Ladies and Gentlemen,

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year and I hope that you all had lovely holidays. It's very very cold in New York but we are undeterred and the city is once again bustling with the dawn of 2010. In the spirit of renewal and rejuvenation, I want to thank you all again for your generosity and attention to my ongoing pursuit of a cure for Alzheimer's Disease. All of the work that we are doing out of the University of Minnesota Medical Group is not only exciting and innovative, but exceedingly promising and I will keep everyone posted on our progress as Dr. Ashe and her acolytes persevere.

As for work, I continue to enjoy my recurring role on Mercy. Playing the working class alcoholic mother of a young traumatized and beautiful nurse is challenging and always fun. I am looking for a wonderful play and am anticipating the release of the film I shot last summer "The Best and the Brightest" directed by Josh Shelov. There is also wonderful news of my short film "The Response" written and produced by Sig Libowitz and that is that we have been short listed for the Oscar nominations. We are one of ten finalists in the live action short category out of hundreds submitted globally. We are incredibly proud and humbled and looking forward to finding out if we've been selected at the end of the month.

I am well and feeling happier than I have in ages and finding life not only invigorating but strangely, and in a very youthful way, quite beautiful.

Before I sign off, I want to mention a cause that I am championing - The Stella Adler Studio of Acting - where I trained with the great maestra Stella Adler, and learned to love and to honor this craft. Currently, Stella Adler is in the final stages of a non-profit competition in the hopes of winning a $1,000,000 prize. You have all been a huge part of their competition success to date (they've won $25,000 already!) and I ask that you continue to vote for them on Facebook. Your votes can help this terrific institution continue to grow and thrive.

Wishing you a year full of unexpected happiness and wonderful revelations.

Kate