Week of August 25, 2022
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An edition of the Littleton Independent A publication of
VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 40
RexRun raises $33,000 for Back the Blue K-9 Force As students
return to school, COVID discussions continue
Event supports local programs BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
More than $33,000 was raised for the nonprofit Back the Blue K-9 Force at the “RexRun for PAWSitivity” event, which brought together community members, law enforcement and four-legged companions to raise funds and awareness about school therapy dogs and K-9 units, also referred to as police dog units. Hosted by Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office and Back the Blue K-9 Force on Aug. 6 at Dove Valley Regional Park, the event featured a range of activities and attractions, including a 5K run and walk, demonstrations by K-9 officers, food trucks, inflatable bounce houses, auctions and a variety of vendors. Dawn Johnson, who works for the SEE REXRUN, P9
Endemic stage approaches BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
hand and light-up glasses on, while others danced, laughed, ate and enjoyed the evening. “You can tell from this crowd why this is one of our favorite events of the year,” Mayor Stephanie Piko said to the audience. “Thank you all for being here and joining us.” Amidst the crowd of people was Vidhya Sampath, a Centennial resident who came with her husband and 8-year-old daughter. “We come here every year. So this is so much fun listening to local bands and absolutely enjoying time with the family and looking at everyone, and just having a great
As students walk back into classrooms in the fourth school year amid the coronavirus pandemic, parents may find themselves wondering: When can we stop worrying about COVID-19? “As we go into our third fall living with COVID, this has been an extraordinary experience for society, for public health departments, for folks that have been most impacted,” said Dr. John Douglas, head of Tri-County Health Department. “It’s been a hugely tragic circumstance. We’ve lost over a million people in the U.S. I think we’ll be learning from this as we go.” While experts say the pandemic looks much different than it did last year, predictions about what the return of school means in this era of fast-changing variants can be a mixed bag. “My guess is bringing kids back to school will probably increase (COVID) transmission among kids, but it will probably have a limited impact on the community. Part of the reason I say that is we have so much built-up immunity,” Douglas said, referring to people who have been vaccinated and the unvaccinated who have been infected. But each COVID variant can
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The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office did a bite demonstration at the “RexRun for PAWSitivity” event, held Aug. 6 at Dove Valley Regional Park. Sheriff Tyler Brown was PHOTO BY TAYLER SHAW the one receiving the bite.
Centennial caps off summer with annual event 3,000 attend Under the Stars BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
As the sun set and bright glow sticks began to illuminate the sky at Centennial Center Park on Aug. 13, 5-year-old Josie Faucheux danced with her mom, Ann Faucheux, as her 3-year-old sister, Jade Faucheux, excitedly waved her glow stick in front of their dad, Alex Faucheux. The family of four was among thousands who came to the park for the 16th Centennial Under the Stars
event, featuring live musical performances, hula hoop competitions, face painting, food trucks and vendors, law enforcement and — new this year — a Ninja Warrior-style obstacle course. “I love it,” Josie Faucheux said about the event. It was the Faucheux family’s first time attending, as they had just moved to Centennial from Louisiana. After learning about the event online, they decided to come and get to know the community and their new neighbors, Alex Faucheux said. People of all ages could be seen at the event, as young kids chased one another throughout the amphitheater field, often with glow sticks in
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 24
FUNGI FORAGING
Mushroom hunting in Colorado sees major upswing
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