🌱 The Villages community remembers musician and athlete William “Bill” Makinen

Hey there, The Villages! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• The Villages community remembers musician and athlete William “Bill” Makinen
• The Villages mourns kindhearted neighbor and golf cart enthusiast Dean Pringle
• Why Trump’s recent Villages visit appears in a Madonna fact-check

Today's riddle: What did the carpenter ant say when he walked into the bar? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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From our Partner
Today's The Villages Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's best mobile network in the US, according to Ookla Speedtest. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's The Villages Patch AM possible.
Find a T-Mobile store near The Villages.

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Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Cloudy and less humid, with a high of 84 and low of 65 degrees.
• Thursday: Sunny to partly cloudy, temps: high: 84, low: 68.
• Friday: Partial sunshine, with a high of 85 and low of 68 degrees.

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📰 News we're reading

1. William Allen Makinen (villages-news.com) — Friends and neighbors in The Villages are remembering resident William “Bill” Makinen, an energetic musician and athlete who played with The Villages Hometown Band and Horizons Band and embraced the community’s active lifestyle. A retired educator and former superintendent from Minnesota’s Iron Range, he spent his later years here golfing, playing tennis, performing music, and enjoying a busy social life before passing away in January 2026.
   

2. Dean Edward Pringle (villages-news.com) — Residents may recognize Dean Pringle, who moved to The Villages in 2022 and loved cruising the community in his custom golf cart while enjoying tennis, golf, and local life. The longtime electrical design engineer is also survived by a brother living in The Villages, and is remembered for his kindness and willingness to help others.
   

3. Fact Check: Did Madonna say she will ‘never forgive Trump' and call him a ‘disgusting human'? (meaww.com) — Residents may notice The Villages mentioned in a national fact-check debunking a viral claim that Madonna called Donald Trump a “disgusting human being.” The piece confirms there’s no evidence she ever said that, while briefly noting Trump’s May 1, 2026 appearance at The Villages Charter School and revisiting their earlier public clash after the 2017 Women’s March.
   

4. Pennsylvania woman discovers at 46 that her mother kidnapped her, changed her name when she was 3 (ussanews.com) — Residents may be surprised to learn that a long-missing Kentucky woman’s mother was recently found living under an alias in The Villages, where she was arrested in a decades-old parental kidnapping case. The daughter, now in Pennsylvania, has reunited with her father after 43 years apart, while the mother received only a suspended one-year sentence and no jail time.
   

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📸 Around The Villages

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🗓 Upcoming Events in The Villages

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Thursday June 4

• Cloud Chasers →
  The Villages Polo Club, 703 Buena Vista Blvd, The Villages
  9:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

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Other local events

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📣 The Villages Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday June 3

• AFTERNOON IN PARIS - The Mount Dora Bistro
  Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce 341 Alexander St, Mt Dora, FL 32757
  11:00 am
• THE CHEF'S TABLE - The Mount Dora Bistro
  Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce 341 Alexander St, Mt Dora, FL 32757
  12:00 pm
• Summer Movie Series at First Presbyterian - Every other week
  Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce First Presbyterian Church Mount Dora 222 W 6th Ave. (Historic Downtown between Alexander and McDonald) Mount Dora, FL 32726
  6:00 pm
• Live Music at Whiskey Kitchen
  Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce Location Description: Whiskey Kitchen Mount Dora Whiskey Kitchen is a laid-back downtown Mount Dora favorite known for its Southern-inspired comfort food, craft cocktails, and one of the best whiskey selections in the area. The energetic but cozy atm
  6:00 pm
• Wolf Branch Run Club
  Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce 341 Alexander St, Mt Dora, FL 32757
  6:15 pm
• Trivia With Pete! at Eden Abbey
  Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce Eden Abbey Brewing Community 405 S. Highland St. Mount Dora, FL 32757
  6:30 pm
• THEATRE PEOPLE (or The Angel Next Door) at the IceHouse Theatre
  Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce Sonnentag Theatre at the IceHouse 1100 N Unser Street Mount Dora, FL 32757
  7:30 pm

Thursday June 4

• TEA APOTHECARY - The Mount Dora Bistro
  Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce 341 Alexander St, Mt Dora, FL 32757
  2:30 pm
• Summer Book Club at First Presbyterian
  Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce First Presbyterian Church Mount Dora 222 W 6th Ave. (Historic Downtown between Alexander and McDonald) Mount Dora, FL 32726
  5:00 pm
• Live Music at Eden Abbey
  Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce Eden Abbey Brewing Community 405 S. Highland St. Mount Dora, FL 32757
  6:30 pm

Friday June 5

• Civility in the Workplace
  Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce Online Event
  12:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making The Villages PatchAM possible:

• Techsavvy4Seniors — (904) 330-4736
  Computer Repair & Services

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• I am not a doctor, and my wife often reminds me that I have no patience and that I never earned a PhD.
  The highest degree I have is a BS, and my wife often reminds me I am "full of that". But here is my thought... At 79 years old and living in The… (Nextdoor Hawkins)
• My neighbor Ruth Mahaney's little dog Bailey got out yesterday evening.
  He i a Chi/Pug Mix mostly black with white on the chest. He is wearing a red collar. Ruth's # 352-406-4307. We live in the Sherwood Villas in the… (Nextdoor Sherwood Villas)

• Disabledperson, Inc posted a job opening for Stocking Team Associate at Walmart in The Villages, Florida in The Villages. Apply here.
• CDS (Club Demonstration Services) posted a job opening for Part Time Product Demonstrator in Costco in The Villages. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near The Villages here.

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Ok The Villages! 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: Is the bar tender here? (Thank you W. M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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