Thursday, July 9, 2026
Naples' Newest Fight: Golf Club vs. Wildlife
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It's sunny and hot today, climbing to a high near 95 with the heat index pushing 109. The loudest fight in town this week isn't at the beach — it's over a proposed golf club carved out of an East Naples citrus grove, where neighbors are already pushing back on wildlife and noise.
Today
Heat advisory until 7 tonight
NWS Miami has coastal Collier under a Heat Advisory through 7 p.m., with the heat index hitting 109 — mind the afternoon storm window and keep water handy if you're outside before then.
Beach report: red tide's a no-show
FWC's latest samples came back clean from Barefoot Beach to South Marco — no red tide anywhere along our beaches right now. High tide hits Naples Pier at 7:33 a.m. and again at 9:55 p.m., so plan your walk or paddle around the low near 3 p.m.
This Weekend
Friday night sing-along at Higher Grounds
Marly Johnson brings an interactive night of sing-along favorites and Latin rhythms to Unity of Naples Friday at 7 p.m. — $25 gets you in.
Wild Saturdays: meet the gopher tortoises
The Conservancy's free Wild Saturdays program at Big Corkscrew Island Park digs into gopher tortoise life Saturday from 11 to 11:45 a.m. — a good one for the kids before the afternoon heat sets in.
Local News
Marco spends $36K to quiet the pickleball courts
City council approved a 10-foot sound barrier at the Racquet Center after neighbors complained about the pop of pickleball carrying into their yards — a small line item, but a sign of how loud the sport's boom has gotten.
A private golf club, grown from a citrus grove
Developer SWJR wants to turn an old citrus grove into a golf course with up to 10 cabins, but needs zoning deviations for a noncontiguous preserve and a narrow private road — neighbors are already raising wildlife and noise concerns before it even reaches commissioners.
RSW losing water overnight next week
Concourses B, C and D at Southwest Florida International will have overnight water outages July 12-14 for terminal expansion work — restrooms close and a boil-water notice kicks in, so plan ahead if you're flying out of RSW that week.
Food & Drink
Burger Monger takes over two old Kelly's Roast Beef spots
The Florida smashburger chain is opening drive-thrus in North Naples and Fort Myers, shakes included — one more sign the old Kelly's footprint is finally getting reused.
A taste of the Mediterranean at the Ritz
Sofra's Summer Dining Passport runs through Sept. 30, poolside lunch till 4:30 and dinner till 9 — an easy way to feel like you left Southwest Florida without actually leaving Vanderbilt Beach Road.