Here is what’s happening in Lakeway….
2024 SYMPHONY TICKETS on sale NOW
“A Night with the Austin Symphony Orchestra” concert with LTISD high school musicians is set for Sunday, March 3, 2024, at 4PM.
SANTA’S hot tip for a great gift: Early Bird tickets are on sale NOW–$50 / $30 / $15. The VIP package is $200 (4 tickets, VIP Buffet Dinner on Saturday, March 2 where you will have the chance to meet the musicians, Maestro Peter Bay and other dignitaries).
Go here for info: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1960/A-Night-with-the-Austin-Symphony-Orchest
Artist Reception at Lakeway City Hall
On Monday, Nov. 20, 5:30-6:30PM, enjoy local art and light refreshments in the lobby/art gallery of City Hall (1102 Lohmans Crossing Rd.). The local artist featured in November and December is Gordon Philipson.
Council meets Monday, Nov. 20, 6:30pm, at City Hall.
Consequential Agenda items include:
ITEM 11: Financial Report.
ITEM 12: Citizens Participation for items not on the agenda.
ITEM 13: Request by Special Olympics for $300,000 in Hotel Occupancy Tax funds.
ITEM 14: Presentation on sales tax by Economic Development Committee.
ITEM 15: Presentation on fiber service by Google Fiber.
ITEM 16: Presentation on license plate readers by Police Chief Koen.
ITEM 17: Discussion of the appointment of Zoning and Planning Commission members.
ITEM 18: Discussion of parks bond.
ITEM 19: Discussion of new contracts for solid waste and recycling collection in 2024.
ITEM 21: Executive Session on City Manager, Municipal Judges, Municipal Prosecutor, and/or City Attorney.
ITEM 22: Executive Session on purchase, exchange, sale, value of Sailfish Park.
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 (live or later): https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events
Street Paving in November
Lakeway’s Public Works Department will be overseeing asphalt paving work on several local roadways in late November, weather permitting. Expect minor delays on and around the following streets:
Starting NOV. 20—Gebron Drive, Mettle Drive, Parker Bend, Kohler Trail, Strader Circle.
Starting NOV. 27—Rocket, Medalist.
Lake Travis Democrats Club
Nov. 28: Banned Book Club, 6:30PM at Lake Travis Community Library.This month’s book isCity of Thieves by David Benioff.
Movie Night: To Be Determined. Check https://www.laketravisdemocrats.com/ for updates.
CHRISTMAS Party: Join local Dems to celebrate the holidays and gear up to GO BIG in 2024! The party will be on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 6PM, at the La Quinta in Lakeway. BUT–tickets are available NOW at the DISCOUNTED Early Bird price of $25; in addition to a taco dinner with a dessert bar, there will be a silent auction, entertainment, and a donation bar. Go here today to get your tickets: https://www.laketravisdemocrats.com/event-details/holiday-party-1
SAVE THE DATE: Jan. 16, 2024 Meeting: Speaker will be former Texas Representative Wendy Davis. She is now the senior adviser to Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, which serves as Planned Parenthood’s political fundraising and advocacy arm. All are invited to attend, 6:30PM, Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek).
TexArts Academy Series Productions
This Lakeway arts powerhouse produces a series of musical productions featuring its youngest performers. Go here for info and tickets: https://www.tex-arts.org/our-season
Dec. 1-2: The Lightening Thief (grades 5-7) Dec. 8-10: Xanadu Jr. (grades 8-12)
Garden Club Mixer
On Thursday, Dec.7, 10:30-NOON, the Lakeway Garden Club hosts a mixer at the Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing). Discuss waterwise gardening, native plants, and creating bountiful vegetable gardens. FREE, with everyone welcome. More info here: https://lakewaygardenclub.com/
Lakeway Parks Town Hall
On Thursday, Dec. 7, 6:30-8:30PM, Parks and Rec Dept. will present a Town Hall at the Activity Center. Details will be provided on the several parks projects being considered for development throughout the city. Come to ask questions and provide feedback, to help select the projects included in a parks bond to be voted on in 2024.
House Watch
If you are traveling over the holidays or only occupy your home here part-time, Lakeway Police Department provides a House Watch program, at no charge. Just let them know, and officers will perform close patrols of the address and contact you if anything appears suspicious. Call 512-261-2800 for info and go here to sign up: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1305/House-Watch-Request
Mayor Kilgore’s Facebook Update
The mayor gave a live update on Nov. 16. Go here to watch: https://www.facebook.com/cityoflakeway/videos/3536489156599680
Engage and Heal Foundation
A local group is promoting mental health awareness, especially among our youth. Its mission is to erase the stigma and encourage conversations around mental health. Foundation President Amelia Floyd and Vice President Tom Kilgore team up for a powerhouse presentation at area groups of all types; contact them via the site below to speak at YOUR upcoming meeting.
REMEMBER, the national SUICIDE/CRISIS hotline is now 988. Call or text 988, 24/7/365. Consider joining/donating to this Foundation, because it is doing much-needed work right here in our community. More Foundation info here: https://engageandheal.org/
Grandparents for Public Schools
A new and NON-PARTISAN local group is advocating for our public schools. Members “of a certain age” are concerned about their grandkids’ education and are lobbying for the Texas Legislature to:
– Fully Fund Our Public Schools.
– Increase the Basic Allotment Per Student.
– Raise Teacher Pay.
– Reject Deceptive Voucher Schemes. More info here on how to get involved and make a difference for ALL of the school children in Texas: http://grandparentsforpublicschools.org/home.html
Nov. 7 Election RESULTS
PASSED–Lake Travis ISD bond package for $143 MILLION to fund expansion and upgrade of athletic facilities.
PASSED–Travis County Bond package. Proposition A is $233 MILLION for roads. Proposition B is $276 MILLION for parks.
PASSED, all EXCEPT #13 which would have extended the age of serving judges–14 Propositions to Amend the Texas Constitution.
Council met on Nov. 6.
RESULTS: All members attended the meeting, all in person.
ITEM 5: Parks Strategic Plan and Funding Discussion—8 proposed projects, costing nearly $29MIL, to be further explored at a Dec. 7 Town Hall. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. All 8 proposed projects were reviewed in detail. (See the chart image, plus the Meeting Packet for full details.) The City’s bond expert also provided info on putting a parks bond on the ballot in May or November of 2024, as well as the impact on the city’s tax rate. Staff was asked to provide details on each project, including cost of individual features in the projects and how the public rated the various projects in 2022. The bond expert was asked for more info, as well.
ITEM 6: Comprehensive Plan Update (with funding of $250K). NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. The Mayor and Council Members provided input to the Comprehensive Plan Committee by answering 4 questions (Your vision for Lakeway? How to improve the 2020 Comp Plan? Goals for the update? What does a Comp Plan update SUCCESS look like?) Most committee members were in attendance and introduced themselves. The committee’s work is expected to take 1-2 years.
ITEM 7: Revising the ordinances as to temporary signs/banners in commercial districts (so that government entities cluding schools, MUDs, and churches can display 2 temporary banners on their property to advertise special events). PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
ITEM 8: Discussion on creating a Youth Council. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. Council Member Vance suggested the city create an advisory group of middle/high school students, in order to get input from the next generation of local leaders. The consensus was to move forward with this idea.
ITEM 9: Executive Session on certain city employees: City Manager, City Attorney, Municipal Judges, and Municipal Prosecutor. After adjourning into Executive Session at 10:02PM, Council returned at 12:10AM and UNANIMOUSLY approved the City Manager’s evaluation and compensation as discussed (in executive session).
ADJOURNED at 12:11AM.
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/280317
Christmas Happenings
LTlov: Green Santa
Drop off donations at the Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing) by November 27th. Green Santa provides gifts and toys to local Lake Travis children and families in need. Suggestions include sports equipment, dolls, puzzles and games, gift cards, toddler toys, and art supplies. Cash donations are encouraged; payment can be made via check, credit card or Venmo. Go here for several more drop off locations in/near Lakeway and for payment info: https://ltlov.org/
Lights On!
On Friday, Dec. 1, from 6-8PM, join all of Lakeway’s elvesfor the FIRST lighting of the Trail of Lights behind City Hall. There will be food, games, and live Bluegrass music. The fun will start in the parking lot at City Hall (corner of Sailmaster and Lohman’s), with Reindeer Games, cookie decorating and a marshmallow roast. FREE event, but consider bringing a donation of non-perishable food items to benefit Lake Travis Crisis Ministries. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be nearby to fire up the Trail of Lights display and chat with the good little boys and girls of Lakeway. No pets, please. Bicycles, scooters, skateboards and motorized vehicles are not permitted on the trail. Event parking is available at the adjacent Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). Info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1427/Lights-On
Trail of Lights
From Dec. 1-Jan. 1, 6PM to midnight, enjoy Lakeway’s own Trail of Lights. The self-guided Christmas lights trail runs behind City Hall (corner of Sailmaster and Lohman’s). Parking is available at the adjacent Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). FREE event. Info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/721/Trail-of-Lights
SingAlong Family Christmas Show
On Sunday, Dec. 3, attend either show, at 2P and at 4PM, at Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek) The event is FREE WITH DONATION of an unwrapped gift – especially sports equipment and dolls – for a child up to age 17. These gifts will be distributed to qualified area families by LTlov Green Santa Program volunteers. More info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=4783&month=12&year=2023&day=3&calType=0
Grinch Movie
On Friday, Dec. 8, 6-8PM, watch the classic Dr. Seuss Grinch movie on the jumbo screen, at City Hall parking lot (corner of Sailmaster and Lohman’s). Plus–games, vendors, hot chocolate and see the Grinch himself.
Nutcracker Dances
On Sunday, Dec. 10, 4-5PM, Lakeway Arts Committee presents a FREE performance of excerpts from the Nutcracker Ballet.by Metamorphosis Dance, at Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). More info here as the date approaches: https://lakewayartsdistrict.com/event/arts-in-the-afternoon-metamorphosis-dance-nutcracker/?instance_id=4555&_gl=1*gbb77s*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTIwMzYzNTczMy4xNjk2NjA3Nzc5*_ga_VZNV0ZBQKG*MTY5NjYwNzc3OC4xLjEuMTY5NjYwNzkzOS4wLjAuMA
Heritage Trail Bus Tours coming in January
Tours are on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, at 9:15AM, 11:15AM, and 1:15PM, leaving from Lakeway City Hall. These popular tours fill up fast, so make reservations NOW. Got here for info and to sign up: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1171/Heritage-Trail
Daring Mighty Things
With the US and several other countries pushing hard toward long-term, even permanent, expeditions to the moon, Mars and beyond, maybe it is time to study human reproduction in space. (Image credit: George Wylesol.) To date, there is little to no data on sex without gravity; weightlessness sounds fun but without a stable up and down, things could get … frustrating. And, how would gestation proceed in space? What about delivering a baby? How would it learn to walk and grow to maturity? It isn’t just gravity issues—what about radiation out there in the black, without the protection of Earth’s atmosphere? Space Billionaires Should Spend More Time Thinking About Sex 11/5/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/05/opinion/space-billionaires-sex.html
The above image, taken Nov. 7, shows a stunning aurora borealis dancing over an iceberg off the coast of Greenland. (Image credit: Dennis Lehtonen.)
The annual Leonid meteor shower is at its peak the weekend of Nov. 18, but it continues until Dec. 2. (Image credit: Guy Ottewell.) Leonid meteor shower: All you need to know in 2023 11/17/23 https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-leonid-meteor-shower/
“Rapid unscheduled disassembly.” Also known as “ka-boom.” After a disastrous initial test flight last spring, SpaceX finally got clearance from the FAA (and US Fish and Wildlife) for a 2nd unmanned shot for its massive Starship. Early on Nov. 18, Starship launched from South Texas. (Image credit: SpaceX.) However, the rocket’s massive Super Heavy booster soon exploded, with the upper-stage vehicle itself detonating before reaching its target altitude. While the 1st flight exploded within seconds of launch, flight #2 lasted about 6 minutes, which SpaceX calls a success. The FAA, on the other hand, immediately launched an investigation. No word yet if Fish and Wildlife will be having another serious chat with Elon Musk…. SpaceX Starship megarocket launches on 2nd-ever test flight, explodes in ‘rapid unscheduled disassembly 11/18/23 https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-second-test-flight-launch-explodes
On Nov. 10, a Russian cargo ship docked to the International Space Station fired its engines for a 5 minute burn. The resulting jolt caused the sprawling yet fragile ISS to sail out of the away of a cloud of incoming space debris, tracked by NASA. Highspeed debris could damage exterior equipment and puncture the walls of the football field-sized ISS, with catastrophic results. With an ever-increasing amount of junk caught in orbit around Earth, these maneuvers are happening more frequently each year. (Image credit: NASA.) International Space Station dodges orbital debris hours before SpaceX cargo ship’s arrival 11/10/23 https://www.space.com/international-space-station-space-debris-spacex-dragon-spacecraft-arrival
Oops…. On Nov. 1, during a 7-hour spacewalk to accomplish several exterior repairs and adjustments, astronauts lost track of a tool bag, which drifted away. (The tool bag is visible dead center of the right-hand photo above.) More space debris…. (Image credits—NASA.) Two Astronauts Lost a Tool Bag in Space. It’s Not Alone. 11/13/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/13/science/space/nasa-lost-tool-bag-spacewalk.html
Click on the link below to watch NASA’s one-minute time-lapse video, showing creation of the rocket boosters that will send astronauts to the moon in 2024. (Image credit: NASA.) Watch NASA build Artemis 2 astronaut moon rocket boosters ahead of 2024 launch 11/5/23 https://www.space.com/nasa-artemis-2-moon-rocket-booster-build-launch-work
The European Space Agency has a new robotic telescope in space. Launched last July, it is sending home stunning images. The above shot highlights the Perseus Galaxy Cluster, which is over 250 million lightyears away. The background includes over 100,000 galaxies, that are up to 10 billion lightyears out. (Image credit: ESA, Euclid Consortium, NASA; Processing: Jean-Charles Cuillandre, CEA Paris-Saclay & Giovani Anselmi.) Euclid Telescope Dazzles With Detailed First Images of Our Universe 11/7/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/07/science/euclid-telescope-photos.html
With liberty and justice for all … except women.
The Nov. 7 elections included abortion measures in 2 states. In BOTH–red-leaning Ohio and blue-leaning Virginia–residents voted for abortion access and reproductive freedom. In Ohio, voters overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment keeping abortion legal until roughly 23 weeks of pregnancy. In Virginia, Republicans tried to gain full control of the state legislature by running their candidates on a 15-week abortion ban; instead, voters demanded better, bolstering the Democratic majority in the state Senate AND flipping the state House blue. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, all 7 states voting on the issue have chosen to protect or expand abortion rights.
Back to me….
I took some time off and had a forever friend visit from Michigan. We did day-trips around the Hill Country, which was a ton of fun. BONUS–we got a BIG head-start on our Christmas shopping….
Remember the panda born at The National Zoo in 2020? Watching live cam and videos of little Xiao (AKA Biscuit) helped a lot of people get through the pandemic, and I included updates here in the blog for his first year and beyond. He is now a big boy and, along with both parents, recently returned to China. All pandas in American zoos, including those born here, still belong to China and were only on loan to us; per existing treaty, they are all going back to China. (As of now, the Atlanta Zoo still has 4 pandas, but they are leaving soon.) The National Zoo’s panda program is ending after more than 50 years as China looks elsewhere 11/7/23 https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/08/world/panda-diplomacy-us-china/index.html
The good news is that “panda diplomacy” may not be over after all. Recent negotiations between the US and China on international issues have softened, as indicated by a tentative offer from China made this week to loan pandas to the US again soon. Take heart, it looks like China could send new pandas to the US 11/16/23 https://apnews.com/article/xi-jinping-pandas-apec-94420197473c4152d6a2ce054c725873
Our deer herd is still sharply divided, thanks to rut season. The does and their youngsters born in the last couple years hang out together in clusters. And, the odd buck struts around in solitary splendor.
Here are some recent photos of our herd.
The Coronavirus
As of Oct. 28, the New York Times correlated the CDC’s statistics for the US, showing just the slightest uptick. Across the country, a daily average of 3,871 people were being hospitalized for Covid-19, which is a 2% RISE over 2 weeks. But, TOTAL hospitalizations DROPPED 4% over that time. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/us/covid-cases.html
Recent Covid-19 Articles
–“People aren’t thinking about us”: How new ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates impacts medically-vulnerable Texans 11/13/23 https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/13/texas-disabled-covid-vaccine-ban/
–Can’t Think, Can’t Remember: More Americans Say They’re in a Cognitive Fog—LONG COVID as major cause 11/13/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/13/upshot/long-covid-disability.html
–I Just Got Over Covid but Still Feel Awful 11/7/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/07/well/covid-symptoms-sick.html
–Some Covid Vaccines Are Still Hard to Find 11/6/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/06/well/live/covid-vaccines-novavax.html