May Ukraine Have Peaceful Skies Again.
Here is what’s happening in Lakeway….
Hill Country Galleria Concerts
Saturday night concerts are FREE and continue Oct. 7, Oct. 14, and Oct. 21, 7-9PM. Location is the Central Plaza Lawn. For details, go here: https://www.hillcountrygalleria.com/event/saturday-night-concert-series/2145574802
Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, at TexARTS
NOW through October 15, TexARTS presents a farcical take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most celebrated detective, in Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery. Info and tickets here: https://www.tex-arts.org/upcoming-productions
Teen Art Contest– Entries Due Friday, October 13
Lake Travis Community Library is sponsoring an art contest for teens. Deadline to enter is Oct. 13. Win cash prizes, plus a selection of entries will be displayed in the library’s meeting room in November. Contact Youth Services Librarian Nicholle Halprin to enter: atnhalprin@laketravislibrary.org (512) 263-2885.
Nosferatu, A Symphony of Horror
Celebrate FRIDAY THE 13TH! On Friday, Oct. 13, 7PM, at the Lakeway Activity Center, this classic film will celebrate its 101-year anniversary, brought to life by the Lake Travis High School Chamber Orchestra. Concessions available. Dress as a vampire for the costume contest! (Prizes are gift cards donated by HEB.) Go here to purchase $5 tickets: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTI2MDE5OTA=
Partial solar eclipse
Lakeway will experience a 90% solar eclipse on Saturday, Oct. 14, just before noon. We will see this striking event as a ring of fire, with the moon passing in front of the sun but leaving the solar edges exposed from our perspective. (Consider this practice for the TOTAL solar eclipse Lakeway gets in April of 2024.) Remember—NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT AN ECLIPSE, as serious eye injury can result. Go here for tips on safe viewing, and more: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2023/safety/
Lake Travis Democrats Club
Oct. 15: Postcard Writing Party, 2PM Lakeway City Park Pavilion. Help apply stamps and address stickers to postcards going out to thousands of local Dems.
Oct. 17: Monthly Meeting, 6:30PM at Lakeway Activity Center. Speakers are: LTISD Superintendent Paul Norton, regarding the school bonds on the upcoming ballot; and Bob Popinsky, Director of Policy at Raise Your Hand Texas, talking about public school funding and vouchers.
Oct. 23: Movie Night, 3PM at the Hill Country Galleria Cinemark. Movie: Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI.Meet in the lobby after the movie for a discussion with food and/or drink plus lively discussion at a local restaurant.
Oct. 24: Banned Book Club, 6:30PM at Lake Tavis Community Library.This month’s book isKENT STATE – FOUR DEAD IN OHIO by Derf Backderf.
Happy Hour is generally the first Thursday of each month. Check the website for details and catch us next month! https://www.laketravisdemocrats.com/
SPECIAL NOTICE: Help us get the word out that we are here to fight for Democracy. We’re organizing a postcard initiative in October to enhance our presence among local democratic and progressive community members. Kindly use this link https://secure.actblue.com/donate/western-travis-democrats-1# for the Western Travis Democrats PAC to contribute funds for purchasing postage and supplies for this campaign, a proud joint endeavor by Western Travis Democrats, Lake Travis Voices for Progress, Tuscan Village Voters, and Lake Travis Democrats.
Concert in the Park/Ribbon Cutting Event
On Sunday, Oct. 15, 4PM, join Lakeway Parks & Recreation Department in the official opening of the newly completed bridge and pathway in the Hurst Creek Sculpture Garden located at 104 Cross Creek. The new sidewalk connects the Hamilton and Smith Greenbelts.
Immediately following the ribbon cutting, Band of the Hills performs a FREE concert for the community. This non-audition, volunteer organization is a wind and percussion ensemble composed of musicians from Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock, Pflugerville and the surrounding area.
Witches Ride
–Sunday, Oct. 15, 2-3PM: Practice for the Flash Mob Dance, at LAC. FREE but BYOB–Bring Your Own BROOM.
—Saturday, Oct. 21, 6PM: TIME TO FLY! The Witches Ride, Roll and Stroll returns this fall. FREE EVENT! Join in with your bicycles, tricycles, unicycles, skates, scooters, wheelchairs, golf carts, wagons, and plain ol’ walking feet. Start off at Live Oak Golf Course’s parking lot. For those not riding in the flight, join us along Lakeway Drive to cheer on the parade and catch some candy! At the Lakeway Activity Center’s finish line, enjoy a fun Carnival, 6:30-9PM. Check here for updates on entertainment, refreshments and more: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1882/Witches-Ride
LMUD Open House
The week of Oct. 16-20, Lakeway MUD is hosting Conversation Starters , a week-long Open House, at 1097 Lohmans Crossing. Every day at 10AM and 2PM, experts will discuss topics such as its new WaterSmart platform, wildfire preparation, the fall forecast, native plants, and much more. Refreshments, handouts and more will be provided. Go here for details and the schedule: https://lakewaymud.org/update/open-house-oct-16-20-conversation-starters-at-10am-and-2pm-daily/
Lakeway Players present: Deathtrap
On Oct. 26, 27, 28, 8PM at the Lakeway Activity Center,The Lakeway Players will perform Ira Levin’s twisty comedy-thriller classic. Tickets are $25 each, with assigned tables. Ticket sales for members will begin on Tuesday, September 12 and for non-members on Monday, September 18. To purchase, go here and click on City Events & Performances: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog
Haunted Trail—for older kids (age 13 and up)
On Friday and Saturday, Oct. 27-28, 7-9PM, get spooked at this FUN and FREE event hosted for kids 13 and up by the City of Bee Cave. Location is 3702 RM 620 South; park at Target, with the trail starting behind Chick-fil-A. Go here for info: https://www.facebook.com/cityofbeecave/
Kiddie Halloween Trunk-or-Treat (for younger kids)
On Sunday, Oct. 29, 4-6PM, families with younger kids can pick up candy and goodie bags from area businesses after parking at Target. Another FUN and FREE event hosted by the City of Bee Cave, this one caters to the younger set, with a mini train ride, face painting and free giveaways. Go here for info: https://www.facebook.com/cityofbeecave/
Public Safety Day–get hands-on with firetrucks and a Starflight helicopter!
On Saturday, Oct. 28, take the family to join the fun at the 12th annual Public Safety Day, presented by our first responders. At Lake Travis Elementary School (15303 Kollmeyer Drive), from 11AM-2:30PM, this FREE EVENT lets folks visit with local Police and Fire and Rescue personnel AND check out their rigs and equipment. Plus, there will be a live fire demonstration. Also, drop off unwanted medication—see item below for details. Enjoy live music, food vendors, a bounce house, animal balloons, face painting and lots more fun for all. Kids can even dress for Halloween!
Prescription Take Back Day
On Saturday, Oct. 28, 10AM-2PM, at Lake Travis Elementary School (15303 Kollmeyer Drive) drop off old/unwanted medications to be destroyed safely. FREE and open to the public. Just bring meds in the original container, crossing out any personal information. OR—you can remove the medication from the container and dump it directly into the disposal box. This program is anonymous and no questions or requests for identification will be made. No effort will be made to count, inventory, or log medications. ITEMS ACCEPTED: Controlled, uncontrolled and over-the-counter medications including vitamins, herbal supplements, pet medication and liquid products (such as cough syrup). NO COMMERCIAL ITEMS WILL BE ACCEPTED. For more info, contact Lakeway PD at 512-261-2800 or go here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/500/Prescription-Take-Back-Initiative
Become a Member of Lakeway Activity Center/Renew Membership NOW
Early Bird Bonus! Sign up for 2024, and you will get the last 3 months of 2023 FREE.
Existing Members—please renew NOW, so we save YOUR TAX DOLLARS on postage, printing, and staff time for the membership drive.
Lakeway Resident rates: Individual $10; Family $50. Non-Resident rates: Individual $80; Family $120.
November Election
DATES:
— Early Voting: Oct. 23-Nov. 3.
— Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 7.
VOTING LOCATIONS:
— Lakeway Activity Center, 105 Cross Creek.
— Lake Travis ISD Education Development Center, 607 RM 620 N.
— Bee Cave City Hall, 4000 Galleria Parkway
— Any other polling place in Travis County
BALLOT ITEMS:
— Lake Travis ISD bond package for $143 MILLION to fund expansion and upgrade of athletic facilities for the existing middle and high school campuses as well as the district’s second high school. This Community Impact article has details: https://communityimpact.com/austin/lake-travis-westlake/education/2023/08/30/lake-travis-isd-bond-election-to-determine-future-of-district-athletic-facilities/
—Travis County Bond package. Proposition A is $233 MILLION for roads. Proposition B is $276 MILLION for parks. This Community Impact article has details: https://communityimpact.com/austin/central-austin/government/2023/08/17/travis-county-residents-to-vote-on-5095m-bond-package-for-roads-parks-this-november/
—14 Propositions to Amend the Texas Constitution. This Texas Tribune article has good info on all 14 propositions: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/15/texas-constitutional-amendment-voter-guide/
Lakeway’s Veterans Day Observance
On Saturday, Nov. 11, at 11 AM, Lakeway gathers at Lake Travis Performing Arts Center (3324 RR 620 South) to honor military veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Check here for more info as the date approaches: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1426/Veterans-Day-Ceremony
Council Meeting
The next Council meeting is on Monday, Oct. 16. A week prior, check here for the Agenda and Meeting Packet: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
Daring Mighty Things
The James Webb Space Telescope sent back gorgeous images of the Orion Nebula, including the one above. (Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA / Science leads and image processing: M. McCaughrean, S. Pearson, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO.) The incredibly detailed images include valuable data for astronomers, including discovery of over 60 pairs of free-floating gas-giant planets (like our Jupiter). James Webb Space Telescope’s stunning mosaic of Orion Nebula uncovers rogue planets 10/3/23 https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-rogue-planets-stars-forming
Elon Musk offered this underwhelming statement of confidence in his Starship: “If the engines light and the ship doesn’t blow itself up … I think we’ve got a decent chance of reaching orbit.” Currently, SpaceX continues to try to meet the FAA’s safety requirements in order to launch another trial run for the unmanned Starship. In the meantime, the immense craft remains stacked on its South Texas launchpad, next to the Gulf, as shown above. (Image credit: SpaceX.) SpaceX’s Starship has ‘decent chance’ of success on upcoming flight, Elon Musk says 10/5/23 https://www.space.com/spacex-elon-musk-starship-expectations-second-flight
NASA released fascinating photos (including the above, image credit: NASA) of its training mock-up locales for the Artemis 2 mission, including the exercise and sleep areas the astronauts will use inside the Orion capsule while orbiting the moon on a 10-day mission as early as 2024. Eating, toileting and medical systems are detailed as well. Excellent article! Here’s how Artemis 2 astronauts will exercise, sleep and use the toilet on their moon mission 10/5/23 https://www.space.com/artemis-2-orion-spacecraft-moon-astronaut-mockup
The Lagoon Nebula (above) is also known as M8. It is a busy star-forming region 5,000 light-years away from Earth. (Image Credit & Copyright: Josep Drudis, Christian Sasse.) https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230928.html
NASA has some out of this world dirt to play with. On Sept. 24, the 9LBS of rock and soil samples scraped off an asteroid in 2020 crash-landed in Utah, after making the 4 billion mile trip to Earth from the asteroid Bennu. NASA’s first-ever samples of an asteroid in deep space have landed safely on Earth in a historic first for the United States. NASA’s OSIRIS-REx lands samples of asteroid Bennu to Earth after historic 4-billion-mile journey 9/24/23 https://www.space.com/nasa-osiris-rex-success-recovery-asteroid-sample
The FCC has decided to enforce its rules about space litter. It fined satellite television provider DISH $150K for failing to safely deorbit its 2002 EchoStar-7 satellite. DISH planned to deorbit the spacecraft in May, 2022; however, the satellite ran out of fuel, stranding it in geostationary orbit pretty much forever and very much in the way. FCC issues 1st-ever space debris fine, serves DISH $150k penalty 10/3/23 https://www.space.com/space-debris-fcc-first-fine-dish-deorbit-satellite
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and 2 cosmonauts returned from the ISS aboard Russia’s Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft on Sept. 27. Their touchdown on the Kazakhstan steppe ended a 371-day stay in space for all three, their mission unexpectedly extended by 6 months due to the malfunctioning of their original Soyuz ride home. Rubio now holds the record for the single longest mission flown by an U.S. astronaut. Record-setting NASA astronaut lands with Russian crewmates after 1 year on space station 9/27/23 https://www.space.com/nasa-astronaut-lands-after-record-year-in-space-soyuz-m23-landing-success
With liberty and justice for all … except women
For decades, women came to the US from Mexico for abortion care, but now the tide is reversed. Presently, the federal ban on abortions has been lifted in Mexico, and 12 states there have legalized it. Now, Americans living near the southern border are traveling to various locations in Mexico for surgical abortions; many clinics there are mailing abortion pills to women in the US. A New Border Crossing: Americans Turn to Mexico for Abortions 9/25/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/25/world/americas/mexico-abortion-women-border.html
Back to me….
Scariest thing I read recently: What creature has killed the most human beings, ever? You already hate them, but this may shock you. Answer is below, under the deer photos.
I got the new Covid-19 vaccination from HEB, with only a sore arm for a day to show for it. Also signed up for Medicare Plan A and Plan B, which was way easier than anticipated; I received a Benefit Verification letter in 3 days, instead of the advertised 3 weeks. Now, I’m working with a local insurance agent to figure out the rest (Medigap and Plan D). Still waiting on my new passport.
My new cell phone is a work in progress. A second session with the wonderful Geek Squad at Best Buy helped, as did a nifty SanDisk stick that easily moves photos from my cell to my laptop for editing. But, I am VERY disappointed in the quality of photos taken with the new phone. Sure, they look great on the phone screen, but any shots taken with serious zoom—which is nearly ALL my deer photos—have poor resolution and cannot be edited to use in this blog or print. And a helpful Geek explained why. A true camera, even a compact point and shoot, has a mechanical zoom lens that physically lengthens to create a sharp close-up image. Cell phones can’t do that; they just magnify the image by cropping it to center, majorly losing pixels in the process. So, I still need to juggle my Canon and my phone on walks to get deer photos.
Speaking of our deer herd, it is RUT SEASON now (through January or so), and things are getting wild out there. Here are some of my recent photos, buck images saved from the summer when I was in love with the fawns and posted mostly their photos here.
Scary answer to the above question—MOSQUITOES kill more humans than any other creature.
A mosquito’s bite spreads many diseases (malaria, dengue virus, Zika, West Nile virus and more) that can be deadly to humans. They also infect animals (especially cats, dogs and horses) in terrible ways. Malaria is being diagnosed by incredulous doctors all over the South, but especially in Texas and Florida. This summer, local officials found West Nile in dozens of Travis County samples, with at least 1 resident known to have died from this disease in the last month. Even with the little rain we have had lately, I’m seeing mosquitoes. So, check around your house for any standing water and get rid of it. (Bird baths will NOT breed these pests as long as you change the water daily.)
Human kind had great success in fighting these pests in recent decades. But, the really bad news is that mosquitoes are now making a big and deadly comeback. Basically—they adapted to our insecticides and avoidance strategies. Go here for tons of mosquito info: https://www.epa.gov/mosquitocontrol/general-information-about-mosquitoes Also, this 30-minute podcast is very good: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/05/podcasts/the-daily/mosquitos-malaria.html
The Coronavirus
As of Sept. 23, the New York Times correlated the CDC’s statistics for the US, showing the summer surge abating. Excellent news! Across the country, a daily average of 4,546 people were being hospitalized for Covid-19, which is a 3% DROP over 2 weeks. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/us/covid-cases.html
Recent Covid-19 Articles
We Should Have Known So Much About Covid from the Start 10/5/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/05/opinion/covid-pandemic-michael-mina.html
Could a Nasal Spray Help Protect You From Covid? 10/4/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/28/well/live/nasal-sprays-covid-treatment-prevention.html
Nobel Prize goes to scientists who made mRNA COVID vaccines possible 10/2/23 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/10/02/1202941256/nobel-prize-goes-to-scientists-who-made-mrna-covid-vaccines-possible
The Mystery Around Covid Fatigue 9/27/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/27/well/live/covid-symptoms-fatigue.html
What to Know About Paxlovid Rebound 9/26/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/26/well/live/covid-paxlovid-rebound.html