Opera raises $9,000 for fire victims

A gala opera event, organized by community volunteer Rhonda Reinke, was held Saturday, December 29, at the Bob Burton Center for the Performing Arts to benefit those whose homes were lost in the Valley Oaks Mobile Home Community in the Rice Fire.

More than 300 people supported the fundraising event, which Reinke says netted $9,000 for the fire victims and earned a standing ovation for the performers.

“The event was quite wonderful,” Reinke said. “[The performers] received a standing ovation and I was stopped by many guests, as they left the theater, who raved about the show and said how nice i...