By Harry Kyle (The Southington Citizen)
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It was his future that initially led John Ryan to take leave of his post as coordinator of Southington’s Apple Harvest Festival, but, in a strange twist of fate, his past radically changed those plans. Ryan announced after this year’s 39th annual celebration that he will be unable to coordinate the festival after this year because of a new job opportunity. But all that changed after a visit last weekend to his hometown of Spokane, Wash. Instead of taking on the challenges of a new job, Ryan will instead pick up stakes and move back to Spokane to be with and take care of his 84year-old father, John D. Ryan. Ryan’s stepmother recently died after 55 years of marriage, and his father is recuperating from quadruple bypass surgery.
“He’s still in relatively good health,” Ryan said, “even after what he’s been through recently. But after my visit there this past weekend, and talking to my father, I feel he really needs me. So, for me, this is the best and the right thing to do.” Ryan hopes to have the move completed by Thanksgiving. “I’m a Westerner at heart, so it won’t be too much of a change as far as that goes,” Ryan said. “But I will miss the friendships I have developed since I moved here in 1984.” Ryan was going to take a position with Creative Dimensions, an exhibit house in Plainville. They build exhibits that companies use to display their products at trade shows. He would have been in charge of the installment of the exhibits at shows throughout the country, along with their dismantling. “This was a great opportunity for me, and it turned into a difficult decision to make, but family always comes first,” Ryan said.
APPLE HARVEST THOUGHTS Ryan called his Apple Harvest experiences, “one of the most challenging yet gratifying things I have ever done.” It was complicated and frustrating, but satisfying at the same time,” he said. Ryan attributes much of that fulfillment to the people involved with the festival. “The people who work at the festival have a real enthusiasm for what they do, as do the people, families and children who attend. It’s so gratifying seeing people everywhere enjoying themselves,” Ryan said. “I appreciate the town giving me the opportunity to get involved with such a great event.” Asked what he would tell his successor, Ryan said, “don’t try and reinvent the wheel. Take advantage of the people and the plan in place, and just tweak it as needed. Always remember you have a town and a local government willing to support it.” “And keep it a community event,” he added.
WHAT NEXT?
“John’s departure will be a great loss to the town,” said Town Councilor Christopher Palmieri. “The fact that he was able to maintain the quality and tradition of the festival after taking over is a grand tribute to him.” Palmieri also chairs the town’s Apple Harvest Festival Advisory Committee. He said the panel is soliciting three types of Requests for Proposals for the 2008 Apple Harvest Festival. “One will be for the festival coordinator’s position,” Palmieri said, “while another will be for a marketing director to solicit sponsorships. The third one will be for a combined position, one that combines both jobs, similar to what John was operating under for the past two festivals.” Those proposals are due in the Town Manager’s office by 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 9. Once opened, they will be reviewed by the committee, including any necessary interviews. Once completed, a recommendation will be made to the Town Council, who will make the final decision. Since it is a professional services contract, it is not subject to the lowest bid requirement that is present in other town contracts. “We hope to have a decision by the end of November,” Palmieri said, “with the end of the year being the absolute final date.”
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It was his future that initially led John Ryan to take leave of his post as coordinator of Southington’s Apple Harvest Festival, but, in a strange twist of fate, his past radically changed those plans. Ryan announced after this year’s 39th annual celebration that he will be unable to coordinate the festival after this year because of a new job opportunity. But all that changed after a visit last weekend to his hometown of Spokane, Wash. Instead of taking on the challenges of a new job, Ryan will instead pick up stakes and move back to Spokane to be with and take care of his 84year-old father, John D. Ryan. Ryan’s stepmother recently died after 55 years of marriage, and his father is recuperating from quadruple bypass surgery. 
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