In 2020, the Keep Texas Beautiful Conference was held virtually.  The video at left comprises the awards sessions for the Governors' Community Achievement Award, in which Lago Vista took 1st place for category 3.  Categories are determined by population.  We know you'll enjoy the complete video, but to see Lago Vista's award, you can fast forward to 5:17.  Enjoy!

KLVB and GCAA award plaque: Sept 2020. Right to left - kneeling: Mayor Ed Tidwell and Denise Sellers. In back: City Parks director Chris Mobley, Dan Sellers, Frank Robbins, Frank Colletta, Beth Colletta, Sheldon Green, Margaret Leitko and City Manager Josh Ray .

​​Lago Vista Receives Prestigious Governor’s Community Achievement Award

 LAGO VISTA – Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) has recognized Lago Vista as one of ten winners of the 2020 Governor’s Community Achievement Awards (GCAA) for outstanding community improvement. KTB, in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), has awarded the GCAA to Texas communities for more than 50 years. This year, the ten winning communities will share $2 million in landscape funding from TxDOT; Lago Vista will receive $130,000 for a landscaping project.
 The award is one of the most coveted annual environmental and community improvement honors in Texas. A community’s environmental program is judged by a group of diverse, multi-sector judges on achievements in seven environmental and community improvement areas: public awareness and outreach, environmental education, beautification and community improvement, litter prevention and cleanup, solid waste management, litter law, and illegal dumping enforcement.
 The City of Lago Vista and Keep Lago Vista Beautiful (KLVB) have partnered together to develop a strong community development team, focused on maintaining our beauty and educating our citizens on how to protect our natural amenities.  Our team received second place in 2018 and made a dedicated effort in 2019 to do more, be better, and get more individuals involved in keeping our Lago Vista beautiful. 
 The GCAA program has recognized outstanding communities since 1969, with TxDOT providing landscaping award funding since 1985. Lago Vista will receive its award at the GCAA Gala on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 in Houston during KTB’s Annual Conference. Other winning communities include South Padre Island, Weston Lakes, Levelland, White Settlement, Alvin, The Colony, Harlingen, Tyler, and Grand Prairie.
   To learn more about GCAA and this year’s winners, visit ktb.org/gcaa. 
For more information on this or any other City-related issues, please visit our website at www.lagovistatexas.org or contact City Manager, Joshua Ray at 512.267.1155 or jray@lago-vista.org.

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​KLVB WINS MONARCH BUTTERFLY GARDEN GRANT
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LAGO VISTA TX  April 16 2020 – Keep Lago Vista Beautiful has won a grant from the Texas Native Plant Society to install a butterfly garden in the Lago Vista Municipal Sports Complex.  This grant is part of a program called “Bring Back the Monarchs to Texas”.   It provides $400 to purchase and install native flowers such as milkweed, pollinator, and nectar plants, that are particularly attractive to Monarch butterflies passing through the Hill Country on their migrations in the spring and fall.
Sheldon Green of KLVB says “When the garden is complete, signs will provide names and background of the plants, making it a source of information for those in the area who want to create butterfly gardens on their property.  We can each help return the threatened Monarch population to a better normal.”
Scientific results released by the Environmental Defense Fund (March 2020) have revealed a 53% drop in the Monarch Butterfly migrations to Michoacan, Mexico.  According to the study, “the Monarch Butterfly population is below the threshold at which scientists predict the migration could collapse.  The Monarch Butterfly has been on a downward trajectory for decades with annual fluctuations such as land use changes, habitat loss, and extreme variable weather. " (EDF)
The spring planting of the garden is complete, with more varieties of milkweed and pollinators to be added in the fall.  Look for the sign “Monarch Waystation” to the right of the pool house on the inclined walkway.  This designation is open to all who meet the criteria of the Monarch Watch at monarchwatch.org/waystations.  Or just look for the butterflies!

CHECK IT OUT!!!
​2020 LA PRIMAVERA PICKUP COMPLETED
 
A record crew of volunteers showed up on Thursday Feb 27  to scour the bicycle race route for this weekend’s big event.  Eighteen big bags of litter were pulled from right-of-ways and ditches.  KLVB is happy to host these cleanup efforts, and programs like the #LagoLitterChallenge and Adopt-A-Street.  But hey – wouldn’t it be better if the litter was never created in the first place?  Please think before you throw!  And make way for pelotons!!!
 
Pictured in a hilarious mood from right to left:  Dan and Denise Sellers, Frank and Beth Coletta, Mike Leitko, Frank Robbins,  Kay Schneider,  Margaret Leitko, Anne Ochoa, Joan Carney, David and Pam Nickell, Selima Harbison, Scarlett and Hendrix.  Not pictured but also volunteered: Ken Blake.   ​

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November 1 2019 Memorial Tree Planting
Keep Lago Vista Beautiful volunteers planted a tree at a new "Adopt a Spot" located at the intersection of Allegiance and Highland Lake Drive. The Crepe Myrtle was planted in remembrance of long time KLVB member Ken Schodde.  Participating were (from left) Margaret Leitko, Frank and Beth Coletta, Tom Roznowski, and Mike Leitko (not pictured), who also trimmed up the overgrown rosemary bushes. This new beautification area is on its way to becoming another KLVB showplace, thanks to the hard work and dedication of its adopters, the Colettas.

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​Aerial shots of Bowden Point at the intersection of Highland Lake Drive and Boggy Ford Road.
This is one of a dozen public spaces that has been adopted for beautification by the volunteers
​of Keep Lago Vista Beautiful in partnership with the City of Lago Vista.
Photos courtesy of Jeff Hodgkins at Apogee Imaging

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