Here is what is going on in Lakeway.
Lake Travis Community Library art display
During June, stop by the library’s meeting room to view the landscapes and abstracts of Diane Whooley. The artist was born and raised in Ireland, then lived and worked all over the world.
Donation of children’s books needed
Ever wondered about the big silver box that sits outside the entrance to the Lakeway Activity Center? As the “Reading is Cool” logo hints, it is a Little Free Library, stocked with books, some for adults but mostly for kids of various ages—all free. Currently, kids’ books are needed, so if you have some in good condition, please donate. (It is tax deductible; just ask for a receipt.) Call the Activity Center at 512-261-1010.
The Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization with more than 100,000 registered book-sharing boxes worldwide. There are 5 of these gems in Lakeway. For their stories and location, go here: www.LittleFreeLibrary.org
Lake Travis Community Library provides TECH HELP
Drop in from noon to 2PM Monday-Thursday and work with one of the tech coaches. They can help with questions about your smartphone, tablet computer OR any of the library’s own services like the Libby app. They also provide help via email or phone, and there is a weekly ZOOM session. More info is here: https://laketravislibrary.org/tech-coach/
Lake Travis Community Library DELIVERS
For those homebound due to mobility or medical issues, staff will deliver books, DVDs, audios and more, on a monthly basis. Call (512) 263-2885 to get started.
CoolArts 2022 Registration
Registration opened June 1 for Lakeway Arts Committee’s 7th annual Cool Arts Show and Studio Tour, featuring live music and fine visual art created by local artists, plus fun activities for kids. Event will be held August 27 at LAC. The cost is $25, and the artist must be a member of Lakeway Activity Center. For info, call 512-261-1010 or click here: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTIwODg3MjQ=
Piano concert at LAC
On Sunday, June 26, at 4PM, classical pianist Kiyoshi Tamagawa performs at Lakeway Activity Center. More info on this FREE event is here: https://lakeway-tx.gov/1862/Sunday-Afternoon-Concert-Series
Summer camps starting soon
Lakeway Activity Center will offer a variety of camps this summer, with Kidventure hosting Camp Lakeway. For info, call Kidventure at 512-263-8992, email LAC@lakeway-tx.gov or visit https://kidventure.com/austin-summer-camp/
Summer movies in the park
Fun family entertainment continues on Friday, July 1, with a showing of Captain America: The First Avenger at 6PM in City Park (502 Hurst Creek). Bring blankets and folding chairs to get comfy on the lawn. No pets or alcohol allowed at this FREE event, with treats, music and yard games provided. A movie is also planned for the first Friday in August.
4th of July celebration—parade theme is SHE’S A GRAND OLD FLAG
–Parade registration deadline is June 21.
Event details and a link to register to participate in the parade are here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/718/July-4th-Celebration
–Volunteers are needed.
City of Lakeway Parks & Rec is looking for volunteer helpers for the celebration taking place Monday, July 4 (including prep work that weekend). Needs include Shuttle Cart Drivers, Photographer, Golf Carts & Drivers, Convertible Vehicles & Drivers, Staging Volunteers, Parade Route Volunteers, Decoration Volunteers, and Banner Holders. To volunteer, call 512-314-7532 during business hours, email paradechair@lakeway-tx.gov OR complete the volunteer form found here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/FormCenter/Administration-5/City-of-Lakeway-Volunteer-Form-83
Council’s Transportation Work Session/Committee work Session
Monday, June 6: Lakeway City Council Special Meeting–TRANSPORTATION Work Session and Committee Work Session–6:30PM at City Hall.
City Manager Julie Oakley will present a Transportation Work Session on traffic projects including recent Transportation Town Hall resident comments and engineering study conclusions on up to 15 projects. These include connecting Birrell to Lohmans Spur ($3M); Main Street’s section through the Stratus tract, with a bridge spanning an environmentally sensitive area ($4.25M, IF the city builds it, as opposed to Stratus doing so); 620 expansion/Lakeway’s share of right of way cost ($3.2M); needed culvert improvements; needed resurfacing of Lakeway Blvd ($4.3M), Lakeway Drive, and Lohmans Crossing; pedestrian safety improvements on Lakeway Blvd and Lakeway Drive; new traffic signals; Delsie Drive and Joseph Drive extension options; Serene Hills Drive expansion ($4.8M); and more.
I strongly suggest everyone review the Meeting Packet, which has detailed info on the many projects, including options, schematics and projected costs in many cases. As for costs, the big-ticket projects will result in 1 or more transportation bond issues on our November ballots. To get the PDF of the meeting packet, click the link, scroll down to City Council Meeting Packets, and click on June 6. https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
Committee Work Session. Few details have been provided so far, but this seems to be a review of responsibilities and expectations of the city’s various committees, in relation to city departments and staff.
Go here to watch the Council meeting online (live or later): https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events
Daring Mighty Things
Boeing’s crewless test flight completed a successful mission to and from the ISS, returning safely to Earth on May 25. This paves the way for crewed missions later this year, providing an option to SpaceX flights for getting astronauts and supplies to the station. NASA, Boeing Complete Starliner Uncrewed Flight Test to Space Station 5/25/22 https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-boeing-complete-starliner-uncrewed-flight-test-to-space-station
Back to me….
I was a poll worker for the May 24 Primary Runoff Election. My assigned location was the ISD Education Building out on 620; it is usually pretty quiet there, but we had a steady flow of traffic and ended up with 317 voters for the day. Overall, it was a very interesting process. I was lucky to be serving with several fun and experienced people, so I learned a lot.
Now, I have a couple online projects, and I’m job-hunting for something interesting, nearby and part-time. Also, I’m loving my long early morning walks, reading the Randall Silvis detective series, and watching DVDs of all 3 seasons of Keeping Faith (fabulous legal noir set in gorgeous Wales). And, of course, spending quality time with the cats.
The FAWNS ARE HERE! PLEASE slow down and drive carefully. Dozens of fawns are hit by cars in Lakeway every spring, and every time it is just tragic all around. 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 I took of our deer herd.
The Coronavirus
Worldwide, 11.9 billion shots have been given, with 60% of the planet’s population fully vaccinated.
China’s lockdown of millions of residents in Shanghai began to lift last week, as a result of new cases waning. Fences around apartment complexes started coming down, but masks are required, testing within 72 hours is needed to enter public places or use public transit, restaurants are closed to inside dining, and harsh quarantine remains for anyone testing positive. Still, newly freed residents celebrated by honking car horns and shooting off fireworks. The severe 2 month-long lockdown exemplified China’s zero-tolerance policy on Covid; in addition to the terrible human toll, it decimated China’s economy. Just the massive amount of testing done consumed a significant part of the country’s GNP. It was also a huge negative for the world’s economy, particularly snarling the supply chain. For instance, the US currently has a severe shortage of imaging dye, delaying and rationing medical tests, that is due to the Covid closure of General Electric’s Shanghai manufacturing plant.
North Korea’s Covid surge is dubbed a “fever outbreak” by officials. Despite nearly 3 million cases, they claim that less than 100 deaths have resulted. They also claim the outbreak is nearly vanquished. Given North Korea has no vaccination program, nearly non-existent medical care and widespread malnutrition, the rosy claims may well be state propaganda.
Japan, after 2 years of being closed to visitors, will start allowing foreign tourists into the country in June. However, only TOUR GROUPS will be allowed in, and just in limited numbers and from selected countries. Negative tests both prior to and after arrival will be required. Tour group leaders must police participants’ observance of Japan’s mask mandate and other Covid restrictions.
In the US, in the last 2 weeks, cases decreased 6%, hospitalizations dropped 1%, and deaths decreased 12%. We are averaging 102,000 new cases per day. 24,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with Covid, and the death rate averages 264 people per day. Note that statistics may be skewed due to the Memorial Day holiday. Plus, cases and hospitalizations are up in half the states (including Texas), but nationwide this was balanced by improvement in the northeast and midwest.
Recent studies indicate ACTUAL new cases are as much as 30 times the official reports, because nearly everyone tests at home now.
As of May 25, Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 became the dominant form of Covid in America.
Since early 2020, 1 in 4 Americans was infected with Covid, with 1 in 330 Americans dying of Covid.
During 2021, Covid-19 was the third leading cause of death in the US, after heart disease and cancer. The same was true in 2020.
Studies have found that long Covid symptoms afflict about 1 in 5 adult survivors, including people who had mild or even no symptoms early on. Median length of long Covid symptoms (including overwhelming fatigue, fever, cough, shortness of breath, inability to concentrate, loss of taste/smell, and much more) is 15 months.
Mask mandates are back. Schools in Philadelphia, Providence, Berkeley and Brookline now mandate masks again, due to the latest surge. Several colleges nationwide have done the same. Studies show that masks do work to reduce Covid infection, but studies also show that mask mandates do not necessarily help. Experts explain the absurdity this way: Masks ONLY work when they are high quality and are worn consistently and properly; forcing unwilling people to do this is a losing battle.
As for vaccinations in the US, 67% of the entire population is fully vaccinated. About 103 million booster shots have been given. Average shots administered per day decreased to 281,000.
Dr. Ashish Jha, White House Covid-19 response coordinator, on June 2 announced that vaccination shots for kids under age 5 could be available as soon as June 21. The FDA and CDC are wrapping up review of test results, but approval for America’s 18 million kids 6 months-4 years old is expected soon.
In Texas, the positivity test rate continues to rise–currently 19%. In the last 2 weeks, new cases increased 55%, hospitalizations rose 26%, and deaths dropped 44%. We are averaging 5,500 new cases and 5 deaths daily. As of now, there are 1,500 Texans hospitalized for Covid-19.
Only 62% of all Texas residents are fully vaccinated.
In the last week, new COVID-19 cases in Texas were at 131% of what the CDC says is a high level of community transmission.
Recent Covid articles I recommend
‘We’re playing with fire’: US Covid cases may be 30 times higher than reported 6/2/22 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/01/us-covid-surge-cases-rate
What the Pandemic Can Teach Us About Endings 6/1/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/01/opinion/coronavirus-pandemic-end.html
Why Masks Work, but Mandates Haven’t 5/30/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/31/briefing/masks-mandates-us-covid.html
White House Pushes to Get Paxlovid Pills in More Covid Patients’ Hands 5/26/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/26/us/politics/paxlovid-white-house-covid-deaths.html
Pfizer, BioNTech report 80 percent efficacy of Covid-19 vaccine for youngest children 5/23/22 https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/23/pfizer-biontech-report-covid-19-vaccine-efficacy-children-00034304