Posted: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 08:39 AM - 7,159 Readers
By: Becca Nelson Sankey
While San Angeloans spent the Fourth of July scattered all over town swimming, barbecuing and watching fireworks, only Lake Nasworthy offered the prime spot for all those activities and more.
The Lake Nasworthy Homeowners Association on Saturday celebrated the United States’ 233rd birthday first with a boat parade and a fireworks extravaganza planned for later.
“They’ve been doing the boat parade for around seven years,” said Karen Abbott, chairwoman of the fireworks committee and a member of the Lake Nasworthy Homeowners Association.
The association, however, took on the fireworks display last year; Goodfellow Air Force Base last ran the event in 2005.
“Goodfellow Air Force Base shot off the fireworks for many years, and for several different reasons, they weren’t able to do it anymore, and we went ... years without any fireworks,” she said.
“I love the lake, and I just couldn’t go another year without fireworks. It just wasn’t the same on the Fourth. You have your barbecues and your friends and everyone gets together, but there wasn’t a grand finale at night.
“The association got together and formed the committee, and we’re all just as passionate about this and dedicated. And we work really hard, but it’s a labor of love.”
Dave Jonas, president of the homeowners association, estimated that thousands view the show, “but I don’t know how many thousands because people go out there on the Fourth to picnic and play on the lake and camp,” he said.
Indeed, locals and out-of-towners alike spent the downtime between events socializing with family and friends at various spots on the lake.
Across the street from Goodfellow Air Force Base Recreation Camp, where the fireworks are shot off, hundreds of people splashed in the water, boated and tried to beat 100-degree temperatures under umbrellas and tents at Spring Creek Park.
Amy Harris and Pam Mooney, best friends for 24 years, reclined in lawn chairs in the sun while their husbands sat under a tent on the beach. The women said they started celebrating the relaxation of the Fourth that morning.
“We went on a motorcycle ride this morning, had some breakfast, then thought we’d cool off at the lake,” Mooney said. “We thought we’d enjoy some sun on the Fourth, spend some time with friends.”
“It’s nice to be able to relax,” added Harris, who moved to a house on the lake last year and was planning to host a barbecue there for friends.
At the water’s edge, Tom Salas sat in a chair under an umbrella with his Chihuahua and daughter and watched his 4-year-old grandson — clad in a lime green lifejacket — play in the lake.
“He’s enjoying the lake,” Salas said of his grandson, adding that the boy had never seen fireworks. “We’re going to try to get a good spot to catch the fireworks.”
Salas’ daughter and grandson were visiting from Abilene, and Salas said that bringing them to the lake was part of an effort to convince them to move to San Angelo
“We’re enjoying the scenery, the climate and mainly the family,” he said.
The Fourth of July is a chance to spend time with family for Abbott, too, and living at the lake provides the sense of having an extended family nearby at all times, she said.
“We are a very tight-knit group,” she said. “Everyone takes care of everyone and helps each other out.”
Abbott expected this Fourth of July to be like others she’d experienced in her neighborhood.
“The kids all come home and we have friends and family come over,” she said.
“Traditionally we cook barbecue all day, and we’re going to enjoy the festivities down at The Horseshoe and the park, and play in the sun and just enjoy where we live.”
