Smith: Comforting and feeding fire-surviving horses, lambs and ducks in Butte County

There’s not been much talk of the Camp fire’s effect on newborn lambs.

Sonoma County mom-?and-daughter vintners, equestrians and animal lovers Rickey Trombetta and Erica Stancliff have been to Butte County and seen some of the lambs and sheep and horses, pigs, goats, chickens, geese and ducks that survived the historic blaze.

“The need is tremendous,” said Rickey, who grew up in Santa Rosa and founded Forestville’s Trombetta Family Wines.

When we spoke she was elated by the generous outpouring that allowed her and Erica to deliver a large load of feed, halters, tarps, enclosures, comfort-and-warmth items, veterinary supplies and other essentials to the Butte County Fair-?grounds in Gridley.

It all was bought with money donated to Santa Rosa’s Western Farm Center.

“People are just crazy generous,” said the landmark ranch-and-feed store’s Dana Gondola.

As of the day before Thanksgiving, donors had contributed to Western Farm nearly $7,000 for Camp fire animal relief.

Since the shipment of feed and supplies by Rickey Trombetta and her daughter, Western Farm has been forwarding donated money to the North Valley Animal Disaster Group, which seeks dollars for buying whatever rescued animals need. Contributions can be dropped at Western Farm or sent to the rescue group at nvadg.org or P.O. Box 441, Chico, CA 95927.

Marvels Gondola of Western Farm, “It takes a village, and our village just got bigger.”

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THEY KEEP SINGING because they have so much fun.

It was 40 years ago that a lively bunch of people living in and near Occidental came together on Christmas Eve to sing carols around a campfire. When the evening ended, talk began of how to keep the lovely, musical experience going.

Thus was born the Occidental Community Choir.

A specialty of the group, along with the inventive instrumental accompaniment, quirky humor and storytelling, is its affection for music composed by its members. Their motto, “Local yokels love our vocals!”

Original music stars in the choir’s 40th anniversary Winter Concerts, kicking off Friday evening at the Occidental Center for the Arts.

Visit occidentalchoir.org and you’ll see Friday’s performance will be followed by three more in Occidental and one at Santa Rosa’s Glaser Center.

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YOU’VE GOTTA EAT on Thursday.

There’s a bonus if you and one or more someones special have a meal at one of more than 60 Sonoma County restaurants.

Thursday is Dining Out for Life, quite a deal around here.

Throughout the county, participating restaurants will donate a generous portion of the day’s receipts to Food for Thought, the nonprofit that helps to feed hundreds of people who live with HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses.

Also for the Dining Out for Life fundraiser, volunteers will be at participating eateries to welcome and thank diners, offer them a no-obligation chance to win raffle prizes and accept individual donations to Food for Thought.

There’s a list of the restaurants at www.fftfoodbank.org.

From 8 a.m. to about ?1:30 p.m., I’ll wear the fashionable Dining Out for Life apron and visit tables at Mac’s Deli & Cafe in downtown Santa Rosa.

You can reach Staff Writer Chris Smith at 707 521-5211 and chris.smith@pressdemocrat.com.