Gagliardi, who lives in Lyons, brainstormed the idea with the help of his neighbor toward the goal of raising money for the school system in his town -- and also, of course, for the distinction of breaking a record. "We're just following in the footsteps of those greats that have summited Mount Everest or been to the moon," he quips. "But seriously, it's just mostly meant to be fun".
But let's be honest: It's also about the greatness. To make it happen, Gagliardi needs at least 250 people to show up and be willing to draw the same thing on a full-size Etch A Sketch (pocket models don't count). And what shall that thing be? "Here in Lyons, the landmark is Steamboat Mountain, which is basically a rock outcropping, and we're all going to try to draw that -- hopefully, it won't be too challenging for people," he says.Sounds like a challenge.
To get in on the glory, simply register at the SketchAPalooza site, and then show up at Lyons' Sandstone Park between 9 and 10 a.m. tomorrow morning, preferably with your own full-size Etch A Sketch -- Gagliardi will have some to sell for $10 a pop, but supplies, he cautions, are limited. And as long as you're there, stick around for Lyons' Good Old Days celebration, with music, beer and lots of other stuff all day. Both events are free.
