Call him Johnny Fest

Despite rainout, apple fest turns profit
By Robert C. Pollack, Record-Journal staff

SOUTHINGTON — Despite fierce rain that caused the second Saturday of this year’s Apple Harvest Festival to be called off, Festival Coordinator John Ryan announced Monday the event had earned a profit of $31,397. He immediately asked that money — minus a few outstanding bills, yet to be paid — be applied to next year’s festival, which was given a quick stamp of approval by the council.

To loud applause, Ryan told the Town Council that his army of volunteers and a number of town departments, led by the Parks and Recreaton Department, the police and the council itself, had combined to bring the festival home — to give it the Southington flavor it featured when it started 37 years ago. Ryan released figures that showed what amounted to a five-day festival had earned $130,617, with expenses totaling $99,310. Beverage sales at the four festival committee booths totaled $27,556; Booth fees were $24,216 and sponsors kicked in $57,200. That figures at $27,200 more than had been anticipated. - complete article

Fest details in place, coordinator hopes for best
By Robert C. Pollack, Record-Journal staff
SOUTHINGTON — They call him Doc, or J.R., in deference to a license plate his two children gave him for Christmas. But what educational consultant John Ryan, 58, hopes people will start calling him after the six-day Apple Harvest Festival that starts tomorrow night and ends next weekend is the coordinator of one of the most successful and "down home" festivals ever held.

Ryan, director of the Future Horizons support center for adolescents and adults with learning disabilities, at 50 Center St., stresses that while he is getting major credit for the way the 37th festival has been put together, it is really the 12 festival committees and more than 100 volunteers who deserve the praise.

Ryan is earning $15,000 as the first town-hired coordinator of the festival, which had been sponsored and managed by the Greater Southington Chamber of Commerce for the previous 36 years, with Daniels Productions of West Hartford managing it for the past two. But Ryan stepped in and applied for the job after the Town Council decided to contribute $80,000 in front money to run it, making it a town-sponsored event for the first time. - complete article

Southington Apple Harvest Fest kicks off with plenty to do - By Jennifer Manes, Record-Journal staff