Editor’s note: Vivian Weaver is a 1971 graduate of Johnston High School. She moved to Rome in 1979. The following are her thoughts and observations from inside one of the nations hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis. In my article of 20 May 2020, I wrote that the owner of our coffee shop filled a former parking space with tables and chairs.
Currently, Rosie has permits to occupy the space through December, but as coronavirus will be with us until a vaccine is created, it will be necessary for restaurants and coffee shops to maintain social distancing until that time.
Because of this, Rosie applied for a license to permanently occupy that space. Naturally, these licenses have a cost, but as Rome is blessed with a mild climate, customers will be able to enjoy being outdoors for a long time.
I read that Atwells Avenue restaurants plan to close the street to traffic so as to offer outdoor dining on summer weekend evenings. While safety is of utmost importance, businesses need to reopen, people need to work and life needs to return to some kind of normalcy. Opening Atwells Avenue in this way also allows mere mortals to have some sort of social life, which we all need. I hope that the plan is a huge success.
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