65.7 by Erie Square Gazette

Volume 65.7

The

Erie Square Gazette A public forum by and for the students of St. Clair County Community College

December

11 2014

SC4 theatre roars with laughter

SC4 Players’ “Lend Me a Tenor” performances delight audiences

Lily Petit Staff Writer “He’s Italian, they kiss everything!” exclaimed Max, played by Caleb Kreidler during SC4 Player’s performances of “Lend Me a Tenor,” Dec. 4, 5, 6, and 7. And a lot of kissing there was. “Lend Me a Tenor” is the story of Italian Opera Star, Tito Merelli, played by Greg Garofalo, who through a comedic and accidental turn of events cannot perform as Otello at the Cleveland Grand Opera Company because he is thought to be dead instead of sleeping. Assistant to the General Manager of the opera house, Max, played by Caleb Kreidler, is forced to perform in Merelli’s place, but, in order to keep the good publicity due to Merelli’s presence at the opera house, no one must know it is Max instead of Merelli. Merelli awakes in time to perform, but now there are two Merellis roaming the streets.

Max (played by Caleb Kreidler. Middle right.) fends off Tito Merelli (played by Greg Garafolo. Far left) and Henry Saunders (played by Brian Higgins. Middle left.) from the door that conceals Saunders’ daughter, Maggie Saunders, (played by Hannah Winkler. Far right.) Photo credit: Lily Petit

Women, police, and ironic exit and entrances allow romance, confusion, and hilarity to ensue. Tom Kephart, director, said the cast did an excellent job carrying out comedic timing. When asked why Kephart chose this show he said, “I wanted a show that I knew I was going to have fun watching. I know this play backwards and forwards and I still laugh, and I still tear up at the end.” The small, but mighty cast of

eight had their hands full. “Lend Me a Tenor” requires well-formed characters from all, as well as accents and operatic singing from others. Kreidler, who sang the most with Garofalo as a close second, said he never had specific operatic training, but recognized techniques in opera that he had been taught in private voice lessons. Furthermore, Kephart helped shape the leads’ singing. Additionally, the show has no

scene changes. Instead the play is performed entirely in Tito Merelli’s hotel suite. The approximately two hour show kept the audience laughing despite the lack of scenery change. One such audience member, Alyssa Williams, said “It was so fun and energetic. I was almost in tears laughing the whole time.”

Volume 65.7

Editor-in-Chief Angie Stoecklin Production Editor/Designer Emily Mainguy Managing Editor Chico Hernandez Photo Editor Jenelle Kalaf

Calendar Community

Dec. 12-19 - Birchwood Mall Craft Show 10am-9pm Dec. 13 - Old Fashioned Christmas Horse Parade - Village of Lexington 2p.m.

Business Editor Paul Porter

Sports

Men’s Basketball Dec. 12 - Lakeland CC - 7:30 p.m. Women’s Basketball Dec. 12 - Lakeland CC - 5:30 p.m. Games in bold are home games in the SC4 Gym

Lifestyle Editor Gregory Garofalo

Campus

Dec. 11 - Concert: Boogie Woogie Kid Matthew Ball - Noon & 7p.m. - Fine Arts Theatre - Admission: $5

Dec. 11 - SC4 Board of Trustees Meeting MTECH Room 150 - 4:30-6p.m. Dec. 14 - Music: Holiday Bells & SC4 Community Choir - Fine Arts Theatre 4-6p.m. - $7 Adults, Free with Skippers OneCard Dec. 15 - SC4 Community Choir Free Holiday Concert - 7p.m.-8p.m.

Adviser John Lusk

Dec. 18 - Practical Nursing Graduation Fine Arts Theatre - 7-9p.m.

Letter from the editor

Staff writers wanted

ESG Contact Info: Email: eriesquaregazette@gmail.com Address: 323 Erie St Port Huron MI 48060 Editor’s Note: All views expressed in editorials and columns contained within the ESG are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the ESG or any of its advertisers. We welcome feedback!

Find us at esgonline.org @esgonline

facebook.com/ESGonline First copy free; second copy $1

Angie Stoecklin Editor-in-Chief

covering of both campus and community events, writing opinion pieces, and reviewing As the holidays draw closer, movies, books, video games, and the end of the semester is other entertainment outlets. approaching. But with every end, To be considered a staff writer there is a beginning, in this case, officially, one must enroll in the the Winter 2015 semester at Journalism Practicum; a one SC4. As the Erie Square Gazette credit course and can be added to finishes up its production his/her class list by either going schedule for the Fall semester, to sc4.edu in the “Register for new ideas for the next semester classes” section, or by talking to begin to take fold. an academic advisor. To implement these new If one is interested in joining ideas, which include covering the ESG, but cannot enroll in the more topics that peak student practicum for financial or other interests, the ESG will need of reasons, don’t be discouraged. more staff writers. Opportunities Students can still write for the for staff writers include the paper under the title of Guest

Writer. It is preferred however, that even for guest writers, that those who want to write for the paper attend our weekly meetings every Thursday from 2 to 2:50 p.m. in room 123 of the Main Building. Writing articles for the Erie Square Gazette can help to build a portfolio if the writer is considering pursuing a career in news, whether it be for print, internet, or television. Anyone with questions about writing for the paper is encouraged to e-mail the ESG at eriesquaregazette@gmail.com.

December 11, 2014

Choral chords corralled

SC4 choir opens arms to community members Lily Petit Staff Writer

Choir is no longer a credit course, but open to the community. Jim Neese, the associate dean of instruction, made the decision to remove choir from the credit course list before the start of the Fall 2014 semester. Neese said choir had not been reaching its enrollment requirement for a few semesters and after consulting with the previous choir director, Cheryl Kaski, Neese moved with the decision. Enrollment should be 25 students per semester, but the choir class was only reaching 12-13 students consistently. Kaski said choir’s credit was originally optional when she first began teaching at SC4 three years ago. When it became mandatory that all students be enrolled in the course, their numbers were hurt. She said the enrollment slowly grew since then because she believed students realized the importance of “being part of a team to reach a common goal.” Kaski sees the benefits of a community choir but says she has had students express that they miss the opportunity to sing during the day because they work at night. Former choir student, Emily Fisher, 17, said, “That class was stress relieving, peaceful and my “home on campus” if you will. I miss that class with all my heart.”

Choir is not the first class to be handled like this for lack of enrollment. SC4 band was removed from the credit course list several years ago. The band is now open to students as well as members of the community. Neese said the band has been doing extremely well since they removed the credit. Students always have the option to petition the reinstatement of the credit. They must present 30 signatures and ensure there will be 30 students enrolled in the class. But for now, choir I, II, III and IV have transformed into the SC4 Community Choir. Celeste Skalnek, Coordinator of the Arts, organized the new School for the Performing Arts which includes the SC4 Community Choir. Choir is now under the instruction of Carly VanDyke, who is also the choir director at Port Huron Northern High School. The SC4 Community Choir had 23 members this semester. And for anyone interested in joining those 23 members, the community choir is open to anyone ages 16 and up. SC4’s choir meets Mondays from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building in rooms 60 and 26. They perform throughout the academic semester. A $25 fee is required to join. You can register for choir on the SC4 Portal under non-credit courses. Walk in registrations and phone in registrations are accepted as

The choir director for SC4’s new community choir, Carly VanDyke. Photo credit: Fine Arts department

well. Karen Jezewski, Secretary of Humanities, is in charge of choir registration and can be found in the office of the Fine Arts Building. A small group from the choir along with SC4’s symphonic band and jazz band will be performing Dec. 14 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Fine Arts Theatre. Admission is $7, but free for students with their SkipperOne card. A free show featuring the

whole choir will be performed the following evening, Dec. 15, from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Fine Arts Theatre. This Holiday concert will have refreshments to follow the entertainment.

Volume 65.7 | Campus

Christmas spent in the past and remembered for Ice Ages SC4 brings the beasts that roam the earth alive

Tyler Smith Staff writer

with style. “Mine is going to have green fur with glitter because everyone Families traveled a thousand years deserves to look cute,” Walker said. Others explored the museum’s in the past to the Ice Age to when artifacts on display and adopted the great mammoth roamed these pet rocks. William Jacobs, 5, made lands on Saturday Dec. 6, in the St. Clair County Community College connections with present day species, “They look like elephants Nasr Natural science Museum. but have hair like a bear, that’s Nasr held a mammoth holiday awesome.” event for the public to visit and Walking though the room of fossils partake in festive activities. Kids could decorate cookies shaped and bones from those that lived before, there was an activity for all as mammoths. Jessica Walker, 6, to partake in. Instead of being just decorated her mammoth cookie

A group of kids gather to name pet rocks at SC4’s Mammoth Holiday event. Photo credit: Tyler Smith

a visitor, you are given the chance to be the archeologist and dig up fossils of prehistoric creatures. A sand box equipped with brushes had hidden inside of it, the claws from a Velociraptor, a neck bone from a Brachiosaurus, or even a tooth from the king himself, the terrifying Tyrannosaurus Rex. Just like out in the world of archeology, you never know what you will dig up. With all the wondrous activities set up the event, which no doubt drew the public to the museum, as

well bring as knowledge and smiles to everyone. But what is a holiday event if you’re missing the man in the red suit. Santa Claus walked around saying hello to kids and adults. Some kids were ecstatic see him while others were a little shy. But Lindsey Armstrong, 5, saw it as a moment to bribe him, “I told him what I wanted for Christmas and that he can get his cookies after.”

Community | December 11, 2014

I’d tap that

Fuel hosts Tap Takeover for Bell’s Brewery Melanie Buskirk Staff Writer

Last Wednesday, Fuel Woodfire Grill & Spirits, located in historic downtown Port Huron, hosted a beer tasting event known as a Tap Takeover for Bell’s Brewery, Inc. – Michigan’s oldest and most successful craft beer brewery. Regulars and beer connoisseurs alike filled the bar as they eagerly waited for the bartenders to serve them old favorites like Bell’s TwoHearted Ale and new specialties like the Cinnamon Sunrise Stout. The beer and taps were provided by Earl Smith Distributing Company, a Port Huron based company that is the Thumb and Bluewater areas’ leading distributor of beer and wine. The branch manager for Earl Smith Distributing Company, Kevin Meharg was pleased with the exposure that the Tap Takeover brought to Bell’s Brewery, Inc. and their specialty beers. He wasn’t the only one that enjoyed the craft brews. Staci Edie, an aesthetician and lifelong resident of Port Huron as well as a regular at the local downtown businesses, seemed very excited to partake in the Tap Takeover. “It’s nice because it brings a lot of people to try new beers,” Edie said as the bartender brought her a pint of Bell’s Christmas Ale to try. “A lot of people follow Bell’s. If people know about it [the Tap Takeover]

they’ll come out and try out the bar. Events like this bring out a lot of new people to try the local bars. People are really into the new craft beers here in Port Huron.” When he had a moment between greeting customers and assisting the bartenders, the owner of Fuel Mike Taylor confirmed what Edie stated, saying that he was excited to get people to get out and try new beers. Taylor also expressed his gratitude, “Bell’s is obviously good to our city and to our small businesses. I’m happy to support them for supporting us.” Bell’s Brewery, Inc. is the main sponsor of the Bell’s Bayview Mackinac Race, a yearly event

that brings plenty of business to downtown Port Huron. Bell’s Brewery, Inc. is also one of Michigan’s best brewers. The brewery, founded in 1983, claims one of the top IPA’s in recent times with its TwoHearted Ale placing as the second best beer in the country according to the American Homebrewers’ Association. Another one of their beers, called Hopslam also placed on the list as being the sixth best beer in the country. Although their award-winning beers are the crowd favorites, they weren’t the only ones featured at the Tap Takeover. Eight of their other choice beers were featured at the Tap Takeover; the Winter White Ale, the Christmas Ale, the Sweet Potato Stout, Cinnamon Sunrise, the Oracle DIPA Ale, TwoHearted Ale, Kalamazoo Hopsoulution Ale, and the Roundhouse IRA.

Winter White Ale: A 5.0% Belgian-style white ale with a light flavored and a cloudy appearance, available during the winter months. Christmas Ale: A 5.5% ale brewed using locally grown malt, Michigan grown barley, and a lack of spices creating a smooth taste to compliment holiday menus. Sweet Potato Stout: A 6.1% stout with a dark color and a strong ginger taste with a hint of other autumnal spices. Cinnamon Sunrise: A strong 12.7% double aged stout with strong cinnamon and vanilla flavors. This one was especially popular at the Tap Takeover. Oracle DIPA Ale: A 10.0% IPA with a dry citrus and hoppy taste with a strong bitter aftertaste. Two-Hearted Ale: A 7.0% IPA with a strong hop and malt balance, coupled with a pine resin and grapefruit aroma this is an award winning crowd pleaser. Kalamazoo Hopsoulution Ale: An 8.0% double IPA made with hops from the Pacific Northwest and Germany. Roundhouse IRA: A 7.0% India Red Ale that has a medley of fruity tones such as pineapple, peach and citrus with a dry finish. Taylor said that the Fuel Woodfire Grill & Spirits hosts these events every other month, so don’t worry if you missed this Tap Takeover. Photo credit: Melanie Buskirk

Volume 65.7 | Community

Hockey for a cause

Wings alumni come together to support the Y’s Night of Champions Angie Stoecklin Editor-in-Chief

400 people rallied into McMorran Place Arena on Nov. 20 in support of the YMCA’s charity event the Night of Champions. The combination of hundred dollar tickets, and the live and silent auctions featuring wings memorabilia raised a total of $30,000. Former Red wings players took time out of their busy schedules to support the Y charity and took turns auctioning off their famous jerseys. In addition to the famed members of the “Grind Line,” Kirk Maltby, Darren McCarty, and Joe Kocur, Wing’s alumni Jason Woolley, Petr Klíma, John Ogrodnick, Brent Fedyk, and Eddie Mio added to the excitement of wings fans across McMorran Arena. Keelly Baribeau, the Community Relations director for the Port Huron area school district, said that she is a big supporter of the YMCA and that she was excited to see some of the Red Wing’s players that she grew up watching as a teenager. “I thought, this would be a fun way to support an essential service and agency in our community,” Baribeau said. The Blue Water YMCA, according to their website, promotes healthy living and fosters a sense of social responsibility. The money raised at Night of Champions went directly to the Y’s Open Arms program; a

Red wings memorabilia lined up for the silent auction at YMCA’s Night of Champions event on Nov. 20. Photo credit: Jenelle Kalaf

Night of Champions patrons find their seats at the YMCA sponsored event on Nov. 20. Photo credit: Jenelle Kalaf

financial assistance program that allows those who cannot afford YMCA membership the opportunities that the Y offers. While many highlights of the event took centerfold, the former Wing’s players were some of many who did not lose sight of the event’s true meaning. “At the end of the night the major highlight is going to be how much we were able to raise for the YMCA,

which is a great community place for people to use and have access to,” said Red Wing’s alumni Kirk Maltby. Maltby, although his schedule is just as busy as the other alumni members, says that his attendance of the event was made a bit easier by the fact that he lives just 45 minutes away. Darren McCarty on the other hand, made the drive from his home in Florida to be a part of the Y’s charity and to visit the town he

referred to as, “a big part of the Red Wings nation.” McCarty say’s that the hospitality in Port Huron, as well as the turnout and the support in the Community made the long drive from Florida well worth it. “I know this area pretty well so I’m grateful for the opportunity to come and give back for such a great cause,” McCarty said.

December 11, 2014

Start the Christmas season the right way McLaren Foundation hosts the 26th annual Festival of Trees

Top Left | Festival of Trees patrons gather at

the concession stand for food and refreshments. Photo credit: Tyler Smith

Top Right | Photo credit: Tyler Smith

Bottom Left | Photo credit: Tyler Smith

Bottom Right | The “talking tree” becomes a

Tyler Smith Staff Writer

display for all to see, families and friends ambulated while lavishing the twinkling lights and creativity Patrons of Port Huron trekked into while listening to live Christmas McMorran Place this weekend for music, as well as the sideshow of the 26th annual Festival of Trees. figure skaters displaying their icy The Festival of Trees has raised skills. The Festival of Trees became more than 1.5 million dollars since the true kick start of the Christmas its genesis in 1989. season. The Festival of Trees is presented Raffle buckets sat next to the trees every year by the McLaren Port giving families a chance to win a Huron Foundation to raise funds variety of gift items. The winners of for medical equipment and services the raffle would also be able to bring such as infant cardiac monitors, a tree home to enjoy for Christmas. birthing beds, Emergency Center “I would like the ‘Frozen’ tree with components, and many more. the Olaf doll cause I like the movie,” With trees grouped together on

said Beth Smith, 4. But trees weren’t the only items to raffle. Electronic toys and other items where displayed almost like the toy stores and featured extravagant window displays. People stood in front of the gift raffle eyeing the new technology of our age. Teenagers like Alex Stalker, 16, mostly kept their hopes on the 40 inch HDTV. “I really want that TV to able to play my new Xbox console,” said Stalker. Trees and gifts was not the only attention that snagged everyone’s eyes. Traveling all the way from

conversational piece at the McLaren sponsored event the Festival of Trees. Photo credit: Tyler Smith

the North Pole to the Festival of Trees was good ‘olé Saint Nicholas, spreading Christmas joy and cheer. The festival drew numerous guests to McMorran helping McLaren raise funds for the Miriam F. Acheson Family Birth Place at McLaren Port Huron. The family birth place houses 17 private labor, delivery, recovery, and post-partum suites and has state of the art labor and delivery rooms, while offering pleasant, comfortable and convenient surroundings, making the Festival of Trees a noble event for a noble cause.

Volume 65.7 | Entertainment

It’s no secret that winter in Michigan can get overwhelming, but are you prepared for it? Tips, tricks, and supplies for the winter Opinion by: Nick “Chico” Hernandez Managing Editor

After the winter-wonderland-turned-Polar Vortex winter of 2013, no one should be taking any chances. By “taking chances,” I’m talking about being unprepared. Underdressed people are always the coldest, unprepared cars run the worst, and sometimes you just end up shit’s creek. With taking the right steps, you minimize the chance of ending up there.

Winter Apparel

Yoga/sweat pants, skirts, open toed shoes, track jackets, and tennis shoes are all examples of how to not dress for winter. To prevent heat loss, all areas of the body should be covered, and covered well. A hat (or a beanie), gloves, boots, jeans, and a winter coat should have a special place for everyone during winter. While you could wear a snow suit, we all know that looking trendy is all the rage. That being said, you can still look trendy and be warm. If trendy isn’t warm enough for some reason, then the next step is layering up. Another pair of pants under jeans, or an extra t-shirt can make all the difference when outside amongst the icicles. While all of the above is a must for being warm, having good snow boots will keep you upright better than those Gucci gloves will. Find something with good grip, but will be comfy walking in if you spend a lot of time on your feet. These boots are many and can be found online or in stores for varying prices, choose wisely. Ugg boots are not suitable for winter conditions because they are not waterproof. The fur will absorb moisture and hold it in, and can make the Uggs smell bad. The same goes for Converse and other cloth, athletic shoes.

Vehicle Care Tips

The first step to driving in the winter is make sure your vehicle is ready for winter. Fluids (oil, antifreeze), battery, brakes, engine, and tires should all be checked by a mechanic. Fluids should be checked often to begin with, but you will want to make a habit of it during winter. I know, it’s cold. Dress appropriately.

Snow tires help out greatly in the winter, but cost more than regular summer tires. On average, a snow tire will run you average of $100 per tire at Discount Tire, not counting labor. Pricey, but peace of mind is rarely cheap. Rain-X Original windshield treatment works well for most conditions and averages $8.00 at most auto stores, or about $6.00 at Walmart. Rain-X helps your windshield resist moisture, such as sleet, rain, and some snow. Don’t expect it to work when the snow is piling up outside though. When it comes down to it, we live in Michigan and we have to clear our cars off. Any Michigander worth their Faygo knows that an ice scraper and snow brush is essential for winter. Most ice scraper/snow brush combinations retail for about $12.00. A car covered in ice is never anyone’s idea of a good time, but it is an inevitability that we all have to deal with. Something that makes the deicing process easier is De-Icer Spray. De-Icer Spray helps cut through the ice without harming the paint job or the window itself. De-Icer can be found at auto stores and vary in price from a few dollars to about ten dollars. Vinegar and water has been previously suggested around the internet, but according to snopes.com, “we’ve found no consensus about how effective the use of vinegar-water mixture to remove or prevent windshield ice might be.” Basically, try it at your own risk. If nothing else, cool water will help the de-icing process. Don’t use hot water, it can crack your windshield because of the rapid temperate change. Most people would tell you to let your vehicle run for a few minutes when the temperate drops below freezing, but an article by trustedchoice.com said that letting your vehicle idle for more than a few minutes isn’t a good idea, and that you can damage parts on your vehicle. Not all vehicles will fall into one category or another (to warm up or not warm up?). The best way that I’ve found is to let your vehicle run until the idle returns to a normal, steady pace. This generally only takes a minute or two. If your car is covered in snow or ice, then the first thing you’ll want to do

Story continued on page 10

December 11, 2014

What we’re listening to...

All I want for Christmas is, well, everything

Three reasons why the holidays are so stressful Opinion by: Jenelle Kalaf Photo Editor

What happened to the holiday spirit? What used to be considered the most wonderful time of the year now only brings stress to families who should be celebrating togetherness. Over the last week, I took the time at my place of employment (retail) to observe what seems to stress people out during the holidays from a customer service point of view, and compiled a list of what I’ve noticed. The season of wanting.

stress to soar. That entails the employees to become stressed when they have to deal with the same situations when they get off work. While shopping in July like some do might be considered a little ridiculous, stressful shopping holidays such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday can be avoided and make the holidays a little easier. Not being thankful.

Some people don’t realize how good they have it. The holiday madness makes people The selflessness of giving and expecting nothing forget that the whole world doesn’t revolve in return has turned into a competition on whether grandma can out-spend mom and if little around the problems of gift giving. Some people just want someone to spend the Timmy gets a brand new PlayStation 4. holidays with, and others just want a meal for From fathers’ yelling at me for selling the last their children and they can’t afford big presents of a game that was already reserved to children for them to smile. crying because mom and dad still have to have If everyone can sit down and just be thankful enough money for food, the holidays seem to for what they have, even if they don’t get the transform into a festival of “want, want, want,” new IPhone 6, then maybe the holidays would and nothing about giving back. be a little bit happier. Stressful hours and grumpy customers. The rush to buy presents causes stress for employees as well. Last minute shoppers run into stores looking for the hottest items and are usually given the “we won’t be restocking until Jan. 2” response which causes the shopper’s mood to drop and

Artist: Meghan Trainor Album: Title Genre: Pop

“She has catchy music, new version of the oldies.” - Alinah Purdy-Sachs, 20 Artist: Darius Rucker Album: This

Genre: Country

“Great country singer since there is not very much black country singers.” - Levi Trigger, 24

Artist: Rage Against the Machine

Album: Evil Empire

Genre: Grunge Metal

“Their music is relevant to the social problems of today.” - Paul Jacques, 23 Artist: August Burns Red Album: Rescue & Restore Genre: Christian Metal

“The musicianship of these guys is exceptional; I can’t put it in to words.” -Josh Desimone, 21

Volume 65.7 | Entertainment

Story from page 8 is start it up and begin the defrosting process. Don’t turn the vehicle on if the tail pipe or grill is blocked by snow, ice, or something similar. After the defroster has started, you’ll want to take your ice scraper/snow brush and begin cleaning your vehicle off. Don’t make it a second rate job; driving with snow on your vehicle could mean your life. Snow sitting on the hood can fly up when speed is increased, and can result in temporary loss of vision. Snow or ice on the headlights or tail lights means the light doesn’t get through, and no one can tell if you’re braking, turning, or (during night time) if you’re even there. Being lazy in the winter only makes you look like an idiot, and puts you close to danger.

Driving In Snow

Most people that live in Michigan are attuned to driving in the snow, but it never hurts to try and pick up some more ideas. Let me start by saying that driving conditions can change rapidly with the weather, but one thing holds true over everything; don’t drive like you own the road and expect everyone else to move just for you. What I mean by this is: driving way too fast for what the conditions permit, driving recklessly, tailgating, braking suddenly for no reason, and aggressiveness on the road in general. Drive at a speed that you feel comfortable at. Too often have I almost lost control by going faster than I should have. When snow has found its way onto the road, that’s when you should be cautious. Drive gently and steer easily. Imagine you have a cup of hot coffee and if you turn too sharp or too suddenly, you’ll spill it on yourself. You also need to acquaint yourself with your vehicle. Learn what advantages and disadvantages it carries. Some brake better than others, where a few can gain acceleration better. As suggested by cartalk.com, “it’s not a bad idea to do a little driving in an empty parking lot on a snowy day just so you know what to expect from your car when you drive on snowy roads.” While trying this, stay vigilant. Learning how to steer, recover from spin outs, brake efficiently, and the speed that you feel comfortable at is essential for winter driving, but not if you slide sideways into a parking block. If you find yourself sliding in any way, do not slam on the brakes or the gas; it will only make the situation worse. Let off either pedal and gently push the brakes and steer your vehicle where it needs to go. Sometimes you will not be able to recover from a slide, but driving alert will help reduce that chance. Avoid steep hills and slopes as best as you can. These, when iced over or covered in snow, can be unsafe and risky. If driving up a hill is necessary, then you will want a lot of momentum behind the vehicle while traveling up the terrain. Expect hazards just above the slope and be on guard. Braking can be different with vehicles and how you should brake depends

on if you have an Anti-Locking Braking System (ABS). If this is equipped on your vehicle, then you should always brake easy and slowly went needed. Pumping the brakes work better for vehicles without ABS versus ones that run ABS, and are good for stopping in tall snow. Keeping your gas tank at above a quarter of a tank is essential for this time of year. Running your car with low gas can overheat your fuel pump and cause costly repair issues. The best solution to this is to make sure that your tank is at least half full at all times. Remember that having All-Wheel Drive, 4X4, or anything else does not disqualify you from sliding or losing control. Drive carefully and don’t rush it. Leave early if you need to be somewhere at a certain time.

Making a Winter Bag

A winter bag is simply a bag made for winter preparedness. It’s something you make, toss in your truck or backseat and hope you don’t have to use it. We as a race did not make it this far without some preparation and if you find yourself stranded in the winter, then you may not make it far at all. At the tippy top of the list resides hand warmers, blankets, flashlights, flares, and small bottles of water. Should the worst happen and your vehicle is stuck, these will all assist you in getting help. A flashlight and flares are crucial for signaling help. Smaller bottles of water are better than a large jug because they will take less time to dethaw. The human body needs water more than anything else, and being stuck in snow is no joke. Always have water. Next on the list is back–up winter gear, rope, non-perishable food, matches, a lighter, candles, and jumper cables. The back-up winter gear is purely for layering purposes and old clothes work just as well as new ones. Have all articles of clothing backed up; underwear, socks, pants, shirts, a coat, and boots. Rope and jumper cables can prove essential to getting your car up and running on the road again, should you come across a good Samaritan willing to help out a human in need. Non-perishable foods range from canned food, to beef jerky, to dried fruit. In this instance of building a winter bag, dried fruit would be the number one choice. When frozen, many dried fruits will have an “indefinite” expiration date. According to eatbydate.com, Raisins, dried cranberries, dried blueberries, and dried mangos are among the many fruits that reach “indefinite” expiration date on the chart. Matches, lighters, and candles are best combined with a blanket or extra winter clothes. Burning a candle or two inside a car will not only make the car smell good, but provide a good source of heat in a small area. Shoot for the bigger ones that last longer for contentious heat. Two other items worth having are a shovel and a few bags of salt.

December 11, 2014

Both can be useful whether you face trouble in a snow bank, or just in the driveway. A lot of things got listed off, so I compiled a price of all supplies for a basic What size of shovel you need will depend on the size of the vehicle. winter bag, as well as where to find them: A child’s snow shovel can work well for small cars because of the compact 8 pack of 8 oz. Ice Mountain bottled water - $2.99 at Meijer size. Most blades on a kids shovel are still wide enough to help when you Generic hand warmers - $4.99 at Meijer need it. Bags of salt also double as weight for SUVs and trucks. LED pocket flashlight - $10.00-$15.00 at Meijer Keeping a back-up of fluids (namely oil and anti-freeze) is a smart thing Road Flare - $6.29 at Auto Zone to do during winter. Fluids can get used up quicker in the winter than in 10 foot Jumper Cables - $11.99 at Auto Zone the summer. 100 pack of strike anywhere matches - $2.99 at Meijer “Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without 4 pack of Bic lighters - $5.99 at Meijer water, about eight minutes without air… But only for one second without Dried assorted fruits - $2.27 at Walmart hope.” –Hal Lindsey Jack Links beef jerky - $4.99 at Meijer Try to bundle most of these things into one bag so that you have access to Yankee candle - $9.99 at Meijer them all at the same time. Convenience helps when you’re stuck and need 12 inch (blade width) Kids shovel - $4.46 at Walmart to dig into the supplies. Even if someone only purchases a few of these 18 inch adult shovel - $9.96 at Walmart things, it can still tip the scales in your favor during a wintery situation. Be Salt - $4.99 at Meijer smart, drive safe, dress warm, and plan accordingly.

Volume 65.7 | Entertainment

Dumb and Dumber To A mindless flick Mairead Warner Staff Writer

The movie “Dumb and Dumber To” starred Jeff Daniels as Harry Dunne and Jim Carrey as Lloyd Christmas for the third installment of the prolonged series. The movie also stars Laurie Holden as Adele, Racheal Melvin as Penny Pichlow, and Rob Riggle as Travis and Captain Lippincott. The movie is supposed to take place 20 years after the events of the first film. The film starts out with Harry visiting Lloyd in a mental hospital and Lloyd reveling that he pulled a prank on Harry for those past 20 years. The plot of the movie is Lloyd finding out that Harry needs a kidney. Harry also discovers that he has a daughter named Penny through a letter from a woman that he had a one night stand with 20 years earlier. Harry figures that he could ask his daughter that he barely knows and just met, for a kidney. The movie is packed full of crude, slapstick, and obnoxious humor. It had some action such as scenes involving cars and some fighting scenes.

One of the problems facing Harry and Lloyd is Lloyd finding his friend’s daughter attractive and not being able to hide it very well. That led to a scene were Harry and Lloyd almost lost their friendship. The ending of the movie was a lot like the beginning. The movie followed two different character goals, one involved Harry trying to know his daughter better and the other involved the villains of the movie hoping to gain money off of a wealthy man’s death. The tone of the movie was humorous and carried the subtype of a raunchy comedy. Overall, I would not recommend this movie. The movie did not include any logic, which made it hard to watch. I recommend that those who chose to watch this movie watch the first one in order for this movie to make any sense. The first movie was dumb and the second movie was dumber. Audience, on your way out of the movie theater, be prepared to lose a few brain cells from this movie.