What is going on in Lakeway?
September art display
Lake Travis Community Library features the abstract watercolors of local artist and art teacher Lynn Zwern in the meeting room this month.
Lake Travis Film Festival
September 15-18 the 2022 LTFF will host films and events at pop-up locations in Lakeway and Bee Cave (Hill Country Galleria, High5, ContraCommon, La Quinta Inn and Suites by Wyndham Lakeway, Star Hill Ranch, Goga, Bee Cave City Hall, and more). In addition to film screenings, there will be a screenwriter workshop, live script readings, filmmaker meet and greets, parties and gatherings of all sorts. Go here for complete info: https://www.laketravisfilmfestival.com/
GIVE BLOOD at Lakeway Activity Center
The next blood drive at LAC is on Saturday, Sept. 17. The event is always well organized, clean and friendly, getting folks done and out the door in under 30 minutes. It is an important cause and helps countless people. Plus—FREE JUICE AND COOKIES! While walk-ins are welcome, those with appointments have priority. You can see upcoming dates and make an appointment to donate by entering your zip code here– https://weareblood.org/donor/schedule/
Lake Travis Democrats
Monthly club meetings resume after the summer break, on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at Lakeway Activity Center, 6:00PM social/6:30PM meeting. Speakers include Rochelle Garza, AG candidate; Janet Dudding, State Comptroller Candidate; Anne Howard, Travis County Commissioner Candidate; and Diana Arevalo, Travis County Democratic Party Campaign Manager. Go here for more info: https://www.laketravisdemocrats.com/club-activities
Sock Hop at LAC
Lakeway Art Committee presents this fun and FREE event on Monday, Sept. 26, 7-9PM, at Lakeway activity Center. It features The Highlights, plus musicians from People’s Choice. Renowned singers Barbara Calderaro, David Cummings and Howard T. Levine will provide vocals. Get dolled up in your best 40s and 50s fashions, and bring snacks and beverages.
Aging Well Expo at LAC
On Tuesday, September 27, 8:30 am-12:30 pm, the Lakeway Activity Center hosts the annual Aging Well Expo, presented by Lake Travis Senior Services. FREE event! Enjoy complimentary breakfast and coffee at 8:30 am, plus lunch at noon. Also–Goody Bags, door prizes, exhibits, expert speakers, and more. Flu shots will be available. Speakers will address topics including Medicare changes, scam prevention, Alzheimer’s, things you always wanted to ask a doctor about aging, and more. Come for the whole morning, or stop by as your schedule allows. Go here for speakers’ schedule and registration: https://ltseniorservices.org/aging-well-expo
Mah Jongg at the Library
Lake Travis Community Library hosts in-person American Mah Jongg, on Mondays, 1pm-4pm. Bring cards if you have them, and join in the fun.
Lake Travis Independent Living is Hiring
Need work? A stellar employer right here in Lakeway, Lake Travis Independent Living is now hiring concierge/front desk help, as well as kitchen workers, meal servers, director of entertainment, and activities coordinator. Located in the BSW hospital complex, LTIL has the nicest group of staff AND residents you will find anywhere! (I’m not doing the hiring, but I work there and am happy to recommend the place.) For info on each position and to apply, go to Indeed and search for Lake Travis Independent Living: https://www.indeed.com
Video of this year’s Lakeway July 4 Parade
Go here to watch the 7-minute video, created by the Lakeway Heritage Center: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uO_AF9rQDQ
National Night Out
National Night Out this year is on Tuesday, October 4, 2022. This annual event encourages citizen engagement with their neighbors and with the police, to strengthen our community and heighten crime-prevention awareness. It supports local safety programs and organizes neighborhoods to take a stand against crime. BONUS—you get to know your neighbors and spend time with friends.
In addition, this year, there will be a special Open House at the Lakeway Police Department from 4-6PM. To register a block party, go here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/FormCenter/Police-Department-12/National-Night-Out-SignUp-Form-87
September is National Preparedness Month
Preparation includes being alert to local emergencies, and a great way to do that is by getting Lakeway’s Voyent Alerts. Weather, wildfire, traffic incidents/road closures, evacuation notices and more will be sent to you via text, email or voice messages. Go here to register for this FREE service (available even if you live outside Lakeway city limits) https://voyent-alert.com/us/community/#registration
Student Art Contest for Veterans Day Ceremony
City of Lakeway is now accepting student art entries for the City of Lakeway’s 2022 Veterans Day Ceremony, set for Nov. 11, 2022. The contest is open to students (K-12 grades) within Lake Travis ISD. Artwork must be original in design. Digital art is preferred, but hand-painted or physically displayed artwork is also accepted. The winning entry will be featured in the City’s Veterans Day Ceremony promotional materials and the event program. Contest deadline is Oct. 21, 2022. Email info@lakeway-tx.gov or go here for more info– https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=1663
Lakeway Transportation Bond–$17,500,000–on Nov. 8 Election Ballot
Lakeway residents can vote up or down Proposition A, the city’s $17,500,000 (maximum amount) transportation bond, on the Nov. 8 ballot. Funds will be used “for the purpose of designing, acquiring, constructing, renovating, improving, upgrading, updating, and equipping streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, pathways, bike and pedestrian system improvements, demolition, repair, and rebuilding of existing streets and other transportation facilities.” Details are in the above image. NOTE: The last 2 items are likely either/or. If the city can come to agreement with Stratus Development on terms of development and completing The Oaks in a timely fashion, Stratus will build Main Street; in that case, the city will build out Birrell to meet it. If the city and Stratus cannot agree, then the city will have to build Main Street.
Council meets Monday, Sept. 12 at 6:30pm AND Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 8:00am, both at City Hall.
The Monday night meeting covers the new budget and tax rate, as well as final (maybe) consideration of the Stratus proposal for The Oaks development and completing Main Street. The Tuesday morning meeting is an Executive Session (held out of public view) solely to “Interview candidates for City Manager.”
Monday meeting’s consequential items include:
ITEM 10: Amending the 2022 Budget to reflect end of year revenue and expenditures.
ITEM 11: Adopting the 2023 Budget as discussed at recent meetings.
ITEM 12: Adopting the 2022 Property Tax Rate as discussed at recent meetings.
ITEM 13: Follow up from Aug. 15 meeting’s review of Stratus’ requested PUD amendment for The Oaks Phase 2 (where Main St. currently ends: 261 apartments, 28 town homes and an 18-acre park, plus completion of Main Street and a bridge over an environmentally sensitive area). NOTE: Problem areas include high density, lack of parking (Stratus proposes 440 spaces instead of the code-required 532 for the apartment complex and NONE for the park) and the Main Street completion date (Stratus demands 24 months after a construction contract is executed). This was POSTPONED last month, with negotiations to continue on removing all the town homes from the proposal (so the park is 18 acres) and having the city compensate Stratus for part of the road/bridge cost (up to $1M, compared to the $1.6M Stratus has demanded). If agreement is not reached, the City will need to build the portion of Main Street with a bridge running through this tract, via funds on the November ballot as a transportation bond.
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 meetings online (live or later): https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events
Council also meets Monday, Sept. 19, 6:30PM at City Hall.
Agenda will be posted on or around Sept. 13, here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
Daring Mighty Things
Artemis 1 is ready to go back to the moon. OK, the “ready” part is in process. To date, 2 scheduled launches have been scrubbed on the pad (due to an engine bleed and a hydrogen leak). The next launch window is Sept. 23-27. Watch for updates here: https://www.nasa.gov/
The ashes of Nichelle Nichols, who died in July and played Lieutenant Uhura in the original “Star Trek” television series and movie franchise, will be launched into space later this year. Celestis, a private spaceflight company that partners with NASA, will carry more than 200 capsules containing cremated remains, messages of greetings and DNA samples. The rocket will send a lunar lander toward the moon, then pass the Webb telescope and enter a stable orbit around the sun with the Celestis Memorial Spaceflight payload. At the end of the rocket’s powered burn and coast phase, the flight will become the Enterprise Station, in tribute to the space opera. Ashes of other Star Trek luminaries will also be onboard, including creator Gene Roddenberry (whose ashes have reached space on previous flights), his wife Majel Roddenberry (Nurse Chapel and Number One), and James Doohan (Scotty). ‘Star Trek’ legend’s ashes will head to deep space on a Vulcan rocket 8/26/22 https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/26/celebrities/nichelle-nichols-ashes-celestis-flight-star-trek-scn/index.html
With liberty and justice for all … except women.
Medication abortion is safer than surgical abortion, and with the latter now illegal in most states, women are opting for abortion pills whenever possible. Turns out, the rules are a bit fluid right now, and providers are pressing the limits. Some prescribe pills to those not currently pregnant but at risk of becoming so and to women further along than the FDA’s 10-week suggestion. Others provide tele-medicine consultations and prescriptions without verifying that patients are in states that permit abortion. Abortion Pill Providers Experiment With Ways to Broaden Access 9/3/22 https://www.yahoo.com/now/abortion-pill-providers-experiment-ways-152110632.html
Texas November Election
The November 2022 election is less than 2 months away. Voter registration ends Oct. 11. Early voting is Oct. 24-Nov. 4. Election Day is Nov. 8.
Texas will elect its Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, and many more officials. The governor’s race in particular will be hot and heavy, and the result is key not just for our state but for the country. Abortion rights, gun safety, election integrity, immigration policy, the power grid—those are just SOME of the issues to consider when evaluating candidates. For a long time now, Texas has elected the worst among us. This time, let’s elect the BEST.
Help Western Travis Democrats turn our corner of Travis County BLUE. We are fundraising now, to purchase yard signs for Beto and the other candidates, at bulk rates, then distribute them to area homeowners. Your donation will put signs in Lakeway yards! Go here for more info and to donate: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/western-travis-democrats-1
This in-depth account covers ALL the Texas races. Just add your address, and it fills in the local races on your ballot. Here’s your ballot for the Nov. 8 Texas midterm elections 8/23/22 https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2022/texas-ballot-2022-midterm-election-nov-8/
Mark your calendar to watch the Beto/Abbott debate on Sept. 30. Gov. Greg Abbott, Beto O’Rourke agree to debate Sept. 30 in Edinburg 9/1/22 https://www.texastribune.org/2022/09/01/greg-abbott-beto-orourke-debate/
Here’s an entry for biggest understatement ever: “There’s an awful lot of people in Texas who would rather not vote for Dan Patrick.” See more from and about the Dem candidate for Lt. Governor here: Democrat Mike Collier embraces his GOP past as he tries to unseat Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick 9/8/22 https://www.texastribune.org/2022/09/08/texas-lieutenant-governor-2022-mike-collier-dan-patrick/
More recent articles on Texas elections:
—Tarrant County’s Republican county judge backs Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s Democratic challenger 9/4/22 https://www.texastribune.org/2022/09/04/glen-whitley-mike-collier-dan-patrick/
–Not so fast: Greg Abbott, Texas Republicans face a complex election landscape after abortion ruling, Uvalde shooting 9/6/22 https://www.texastribune.org/2022/09/06/texas-2022-election-greg-abbott-beto-orourke/
—6-Minute video interview of AG candidate Rochelle Garza 9/8/22 https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/video/full-interview-democratic-candidate-for-attorney-general-rochelle-garza/#x
—Mysterious group targeting Gov. Greg Abbott reserves $6 million in TV ads ahead of November election 9/9/22 https://www.texastribune.org/2022/09/09/greg-abbott-beto-orourke-tv-ads/
Candidates aside, Lake Travis ISD (which ALREADY gets the largest chunk of our sky-high property tax payments) will ask voters to approve $703 million in bonds, during the November election. There are 3 separate bond issues to vote yes or no on–for new facilities, district technology and athletic facilities. Go here for details: https://communityimpact.com/austin/lake-travis-westlake/education/2022/08/18/lake-travis-isd-to-hold-703-million-bond-election-in-november/
Back to me….
Over 40 years into being a vegetarian, I decided to get off cow’s milk. After a month experimenting with most of the plant-based milks, I’m going with soy milk. It has the most protein and the highest nutritional value of all the options. I love soy’s taste and consistency in cereal, but I’m not completely happy with how it changes my coffee (the other options were worse). Guess I’ll get used to it….
Our deer herd knows it is fall, even if the weather still screams summer. Suddenly, their movement patterns are shifting, as the deer are grouping together again. Fawns are tall and lean, with rapidly fading spots. Rut season is approaching, with the bucks looking formidable, though the does aren’t impressed.
Here are recent photos I took of our herd.
The Coronavirus
Worldwide, 12.6 billion shots have been given, with 63.2% of the planet’s population fully vaccinated.
In China, every province is recording infections, and over 60 million people are in lockdown. In many areas, testing facilities are overrun, food markets are bare, and unemployment has soared.
In the US, in the last 2 weeks, the new case rate was down 28%, hospitalizations dropped 9%, and deaths decreased 21%. We are averaging 66,000new cases per day. 35,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with Covid, and an average of 382 people die each day. The national testing positivity rate is 13%.
Since January 2020, at least 1 in 3 people who live in the United States have been infected, and at least 1 in 317 people have died.
The Biden administration’s program to mail test kits to all Americans was suspended as of Sept. 2, due to lack of funds. During 2022, three batches of tests were shipped to all who requested them, amounting to 350 million kits sent to 70 million homes. However, Congress has failed to provide funding needed to replenish the national stockpile of testing kits.
A study done in Israel recently found that Pfizer’s Covid treatment Paxlovid was effective in reducing hospitalization and death in patients over 65, with less efficacy in younger patients. In the US, Paxlovid is recommended to be taken soon after infection onset for patients 50 and over or at high risk for serious disease.
Native American populations have the highest death rate in the US, across all age groups. This is despite higher vaccination rates than other minorities. Explanations include high rates of complicating health factors (including obesity and diabetes), widespread poverty, typically poor medical care, and multi-generational living that enables Covid spread.
As for vaccinations in the US, 68% of the entire population is fully vaccinated (no change in last 2 weeks). Nearly 109 million booster shots have been given. Average shots administered per day fell to 96,000.
On Aug, 31, the FDA approved 2 new vaccines, made by Pfizer and Moderna and targeting the latest Omicron variants, including now-dominant BA.5. People age 12 and older are eligible, and the new booster can be given as soon as 2 months after the last initial shot or booster. Among those eligible for the shot, people who haven’t gotten a booster yet in 2022 have the most critical need for the new booster.
The new bivalent Covid-19 vaccine shots will soon be available nationwide, targeting the latest Omicron variants. As far as timing the new booster, experts say that people generally should wait around four to six months after the last immunization or infection, in order to maximize immune response. The CDC estimates that getting the new Covid shot will save 9,000 lives and avoid 100,000 hospitalizations. Going forward, the plan is to have new boosters every fall, formulated to guard against the latest variants, much like flu shots are formulated for the latest virus.
The new vaccines, targeted to prevent infection by current versions of the virus, should be available nationwide in September. However, vaccination efforts at the local, state and federal level are now hampered by lack of funding. Over the last year, and especially the last 6 months, vaccination sites have closed all over the country. To date, Congress has failed to provide continued funding for Covid prevention, including vaccination and testing centers. So, this time, most of the shots will be given at pharmacies and in doctors’ offices. As always, the Covid vaccination are free to patients, but lack of funding means providers may not be compensated for shots given to uninsured patients.
In Texas, the positivity test rate is 20%. In the last 2 weeks, new cases decreased 20%, hospitalizations dropped 10%, and deaths fell 29%. We are averaging 6,000 new daily cases, and an average of 20 Texans die each day. As of now, there are 2,900 Texans hospitalized for Covid-19.
Only 62% of all Texas residents are fully vaccinated.
Recent Covid Articles I Recommend
4 things to know about the bivalent booster campaign rollout 9/8/22 https://www.politico.com/news/2022/09/08/bivalent-booster-cdc-covid-00055346
What to Know About the New Booster Shots 8/31/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/31/well/covid-booster-shots-variants.html
FDA authorizes first revamp of COVID vaccines to target omicron 8/31/22 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/08/31/1120241293/fda-authorizes-first-revamp-of-covid-vaccines-to-target-omicron
Paxlovid Cuts Covid Deaths Among Older People, Israeli Study Finds 8/30/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/30/health/paxlovid-efficacy-seniors.html
The government will no longer be sending free COVID-19 tests to Americans 8/29/22 https://www.npr.org/2022/08/29/1119880329/the-government-will-no-longer-be-sending-free-covid-19-tests-to-americans
Fall Vaccination Campaign Will Bring New Shots, Worse Access 8/28/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/28/health/covid-vaccines-money.html
If You’re Suffering After Being Sick With Covid, It’s Not Just in Your Head 8/25/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/25/opinion/long-covid-pandemic.html