicopter-phones-home
With liberty and justice for all … except women.
June 24 marked 1 year since the Dobbs decision, when the US Supreme Court decided that, after 50 years, women in America no longer have the right to regulate their own bodies.
Most abortions are now banned in 14 states following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Georgia also bans abortion at about six weeks of pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant. (Image credit—NY Times.) Tracking the States Where Abortion Is Now Banned 6/16/23 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/us/abortion-laws-roe-v-wade.html
The American public reacted to losing Roe and the Constitutional protections it represented in ways the far-right did not expect. Now, a majority of Americans say abortion is morally acceptable and abortion laws are too strict. People are significantly more likely to identify as “pro-choice” over “pro-life.” How a Year Without Roe Shifted American Views on Abortion 6/23/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/23/us/roe-v-wade-abortion-views.html#:~:text=In%20the%20year%20since%2C%20polling,abortion%20laws%20are%20too%20strict.
This excellent article by Dan Rather on where America stands one year after the Dobbs decision should be read in full. But, this is key: “Ultimately, the greatest harm caused by Dobbs will be endured by those who need abortions and can’t get them. It’s a pain that will radiate outward, engulfing loved ones, families, and communities. But the significance of Dobbs also should be considered in our broader political, legal, and social environment. The anger that the ruling has engendered is intertwined with a narrative of anti-democratic dysfunction, unrestrained judicial activism, and brazen bad faith. It is the story of Republicans ramming justices onto the Supreme Court. It is the imposition of one group’s sense of religion-motivated morality onto the rest of the public. It is misogyny. It is a disregard for the most marginalized. It is a haughty imperviousness to the will of the people.” Reverberations 6/23/23 https://steady.substack.com/p/reverberations?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=247881&post_id=130442162&isFreemail=true&utm_medium=email
This provocative NYT Opinion piece by Katherine Miller hits on the very basic problem with Dobbs and how–ASIDE from the obvious health care/reproductive issues–it fundamentally changed the American relationship of government vs. individual, breaking our bargain of rules vs. freedom. The Bargain You Make Living in America May No Longer Hold 6/21/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/21/opinion/american-freedom-after-dobbs.html
This report, by experts from the University of California and the University of Texas, documents the practical effects of the Dobbs decision on women experiencing difficult pregnancies. It relates the experiences of health care providers in states which banned or strictly limited medical intervention, such that they were unable to provide the care their patients needed. Care Post-Roe: Documenting cases of poor-quality care since the Dobbs decision May of 2023 https://www.ansirh.org/sites/default/files/2023-05/Care%20Post-Roe%20Preliminary%20Findings.pdf
Politico reviewed both sides of abortion advocacy nationwide. 10 things we’ve learned about abortion in the year since Roe fell 6/22/23 https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/22/10-things-weve-learned-about-abortion-in-the-year-since-roe-fell-00103005
In Florida, a new law limiting abortion to 6 weeks has not gone into effect, due to the state court fight over the previous 15 week law. A ruling is expected soon. Abortion in Florida remains in limbo until conservative state high court ruling 6/22/23 https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/21/floridas-abortion-access-hinges-on-conservative-court-redone-by-desantis-00103036
In the US territory of Guam, abortion is allowed up to 13 weeks. But, there are no doctors there who provide abortion, and that has been the case since 2018. Traveling several thousand miles to get the procedure is too expensive. In Isolated Guam, Abortion Is Legal. And Nearly Impossible to Get. 6/26/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/26/us/guam-abortion.html
In Wyoming, a new law banning sale of abortion pills was blocked by state courts, pending resolution of a lawsuit several abortion clinics filed. Abortion Pill Ban in Wyoming Blocked Temporarily by Judge 6/23/23 https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/abortion-pill-ban-in-wyoming-blocked-temporarily-by-judge
Still no update on the extreme right’s attempt to ban mifepristone. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals panel is still mulling whether to invalidate the FDA’s 2020 approval of mifepristone, the first pill in a two-drug abortion regimen. All 3 judges were appointed by Republican presidents. A ruling could come any day now, and either way it will be appealed–first to the entire 5th Circuit and then to the US Supreme Court.At stake is the continued use of the primary drug for medication abortions NATIONWIDE. Appeals Court Seems Skeptical of F.D.A.’s Approval and Regulation of Abortion Pill 5/17/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/17/us/politics/abortion-pill-case-arguments.html
Back to me….
Retirement planning—fun, fun, fun! Traditional Medicare vs. Advantage, maximizing Social Security, minimizing taxes, RMDs, reverse mortgage, annuities, long-term care …. But, my favorite is “longevity assessment”—talk about a double-edged sword.
The herd’s fawns are mobile now, meaning they are even more at risk on our roads. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE—SLOW DOWN AND DRIVE CAREFULLY. Dozens of fawns are hit by cars in Lakeway each spring/summer, 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.
One morning last week, I saw FIVE fawns, including a set of twins. The next morning, walking the same area at about the same time, I saw NONE. Here are some recent photos.
The Coronavirus
Even the best sources of data tracking hospitalizations and deaths in the US and/or Texas are incomplete and weeks out of date.
But, the great news is that Covid-19 seems to be gradually diminishing nationwide, with no new variants or other troublesome issues known at this time. As long as that remains the case, this section will be discontinued on future blogs. This web page will continue to be updated with Covid info, to the extent there is anything to report: https://ninawriteorwronginlakeway.com/covid-19-in-2022/
For now, here are a couple recent articles:
–The Myth of Early Pandemic Polarization 6/28/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/28/opinion/covid-pandemic-2020-or-covid-pandemic-politics.html
–U.S. Vaccine Program Now Flush With Cash, but Short on Key Details 6/26/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/26/health/covid-vaccines-nextgen.html