Around the Region (10/20/12)

Valley, Sierra

• WILDLIFE PHOTO CONTEST

When: Oct. 31 deadline

Info: The Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center is holding its third annual wildlife photo contest. Photographers can enter up to 10 images of creatures from the Central Valley to the Sierra Nevada crest. Entrants ages 17 and older will vie for $150 for first place, $100 for second and $50 for third. A $75 youth prize will be awarded. The top 20 photos will be featured on the Web site of the Twain Harte-based center. Entries should be sent in JPEG format and high resolution to lindseym@cserc.org. More information is at www.cserc.org.

Sonora

• STATE PARKS APPRECIATION NIGHT

When: Tuesday, 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Where: Sonora Opera Hall, 250 S. Washington St.

Info: A State Parks Appreciation Night for Railtown 1897, Mariposa Mining and Mineral Museum and Mono Lake Tufa Reserve will be held. Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen, R-Modesto, will honor organizations in her district that were successful in preventing closures of their local state parks. Also, Robert Hanna, great-great-grandson of naturalist John Muir and an avid parks supporter, will speak about California's legacy of preserving nature through its parks and the importance of protecting this tradition. Officials from the California State Parks Department and the California State Parks Foundation will provide an update on the future of California's state parks.

Send Region items to Region, The Modesto Bee, P.O. Box 5256, Modesto 95352; call (209) 578-2330; fax (209) 578-2207; or e-mail region@modbee.com.