Be brave like Ukraine.
Here is what’s happening in Lakeway….
Sunday Afternoon Concert–Balcones Community Orchestra
On Sunday, Sept. 24 at 4PM, Balcones Community Orchestra will present a FREE CONCERT at Lakeway Activity Center. Director Dr. Robert Alan Radmer and the all-volunteer group of musicians will perform a variety of pieces. Go here for more info: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1862/Sunday-Afternoon-Concert-Series
Lake Travis Democrats Club
Sept. 26: Banned Book Club, 6:30PM at Lake Travis Community Library. Book: Speakby Laurie Halse Anderson.
Happy Hour is the first Thursday of each month. Check the website for details and catch us next month! https://www.laketravisdemocrats.com/
Oct. 15: Postcard Party, 2-4PM at 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. Speaker is LTISD Superintendent Paul Norton, regarding the school bonds on the upcoming ballot.
Movie Night. Movie followed by food, drink and conversation at a local restaurant. Watch for a notice on https://www.laketravisdemocrats.com/ for the next movie selection, time and location.
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.
Household Hazardous Waste Day
On Wednesday, Sept. 27, 9:30AM-12:30PM, drop off hazardous household waste at Lake Travis Regional Reuse & Recycling Center (3207 Neidhardt Dr.)FREEbut RESTRICTED to WCID 17, Hurst Creek MUD, and Lakeway MUD customers, plus City of Bee Cave, Lakeway and The Hills residents. Bring photo ID showing address or water bill. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Items MUST be in their original labeled containers. The MAXIMUM amount of paint per household is a total of 30 gallon containers. NO LIGHTBULBS will be accepted; there are other prohibited items. Go here for a list of accepted and prohibited items and to make your reservation for a drop off time (you can also call 512-314-7514 or email solidwasteclerk@lakeway-tx.gov for assistance): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44ACA728A1F4C07-household6#/
Cookbook Author at Lake Travis Community Library
On Wednesday, Sept. 27, 7PM, local cookbook author Mary Bryant Shrader will discuss her debut cookbook, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook: Nourishing Recipes From a Traditional Foods Kitchen. It has over 80 recipes for traditional pioneer cooking techniques. This FREE event at the library is part of the Lake Travis Reads program: http://laketravisreads.org/
Cornhole Tournament
On Saturday, Sept. 30, starting 11AM, participate in the 2023 Cornhole Tournament, at the Lakeway Swim Center Field. Toss bags, watch college football on the jumbo screen, and pick up food from vendors. Go here for info and to sign up: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/2015/Cornhole-Tournament
Hill Country Galleria Summer Concerts
Saturday night concerts continue Sept. 30, Oct. 7, Oct. 14, and Oct. 21, 7-9PM. Location is the Central Plaza Lawn. FREE! For details, go here: https://www.hillcountrygalleria.com/event/saturday-night-concert-series/2145574802
National Night Out
In addition to gatherings in several Lakeway neighborhoods, on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 4-7PM, stop by our POLICE DEPARTMENT’s OPEN HOUSE. Meet officers in 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 take a test with the drunk goggles. For kids, there will be stickers, coloring books and wristbands.
Brush Recycling Offered 1st Thursday of Every Month
City of Lakeway offers free yard waste drop off for Lakeway residents on the first Thursday of every month, at the Public Works Department (3303 Serene Hills Drive) 7AM-3:30PM. Limit is one pickup truck load of yard waste or up to one 8’X5′ pile. Go here for details, including what is accepted: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=1584
Nosferatu, “A Symphony of Horror”
On Friday, Oct. 13, 7PM, at the Lakeway Activity Center, the classic movie 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! Go here to purchase $5 tickets: https://secure.rec1.com/TX/lakeway-tx/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTI2MDE5OTA=
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, please 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
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
November Election
DATES:
Early Voting: Oct. 23-Nov. 3. Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 7.
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/
Mayor Kilgore’s Facebook Update
The mayor gave a live update on Sept. 14. Go here to watch: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=search&v=311519114864544
Council Met on Sept. 18
All members attended the meeting, all in person. RESULTS:
ITEM 6 (within the Consent Agenda): Appointing members to the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee.
–APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
–No Council Member pulled this item from the Consent Agenda, so there was no discussion or transparency, despite this being an extremely important committee, tasked with shaping Lakeway’s future.
–The structure of this periodic committee is not as clearly specified as that of Lakeway’s other committees. So, at the July 17 meeting, Council discussed the matter and agreed on this: 7 members (2 being ZAPCO commissioners), appointed individually by the Mayor and 6 Council members, with the Mayor naming the Chair and with 2 Council members serving as liaisons, for a total of 9 committee members.
–The Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee members appointed on Sept. 18 are: Residents Patience Aylstock, Kevin Bernzott, Logan Brown, Josh Cobb, and David Milikan; ZAPCO Commissioners Scott Olson and Matt Sherman (designated as Chair); and Council Members Kelly Brynteson and Gretchen Vance.
–However, and for the first time ever (far as I can tell), it was not disclosed exactly who appointed which person (not during the meeting, in the Resolution, or in the Meeting Packet). When the last Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee was appointed, during the Sandy Cox administration, roughly the same member structure was used, but it was disclosed who made the appointments. For ALL of our other committees, the person (whether the Mayor or a Council Member) appointing each member is ALWAYS disclosed. This time, for this committee, that information was not disclosed.
UPDATE: A Council Member subsequently posted the following on Next Door: “Only the five members of council who were not going to serve on the Comprehensive Plan Committee were able to appoint residents so neither Gretchen Vance nor Kelly Brynteson appointed anyone. Here are the appointments:
Louis Mastrangelo: Patience Aylstock
Jennifer Szimanski: Josh Cobb
Chris Forton: Logan Brown
Kent O’Brien: David Milikan
Tom Kilgore: Kevin Bernzott
As mayor, Tom Kilgore chooses the Chairperson from among the committee members. He chose Matt Sherman.”
It STILL is not clear who chose the two ZAPCO commissioners.
ITEM 16: Financial Report (as of August 31, 11 months into FY 2023).
–Revenue was $1,101,784 OVER projections (largely due to sale of land to Lakeway MUD, plus excess sales tax and interest income).
–Expenditures were $101,299 UNDER projections (due to several unfilled city staff positions and even including the $1.2MIL of ice storm costs).
ITEM 17: Citizens Participation for items NOT on this agenda.
–One person spoke (about PEC’s 85th anniversary servicing the Hill Country).
ITEM 18: Update from TXDOT on the 620 Widening Project.
–TXDOT’s William Semora largely confirmed information presented at the last meeting.
–In its 10-year program, the state has funded $82M to date, roughly half the projected $164M cost for widening the whole strip (71 to Hudson Bend), with the balance of funding expected in 2024.
–The Lakeway section has 100 right-of-way parcels. All but 27 have been negotiated to date.
–The project’s Engineering Package should be 90% completed by next spring, when the project could go out for bid.
–Road work will not start until all utilities are moved, which is a complicated and lengthy process.
—The construction start window is now 2028 to 2032.
ITEM 19: Request by TEXARTS for $1,500,000 from the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax Fund, to be used to purchase equipment for its new facility, as well as for theater and instructional costs.
–APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
ITEM 20: Special Use Permit for a Home Occupation (physician’s office) at 313 Duffy.
–DEFERRED until the Oct. 16 meeting, since the applicant was ill and could not attend tonight.
ITEM 22: Request by Cascade Homes as to 33 acres at 2811 620 South, changing zoning from Residential/R-1 Temp to PUD. The resulting Balcones Point PUD is planned as 130 condos and 12,000sf commercial space along 620.
–APPROVED 6:1 (Brynteson)
ITEM 23: Request to Amend the PUD for Square at Lohmans, 62 acres at 1935 Lohmans Crossing, as to many items including building height, setbacks, sidewalks, and extending the deadline for completing Main Street by 6 months.
–APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY, as to every request, including increasing certain building heights to 65’ (for comparison, the La Quinta Hotel is 60’ tall) and extending the Main Street construction deadline by 6 months.
ITEM 24: Integrated Water Management Ordinance–SECOND Reading.
–DEFERRED, since the presenting City Planner is ill and could not attend tonight.
ITEM 25: Adopting the Annual Budget for FY 2024.
—FY 2024 Budget of $19MIL (as discussed as past meetings) was APPROVED 6:1 (Brynteson).
ITEM 26: Adopting the Tax Rate for 2023.
–Overall property tax rate for 2023 of $0.1440 per $100 value (increasing the tax bill of the average Lakeway homeowner by $211, as discussed as past meetings) was APPROVED 6:1 (Brynteson).
ITEM 27: Police Department Policy Update.
–Motion to approve the Police Department’s policy manual as it now stands was APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
ADJOURNED at 10:15PM.
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/271828
Daring Mighty Things
HAPPY FIRST DAY OF FALL!
On Sept. 23, here in the northern hemisphere, day and night are equal in length. (Image credit: NOAA; NOAA Environmental Visualization Laboratory.) As the sun migrates southward, our days will continue to grow shorter during the coming months. Autumnal equinox 2023 brings fall to the Northern Hemisphere this weekend 9/22/23 https://www.space.com/autumnal-equinox-fall-begins-september-2023
Our Sun sent a massive solar storm toward Earth, producing gorgeous light shows. (Image credit: Jo Majko.) More photos are in the article. Solar storm slams into Earth and sparks stunning northern lights display (photos) 9/20/23 https://www.space.com/powerful-solar-storm-creates-stunning-auroras-northern-lights-photos-september-2023
Mini-chopper Ingenuity soared to an all-time high of 66’ above the surface of Mars last week, on its 59th flight. Exceeding its past high point of 59’, Ingenuity flew this time for over 2 minutes, scouting terrain and helping NASA plan the route of rover Perseverance. NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter breaks altitude record on 59th Mars flight 9/19/23 https://www.space.com/mars-helicopter-ingenuity-flight-59-altitude-record
The Hubble Space Telescope recently captured the above image of Terzan 12, a globular closer about 15,000 light-years from Earth and deep inside the Milky Way. Its millions of glittering stars are tightly bound by gravity. (Image credit: NASA, ESA, ESA/Hubble, Roger Cohen.) Globular cluster glitters in stunning new Hubble telescope photo 9/10/23 https://www.space.com/glittering-globular-cluster-hubble-space-photo
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying two cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut arrived at the ISS on Sept. 15. (Image credit: NASA TV.) On Sept. 27, the craft will provide a long-delayed ride home for three ISS residents, including NASA’s Frank Rubio; he will have spent 371 continuous days in space, a US record. Last December, the Soyuz slated to take the trio home suffered a coolant leak while docked to ISS, likely due to a micrometeor strike, making it unsafe for a return trip. Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying 3 spaceflyers arrives at ISS 9/15/23 https://www.space.com/soyuz-ms-24-arrives-international-space-station
The above image of Andromeda won top honors in the world’s largest astrophotography competition, hosted annually by Royal Observatory Greenwich for 15 years now. (Image credit: Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner and Yann Sainty.) Many more gorgeous shots are in the article. 31 award-winning astronomy photos: From fiery horizons to whimsical auroras 9/16/23 https://www.space.com/royal-observatory-greenwich-astronomy-photographer-of-the-year-15-winners
“Noctalgia” means “sky grief,” due to loss of access to deeply dark night skies caused by light pollution. (Image credit: NOIRLab/NSF/AURA, P. Marenfeld.) The loss of dark skies is so painful, astronomers coined a new term for it 9/18/23 https://www.space.com/light-pollution-loss-dark-skies-noctalgia
After Starship’s disastrous inaugural test flight, SpaceX must complete 63 corrective measures BEFORE trying again, per the FAA’s final report. The biggest fixes are intended to safeguard the craft’s emergency self-destruct sequence and prevent physical devastation to the liftoff site, located near the South Texas town of Boca Chica. FAA closes investigation of SpaceX’s Starship rocket launch mishap, 63 fixes needed 9/9/23 https://www.space.com/faa-closes-spacex-starship-mishap-investigation
With liberty and justice for all … except women.
Recent polling found that 34% of women aged 18-39 said they or someone they know personally has “decided not to get pregnant due to concerns about managing pregnancy-related medical emergencies.” This indicates that the loss of Roe’s reproductive choice protection after nearly 50 years is causing widespread reassessment of family choices. Maternal medical care has become unreliable, and pregnancy less safe—and young people have noticed. Interestingly, the results were consistent in states prohibiting abortion and in states where abortion is still available. The End of Roe Is Having a Chilling Effect on Pregnancy 9/13/23 https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/09/13/dobbs-pregnancy-maternal-health-00115561
Poland has aggressive anti-abortion laws, with government surveillance of women suspected of seeking the procedure. It was recently reported that lab testing has been developed there, detecting abortion drugs in the bloodstream. (Anyone who thinks mandatory testing and punishment could never take hold in the US just isn’t paying attention.) In Poland, Testing Women for Abortion Drugs Is a Reality. It Could Happen Here. 9/14/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/14/opinion/abortion-pills-testing-poland.html
Back to me….
Busy, busy. I got a new phone last week and am still kind of discombobulated. It is shocking how much of today’s life is concentrated in these devices. Best Buy’s Geek Squad did an amazing job setting it up for me, but I’ll likely be tinkering with the details forever. Right now, I’m lost in a sea of ringtones…. The camera is a huge step up from my old phone, and even superior to the digital camera I usually use. I need to figure out how to use all the bells and whistles and edit the results, but I should be able to get much better deer photos. Eventually….
Also applied for a new passport; I let mine expire to the point I had to start from scratch. And, on Monday, I will get the new Covid shot.
Here are my recent deer photos. It really IS fall–our fawns barely have any spots left now.
The Coronavirus
As of Sept. 9, the New York Times correlated the CDC’s statistics for the US, showing the summer surge continuing. Across the country, a daily average of 4,679 people were being hospitalized for Covid-19, which is a rise of 18% over 2 weeks. Hospitalizations rose 21%, with the sharpest jump in patients 70 and over. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/us/covid-cases.html
The CDC announced Sept. 12 that the updated COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for everyone 6 months and older. Further, shots will be available at most places Americans normally go to get vaccines (pharmacies as well as clinics). Per the CDC, the updated vaccines work against currently circulating variants of COVID-19, including BA.2.86, and protect against severe disease. The main reason to get vaccinated against COVID-19 is to protect yourself against severe illness, hospitalization, and death. COVID-19 vaccines also reduce the chance of having long Covid. The benefits outweigh risks, with vaccine reactions rare. The vaccines are covered by insurance (private insurance, Medicare plans, and Medicaid plans). Full info here: https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/covid-vaccine-recommendations-9-12-2023.html
WANT THE NEW VACCINE? As of Sept. 23, the Lakeway HEB Pharmacy has appointments starting Sept. 25 for Pfizer’s NEW Covid-19 vaccine, for adults. Go here: https://vaccine.heb.com/scheduler?q=78734
FREE COVID-19 TEST KITS are available again. Starting Monday, Sept. 25, any US household can go online and request 4 test kits, which will be mailed promptly at no charge. Go here starting 9/25: https://www.covid.gov/tests Also, if you have test kits whose expiration dates have passed, know that in many cases the kits work reliably for a lot longer than expected. So, many of the manufacturing companies have extended the expiration date. Go here to check any kits you have on the shelf: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list
Recent Covid-19 Articles
–Free COVID-19 tests and updated vaccines as the cold season approaches 9/20/23 https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/20/free-covid-19-tests-updated-vaccine/
–Covid Can Disrupt Your Sleep 9/20/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/20/well/live/sleep-covid-symptoms.html
–U.S. will again offer free at-home Covid tests starting Monday 9/20/23 https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/20/us-will-again-offer-free-at-home-covid-tests-starting-monday.html
–A New Covid Shot for a New Covid Era (25-minute podcast) 9/13/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/13/podcasts/the-daily/covid-vaccine-uptick.html
–Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations Now Available 9/12/23 https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/covid-vaccine-recommendations-9-12-2023.html
–F.D.A. Approves New Covid Shots 9/11/23 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/11/health/covid-vaccine-boosters-fda-pfizer-moderna.html
–Fauci: We ‘need to be prepared’ for likely Covid uptick this winter 9/10/23 https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/10/fauci-prepared-covid-uptick-winter-00114906