By PHIL OSBORNE

Danville Schools Education Foundation

Thanksgiving is a few months away, but it is still appropriate to offer thanks periodically without the turkey and trimmings.

First, let’s all be thankful that the onslaught of political television commercials will be over in two weeks. But let us also use that line to serve as a reminder to vote. I’m certainly not going to advocate one candidate over another in any of the statewide races, but I would remind you that a local school board race was decided by one vote last year. If you think your vote doesn’t count, think again.

Thanks also to the many folks who made the Troy Trumbo tribute game a success, despite the curveball Mother Nature threw at us with rain over the weekend. Special thanks to Matt Overing at The Advocate-Messenger and my old friends at LEX18 for helping to get the word out.

You may have read recently about the gift to the school system’s arts community — a grand piano to replace the one at Gravely Hall that had sustained water damage. The couple donating the piano didn’t want public accolades, but I thought it appropriate to share our note of appreciation:

On behalf of the Danville Schools Education Foundation and the Friends of the Arts Committee, I want to formally thank you and your husband for your generous contribution to Gravely Hall at Danville High School. The Estonia grand piano will touch lives in our DHS family for many years to come, just as it did for your family and the gentleman who owned it previously. Please know that it is a priceless addition to arts education. As someone who was himself impacted by the positive experience music offered to me as a student, I know this gift will have a lasting impact on our community.

Thanks also to the sponsors who already have stepped up (and those who will) to support the Admiral 5K, which will take place on June 15 at Millennium Park. Signup information for runners/walkers can be found on the foundation website. Sponsor inquiries can be directed to me.

And finally — although perhaps I should have led with this — THANK YOU to all of the teachers in this community. This is National Teacher Appreciation Week — one week set aside to honor the men and women who impact our children on a daily basis. I have been appreciative of teachers for my entire life. My grandmother was a teacher; my mother was a teacher; my wife is a teacher; one of my daughters is a teacher.

From a professional standpoint, in my opinion, there is no greater calling and there is no greater challenge as teachers are being asked to do more and more with less and less.

And that statement takes us full circle back to the original commentary. The primary election in Kentucky is two weeks away. Vote your conscience, but vote! There is far too much at stake in the future of our children to sit this one out.

As always, Go Ads!

Phil Osborne is executive director of the Danville Schools Education Foundation. Email him with questions about the foundation at posborne@danvilleschoolsfoundation.org.