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Carbondale’s Mountain Fair typically draws hundreds of spectators, vendors, artisans, artists and musicians to Sopris Park each summer. Due to ongoing concerns surrounding COVID-19, organizers say they're bringing this festivities into individual neighborhoods for this year's event, planned for July 24-26.

The Aspen Saturday Market is slated to come back as early as June 20, with new rules and restrictions. City officials are targeting the first Saturday after Pitkin County increases the limit on gatherings from 10 to 50 people, which they anticipate to be June 20.

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As people flock back to reopened spaces and local governments unroll plans to resume some components of pre-pandemic life, health officials are keeping a close eye on COVID-19 data. 

In models from early June, the Colorado School of Public Health shows that high levels of social distancing are necessary to “avoid exceeding hospital capacity.” 

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• Mountain Family Health Centers Speaks Out Against Racism, Highlights Disparities In Healthcare
• 'I Want To Challenge Your Comfort:' Hundreds Gather Throughout Roaring Fork Valley To Protest Racism

This is Week in the Arts—a curation of virtual events and exhibits around the Roaring Fork Valley.

Mountain Family Health Centers sent a letter Wednesday speaking out against racism and discrimination against people of color after the death of George Floyd sparked protests across the country, and in the Roaring Fork Valley. 

• New Dates And Rules For Reopenings In Pitkin County
• Roaring Fork Schools Partner With Mountain Family Health Centers To Expand School-Based Healthcare

Pitkin County Public Health released a set of amendments to its standing public health order on Thursday. They will remain in effect until July 3. The changes provide updated timing and clarity to the particulars of industry-specific reopening plans. Below are the latest dates and rules. Full details can be found here.

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• Roaring Fork Valley Students Share Their Pandemic Stories Via Virtual Roundtable
• Snowmass Village Mayor Weighs In On Unique Challenges Of Reopening

COVID-19 has impacted everyone, but not everyone is experiencing the pandemic in the same way. That’s the idea behind Roaring Fork Schools’ roundtable discussion called “Sharing Stories: Life During a Pandemic.” Each event is hosted in English and Spanish, and features students, faculty and parents sharing their own stories of what this time at home has meant for them. 

Tourism is returning to Pitkin County, and short-term lodging, like hotels and condos, can operate at 50% capacity each day. In a recent Board of Health meeting, Snowmass Village Mayor and board chair Markey Butler said that isn’t the best fit for her town. She spoke with reporter Alex Hager about why she's pushing for a different plan.

More than 500 high school seniors in the Roaring Fork Valley graduated Saturday from parked cars and outdoor celebrations rather than traditional gymnasium and football field ceremonies because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Car horns replaced rounds of applause, and graduates wore face coverings. Now that these graduates have their diplomas, some worry their college plans may not go according to plan. 

• 'Personal Responsibility' A Key Factor In Latest Public Health Plans
• After Days Of Demonstrations, Denver Says It Will Give Free COVID-19 Tests To Protesters

Pitkin County’s gradual reopening is underway. Hotels and restaurants have plans to field guests at partial capacity, using guidance from county public health officials to help suppress the spread of COVID-19. Those plans rely heavily on personal responsibility, according to Jordana Sabella, manager of planning, prevention and partnerships for Pitkin County Public Health.

• Aspen Fire Department Unveils Wildfire Risk Map
• Local Organizations Take Steps To Prevent A 'Tsunami Of Evictions' This Summer

The Aspen Fire Protection District has a new online tool to help residents find out how vulnerable their houses might be to wildfire. An interactive online map rates areas for their general wildfire risk and structures for their individual fire vulnerability.

Longtime local resident Maria works in housekeeping and lives in a shared mobile home in El Jebel. She said she’s worried about paying her $300-a-month rent this summer. (We’re not using her full name because she’s undocumented.)

This is Week in the Arts—a curation of virtual exhibits and events around the Roaring Fork Valley.

• Local School Districts Outline Potential Plans For 2020-21 Year
• Local Authors Celebrate Their First Joint Novel With Colorado Book Award Nomination

Andy Stone and Linda Lafferty's co-authored novel “Light in the Shadows” marks the first time the husband and wife have shared the same byline. In some ways, though, a joint undertaking was perhaps inevitable for the husband-and-wife team.

Starting a business can be a gamble, and the stakes are even higher during a pandemic. Owners of two new businesses in the Roaring Fork Valley are taking the leap at a time when unemployment is soaring and social distancing measures are hurting industries all across Colorado.

• Basalt Town Council Approves 'Basalt Bucks' Program To Stimulate Local Economy
• Aspen Words Goes Virtual For Summer Programming

Basalt Town Council unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday launching the Basalt Bucks program. In an attempt to help businesses ordered to shut down by Gov. Jared Polis when the pandemic made its way to Colorado, all addresses within the town limits will receive a $20 voucher to use at Basalt restaurants or retail stores.