Once in a while, you observe things or hear about things in the Lake Travis community that make you go hmmm. Then you do a little bit of investigating to see if you can find the answers. Usually, you can connect the dots and figure out what’s what. But sometimes, you can’t.
From fences to sharpshooting to a lack of liquid nitrogen to Stonehenge-themed school parking lots, let’s take a look at some of the stuff that has you scratching your head and thinking, “What’s up with that?”
Split Rail Fence on Lohman’s Spur
If you’ve lived in the Lake Travis area for a while, you’ve seen the transformation of Lohman’s Spur from an unknown, yet useful shortcut from Lohman’s Crossing to 620 to what it is now – a busy, congested street. It’s a great spot to get popped for speeding too, so slow down Speed Racer. But we’ve noticed something a little unexpected along the road lately. A rustic, split rail fence…hmm.
Closed due to shortage sign at Creamistry
We rolled up to Creamistry in The Oaks at Lakeway on Labor Day for a tasty scoop of ice cream, but the shop was closed. There was a sign on the door that said they were closed due to a liquid nitrogen shortage.
What!?
We know about the helium shortage, and that’s no laughing matter. It isn’t just about throwing sad parties without helium balloons. The helium shortage has a wide-reaching negative impact on important things like MRI machines that require the use of magnets. No helium gas means no supercharged magnets, which means no working MRI machines. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. One of the world’s helium supplies happens to be in Texas, and it’s being depleted.
Circling back to ice cream, is this liquid nitrogen shortage something we haven’t heard about yet? Hmm.
Sharpshooting deer
We were reviewing the latest agenda notes from Lakeway City Council (for August 19 meeting), and we spotted something a bit shocking.
When it comes to deer management solutions in Lakeway, sharpshooting made the list as one of the options with a “high” rate of effectiveness on the Pros and Cons page about the programs being explored. Hunting is listed separately, but gets poor marks due to being “unreliable and unsafe.” Chemical sterilization and surgical sterilization also made the list. Hmm.
There is an educational component that doesn’t involve weapons that would raise awareness and help residents understand what to do and what not to do to protect the deer population. Okay, that makes sense.
Mini Stonehenge at Lakeway Elementary
Before the start of the school year, many schools in the Lake Travis area got some much-needed TLC (AKA renovations). One of the schools on the list was Lakeway Elementary. As a parent of two children who graduated from this school, I have nothing but love for it. That being said, holy guacamole!
Over the summer, prehistoric-looking monuments that really hug the curves were erected for apparent reasons. Uhm, because nothing ensures parking lot safety like foreboding stones with corners? Because rounded edges would’ve been too playful? Local dent repair shops must be ecstatic. Meanwhile, parents in huge SUVs are sweating bullets in the drop-off line. Hmm.
Have you noticed anything unexpected in the Lake Travis area that makes you go, “What’s up with that?” Let us know in the comments section on our Facebook page.
