May 11, 1999

Contact: Bonnie Widerburg, (971) 673-1282

WORLD'S LARGEST ASHTRAY INVITES SMOKERS TO QUIT

(PORTLAND) What does setting a world record and trying to quit smoking have in common? They are both tremendous feats to accomplish. On Saturday, May 22, everyone is invited to Pioneer Courthouse Square to see the world's largest ashtray. Smokers can take steps to accomplish the tremendous feat of kicking the tobacco habit.

Pioneer Courthouse Square, in downtown Portland, will be transformed into the largest outdoor smoke-free area in the city to celebrate World No Tobacco Day. From 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. event-goers will have the opportunity to get information on kicking their nicotine habit, hear some groovy music, watch a great play, win prizes and participate in many other healthy activities.

Smokers will have the opportunity to put out their last cigarette in the world's largest ashtray, which will be displayed prominently in the square. The ashtray has a peak of six feet and is about 10-feet in diameter. Other smoking cessation opportunities abound: health booths will be set up to help people quit their nicotine habit, and free quit smoking kits will be given away.

Multnomah County Chair, Beverly Stein, will read a World No Tobacco Day Proclamation to kick-off the festivities. All ages will love the sounds of The Sparks, a musically versatile local band who will play throughout the event. Jungle Jim and the Swing Set will perform excerpts from No Ifs, Ands, or Butts (an original musical production about secondhand smoke, written and performed by teens). Families with children are encouraged to come and participate in tobacco prevention art projects and enjoy clowns and face painting.

The Oregon Lions Mobil Screening Unit will have a prominent presence, as well. The unit is a service project of the Lions Club of Oregon. Free screenings for glaucoma, visual acuity, blood pressure, hearing and diabetes will be provided.

The World No Tobacco Day celebration is coordinated by the American Heart Association and sponsored by the Multnomah County Tobacco Prevention Coalition and the Tobacco-Free Coalition of Washington County. World No Tobacco Day is a worldwide initiative, created by the World Health Organization (WHO) to recognize the major threat tobacco usage continues to pose to global public health.

The Oregon Tobacco Prevention and Education Program is a comprehensive effort to reduce the use of tobacco and exposure to secondhand smoke. It includes programs in local communities, schools, businesses, media and special populations. The program is funded by a tobacco tax increase approved by voters in 1996. Ten percent of the new revenue is allocated to tobacco use prevention and reduction. Oregonians who are ready to quit tobacco, call toll-free 1-877-270-STOP.