Derby, Kan. It’s the perfect weather for local pools and water parks.
Pool managers say it’s about time because unseasonably cool weather has hurt attendance in some communities.
"We’ve definitely had a lower than average attendance thus far this summer," says Darcie Parkhurst. Parkhurst is Aquatic Fitness Facility Director in Derby which includes the Rock River Rapids water park.
She says, "We’ve
had unusually cool parts of the summer. But temperatures have gone up and down. Cold last week. Nice and warm this week."
Last week, she says, was a disaster for attendance at the water park. She says Rock River Rapids closed Wednesday and Thursday due to cool weather.
The park reopened Friday but only had 180 visitors. The weather turned hot again Sunday and more than 15 hundred visitors came. Even Monday, Parkhurst says, more than 12 hundred turned out.
"We’ve been waiting for it. We love to see the big crowds coming out."
Customer Andi Wilson was cooling off there Tuesday with her four year old daughter Alex. Wilson says, "It’s really hot out and we just wanted to get some relief from the heat. This summer’s
been really mild, for some reason which I’m not complaining about."
But a couple Derby ten year olds explain their frustration with this summer’s up and down weather. Blakely Murray says, "It’s been really tough because
the weather’s been really stormy and cold. And this is just a perfect day because it’s really high and it’s really cool."
Briyanah Davis says, "It kind of flip flops like you want to go one day and then it’s really freezing. And then you have to wear sweats and jackets."
But the girls were enjoying the water park Tuesday afternoon.
Brian Wilde says, "We went
to a water park in Kansas City a couple days ago and it was 80 degrees and kind of miserable because it was so cold. So it’s great out here today."
Brian Hill, director of Wichita’s Aquatics Programs says city pool attendance through June was actually up six percent over last year. He attributes that to a mild June minus the string of 100 degree days of last summer. Hill says, however, last week Wichita did close some pools due to cool weather.
Hill says the Boston Park Pool is closed for the remainder of the season due to a broken valve. Classes and camps held at the southeast Wichita pool will be transferred to the McAdams Recreation Center complex and pool.Articles Connexes：
Channel V brings BBC Worldwide’s My Big Decision to India
The format of My Big Decision is owned by Love Productions, a UK based independent production company set up in October 2004. The format is licensed internationally by BBC Worldwide.
BBC Worldwide Productions has joined hands with Channel V to bring the international format My Big Decision to India.
For the record, the format
of My Big Decision is owned by Love Productions, a UK based independent production company, set up in October 2004. The format is licensed internationally by BBC Worldwide.
The format is based on the theory that young people today are growing up faster than ever before and are making adult decisions sooner than their parents would like. Tweaked to suit Indian sentiments and focussing on the youth, each episode of My Big Decision will be centred on a hot and debatable issue. This will include the dilemmas in the lives of youth across the country, ranging from liposuction to college drop outs, and even sex change operations.
Myleeta Aga, general manager and creative head, BBC Worldwide Productions India, says, "My Big Decision is ahead of the curve, no holds barred, brutally frank, and emotionally wrought. We believe this series will have viewers rooting for and identifying with the youngsters onscreen. The show has an un scripted ‘cool’ factor you never know how something is going to turn out because these are young people who are fighting for an identity of their own."
Hosted by Sandhya Mridul, the show, created in a chat show format, will trace the lives of 14 young contestants, whose aspirations rely on their decisions.
The contestants will be made to set out on a journey to discover themselves. They will be gradually exposed to a series of events and encounters, which are expected to bring them closer to reality. The contestants meet third party experts and opinion makers, who either condense or strengthen their confidence. Building up to an environment of curiosity and anticipation, the contestants finally declare their decision to a spectrum of audience, who witness the entire journey from the studio.
Speaking about the show, Prem Kamath, executive vice president and general manager, Channel V, says, "My Big Decision is an endeavour by Channel V to guide the youth who have to make such larger than life
decisions due to various influences. The show has been conceptualised on the premise that the youth is dabbling regularly with issues that nobody wishes to address."
The one hour show will be launched on January 14, and will be aired on Saturdays at 7 pm. Initially, the show will run for seven episodes, with two participants in each episode.
Will the show work?
Many youth channels have now stepped into the bold zone in a bid to tap into their core
audience segment. UTV Bindass showcases bold shows such as Emotional Atyachar and Big Switch, while MTV has shows such as Splitsvilla.
"Currently, all youth channels are taking steps to handle various youth issues, which are also being tackled in a very bold manner. However, it really needs to be seen how
My Big Decision tackles these bold issues. India is not yet ready for stark boldness, and therefore, if gone overboard, the attempt can have an adverse effect," says Anita Nayyar, chief executive officer, Havas Media South Asia.
Amit Ray, media consultant and ex president, Lintas Media Group, finds the concept and its placement at 7 pm interesting. He notes that Channel V is more metro centric, and therefore, its core TG (target group) may not be home at 7 pm.
"In fact, the repeat show should be able to generate more viewership from its core audience. Nevertheless, the show can attract amongst parents, especially mothers, who can choose to sample the show before moving onto their primetime engagements."Articles Connexes：
Ignoring everything else, he would say, good job, now this time homework only would you try