Good morning and good Tuesday.

As we start another week of work and school, we brace ourselves for six more weeks of winter, thanks to the prognostications of that famous groundhog in Pennsylvania. And whether you like winter or not, there’s plenty to appreciate these days.

The more than 1,100 people who attended the third annual Pike Piddlers Storytelling festival over the weekend enjoyed a true treat. The festival featured nationally acclaimed storytellers Donald Davis, Kathryn Tucker Windham, Carmen Deedy and Bil Lepp, as well as newcomer Aleta Davis. The sold-out event featured four storytelling sessions, including a dinner performance at the We Piddle Around Theatre and three performances on Saturday at Troy University. The program, as always, was outstanding and an excellent opportunity to showcase our local venues and this national talent. Three years into the process, the festival is well-established as the premier storytelling event in January, taking place the last weekend of the month. We look forward to next year and the tales that will be told.

Congratulations to the ACCESS students at Charles Henderson High School who were invited to participate in a special “State of the State of Education” address by Gov. Bob Riley on Monday. The address took advantage of the popular and highly successful distant-learning network, and the CHHS students were one of only nine classes invited to participate. It was at terrific honor and an experience that the youngsters are likely to remember for years to come.

Thanks, as well, to the business leaders who took their time on Tuesday to allow Charles Henderson Middle School students the opportunity to “shadow” them. The first-hand learning experiences will prove valuable as these youngsters discern their career paths.

Here’s hoping you have a week filled with good news.