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How a Mr. Rogers Episode Featuring a Pool Helped Fight Segregation

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How Mr. Rogers Helped Break Down Barriers of Segregation at Swimming Pools

In 1964 the Civil Rights Act outlawed segregation in public places. One person on the forefront of breaking down barriers of segregation was Fred Rogers. His children’s show, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” ran from 1968 to 2001, and he became famous for the compassion he showed on the show.

In particular, two scenes from different years (one from 1969 and the other from 1993, per NPR) have been getting a lot of attention from viewers, who have been tweeting and posting them on Instagram and Reddit. Rogers (who passed away in 2003) and Officer Clemmons (played by François Clemmons), a black actor, both dip their feet into a wading pool.

Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood Episode An Important Moment For Civil Rights

Civil unrest over U.S. pool segregation policies coincided with the airing of the first scene, and many viewers saw it as Rogers speaking out against racism. Rogers is shown in the scene inviting Officer Clemmons to join him in a wading pool for a refreshing foot soak. Rogers offers Clemmons his towel after Clemmons says he doesn’t have one.

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Sharing a simple plastic pool stood for so much more in 1969 when this episode Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood aired.

In 1969, when this episode aired, many public pools were still segregated despite the passage of the Civil Rights Act almost five years earlier. This act of kindness from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood meant more than it seemed at the time. For tens of thousands of young viewers, it was a chance to see that there was no reason to assume that people of different races couldn’t enjoy the same activities together, such as sitting at a table or swimming in the same pool.

Mr. Rogers had a good friend in Police Officer Clemmons. It was a hot and sunny day. To ask if he wanted to take a seat and relax for a while to cool off was the humane thing to do. It’s a small thing, but it would be a great example of compassion and acceptance for the rest of humanity. What a terrific example to set for millions of children watching at home. The imagery of that moment was a canonizing footnote in television history.

The pair’s final episode together in 1993 featured a replay of the same scene from 24 years earlier. While soaking his tired feet, Rogers invites Clemmons to do the same. “Sure!” Clemmons gives his reply.

When promoting his memoir, which came out in May 2020, and in the 2018 documentary about the show, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?,” Clemmons discussed these powerful clips.

“They didn’t want black people to come and swim in their swimming pools, and Fred said, ‘That is absolutely ridiculous,'” Clemmons recalled in the documentary.

“He invited me to come over and to rest my feet in the water with him,” Clemmons said. “The icon Fred Rogers not only was showing my brown skin in the tub with his white skin as two friends, but as I was getting out of that tub, he was helping me dry my feet.”

They revisited the scene in their final episode together in 1993, and Clemmons says reenacting it affected him deeply.

Fred Rogers and Francois Clemmons reenacting an important and iconic moment in television history.

“I think he was making a very strong statement. That was his way. I still was not convinced that Officer Clemmons could have a positive influence in the neighborhood and in the real-world neighborhood, but I think I was proven wrong,” he says.

Much has changed since the first airing of that episode but the road to a fair and caring society is long and arduous. It was five decades ago when Officer Clemmons and Mr. Rogers conveyed a message that is as powerful today as it was fifty years ago.

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Pool News coverage brought to you by Pool Magazine's own Marcus Packer. Marcus Packer is a 20 year pool industry veteran pool builder and pool service technician. In addition to being a swimming pool professional, Marcus has been a writer and long time contributor for Newsweek Magazine's home improvement section and more recently for Florida Travel + Life. Have a story idea or tip you'd like to share with Pool Magazine? Email [email protected] your story idea.

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Landslide Damages Homes, Destroys Swimming Pool in California

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Landslide Destroys Home, Damages Swimming Pool in California

A landslide wreaked havoc in Sherman Oaks early Wednesday morning, causing millions in damage and virtually destroying one homeowner’s swimming pool. The catastrophe unfolded at around 3 a.m. following reports from residents in the 3700 block of North Ventura Canyon Avenue, who noticed downed power lines and a large tree fallen into a backyard, as detailed in a press release by the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Upon arrival, firefighters encountered a significant portion of the hillside had shifted downward, endangering at least three homes and inflicting heavy damage on another under construction. Video footage captured by OnScene.TV revealed a gaping crack splitting through the backyard of one residence, with a section of the home visibly tilting to one side.

While no injuries were reported, several individuals were evacuated from at least one home, with firefighters resorting to pumping water out of a swimming pool to alleviate additional strain on the hillside. Unfortunately, part of the pool and home ultimately collapsed down a 30-foot cliff destroying another residence that was still under construction.

Responding to the crisis, the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety initially deemed one home unsafe, red-tagging the structure. However, their assessment later extended to two homes deemed unsafe and a third severely damaged, marked with a yellow tag. Ongoing drone surveys by firefighters aim to assess the extent of the damage and potential risks.

At present, the exact cause of the landslide remains undetermined, according to LAFD spokesperson Nicholas Prange. Requests for comment from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety went unanswered.

Authorities seized the opportunity to remind residents of the necessity for year-round emergency preparedness, emphasizing the looming threats posed by wildfires and heavy rainstorms capable of triggering landslides.

The unfortunate incident follows March’s heavy precipitation in Southern California, with Sherman Oaks experiencing 1.95 inches of rainfall over March 6th and 7th, as reported by the National Weather Service.

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BofA Downgrades Latham Group Citing Weak Pool Construction Market

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BofA Downgrades Latham Group Citing Weak Pool Construction Market

Latham Group (NASDAQ: SWIM), a prominent player in residential swimming pool construction, faced a setback as Bank of America downgraded its stock due to concerns over sluggish new pool construction and increased decrementals.

With the downgrade, SWIM’s stock plummeted by 23.78% during pre-market trading on Wednesday, settling at $2.50, marking an 11% dip below its 200-day simple moving average.

Bank of America revised its recommendation on Latham Group stock to Underperform, slashing the price target from $4.50 to $2.60.

In its 2024 guidance announcement, SWIM projected revenues between $490M and $520M, falling short of the consensus estimate of $533.09M. Similarly, adjusted EBITDA guidance ranged from $60M to $70M, representing an 8% to 35% decrease compared to previous expectations.

The downgrade stems from a sluggish start to 2024, subdued projections for new pool construction, operational challenges leading to deleverage, and constrained free cash flow.

Management anticipates a 15% year-over-year decline in new pool construction for 2024.

These developments contrast with the optimistic sentiment among some sell-side analysts, who maintain a Buy rating on SWIM with an average price target of $3.54.

Scott Rajeski, President and CEO, stated, “Latham navigated a very difficult market environment in 2023. We successfully implemented cost reduction programs and lean manufacturing initiatives that structurally reduced our cost basis, while maintaining our investments in future growth. These cost reduction programs improved margins as the year progressed and we expect they will enable us to considerably expand margins and overall profitability once volumes recover. At the same time, we increased productivity and efficiency for our dealers, developed new fiberglass pool models, and invested in digital tools that have enhanced the consumer’s pool buying experience. As a result of these actions, Latham is positioned for meaningful market share gains as overall industry conditions improve.”

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Fluidra Launches €20 Million Venture Capital Fund – Fluidra Ventures

The company will invest €20 million in tech-based startups that offer emerging solutions that can enhance the pool and wellness sector.

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Fluidra Ventures

Fluidra, a global leader in connected equipment and solutions for the pool and wellness sector, is launching Fluidra Ventures, a €20 million corporate venture capital fund (CVC) investment to lead innovation in the sector.

The CVC will invest in each startup with the potential to revolutionize the industry on a global scale through their solutions, with a special focus on the United States and Europe. The goal of this first three-year phase is to build a solid portfolio of startups through investing in innovative companies.

The CVC will target startup initiatives that enhance efficiency, connectivity, sustainability and safety in the swimming pool and wellness business, leveraging IoT, computer vision and robotic solutions. It is looking for startups that add value to the pool and wellness sector with innovative business models, fostering direct customer interaction through sales, subscriptions and other channels. The CVC has already invested in Coral Smart Pool, a technology company aiming to transform the pool experience through Artificial Intelligence (AI) with an initial focus on pool safety.  

Fluidra Ventures will also invest in companies that innovate in engineering and science to advance materials and products that deal with swimming pool manufacturing, efficiency and maintenance.

Four segments and eight strategic guidelines

The fund is focused on four different segments — Commercial, Residential, Wellness and Mass Market—and has an investment thesis that covers eight strategic guidelines, from connected pools, resource optimization, digital platforms, innovative materials, security systems, personalized experiences, robotics and innovative consumable products.

Fluidra Ventures is fueled by Fluidra Lab, Fluidra’s open innovation division, and any startups that want to submit their proposals can send their investment pitch decks to [email protected]. Offering more than just investments, Fluidra aims to leverage this initiative to become the top strategic collaborator for the most innovative startups with the tremendous benefits that being an industry leader brings, such as: resources, scale successful business models, expertise, experience, and sales options.

“This initiative joins several others that we have at Fluidra to promote innovation in our industry. This is why here at Fluidra Ventures we’re excited about the transformative potential that this venture will have for the pool and wellness industry, driving forward innovation, sustainability and technological advancement”, said Eloi Planes, Fluidra’s Executive Chairman.

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