May Ukraine Have Peaceful Skies Again.
Here is what is happening in Lakeway….
May 6 ELECTION RESULTS
Here is how our 2023 election turned out, per Travis County:
CONGRATS to the winners!
We get to go through ALL THE FUN AGAIN in 2024. Candidates will begin filing to run for 3 Council seats in January….
Masterpiece Concert at Lakeway Activity Center
On Sunday, May 21, 4PM, the public is invited to a FREE concert by Sandy Yamamoto and Sari Pearce (violin), Nick Hammel (viola), Andrew Pearce (cello), and Colette Valentine (piano). Repertoire: Franz Schubert: String Quartet No.13 in A Minor, ‘Rosamunde’ and Anton Dvorak: Piano Quintet in A Major, Op.81.
Mayor Kilgore’s Facebook Update
The mayor gave a live update on May 11. Go here to watch: https://www.facebook.com/cityoflakeway/videos/627897839230522
SIGN UP for Lakeway’s 4th of July Parade
The theme for this year 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
Aloha Pool Party
On Saturday, May 27, 5-8PM, the Lakeway Swim Center (3103 Lakeway Blvd.) presents the Aloha Pool Party. On tap–hula dancing, luau games, limbo contest (prize is a ukulele), Chick Fil A at the concession stand, the Leisure Pool, and more. Drop-In rates apply, or get FREE admission with a Summer Pass. Luau attire is suggested. Go here for more info: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1835/Aloha-Pool-Party
Memorial Day Ceremony
Lakeway’s annual Memorial Day observance is on Monday, May 29, at 11AM, at Lake Travis Performing Arts Center (3324 620 South). FREE event. Join together to honor military personnel who died while serving in the U.S. armed forces. The special guest speaker will be Rear Admiral (Ret) Patrick D. Hall, a distinguished veteran and Lakeway resident since 2020. For complete info on Rear Admiral Hall (plus a video of the 2022 ceremony) go here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1511/Memorial-Day-Ceremony
Fraud Prevention Class
Lakeway Police Department’s Sgt. Jason Brown will host a Fraud Prevention class at the Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing) on Tuesday, May 30 10:30AM to noon. FREE event. He will offer tips on protecting against identity theft.
Transportation Town Hall
Come to the Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek) on Thursday, June 22 from 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
VOLUNTEERS Needed
City of Lakeway needs YOU. As in–more volunteers. There are MANY opportunities available—serving on committees as well as helping with events like the July 4 parade, and more. If interested, please apply here (and there are lots more opportunities than mentioned): https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/849/Volunteer
Council Met on May 15
Mayor Kilgore and all members of the previous Council attended the start of the meeting, with Council Members Kumar and Trecker stepping down after being honored for their service. Mayor Kilgore and Council Members Vance and O’Brien were sworn in for the current session. New Council Member Forton was absent, resulting in 6 members on the dais for all votes. RESULTS:
ITEM 14: Financial Report. REVENUE was up by $466K over projections. EXPENDITURES were up by $393K over projections.
ITEM 15: Citizens Participation. SEVERAL residents spoke on a variety of topics.
ITEM 16: Appointment of Mayor Pro Tem. LOUIS MASTRANGELO was appointed as Mayor Pro Tem for the coming year.
ITEM 17: An ordinance authorizing issuance and sale of $17.5 MIL in bonds, approved in the Nov. 2022 election. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED to select TD Securities to issue the bonds, at 3.79% interest with a 40-year maturity, as of June 8. The funds will be used for a variety of transportation improvements.
ITEM 18: Lake Travis Youth Association’s request for $25,000 from the Hotel Occupancy Tax Fund. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
ITEM 19: Request by TexARTS for a 100-year Special Use Permit to operate a performing arts theater and academy at 1110 RR 620 South. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
ITEM 20: Request by Glaser Retail Acquisitions for a Special Use Permit to operate a Spec’s liquor store at 1101 RR 620 North. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED, with the proviso the structure’s architectural features will resemble those of the Specs store in Bee Cave.
ITEM 25: Second Reading (and vote on) an Ordinance allowing garage sales, with restrictions. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
ITEM 26: Discussion of Xeriscaping. CONSENSUS that staff will research the matter and provide recommendations to Council for future action.
ITEM 27: Discussion of Green Belt Zoning. CONSENSUS that staff will research allowing/prohibiting certain motorized bicycles and other vehicles on our trails, as well as moving the applicable ordinance from zoning to vehicles and traffic. Staff will provide recommendations to Council for future action.
ITEM 28: Discussion of Traffic Town Hall. SCHEDULED for June 22 at 5:30PM, at Lakeway Activity Center, with City of Bee Cave, Travis County and TXDOT invited to attend and answer resident inquiries.
Addendum ITEM A.1: Discussion of 88th Texas legislative session, specifically HB 2127 and HB 3135. CONSENSUS that staff will continue to monitor the progress of these and other relevant bills and keep Council informed.
ADJOURNED at 10:06PM.
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/230223
Daring Mighty Things
A new European weather satellite sent back the above image of Earth in exquisite detail. The 1st photo of Earth from Europe’s powerful new satellite is amazing 5/9/23 https://www.space.com/earth-1st-photo-europe-weather-satellite
This rarely seen shot of Earth, showing as a sliver similar to how we often see the crescent moon, was taken by the homeward bound crew of Apollo 17, on December 17, 1972. That makes it the last photo of our planet from this striking perspective, taken by a human.
Forget that spy balloon, China sent a robotic plane up into Earth orbit, where it remained for 9 months. The reusable craft released a satellite 3 months into its mission, then successfully returned to Earth on May 8. Experts posit the Chinese vehicle is similar to our Space Force’s robotic X-378, which is another mysterious craft; it measures 29 feet long and has flown several orbital missions to date, the longest lasting over 900 days. China’s mysterious space plane returns to Earth after 9-month orbital mission 5/8/23 https://www.space.com/china-space-plane-lands-may-2023
Hard to believe that this gorgeous image of the nearby (well, just 700 light-years away) Helix Nebula is actually a dying star. Experts predict our Sun will one day explode into a gas cloud and look much like this. Credit: CFHT, Coelum, MegaCam, J.-C. Cuillandre (CFHT) & G. A. Anselmi (Coelum).
With liberty and justice for all … except women.
The FDA is considering allowing birth control pills to be sold over the counter, without a prescription. Recently, 2 advisory panels voted overwhelmingly to support that move. The panels indicated that the drug is proven safe and effective, as well as simple to use; the other factor is overwhelming public need for easy access to contraception, considering the dangers of giving birth and the fact that half of all pregnancies in the US are unintended. The specific drug under consideration is Opill, a “mini-pill” that uses only the hormone progestin. The FDA’s final decision is expected this summer. FDA advisers vote unanimously in support of over-the-counter birth-control pill 5/10/23 https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/10/health/over-the-counter-birth-control-fda-advisers/index.html#:~:text=FDA%20advisers%20consider%20allowing%20over,time%20ever%20in%20the%20U.S.&text=Advisers%20for%20the%20US%20Food,the%20benefits%20outweigh%20the%20risks.
In North Carolina, a Republican super-majority legislature overrode the Democratic governor’s veto of abortion-restricting legislation. As a result, abortion access changed from 20 weeks to 12 weeks. In addition, the new law adds several procedural requirements (including long waiting periods, multiple in-person medical visits, and detailed reporting reported to state health regulators) that abortion providers say will severely restrict abortion access as a practical matter. Since the Dobbs decision, North Carolina’s abortion providers have served women across the South, where most states have banned the procedure. The new law goes into effect July 1. North Carolina Legislature Reapproves Abortion Ban, Overriding Governor’s Veto 5/17/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/16/us/north-carolina-abortion-ban.html
In South Carolina, after a bill restricting abortion failed to pass during the regular legislative session, the Republican governor called legislators back for a special session. This time, the bill passed, limiting abortion to 6 weeks; changes made by the House need to be approved by the Senate before the bill can be signed into law. A similar law was struck down by the state supreme court in early 2023, but since then the court has more conservative members. South Carolina House passes six-week abortion ban after hours of contentious debate 5/18/23 https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/17/politics/south-carolina-abortion-debate/index.html
A 3-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans heard oral arguments last week in the federal government’s appeal of a lower court’s ruling invalidating the FDA’s 2020 approval of mifepristone, the first pill in a two-drug abortion regimen. Experts say that, going by the judges’ questions to counsel, they appeared hostile toward the government’s case defending the FDA and the safety of the drug. All 3 judges were appointed by Republican presidents. A ruling could come at any time and 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….
Lots of changes happening this spring.
One change is that Mayor Kilgore has appointed me to the Zoning and Planning Committee. I’ll miss being on the Wildlife Advisory Committee, but our deer herd is doing great. Having attended ZAPCO meetings for years now, I’m looking forward to digging in and seeing how things really work. By the way, ZAPCO meetings are open to the public. They are held the first Wednesday of each month, 9AM at City Hall.
Want your own FAWNS AT PLAY sign? Displaying a sign in your yard reminds drivers to slow down and watch for these precious babies. These signs were created in 2021 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 those ways. 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 a list of local rescue options (plus lots of adorable fawn photos from past seasons): https://ninawriteorwronginlakeway.com/parked-fawns-injured-deer/
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.
I was very lucky recently and spotted an adorable new fawn with mama. Enjoy those photos, plus a few more of the herd.
The Coronavirus
With the pandemic emergency officially over as of May 11, many sites tracking infections, hospitalizations, and deaths are shutting down. The CDC is releasing less data and doing so less frequently. As of now, basic national stats can still be found, but reliable fresh data for Texas and Travis County is hard to find. Going forward, this section will be trimmed back, reporting general trends as well as anything unexpected regarding the Covid-19, and with any pertinent new articles listed.In the US, in the last 2 weeks, the official stats show new cases fell 26% and hospitalizations dropped 5%. Also, deaths decreased 20% to an average of 120 Americans per day. The national testing positivity rate was 5%. See the chart below for stats as of May 15. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/us/covid-cases.html
Lack of current and reliable tracking data from traditional sources has, in part, resulted in cities, universities and other community groups using sewageanalysis as a means to monitor Covid infection rates in the population. People who are infected with the coronavirus shed the pathogen in their stool. This makes sewage systems a source of info, allowing officials to track levels of the virus in communities over time AND to spot new variants. Beginning in 2020 but escalating lately, there are now over 1,400 sampling sites–across 50 states, three territories and 12 tribal communities. The resulting data sets cover 138 million people, over 40% of the U.S. population.
Covid-19 was the #3 cause of death in the US during 2020 and 2021. Now, it ranks #7. It still kills 800 to 1,000 Americans each week.
In Texas, in the last 2 weeks, infections decreased 33%, and hospitalizations dropped 14%. Deaths fell 40%, with an average of 6 Texans dying each day. The positivity test rate dropped to 5.8%. See the chart below for stats as of May 15. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/us/texas-covid-cases.html
Recent Covid Articles I Recommend
We Worked on the U.S. Pandemic Response. Here Are 13 Takeaways for the Next Health Emergency. 5/11/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/11/opinion/covid-pandemic-lessons.html
America Is Forgetting the Lessons of the Covid Health Emergency 511/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/11/opinion/covid-pandemic-emergency-lessons.html
As Covid Emergency Ends, Surveillance Shifts to the Sewers 5/11/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/11/health/covid-sewage-wastewater-data.html#:~:text=With%20other%20virus%20tracking%20efforts,the%20months%20ahead%2C%20scientists%20say
As Emergency Ends, a Look at Covid’s U.S. Death Toll 5/11/23 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/05/11/us/covid-deaths-us.html
Families of Those Lost to Covid Wrestle With Mixed Emotions as Emergency Ends 5/11/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/11/us/covid-deaths-pandemic.html
As Covid Emergency Ends, U.S. Response Shifts to Peacetime Mode 5/10/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/10/us/politics/covid-public-health-emergency.html