The Coronavirus
Worldwide, new cases have fallen for the last 2 weeks. However, India’s death toll remains horrendous, with people dying due to hospitals running out of oxygen; it has become impossible to cremate all the bodies, so many are being dumped in rivers. Cases are still rising in Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia. Brazil and most of South America are also in trouble.
In the US, the infection rate has steadily dropped; it is 30% lower than 2 weeks ago, and 20% lower than last week. Currently, hospitalizations and deaths are down to levels not seen in over a year–since April of 2020. The feared 4th surge seems to have been avoided, due to vaccination, past infections resulting in acquired immunity, and mask-wearing. ‘Turning the Corner’: U.S. Covid Outlook Reaches Most Hopeful Point Yet 5/6/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/06/us/covid-case-hospitalizations-update.html
Look Mom—no masks! Things are going so well, the CDC now says fully vaccinated people can safely bare their faces indoors and outside! Basically, being vaccinated makes Covid no more risky than getting in a car or going for a swim. There are a few common sense exceptions (wear masks while using public transportation and when visiting hospitals or other medical settings, nursing homes, homeless shelters, or prisons). Of course, people still must follow any local laws or rules set up by businesses as to masking and social distancing.
Hate masks? Then, GET VACCINATED! Fully vaccinated? You can ditch the mask, CDC says 5/13/2 1https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cdc-plans-drop-mask-requirements-fully-vaccinated-people-n1267249
This boils down to: IF YOU ARE VACCINATED, YOU CAN RETURN TO A NORMAL LIFE, WITHOUT ENDANGERING YOURSELF OR OTHERS. As long as you are NOT vaccinated, you remain a hazard to yourself and those around you, as well as providing a vector for the virus to spread and mutate. PLEASE GET VACCINATED.
Vaccinations–the safe path to herd immunity
Worldwide, less than 10% of the population has received a shot. The world may need to learn to live with the virus 5/9/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/09/world/virus-herd-endemic.html
The US recently came out in support of patent waivers to help all countries get access to vaccines. However, that would be a long process, and many practical obstacles remain. US declares support for patent waiver on Covid-19 vaccines 5/5/21 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/05/us-declares-support-for-patent-waiver-on-covid-19-vaccines
In the US, 58% of American adults have gotten at least 1 shot. President Biden’s new goal is vaccinating 70 percent of American adults with at least 1 shot by July 4. Over 250 million shots have now been given by the Biden administration. But, the pace of vaccination has slowed, for many reasons. U.S. Vaccinations Are Slowing. What’s to Blame? 5/4/21 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/05/04/us/vaccine-rollout-slowing.html
Basically, we are in the middle of the vaccination process. Middles are always hard. But, we must keep at it. As much improved as things are in the US, we are still seeing an average of 600 people dying of Covid every day. Many unvaccinated adults are not refusing to get a shot—they just need the shots to come to them. They Haven’t Gotten a Covid Vaccine Yet. But They Aren’t ‘Hesitant’ Either. 5/12/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/12/us/covid-vaccines-vulnerable.html
So, the focus has shifted from large vaccination hubs to smaller clinics. Now, there are over 80,000 vaccine sites, many operating on a walk-in basis. Nearly every American has a vaccine site within 5 miles of home. For those needing transportation, Uber and Lyft will provide MILLIONS of free rides.
Also, states are getting creative in encouraging vaccinations, setting up clinics at businesses, parks, places of worship, and transportation hubs. Rewards started with free donuts and sports/concert tickets before ramping up to monetary incentives like $100 savings bonds. Now, for Ohio residents, those vaccinated are entered into weekly lotteries to win $1million (adults) and free rides for 4 years of public university (teens).
For teens, there was a huge advance last week. The Pfizer vaccine was approved for use in kids age 12-15, opening up safe in-person school, summer camp, and family vacations. The F.D.A. authorizes the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children 12 to 15 5/10/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/10/health/pfizer-covid-vaccine-teens.html
Recent Covid articles I recommend….
–Everything you need to know about the new CDC mask guidance for fully vaccinated people 5/13/21 https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-cdc-mask-guidance-for-fully-vaccinated-people-111921733671?cid=eml_mda_20210514&user_email=6ed7408ec573645e45ac2a65b61d1e1e6ab1b9effbafc1d30d0a407afca1b325
–Why Herd Immunity is Slipping Away 25 minute podcast 5/7/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/07/podcasts/the-daily/coronavirus-herd-immunity-vaccine.html?rref=vanity
–U.S. Vaccinations Are Slowing. What’s to Blame? 5/4/21 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/05/04/us/vaccine-rollout-slowing.html
–The Other Side of Languishing Is Flourishing. Here’s How to Get There. 5/4/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/04/well/mind/flourishing-languishing.html
–Reaching ‘Herd Immunity’ Is Unlikely in the U.S., Experts Now Believe 5/3/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/03/health/covid-heard-immunity-vaccine.html
–Children Now Account For 22% of New U.S. COVID Cases. Why Is That? 5/3/21 https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/05/03/993141036/children-now-account-for-22-of-new-u-s-covid-cases-why-is-that
Daring Mighty Things
Ingenuity, NASA’s mini-copter exploring Mars, did so well in testing that it has been awarded a whole new mission. The original goal was just to see if a helicopter could fly in the thin atmosphere of Mars. Scientists were so impressed with Ingenuity’s performance they doubled its lifespan from 30 to 60 days. Now, they have decided to use Ingenuity over the next several months for aerial reconnaissance of the surrounding landscape, to assist exploration by the rover, Perseverance. NASA Mars Helicopter Makes One-Way Flight to New Mission 5/7/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/07/science/mars-helicopter-nasa-ingenuity.html
Here is a 2 minute video of Ingenuity flying over Mars: Ingenuity Helicopter’s 5th flight on Mars with Dust Devil behind (video by Perseverance) 5/8/21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ6F1Wt6_wU
60 Minutes did a great 13 minute segment on the entire project, that includes stunning footage of Mars: Perseverance rover, Ingenuity helicopter, and the search for ancient life on Mars 5/9/21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRrFRL5v0ig
More Martian scenery: Perseverance Rover Captures Unidentified Flying Object at the Top of ‘Santa Cruz’ Hill on Mars 5/13/21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFMRRF7EQbw
In Lakeway
The end of an era….
Police Chief Radford resigned on May 14. Lakeway Police Chief Todd Radford resigns after 14 years with department https://www.statesman.com/story/news/local/lake-travis-view/2021/05/14/lakeway-chief-police-todd-radford-resigns/5100520001/?fbclid=IwAR2650b_OMKanIsAd8HpEyibg4w8Co5aXCW1pyzoibWMJmqHksItMVEea1Y
Follow up on Council’s May 3 meeting
This lame duck session was largely house-keeping, with Council: formally resolving the city’s lawsuit over the Cherry Knoll development (due to the PUD being recently adopted); introducing our new Emergency Management Coordinator; rescinding/revising/extending Lakeway’s Covid-19 regulations; and (after an executive session) adopting unspecified policies for the police department.
In addition, they discussed several proposed projects under the Capitol Improvement Plan. City staff will use the feedback provided to flesh out the projects and timeline for action down the road. It sounded like the $445K new bridge between the Sculpture Garden/Justice Center and the Hamilton Green Belt will be brought forward for safety reasons (engineering to be done in 2021 and construction done in 2022). Also, Council wants the police department’s current new CAD/RMS software to be reviewed now, with immediate problems resolved, since replacing the system will not happen quickly or cheaply. (Per the City Manager, $200K remains from the Police Station bond, that could be used toward the estimated $600K price tag for a new system.) A robust discussion took place regarding cost sharing of $300K for the (eventual) stoplight at Lohmans and Main. Since Wingreen Loop, The Village of the Hills’ main entrance/exit, will also be connected by that crucial intersection, The Hills must pay up.
Go here to watch this Council meeting online—https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/120268
Council also had a Special Meeting on May 12
This was largely to canvass the official results of the May 1 election. As we already knew, Tom Kilgore won the contest for mayor (hallelujah!), and the 3 Council seats were won by Gretchen Vance, Sanjeev Kumar, and Keith Trecker. Also, the periodic renewal of a 0.25% sales tax to pay for road repairs passed. Full voting details by precinct are included in the Meeting Packet for this session. https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
Here is a photo of the overall results as reported by Travis County—
Council next meets on Monday, May 17, 6:30pm.
This is an in-person meeting at City Hall. Masks are required, and distancing means there will be reduced seating available. Comments can be submitted to Council beforehand, but no one can call in to participate. Citizens Participation requires attendance.
The Agenda includes recognition of departing Mayor Cox and Council Member Howell. Also, Tom Kilgore will be sworn in as our new Mayor, along with Gretchen Vance, Sanjeev Kumar, and Keith Trecker as Council Members. Plus, a new Mayor Pro Tem will be named. Finally, as far as city personnel matters, Council will act on Chief Radford’s resignation.
In addition, Legends is asking for approval of the final plat of the Rough Hollow Community Park. Also, Legacy Development has an initial presentation of a possible future project off Flint Rock Road (NOT Legacy’s recently approved PUD project). Topics include road construction, garage orientation, exterior construction materials, in lieu of parkland fees, cut/fill variance, and building height maximum. (Details are in the Meeting Packet.)
Go here for the Agenda and Meeting Packet— https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
To send comments to Council beforehand (there is a 3pm deadline on the meeting date) about any agenda item, go here and create a Public Comment Form–https://lakeway-tx.civicweb.net/Portal/CitizenEngagement.aspx
Go here to watch this Council meeting online (live or after the fact)— https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events
ZAPCO and Nightingale Project
Finally, ZAPCO’s May 10 meeting included initial review of the contentious Nightingale Project, a proposed $75 million multi-family development on 620, at the old Pope Enterprises site next to Cardinal Hills. The developer wants to change the site’s future land use map designation from the current commercial to residential and then wants to build under a Planned Unit Development; the PUD would amount to R-8 zoning with several variances allowing 294 apartments (with a pool and other amenities) in 2 buildings (4 stories tall, with 1 story under-grade), plus a 1 acre public park and a parking garage. The land is just shy of 8 acres, so it would be very dense; the proposal amounts to 37 units per acre, as opposed to the city’s maximum 12 units per acre. Parking provided would be just 441 spaces, well short of the 629 spaces that ordinance requires for the planned apartment units. The developer claims there would be a stop light on 620 at Nightingale, but the resulting traffic on the roads surrounding the tract is concerning.
The interesting thing about this proposal is that it would be WORKFORCE HOUSING, meaning workers in a certain income range would get a break of $500 to $1,000 per month on rent. Local business owners commented at the meeting that this affordable housing would be a first for our area and would help immensely in hiring workers to support Lakeway businesses of all kinds. Of course, many residential neighbors commented against the project, worried about traffic, parking, and in some cases just upset the tract would be developed at all. Yet, this property fronts 620 and obviously will be built out at some point; the requested residential zoning seems to be a step up from the current commercial designation.
The proposal got a very fair hearing at ZAPCO. It was noted that our Comprehensive Plan favors BOTH commercial development (for additional sales tax revenue) and workforce housing (to supply workers for our businesses), with the location in question a prime spot for BOTH types of development. In the end, the matter was tabled for up to 90 days and detailed notes were given to the developer, requesting many very specific changes (the most important being less apartments and more parking) IF it wants ZAPCO to consider recommending the proposal to Council. I’m pretty sure we will hear more about this development soon. Go here to watch the meeting (item 6)– https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/120589
Back to me….
So, I am 3 weeks past my second Pfizer shot and thus FULLY VACCINATED. I can quit worrying about getting sick, and mostly my mask can stay in my pocket. After well over a year, I’m thinking about getting back to normal…. Life is good.
I adore my new yard sign, and Lakeway drivers certainly need to be reminded to watch for newborn fawns. Sadly, dozens of our fawns are hit by cars every spring/summer.
Lakeway artist Victoria Waite created these signs and sold 50 immediately on Next Door. She just had another batch of these adorable signs printed. They will go quick! To buy one ($20 each), go here—https://www.facebook.com/FawnsAtPlay
I FINALLY SPOTTED A FAWN! This one was a few days old, hanging out with Mama Doe and a few yearlings on Vanguard. I also saw a VERY expectant doe—twins are in there, at least…. Plus, my favorite twins from last year are still inseparable, and I will add the latest shot I got of them, as well as one of a very confident Great Blue Heron who hangs out at the pond near Live Oak’s 14th hole.
Panda cub video updates on Washington Zoo’s Xiao (AKA Biscuit):
—Mei Xiang Loves Munching On Her Cub 05-13-21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UATAXe1-wTI
Let’s see what Xiao Qi Ji does up in his favorite tree & how Mei rolls with her baby 5/6/21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGr7Nh2wxk0