Be brave like Ukraine.
Here is what is happening in Lakeway.
SEPTEMBER
Sunday Afternoon Concert at LAC
On Sunday, Sept. 15, 4-5:30PM, enjoy Debussy String Quartet/Schubert Cello Quintet at the Lakeway Activity Center. FREE event! Info here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1862/Sunday-Afternoon-Concert-Series
City Hall Art Gallery—Sept. 16 Reception for Georgia Hagan.
Georgia Hagan is the local artist whose work is displayed at City Hall (1102 Lohmans Crossing Rd.) during September and October. MEET THE ARTIST, at a reception on Monday, Sept. 16 at 5:30pm. More info plus form to complete to display YOUR art is here: https://lakeway-tx.gov/2040/City-Hall-Art-Gallery
Council meets on Monday, Sept. 16, 6:30PM at City Hall to FINALIZE the Budget and Tax Rate, and More
Consequential Agenda items include:
ITEM 21: Citizens Participation for Items NOT on the Agenda.
ITEM 22: Financial Report.
ITEM 23: Authorizing issuance and selling of the $22MIL Parks Bond approved in May.
ITEM 24: Special Use Permit for 99 years, allowing a Cellular Tower to be built and operated by KGI Wireless on city land at 3303 Serene Hills Drive, in order to improve cell coverage in Rough Hollow.
ITEM 25: Update on the Buy Local Campaign, by the Economic Development Committee.
ITEM 26: Request by Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce for $6,500 from Hotel Occupancy Tax Fund.
ITEM 29: Adopting the Annual Budget for Fiscal year 2024-2025, at $20,490,068. (This budget will raise more total property taxes than last year’s budget by $2,192,912 or 19.53% percent, and of that amount, $258,361 is tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year.)
ITEM 30: Adopting the Tax Rate for 2024 (seemingly being a total Tax Rate of $0.1600 per $100 valuation, compared to the current rate of 0.1440).
ITEM 31: Discussion on increasing Lakeway’s Over Age 65 Property Tax Homestead Exemption. (The exemption is now $25,000 and covers 2,961 homes, reducing the tax burden by a total of $116,182, being $39 per year on average. Discussion is on increasing the exemption to $30,000, $35,000 or $40,000. See 2 charts in the images.)
ITEMS 32, 33, 34: Executive Sessions for West Austin Business Park Legal Intervention, Police Policies, and Employee Matters/City Manager.
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
Council’s Sept. 3 Budget/Tax Rate Meeting is summarized below, at the end of this section.)
Shred Day
Lake Travis Senior Services is sponsoring a FREE shred opportunity, on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 9-11 AM. Just drop off papers at Lakeway Commons (corner of Lakeway Blvd. and 620), in the parking lot of Lakeway Aquatic PT. Info here: https://www.ltseniorservices.org/event-details/shred-day-5
Lake Travis Democrats Club
–MONTHLY MEETING: Tuesday, Sept. 17, 6:30PM at Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek), with a presentation by Joshua Blank, Research Director of the Texas Politics Project and polling expert.
–BOOK CLUB: Tuesday, Sept. 24, 6:30PM at Lake Travis Community Library (1938 Lohmans Crossing Rd.). The book is The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak.
—Want a DEM campaign sign for your yard? Go here and follow the prompts to request signs (while supplies last): https://www.laketravisdemocrats.com/
–We have a hugely important election in November. LT Dems are working with Western Travis Democrats (a group of local Dem Precinct Chairs) to organize activities including mailings, block walks/lit drops, phone banks, texting, campaign signs, and more for this fall. Go here (at the link, scroll down to GOTV and click on More Info) to sign up and help GET OUT THE VOTE this fall: https://www.laketravisdemocrats.com/copy-of-club-activities
–These activities take money. Printing, postage, signs—it adds up. Donations are needed. ACT BLUE makes donating easy and secure. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/western-travis-democrats-1
–Check https://www.laketravisdemocrats.com/ for club activities each month.
Art at the Library in September.
The paintings of local artist and illustrator Linda Wells will be on display in Lake Travis Community Library’s meeting room (1938 Lohmans Crossing) during September. Her primary subjects are nature and animals, reflecting a deep appreciation for the natural world.
September is EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Month.
City of Lakeway has a page full of helpful info on steps you can take to make your family and yourself ready for various types of emergencies. Sign up for alerts, create an evacuation bag (stocking it NOW with items like photocopies of important papers and a list of last minute things to add), make a plan for your pets, and much more. https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=1953
Need a RIDE? Want to VOLUNTEER to drive seniors?
Chariot is a FREE service providing rides (for medical appointments and grocery shopping) to non-driving folks age 60 and over. Chariot has been operating across Central Texas (including Lakeway!) since 1988. Riders must be mobile to use the service; wheelchairs cannot be accommodated. Mission statement: “Chariot enriches lives and communities by providing transportation and socialization to non-driving seniors, helping them to age in place.” Volunteer drivers, who must be over 21 with a high school diploma or higher plus a valid driver’s license, are critical to Chariot’s success and use their own vehicles. Click this link or call 512-445-5552 for info and to either set up a ride or volunteer as a driver: https://chariot.org/
Give Blood at Lakeway Activity Center on Sept. 21.
The next blood drive at LAC is on Saturday, Sept. 21, 8AM-noon. This recurring event is well organized, clean and friendly. You will be done and out the door in 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/
Cornhole Tournament at Lakeway Swim Center
Bring family and friends to the Lakeway Swim Center Field (3103 Serene Hills Drive) on Saturday, Sept. 21, 10AM, for City of Lakeway’s 2024 Cornhole Tournament. FREE event! Enjoy a fun-filled day of tossing bags, with college football on the Jumbo Screen, delicious food from local vendors, and exciting activities for all ages. Info here: https://lakeway-tx.gov/2015/Cornhole-Tournament
Aging Well EXPO at LAC
Join Lake Travis Senior Services at its annual Aging Well Expo on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 10AM-1:30PM, at Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). Attendees will learn about services and products promoting health and happiness during the aging process. Enjoy a breakfast snack, lunch and presentations by outstanding speakers, plus door prizes, flu/Covid shots, goody bags, and more. https://www.ltseniorservices.org/aging-well-expo
Taste Lake Travis Food and Wine Festival
On Saturday, Sept. 28, noon-4PM, enjoy an afternoon of samplings, tastings and market opportunities from local chefs, artisans, wineries and distilleries. Location is Meadow at Safe Harbor Emerald Point Marina, 5973 Hiline Rd. Tickets at $75-adult, $20-under age 21, $125-VIP. All ages welcomed. Go here for info and tickets: https://tastelaketravis.info/
OCTOBER
National Night Out—PD Open House plus neighborhood gatherings.
Drop by the Lakeway Police Department (1941 Lohmans Crossing Rd.) on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 4-7PM for an Open House. Meet officers in the various police department divisions, receive crime prevention material and take a tour of the facility. On the tour, you can check out the shooting simulator and test yourself while wearing the drunk goggles. Bring the kids for stickers, coloring books and wristbands.
Police teams and city leaders will also visit National Night Out gatherings in Lakeway. Go here for info and to request a visit to your group/area: https://lakeway-tx.gov/344/National-Night-Out
The Lakeway Players: Kitchen Witches coming in October.
The Lakeway Players present the award-winning comedy, The Kitchen Witches, Oct. 3-5, at Lakeway Activity Center. Doors open at 6:30PM; show starts at 7:30PM. Bring your own food and alcoholic beverages. Tickets are $34. Go here for info and to buy tickets: https://www.thelakewayplayers.com/
Witches Ride
Time to fly! On Saturday, Oct. 19, 5:30-9PM, bring bicycles, tricycles, unicycles, skates, scooters, wheelchairs, golf carts, wagons, or simply walking shoes and meet up at the Live Oak Golf Course’s Driving Range for a magical “flight” down Lakeway Drive. Spectators along the route will have fun, as well, catching candy treats. FREE EVENT. The PARADE starts at 6PM, followed by a CARNIVAL at Lakeway Activity Center, with food and beverage vendors, games, a dunk tank, euro-bungee, photo booth, a movie, and more. Info here: https://lakeway-tx.gov/1882/Witches-Ride
Nosferatu “A Symphony of Horror”
On Saturday, Oct. 26 at 7PM, enjoy a classic horror film at Lakeway Activity Center. This vintage thriller will be accompanied by the Lake Travis High School Chamber Orchestra. Tickets are $7. Dress like a vampire for the contest! Concessions available. Go here for tickets (click on Events tab): https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTI5ODE3MTQ=
SIGN UP NOW for Historical Bus Tours through Lakeway.
These tours always fill up FAST! Registration is OPEN for Lakeway historical bus tours, happening on Friday, Oct. 25, at 9:15AM, 11:15AM, and 1:15PM. FREE tours start at Lakeway City Hall, so you can also take a look inside the historic Liebelt Cabin. Go here for info and to register: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1171/Heritage-Trail
Council Met on Sept. 3, primarily on Budget/Tax Rate.
SEE the Sept. 16 Council Meeting Agenda (near the top), where the final Budget and Tax Rate will be adopted.
RESULTS: ALL members attended the meeting, all in person on the dais.
ITEM 4 (part of the Consent Agenda): This is approval of the lower of 2 bids received for traffic signal installation at the intersection of Wild Cherry and Flint Rock Rd. As the staff report notes, this work was estimated to cost $391K, to be paid out of the recent Transportation Bond. However, the low bid now up for approval came in at a whopping $626K. “The higher cost was due to the Non-Typical intersection for a traffic signal and the terrain surrounding the project.”
–Council Member Sherman pulled this item from the Consent Agenda for discussion as to the huge cost increase over the estimate. After discussion, the item was returned to the Consent Agenda which PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
ITEMS 6 and 7: 2024 Proposed tax Rate AND Fiscal Year 2025 Budget.
NOTE: At the Aug. 19 meeting, Council passed a maximum tax rate of 0.1625 per $100 property valuation. This rate is well over the current rate of 0.1440, costing the average Lakeway homeowner an extra $221. Also, it is the highest tax rate allowed by state law WITHOUT getting voter approval of the increase. Council may stay with 0.1625 or reduce it, before adopting the final rate on Sept. 16. At the Aug. 19 meeting, Council was looking at a $20,695,746 budget, a 3.8% increase from the current year. That may go down, before being finalized on Sept. 16.
–The tax rate and the budget were discussed together. Council agreed on 5% staff raises—2.8% COLA plus 2.2% Merit. Other budget additions included shift differential pay as well as radios for the Police Department. In addition, Council agreed to creatively balance the budget by assuming a $600,000 savings due to cyclical staff vacancies in the coming year. For Communications Dept., auditing software was approved but a survey tool was removed from the budget. Other cuts were suggested for various departments (Parks and Rec in particular) but were rejected, along with the suggestion that non-resident fees be raised to get the Swim Center and Activity Center operating less in the red. It was proposed that staff be asked to cut spending as needed to make the no new revenue rate feasible; that was hotly rejected. In the end, consensus was reached on a budget of $20,555,720, as well as on a tax rate of 0.1600 per $100 property valuation, for now. That rate could drop slightly at the Sept. 16 final meeting on budget and tax rate, or it could go up then (but not over 0.1645.) Budget info is posted by the City here: https://lakeway-tx.gov/DocumentCenter/View/43284/FY-2024-2025-Budget-Draft
ITEM 9: Executive Session on Legal Intervention as to West Austin Business Park.
–NO ACTION TAKEN.
ADJOURNED. (Time was not specified.)
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/314014
Daring Mighty Things
It’s a bird, it’s a plane—NOPE, it’s a solar sail. (Image credit: NASA/Aero Animation/Ben Schweighart.) On Aug. 29, NASA’s ACS3 craft deployed an experimental solar sail at 600 miles above Earth; it measures 860-square-foot and is about twice as tall as the International Space Station. The mission is to test sail technology for possible future use. Solar sails work much like nautical sails; instead of wind, sails in space move due to the pressure of sunlight from photons bouncing off their reflective material. The sail can be seen in the night sky as it orbits Earth. To find it, try using NASA’s app to track sighting opportunities from your location. Details are in the article. NASA’s solar sail spacecraft is visible in the night sky. Here’s how to see it 9/6/24 https://www.space.com/nasa-solar-sail-how-to-see-night-sky
Beachgoers, protesters, rocket launch fans, watchdog agencies, and SpaceX employees share close quarters on Boca Chica beach in South Texas. (Image credit: Texas Tribune.) Outraged by damaging and deadly impact to wetlands and wildlife, as well as loss of access to public lands, several coalitions have formed to block SpaceX’s planned expansion that would double the number of launches. The Federal Aviation Administration and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality have noted environmental concerns over SpaceX’s proposal, and investigations are underway. There is also a lawsuit against Texas Parks and Wildlife for giving 43 acres of Boca Chica State Park to SpaceX for development, in exchange for land near another refuge. In South Texas, SpaceX faces skepticism over environmental damage 9/4/24 https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/04/space-x-south-texas-environment/
The FAA is keeping Elon Musk’s giant craft, Starship, grounded until at lease the end of November, after major anomalies during its June Test Fight #4 (that launch is shown above, image credit: SpaceX.) In addition, SpaceX recently submitted new information indicating the environmental impact of Test Flight 5 will cover a larger area than previously reviewed. Per the FAA: “SpaceX must meet all safety, environmental and other licensing requirements prior to FAA launch authorization. A final license determination for Starship Flight 5 is not expected before late November 2024.” Musk stomped his foot: “We find ourselves delayed for unreasonable and exasperating reasons.” SpaceX’s Starship won’t be licensed to fly again until late November, FAA says 9/12/24 https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-flight-five-late-november
The above image shows the Bat Nebula, which appears to us as the same size as the moon. (Image credit: Mike Taivalmaa.) It is part of a much larger formation known as the Veil Nebula, which is over 1,400 light-years from Earth. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240904.html
Starliner made it home. On Sept. 6, the Boeing craft finally completed its mission, empty and distrusted with human cargo, when NASA released it from its ISS docking. Gravity did its thing, and with some remote-control magic, Starliner landed a few hours later in the desert at White Sands Space Harbor, in New Mexico. Images above show the craft descending and then on the ground; image credits: NASA and Boeing. NASA said the return flight was textbook, but Starliner will now be tested further to track down the myriad irregularities detected on its flight to ISS. Boeing’s Starliner capsule just landed with no crew aboard. What’s next for this astronaut taxi? 9/7/24 https://www.space.com/boeing-starliner-next-iss-mission-nasa-plan
Early on Sept. 11, a record was broken in space—more Earthlings (19) were in orbit than ever before. (Image credit: NASA.) Nine humans were already living in the International Space Station, and 3 more launched from Russia in a Soyuz capsule, on their way to ISS. Another 3 are living in China’s Tiangong space station. And 4 more were in high orbit in a Crew Dragon on the 5-day Polaris Dawn mission (another vanity jaunt for the uber-rich and famous). Previously, 17 was the max number of people in orbit. New record! 19 people are orbiting Earth right now 9/11/24 https://www.space.com/new-record-19-people-orbiting-earth-soyuz-iss
With liberty and justice for all … except women.
Thanks to last-minute court intervention, an amendment to enshrine abortion rights in Missouri’s constitution WILL be on the state ballot this fall. On Sept. 10, the Missouri Supreme Court overturned a lower court’s ruling and ordered the Secretary of State to put the measure on the ballot. If it passes, it would reverse Missouri’s near-total abortion ban, in place since 2022. Several other states will vote on constitutional amendments protecting abortion rights, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada and South Dakota. Like the Missouri amendment, most would guarantee a right to abortion until fetal viability, plus later for the health of the pregnant woman. Missouri abortion-rights measure will be on ballot, court rules 9/10/24 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/missouri-abortion-amendment-on-ballot/
Abortion rights are officially set to appear on the November election ballot in 10 states, as shown above. (Image credit: NBC News Analysis.) These include 2 swing states, Arizona and Nevada, where having abortion on the ballot is expected to ramp-up turnout. Also—3 blue states (Colorado, Maryland and New York). And 5 red states (Florida, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota). Note that Florida law requires support of 60% of voters to pass, compared to a simple majority elsewhere. Nebraska’s ballot will offer 2 choices. Voters can EITHER allow abortion until fetal viability (and later for the health of the mother) OR allow abortion only in the first trimester (plus later if medical emergency, rape or incest); choice #2 reflects current law in Nebraska. The 10 states where abortion rights will be on the ballot this fall 8/31/24 https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/abortion-rights-ballot-measures-states-rcna168621
Last week in North Dakota, a state court judge found that the state constitution protects the right to an abortion before the fetus is viable and overturned the state’s near-total abortion ban. The ruling goes into effect in 2 weeks and will make abortion legal there, for the first time since Republican Gov. Doug Burgum signed a law in 2023 that made it a felony for doctors to perform abortions. The state Attorney General will appeal the case. North Dakota judge overturns state abortion ban 9/12/24 https://www.reuters.com/legal/north-dakota-judge-overturns-state-abortion-ban-2024-09-12/
US Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan said, in a discussion at New York University School of Law on Sept. 9, that Americans are right to worry about rights shaping their everyday lives, after the Supreme Court in 2022 eliminated the constitutional right to abortion. She pointed out that the conservative justices overturned Roe v. Wade on the grounds that American women were not free to have the procedure earlier in the nation’s history. As she then noted, the same applies to many other personal rights taken for granted in recent decades. She said: “You can say the same thing for contraception. Then you can say the same thing for interracial marriage. Then you could say the same thing for gay marriage.” Kagan also said she supports the Justices being subject to stricter ethics rules with enforcement provisions, just like lower court judges already follow. Kagan Sees Threats to Everyday Rights Beyond Abortion 9/9/24 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/09/us/politics/supreme-court-kagan-ethics.html
Back to me….
It is STILL HOT out there. Give wildlife a break and some fresh water, preferably in the shade. Rinse the bowl and add fresh water daily, to avoid breeding mosquitos. (Image credit: Angels Among Us Animal Rescue.)
The deer have not been very cooperative recently, or maybe I’m just walking around in the mornings at the wrong times or in the wrong places. But, the deer I’ve seen are in family groups, though the coming rut season will end that for awhile. Here are a few recent photos I managed to get.
Coronavirus Update
Covid is still active, but indicators show the summer surge is subsiding. All 4 indicators (test positivity, ER visits, hospitalizations and deaths) were falling as of Sept. 7. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home
As of Sept. 7, wastewater viral testing still shows HIGH levels, which is better than the VERY HIGH levels for the last month. https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/index.html
This fall’s edition of the Covid-19 vaccine is available in local pharmacies. This new vaccine was formulated to work against recent variants, so everyone is urged to get vaccinated. Consider getting it along with your annual flu shot. Check with your doctor or pharmacist for the best timing, if you recently had Covid or recently got vaccinated. New COVID, flu vaccines arrive in Austin 8/31/24 https://www.statesman.com/story/news/healthcare/2024/08/28/covid-flu-vaccine-2024-near-me-austin-texas-tips-pharmacy-doctors-office/74965044007/