KELLY MILLER SPOT FOR 10 YEARS!

Kelly Miller Circus is back in town for its 10th year
Sagamore Hills , Ohio-- It is late July so it must be close to time for the circus to come to town.
For the 10th year in a row, the Nordonia Hills Kiwanis Club is sponsoring the appearance of the Kelly Miller Circus in the township park off Valley View Road. The circus will present two shows at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. on July 30 (see Page 4).
"We're happy that it's lasted this long and the community seems to like it," said Bonnie Dusek, who serves as the club's circus coordinator. "They come out more and more every year."
As in previous years, the excitement begins in the morning when the public is invited to the park to watch the raising of the big top and see the animals.
"My biggest thrill is going up there in the morning and watching the reaction of the kids," said Dusek.
Circus General Manager Jim Royal said activity begins at 8 a.m., with the tent raised at 9 a.m. by Lisa, one of the circuses three elephants.
"We're the only circus doing that anymore," said Royal. "Others use electric winches now."
Royal said that as it does every year, the circus will feature some new acts, such as Nikkita, an Australian trapeze artist.
"This is her first appearance outside of Australia," he said. "We call her an extreme aerialist. She does some crazy stuff up there and it keeps people on the edge of their seats."
Other new acts include one with four camels and belly dancers, a dog and pony performance with a "wild west theme" and for the third year, a tiger act, this year with six big cats.
"It's a completely new act this year," said Royal.
An aerial act with a 1950s theme will feature performers on ropes hanging from the top of the tent.
"We have four girls who do a sock hop in the air and even Elvis appears in that," said Royal. "It's an aerial ballet to 50s music."
Also new is a family of jugglers from Argentina.
"The father juggles members of his family with his feet," said Royal. "It's a difficult act to do. You don't see it much anymore."
Dusek said the Kiwanis club relies on the circus as its biggest fundraiser of the year, with the club's share of the proceeds going mostly to local causes involving children. About $3,100 was raised last year, she said.
"That was our highest year so far," said Dusek.
Dusek said the club awards two $500 scholarships each year to graduating Nordonia High School seniors. Other aid recipients in the area have included Baskets of Hope and the Emergency Assistance Center in Northfield Village, which help area residents, including families, in need.
"It all stays in the community unless we hear about something special like a child