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April 23, 2004
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Spryer gets “dream job” as curator
DUI drama... much too real
BY JANET EASTON Special to the Clayton Pioneer
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Photo courtesy Barros Creative Images
STUDENTS AT CVHS were profoundly affected by the two-day “Every 15 Minutes” program. Hundreds made a public pledge, pictured above, not to drink and drive. Pictured below, CVHS senior, Brandon Whitney, is arrested at the conclusion of the first day’s crash reenactment. BY JILL BEDECARRE Clayton Pioneer
You knew ahead of time that it wasn’t real. You knew that Shawna Williams wasn’t dead, even though the windshield was shattered and her body was sprawled across the hood of the car. You knew that Adam Newacheck wasn’t really gasping for breath because of a punctured lung. And Summer Johnson wasn’t really critically wounded as she screamed for help. It was all part of the simulated car crash during the “Every 15 Minutes” program at Clayton Valley High School (CVHS). The powerful twoday program was staged and rehearsed but there was a chilly sense of realty to it all. One thousand juniors and
seniors packed themselves like sardines into the bleachers on the CVHS football field. And when the 911 emergency signal was broadcast through the speaker system and the blue tarp was removed exposing the simulated accident scene, you could hear a pin drop. The students’ faces and their body language said it all… something really serious was happening. This was Day One of the “Every 15 Minutes” program… a reenactment of four teenagers in a horrific car crash. Shawna, in the red mustang, wasn’t wearing her seatbelt and flew through the windshield when a drunk Brandon crashed into the white Buick Le
See DUI drama,
Page 18
$500,000 grant brings CVHS all-weather football field and track facilities closer to the finish line BY JIM ZEWAN Clayton Pioneer
The Mt. Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD) voted unanimously to give Clayton Valley High School $500,000 of Proposition 55 money to be used for new track and football/soccer field improvements at the April 6 school board meeting. Proposition 55 was a recently passed state-wide bond measure which approved $12.5 billion to upgrade school facilities
and infrastructure across the state. MDUSD qualified to receive a part of that money. A local committee has been working for some time raising money for these projects. They have already raised $700,000 toward the project with some big help from major benefactors such as Steve and Debra Gonsalves, the Dianda Foundation, Mike and Laurie Rose among others. The Clayton Business and Community Association
(CBCA) also contributed funds for goals, benches and a new scoreboard. CVHS student body representatives recently voted to provide $20,000 of their fundraising money to the project. Now this $500,000 grant brings the total amount available to $1.2 million. However, there is still a gap of some $80,000 needed to fund the entire project. The committee is busy right now trying to raise the remaining amount. John Neary, CVHS principal
and Pat Middendorf, CVHS girls Athletic Director and coach of the CVHS Girls Varsity Soccer Team, confirmed that the school is scheduled to break ground on the new track and football/soccer field turf and other improvements May 24. Neary said, “the project is scheduled to be completed by September 3 in time for the 2004 football season. Final funding and approval through the office of the State Architect must come
hen involved in the age-old discussion with her friends long ago, someone asked Mary Spryer “What would you do if you could do anything in the whole wide world?” Mary’s response, “Be the curator of a museum.” That dream became a reality when Clayton Historical Society Museum appointed Mary as its new curator. Spryer first joined the museum when she moved to Clayton ten years ago with husband Richard and her two children, Peter and Kirsten. Her first volunteer job involved editing the society’s newsletter, The Clayton Chronicles. She collaborated with Elaine Evans to produce special exhibits displaying Depression glass and Clayton wedding artifacts. With Andrea Blachman she created the “Our Town” exhibit showing both the old and new layouts of Clayton streets. “Clayton, California, The World 1910-1920” demonstrated the history of Clayton, relative to major events elsewhere during that period in time. One of Mary’s favorites, “Greetings and Felicitations” contained antique greeting cards. Her current exhibit, “Half Done is Well Begun” features unfinished projects, interrupted in the making. Being curator is a natural for Spryer who holds a degree in History from Cal State Dominguez Hills. Her affinity for collecting family heirlooms started many years ago. She “loves” research and together before work can commence.” Middendorf has been a driving force behind this project. She spoke at the School Board meeting and has been instrumental in moving this project forward in many ways. Now her (and others’) hard work is about to pay off. She told the Pioneer that the new field and track will be allweather, state-of-the-art field turf. It will enable CVHS players to practice in inclement weather and on a surface that often the CVHS players only saw in the playoffs or big meets. “Now instead of playing on an unfamiliar surface, our players will be able to practice and train on the same kind of surface and be able to practice more often when the weather is poor,” she said. “On Saturday May 22, we will be holding a fundraising Bocce Day at CVHS with all
keeps the museum a fresh and interesting place to visit; and she handles all the temporary exhibits. “This is a fun and exciting position,” says Spryer. “No one person can do justice to the overwhelming job description without help from many others. Volunteers of all ages are always in demand, be it as greeters, docents, scrapbook help or many other museum activities. The museum is a
MARY SPRYER great place for high school students to complete their volunteer requirement for graduation.” Dick Ellis, Historical Society president, says, “When Connie Rehr retired after 25 years as curator, all eyes went to Mary Spryer. She showed competence with her timely and well-planned special exhibits and her collaboration with Connie and others. We look forward to the different perspective Mary brings to the position.” The Clayton Historical Society Museum is located at 6101 Main Street. Open hours are 2–4 p.m., Wednesdays and Sundays with special tours by appointment. To volunteer or for additional information call 672-0240.
proceeds going to the project in an ongoing effort to raise the remaining funds,” says Middendorf. “Bocce will be played on the old track. This will be part of our ground breaking ceremony. The field will actually begin to be torn up on May 24. We will be inviting the mayors, district personnel and all donors to the event. All the high school and youth teams will work the event as well as play in it.” For example, the CVHS lacrosse team will be making the bocce courts on the track. There will also be a BBQ and other games and surprises. Middendorf and her committee will welcome all the additional community support they can get in raising the remaining funds that are needed and they
See Grant, page 7