my $query = <<"ESQL";
SELECT * FROM $table
    WHERE $description_field LIKE '%$search_term%'
      and $start_time_field between ? and ?
      or $end_time_field between ? and ?
ESQL

##</code><code>##

use Time::Local;
# . . .

##</code><code>##

my @datetime_start = $date1 =~ /\d+/g;
$#datetime_start = 5;  # expand to six elements,
                       # even if there are only three

my @datetime_end = $date2 =~ /\d+/g;
$#datetime_end = 5;    # expand to six elements,
                       # even if there are only three

##</code><code>##

my $datetime_start = timelocal reverse @datetime_start;
my $datetime_end   = timelocal reverse @datetime_end;