Page 11 - Fort Irwin High Desert Warrior, January 2021

10 High Desert Warrior www.aerotechnews.com/ntcfortirwin www.aerotechnews.com/ntcfortirwin High Desert Warrior 11
January 2021
January 2021
Community News

Drive-in comedy show brings laughs, honks to NTC Silver Valley Unified School

District awarded two grants
Story and Photos by Staff Sgt. Julie Jaeger
Operations Group
Courtesy of SVUSD
FORT IRWIN, Calif. — RJ Ryan and fellow comedians made people laugh, toot horns and
blink lights at Fort Irwin’s Army Field during a Drive-in comedy show on Jan. 4. e show Here are the two grants received by Silver
was presented on stage, as well as broadcast on 107.9 radio for those close to the stadium, so Valley Schools:
residents of Fort Irwin could listen to it from the warmth of their car. Department of Defense Education Activ-
Ryan, along with four other comedians from Los Angeles — Maxi Witrak, Seth Lawrence, ity (DoDEA)
Ray Easter, and Brian Matthews— took center stage at no cost to patrons. e Silver Valley Uni ed School District
Ryan, the host and also a resident of Fort Irwin, kicked o the show sharing his heartfelt was awarded a $1.5 million grant from the
gratitude for his community. Department of Defense Education Activity
“I am very fortunate to be a part of two incredible tribes— the military and comedy,” he said. (DoDEA). e $1.5 million grant will be
“Both are comprised of talented, funny, and brave people.” spread out over the next ve years. is grant,
Maxi Witrak, who refers to herself as an “open book,” took the stage next and emphasized called the Silver Valley Strengthening Health
her tomboyish nature. Expressing how it a ected some of her former relationships with men, Academic Physical & Emotional Learning or
she said, “ ey get scared if I just hold a hammer.” S.H.A.P.E Learning Grant, will bring essential
Up next Seth Lawrence, a former law student and attorney, spoke on God and family. One resources to our students and schools. is new
1. Remove existing turf on the football,
of his lines was, “Heaven is where we can stay as a family forever together, but now with this grant will focus on academic achievement, softball and baseball elds
pandemic, I realize I’m not ready for that yet.” student physical and social emotional health
en Ray Easter’s act touched on aspects of pop culture and his personal life. and technology. e district will provide sta 2. Grade elds and repair irrigation systems
“My current job is doing an excellent job of boosting my self-esteem,” he said. “I currently with continued professional development in 3. Install sod on all elds
work at Dominos and the job title they gave me was ‘Delivery Expert.’ at feels great, because Math, Language Arts and Social and Emotional 4. Install warning track on baseball eld
an expert was the last thing I felt going into that job interview.” supports for students. Part of this training will 5. Track will be graded and new track mix
Lastly, Brian Matthews came out with a routine based on some of his experiences as a former “Fort Irwin is my home for now,” Ryan said. “I want the great people here to be entertained focus on teaching our students mindfulness, added and compacted
teacher, his love life with his wife, and his ‘no child’ family. and walk away from their Fort Irwin experience with a smile and some great memories. We are good nutritional habits, exercise and wellness The total grant to fund this project is
Ryan was able to work with the Family and MWR and the Villages at Fort Irwin to piece lucky to have a Commanding General and a Garrison Commander that want to bring entertain- spaces at our elementary schools! is grant will $521,000.00. Work on the sports elds com-
this together for the love of his community. ment here. We have some great shows lining up so buckle up!” also allow us to provide up-to-date technology plex will begin this spring after our sports
for our teachers and expand our 1:1 student seasons conclude to allow for the work to
device initiative in our district. be completed and the new sod to become
Department of Defense O ce of Eco- established.
nomic Adjustment (OEA)—Defense Com- SVUSD Superintendent, Jesse M. Najera,
munity Infrastructure Pilot Program shared, “Silver Valley is thankful to the Depart-
e district received an additional grant ment of Defense, O ce of Economic Adjust-
this past fall from the Department of Defense ment, e National Training Center, Fort Irwin
O ce of Economic Adjustment (OAE) to help and the Marine Corps Logistics Base, Barstow
update the Silver Valley High School sports for their ongoing support of our district to
elds and track. is grant will allow us to do ensure we continue to provide the best educa-
the following: tion, facilities and technology to our students!”

Upcoming

Events

*Live Facebook Roundup every Wednesday at 2:30p.m., where the Garrison Com-
mand Team answers your questions on the o cial Fort Irwin Facebook page, Facebook.
com/FtIrwin and KNTC 88.5FM “ e Heat” radio.
January 2021 Calendar:
-1/1: Fort Irwin Chapel Holiday Service: Center Chapel (11a.m. – 1p.m.; Mass at
1p.m.)
-1/1: Commissary is Closed on New Year’s Day in observance of holiday
-1/12: Monthly Community Service Council: Sandy Basin (10a.m.) Facebook.
com/FtIrwin
-1/13: Martin Luther King, Jr. EEO Observance: Sandy Basin Community Center
(11:30a.m. and streamed on Facebook.com/NTCfortirwin)
-1/15: Weed Army Community Hospital closed in observance of holiday
-1/20: CG’s Live Community Update: Facebook.com/NTCfortirwin (2:30p.m.)
-1/20: Newcomer Spouses Orientation: Bldg. 21 (9a.m. – 1p.m.) Register at 380-2438
-1/23: Christmas in January (more details coming)
-1/28: Tax Center Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting: Legal O ce (9a.m.)
*For more information, you can visit the NTC website at home.army.mil/irwin or
contact the Public A airs O ce at 760-380-4511; the MWR at 760-380-5111 (Face-
book.com/FortIrwinFMWR), or the respective organization that is hosting the event*

For more information go to home.army.mil/irwin For more information go to home.army.mil/irwin