Smith: Grateful ex-rocker moving on

The sixth-grader from Santa Rosa's Hidden Valley School raised a mic and began, "Oh-oh say, can you see ..."

Selected from a large field of applicants to sing the National Anthem for the big exhibition game, Hannah absolutely nailed it. She hit it out of the park.

See for yourself by keywording her name and AT&T on YouTube.

For the home fans, Hannah's star-spangled moment, magnified on the Jumbotron, was followed by a nine-inning low note as the A's blanked the Giants, 4-0.

But you can believe it was a game that Hannah, her folks Scott and Regina and kid sister Hailey won't ever forget.

THE PLACE TO BE: You may have read what Jay Hufford said, shortly after the Highway 12 wreck that claimed his wife and his mother, about his gratitude to be living here as he and his family grapple with the tragedy.

In an interview with the PD, Jay noted that he graduated a few years back from Leadership Santa Rosa. The members of his class, LSR 27, bonded as they learned about Sonoma County, its issues and how its leaders are addressing them.

"What I came away with," Jay said, "is if one is in trouble anyplace in the world, this is the place you want to be in trouble, because there's just so much help and helpfulness and kindness."

As proof: His LSR classmates have resolved to raise $5,000 to help sustain the music program that his late wife, Sue, orchestrated at the Mark West Union schools.

Jay's employer, Community First Credit Union, has partnered with his LSR friends.

There are a couple of ways to donate: Write a check to the "Susan E. Hufford 'The Music Continues' Fund" and get it to Community First Credit Union.

Or write a check to Mark West Education Foundation - with "Sue Hufford" in the memo line - and mail it to the foundation at 305 Mark West Spring Road, Santa Rosa 95404.

EXTRA CREDIT: The most adorable photo shot recently at Adobe Christian Preschool in Petaluma features not even one current student.

Just fewer than 70 little ones are enrolled there. And within the past year, eight of their mothers gave birth to five little brothers and three younger sisters.

"In all the years that I've taught," said director Diane Arapov, "I've never had this many babies born at a preschool in one year."

In the photo, new moms beam in the company of a good chunk of the Adobe Christian Preschool class of 2018.

(Chris Smith is at 521-5211 and chris.smith@pressdemocrat.com.)