Cox High hopes many readers will help keep graduates safe

By Nora Firestone

Correspondent

Cox High School will hold its annual book fair Friday and Saturday, to raise money for the senior class's All Night Grad Night at year's end.

The community has donated a record number of gently used books, CDs, audio books, tapes and DVDs, said sale co-chair Tracy Kunzler. Though she hopes to sell them all, it's not likely. Where to funnel the overflow?

"Cox PTSA traditionally gives our leftover books to a charity," the Rose Hall Shores mother said. But this year she'll pass them to Cox's rival, First Colonial High, which also has a book sale in January that funds a drug- and alcohol-free graduation party.

The schools are within a few miles of each other. Most students of either school know teens from the other - through area athletic clubs, Scouting, worship and from lower school.

Though students can be fierce competitors on and off the athletic field, concern for each other crosses school-zone borders, said Caroline Geroe, Cox senior class president, and Ashley Ford, First Colonial SCA president. What softens the edge for Kunzler is having a son at each campus. Duke,15, is a sophomore at Cox. His twin, Cole, attends F.C.'s Legal Studies Academy.

Fortunately, Kunzler's never suffered a loss to drunken driving, she said.

"But I don't want to," she said. "I can't imagine anything worse."

Cox High's 18th annual All Night Grad Night will be held at Jillian's arcade at Waterside this spring.

It's an important event, Caroline, also of Rose Hall Shores, said. The substance-free environment "ensures seniors are safe" and provides a "great time" which grads remember for years.

The lock-in style party will feature food and activities, including pizza and a chocolate fountain, pool tables, caricatures, games, faux tattoos and dancing, said Victoria Vacher, event chair.

Kunzler, 46, said she was impressed by the assortment of book fair items. She noted romance and mystery novels, children's and young adult best-sellers, health and fitness books, business, self-help and sci-fi - all priced between 50 cents and $2.

First Colonial will hold leftovers from their Jan. 30-31 fundraiser for Cox's fall 2009 event, said Kunzler, who co-chairs both sales.

Ashley, of Nottingham Estates, said the joint effort is perfect.

Rivalry "is a silly thing we need to push aside for grad night," Ashley said, to "ensure that people aren't drinking and driving and hurting anyone."

DETAILS

What  Cox High School’s annual book fair

When  2 - 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15,   9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16

Where  Cox High School cafeteria foyer, 2425 Shorehaven Drive 

Cost  Free to attend. Items priced at 50 cents - $2. 

Info  Cox Orchestra Association  will sell refreshments for their organization Saturday.

More  First Colonial High School will have a book fair Jan. 30-31. Books may be donated  at Cape Henry Hardware,  Great Neck area library  and First Colonial High . Call Tracy Kunzler at 412-0932. 

Nora Firestone, nfirestone@verizon.net