THE WIRE Karzai: Sign US-Afghan security pact next year PAGE 1 Pick of the Day Microwave, $100 In Today’s JAL Classifieds! AND WEEKLY Charlotte Sun HERALD THE WIRE LAWYER: SEX CONSENSUAL CRIST LEADS POLL PAGE 3 FSU’s Jameis Winston voluntarily gave a DNA sample. Republican-turned-Democrat Charlie Crist is leading -2014- SPORTS PAGE 1 Republican Gov. Rick Scott by 7 points in a poll. AN EDITION OF THE SUN W W W.CHARLIECRIST.COM VOL. 121 NO. 326 AMERICA’S BEST COMMUNITY DAILY FRIDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2013 www.sunnewspapers.net $1.00 SIDE DISH Dine local Sprucing up with visitors hen friends and family mem- Cultural Center eyes $15M upgrade bers visit, plans are made to visit beaches, parks and other W By GARY ROBERTS attractions in the area. Then, of course, there is much time STAFF WRITER spent deciding where to take them for PORT CHARLOTTE — Rather than lunch and dinner. putting another patch on the patch- CWLTLJKA work quilt that is the Cultural Center CENTER No offense to the JJJJ of Charlotte County, plans were an- I J c MA RL OTTE chain restaurants, but COUNTY I prefer to take out- nounced Thursday for a major recon- of-towners to local struction with the goal of becoming a restaurants they can’t true multigenerational center. frequent back home. The $15 million project would They didn’t fly/drive retain some portions of the Parkside- RENDERING PROVIDED to Southwest Florida area facility — such as the theater, A rendering from Parker/Mudgett/Smith Architects Inc. shows the future front view of the Cultural Christy to eat dinner at (fill- CENTER | 4 Center of Charlotte County in Port Charlotte, which announced expansion plans Thursday. FEINBERG in-the-blank chain). My Aunt Sandy COLUMNIST recently spent a long weekend here in Charlotte County. Last Friday night, we took her to a local 3 restaurant known for serving one of the Where best cheeseburgers in Southwest Florida, along with a large collection of good beers — the Ice House Pub in Punta Gorda, 408 Tamiami Trail North. The Ice House offers excellent food, were you? good beer, dart boards (and leagues), plenty of televisions for sports and pub games. I haven’t had a bad meal at the Ice House. In addition to the cheeseburgers Locals recall (which really are among the best in the area), be sure to try these items as well (but not all at once): fried pickles, JFK tragedy beer-battered onion rings, chef salad (very r large), ale-battered fish and chips, seafood ,t ? By ADAM KREGER bisque (on Fridays only) and the buffalo STAFF WRITER chicken tender sandwich. For more info on the Ice House, go to Fifty years ago today, America lost its 35th www.theicehousepub.com. president much too soon. A nation wept. I .:I With Thanksgiving next week, and There are mo- Christmas around the corner, many ments in history that people will remem- of you will have loved ones visiting. INSIDE Sometimes we get stuck in a routine of go- ber as long as they Freelance writer Al ing to the same places, making it difficult live. They’ll forever be Hemingway shares his to think of local restaurants to share with able to recall where memories of a visit to our loved ones. they were, what they Dallas with his wife, Sue, Here are a few suggested local places were doing, and how in 2007. (and if you know of others, please email they felt. • See page 12 me so I can check them out too): The assassination National events mark • Nav-A-Gator Grill, 9700 S.W. Riverview of John F. Kennedy solemn anniversary. Circle, Lake Suzy: This is a casual restau- — shot to death in • See The Wire, page 1 rant on the Peace River. It has a fun Dallas at age 46 — museum, entertainment and plenty of was one of those outdoor seating. The Nav-A-Gator is good moments. This week, locals took time to for all ages. http://nav-a-gator.com/. AP FILE PHOTO reflect on Nov. 22, 1963. • Lock ’n Key, 2045 N Beach Road, “I was at work talking on the phone with Englewood: This is a good place to get In this Nov. 25, 1963, file photo, 3-year-old John F. Kennedy Jr. salutes his father’s casket in my mother,” said Bill Kopp, currently a seafood across the street from Englewood Washington, three days after the president was assassinated in Dallas. Widow Jacqueline chaplain in the area. Beach. The schedule of live entertainment Kennedy, center, and daughter Caroline Kennedy are accompanied by the late president’s is available on its website: www.lockand brothers, Sen. Edward Kennedy, left, and Attorney General Robert Kennedy. JFK | 12 keyrestaurant.com. • Sharky’s on the Pier, 1600 Harbor Drive South, Venice: This is a little pricey, but very good food and in one of the most beautiful locations in Southwest Florida. Development code timeline a concern Sharky’s has a gluten-free menu as well. www.sharkysonthepier.com. By IAN ROSS input that will make new land develop- currently required by state and federal • Village Fish Market, Fishermen’s STAFF WRITER ment regulations fair. regulatory agencies,” Quick said. Village in Punta Gorda: Great place for Danny Quick, community devel- While the commissioners generally fresh seafood. www.village-fish-market. MURDOCK— County commis- opment director, presented feedback agreed that more input on the rules com. sioners expressed concern about the from conversations he had with would be better, some suggested the • Olde World Restaurant, 14415 progress of the SMART Charlotte 2050 stakeholders in Charlotte County’s community development team try to Tamiami Trail, North Port: The menu is Comprehensive Plan during a preagen- development industry. They expressed finish the plan within a six-month time enormous, and there truly is something da meeting Thursday. particular concern with the stringency frame. for everyone on it. Olde World offers The plan will regulate development of Charlotte County’s proposed envi- “As long as we’re six to seven gluten-free meals, along with gluten-free in Charlotte County with an amended ronmental regulations. months away, I think we’re OK,” beer and wine. http://owrl.com/. Land Development Code. After months Stakeholders have “indicated to us said Commissioner Ken Doherty. “If • Plaza Mexico Bar and Grill, 2390 of delays, Charlotte County commis- the current comprehensive plan and we’re getting beyond that, I’m getting Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte: Very good sioners are trying to find a balance the policies contained therein with nervous.” Mexican food. Also, be sure to take between completing the plan in a respect to the environmental section advantage of the freshly made guacamole reasonable time frame and allowing for … are more stringent than what’s TIMELINE | 4 (made right in front of you and to your liking). www.plazamexicobarandgrill.com. • Sandra’s Restaurant, 111 W. Olympia Ave., Punta Gorda: Excellent German and other European dishes. There also is a Gas price jump may continue variety of German beers on tap. Check out the website for the $10 buffet specials: By DREW WINCHESTER refineries that supply the southern ticked up 21 cents in the last week in www.sandras-restaurant.com. STAFF WRITER United States have all curbed their the Tampa Bay area, which GasBuddy • Bocca Lupo, 1900 Tamiami Trail, Port production levels, although the uses to examine price movement in Charlotte: Fantastic pizza. Keep an eye out A national petroleum prognostica- downturn in production has not been on Facebook for special offers. Sarasota and Charlotte counties. tor wasn’t ready Thursday to say gas clearly explained. The average gallon of unleaded gas- Christy Feinberg is a senior writer/ prices will continue to climb dra- columnist for the Sun. You can email her at A possible electrical problem at a oline was $3.31 on Thursday, according matically through the Thanksgiving [email protected]. Galveston Bay, Texas, refinery might be to local figures; Florida, meanwhile, holiday. one cause, he said, but beyond that, is slightly above the national average But he did say there hasn’t been any not much is known. for a gallon of unleaded, coming in at CORRECTION clear reason why drivers are experi- “There is not a lot of transparency,” $3.34. The national average was $3.22, Sue Blackwell is president of the Punta Gorda encing the recent spike at the pump. Laskoski said. “They (the oil compa- according to GasBuddy. Historical Society. A story in Wednesday’s paper stated Gregg Laskoski, of the Minneapolis, nies) play it pretty close to the vest. The highest gallon of unleaded gas otherwise. Minn.-based GasBuddy, which tracks They don’t give a lot of specifics.” nationwide gas prices, said the four Whatever the case, gas prices have GAS | 4 INDEX | THE SUN: Obituaries 5 | Police Beat 7 | Viewpoint 8 | Opinion 9-10 | THE WIRE: Nation 2,7 | State 3 | Business 5-6 | World 7-8 | Weather 8 | SPORTS: Lotto 2 | CLASSIFIED: Comics 11-14 | Dear Abby 14 | TV Listings 15 Daily Edition $1.00 Look inside for valuable coupons High Low SUN COUPON This year’s savings to date ... CALL US AT CHARLIE SAYS … I can’t believe 50 years k 85 64 941-206-1000 1111111 I l VALUE METER $78,009 have gone by. IIII II Isolated rain . ` J 7vii i' 05252 00025 8 ......................................... ................... Our Town Page 2 C www.sunnewspapers.net The Sun /Friday, November 22, 2013 Support for state senator Ralph and Elissa Allen attended the reception honoring Florida Senate Majority Leader Lizbeth Walt Bethel, along with Chad and Jill McCrory, take a moment Benacquisto.