May Ukraine Have Peaceful Skies Again.
Here is what is happening in Lakeway….
Mermaid Day
Celebrate Mermaid Day at the Lakeway Swim Center (3103 Lakeway Blvd.) on Sunday, June 4, 1-3PM. Swim with local Lake Travis mermaids, plus photo ops, games, door prizes and more. Free admission for summer pass holders, otherwise normal drop-in pool rates apply. Go here for more info: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1834/Mermaid-Day
Summer Fun at Lake Travis Community Library
Summer Reading Kickoff—Drop in during the all-day event on Monday, June 5, 10AM-7PM. Enjoy the scavenger hunt with prizes, photo booth, and more; a Special Guest will be there 11AM – noon. Get a head start on the fun summer stuff detailed below.
Summer Reading Program–Kids, teens and adults can participate in the library’s summer reading program, starting Monday, June 5. Prizes, fun and more!
Library Camps—Starting June 6, weekly hour-long sessions for various age groups. Reading, writing projects, art, science, and more.
—Tuesdays at 2:30pm: Children entering kindergarten.
—Wednesdays at 2:30pm: Children entering 1st and 2nd grades.
—Thursdays at 2:30pm: Children entering 3rd grade and up.
The library is located at 1938 Lohmans Crossing. For more info on the reading program and the camps, go here: https://laketravislibrary.org/summer-reading-program/
Bee Creek Sports Complex Grand Opening
On Thursday, June 8 at 10:30AM, Travis County hosts a grand opening and ribbon cutting for the new Bee Creek Sports Complex located at 4440 Bee Creek Road. Snacks will be provided. Lakeway leaders will help open the Sports Complex to the public. The 73-acre facility includes synthetic turf baseball and soccer fields, a basketball half-court, a playground, a walking trail, picnic tables, restrooms, EV charging stations, and dark-sky friendly lighting. No park admission fees. Field use is by reservation only. Go here for more info: https://parks.traviscountytx.gov/parks/bee-creek
All About Bats
On Thursday, June 8, 6-8PM, head over to Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek), to learn all about bats, amazing and misunderstood flying mammals who live among us here in the Texas Hill Country. Dr. Merlin Tuttle has studied and photographed bats worldwide for over 60 years. FREE event, but you need to reserve a place as there is limited space available. Go here and click on the City Events tab: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog
Lakeway Arts District June Calendar
Check out all the local arts and cultural events during the month of June on this handy calendar: https://lakewayartsdistrict.com/calendar/
SIGN UP for Lakeway’s 4th of July Parade
The theme for this year’s parade is ’63 and Free, referring to 1963–the year Lakeway was founded. 60 years later, Lakeway’s parade will be held on Tuesday, July 4, starting at 8:30AM. Enter NOW to participate; entry deadline is June 23. Go here to enter OR to volunteer to help put on this event: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/718/July-4th-Celebration
ATTENTION Local Artists: Register for Cool Arts
Registration is now open to participate in this year’s Cool Arts Show and Studio Tour. This FREE event is hosted by the Lakeway Arts Committee; this will be the 8th annual rendition of this hugely popular celebration of our local artists.
The SHOW will be on Saturday, Aug. 26 1-5PM, at the Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek), with a fine arts display in the courtyard by 20 or so local artists, accompanied by live music and kids’ activities.
The STUDIO TOUR will be on Saturday and Sunday, Aug 26-27 noon-5PM, at various area locations to be announced. Sign up as a participating local artist by contacting the Lakeway Activity Center, by phone (512-261-1010), or in person at 105 Cross Creek. Artists MUST be Lakeway Activity Center members to participate. The registration fee for artists to display their work is $25 (non-refundable). Space is limited. Booths will be assigned in the order of registration. More info is here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1858/Cool-Arts-Show-Studio-Tour
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
Transportation Town Hall
Come to the Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek) on Thursday, June 22, 5:30-7:30PM and talk to ALL the parties involved with area roadways. City of Lakeway has invited transportation officials with City of Bee Cave as well as Travis County and TXDOT. Topics include: RM 620–safety and future widening plans; Highway 71—safety; Lakeway’s Main Street; Flint Rock Road; speeding & distracted drivers; pedestrian access; golf cart usage; and trail connectivity. Go here for updates on this event: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=4737
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.
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 4th 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. Go here for hours and more: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1684/Heritage-Center
Lakeway is Hiring
Open positions include administrative assistant, facility attendant, Hotel Occupancy Tax fund coordinator, code compliance inspector/officer, and police officer. Go here for info and to apply: https://tx-lakeway.civicplushrms.com/CareerPortal/Jobs.aspx
Council Meets on Tuesday, June 20
The 3rd Monday in June is a holiday, so the next Council meeting will be on Tuesday, June 20. About a week beforehand, go here to view the Agenda, Meeting Packet, and/or Presentation (scrolling down to City Council documents): https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
Daring Mighty Things
Shown above, the spiral galaxy M74, also known as the Phantom Galaxy, is about 32 million light-years away from Earth. Credit–X-ray: Chandra: NASA/CXC/SAO, XMM: ESA/XMM-Newton; IR: JWST: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI, Spitzer: NASA/JPL/CalT
Shown below, NGC 346 is a star cluster in the Small Magellanic Cloud, a galaxy 200,000 light-years from Earth. The purple area on the left side of the image shows the death of a star in a supernova explosion. Credit: X-ray: Chandra: NASA/CXC/SAO, XMM: ESA/XMM-Newton; IR: JWST: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI, Spitzer: NASA/JPL/CalTech; Optical: Hubble: NASA/ESA/STScI, ESO; Image Processing: L. Frattare, J. Major, N. Wolk, and K. Arcand)
Read about these and more gorgeous stellar images here: The universe looks amazing in new photos from the James Webb Space Telescope and famed X-ray observatory 5/26/23 https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-chandra-x-ray-observatory
The moon’s South Pole could get a little crowded, later this decade. China has announced plans for a lunar landing, in the same region where the US is aiming to revisit the moon. The US landing is planned for 2025, while China says 2026. Both missions are planned for the South Pole in order to investigate water ice and other resources thought to be there; these elements are necessary for lunar settlement and exploration. China plans to put astronauts on the moon before 2030 5/30/23 https://www.space.com/china-moon-landing-before-2030
NASA has contracted with SpaceX for a Starship rocket to carry the Artemis crew to the moon. Of course, SpaceX’s recent unmanned test flight of its giant Starship ended with an abrupt self-destruct command over the Gulf of Mexico. But, the shakedown flight of the tallest and most powerful rocket ever built was hailed as a success, and you can watch a stunning 2-minute video of the launch from Boca Chica, TX, here: https://www.space.com/spacex-starships-launch-highlights-video
Here is a fun article on how NASA inventions for space flight landed in American homes and changed all our lives. 10 everyday NASA inventions and spin-offs you can find in your home 5/27/23 https://www.space.com/10-everyday-nasa-inventions-spin-offs-in-you-home
With liberty and justice for all … except women.
In Oklahoma, the state Supreme Court struck down 2 recently enacted abortion bans modeled on the 2021 Texas vigilante-style law. But, it left in effect an old law from 1910 that was overruled by Roe v. Wade 50 years ago but came back to life with the US Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision last year. The 1910 law bans all abortions unless necessary to save the mother’s life, which is now the standard in Oklahoma. Oklahoma Supreme Court Rules New Abortion Bans Unconstitutional 5/31/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/31/us/oklahoma-supreme-court-abortion-bans.html#:~:text=Oklahoma’s%20Supreme%20Court%20said%20on,the%20life%20of%20the%20mother
In South Carolina, the governor recently signed legislation banning abortion after just 6 weeks. But, on May 26, a court put the new law on hold, pending review by the state Supreme Court. Just last year, the SC Supreme Court found SC’s previous law, also banning abortion at 6 weeks, to be unconstitutional. Since then, however, the liberal female justice who wrote that opinion retired and was replaced by a conservative male justice, so the upcoming decision may be different. A judge halts South Carolina’s new abortion law pending state Supreme Court review 5/26/23 https://www.npr.org/2023/05/26/1178522334/a-judge-halts-south-carolinas-new-abortion-law-pending-state-supreme-court-revie
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….
I got my spring cleaning and home maintenance work done. All that fun stuff gets more challenging every year. I even got brave and updated the computers to Windows 11, which turned out to be happily uneventful.
As far as city government, I am moving from the Wildlife Committee to the Zoning and Planning Commission. My first ZAPCO meeting is next week. I’m always surprised by how few residents attend committee meetings. All are open to the public, and monthly meetings are on the city calendar: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/Calendar.aspx
Fawns are being born NOW, and they are wobbling around town discovering the world. 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.
Want your own FAWNS AT PLAY sign? Displaying a sign in your yard reminds drivers to slow down and watch for our herd’s precious babies. These signs were created by a local artist, Victoria Waite. She sells them for $20 to cover her costs of getting them printed at Stokes. She will DELIVER signs in Lakeway! Victoria is on Next Door and Facebook and can be contacted on those platforms. Or, email her: victoria.waite.art@gmail.com
Don’t assume the wee fawns that you spot on a walk or in your shrubbery are abandoned. Mama Does park their newborn fawns and leave them to rest, while they graze in the vicinity, before collecting the babies and moving on. Check here for details on how to identify the RARE case of a fawn needing help AND for a list of local rescue options (plus lots of adorable fawn photos from past seasons): https://ninawriteorwronginlakeway.com/parked-fawns-injured-deer/
I saw several new fawns recently and got a few good photos. And, the bucks are just over-the-top photogenic lately, so I’ll include some of their best displays.
The Coronavirus
As mentioned last time, with the pandemic officially over, most Covid tracking sites have shut down or radically scaled back the data presented. Reliable fresh data for Texas and Travis County is particularly hard to find. But, even the NY Times national chart I usually show here has not been updated since May 15. There don’t seem to be any surges of cases or new variants at this time. This CDC chart shows hospitalizations and deaths as of end of May. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home
Here are some recent articles:
—An Inside Look at Covid’s Lasting Damage to the Lungs 5/31/23 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/05/31/health/covid-lung-damage.html#:~:text=Lung%20tissue%20during%20an%20infection,collapsed%20sections%20with%20reduced%20airflow.&text=Many%20patients%20who%20experienced%20such,the%20pandemic%20did%20not%20recover
—Covid Is Coming Back in China; Lockdowns Are Not 5/27/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/27/world/asia/china-covid-lockdowns-economy.html
—Large study provides scientists with deeper insight into long COVID symptoms 5/25/23 https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/large-study-provides-scientists-deeper-insight-into-long-covid-symptoms