A Magical Night!

By SCOTT STEEPLETON NEWS-PRESS CITY EDITOR

At the fundraiser for Animal Rescue Team Inc., Julia Di Sieno, right, the organization’s executive director, paid tribute to, from left, Dr. Scott Weldy , a veterinarian at Serrano Animal and Bird Hospital in Lake Forest, Dr. Kristi Krause, also a vet at Serrano and Dr. Heather Skogerson , ART veterinarian and a member of the organization’s board of directors.

October 23, 2012 5:33 AM

Thomas Barrack Jr. recently opened his Sycamore Valley Ranch, north of Los Olivos, for a fundraiser for the nonprofit Animal Rescue Team Inc.

About 50 people dined on tri-tip, chicken, salad, white and green asparagus and assorted deserts, after taking in some videos on ART’s efforts, shown in the theater of the former Neverland Valley Ranch.

Wines served at the event included Mr. Barrack’s own Piocho label, from his Happy Canyon Vineyards.

A silent auction featured among other items jewelry, local craft brews, skydiving, a glider ride for two, wine and wine tasting. After dinner, a live auction included dinner for four at Trattoria Grappolo in Santa Ynez, spa treatments at Nirvana Hyperbaric Institute in Solvang, original western art, a poster from the 2009 movie “Old Dogs” signed by co-star John Travolta, and a wooden bicycle from Germany, courtesy of an anonymous donor.

Director, producer and writer Wolfgang Petersen (“Troy,” “Air Force One,” “The Perfect Storm”) attended and donated several items for the auctions.

Matthew Simmons and Lauri Lindner, the husband and wife team behind Lockwood Animal Rescue Center, were on hand with two animals from their Frazier Park sanctuary to discuss their work, which includes the Warriors and Wolves Program, pairing returning combat veterans with wolf dogs in a therapeutic environment.

A highlight of the evening was when Julia Di Sieno, executive director of Animal Rescue Team Inc. returned to the wild three great horned owls nursed back to health after being found injured or orphaned.

For more information, go to

www.animalrescueteam.net.