Summer | Webnewswire

Sky Kids kicks-off summer holidays with new series of Let’s Game and so much more

Jul 17, 2022 | Business

WEBWIRE – Friday, July 15, 2022

With the summer holidays soon to be in full swing, Sky Kids has announced that Lets Game is back with a brand-new series. And the fun doesnt stop there, with plenty more brilliant shows in store to help keep the kids entertained and inspire creativity.

After the success of series 1, Lets Game is back on screens and this time theres even more gamers involved. YouTube stars Ruby Rube and The Kabs Family will join series 2, alongside DanTDM, Ethan Gamer, BlackPanthaa and Yammy, who return for more gaming fun. With a whopping combined subscribers base of 37.9 million on YouTube, kids will be able to see their favourite gamers take on epic challenges and journey through a series of adventures, as they play family-friendly titles including LEGO and Sonic, all in a safe space that parents can trust.

Whats more, Sky Kids is home to shows covering everything from gaming and music to arts and crafts and making and doing, providing the perfect summer camp all in one place.

Theres a huge variety of shows loved by children aged from 1-10. Kids (5+) can get dancing and singing along to the beat of KIDZ BOP, with 6 brand new episodes dropping on 9 August, while Tom Gates Makes and Draw With Will are on hand to help create a splash of colourful arts and crafts, teaching new arty skills this summer season. For the little ones (pre-school), The Makery is brilliant for exploring imagination, with episodes full of fantastic making and doing.

For families eager to get a bit messy in the kitchen, Ultimate Food Fun is just the show to inspire the invention of some incredibly edible creations to share with each other.

Lucy Murphy, Director of Sky Kids, said:Summer holidays are a great opportunity to kick back, try new things and have fun as a family. Were delighted to offer a summer line-up that will encourage creativity as well as providing brilliant entertainment for kids of all ages.

Notes to Editors

Stills for Lets Game s2, KIDZ BOP, Tom Gate Makes, Draw With Will and Ultimate Food Fun can be found on SEAC here
More content can be viewed on the Sky Kids YouTube channel here

About Sky Kids

Sky Kids is the home of award-winning original and exclusive shows and games, including The Brilliant World of Tom Gates, Moominvalley and Pip and Posy. The platform offers families eight dedicated kids channels, with favourite shows like PAW Patrol, Scooby Doo and Teen Titans Go!, as well as over 10,000 episodes of kids content on demand.  
Sky Kids content aims to entertain, educate and inspire children aged 1-10 and is available to watch on Sky Q, the Sky Kids app, Sky Glass, Sky Go and streaming service NOW.
Sky offers safe, child-friendly environments for kids to watch their favourite shows and play games. Through the Sky Kids app, parents can create personalised age profiles for their children, alongside a sleep mode to moderate screen time. This is complemented by the pin protected Safe Mode on Sky Q, so theres no danger of children straying into any areas of content that are not right for them”

Find Your Summer Open House at The Gateway Family YMCA

Jun 29, 2022 | Business

The Gateway Family YMCA is celebrating a Find Your Summer Open House event July 28-31, available free to the local community. Everyone is invited to visit and Find Your Summer, Find Your Passion, Find Your Y at The Gateway Family YMCA. Individual events hosted at Y branches in Elizabeth, Rahway and Union include family swimming and basketball, water exercise programs, and group exercise programs like yoga or Zumba. Event details are available at www.tgfymca.org/events

“To be our best selves, we need to take care of our whole selves. At the Y, our supportive community will inspire you to find your inner strength so you can expand your health in spirit, mind and body,” stated Krystal A. Canady, CEO, The Gateway Family YMCA. “The past two years have been hard on our community, and especially our families. We are happy to be opening our doors and providing some family fun and stress relief in the form of healthy activities, events and information.”

The Gateway Family YMCA has served the local community since 1900, and provides programs and services with the goal of building community, developing youth and creating a safe experience. With a unique focus that encompasses programs and services for all ages, the Y is poised to assist families in a very intentional way, as a partner in their holistic wellness. In addition to the Open House, new members who join with a Family Membership at The Gateway Family YMCA online at www.tgfymca.org/join-the-Y will pay $0 Joiner Fee with the code FAM July 28-31.

“At the Y, you’ll find more than just a place to work out. With opportunities to connect with new people, develop new skills and explore new interests, you might just discover a new passion, too,” stated Melynda A. Mileski, EVP/Chief Operating Officer. “We understand flexibility is important in today’s world and have added virtual options for 24-hour access for our members, as well as tools and resources like YMCA360 and Nationwide Membership.”

This June, The Gateway Family YMCA launched a Community Membership initiative, an opportunity for everyone to participate in designated Y programs, special events and communications through a complimentary membership designed to provide access to all, while remaining connected to each other and the community. More information is available at www.tgfymca.org/community-membership

In addition to traditional Y programs like Youth Sports and Swimming Lessons, The Gateway Family YMCA also offers Child Care, Before and After School Care, Summer Day Camp, Virtual WISE Adult Services, Chronic Disease Management programs, Residential Housing and Social Services.

The Gateway Family YMCA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, health and community service organization of caring staff and volunteers dedicated to strengthening community through Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility. The Gateway Family YMCA impacts the community by providing quality services for all. The Y doesn’t just strengthen bodies – it strengthens people, families and communities.

For more information about The Gateway Family YMCA, visit www.tgfymca.org or contact the Elizabeth Branch 908-355-9622, Five Points Branch 908-688-9622, Rahway Branch 732-388-0057 or the Wellness Center and WISE Center Branch at 908-349-9622.

The Gateway Family YMCA

Colleen Clayton

908-249-4811

www.tgfymca.org

Contact

Free Digital Summer Camp from GIGIL STEM Kits

Jun 14, 2022 | Business

GIGIL STEM Kits today announced their Digital Summer Camp, an online experience designed for kids in Pre-K through 5th grade. GIGIL Digital Summer Camp includes a variety of fun and educational DIY activities, their most popular STEM Kits at a bundled discount, and even a giveaway for participants in their STEM Challenge. Perfect for planning a screen-free summer. The STEM Kits bundles are curated to appeal to a variety of interests, including Technology, Space, Science, and Exploration.

“As a mom, Summer brings just as much anxiety as it does excitement. There never seems to be enough to fill the day and balancing it all while working can be so tough. Along with our STEM Kits, we hope to provide enough free resources to help take the stress of activity planning throughout the summer with everything you need all in one place.” Michelle Davis, Founder of GIGIL STEM Kits.

Each STEM Kit bundle includes 3 of the most popular STEM Kits and are offered at $109. Included in the bundles are:

15 hands-on activities

3 video lessons

Instructions and activity guides

All the materials needed

For more information on the GIGIL Digital Summer Camp, visit https://www.gigilstemkits.com/gigil-summer-camp

About GIGIL: GIGIL STEM Kits are a great addition to homeschool curriculums or make fun after-school or weekend screen-free activities. As a subscriber, your little one will learn a new theme in STEM every month. Each box includes 5 hands-on activities, a guided video lesson, and all the materials needed. Our kits are created for kids in Pre-K to 5th grade and are even charter school approved.

GIGL

Berlyn Komar

785-408-2453

www.gigilstemkits.com/

Contact

HWA Announces Summer Scares Reading Program 2022

Nov 4, 2021 | Books, Business

LOS ANGELES – Nov. 2, 2021 – PRLog — The Horror Writers Association (HWA), in partnership with United for Libraries, Book Riot, and Booklist, is proud to announce the fourth annual Summer Scares Reading Program. Summer Scares is a reading program that provides libraries and schools with an annual list of recommended horror titles for adult, young adult (teen), and middle grade readers. It introduces readers and librarians to new authors and helps start conversations extending beyond the books from each list and promote reading for years to come.

Summer Scares is proud to announce their 2022 spokesperson as author Alma Katsu: “I’m thrilled to be the author representative to the Summer Scares programming committee and to have the honor of representing my fellow horror writers and be an advocate for the great writing that’s being produced by the horror community. Horror is a widely-loved genre, for many readers constituting their earliest reads, whether it’s R.L. Stine or Edgar Allan Poe, and so I’m happy for the opportunity to work with librarians to introduce more horror stories and new authors to their patrons.”

Katsu is joined by a committee of five library workers who, together, will select three recommended fiction titles in each reading level, totaling nine Summer Scares selections. The goal of the program is to encourage a national conversation about the horror genre, across all age levels, at libraries nationwide and ultimately attract more adults, teens, and children interested in reading. Official Summer Scares designated authors will also make themselves available at public and school libraries.

The committee’s final selections will be announced on February 14, 2022, Library Lover’s Day. Katsu, along with some of the selected authors, will appear on a panel to kickoff Summer Scares at the 6^th Annual HWA Librarians’ Day, Friday May 13 during StokerCon 2022 at the Curtis Hotel in Denver, CO.

Between the announcement of the titles and the kickoff event, the committee and its partners will publish lists of more suggested titles for further reading. Official Summer Scares podcasting partner, Ladies of the Fright Podcast, will also record episodes in conjunction with Summer Scares.

Of special note is the annual Summer Scares Programming Guide, courtesy of Konrad Stump and the Springfield-Greene County Library, which provides creative ideas to engage horror readers. Centered around the official Summer Scares titles, the guide offers tips and examples for readers’ advisory, book discussions, and special programs, and enables librarians, even those who don’t read or especially enjoy the horror genre themselves, to participate in Summer Scares.

As Stump notes: “The Springfield-Greene County (MO) Library is thrilled to continue working with the HWA to produce the 2022 Summer Scares Programming Guide. We’re excited to announce that not only will 2022’s guide be enhanced through an exciting new partnership with the Horror Studies archive at Pitt University, but we will be releasing the guide earlier than ever, on March 1, so library workers have more time to plan fun and thought-provoking programs that engage their communities with horror and Summer Scares.”

To see past year’s Summer Scares titles, spokespeople, and programming guides, please visit the program archive: http://raforallhorror.blogspot.com/p/summer-scares-archive.html.

And keep your eyes peeled for more updates coming soon from Booklist, Book Riot, and United for Libraries, as well as at the HWA’s website: www.horror.org and RA for All Horror: http://raforallhorror.blogspot.com/p/summer-scares.html.

Questions? Reach out to HWA Library Committee Chairs Becky Spratford and Konrad Stump via email: librariess@horror.org.

Summer Scares Committee Members:

Alma Katsu

is the author of six novels. Her books have twice-nominated for the Stoker and Locus awards and been on best books lists at Amazon, Apple, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, among others. THE HUNGER (2018), one of last year’s Summer Scares adult picks, was named one of NPR’s 100 favorite horror stories, and won Spain’s Kelvin 505 award for best scifi/fantasy novel as well as the Western Heritage Award for best novel. THE DEEP (2020) is a finalist for the Library of Virginia’s best novel award. Her most recent work, RED WIDOW (2021), is her first spy novel, the logical marriage of her love of storytelling with her 30+ year career at CIA and NSA. RED WIDOW was selected a NYT Book Review Editor’s Choice and is in development with FOX for a TV series.

Ms. Katsu has relocated from the Washington, DC area to the mountains of West Virginia, where she lives with her musician husband Bruce and their two dogs, Nick and Ash.

Becky Spratford is a library consultant and the author of The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Horror, third edition which was released in September of 2021. She reviews horror for Booklist Magazine, is the horror columnist for Library Journal and runs the Readers’ Advisory Horror blog, RA for All: Horror. Becky is also a member of United for Libraries and is currently serving as Secretary for the Horror Writers’ Association.

Konrad Stump is a Local History Associate for the Springfield-Greene County (MO) Library, where he coordinates local history programming and works district-wide on Big Read, ASRP, and Springfield-Greene’s popular “Oh, the Horror!” series, which attracts hundreds of patrons during October. He created the Donuts & Death horror book discussion group, featured in “Book Club Reboot: 71 Creative Twists” (ALA), and co-created the Summer Scares Programming Guide. Library workers and authors who are interested in cultivating horror programming can contact Konrad at konrads@thelibrary.org for free assistance.

Carolyn Ciesla is an academic library director in the Chicago suburbs. She has worked as a teen librarian and reference librarian, and reviews horror titles for Booklist Magazine. She’s currently enjoying providing all the scary books to her teen daughter, and revisiting a few along the way.

Kelly Jensen is a former librarian who works as an Editor for Book Riot (bookriot.com), where she runs the bi-weekly “What’s Up in YA?” young adult newsletter and cohosts the popular “Hey YA” podcast about young adult literature Her books include the award-winning (Don’t) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation About Mental Health and Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World, both from Algonquin Young Readers. She’s also a well-known and long-time co-blogger at Stacked (stackedbooks.org). A life-long lover of all things scary, she finds herself eager to scream about horror reads for teens with those who love good thrills and chills.

Julia Smith joined the Books for Youth team at Booklist in 2015, where she is now a senior editor. Her life-long love of horror movies and middle-grade literature draws her to creepy children’s stories and books with bone in the title. You can follow her at @JuliaKate32 on Twitter.

Contact

John W. Dennehy

Communications Director

Horror Writers Association

***@johnwdennehy.com

Hong Kong – LCQ16: Implementation of summer time

Jun 9, 2021 | International

LCQ16: Implementation of summer time

************************************

Following is a question by the Hon Paul Tse and a written reply by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, in the Legislative Council today (June 9):

Question:

     Summer time was implemented in Hong Kong on certain days in the summers of 1941, 1946 to 1976 and 1979, during which the clock was set forward by one hour. Some members of the public have suggested that summer time be implemented again in Hong Kong to encourage members of the public to go to bed early and rise early, thereby making optimal use of daylight and reducing the use of lighting facilities. They have pointed out that the implementation of summer time may induce members of the public to take advantage of the cooler time in the early morning for getting to work or going to school; besides, the longer duration between the time when members of the public get off work and sunset will facilitate them to conduct outdoor activities after work, which is conducive to increasing the customer flow for the retail outlets and eateries at night, thereby fuelling the early recovery of the economy from the epidemic. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given that the economy of Hong Kong has been hit consecutively by acts of serious violence and the coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic in recent years, and that under the impact of global warming, Hong Kong recorded last month the highest temperature in May since 1963, whether the Government will explore from the perspectives of energy-saving, optimal use of daylight, facilitating economic recovery, etc. to see if it is now more imperative for Hong Kong to implement summer time as compared to the situation in 1979 or before;

(2) whether it will estimate the amount of energy to be saved and the benefits to be brought to the overall economy of Hong Kong by the implementation of summer time; and

(3) if it will conduct a public consultation on whether the implementation of summer time can cater better to the daily living, travelling as well as work and rest of members of the public and to the operation of commercial organisations?

Reply:

President,

     The summer time arrangement is generally a practice of setting the clock forward by one hour to take advantage of the natural phenomenon of the sun rising earlier in summer. It is usually implemented in regions at higher latitudes where the differences in the duration of daylight between winter and summer are more noticeable. As Hong Kong is located in a region of low latitude, there is no significant variation in its duration of daytime between winter and summer. Also, there is not much change in the temperature before and after sunrises (i.e. from 5am to 8am) in Hong Kong.

     In response to the Hon Paul Tse’s questions, the reply is as follows:

     The implementation of summer time system has a far-reaching impact on all walks of life and should be considered in a holistic manner.

     With respect to the use of energy, as people generally get to work and go to school during daytime, setting the clock forward by one hour cannot significantly reduce energy consumption in indoor lighting and air-conditioning. Besides, working hours will not be shortened in spite of the implementation of summer time. The impact on building energy consumption will accordingly not be significant.

     In terms of economic implications, the implementation of summer time will lead to a time gap between the Mainland and Hong Kong in part of the year, which will not be conducive to the economic and trade exchanges between the two places. As for local business and trade activities, there is so far no specific assessment on the impact of summer time on the industrial and trade sectors in Hong Kong. Overall speaking, introducing summer time may not necessarily benefit the economic development of Hong Kong.

     Under a summer time system, members of the public have to adjust to time change at least twice a year. This will require corresponding adjustments to their lifestyle and daily routine. These will involve social costs but will not bring clear benefits to society.

     The implementation of summer time will affect the operations of every sector in society and should be considered carefully. Given that there is currently no evidence to show that introducing summer time will bring clear benefits to Hong Kong, the Government has no intention of conducting public consultation on the matter.