I trust that this week’s column finds many of you attempting to navigate through the “polar vortex” which seems to have overtaken most of the country. Even some of our warmer southern states are experiencing colder than normal temperatures.

In a nice catch up email from Marilyn Steane she writes that she was able to escape to sunny and warm Maui recently to visit her daughter Jen and Jen’s husband Dave. All of the Steane family was gathered together in Colorado during the Thanksgiving holiday. Jeff, his wife Cindy and their son Morgan came from Maine and Jen and Dave flew in from Maui.

Marilyn has been busy competing with her horse Danny. Danny was Colorado champion in his division in 2013 and fourth overall in a 4 state competition. He recently experienced a setback and was hospitalized but is now on the mend and getting back to work slowly. Marilyn is also feeling much better and states that she is riding Danny pain free. Jim is enjoying some great skiing at Vail this winter.

There is exciting news from Rob and Jackie Evans. Their son Sam and grandson of John and Sue Evans, is busy performing with the Franklin Performing Arts Company. In October he was in their production of Les Miserables playing the role of Gavroche and then danced the part of Fritz in the Nutcracker in December. He will be traveling to New York this month to participate in master classes with performers, directors, and choreographers from Broadway.

In February he will be playing the role of Zebulon in the Franklin School of Performing Arts production of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and then in March will dance the part of Peter in their production of Peter and the Wolf.

Sam will be performing at Disney World in April and will take some workshops with some of Disney’s performers and choreographers. Sam is a member of a very talented group of young performers known as Electric Youth, a 10-member singer/dance troupe who will be touring Austria, Germany and Italy this summer. While in Italy he hopes to perform on the Fourth of July for the U.S. Troops stationed there.

There is exciting news in my own family. State Sen. Mike Rush has been appointed by the president of the Massachusetts Senate, Therese Murray, as chairman of the steering and policy committee.

The president of the senate appointed Sen. Rush to this position because as she states, “He is a respected legislator, a strong advocate and a smart leader.” Mike also serves as the chairman of the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs. Congratulations on your new appointment, Mike. I know you will serve both your colleagues and constituents well.

Have a great week everyone and stay warm!