Do You Have the Best Grandma in Southington? Help Her Get Recognized!

There’s still time to make help your grandmother earn the prestigious title of “Granny Apple,” but time is running out.

Members of the Apple Harvest Festival Committee are searching for the best grandma in town, part of an annual contest to crown the “Granny Apple” winner, and essays may be submitted until Sept. 20, committee chairman Christopher Palmieri said.


“We are pleased to announce that we are currently accepting entries for our annual photo contest and our annual ‘Granny Apple’ contest,” Palmieri said. “This has become one of the most anticipated contests we hold each year and it seems every year we receive more entries.”

And why not? There are a lot of dedicated grandmothers in Southington.

In 2012, the award went to Bettyann Hardy, a resident selected from a long list of qualified candidates after a touching essay from now sixth-grade student Kate Hardy.

Kate Hardy detailed in her 2012 essay how her grandmother always took the time to ask them about their day, found ways to help them enjoy life and worked to lead them to reach their maximum potential.

"The passion that Kate Hardy showed for her grandmother made her a natural choice to be selected as the winner," Palmieri said.

So who will be the winner in 2013? That’s up to Southington youth. From the Town of Southington website:

In your words, and in your own handwriting, tell us:

1. “Why your grandmother is so special to you”    
2. “Why do you think she should be the “Granny Apple” of the Apple Harvest Festival?
   

• Open to children who are Southington residents in grades 4, 5, or 6.
• All grandmothers nominated should be Southington resident.
• Entries must be in the child’s own handwriting.
• Maximum of 150 words.
• All entries must be submitted by contest deadline, September 20, 2013.
• Include author’s first and last name, school, grade, home address, and daytime phone number.
• Include first and last name of grandmother.