Week of January 20, 2022
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DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
LoneTreeVoice.net
INSIDE: CALENDAR: PAGE 9 | VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | SPORTS: PAGE 16
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 48
Blood supplies running low Donations are needed now in all regions BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The American Red Cross has been sending up the red flag, stressing that there is a nationwide blood shortage and Colorado is no differ-
ent. In fact, along the Front Range, hospitals are managing but are one major tragedy away from danger. Dr. Kyle Annen, director of tansfusion services and patient blood management for Children’s Hospital Colorado, said their blood supplies are not as low as those being reported by the American Red Cross and Vitalant, a national independent, nonprofit blood services provider.
“We definitely have lower supplies than normal,” Annen said. “But we are one bad emergency away from getting into some real trouble.” Annen said CHC, which has hospitals along the Front Range and throughout the state, has been lucky to keep a flow of regular donors, but she is getting more concerned as the omicron variant of COVID continues to spread. “It is not today or tomorrow that I
Blue Island Oyster Bar expands to Lone Tree Restaurant serves up freshly-shucked oysters and seafood BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Attention seafood fans— a new dining locale has arrived in Lone Tree to serve up a wide array of coastal grub — and its prize offering is fresh oysters shucked on site by the thousands. Blue Island Oyster Bar and Seafood is co-owned by Chris Quartuccio, who owns Blue Island Oyster Company in New York, and Denver-resident Sean Huggard. Quartuccio is a shellfish diver and farmer while Huggard is a professional shucker and oyster buyer. The business has expanded from its Cherry Creek location into Lone Tree, with an eye on the new spot’s ample parking space and saving customers in the southern suburbs a drive to Denver. SEE OYSTER BAR, P22
worry about,” Annen said. “I worry about our supplies in the next few weeks. As omicron continues to hit us, we are going to start getting in trouble. It really is not just about today, we have to keep blood supplies stable for the future.” Caitlin Ballenger, the American Red Cross regional communications manager for Colorado and SEE BLOOD, P6
Douglas County Schools leadership debates COVID precautions Second semester plans draws scrutiny from some board directors BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Sean Huggard stands in front of the oyster bar at the new Blue Island Oyster Bar PHOTO BY JESSICA GIBBS and Seafood location in Lone Tree.
TAKING FLIGHT
Pilots happy to teach children to fly P12
As the omicron coronavirus variant explodes throughout Colorado, Douglas County School District leadership spent much of the first board meeting of 2022 looking at COVID-19 trends in the district and what mitigation strategies will be in place during the second semester. With a board divided over COVID-19 response, the issue sparked some debate at the Jan. 11 meeting, as the room also grappled with how to balance taking safety precautions with limited staff available to implement the district’s guidelines. “There is no one perfect way to work though SEE SCHOOLS, P11
LAWSUIT FILED
Douglas County Health faces challenge to mask exemption P2