European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 24, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Dohi Magazine under big Apple s Gregory Feln Botto Mnina Krasavina. By Jennifer Dunning new York times new York to Mil ome Down. Chris the Man in the Orange suit shouted and Chris Thomas a slightly built 16-year-old Tumbler plummeted nonchalantly from atop a 15-foot human Pyramid. No one applauded his eat. In a Corner two tiny russian clowns were Busy negotiating a head stand head to head and nearby a pair of jugglers tossed a series of tenpin Back and Forth too intense to notice the hubbub around them in the Small studio. The big Apple circus was preparing to open in  everything but the circus As e. E. Cummings put it. Largely fun less the big Apple show marches on with classes in circus arts and rehearsals for a 13-week tour of new York City due to open in july at Battery Park in lower Manhattan. The whole project began nearly a year ago when a group of circus people got together and decided new York should have its own traditional european style circus of the kind that is Fust dying out in the . The old one ring tent show. We have an 80-foot round Lent that seats up to 1,000 people said Paul Binder the director a Juggler who is often seen on television. We wanted to revive the i3lhcentury one ring show in order to create an intimate environment where the audience is unavoidably touched by the performer s  with advisors who included the world Trade Center s High wire Walker Philippe Petit an old Friend and circus colleague. Binder invited circus artists like Gregory Fudin and Nina Krasavina. Two russian emigre comic acrobats from the Moscow state circus to teach and perform with the big Apple troupe. Mimi grooms an artist on the staff has contributed 10 Zany 10-foot-High screens to decorate the Green and yellow striped tent that Binder Hopes will ultimately become a permanent part of the City  because of the big Apple circus. 16 youngsters May one Day become big top performers too. Most Are boys recruited from City High schools although several brought their friends along and the Young women May eventually be incorporated into the  apprentice tumblers will be seen in the opening Parade which will take As its departure Point acrobatic antics from City playgrounds. It is one of 10 big Apple acts. The participants will also perform their own swedish table act in which a new foot High table is used As a vaulting Board for the fledgling fearless tumblers. Their teacher Warren Bacon a flying Trape Zist watched cooly As they bounced soared and Somer  re incredibly turned on by these kids Binder said. They re at it 20 hours a week. Their enthusiasm their Energy. And they be Learned All this in six months or  another part of the studio a group of older actors acting students and an asian arts major from Rutgers University in new Jersey went through their paces for the opening Parade As Krasavina one of the russian acrobats watched from the sidelines providing vocal sound effects and sporting a to shirt emblazoned with the title  a Balletic Tough Guy shouldered a plump Clown a hairy chested baby in Pink slip diapers was tossed to the mat in a series of Bone crunching tumbles and through it All wandered a familiar City sight a lost shopping bag  it was time to Stop. Imagine a curtain Here Binder said. And they All dipped through the imaginary curtain and disappeared until opening Day. By it they Armstrong associated press ends pop. 2 lives on although the neighbouring towns of Mara and Star have Allenby the Wayside. Fresh farm milk and eggs bolts r and nails livestock feed and a few pairs of size 5 children s shoes line the shelves of the Venus store which is kept in mint 1904 condition by owners Ella and Art von Heggem. When people near we re from Venus they laugh and think we re oddballs is von Heggem. But when i was in the Hospital last year to Omaha was homesick. I thought if i could just setback Ovenus Venus about 200 Miles Northwest of Omaha near the South Dakota Border was founded about to. To boasted a population of ii in its heyday and had a Creamery Blacksmith shop and dance Hal today. Mrs. Von Segrera uses Long grocery " a sliding ladders when stocking the stores nign.s"6"" where old jars a Dusty wallpaper pattern Boc Anoa leather Glove used for hand picking com seem at Home with the dry Cereal sewing notions and Tea towels. Banners still gather in Winter around a pot belly Art von Seggern half of the population of Venus neb. Dove fuelled with Corncob and Wood. He and i have changed the government a million times von Seg Gern Laid As he greeted a customer. Outside Gas pumps of another Era stand beside More modern ones and a fading sign in the window reminds area residents of the Venus Post office closed in 1959. Popularity keeps the store alive one customer says. If the von seggers Are Busy regular customers like Vincent Jackson one of 500 people who live in nearby or Chard help themselves to a loaf of bread or a dozen eggs then write their own charge slip. We be seen a lot of shopping centers come and go says von Heggem.  adds his wife the people always forget to buy things and have to come to  the store usually is open seven Days a week Chenev Friday june 24, 1977 or we re around says mrs. Von Seggern. We open the door when we get up and lock up about 9 or 10 . But if they see our Light on in the adjoining House and they need something Well help them then  the von seggers were area Farmers when they bought the store in 1952. Previous owners got rid of Many of the old items mrs. Von Heggem says. But when a Cus Tomer recently spotted a faded Box of Pratt s poultry regulator on a top shelf i sold it to him for the Price on  a guest Register is fitted with the names of former neighbors who came Back for a visit and of sightseers who read about the store in local  when a television station in a nearby City asked to do a Story on the store. Von Heggem turned Down the re quest. I was afraid we d be overexposed be said with a Grin. People come from far and wide and we have to wait on  the stars and stripes Page 13