Debbie Croft: Cold fails to put chill on foothills activity

Frosty days and chilly nights have arrived in the foothills, but there’s plenty to do indoors. We offer classes to hone your skills or learn new ones. Also, special recognition has been given recently to deserving individuals and one notable organization:

▪ Is more exercise one of your New Year’s goals? Dancing is a great way to sweat.

Country Western line dancing lessons are taught by Cheri and Randy Ridenhour. Classes are held on Tuesday evenings at 6. Advance dancers meet at 5.

The square dancing class for beginners starts at 7 p.m. Caller Rachel Phillips will guide dancers from 7:15 to 9:30 p.m.

The cost is only $4 per person, with a discount given to families. Those ages 18 and younger are half-price.

Come with or without a dance partner to get in shape and make new friends. Contact Cheri for details at (209) 617-9928.

▪ Yosemite Gateway Partners’ Winter Meeting is scheduled for Thursday at Yosemite Lodge in the park valley. The topic is museums in Yosemite and the gateways.

Quarterly meetings are held for regional networking of individuals and organizations. Guests receive park updates, hear presentations addressing current concerns, and learn of local opportunities for continuing or improving preservation efforts.

Networking takes place from 9 to 10 a.m. The meeting begins at 10 and lasts until 2 p.m. Lunch is included with paid registrations. To reserve your spot, send an email to bobasquith@yahoo.com by 3 p.m. Monday.

▪ Admission is free to our national parks on Jan. 19 and Feb. 14-16.

Yosemite is just as beautiful in the winter, and more peaceful without the crowds. And with recent rains the waterfalls are flowing again. There’s snow in the high country, but roads remain clear.

▪ The Mariposa County Master Gardeners will hold a workshop focused on pruning fruit trees. On Jan. 17, Maxwell Norton, farm adviser, will share valuable information while demonstrating proper techniques.

The workshop lasts from 10 a.m. until noon, and will be held on private property at 3275 Highway 140 in Catheys Valley. This event is free, but registration is recommended. For more information, call (209) 966-2417 or email dswass@ucanr.edu.

▪ Ingrid Angelini received the Mariposa Master Gardener of the Year Award for 2014.

Her numerous contributions include creating the wall-size display for the Mariposa County Fair and giving a presentation on the extensive water cache system in place at her home. This allows her family to store rainwater to supplement their well supply.

While serving on the bylaws committee, she helped create new directives for the group.

Several other members were recognized for reaching milestones in their volunteer efforts: Rusty Avery and Jim Johnson (2,500 hours given by each), Elizabeth Gabriel and Helen Willoughby-Peck (750 hours), Sally Punte and Holly Warner (500 hours), Patti Sue Ogletree (250 hours), Dan Horner, Linda O’Connor and Katee Owens (150 hours).

“As a group, Master Gardeners have given 41,413 hours of volunteer service to the community since organizing in 1995,” Gabriel said.

▪ Magician and comedian Marshall Magoon will dazzle the audience at the Groveland Hotel on Jan. 17. The show starts at 7 p.m.

Based in San Francisco, Magoon travels the world to perform at festivals, community theaters and on cruise ships. His interactive magic shows begin with basic sleight-of-hand tricks, and end with impressive and brilliant disappearing acts.

Enjoy dinner and the performance in the intimate setting of the Cellar Door Restaurant. Call (800) 273-3314 or visit www.groveland.com for details.

▪ Sierra Repertory Theatre is the 2014 recipient of the Elaine Symons Baker Community Impact Award. Presented by the Sonora Area Foundation, the gift is awarded each year to an area nonprofit.

Sara Jones of SRT said, “Foundation board members Jim Johnson, Roger Francis and Tracy Russell came to the theater to present the check. The award is in honor of the theater’s 35th anniversary.”

For complete information about SRT and its upcoming season, visit www.sierrarep.org.

This story was originally published January 2, 2015 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Debbie Croft: Cold fails to put chill on foothills activity."