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If you ever went to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus at Madison Square Garden then you must remember those little lights you could buy. The top flipped up and the light was white, and when the top was closed the light emitted a red glow. They were about 5 inches long and came on a red plastic lanyard.

You could twirl the light around in circles when the arena lights were turned down low, and all over the Garden you would see twirling circles of red. It was so cool. Once in a while you would twirl your light hard enough to hit your brother or sister, but it was okay because you were at the circus and everything was good.

The circus would take place in three rings at once (hence the term “three-ring circus”) and you did not know where to look first. In one ring there were tigers jumping through rings, egged on by pretty girls in satin outfits. In ring two there could be some elephants climbing on top of each other or just marching around in a circle while holding the guy’s (or gal’s) tail in front of him (or her). In ring three there could be some man juggling fire while overhead there were swinging ropes, trapeze artists and people tumbling in mid-air. Once in a while one trapeze artist would miss the hands of her catcher and fall into the giant net below. “OOOOOHHHH” the crowd would say.

The ringmaster, with his top hat and extra loud microphone, would get your attention. “Laaaaadies and Gentleman!” It was the “Greatest Show on Earth.” And when those elephants had to go ... watch out!

But the lights on the red cord were the best. Later on that night, after the long drive home from New York City, I would hang my light on my bedpost and look at its red glow. It was always sad when that bulb went out for good because the hardware store did not carry them. But you always hoped that, next year, you could go back and get another one.

And now I know why my mother said our house was sometimes like “a three-ring circus”!

The circus is in town—well, on Coney Island—for the next 12 weeks. The Big Top seats 2,300. The 100-member cast and crew hail from 16 countries. Tickets range from $10 to $25. If anybody goes this summer, please check and see if they still sell those lights!

Kristen Gionta of Eastport earned an All County lacrosse award and the Most Improved Player Award for the Eastport South Manor girls’ varsity lacrosse team. She finished her season third on Long Island in assists. Kristen will attend Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina this fall where she will study psychology. Best of luck to her.

Vendors are invited to participate in an Arts and Crafts Festival sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of the Moriches. The event will take place on Saturday, July 18, at the Clayton Huey Elementary School in Center Moriches, Call Judy Eberhard at 878-2255 for all of the details.

Eastport’s new jewelry store, T.W. English, is hosting a Summer Weekend Celebration. The celebration will take place Friday, June 26, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, June 27, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., outside of the shop on Montauk Highway. Friday evening’s festivities will include a wine and cheese reception. Saturday is for kids age 10 and under and there will be a book reading by Terry Lucas of The Open Book in Westhampton Beach. There will also be music and refreshments. Both events are free and open to the public.

T.W. English is owned by gemologist Todd English. His shop will offer an extensive line of jewelry, custom designs, repairs, appraisals and restoration of antique and estate jewelry.

Congratulations to Christian Nilsson of East Moriches who screened six of his short films at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, June 24. Christian is a film and video student at Five Towns College. His proud parents are Ted and Janine Nilsson.

Congrats also to Daniel H. Gill of Eastport who recently received a bachelor’s degree in human resources from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania. Commencement took place on May 31.