Season to celebrate

Chamber's Apple Festival marks 27th year

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The North Central Chamber of Commerce’s 27th annual Apple Festival just may have broken all-time attendance records, despite Sunday’s gray skies that covered a jam-packed Johnston War Memorial Park.

“Here it is Sunday – Day 2 – at 1:30 and we’ve again run out of apple pies,” said Kelly Patz, the Chamber’s events coordinator. “We ran out at three o’clock yesterday and purchased more for today, and they’re already gone.”

But apple pies weren’t the only thing that pleased people’s palates during the 16 total hours of music and merriment – what Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena called a “day of fun and celebration that we’re honored to have in this beautiful park, one of our town’s crown jewels.”

Take, for example, the sweet potato fries that created long lines at the booth operated by Buddy’s Diner of Johnston.

“These are just wonderful, try one!” exclaimed Jane Lapolla as she offered several friends a sampling of the fries, piled high on a paper plate and topped with melted cheese and bacon bits. “What a great treat.”

Last weekend’s Apple Festival was a food lover’s delight. There were Larry Smith’s doughboys, which ladies like 91-year-old Hope Boyle enjoyed while sitting along the so-called “Restaurant Row” of food vendors inside the pristine park. There were also chowder and clam cakes that Jenna Poland and her family enjoyed, and delicious apples from Palazzi’s Orchard that tiny tots like Jameson DeFazio, 3, sampled during Saturday’s sun-splashed session.

Of course, the Chamber’s traditional stand – which was set up at the Veterans Memorial Stand – featured charbroiled sausage and pepper sandwiches was again a huge hit with festival-goers.

In the middle of it all – contributing to the festival’s overall success in so many different ways – was the Johnston Police Department’s award-winning Explorers Post 405, which manned exits and kept traffic flowing smoothly and without incident under the leadership of Johnston Police Capt. Thomas Dolan and post ranking officers Chief Jennifer Castiglioni and Maj. Allegra Graziano.

Johnston High School’s Panther Marching Band took part in the festivities under the direction of Ron Lamoureaux, as did the student chorus led by Oliver Reid. The band led the traditional kick-off parade around the pristine park, and the chorus sang a beautiful rendition of the national anthem.

Chamber Executive Director Deborah Ramos provided the Apple Festival’s official opening welcome before introducing Polisena.

The mayor called the Apple Festival a reminder for Rhode Islanders “to appreciate why our state is so special, and that we can enjoy the four seasons and special events like this right here in Johnston.”

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