Debbie Croft: Lots to see and do in Sierra foothills this month

So many choices of activities in the foothills this month, what will it be?

▪ Roundhouse Days will be held at Railtown’s 1897 State Historic Park on Feb. 14. A behind-the-scenes tour gives visitors an inside look at how the steam locomotive and train cars are prepared for the coming season. Tours of the roundhouse are also held every second Tuesday of the month. The park is in Jamestown. Visit www.railtown1897.org for more information or call (209) 984-3953.

▪ The Sonora Wedding Faire takes place on Feb. 22 at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds. From noon to 4 p.m., 50 vendors will be on site offering valuable information for planning your special day. A fashion show is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., sponsored by Sierra Bridal. Event and parking are free. The fairgrounds is at 220 Southgate Drive. See www.sonoraweddings.net for details.

▪ Columbia’s Gold Rush Days are held on the second Saturday of each month. This historic state park is open every day year-round, providing living history and old-fashioned adventure. Check the website – www.visitcolumbiacalifornia.com – regularly to stay informed of upcoming events.

▪ The Mariposa County Arts Council has announced its pilot program, Artists in the Schools. In conjunction with the Mariposa County Office of Education, fifth-grade classrooms across the county will benefit from visiting teaching artists. This residency program connects art with other standard subjects, enhancing students’ learning. Similar programs are used in schools nationwide. For more information visit, www.mariposaartscouncil.org.

More about this unique educational opportunity will be featured in a future column.

▪ Ever wonder if plants whisper to each other when we aren’t looking? The Mariposa County master gardeners will present the PBS film “What Plants Talk About” on Feb. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Age-old secrets of how plants engage with the environment are uncovered in this production. The film will be shown in the Board of Supervisors chamber at 5100 Bullion St. There is no charge, but registration is required. Visit the website http://cemariposa.ucanr.edu/?calitem=262133&g=37458 or call (209) 966-2417 for details.

▪ Congratulations to Frank Dean, the new CEO and president of Yosemite Conservancy. The nonprofit organization provides funding for restoration, scientific research, education and other beneficial projects within Yosemite National Park.

Dean once worked as a ranger at Yosemite. While employed with the National Park Service, his role as management assistant to the superintendent gave him an introduction to the valuable contributions of the Conservancy.

For almost six years Dean has been the superintendent of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco. Before his work in the Bay Area, he held positions at Point Reyes National Seashore and Saratoga National Historical Park.

He is excited about returning to Yosemite. “My first visit to Yosemite inspired a lifetime commitment to conservation,” he says. “This amazing opportunity with the Conservancy bookends my career in the park.”

This story was originally published February 6, 2015 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Debbie Croft: Lots to see and do in Sierra foothills this month."