Each week, Bear Facts will post an article from a past issue. These articles can demonstrate what life was like for a high school student in that year. What seemed important to them that seems commonplace now? This article ran November 1978.
By Anne Richard
Posters appeared throughout the school saying “GASO is coming.” Many students could be heard saying, “What is GASO?”
GASO stands for the Great American Smokeout and was sponsored by the American Cancer Society to encourage students to stop smoking. GASO took place on November 15th, 1978 in the “pit” of Lake Zurich Senior High school.
The proceedings began 4th hour, when everyone who was participating received a nametag and filled out a card to put into a raffle. Racquet ball racquets and Flipside gift certificates for a $7.98 LP’s were the prizes for the raffle.
The pit was decorated with posters about the dangers of smoking. Tables were set up for various activities that were to be held throughout the day.
Tommy Salinas was the commentator, and Debby Hahn and JoAnn Osmun were the co-chairwomen for the event. Jeff and John Brincat, Paul Geisler, Mike Threet, Phil Creighton, and Bill Deuerling, of the Lake Zurich High school Band, gave a short performance to begin the entertainment for the smokers.
After the members of the band were finished, a movie was shown followed by a sponge throwing event. For the price of (2) cigarettes smokers were able to throw wet sponges at Mr. Giordano and Mrs. Hansen, who are also smokers.
Snacks were sold at another table for one cigarette apiece, along with the cigarettes from the wet sponge throwing booth, that were compiled and taped together in hope of forming the world’s largest cigarette chain.
The Channel 7 News Team arrived at 12:00 and filmed the sponge throwing contest, the cigarette chain, and various students dancing who were Tim Donovan, Lucy Medina, Donna St. Pierre, Phil Szydelko, Ellen Boquist and Karen Koch. Others who appeared on television were Richie Garcia, JoAnn Osmun, Anne Richard, Lisa Agase, Lena Wieberg, Kelly Gurzon, and Mike Yank.
During lunch, Fred Villanuaeva of Channel 7 News was kept busy giving out autographs.
Pete Carabetta, Bob Scardino, Ken Eichmann, and Tony Papa, of the band Roxx, performed during 6th hour.
After the band was finished, the Youth and Family Counseling Center from Libertyville organized some students to put on a play to show the dangers of smoking. Karen Martin, director and case-worker for the Libertyville Counseling Center asked,
“How many of you think this program has taken any affect on you?” Unfortunately, no one raised a hand.
A contest was held to guess the number of cigarettes in the cigarette chain. Terri Hennessy’s guess was 400 cigarettes and was the closest of the 39 total. She won a Flipside gift certificate for her guess.
A dance contest was held 8th hour. The winners were Ellen Boquist, Tim Donovan, Lucy Medina, and John Butler.