As we read Anna’s article on “What to Keep from the Crisis“, The Maverick Observer Staff came up with their picks of what we would like to keep following the COVID pandemic.
Angela
- I would like to keep all the curbside pickup. If you don’t have a drive thru, it would be great to pick up my dry cleaning or yarn from curbside, instead of parking and walking in. It would make errand day much faster.
- Extend free parking downtown through the opening of all businesses, so they can generate more store traffic without parking issues.
- Restaurants making “take and bake” items, like pizza at Luigi’s.
- Cooking classes at Paravicini’s.
- Being able to pay online and then pick up.
- Apps to purchase online for restaurants and stores.
Ashlee
- Support for Seniors: Special days and/or hours they can shop or even services where someone helps them fulfill their grocery list when they arrive.
- Arts & Enrichment: Museums and music artists have made adjustments to live stream concerts and tours. I think it would be nice if they continued those services for individuals who don’t have the ability to physically be there. They could still charge admission, of course.
- Movie Releases at Home: During the quarantine, some movies released their films directly to people in their homes. Instead of “opening day” at the theater, you could pay to stream it on your own TV. Our family did this with “Trolls World Tour.” We made movie theatre snacks and set up a comfy spot in the living room. It was awesome! It got me thinking about friends that avoid theaters because of the costs (with snacks), children with disabilities or other reasons. My father-in-law has a major hearing impairment that he uses hearing aids for. He LOVES movies but cannot see them in the theater because his hearing aids create an echo and the sound quality is poor. How awesome would it be for him to be able to see a film when it is released vs. waiting until he can buy it six months later?
- Community Mentality: Like I mentioned in my article, I think the quarantine has brought out the best in people. Strangers are grocery shopping for their elderly neighbors. People are making masks on a small and large scale to help others. Communities are coming together in fun and unique ways to keep kids entertained and support each other. I wish this mentality would stick around.
Melonie
- Curbside meals – reminds me of the days of “Dog-n-Suds” back in the Midwest.
- Senior hours at retail stores (i.e. grocery, dept. stores and big box stores) – such a respectful and accommodating gesture to our aging community members.
- Take out liquors, especially specialty drinks from restaurants.
- Learning how small businesses in our communities are changing and evolving to meet consumer needs.
- Love seeing how our smaller neighborhood communities are being revived and people are actually meeting, socializing and helping their neighbors.
- Radio segments sharing how neighbors are “being caught doing something GOOD.”
- Unity in spite of political differences and partisan politics; a truly UNITED States.
- “Take out Tuesdays,” supporting our local restaurants.
Tim
- Curbside meals – we had not done this before.
- Takeout drinks – if you don’t know how to make a cocktail or have a favorite bartender.
- People with patience — a real nice thing.
- People offering to help rebuild one’s faith in people
- Questioning our ELECTED representatives, FREEDOM IS SPECIAL
