OurTown Page 6 C www.sunnewspapers.net LOCAL/REGIONAL NEWS The Sun/Sunday, February 16, 2014 n a country with a population of more than 315 million, relatively few of us get the opportunity to see the president of the United States in person. Fewer still get to meet the president, and only a small minority gets the privilege of work- ing with the president. Unlike most Americans, Robert McMillan has worked for or met with four different presidents. He can add working for one U.S. senator, interviewing another senator on a PBS TV show he hosted, running for a Senate seat, an audience with a pope, serving on the Panama Canal Commission, and meeting Marilyn Monroe, making for one extraordinary life. McMillan will recount his extraordinary life in the lecture "Presidents, Foreign Policy and Fun Vignettes" at Florida Gulf Coast University's Renaissance FGCU Herald Court Centre Rick Ramos Academy in downtown Punta Gorda. The session is slated for 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 27. During his life, McMillan was privileged to meet President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and to work with Presidents Richard M. Nixon, Ronald W Reagan and George H.W Bush. Serving on Reagan's Advisory Committee on Women's Business Ownership exemplifies the kind of work McMillan did for the presidents. McMillan also will discuss his run for the U.S. Senate, a campaign he says played a key role in Bush's victory over Michael Dukakis in the 1988 presidential election. More than two de- cades before his work for Reagan, McMillan had a front-row seat to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, while working for Sen. Kenneth B. Keating (R-New York). As early as the summer of 1961, Keating was asking his Senate colleagues, "How long will it be before the Soviet Union establishes military bases and missile-launching sites in Cuba?" according to McMillan. As aWashington insider, McMillan will share his firsthand recollections of America's reaction to the Soviet Union's nuclear-missile deployments in Cuba. "There was no doubt that someone in Washington was asleep at the switch in 1961," McMillan said. "It was comparable to the intelligence failure in Iraq." A decade earlier, as a first lieutenant in a combat engineer com- pany, McMillan was dodging artillery, mortar, machine gun and rifle fire during the Korean War. In addition to earning a Bronze Star, McMillan met Monroe while she was touring Korea to entertain the troops. For more information about this unique voyage through 40 years of American history, or to register for the lecture, call 941-505-0130. You also can register online at https://registerra.fgcu. edu; enter the search term "HC0605." Rick Ramos is a program coordinator at FGCU's downtown Punta Gorda Herald Court Centre Renaissance Academy. He can be reached at rramos@ fgcu.edu. I COMMUNITY NEWS BRIEFS Robert McMillan: an extraordinary American life Breakfast for New Hampshire residents The Loyal Order of the Moose 2121, 3462 Loveland Blvd., Port Charlotte, will hold the 17th annual New Hampshire Breakfast at 8 a.m. Feb. 24 at the lodge. All past and current residents of New Hampshire are in- vited. Breakfast will be buffet-style with scrambled eggs, pancakes, biscuits, bacon, sausage, coffee and tea. The cost is $8 per person. This event features a speaker and a prize drawing. Reservations may be made by calling 941- 625-5679, 941-743- 3106, 941-426-7644 or 941-743-2783 -no later than Monday. Library parking lot improvements to begin Parking lot im- provements will begin [ BUSINESS Journal Let Dale's Air Conditioning & Heating Evaluate Your A/C To See If You Can Save John and Carrie Gable own Dale's Air Conditioning & Heating, 18260 Paulson Drive, Port Charlotte. The Gables run a focused business on customer service and pride themselves in providing service on your heating and cooling unit, and pool heater. They strive to educate their customers on how to keep their home heated and cooled in the winter and summer, and what to do to extend the life of the unit. Dale's can advise you on your duct design and insulation and explain the effects of the sun exposure on each side of your house. If you feel your electric bill is too high, you may need a new unit. You can count on the service, advice and fair pricing that you receive and a thorough and complete check at each service visit. Call Dale's Air Conditioning & Heating for sales or service. The phone number is 941-629-1712 and business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with 24 hours emergency service to their customers. John and Carrie Gable at Dale's Air Conditioning & Heating, 18260 Paulson Drive, Port Charlotte. 941-629-1712 Westchester Gold & Diamonds, Serving Charlotte County Over 37 Years Steve Duke ofWestchester Gold & Diamonds, 4200-F Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte Westchester Gold & Diamonds, 4200-F Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, is known for unsurpassed quality, variety and pricing when buying or selling gold, silver, diamonds, Rolex watches and fine collectibles. Owner, Steve Duke, is on site to assist you with jewelry purchases and appraisals, or the sale of your old gold and other valuables. Specializing in pre-loved Rolex watches, new and estate jewelry pieces, oriental rugs, unusual gifts, paintings, rare collectibles, and more, Westchester should be your destination. The selection is amazing. This business is a community staple and is known for its generosity in giving back. Listen to Steve Duke's Friday morning show on 1580 AM radio each week 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. It is interesting, fun and always topical. The store is located in Baer's Plaza, and the phone number is 941-625- 0666.Visit their website at www.westchestergold.co QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Q. Where can I go for quality body work on my antique car? A. Local car dealers and car collectors know where to take their vehicles for first class auto bodywork or a custom paint job, Jackie's Auto Body. Whether you have a small dent in your car door or major collision damage, your car will be put back in like-new condition by this first rate repair shop. Jack D'Amico has over 35 years of experience and uses only the finest PTG paint products and materials and has state- of-the-art equipment. Jackie's Auto Body accepts all types of insurance claims and is on the preferred insurance list. Jack and Regina run a first class operation and are always available to give a free estimate. Jackie's Auto Body is located at 19888 Veterans Highway, Port Charlotte. Trust the pros to make your vehicle like new again. Q. My vehicle doesn't seem to be running properly. Is there a certified auto repair shop with reasonable rates in this area? A. For all your auto repairs give Dr. D's Auto Repair a call. Dr. D's repairs all types of vehicles including motor homes and four wheelers. At Dr. D's you can count on the best service, diagnostics, repairs, replacement parts, etc. Only superior quality replacement parts are used and rates are very reasonable. Owner, Mike True, and his staff are all ASE certified and they offer the finest full service repair in this area. With the computerized engine analysis, you can be assured that the service required on your vehicle is necessary. True is well known as an excellent auto mechanic and the business enjoys an excellent reputation. Dr. D's is located at 23415 Janice Avenue in the Whidden Industrial Park in Charlotte Harbor and the phone number is 941-743-3677. For the best service at a reasonable price, call or stop by Dr. D's Auto Repair. Q. I want to upgrade my audio/video equipment. Where can I go for good service and a varied selection at a fair price? Absolute Blinds Has A Window Treatment For You Absolute Blinds has been in business in Charlotte County and Sthe surrounding area for over ten years and has become one of the largest and most successful licensed Absolute Blinds window treatment 2842 TamiamiTrail, Port Charlotte, companies in call 941-627-5444 Southwest Florida. With unbeatable pricing, blinds made while you wait, free advice from a professional decorator, and the best selection available, Absolute Blinds can fulfill all your window treatment needs. An array of verticals, a selection of wood plantation shutters, horizontals, mini-blinds, pleated shades, top treatments, cornices, draperies and more is among their offering. Absolute Blinds is a Graber dealer and estimates are free. If you need window coverings for home or office, Absolute Blinds is there to assist you. The store is located at 2842 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte and the phone number is 941-627-5444. Past and present customers can like Absolute Blinds' Facebook page. For more information, visit their website at www.absoluteblinds.com/ A. Known for its selection of tvs, audio/video systems, antennas and repairs, QualityTV has a great selection of other products including security alarm systems, metal detectors, security cameras, blue ray players, tailgate portable antennas and used tvs with an in- house warranty. Quality TV is a factory authorized service agent for most brands and is an authorized Dish Network and DIRECTV dealer/ installer and there is an on- site repair shop. Owner Mike Morales will match prices on any in-stock tv. Before you make your purchase, give Quality TV a call at 941-426-1773 and allow them to give you a quote, or stop by the store located at 14212 W Tamiami Trail, North Port, and see their vast selection. They can advise which brands are the best engineered to fit your needs. For more information, please visit their website at www.qualitytv.com DOES OR UIES ULIY ALL91-0-60 Monday at the Punta Gorda Public Library. The parking lot has to be repaired, re- sealed and striped, to provide clearer paths for pedestrians and cars. The improve- ments will continue with the addition of a book-drop lane. It is predicted that the parking lot will be completely closed to vehicular traffic Feb. 23-24. A book drop will be placed on the front porch during that time frame; use caution when return- ing materials. Once complete, the book-drop lane will provide patrons with a safer way of returning materials to the library, from the window of the driver's side of the vehicle. It also will provide staff with a safer arrange- ment for emptying the book drops. For more in- formation, call 941-833-5460.