Posted by chicagomedia.org on October 24, 2008 at 14:26:19:
In Reply to: 14 year-vet at WZSR resigns posted by chicagomedia.org on October 07, 2008 at 06:31:20:
Morning show co-host to leave STAR 105.5
CRYSTAL LAKE – Gary Castaldo, co-host of STAR 105.5’s morning show, announced Thursday that he is leaving the station Oct. 31.
“I’m getting out of radio for awhile,” said Castaldo, 35, of Streamwood. “It’s been a fun 14 years at the station, but radio has changed quite a bit in the last couple of years. Some of what I’m accustomed to changed.”
Castaldo said it is unusual for a radio personality to remain so long at one station, or to remain a fixture in one time slot. He has spent nine of the 13 years he has been on the air in the morning slot.
“As much as I love being in radio, I’m a little tired of getting up at 3:30 in the morning every day,” Castaldo said. “It’s not as much fun as it used to be.”
Castaldo, who also owns DC Cobbs in Woodstock, said he is pursuing another business opportunity which he cannot disclose at this time. He hopes to make an announcement in the next few weeks.
“The station has been fantastic for me. A lot of time in radio they don’t let you say goodbye. They leave and you never hear from them again,” Castaldo said. “During my last week I want to reflect on a lot of the cool things we’ve done there.”
Steve Cherry, operations manager and program director, said Castaldo will be doing a “goodbye tour” between 5 and 10 a.m. next week at various spots around the county. Sign his card and have breakfast at:
• Monday: Tarts & Truffles, Cakes & Catering, 124 Cass St., Woodstock. Free coffee and muffins.
• Tuesday: Dunkin’ Donuts, 916 Northwest Highway, Fox River Grove. Free small coffees, hourly drawing.
• Wednesday: Dunkin’ Donuts, 450 Route 31, Crystal Lake. Free small coffees, hourly drawing.
• Thursday: Longin Square Mall, corner of Randall and Huntley roads, Carpentersville.
• Friday: Joseph’s Marketplace, 29 Crystal Lake Plaza, Crystal Lake. Free mini bagels.
“We’re going through all the old tapes and we will be playing clips from 1994 through the present. It ought to be a lot of fun,” said Cherry. “Gary will be hard to replace. He is such a versatile guy.”
Cherry said he plans to announce future plans for the morning show as the Oct. 31 deadline draws closer.
(Kurt Begalka, Northwest Herald)