KELLY-MILLER CIRCUS, ORWELL

Chamber raises $2,000 with circus which will support a number of community efforts


WARREN DILLAWAY / Star Beacon
CIRCUS FANS arrive at the Kelly Miller Circus in Orwell.
From:  starbeacon.com
By Stacy Millberg-Staff Reporter
July 28, 2013
ORWELL — The world celebrated Kelly Miller Circus made a stop in Orwell last week, bringing thrills, chills and affordable family fun to the area.
 Owned and produced by John Ringling North II, the energetic, two-hour spectacle headlined world class circus stars from across the globe including America’s own Titan of the Tigers, the courageous Ryan Holder, in the giant steel arena; direct from her appearance in the hit motion picture “Water for Elephants,” the intrepid aerial star, Rebecca Ostrof; and from Argentina, the astonishing astute Fusco Gauchos.
The circus also featured clowns, canines, ponies and the biggest stars of all, the world famous Kelly Miller Circus performing elephants.

Elephants prepare for the Kelly Miller Circus that visited Orwell on July 19.
 The fun began at 9 a.m. July 19 as the public was invited to witness the raising of the Big Top. The circus then performed two shows at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
 The event was sponsored by the Orwell-Grand Valley Chamber of Commerce.
“It was a ball,” said Diana Ristimaki, event chairperson. “I really had a lot of fun.”
Ristimaki said the chamber was surprised at the number of adults that attended the event without children.
“We sold more adult presale tickets than children,” she said. “I guess, everybody loves the circus.”
The evening show proved to be the most successful as smaller number of patrons braved the excessive afternoon heat to attend the first show, she said.
“The 7:30 p.m. show was a packed show,” Ristimaki said. “The 4:30 p.m. show was only half filled.”
Ristimaki said she had never been to an outdoor circus before.

 

The Big Top of the Kelly Miller Circus dominated the skyline of Orwell on July 19.
 The event was a great success for the chamber. Approximately $2,000 was raised, she said.
“We were amazed,” Ristimaki said.
 The use of the property was donated by the Kovats family and the chamber also received sponsorship from Kenny Lawrence and Paine-Guerriero Funeral Home.
 The chamber also co-sponsors the annual Grand Valley Festival and is looking into hosting a reverse raffle in November to raise additional funds for the group, she said.
“We used to host dinner dances but we stopped them,” she said. “We are just branching out and trying different things that are more family oriented.”
 The money raised from the event will be put into the chamber’s special events fund and will be used to support a number of community efforts.