Going to egg-stremes: Allentown student breaks world record

LIFESTYLE

By: Erica Hammond
   ALLENTOWN — Sprawled out on his stomach on the hard, speckled floor of the atrium at Allentown High School, senior Anthony Napoliello projected a Zen-like concentration Saturday morning as he set out to achieve his goal of balancing 420 raw eggs to attain Guinness Book of World Records’ status.
   "It started out in our astronomy class," teacher Linda Stefaniak said. "We tried to prove that it doesn’t have to be the vernal equinox in order to balance eggs."
   It turned out that Anthony, 18, had a unique talent for balancing the eggs and soon the class devised a strategy to set the world record for most eggs balanced at one time and raise money to buy a defibrillator for the school.
   Hatching a plan
   Ms. Stefaniak contacted the Guinness Book of World Records and soon a pledge drive was under way to raise the approximately $1,000 needed to purchase a defibrillator for AHS.
   "People can pledge by the egg or for the whole attempt," Ms. Stefaniak said.
   So far nearly $200 has been raised. The AHS Student Council also presented a check this week to the Red Cross for $2,572 to go toward tsunami relief efforts.
   Ms. Stefaniak volunteered for the dubious task of buying the eggs at her local Acme and related that the look on the face of the cashier who helped her make sure there were 22 dozen unbroken Grade A USDA prime eggs was priceless.
Egging him on
   Several students and AHS staff members were on hand to observe Anthony’s tedious task. People milled about quietly Saturday morning, mindful of the precariously perched eggs.
   Allentown resident Robert Napoliello was on hand along with his fiancée, Jennifer Fowler, to support his son.
   "It’s kind of a way for him to relax," Mr. Napoliello observed after it was announced Anthony had balanced 13 dozen eggs at 10:18 a.m.
   Anthony’s mother, Joan Napoliello, teaches at the Millstone Elementary School. He also has a younger brother, Joseph.
   Audrey Ferraro is Anthony’s aunt and godmother. She was on door duty Saturday, ensuring that the suction created by the set of double doors didn’t knock over any eggs.
   After a couple hours, Anthony’s girlfriend, Jacqueline Longo, arrived at the school to show her support.
   "History is being made," commented Anthony’s uncle, Kevin Ferraro of Millstone, before he scrambled over to Woody’s Towne Cafe on Main Street to buy more eggs as the original supply of 22 dozen dwindled. The popular downtown restaurant generously donated 15 dozen more eggs to help Anthony crack the record set in 1990 by Kenneth Epperson of Monroe, Ga., who balanced 210 raw eggs on their ends.
Egg-cellent form
   "Basically, it’s just patience," Anthony said when asked about his technique. "It depends on the yolk — it matters on how it balances."
   Equipped with only a blanket and a small pillow, the 18-year-old listened to music by the band The Used on a personal CD player for the duration of the challenge.
   "He’s just so cavalier about it," Ms. Stefaniak said, shaking her head after Anthony changed position and casually tossed his pillow across the floor, narrowly missing knocking down a few of the balanced eggs.
   Anthony won’t cop to any other quirky talents, but he plays the guitar, was on the AHS football team and loves snowboarding. He’s looking at two colleges for next year: East Stroudsburg State in Pennsylvania as well as Castleton State College in Vermont.
   Incidentally, he prefers his eggs over easy or deviled.
Egg-stravaganza
   Originally, the eggs used for balancing were to be donated to area soup kitchens, but sanitation and health issues were cited and the plan had to be scrapped.
   "No one wants to eat eggs that have been unrefrigerated for hours and sitting on the floor," observed Ms. Stefaniak.
   Instead, the leftover eggs will be transformed into cascarones, a Mexican variation on Easter eggs. The eggs will be drained, dyed and filled with confetti before being sold at an upcoming AHS fund-raiser breakfast with the Easter Bunny. The money raised will go to a Student Council-designated charity.
Great egg-spectations
   When the last of the 420 eggs was balanced, the group waited one minute and then declared that all the eggs were balanced. The verification requirements for the Guinness Book of World Records state that someone needed to check all the eggs and guarantee they were fresh and unbroken. That person also needed to be present for the entire time the eggs were being balanced.
   Next, photographs showing the balancing attempt with the name and signature of the person who owns the pictures will be submitted. Additionally, they’ll submit one or more articles from local newspapers or video media documenting the event.
   Anthony balanced 35 dozen eggs in 260 minutes (4 hours, 20 minutes) and it took an average of 37 seconds to balance each one. It took from 8:55 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. for Anthony to attain his goal of balancing 420 eggs — and then it was all over.
   You could even say it was over easy.

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   Those wishing to make donations to the AHS Student Council should make checks out to Allentown High School, 27 High St., Allentown, NJ 08501. Write either "Egg Record," "Tsunami Relief" or "Buddy Balls" on the memo line to let the school know which charity the money is for.

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   More information about the myth of balancing raw eggs can be found at www.badastronomy.com.