Yummy House China Bistro is returning to Ocala on Wednesday, September 30, after more than a year away.

The restaurant will reopen at 2510 SW 27th Avenue, Suites 102 and 103, bringing back most of its original staff and menu.

For longtime customers, that means familiar faces and the dim sum that made Yummy House a place to gather over shared plates.

Pork buns, pork and shrimp shumai, shrimp and chive dumplings, spare ribs and fried shrimp balls are among the returning choices.

The menu also includes sesame chicken, sweet and sour chicken, Szechuan pork and fried rice.

Yummy House closed its former State Road 200 location in June 2025, and Sushi Feast now occupies that space at 3500 SW College Road.

While Yummy House continued serving diners in Gainesville, Sarasota and Tampa, its Ocala regulars have been waiting for a local return.

David and Carolyn Woodbury have a newly rebuilt home in West Ocala after a city housing program replaced their deteriorating house.

The couple saw the finished home at 826 NW 6th Avenue during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, September 24.

A 2022 assessment found the original house eligible for assistance, and the city chose demolition and reconstruction rather than repairs.

The Ocala City Council approved a contract with Bentley Pinder Construction capped at $138,320, using federal and state housing funds.

The new home includes accessible entry thresholds and grab bars, along with energy-efficient appliances, windows and a heat pump.

Under the program agreement, the Woodburys must occupy and maintain the property for at least five years.

For the couple, the project offers a fresh start on the property they already called home.

A busy truck stop near Interstate 75 in Ocala could become a charging stop for electric semitrucks.

Tesla has proposed six Megacharger charging posts at the Pilot Travel Center on West Highway 326, just off Exit 358.

The plans also include electrical equipment, lighting, a payment kiosk and Wi-Fi, along with changes to parking spaces and drive aisles to accommodate large trucks.

Marion County’s Development Review Committee is scheduled to consider the proposal Monday, September 28, including Tesla’s request to use a building permit site plan instead of a full major site plan revision.

The chargers would serve electric semitrucks, not passenger Teslas or Cybertrucks.

No construction or opening date has been announced, and the proposed station still needs county review before it can move forward.

Students at 19 Marion County elementary schools will receive free fruits and vegetables during the 2026–27 school year, giving families one less snack to pack or pay for.

The Marion County School Board unanimously accepted a $606,600 grant for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program on Sept. 22.

The program serves produce during the school day, apart from breakfast and lunch, at campuses selected based on students’ eligibility for free or reduced-price meals.

Superintendent Danielle Brewer said one more school is participating this year.

Ocala Springs, College Park and Dr. N.H. Jones elementary schools are among the participating campuses, with the program also reaching Dunnellon, Reddick and Marion Oaks.

Every two weeks, teachers will pair featured produce with nutrition lessons that encourage students to try unfamiliar foods.

Food service staff will seek locally grown produce when available, helping make a fresh snack a regular part of the school day.

Before underwater adventures became familiar television fare, Sea Hunt brought the clear waters of Silver Springs near Ocala to viewers across the country.

Beginning in 1958, Lloyd Bridges starred as Mike Nelson, a former Navy diver whose freelance work led to rescues, salvage jobs and underwater mysteries.

The springs’ remarkable visibility made them a valuable filming location, giving the series’ diving scenes their vivid backdrop.

Bridges narrated underwater sequences, carrying the story when dialogue beneath the surface was impossible.

For many viewers, the show offered an early look at diving equipment, skills and risks.

Sea Hunt ended in 1961 after four seasons, but reruns kept its underwater world in view for years.

Today, glass-bottom boat tours at Silver Springs State Park let visitors see the spring-fed water that helped bring the adventure to life.

For Marion County, it remains a memorable link between a familiar local landmark and television history.