【推荐1】Dear students and employees(员工) of RWTH,

Based on recent decisions by the state government on Covid-19 lockdown( 封 城 ), the Management Committee of RWTH have decided on the following measures:

Studying and teaching:

All in-person classroom teaching activities (especially lab courses, written examinations, and exam revision) will be stopped in the period from December 16, 2020 to January 10, 2021. If possible and reasonable, teachers can offer online teaching during this time instead. We would also advise strongly the exam committee to find ways that help students with their degree programs.

All network teaching and exams that have already been planned will continue during this time.

Service operations:

In the period from December 16, 2020 to January 10, 2021, all employees who can work from home must do so, even if this causes quality losses.

For the period from December 21, 2020 to January 8, 2021, we have made further offers for service operations and vacation arrangements.

If employees have questions about the organization of working hours and childcare, the human resources departments will be happy to help. The state government has also said it will provide help for this group of employees.

The Management Committee of RWTH has taken the above measures based on the following rules: All measures are designed to reduce the possibilities of infection( 感 染 ) even more (for example, by reducing the need to take transportation).

The Management Committee calls on all students, employees, and managers to fully obey the measures that have been made.

Best regards.

Head of the Management Committee of RWTH

【推荐1】In recent years，riding a hot-air balloon has become more and more popular. Many people practice flying a hot-air balloon as a sport.     1     Some people may question the safety of riding a hot-air balloon. Generally speaking，hot-air balloons are quite safe.

Before examining the safety of hot-air balloons，it may help to understand how they work. Each balloon has a large bag called an envelope，attached to a bag or gondola(吊篮). In order to get enough lift，the air in the bag is heated with the assistance of a flame. As the air heats up，the balloon rises.     2    

Like kites，hot-air balloons travel with the wind. Typically，pilots choose the early morning hours to fly since wind speeds are low.     3     Meanwhile，the flight will become more enjoyable.

    4    High winds and extreme weather such as storm and snow are very dangerous. An experienced pilot will not fly in these conditions. Good pilots always check their equipment before beginning a flight，and they often carry backup for safety even in sunny days.

Riding hot-air balloons can be great fun，and it’s very safe as long as passengers follow the directions of the pilot.     5     People who have a fear of heights may want to skip the experience，however.

Saturday, September 18, 2023, 2:00 PM — 3:00 PM

Emma Clark Library, 122 Main Street

The March “Crafternoon” at Emma Clark Library is a hatching bird pop-up craft (雏鸟孵化工艺). Stop by Saturday, September 18 anytime between 2:00 PM-3:00 PM for this free craft! Welcome all children. If you have any questions, please email us at kids@emmaclark.org.

June 3 — 20, 2023, 8:00 AM — 6:00 PM

Hicks Nurseries

Go to Hicks Nurseries in Westbury if your children want to know the hottest ideas and products for gardening. The Flower& Garden Show, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily, beginning on June 3 and running through June 20, offers kinds of activities for children interested in gardening.

Sunday, August 8, 2023, 2:00 PM — 4:00 PM

Emma Clark Library, 122 Main Street

Kick off (使开始) the Super Bowl weekend with football-focused activities on Sunday, August 8. Simply drop into the children’s department at Emma Clark Library between the hours of 2:00 PM-4:00 PM. Play games and enter for a chance to win a special prize. Be sure to catch the fun and families with children all ages are welcome.

【推荐3】Eleven-year-old Ruby Kate Chitsey loves asking the question “If you could have any three things, what would you want?” at nursing homes in Harrison. Even more amazing, she then sets out to make the residents who live in the nursing home realize their dreams.

Last May, Ruby Kate noticed a resident named Pearl staring out a window. She seemed sad. “What are you looking at?” Ruby Kate asked. Pearl said her dog was led away by his new owner because she couldn’t afford to raise it. Ruby Kate and her mother, Amanda, asked around and discovered that many nursing home residents are unable to afford even the smallest luxuries. So Ruby Kate decided to do something about it.

She started by asking residents what three things they wanted most in the world. Amanda worried that people would ask for cars and other things an 11-year-old wouldn’t be able to provide. Instead, they asked for chocolate bars, McDonald fries, pants that ft properly and even just prayer. Using heir own money, the Chitseys granted the wishes of about 100 people in three months. Then they started asking for donations.

The good people of Harrison responded enthusiastically, so much so hat Amanda set up a GoFundMe page, Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents, hoping to collect %5,000. They hit their goal in a month. After GoFundMe named Ruby Kate a Kid Hero and promoted her story internationally this past January, Three Wishes raised $20,000 in 24 hours and more than $250,000 in five months.

Earlier this year, Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents became a nonprofit and launched its first nationwide chapters. Ruby Kate doesn’t plan to stop there. “I consider kindness to be my hobby,” she says, “and I’m very good at it.”

【推荐2】The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides a year into 24 solar terms. The Spring Equinox (春分), as the fourth term of the year, starts on March 21 and ends on April 4 this year. The Spring Equinox signals the equal length of the day and night time. After the equinox, the sun moves northwards, resulting in gradually longer day time in the Northern part and longer night in the Southern part.

Here are things you may not know about the Spring Equinox.

Swallows flying north

The ancient Chinese people divided the fifteen days of the Spring Equinox into three “hou’s” or five-day parts. As the old saying goes, swallows fly back to the North in the first hou. It is said that during this period, thunder and lightning frequently occur.

Egg-standing games

Standing an egg upright is a popular game across the country during the Spring Equinox. It is an old custom that dates back to 4,000 years ago. People practice this tradition to celebrate the coming of spring. It is believed that if someone can make an egg stand, he will have good luck in the future.

Flying kites

Spring Equinox is a good time to fly kites. In ancient times, people did not have good medical resources. So, to pray for health, they wrote their medical issues on paper kite. When the kite was in the air, people would cut off the string to let the paper kite float away, symbolizing the flying away of diseases.

Eating spring vegetables

Eating spring vegetables during the Spring Equinox is a commonly practiced custom in many regions of China. The ancient teachings in the Chinese classic, Huangdi Neijing, suggest that people eat seasonal foods to help preserve health and bring good luck.

The Spring Equinox is a time of celebration and reflection, where people recognize the changing of the seasons and embrace new beginnings.

Location: Victoria Street. Windermere

Date: Saturday, 12th & Sunday, 13th December, 2020

Times: Saturday 10 a. m.-6 р. m., Sunday 10 a. m.-4 p. m.

Run entirely by a group of volunteers, the Windermere Christmas Market first took place in 2016. With around 50 stalls selling a range of goods produced both locally and from Europe, you will find live music and other street performers. There is a shuttle bus in operation from car parks, and plenty of stands selling hot food.

Ambleside Christmas Lights

Location: Market Cross market Place in Ambleside

Date: 2020, date to be decided     Times: 10 a. m. -6 p. m.

This annual event combines a traditional shopping experience with a Christmas light show, cruises on the lake, a lantern parade, and a visit from Santa Claus. The day ends with a large fireworks display. There are family-friendly activities throughout the day, while the market sells range of tasty foods and other gifts.

Hawkshead Christmas Fair

Location: Hawkshead village Centre

Date: Saturday. 5th & Sunday. 6th December, 2020     Times: 10 a. m. -5 p. m.

A Christmas Fair takes over the ancient streets of the small village every December. You will find both indoor and outdoor markets with over 50 stalls selling food, crafts, and other gifts. There is also a lantern parade, live music, and street performance. Children can meet Santa, while grown-ups can enjoy the mini beer festival in village’s pubs.

Keswick Victorian Favre

Location: market Place & Packhorse Court, Keswick

Date: Sunday, 6th December, 2020     Times: 10. 30 a. m. -4 p. m.

This is a fantastic opportunity to combine Christmas shopping with support for local charities. Around 30 local and national charities have stalls where you can browse their goods that include homemade Christmas crafts and cakes. Traders and other workers will be dressed in Victorian costumes and visitors are invited to do the same.