Dear Readers,

The Tuck Box on Dolores Street is famous around the world for being one of Carmel’s most charming cottages, but tonight it has another reason for fame: Its owner is defying the county’s shelter-in-place order, and he says he’s not going to stop. Mary Schley reports.

Several other shops that were allowed to reopen under the latest version of the shutdown order say business is nothing like what they’re used it, but at least they have some. Mary Schley and Kelly Nix have that one.

A county official who earlier this week said the long-predicted surge in coronavirus cases might not come until the fall now says his prediction was a just a “guesstimate.” Kelly Nix has the details.

The Carmel city council is considering closing several streets to give restaurants outdoor dining options that would be more compatible with social distancing. One of the city’s most historic institutions announced that it’s closing — for good. The downtown post office says it will limit the hours when customers can access their PO boxes. A Peace Corps volunteer from Pacific Grove has quite a story to tell about being evacuated from Africa. The local musician who’s recovered from coronavirus looks back on when and how he became sick, and how he narrowly avoided death. City hall has started grappling with a “heartbreaking” budget. One of Big Sur’s most scenic restaurants has joined the ranks of those offering food for takeout. Residents of a Carmel Valley senior community explain how they’re coping with the epidemic’s fear and uncertainty. Two state agencies with duplicative authority over the desal plant are at loggerheads over how to handle the permits it needs. Lower speed limits are coming to parts of Carmel Valley Road. In his sports column, Dennis Taylor has the story of a bona fide Monterey Peninsula hero. And my editorial was inspired by some very simple words of wisdom from Elon Musk.