Community Corner
🌱 How will Ocala veterans cope during this nonprofit’s 30-day shutdown?
Coming up on the Ocala Patch calendar: Ahren Belisle
Hello Ocala! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How will Ocala veterans cope during this nonprofit's 30-day shutdown?
- How Ocala honored 9/11's 25th anniversary at Highland Memorial Park
- How deputies say an Ocala man turned an Uber ride into theft
Also on today's calendar: Rainbow Springs Garden Club.
Today's riddle: Why are elevator jokes so good ? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
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Find a T-Mobile store near Ocala. 
- Sunday: Cloudy, a thunderstorm; humid, with a high of 92 and low of 74 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
- Monday: A heavy t-storm in the p.m., temps: high: 87, low: 74.
- Tuesday: Humid; an afternoon t-storm, with a high of 87 and low of 73 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Nonprofit reboot (ocalagazette.com) — Veterans Helping Veterans USA in Ocala has paused operations for 30 days, from Aug. 28 to Oct. 1, to retrain staff and stabilize finances while still accepting donations. Serving about 500 veteran families monthly, the closure is already pushing more veterans to other agencies, raising concerns about how Ocala and Marion County will meet growing needs during the reboot. 
2. Ocala marks 25th anniversary of 9/11 at Highland Memorial Park (wcjb.com) — Ocala residents gathered at Highland Memorial Park today to solemnly mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with a detailed timeline reading and tributes to victims and first responders. Attendees emphasized the community's responsibility to teach younger generations about the attacks so the promise to never forget remains strong in Ocala.
3. Ocala man allegedly redirects Uber ride, steals woman's truck from driveway (ocala-news.com) — Marion County deputies arrested a 40-year-old Ocala man accused of redirecting an Uber ride to a woman's home and driving off in her pickup truck. Investigators say security footage captured him taking the vehicle, which was later stopped on Jacksonville Road, and he now faces grand theft and burglary charges with a court date set in October.
4. 'Agency in crisis': Grand jury finds DCF failed to protect children, vulnerable adults (wctv.tv) — A grand jury report from Ocala finds DCF's Circuit 5, which covers Marion County, in a state of crisis for failing to protect children and vulnerable adults. The report cites systemic neglect, possible falsified records, and preventable deaths, while Ocala's police chief urges accountability but also recognizes dedicated DCF workers serving the community daily.
5. R Island Jewel Cruises to Top Averill, Joseph Exacta in Three Ring Stakes (ftboa.com) — A Florida-bred filly connected to Ocala's thoroughbred industry, R Island Jewel, dominated the Three Ring Stakes at Gulfstream Park and earned more than $100,000 in two starts. Purchased from the Ocala Stud consignment at the Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale, she also secured a Florida Sire Racing Incentive bonus that underscores Ocala's ongoing influence in state racing circles.
📸 Around Ocala
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Ocala
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Ahren Belisle →
Marion Theatre, 50 S Magnolia Ave, Ocala
7:30 pm
Thursday October 1
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Rare Character WEC Bourbon Pre-Release →
Ocala FL
5:30 pm - Rainbow Springs Garden Club →
Rainbow Springs Community center, 19330 93rd Place Road, Dunnellon
1:00 pm
Wednesday September 16
Thursday September 24
📣 Ocala Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Mount Dora Village Market
Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce Sunset Park Downtown Mount Dora
10:00 am - Sunday Brunch at Eden Abbey
Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce Eden Abbey Brewing Community 405 S. Highland St. Mount Dora, FL 32757
12:00 pm - Farmer's Market (Every Sunday) →
Homestead Park, 1050 NE 6th Blvd, Williston
12:00 pm - Live Music at Eden Abbey
Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce Eden Abbey Brewing Community 405 S. Highland St. Mount Dora, FL 32757
5:00 pm - The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra - Labor Day... →
Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center, 1051 Main St, The Villages
7:00 pm - The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra - Labor Day Celebration Pops 2026 →
Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center, 1051 Main St, The Villages
7:00 pm - Labor Day- Schools/Offices Closed
Joyce Bullock Elem Williston, FL 32696
8:30 am - ESL →
Lady Lake, FL Calendar, 225 W Guava St., Lady Lake
10:00 am - Alphabet Adventures →
Lady Lake, FL Calendar, 225 W Guava St., Lady Lake
11:30 am
Sunday September 6
Monday September 7
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Please share & repost to help reunite this stray dog!
Found on August 31, 2026 in Ocala, FL 34470 near Hwy 40 Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to contact the finder, view this pet… (Nextdoor Raven Glen and Nearby) - Didnt have any trees to hang a birdhouse so I made this one to sit on the fence.
Have to get a bigger bit to make the holes bigger but other than that it isnt too bad. Dont know too much about birds but I wanna make 2 bird… (Nextdoor Marin Oaks North)
- IDEX Corporation posted a job opening for Assembler - Hiring Now in Ocala. Apply here.
- Acosta posted a job opening for Retail Sales & Merchandising Representative in Ocala. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Ocala here.
Ok Ocala! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Because they work on so many levels ! (Thank you Gary M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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