Indian Park School House, the center of Douglas County’s mountain community for more than 125 years, will be celebrated with a Valentine’s Day fundraiser dinner on Feb. 13 at the Sprucewood Inn, 491 Highway 67, 13.4 miles west of Sedalia. Built by homesteader families in 1884, the historic school has a new foundation and will have ongoing upkeep and improvements, thanks to community fundraising efforts such as the melodrama staged last year.

Designated on Colorado and National Registers of Historic Places, it was also eligible for grant money from the state historical fund. It closed as a rural school in 1959. In 1972, the Indian Park School House Association, IPSHA, purchased the school and two acres from the Douglas County School District. With it came a commitment to care for the grave of an unknown pioneer woman accidentally unearthed during a construction project in Castle Pines. Reservations for the dinner can be made with Genia Oja, IPSHA President, 303-663-8792. She will also have information about donations, building availablilty, and volunteer opportunities. Visit www.IndianParkSchool.info

“The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin” is Jimmie Viles’ topic for a Feb. 15 program of the Highlands Ranch Historical Society at Southridge Recreation Center, 4800 MacArthur Ranch Road., Highlands Ranch. Viles will appear in costume to describe this Founding Father, who was a scientist, inventor, statesman, author, publisher and more. Appropriate for children. Refreshments at 6:30 p.m., program at 7 p.m. All are welcome. A call is appreciated so there are enough chairs, 303-471-5611, Caroline Smith.

“I’ve got the horse right here…” Town Hall presents the always popular musical, “Guys and Dolls: a musical fable of Broadway” through March 21 in the theater at 2450 W. Main Street in downtown Littleton. Based on Damon Runyon’s stories of the Broadway scene of his era, the show is directed by theater veteran, and Town Hall Board member, Bob Wells, with choreography by Littleton’s Kelly Kates and musical direction by Donna Debreceni. 303-794-7877, www.townhallartcenter.com.

On Feb. 13, Douglas County Library Foundation and Highlands Ranch Library will present Wine, Chocolate and an Evening with Chris Bohjalian. The event includes a 6 p.m. reception and 7 p.m. discussion. The award-winning author of 13 novels, he has had a number on the New York Times best-seller list and will discuss his newest book, “Secrets of Eden.” Registration is required and seats are limited. 303-791-7323, douglascountylibraries.org. A $10 entry fee will benefit the Douglas Counties Libraries Foundation.

On Feb. 14 at 4 p.m., Anne Hillerman, daughter of the late novelist Tony Hillerman, and her husband Don Strel will present images of Hillerman’s landscapes and talk about the mysteries he wrote. They have published a book called “Tony Hillerman’s Landscapes: on the Road with Chee and Leaphorn.”

Tattered Cover will sell copies of the books at both events.

If you arrive at the Denver Art Museum on Friday nights in February after 5 p.m. and say “I embrace art!” you can have two admissions for the price of one and two glasses of wine at Palettes for the price of one, while you enjoy a visit to “Embrace,” the exhibit where 17 contemporary artists have taken over the Hamilton (Liebeskind) building. www.denverartmuseum.org.

The Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England Family History Society will present “Maximize Your British Isles Research,” featuring Paul Milner, a native of northern England and professional genealogist and lecturer. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. lunch on your own— brown bags OK. Registration fee: $35. Central Denver Public Library, Conference Center, 10 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. Questions and registration: Sandy Carter-Duff, 303-777-1391, sandy@carduff.com.

The Littleton Symphony performs the next concert in its Inspiration Series: “Inspired by Magical Worlds” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12, at Littleton United Methodist Church, 5894 S. Datura St., Littleton. The program, conducted by Jurgen deLemos, includes: “Tchiakovsky’s Symphony No. 4, op. 35;” “ Suite from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” by John Williams; “Salut d’Amour, op 12” by Edward Elgar and “Polovitsian Dances” from Alexander Borodin’s opera, “Prince Igor.” Tickets: $15, $12, free under 22, cash/check at the door or credit card online, www.littletonsymphony.org. 303-933-6824.

Highlands Ranch High School’s ambitious theater department will present August Wilson’s “A Gem of the Ocean” at 7 p.m. on Feb. 18, 19, 20. Tickets cost $7, general admission.

South Suburban seeks partners for art education. Letters of intent are sought from organizations and schools located within the boundaries of Arapahoe County and South Suburban who are interested in pairing with South Suburban’s professional art staff in providing specialty art or performing arts workshops for school, library, senior center, scout troop or other community groups in 2011. Letters must be received by 5 p.m. Feb. 12. For guidelines, contact Vickie Willis, 303-483-7072 or vickie@sspr.org.

Note to artists: Arapahoe Community College Foundation will host the first south metro chalk art festival, Chalk it Up to Education, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11. Professional artists will create works of art with chalk, food vendors and booths with art for sale will be included in the new event. ACC’s art and Ceramics departments will be involved and it’s hoped that ACC students and K to 12 students will be attracted. 303-797-5914.

The next Historic Downtown Littleton Merchant’s Treasure Hunt will be on Feb. 21. A wooden chest will be displayed at one of the participating merchants’ stores — some have posters in the window, but not all, so it is good to check. The first person to find the chest wins prizes donated by merchants. This will be a monthly event each third Thursday. Jan 18 treasures included yarn, spices, book, candy, dance lessons, gift certificate, newspaper subscription, lotion and more. Elizabeth McCormick at Neighborhood Bookstore is the organizer. 303-730-3682.

The Greater Castle Rock Art Guild has a new show in a new venue, Castle Rock Music at 429 Wilcox St. Artists receptions are held 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month— Feb. 11. Paintings, photography, jewelry, sculpture and glass are included. Open seven days a week. Free parking garage at Third and Jerry Streets. www.GCRAG.org.

David Taylor Dance Theatre will present a free concert, “L’Amour,” accompanied by the excellent Colorado Chamber Players, at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13 in Hampden Hall, Englewood Civic Center, 1000 Englewood Parkway. Free tickets are needed for admission. Available at Malley Senior Recreation Center, 3880 S. Lincoln; Englewood Recreation Center, Englewood Public Library. The performance will be repeated at 7 p.m. Sunday at Denver Dance Center, 2496 W. 2nd Ave., Unit 3. Tickets: $21/$15. http://eventbrite.com/event448064172. Information: 303-789-2030, dtdt.org.

St. Andrews United Methodist Church, 3350 White Bay Drive, Highlands Ranch, will host a Lenten Recital Series, paired with a light soup lunch, at noon on Wednesdays:

Feb. 24-Stephanie Price, organ and string bass; March 3- Ben Riggs, piano and voice;

March 10- Jubilee Handbell Choir;

March 17- St Andrew Sisters Select Women’s Ensemble;

March 24- Larry Scalfari, organ and more! A lunch donation of $3.50 is suggested. Recitals are free, with a free will offering welcome. 303-794-2683, www.st-andrew-umc.com.

The annual Colorado Garden and Home Show runs Feb. 13-21 at the Denver Convention Center, 700 14th St. in Denver, a stop on the Light Rail D Line. Five Arapahoe Community College Community Education instructors will offer 11 programs in the Demonstration Theater, where a total of 50 seminars will be offered. Fourteen professionally-landscaped gardens will bloom, 1400 booths will offer a huge variety of products for home and garden. Tickets: $12/$10, free 12 and under. Free shuttle from Coors Field parking , $5. www.gardeningcolorado.com.

“Greenwood… and Beyond: Landscapes, Interiors and Exteriors,” an annual photography exhibit at Curtis Arts and Humanities Center, runs through Feb. 26 in the gallery at 2349 E. Orchard Rd., Greenwood Village. The juror is Jim Cannata, who teaches at Arapahoe Community College and exhibits his work in the metro area and beyond. Cannata will lecture at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19. Gallery hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20. Free. 303-797-1779.

Lone Tree’s 8th Annual Photographic Art Show invites artists to submit an entry form by Feb. 26 for the April 3 to 24 exhibit at Lone Tree Golf Club and Hotel, 9808 Sunningdale Blvd., Lone Tree. Categories: Color, monochrome, Special effects color, Special effect monochrome. Entry Fee: $25. See www.cityoflonetree.com/photoshow for a downloadable entry form or to enter online. Jurors are George Jardine and Nathaniel Coalson. Awards will be about $4000. Show dates: April 3 to 24. Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Opening reception: 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 3. 303-708-1818.

“Hawaiian Love Songs with Keoni Coelho” will celebrate Valentine’s Day in Sophie’s Place at Bemis Library from 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 13, 6014 S. Datura St., Littleton. Enjoy an espresso and listen. 303-795-3961.

Solid Grounds Coffee House, 6504 S. Broadway, Littleton announced its Feb. music series at 7 p.m. on Friday evenings:

Feb. 12-Like Stephen, Contemporary Christian;

Feb. 19- Jeremy Casella, Contemporary acoustic;

Feb. 26- Skean Dubh, Celtic. Admission is free. The audience will enjoy coffee and pastries in this cozy space. 303-209-7494.

South Suburban Parks and Recreation offers a President’s Day Colorado Wildlife Camp from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at South Platte Park Nature Center, 3000 W. Carson Dr., Littleton. Seek clues outdoors about winter residents (who’s hibernating and who’s not), then come in for games and crafts. Fee: $32/$26 resident. 303-730-1022. (See story)

Hudson Gardens will host the Great Backyard Bird Count in conjunction with the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory on Saturday, Feb. 13, with bird hikes, identification workshops and compilation of data for the GBBC website. The GBBC is a national four day event that encourages people of all ages to create a real time snapshot of where birds are across the continent. You can also watch at home and record a tally of the highest number of a species seen at a particular time, reporting to www.birdcount.org. See hudsongardens.org for schedule or the GBBC website for more information. Plan to check back later for counts across the nation. Hudson Gardens is located at 6115 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton. Event is from 9 a.m. to noon. Admission $2. 303-797-8565 x 303.

“Peace, Earth and Guitars Family Concert” features Skanson and Hansen at 7 p.m. Feb. 13 at Buck Recreation Center, 2004 W. Powers Ave., Littleton. Sing along to songs by the Beatles, Dylan, U2, Bob Marley. Fee: $10, $8 resident. 303-730-4612.