Park concerts canceled
The ninth annual Mountain Air Music Series will not begin in June as previously scheduled, due to concerns related to COVID-19. The free concerts, traditionally held at Fellin Park in Ouray, attracted an estimated 2,000 attendees on Thursday nights.
“With the models and guidance related to the pandemic being released, we feel that we will not be able to maintain social distancing at our concert site this June, despite the size and space afforded by Fellin Park,” ...
Park concerts canceled
The ninth annual Mountain Air Music Series will not begin in June as previously scheduled, due to concerns related to COVID-19. The free concerts, traditionally held at Fellin Park in Ouray, attracted an estimated 2,000 attendees on Thursday nights.
“With the models and guidance related to the pandemic being released, we feel that we will not be able to maintain social distancing at our concert site this June, despite the size and space afforded by Fellin Park,” said a press release from the board.
The concert series board of directors said they want to keep a fall concert open as a possibility but it’s too soon to tell if or when that might happen.
The Love Your Valley Festival, a fundraiser for Ridgway’s July summer concert series that was scheduled for this month, has also been canceled.
Ridgway State Park campground opens Friday
Campers will be able to stay at Ridgway State Park beginning Friday, after being closed since March 26 due to COVID-19 concerns.
Though campsites will be open for camping by reservation only, yurts will remain closed. Bathrooms will be open at the park but showers, laundry and other group facilities will remain closed. The Visitors Center will also remain closed. The swim beach is open for wading and sand play.
Social distancing rules remain in place, which requ ire campers to keep at least a 6-foot distance from others. The state’s limit on mass gatherings also remains in effect, meaning groups are limited to 10 or fewer people.
Campers are encouraged to bring all their own supplies, including food and cleaning supplies. Masks are required in public areas or in close proximity to others in the campground.
The park announced Monday it is canceling its Summer Program Series due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The series includes Friday and Saturday evening speakers and programs, Nature Detectives, Archery, Take Me Fishing, Generation Wild Wednesdays and Reading in the Park. All scheduled educational field trips are also canceled.
For camping reservations, calll-800-244-5613. For more information, call the state park at 970-626-5822.
Meanwhile, campgrounds within the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests remain closed at this time, due to a regional U.S. Forest Service order keeping them closed. GMUG Forest Supervisor Chad Stewart said he wants to find a way to open campgrounds with site-specific precautions to allow for safe distancing.
“Our intent is to try to figure this out,” he said.
Most of the Forest Service’s campgrounds are at high elevations with some snow remaining, so preparations can be made before the snow melts.
“We still have a little bit of time before it melts out and people want to access the campgrounds,” he said.
Drought escalates in Ouray County
The U.S. Drought Monitor shows Ouray County is currently in a “severe drought” and parts of southern Colorado are already classified as being in “exceptional drought.”
Low snowpack levels, warmer temperatures and little precipitation as well as high winds have contributed to the drought situation this spring.
The National Weather Service has issued eight separate red flag warnings in the past two weeks for northern Ouray County.
The Log Hill Volunteer Fire Department escalated its fire danger rating to “high” on Wednesday, citing concerns that persistent winds continue to create tinder-dry conditions. Minimal precipitation on Tuesday didn’t change the situation. Fire officials urge caution with possible sources of ignition.
Ridgway Farmer’s Market begins May 22
Hartwell Park will host the Ridgway Farmer’s Market every Friday from May 22 to Oct. 9 this year, and it will continue despite COVID-19 with some precautions in place.
Shoppers are asked to wear masks and gloves and to be mindful of keeping physical distance from other shoppers. The first few markets will include food producers only.
Participants are asked to “shop efficiently without lingering at the market.” Though the market has encouraged using reusable bags in the past, they cannot be set on any vendor tables if they’re used now.
The market will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays. Seniors and anyone with compromised immune systems are encouraged to shop within the first hour of the market with priority access.
For more information visit ridgwayfarmersmarket.com.
Cattlemen award scholarships
The Ouray County Cattlemen’s Association has awarded $5,000 in scholarships to two Ouray County students.
Ty Northey of Ridgway, the son of Joel and Hanna Northey, received $3,000. He will study ranch and range management at Sheridan College in Sheridan, Wyoming.
Georgia Pieper of Ouray, the daughter of Greg and Rose Pieper, received $2,000. She plans to attend the University of British Columbia and hopes to become a research scientist in biology.