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What did you do to celebrate Independence Day?
Saturday, July 05, 2008
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By DAN ROSS
Register Online Staff
DId you check out Silverado's pre-Fourth fireworks show?

Maybe you headed to American Canyon for its two days of festivities.
Perhaps Napa's festival caught your attention, or the Calistoga Fair, or did you head out of the area as your Fourth of July celebration?

Tell us what you did to enjoy the holiday.
38 comment(s)

nvchell wrote on Jul 4, 2008 2:00 PM:

" Getting Drunk!! Yea!! Heading to a Party in Amer Can and then Neighboorhood fireworks party..!!! Whoohoo,,
Have fun everyone, Be safe!!! And Remember Drink dont Drive (Beer is cheaper than Gas)!!! "

bloodagar wrote on Jul 4, 2008 2:02 PM:

" NVCHell...hahahaha.
Taking girls out to thank the vets. "

tribal1 wrote on Jul 4, 2008 2:29 PM:

" we were at SCC last night and today we are i am enjoying a day off while my kids are enjoying themselves swimmimg in the pool in our back yard waiting for the festivities tonight. As nvchell says bear is cheeper than gas so enjoy yourself but please stay out from behind the wheel we have little ones out enjoying the 4th and we would like for all to have fun but be safe as well..... "

Jenn wrote on Jul 4, 2008 2:35 PM:

" Having some friends and family over for a bbq and then going to go somewhere to watch fireworks! Happy 4th everyone! Be safe and have a blast! "

dellasumbrella wrote on Jul 4, 2008 3:28 PM:

" We stay as far away from fireworks and drunken, noisy revelers as we can. Don't get me wrong, we used to love drunken revelry, and enjoyed fireworks perhaps as much as anyone else. But now we stay home to protect our property from fire in case anyone is shooting off fireworks near us or flicking their cigarettes out the car window as they drive by, drunk or sober. My husband's father, who fought in WWII, said he hates fireworks. Used to give him anxiety attacks. To me it seems a silly way to celebrate the birth of a nation. I dunno, maybe it should be about more than just bombs bursting in air. So I eat watermelon. This year I made a small brick patio, & we'll barbecue something. That should do it. "

FaithNHope wrote on Jul 4, 2008 5:25 PM:

" We just returned home from celebrating my Mom's 65th birthday which is today. We love to tell her that all of America celebrates her birthday every year.

We planned a small family get together/bbq and had a huge showing of people. It was cool. My Mom just beamed the more people showed up.

We're going to dinner tonight and then going to watch the fireworks. Thank God for independence and God Bless America!

Happy Birthday pretty Momma. We love you!!!! :) "

ADark1 wrote on Jul 4, 2008 9:17 PM:

" Well America ALMOST celebrates my Birthday, (July 3) BUT!!!! I did the proper Patriotic Thing!

Being civic minded and all that..Looking at where I NOW live...Of course... I DRANK!

Happy 4th America and Napa! "

jenn wrote on Jul 4, 2008 10:02 PM:

" Just watched the fire works from my front porch. Pretty good view and could hear everyone cheering that way downtown. Good show compared to last year "

bloodagar wrote on Jul 4, 2008 10:37 PM:

" We just got back from the Vet's Home. The fireworks were just fantastic, the girls behaved themselves and said thank you to all the vets they saw for serving our country. They were able to speak with a few about their time served, the vets we met tonight were very gracious.
Popcorn for $1.00, Polish dogs for $3.00, cotton candy $1.00, the best Turkey legs for $6.00....
But hanging with some heroes for a night of memories was beyond....it was an honor.

Now I get to open up a bottle of wine. "

LMW wrote on Jul 5, 2008 12:35 AM:

" Happy Birthday Dark1 "

skigirltige2000 wrote on Jul 5, 2008 12:35 AM:

" We watched the pathetic SCC fireworks on the 3rd, and worked at an event on the USS Hornet in Alameda for the 4th- saw about 40-50 different sets of fireworks; that was pretty amazing. "

sammy wrote on Jul 5, 2008 1:04 AM:

" sounds like a good time was had by the majority of us :)

our family went to grandma and papa's house and had a bar b que, roasted marshmellow's.... and just enjoyed one another..... then we high tailed it home to American Canyon, and walked over to the Middle School and had front row , not crowded seats for one of the most spectacular Firworks show that I've seen in years. This town really is family oriented, friendly and full of celebration,......oh, i forgot the kids went to the parade here this morning and had a blast. :) I am definitely impressed with AmCan "

typedesk wrote on Jul 5, 2008 3:36 AM:

" wife and I tried to go to the vets home for lunch as we have done for years and were met by reps of the boy scouts trying to extort 5 bucks for parking. I am a vet and we just go for lunch, but the free parking was too far away to walk to the temporary food area the vets set up. I refused to pay and was tuned away. Also, I am not religious and will not support the scouts as they are a discriminatory organization (no atheists). The wife and I had lunch at home. It ruined our holiday and I have asked Mike Thompson to look into the matter. "

NV Envy wrote on Jul 5, 2008 6:48 AM:

" We spent a good part of the day down at Veterans Park. The new park is such a huge improvement over the old layout!
A friend showed up shortly before the parade started and we headed over to 3rd Street. By the time we got there the parade was OVER! The paper this morning called it a "flash of a parade" and I'd say that's about right. Maybe it'll be better next year.
All in all a good day spent people watching and having fun with friends. "

LMW wrote on Jul 5, 2008 8:37 AM:

" I have attended throughout the years all of this valleys July 4th festivities and Am Can's I must say sits right up there, great job Am Can.... a town of beautiful people and my children had a wonderful time. The fireworks was what impressed us the most. "

jm82dabn wrote on Jul 5, 2008 8:44 AM:

" I was able to attend two separate BBQ's, one at lunch and one at dinner. I was honored to view the largest single US Military Re-Enlistment ever, 1,215 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines volunteered to spend more time in their respective service, not for money, glory or fame, but for each other. I was then able to celebrate later in the evening drinking alcohol free beer from Germany, and to top it off, fireworks. Well, the only fireworks I saw were the counter-measure flares exiting from a Blackhawk helicopter as it departed the International Zone, Baghdad, Iraq. An occasional gunshot or two and several Loud explosions through the night, but very proud to be an American and celebrate our liberty. Happy Birthday America! "

enjoylife wrote on Jul 5, 2008 8:58 AM:

" Somebody stole my American flag out of my front yard. What kind of person would do that on the 4th? GRRRRRRRR "

mypoint wrote on Jul 5, 2008 9:03 AM:

" typedesk- are you serious??? Your holiday was ruined over $5. I guess it just goes to show, so people will never be happy in life, no matter what...That's truly sad! "

mamyt wrote on Jul 5, 2008 9:08 AM:

" When you decide a post is not acceptable why don't you send an e-mail to the person explaining what was wrong with their post? I could repost but I don't know if the problem was that it wasn't all patriotic and cheery or if it was because I complained about a drunk loud mouth woman urinating on the upper walk way so she didn't miss the finally of the fireworks. "

freeport56 wrote on Jul 5, 2008 9:23 AM:

" BBQ dinner with friends, then off to the Veterans Home to Watch the Fireworks display. We were throughly entertained by watching all the children runa and play. What a great day.

Heres to 232 years of America. "

Margo wrote on Jul 5, 2008 9:50 AM:

" We spent the 3rd and the 4th here in American Canyon! They had great bands both days, great food and great community company! The fireworks show was the best I have seen here in years! Great job to Cindy and her staff for yet another great 2 day event-
And "they" said it wouldn't work!
You go girl! "

bloodagar wrote on Jul 5, 2008 10:09 AM:

" Wow typedesk! What an awful experience. I am so sorry to hear your holiday was ruined. We got out to the Vets Home around 1630 and really lucked into parking.
I saw parking near the fire station was $10.00, which I thought was outrageous!

By the way typedesk....Thank you very much for your service in the military! "

proudmama2 wrote on Jul 5, 2008 10:45 AM:

" First off I want to say that the downtown 4th of July event that lasted all day was FABULOUS!!!! ALSO THE FIREWORKS WERE GREAT!!!! Everyone that I saw seemed to enjoy themselves tremendously.

Typedesk-- I am dismayed with the tone of your email. Did you ask why the Boy Scouts were asking for a parking fee? When I was there for a show at the Lincoln Theater, they( the attendant) asked for a fee to park close. Maybe the Scouts were raising funds for some type of improvement at the Vets' Home.

PS- Our military is discriminatory against gays... so does that mean you don't support our troops efforts???? The Scouts do wonderful things around this valley as well as for the Veterans Home. They place the flags on our fallen soilders graves, and do clean up. "

John Richards wrote on Jul 5, 2008 11:42 AM:

" I was at the downtown event from 8:00 to 9:00, but left after that because it was very crowded, and the milling crowd rudely banged my shoulders quite a few times. No one even says "Excuse me" any more. "

John Richards wrote on Jul 5, 2008 1:54 PM:

" typedesk, as far as I know, the Boy Scouts accept atheist scouts, just not atheist scout leaders. I don't think that makes them an organization worthy of ridicule. Most of the Founders of this nation believed in a Higher Power. "

AThought wrote on Jul 5, 2008 2:40 PM:

" Someone stole my CD's, ID card, car touch up paint and a replacement bulb out of my car. Who does that on the 4th, let alone any other day? I wish they would return it. It's so rude! "

chunk wrote on Jul 5, 2008 2:40 PM:

" I went to downtown Sonoma with some friends because they know how to do it right. You can drink, picnic, and sit around and socialize without geting in trouble. We came back to Napa and barbecued with the family and then went downtown and watched the fireworks. "

Dwayne wrote on Jul 5, 2008 4:41 PM:

" I guess blaming the Boy Scouts for ruining the 4th of July is like having a bad day at work, then going home and kicking the dog. It's called 'displaced aggression'. "

typedesk wrote on Jul 5, 2008 5:47 PM:

" dwayne, I guess you didn't read my post either, Or maybe you just don't have principles or convictions. I don't get mad often, just when things are not acceptable. Of course you can equivocate and rationalize anything away and probably never have a heart attack. nice attempt at psychology. I don't have a dog and am very nice to my wife of 48 years. Independence day is important to me and it means more than just a parking spot. Enjoy your psychologically correct life. "

Raven wrote on Jul 5, 2008 6:01 PM:

" Unless things have changed recently, both boy scouts and their adult leaders have to express a belief in a supreme being. "

nvchell wrote on Jul 5, 2008 7:00 PM:

" typedesk, My son is a boyscout and we dont believe in God, christianity or anything to the like, and he is very much welcomed in his troop. They dont seem to have a problem, and God is not brought up in his meetings or outings. "

napadad wrote on Jul 5, 2008 7:05 PM:

" We got to the vets home by 12:30 apid our 5spot for a good spot, I dropped the wife and kids at the pool and went and set up our gear at the festval area. Splashed lots of folks diving off the diving board and had nachos at the ball game. Went down and ate great turkey legs also, cooked by the vietnam vets they were awesome. Ate melon ohhed and ahhed and generally had a great time. Thanked all the cops directing traffic on the way out. Another fabulous 4th courtesy of those who served! "

Napamouth wrote on Jul 5, 2008 9:42 PM:

" Napa is always overcrowded and it's more enjoyable out of town where there's more enjoyable activities, bands, etc. . Most of Napa's working people such as at convenience stores, gas stations, even most supermarkets are just plain rude, and alot of them NASTY. The Sherrifs Dept. are also very rude and most always unfair in my opinion and I've lived here for 35 years. I continue to live here due to my family living here and tolerate it but am also ashamed to call it my home. One last thing, why doesn't Napa utilize the Napa Fairgrounds or somewhere with Stadium seating, with vendors and live bands so there's adequate room for people and parking? "

Paddy wrote on Jul 5, 2008 11:26 PM:

" We did an extended canoe trip on the river and settled into a little cove away from the lights of the river walk and watched the fireworks display as we have done for years.

It's amazing to see the changes at the oxbow. There must have been over a thousand people from the 1st street bridge down to the end of the river walk. It was great paddling to the rhythm of the music and being waved to by friends and neighbors.

My only complaint were the lights. Last year they turned them off on the bridge when the display began. They need to do that along the promenade as well.

God bless America and God bless the men and women who have fought for it's freedom and continue to fight for our freedom. "

kbf wrote on Jul 5, 2008 11:44 PM:

" typedesk, You complain because the Boy Scouts were trying to raise money by a parking fee. Do you complain when you have to pay for parking at other places.
nvchell- They boy scouts don't say you have to believe in anything, but they do salute the flag and say the pledge of allegence. "

barefoot wrote on Jul 6, 2008 8:40 PM:

" I drove my motorhome to my wife's sister's. From there we had the most beautiful view of the valley. We had a pot-luck with more than enough food for 100 people. The kids started lighting fireworks early. Rocket propelled parachutes were falling from the sky. After a small fire, the adults joined in. I would guess $1000 dollars worth of stuff got blown up. The next day, played horseshoes with the champ. Came out 2 to 2. No tie breaker. "

marine1/1 wrote on Jul 8, 2008 2:21 PM:

" Our family went to the R-Ranch near Lake Berryessa for an old fashion 4th of July.Hay rides,horseback riding,swimming and lots of organized kids activities.We had a huge BBQ and ended the night listening to the Silver Heels Band.No fire works,just good family fun. "

bchiloquin wrote on Jul 15, 2008 7:23 PM:

" we lit off our own fireworks, drank beer and had fun, of course its legal up here. "

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