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Week of December 29, 2022
ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
LittletonIndependent.net
VOLUME 134 | ISSUE 23
Local tea shop hosts Grinch-themed service
RTD suspends C and F light rail lines
Annual event a success
Local travelers impacted
BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Part of Carolyn Autry’s holiday celebration this year was studying Dr. Suess’ “The Grinch.” The original version, the Jim Carrey version and even the animated 2018 version starring Benedict Cumberbatch. After all, she had to put time into it if she wanted to create the perfect menu. On Dec. 17 and 18, patrons at Lynn’s Tea Shop and Café enjoyed Autry’s menu of Grinch-themed delicacies during its first annual Grinch Tea Service. From “Betty Lou Who’s Roast Beast Canape” to “Mt. Crumpit Scones,” guests ate until their hearts – and bellies -- were no longer three sizes too small. “I hope that everybody left enjoying the food and having a really good time, and that they’re looking forward to future events that we do,” Autry said. Jessi Hosler, who lives about five minutes away from the shop, said the food was delicious.
being one of them. “The bottom line is flu vaccines are the best protection to get through the season,” Usatch said. “They do not hit the target right on the head, but they make a big difference.” In reality, said Dr. Reginald Washington, HealthOne chief medical
After suspending operation of the C and F light rail lines during the pandemic, RTD is permanently discontinuing rail service on these lines along with other changes that will go into effect on Jan. 8. The changes come as part of RTD’s System Optimization Plan, which “aims to increase ridership and address changing travel needs while improving service performance, efficiency and quality,” according to RTD’s website. “It was recommended that C/D service along the Southwest corridor and E/F service along the Southeast corridor be consolidated to improve service reliability north of I-25/Broadway Station, where trains consistently encountered delays because of heavy train traffic,” the system optimization plan reads. The plan was developed through ReimagineRTD, a two-year effort to evaluate and forecast the changing transportation needs of the region as the district moves past the COVID-19 crisis. According to RTD’s website, the effort was informed by travel patterns and public sentiments. Littleton Public Works Director Keith Reester represented Littleton during the ReimagineRTD efforts. He said the C line has been closed since the pandemic began, so RTD’s recent announcement is just formalizing what has been going on for the last 20 months. “It’s not really unexpected, they’re formalizing some of the service changes they made when COVID started and really impacted
SEE HEALTH, P6
SEE RTD, P8
SEE TEA, P2
Carolyn Autry posing with her son, Dillon Autry, who is dressed as The Grinch. During the tea service, he caused mischief stealing snacks from patrons’ tables. CREDIT: CAROLYN AUTRY
Flu cases, hospitalizations on the rise Officials push for vaccinations BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Flu cases are on the rise, and according to state health officials, hospitalizations are higher this year
than they have been in the past 10 years. The surge has a variety of causes, including people not getting the flu shot as consistently as in past years. Dr. Ben Usatch, UCHealth ER director at Highlands Ranch Hospital, said COVID vaccinations brought on this onslaught of “mixed emotions” that resulted in other annual shots being affected — flu shots
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 22
CITY TO THE SLOPES Initiative aims to help city kids make tracks
P14