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10 + WATERLOO CHRONICLE « Wednesday, January 23, 2008 very 12 years, according to the E( ‘hinese zodiac, it‘s the Year of the Rat. And 2008 just so happens to fall on that animal sign, meaning it will be a year of hard work and renewal. The Year of the Rat â€" an animal that symbolizes energy, thriftiness and initiative in Chinese culture â€" is a time to start fresh, with a marriage or new job, for instance, make longâ€"term investments and enjoy your wealth. In Waterloo, the Chinese New Year, which begins on Feb. 7, will be marked with a festival where people can learn more about this Asian culture. And that‘s just what its organizers are hoping for. . "It‘s a family affair, and we want children to come and get a taste of the western Chinese culture," said Peter Chieh, the president of the Central Ontario Chinese Cultural Centre, the group that‘s holding the New Year‘s fesâ€" tival at the Waterloo Memorial Recreâ€" ation Complex on Jan. 26. "We want people to come and at least see what Chinese culture is all about." The COCCC â€" a notâ€"forâ€"profit organization established in 1973 to promote Chinese culture and underâ€" standing between cultures â€" has been holding this event for years. And it seems to be getting increasâ€" ingly popular, said Romy Yee, the group‘s viceâ€"president, who attributes that trend to a growing number of Chiâ€" nese immigrants moving to the area, along with many Waterloo residents adopting children, especially girls, from that country. But people don‘t need to have any ties to China to enjoy this event. "Maybe they‘re skating or swimâ€" ming (at the recreation complex) and then they‘ll come up and try to fold paper into something that‘s recognizaâ€" ble with origami," she said. Chinese Year of the Rat celebrations begin in Waterloo Festivalâ€"goers can expect a day of entertainment, crafts, art displays and food, as well as children‘s activities and demonstrations of calligraphy, tai chi and martial arts, for example. This year there will be a lesson on how to use an abacus, which Chieh said was originally discovered in China. "People can use that to do calculaâ€" MEMORY FOAM BED TOPPERS Promotes restful sleep :n-lmsh:ppfinmmum ® Helps reduce stress By Jennirer OrmsTON Chronicle Staff * Greater comfort ® Less tossing and turning © Gives pressure relief We Custom Cut Foam ... For Everything! ... JUST ASK! Danielle Stroobosscher, 3, takes part in the Chinese New Year‘s festivities at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex last year with her mom, Della. tions â€" addition, subtraction, multiâ€" plication and division â€" almost as fast as the little calculators," he said. Admission to the Chinese New Year‘s festival is free, and it runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second floor of the recreation complex on Father David Bauer Drive. Traditional foods, including dim sum â€" small Chinese dumplings â€" will be sold separately. â€" "It‘s just a festive atmosphere to bring in the new year," Yee said, adding people will leave with a sense of China‘s culture and traditions. LIFESTYLE "Try your hand at calligraphy, try picking up a giant marble with chopâ€" sticks â€" it‘s just a fun atmosphere," she said. The COCCC is also hosting a new year‘s gala at RIM Park on Feb. 16, starting at 5 p.m. _ o The night will include an eightâ€" course buffet dinner, performances, prizes and a dance. . s For tickets, which cost $40 for nonâ€" members and $25 for seniors and chilâ€" dren, call Sandra at 519â€"208â€"8098 or send an email to sandrahung188@yahoo.ca. Foam Store “ %usmgus AND ~ 30 | FOAM mA RMPHIALA MEMC for all your camping and RV needs The FLE PHOTO CUSHIONS AND PADDING for all marine applications In the "second space age," human space flight is no longer the domain of governments. Entrepreneurs and engineers are aggressively blazing new trails into the heavens and preparing the world for an era of space tourism. Having gained inside access into the top private space programs, science journalist Michael Belfiore will share his many insights on the historyâ€"making flights, the failures and fatalities, as well as the enduring passion and dreams of the real estate tycoons, dotâ€"com billionaires, a video game proâ€" grammer and other business mavericks for whom the sky is no longer the limit. They are fueling the highestâ€"flying private rackets ever built, testing "vertical dragsters," and preparing to launch an inflatable space station â€" with the mockâ€"up already in earth orbit. Can your ticket to ride be that far behind? The event is on Feb. 6, at 7 p.m. at Waterloo colleâ€" giate institute, 300 Hazel St. _ â€" Words Worth Books will be on hand with books on related topics, including Belfiore‘s book Rockeâ€" teers: How a Visionary Band of Business Leaders, Engineers and Pilots Is Boldly Privatizing Space. Belfiore will be available to sign copies of his book. For tickets, visit the ticket office at 35 King St. N., Waterloo, on Mondayâ€"Friday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., or phone the ticket office at 519â€"883â€"4480. The first speaker of the Waterloo Knights of Columbus 2008 lecture series is J.J. Sloan, a proâ€" fessor in the department of earth and environment science at the University of Waterloo. His topic is can we change the factors that cause climate change. The lecture will be held on Jan. 28 at 145 Dearâ€" born Place, at 6:45 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Admission is free. Students from the University of Waterloo‘s electriâ€" cal and computer engineering program will exhibit innovative projects, such as an automatic transmission for bicycles and an energy storage sysâ€" tem for home use, at the eighth annual design projâ€" ect symposium today. The event will be held at the William G. Davis Computer Research Centre on the UW campus, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors are welcome to browse the interactive displays and meet with students durâ€" ing the symposium. Design symposium at UW Visit http://eceprojects.uwaterloo.ca/sympoâ€" sium.htm! for details. Journalist to talk about human space flight 360 Trillium Or. Kitchener ERGONOMIC SEAT PADS & BOLSTERS FACTORY OUTLET 519.748.1491 _ (Fikaorâ€"â€"_ NEW HOURS: Mon. â€" Thurs. 8â€"6, Fri. 8â€"4 Professor delves into climate change MEMORY FOAM PILLOWS