SIDEWALK SERIES: A rig that demands attention

Most people in Moscow don't know Michael Mastro - but they probably know his van.

The 1985 Chevy Astro Van was "white, rusty old crap that we got for $300" when Mastro's parents, Michael and Sheri Mastro, bought it for his 18th birthday in August.

"I didn't like driving around - it looked like a creepy van," Mastro said with a laugh.

So he came up with a vision, rode his bike to Moscow Building Supply with friend Joe Zabriskie, bought $200 worth of paint and supplies and went to work.

Mastro is an avid artist - he took so many art classes in his first two years of high school, he can't take any more. He planned the design for his van in his head and drew it in pencil before filling it in with a mix of latex and house paint.

Now the van is decked out in green and blue with orange flowers in the style of the iconic Mystery Machine that the "Scooby Doo" gang drove around in the classic cartoon.

The Mystery Machine is becoming sort of a Moscow icon, too.

The first month he drove it was "trouble," Mastro said.

"Anywhere I stopped there was about 10 people right on the car, taking pictures."

People have jumped up and down and laughed upon seeing the van, which is often parked in front of Rosauers, where Mastro's dad works as a butcher. Others have left notes, flowers and balloons tucked under the windshield wipers.

Mastro said people are stunned and excited to see a cartoon come to life - and he enjoys their reactions.

"I think the best part about it is when I pull up next to a school bus," he said. "I see every kid looking at it."

But fans of the van may be disappointed to know that the Mystery Machine is about to disappear.

Mastro has plans make the van his canvas once again.

The Idaho Meth Project is sponsoring a "Paint the State" competition for teens with a $5,000 prize. Young artists are tasked with creating projects that communicate an anti-methamphetamine message.

Mastro is planning a green-and-black design featuring the Meth Project's slogan "Not Even Once." He has a secret weapon - "NOTONCE" license plates his dad ordered - but no exact plans for what he'll paint.

"It's actually going to be freestyling it," he said. "Whatever I think of, it's going to be on there."

Mastro has his eye on the cash prize, but he wants to use his van to get the anti-drug message out, too.

"It's just one of those things that has to be known. People have got to recognize it instead of pushing it away, pretending it's not there," he said.

Mastro said he'll keep the anti-meth message on his van for a year or so, then try something new. Ideas include a design using characters from the Pixar movie "Cars," or decking the whole thing out in zebra stripes.

Other than repainting his van, the Moscow High School senior, who said he's far from ready to be done with school in a few weeks, doesn't have big plans for after graduation.

"I want to do a lot of fishing," he said. "That's pretty much all I want to do is just relax every day. If that could be a job ... I'd take it."

He'll also take any other opportunities to try out a new artistic endeavor.

"If someone gives me enough paint and enough space, I'll pretty much paint anything they want."

Tara Roberts can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 252, or by e-mail at troberts@dnews.com.