CrossRoads: March 2023

THE SCIENCE OF THE SCIENCE OF CRIMEFIGHTING CRIMEFIGHTING

Mathew DeKinder

Robert Huneke

PRODUCTION

Rebecca Brockmann

Melissa Nordmann

CONTRIBUTORS

Avalanche

David Finkelstein

Cindy Moore

STAFF WRITER

Brett Auten

BY AVALANCHE

Avalanche is a functional illiterate who left the St. Louis area three decades ago in search of adventure. He enjoys motorcycling and all things outdoors. He lives with his wife and dogs.

BY CINDY MOORE

Cindy Moore is the mother of three superlative kids, servant of two self-indulgent felines and wife to one nifty husband. Her ficticious occupation? Archeological Humorist: someone who unearths absurdity and hilarity in strange and unusual places including public restrooms, the lint filter, and church meetings. Most recently, she excavated a find in her neighbor’s bird feeder.

BY DAVID FINKELSTEIN

David Finkelstein is a Master/ Skilled Automotive Service Technician and retired shop owner. He's invented garage service tools for mechanics, served on both nation and local automotive trade industry boards, has done years of consulting with various auto manufactures plus test drives new vehicles weekly. David has pioneered "Car Talk Radio" over 35 years ago, as his new show "Automotive Insight" can be heard on Saturdays, on the Real Talk Radio Network.

BY STEVE BRYAN

Born and raised in South St. Louis, Steve Bryan is now based in Anaheim, California, and has been allowed access to movie and television sets to see actors and directors at work. Though his writing has taken him far from St. Louis, Steve is, at heart, still the same wide-eyed kid who spent countless hours watching classic movies at neighborhood theaters.

14

MOORE ON LIFE – PG. 13

– PG. 15

AUTOMOBILE ALLEY – PG.

Around Town Local news and events

Community Calendar: March

Feature Story

THE SCIENCE OF CRIMEFIGHTING

The St. Charles County Police Department Criminalistics Laboratory uses cutting-edge technology to examine DNA and solve cold cases

Always an Adventure Fitness, and the lack thereof

Moore on Life

Eye spy in the sky

Automobile Alley

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox SUV combines power with fuel economy

Entertainment

Want your 15 minutes of fame? You could be on a court show

For the Love of Food

Enjoy better-for-you foods focused on flavor

BUSINESS GOES TO SCHOOL BUSINESS GOES TO SCHOOL

By Brett Auten

EDUCATION AND INDUSTRY DISCLOSED A NEW PARTNERSHIP LAST WEEK.

For decades, community colleges have been a channel between students and meaningful career paths. To ensure that there is a solid branch between education and the skills needed to succeed in today’s modern manufacturing facilities, the General Motors Wentzville Assembly Center announced a grant specifically for advanced manufacturing programs at St. Charles Community College to expand skills-based education to keep pace with modern manufacturing facilities.

St. Charles Community College was one of only seven community colleges to study and share best practices for integrating advanced manufacturing credentials into their college curriculum. Funding provided by GM will support the colleges’ efforts to expand and leverage local programs into national networks.

“We are excited to continue our partnership with St. Charles Community College and our investment in the community,” Lamar Rucker, GM Wentzville Assembly plant executive director, said. “Through this grant, the college can further study needs for technical training and help meet the growing demand for job-ready employees in advanced manufacturing.”

In not only the automotive industry, but manufacturing technology in general is becoming more advanced, and it is increasingly important to equip the current and future

workforce with the skills and training they need to succeed in modern manufacturing careers.

“The days of the dirty, noisy factory are kind of going by the wayside,” John D. Wiemann, Vice President, Workforce & Strategic Initiatives, St. Charles Community College, said. “They are going to look to us to also plan for future jobs. The electric vehicle, for example, is a whole different skill set. Not only are they looking for ways to attract high school and community college students, but also looking for us to help train existing employees.”

The seven colleges selected are located near GM facilities and will take part in an initial study that explores op-

General Motors Wentzville Assembly Center will provide funds for manufacturing programs at St. Charles Community College

Missouri Humanities opens nominations for 2024 Small Town Showcase initiative

Missouri Humanities (MH) has opened nominations for their 2024 Small Town Showcase initiative. Communities interested in nominating themselves to be one of the “Featured Five” communities should visit mohumanities.org/small-town-showcase, or contact Program Director Caitlin Yager at caitlin@mohumanities.org.

Nominations will close on May 1. Please note: to be eligible for participation, communities must be located within the state of Missouri and have a town population of 10,000 people or fewer.

MH’s Small Town Showcase program strives to highlight the uniqueness of Missouri’s small towns and showcase the bigger picture of what small town America really is, and why it should not be overlooked, overshadowed or underappreciated. Once all nominations are collected, MH will put out a call for votes, and the five communities with the most votes will be the Featured Five for the upcoming year.

Each community will work with MH on a short video about their community and an hour-long podcast, and will be featured in MH’s publications, such as their magazine and e-newsletter. Once completed, these will be featured on MH’s social media and website, and also given to the community for marketing and engagement purposes. This initiative requires no fiscal responsibility from the Featured Five communities.

In 2022, Missouri Humanities worked with several pilot communities and produced five videos and podcasts. 2023’s Featured Five communities are Doniphan, Norborne, St. James, Carl Junction, and Seymour, who will also work with MH on videos and podcasts to be released throughout this year.

If you feel your community deserves to be showcased, collaborate with your community leaders and nominate your town.

Continued from page 4

tions that launch individuals into higher skills and higher wage opportunities. SCCC will receive $40,000 each in order to help parlay local successes into national models.

“Partnering with GM is a wonderful opportunity to develop our manufacturing program to meet the needs of today’s workforce,” Dr. Barbara Kavalier, SCC president, said. “We are proud of our longstanding partnership with the GM Wentzville Assembly Center and look forward to working with GM in this new way, to give people in our area even more opportunities to learn and pursue manufacturing as a career.”

The other community colleges selected include; Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana; Lansing Community College, Michigan; Columbia State Community College, Tennessee; Owens Community College, Ohio; Johnson County Community College, Kansas and Imperial Valley Community College, California.

“This has been going on a long time,” Wiemann said. “Industry has always supported higher education.

St. Charles Community College is a public, comprehensive two-

PHOTOS COURTESY SCCC: Leaders from GM Wentzville Assembly Center and St. Charles Community College last week announced a grant to expand skills-based education to keep pace with modern manufacturing facilities.

The city of St. Peters is moving back to an in-person application process for the annual utility franchise tax refund distribution. Eligible residents must come into city hall, provide documentation and apply for the refund in-person with the Citizen Action Center at the front desk.

The application process changed in 2020 in response to the COVID pandemic so that residents who previously qualified for a franchise tax refund would not have to apply in person. The staff looks forward to seeing all applicants at city hall this year and ensuring that qualified residents receive their maximum refund.

St. Peters residents who are 62 years and older, or those considered totally disabled by Social Security, may be eligible to apply in person for a refund of their 2022 St. Peters utility franchise tax. Applications will be accepted between April 3 and May 31, during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Please note that city hall will be closed on Good Friday, April 7, and on Memorial Day, May 29. The utility franchise tax includes the St. Peters tax listed on 2022 electric and gas bills and franchise fees on your cable bills.

To be eligible, your maximum 2022 adjusted gross income (excluding any taxable Social Security income) must not exceed $53,150 if single or $60,750 if married.

All eligible residents, whether they received refunds in previous years or are new to the program, will be required to apply in person at city hall.

Everyone will need to bring the following items to complete their application:

• Proof of 2022 Income

• Proof of Age/ID

• 2022 Letter of Award from Social Security (if disabled)

• 2022 Electric, Gas, and Cable Bills

The application process should take about five minutes with a Citizen Action Center Representative.

After you complete your application, you will be mailed your refund. Please note: you are only eligible for a refund for the months when you were at least 62 years old or considered totally disabled.

For any questions about the Utility Franchise Tax refunds or process,

For a second year in a row, Assumption Catholic School in O’Fallon crowns David Smith the annual Spelling Bee Champion. The accomplished fifth-grader will advance to the regional qualifier March 25, at Saint Louis University, in hopes to compete with the best of the best at the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee later this year.

The Assumption “Bee,” which influences students in gaining knowledge in spelling and vocabulary, took place on Jan. 31, at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church during Catholic Schools Week. Finalists in grades four-through-eight displayed their skills while seated in front of the entire school body, parents and family friends. Teachers Tere Bowman, Haley McHugh and Jeni Willis officiated the competition, which has been a nationwide tradition for nearly 90 years in the making.

This year’s Assumption School finalists consist of the following students:

• Fourth grade students: Cooper Gonzalez and Emma Sicking

• Fifth grade students: David Smith and Liam Underwood

• Sixth grade students: Meg McCulloch and Easton Miller

• Seventh grade students: Sam Illy and Sam Molitor

• Eighth grade students: Grant Giesmann, Ethan Koenig, and Audrey Meyer

In traditional spelldown fashion, while competing against 10 of his fellow schoolmates, Smith clinched the first-place win after spelling the word “Urad” correctly in the 13th round. Sam Illy took second place and Grant Giesmann third place for Assumption. Each of the winners received medals for their accomplishments. Smith will go on to compete in the regional completion next month. If he wins the championship there, he will advance to the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee that will take place at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. On May 28, more than 200 spellers from across the country and around the world will arrive in the Washington, D.C., area.

PHOTO COURTESY ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY PARISH AND SCHOOL: Assumption School “Bee” finalists were (front row, from left) Sam Illy, David Smith, Grant Giesmann, Sam Molitor, Easton Miller, (middle row, from left) Emma Sicking, Ethan Koenig, (back row, from left) Cooper Gonzalez, Liam Underwood and Meg McCulloch.

St. Peters franchise tax refund returns to in-person application process, April 3 through May 31

Assumption School’s two-time ‘bee’ winner advances to regionals

Mosaics Fine Art Festival seeks artists for 28th annual event

Mosaics Fine Art Festival recently opened the application process for its 28th annual event to be held Sept. 15 through Sept. 17. Only 100 artists will be invited to showcase and sell their wares at this exclusive juried event. The application deadline is March 31, and notification of acceptance will take place April 28.

The family-friendly event, which is free and open to the public, will be held along several blocks of North Main St. in Historic St. Charles where more than 30 restaurants and over 75 shops are located. A distinguished panel of jurors will select artists based upon their original work in a variety of media categories including clay, drawing, glass, leather, metal, pastel, oil/acrylic, photography, printmaking, sculpture, watercolor and wood. A total of $5,000 will be awarded to the top 10 artists.

Mosaics Fine Art Festival features live musical entertainment, a Children’s Village for hands-on art experiences, the Mary Hediger Memorial Art Shop for Kids where children ages 14 and younger can buy professional artwork, and the Joyce Rosen Founder’s Scholarship art display where emerging high school artists showcase their work. The Artists for Adoption Pet Pavilion is open to families interested in adopting pets from local rescue organizations.

The Mosaics Fine Art Festival is a nonprofit organization that showcases local and regional artists while educating the community’s children and adults in how art can enhance their lives. The festival features a wide array of artwork produced by a mix of emerging, midcareer and established artists in all media.

Artists can apply before the March 31 deadline at https://www. zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=10775&fbclid=IwAR3F0-69e_ eqv1fdfo8FSUlnji7hD6U26GD-yuArSCIJ0p5KI0pxcM7W_Hs.

For more information call 314-406-2067.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Liberty High School yearbook staff named National Peacemaker Award finalists

The Liberty High School (LHS) 2023 Talon yearbook staff became finalists for a 2022 National Pacemaker Award announced by the National Scholastic Press Association on Dec. 7. Only three schools from Missouri were finalists among 44 schools across the nation.

“This is a big achievement for these students, being finalists for the first time in Liberty history,” said Jonathan Hall, publications and yearbook adviser. “They’re a passionate, hard-working group who work well together. They have taken ownership of their program and it’s truly a student-led operation. That’s what I’m most proud of.”

The National Pacemaker Awards are awarded for excellence in American student journalism, given annually since 1927. The awards are generally considered to be the highest national honors in their field, and are unofficially known as the "Pulitzer Prizes of student journalism."

The Talon staff will find out what place they rank at the National Journalism conference in San Francisco in April.

ORU scholarship program moves to online application

Cuivre River Electric Cooperative is proud to offer financial support to graduating high school seniors and current college students.

New this year, applications are being accepted through an online format to help streamline the process. No paper applications will be accepted as the entire application is now available online.

The deadline to apply is April 14. The online application can be found at cuivre. com/scholarships.

The criteria for applicants remains the same as previous years. Students are eligible to be considered if they permanently reside in the Cuivre River Electric service area and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 while attending undergraduate courses at an accredited college, university or technical school. Applicants are required to upload a transcript and two letters of recommendation, a complete copy of their Student Aid Report (SAR), write a narrative to highlight their academic achievements and community service, state their career goals and demonstrate a financial need. The scholarship may also be used for adult continuing education courses in an applicant’s career field. Scholarships will be awarded in an

Youth Tour program celebrating 60 years in 2023

Students from across Missouri, including those from the Cuivre River Electric Cooperative service area, will be descending on Washington, D.C. once again this summer as part of the Missouri Youth Tour program.

2023 marks the 60th year Missouri electric cooperatives has participated in the program, of which CREC has sent over 200 delegates to our nation’s capital since that time. This summer, CREC will sponsor and send six delegates who will be among dozens from Missouri and hundreds from across the nation to spend a week in the nation’s capital. The Youth Tour trip is planned for June 12-18.

The seven-day tour provides an action-filled week for high school students, offering them opportunities to learn firsthand what it is like to be involved in politics, leadership positions, community service and today’s press-

ing issues.

Among the highlights is touring famous monuments, the Smithsonian Institution’s museums and Arlington National Cemetery. Delegates will also have an opportunity to visit with legislators from their congressional districts.

“The Youth Tour is the highlight of the summer for many students and we’re proud to send our best and brightest to our nation’s capital to participate,” said Chris Massman, vice president of member services for the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives.

The local Youth Tour program consists of an essay contest open only to high school juniors who live and attend school in CREC’s general service area, or who have CREC service to their homes. The 2023 essay theme is “My Favorite Cooperative Principle.” Entry

amount not to exceed $1,000 per academic year. The scholarships are not renewable and applicants who choose to reapply must submit a new completed application each year.

Incomplete and late applications will not be accepted. Scholarships will be awarded in June. Checks will be made payable to the educational institution and mailed to the students. Funds should be used for on-campus expenses only, such as tuition, books and campus housing.

In 2022, a total of $85,500 was awarded, with 86 students receiving a scholarship. The Cuivre River Electric Community Trust Board has awarded 2,479 scholarships totaling $1.5 million since 1997.

Scholarship funds are donated by Cuivre River Electric members who participate in Operation Round Up by rounding up their electric bill payments each month to the next highest dollar. The funds, administered by a seven-member volunteer board, are available to help individuals, families and organizations.

For more information contact Tim Schmidt, Operation Round Up coordinator, at tschmidt@cuivre.com or 636-695-4837.

forms are available at local high schools or online at cuivre.com. The deadline to enter is March 10.

Entries remain anonymous during preliminary judging by CREC staff. The 12 topscoring essays are selected as finalists and will attend the final competition scheduled for April 5.

The top six finalists will be selected as Youth Tour delegates and earn the trip to D.C. The other six finalists will receive $500 scholarships. CREC fully funds the Youth Tour program. There is no cost to students or families.

Teachers who support the Youth Tour program and submit at least 10 student entries receive a $50 classroom grant from CREC.

For more information on the Youth Tour program, contact Tim Schmidt at 636-6954837 or tschmidt@cuivre.com.

By Brett Auten

THE SCIENCE OF CRIMEFIGHTING CRIMEFIGHTING

THE SCIENCE OF

The St. Charles County Police Department Criminalistics Laboratory uses cutting-edge technology to examine DNA and solve cold cases

With a proven track record in benefiting both efficiency and effectiveness, a new DNA software will help assist in catching criminals.

ArmedXpert is the latest option in the St. Charles County Police Department Criminalistics Laboratory crime-solving toolbelt. Officials say the software will enhance the reliability and validity of complex DNA samples.

The Crime Lab will identify DNA profiles that involve multiple contributors. While the lab’s accredited DNA analysis staff can do this now, the software assesses the DNA components much faster and even more accurately than by human review.

“From a performance standpoint, this will definitely help the bottleneck,” Bryan Hampton, Crime Lab Director, said. “When there is a mixture of DNA in a sample, it is a tedious process to analyze and accurately glean a usable profile to identify which DNA belongs to

which individual. We have the capability to do that already, but the complexity and length of time of the process is greatly reduced with this software – from hours down to minutes.”

Hampton said the software conducts a deconvolution process, taking information from complex DNA mixtures and parses it out to organize the sample into identifiable profiles at a much higher speed than the lab can currently. It allows us to extract more information from the data, and garner more usable profiles from complex samples that have multiple contributors, or subjects. You can expect the technology to play an important role in cases like burglaries, stolen vehicles and homicides.

In general, with a workload of more than 2,500 cases each year, including 300 DNA cases, this software allows the Crime Lab to process more forensic evidence. Any link from evidence to existing data, or addition of new data, helps cut down the time it takes to charge and prosecute

suspects, and fairly and expeditiously aid the judicial process.

Hampton said that it is just a matter of not only training analysts on the new software but also making sure the software itself is functioning on all cylinders.

“There will be a whole validation process,” he said.

Regionally, DNA profiles, fingerprints and ballistic evidence uploaded by the department to investigative databases have provided links between cases.

In 2022 alone, 162 DNA profiles uploaded by the lab to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database “hit” to prior offenders, arrestees and crime scene samples from across the country. This valuable information has an impact on current cases, but also has helped the lab solve cold cases, such as the 1993 kidnapping and murder of Angie Housman, the 1984 murder of Eleonora Knoernschild, and the 1990-1991 “package killer” murders of five women.

“This new software will potentially allow the lab to upload more DNA profiles into CODIS that otherwise may not be eligible,” Hampton said. “With that, there could be more database hits and we could make more contributions to solving crime regionally as well as nationally.”

The St. Charles County Crime Lab is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) National Accreditation Board (ANAB) and has been continuously since 2007. The lab is staffed by six full-time scientists, a part-time firearm examiner and a part-time evidence clerk with nearly 120 years of combined forensic science experience.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS: Mihaela Sfiroudis of the St. Charles County Police Department Criminalistics Laboratory sorts through newly arrived DNA tests.

A new DNA analysis software, called ArmedXpert, will allow the St. Charles County Police Department to more efficiently and effectively identify DNA profiles that involve multiple contributors.

The St. Charles County Crime Lab is staffed by six full-time scientists, a part-time firearm examiner and a part-time evidence clerk with nearly 120 years of combined forensic science experience.

Fitness, and the lack there of

BY AVALANCHE

ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I began running again with my friend Dale after a long layoff. We managed to waddle around the local high school track a few days per week in the wee hours of the morning. This lasted for a few short weeks, whereupon we were both sidelined with injuries. It doesn’t take much for a 60-year-old body to succumb to the most minor of stresses, (though Dale has managed to intermittently keep with the program, multiple setbacks aside.) It really wasn’t so much the current workout regimen that caused the problems. It was the previous 45 years of martial arts, marathons, motorcycling (with occasional unplanned get-offs) police work (going to bar fights for fun and profit), backpacking, climbing and mountaineering, some less-than-ideal medical care, and a few factory defects that have left my old carcass with some pre-existing conditions, or more bluntly, built-in failure points. While never a great athlete, I’ve always been very active, and tried to train like one, all while being kept busy with one or more demanding jobs and careers. Delusions of athletic greatness kept my training intensity and volume higher than was ideal, thus contributing to the miscellaneous aches and pains today. So now at age 60, what to do? Some focus is desperately needed. Contact sports and running are simply off the menu, as kinetic impacts, whether from punches and kicks or pounding the pavement on my own aren’t going to work anymore. Lifting weights is a great form of exercise, but I like to move, and use whatever strength gained from the barbells doing something. Never strong enough to excel as a strength athlete, and not quite fast enough to be a great runner, my strong point seems to lie in the middle of the spectrum; I can strap on a big backpack and march through and over mountains, and do so better than most. Best of all, the semi-worn-out knees still tolerate it, provided there is no running or jumping. OK then, how to go about it? Fortunately, the folks at Uphill Athlete have some answers in the form of training programs for mountain athletes, even old creaky guys like myself. Now, their programs are written by –and for – world class mountaineers, alpinists, rock climbers, ski racers and runners, but the principles are general, scalable and apply to just about anyone, provided the trainee keeps realistic

goals in mind. (Speed climbing Everest won’t be on my agenda.) Interestingly, the program goes completely against my life-long training principle that every workout should be done as hard as possible.

Such a hard-charging ethic is pretty common among athletes of all types, especially those with limited time. According to the UA folks, duration and consistency at a lower intensity will build a base for more intense training later in the program. A longer workout with a lower heart rate is also much easier to recover from, enabling another workout tomorrow. This is not some “couch-to-marathon” 12-week program, (all but guaranteed to cause burnout and injury) but rather a 20-to-30-(or-more)-week training cycle with lots of different activities. The overall strategy is lots of aerobic exercise, such as biking, rowing, running for those who can, or best yet, hiking with a light pack for long duration, intermixed with strength training and anaerobic intervals later in the program as one approaches their goal climbing event.

Given my residence in the middle of the Rockies, the training ground out my door is almost endless. A couple hours of hiking with a light pack at what I consider a low heart rate doesn’t feel like a “real” workout, but rather an enjoyable day in the mountains. I still get to enjoy some low-volume, but tough, training with weights, and a lot of unconventional bodyweight exercises to keep me challenged. Slow and steady progress is the goal, instead of short-term glory – along with overtraining and probable injury – for which so many other programs are known.

I’ve been at it for a few weeks and feel good, am not injured and am looking forward to enjoying my mountain environment more as my fitness improves. The photo at the top of this article is from a bunch of years (OK, decades) ago, taken about five rope-lengths up a technically moderate ice climb. It’s something a fit older athlete can do, with the right training and a good level of fitness. I’m looking forward to it.

Eye spy

in the sky

– BY CINDY MOORE –

APPARENTLY CHINA just threw some kind of major shindig and one of their party favors tore loose and escaped. Hmm, some leftover from a New Year’s bash maybe?

Those guys sure know how to have fun, I mean this thing was the size of three city buses. What kind of celebration needs that big of a balloon unless you’re King Kong. When’s his birthday anyway?

Of course, all accusations of it being a spy balloon have been denied. I guess maybe the thing just broke off its tether and drifted away – conveniently towards Alaska. It then made a sharp right at Canada and floated down to Montana.

Let’s see now, Alaska and Montana, two of the least populated places if you’re a spy craft trying to sneak into the U.S. undetected. But we’re not supposed to make any rash judgments.

Here’s what’s even more disturbing, we have the most advanced technology on the planet and this snoopy bag of gas was spotted by some civilians with binoculars! Well call me

blind and slap on a pair of skepticals, but is this how we’re supposed to believe it actually was discovered:

“Hey Norm, take a look at this. I think I may have just spotted a white-bellied angry bird up in the sky.”

“Naw Earl, wrong time of year. What you’ve got there is an ingenious part of a duplicitous smuggling racket.”

“You think?”

“I’m positive. That’s one of them there spy balloons you see in the 007 movies.”

“Well, I’ll be a monkey’s knuckle. What do you think they’d be smuggling in?”

“Something highly valuable, extremely rare and exceedingly lucrative.”

“Noo…you don’t mean?!”

“Ya, I mean just that. Piece it all together and it makes perfect sense. Only a devious mind would think to make their inflatable blend in with the same colors as the clouds.”

“You’re telling me that they’d have the nerve to smuggle in that white illegal contraband right over our very noses?!”

“Oh ya, I mean just that.”

“White gold?!”

“Yes…eggs!”

“Now that explains everything. Don’t suppose we should shoot it down should we?”

“Nope, I’m sure the Air Force will intercept its radio signals and scramble them.”

“Not a good idea.”

“Huh? Why’s that?”

“Cause nobody should ever scramble anything when dealing with three busloads of eggs.”

THE 2023 CHEVROLET EQUINOX SUV

combines power with fuel economy

BY DAVID FINKELSTEIN

Attimes, it's a bit hard to conform to the never-ending changes with the global innovations arising from the auto industry. This thought recently had me reflecting back to my high school days. You see, the majority of my buddies that drove, customarily had a hefty V-8 engine jammed under the hood of their cherished vehicles. It was infrequent to find a V-6 or even a four-cylinder engine powering our beloved cars.

To "fast forward" our thoughts, many new models now have fourcylinder engines, with comparable performance of the old V-8 engines from years past! This is evident with the 2023 Chevrolet Equinox SUV I recently drove. It's meager, 1.5-liter turbo powerplant is reminiscent of the best of two worlds. That is to say, it achieves notable fuel economy and still delivers acceptable passing power for most motoring situations, as it produces 175-horsepower. As expected, the standard drive line chassis on Equinox is front-wheel-drive.

With all-wheel-drive, it showed 24-mpg city/30-mpg highway numbers. Driving responsibly, my fuel usage numbers proved to even be somewhat better overall.

The vehicle is positioned in a fairly crowded field. It's on par with the Ford Escape, Mazda CX-5, Nissan Rogue, Toyota RAV4, Kia Sportage and the Honda CR-V. Manufactured and imported from GM's operations located in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, it is sold in four different trim levels for 2023. This includes the entry level LS, and from there, they offer the LT, RS, and the Premier top end model. Two unique appearance packages are also available, referred to as the Midnight and Sport versions. All build combinations come with virtually the same engine and are linked with GM's six speed automatic transmission.

So, if we take a brief snapshot of the trim levels, the LS Base model includes keyless entry, push-button ignition, attractive LED headlights with automatic high beams, forward collision warning system with automatic driving lane keep assist, rear-seat occupant reminders, engaging 17-inch alloy wheels and tires plus heated outside door mirrors. A customer convenience option package is also available. The LT trim version has additional creature comforts plus added exterior chrome pieces and illuminated sun visors plus added convenience option packages to select from. As expected, the RS Model Equinox has plenty of notable extra features as standard. This includes a sportier appearance with its eye candy footprint. Moreover, additional safety content can be found as well. In part, this includes blind spot warning that certainly helps while backing up, in a crowded parking lot. Their Premier top-end version is loaded with lots of extras, plus you can still opt to add radar guided adaptive cruise control, power sunroof, surround-view safety camera system, automatic parking system (where the vehicle will steer into a parking spot automatically) and their user-friendly navigation system.

Overall, it has a modern silhouette and distinctive Chevy presence, seats five fairly comfortably, has confident four-wheel disc braking and decent road mannerism. Cargo space is adequate. And similar to other General Motors vehicles I've tested, road noise is engineered to be keep to a minimum. The base warranty is for three-years/36,000 miles and the pricing starts out at $26,600 for the LS model. Their top end Premier Equinox MSRP is $34,795, shipping charges are extra. At road test, the window sticker reflected $39,355, including supplemental options and freight charges.

MMy proudest grade school moment was presenting my science fair project on KSD Channel 5 (now KSDK). I think my younger self would be suitably impressed, however, to learn I auditioned to become a litigant on “We the People with Judge Lauren Lake.” Allen Media Group founder Byron Allen, who had been part of the reality TV series “Real People,” revived the court show with Lake in mind. Gloria Allred was the original “We the People” star, but only one season made it on the air.

“We the People” falls into the category of “Dramatized Court Shows” where real people play the roles of plaintiff or defendant. Landing a role on this show for me was a fluke: I saw an online popup ad from the “Standing Room Only Audience & Casting Company” that encouraged regular people to audition. I filled out an online form with basic information (Name, Phone Number, Age, etc.) and received an invitation to speak to producers on a Zoom call.

Within one week, the producers scheduled me for a taping. My character was Andy Butler, an older man, grandfather and tutor. He was a tenant in the home owned by Rachel Pierce and her husband. Andy was a good renter until he downloaded a virus that infected all the computers in the house. He obviously was not computer literate and waited until the following morning to tell his landlords what happened. In the court case, Ms. Pierce was suing Andy for $540 because the malware cost her two days of work. If you are planning an extended trip to the greater Los Angeles

Want your 15 minutes of fame?

You could be on a court show

BY STEVE BRYAN

area, you may want to try out for a show. Before the Zoom call audition, I remembered some jobhunting advice and dressed “like I was going to Sunday dinner at Grandma’s house.”

When speaking to producers, it’s best to be yourself and let your personality shine through. I tried to be friendly, cordial and even cracked a few jokes while on the call. I didn’t get confirmation for the taping until a week later. On the phone, the producers offered wardrobe tips and asked me to bring a second set of clothing.

When it comes to filming TV shows, there’s a lot of sitting and waiting. After I left the makeup chair, the woman playing landlord Rachel sat next to me. When she and I went to our green room, we created backstories for our characters and did improvisations before we into the studio. We even worked our reallife families into the storyline. I mentioned my nieces, Abigail and Gracie, while standing before Judge Lake. The green rooms weren’t glamorous, but they helped refine our improv.

Overall, I spent five hours preparing for my 15 minutes of fame. A few weeks later, I received a check for five hours of work at $20 per hour minus taxes. If you ever wanted to be a star – or at least a courtroom star – and will be in Los Angeles for more than two weeks, give it a try. The producers are always looking for litigants and audience members for reaction shots. The Standing Room Only production company website can be reached at (https://www.standingroomonly.tv)

BETTER-FOR-YOU FOODS Enjoy focused on flavor

From salads and snacks to breakfast, lunch and dinner, rounding out a full menu of healthy meals shouldn’t be a chore. In fact, you can still enjoy your favorite flavors and tickle your taste buds with nutritious recipes that capitalize on powerful ingredients you actually want to eat.

A fruit-forward breakfast is a nutritious way to start your morning, and a fresh twist on pasta salad can make lunches or your evening side an enjoyable way to stay on track. Bowls filled with grains, veggies and a favorite protein are all the rage, and this seafood-fueled version is no exception when you’re craving a combination of your personal favorites. Take your better-for-you eating plan from bland and boring to delightfully delicious by visiting Culinary.net for more recipe inspiration.

EAT SMART WITH SEAFOOD

No matter if you’re searching for a healthy family dinner, a quick lunch at home or an easy idea to meal prep for the week ahead, these Orange Shrimp Quinoa Bowls are perfect for seafood lovers who also enjoy a hint of spice. Fresh, healthy and full of deliciously prepared shrimp, these bowls are also loaded with mushrooms, peppers and cucumbers.

The homemade sauce is light with a sweet yet spicy vibe. Resting over a cup of steamy quinoa for a filling base of healthy grains, it’s a quick and easy recipe you can customize with favorite toppings like sesame seeds and cilantro.

Find more wholesome, health-forward recipes at Culinary.net.

Orange Shrimp Quinoa Bowls

SERVINGS: 2

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup quinoa

1 cup orange juice

1 tablespoon hot sauce

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon soy sauce

4 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 tablespoon white miso

1 1/2 pounds shrimp, peeled, deveined and tails removed

1/4 cup butter

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 cup mushrooms, sliced

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 cucumber, sliced into half moons

5 green onions, sliced

1 avocado, sliced

1 teaspoon sesame seeds

2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped

DIRECTIONS:

Cook quinoa according to package instructions. Set aside. In medium bowl, whisk orange juice, hot sauce, honey, soy sauce, vegetable oil, lime juice and miso until combined. Pour 1/4 of liquid into separate bowl. Set aside.

Add shrimp to remaining mixture and marinate 15 minutes. Heat large skillet over medium heat with butter. Add shrimp, salt and pepper. Cook 2 minutes on each side until pink. Add mushrooms and cook until tender.

In two serving bowls, divide quinoa, bell pepper, cucumber, onions, avocado and shrimp. Sprinkle sesame seeds and cilantro over both bowls.

Drizzle with reserved dressing.

START THE NEW YEAR WITH A SAVORY SALAD

Starting the new year with fresh intentions, whether you’re trying to reset for 2023 or simply add more greens to your meals, begins with delicious, nutritious and easy recipes.

With more than 100 varieties of fresh, healthy and convenient readyto-eat salads, Fresh Express provides plenty of inspiration, information and incentives to help you achieve your goals. For example, this Pesto Pasta Salad features red lentil rotini and Twisted Pesto Caesar Chopped Salad Kits loaded with a fresh blend of crisp iceberg and green leaf lettuces, crunchy garlic brioche croutons, Parmesan cheese and creamy pesto dressing. Add fresh grape tomatoes and toasted walnuts for a simple side or easy lunch that can be made ahead of time.

Discover more fresh recipe ideas at FreshExpress.com.

Pesto Pasta Salad

PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES | COOK TIME: 10 MINUTES | SERVINGS: 6

INGREDIENTS:

1 quart cooked red lentil rotini

2 packages (9 1/2 ounces each)

Fresh Express Twisted Pesto Caesar Chopped Salad Kits

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

1/2 cup walnuts, toasted

DIRECTIONS:

Prepare red lentil rotini according to package directions; cool 15 minutes.

In bowl, mix rotini and one dressing packet from salad kits. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; mix well. Refrigerate, covered, 30 minutes, or until rotini is cold.

In large bowl, mix lettuce from both

salad kits with remaining salad dressing package. Add rotini and tomatoes; toss to combine. Sprinkle with garlic brioche croutons and shredded Parmesan cheese from salad kits and walnuts.

Substitution: Traditional rotini can be used for red lentil rotini.

A FRUITY TWIST ON BREAKFAST

Whether it’s a weekend celebration or a simple morning bite on the go, it’s often said breakfast is the most important meal. Starting off your day with some fruity nutrition is a sweet way to add vitamin C to your diet without skimping on flavor.With a tasty granola crust and yogurt filling, this Brunch Fruit Tart is an easy way to impress guests or fuel your morning at the office. Balanced and easy to make, the crunchy crust and smooth center make it an enjoyable addition to at-home menus. This version calls for strawberries, blueberries and kiwi, but you can get creative with your own favorite fruits for a different flavor each time you make it.

Visit Culinary.net to find more nutritious breakfast ideas.

Crust: 4 cups granola mixture 1/2 cup butter, softened 4 1/2 tablespoons honey nonstick cooking spray

Brunch Fruit Tart

INGREDIENTS:

Filling: 2 1/4 cups vanilla Greek yogurt

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 package gelatin

DIRECTIONS:

To make crust: Preheat oven to 350 F. In large bowl, combine granola, butter and honey. Grease 11-inch tart pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line bottom of tart pan with parchment paper.

Press granola mixture into tart pan. Place tart pan on baking sheet and bake 10 minutes. Cool completely.

Toppings: strawberries, sliced blueberries kiwis, sliced

To make filling: Using mixer, combine yogurt, cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract and gelatin until whipped completely. Pour yogurt mixture into tart crust. Refrigerate at least 1 hour.

Top with strawberries, blueberries and kiwis.