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For his work, Clearwater High leader earns praise

Re: Going to the source for solutions, story, Dec. 27.

My hat is off to Clearwater High principal Nick Grasso. He sure is giving his all to help the students. I have had grandchildren and exchange children in Clearwater High since 1992 and never have been disappointed with the results and teachers there. Now if only more parents would get involved.

Getting children interested in school starts at Day 1 with parents reading, playing and interacting with them. Parents need to instill the necessity of a good education as the basis for getting on with the future.

School might not always be fun, but it is a learning institution. There is so much more to help students today: computers, television and immediate news.

Regarding some comments in the article: "Some black students put down other black students that do well in school." I have worked with and have many black friends who are successful in our business world and many of us came from backgrounds where our only motivation was from within ourselves and from the desire to make a better life in our future and give our children the opportunities that were lacking in our upbringing. (The Depression was a hard time for us and we had little to inspire us.)

It is possible to achieve goals if you stay focused. Look at it as 16 years of school and 40 years of work.

Education opens the door to a wage that will provide many things not obtainable at a minimal wage, where there is little chance of promotion due to lack of education. If it is to be, it is up to me.

Kudos to Nick Grasso. He is a caring and concerned man and has great interest in helping all to achieve their needs and goals.

Allergy takes beauty out of many fragrances

Re: Lavish splash of scents fills hall with coughing, guest column by Neila O'Neill, Dec. 5, and To those allergic, perfume not so pretty, letter, Dec. 28.

A few weeks ago, there was a guest column from Neila O'Neill regarding her unhappy/unhealthy fragrance-heavy experiences at Ruth Eckerd Hall.

Then a letter from Dorothy Karkheck was printed regarding the same subject. I, too, have allergic asthma and have had to leave church, restaurants, theaters and change seats in airplanes because too many women - and sometimes men - wear fragrances that hit me like a blast from a furnace. I, too, have been in the emergency room because of an allergic reaction from fragrances. When you can't breathe, it's serious!

I know, it's my problem, but I have pleaded with my friends and co-workers to "hold the fragrances" because so many like me have really life-threatening problems with allergies.

At the very best, it forces me to get on my inhaler and my allergy nasal spray and then I am usually miserable for at least three or four days.

Many of my friends have honored my request, and thank God for them!

However, some people just can't comprehend what it's like to have an allergy to fragrance and keep on pouring it on, day after day, until just passing them in the aisle of a department store is enough.

There are so many people with this problem, but they are afraid to speak up for fear of losing friends. I'm glad Neila O'Neill and Dorothy Karkheck have spoken.

[Last modified January 4, 2006, 01:07:18]