Thursday, July 30, 2026
Your tap water is about to taste different
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Partly sunny and 90 again today, with a heat advisory running until 7 tonight — a beach-before-breakfast kind of Thursday. The bigger surprise: starting tomorrow, our tap water changes for a month, and it's on purpose.
Today
Heat advisory until 7 p.m., but the Gulf is all clear
Coastal Collier is under a heat advisory through 7 tonight, while FWC's latest samples show zero red tide from Barefoot Beach to South Marco. Go early: low tide at 7:25 a.m. means prime shelling before the worst of the heat.
Expect a chlorine whiff from the tap starting Friday
Collier Public Utilities switches from chloramines to free chlorine July 31 through Aug. 28, with water-main and hydrant flushing to follow Aug. 2 to Sept. 18. If your water tastes a little like pool water for a few weeks, that's the maintenance — not a problem.
This Weekend
Free Saturday at Naples Zoo
Collier County residents get in free Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the zoo on Goodlette-Frank Road — the first-Saturday perk that's actually pleasant in locals' season, when the parking lot isn't a contact sport.
A ping pong tournament, Friday night
Naples Pong hosts a beginner-friendly tournament Friday at 6 p.m. inside the indoor pickleball spot at Freedom Square on Tamiami Trail East; entry runs $10 to $20.
Local News
Collier hits pause on AI data centers
Commissioners approved a zoning-in-progress measure freezing data center applications while they write permanent land-use rules — closing the door that 1987-era zoning left wide open on water, noise and power use. With nothing yet proposed here, it's the rare fix that beat the problem to the punch.
A flyover is coming to Livingston and Immokalee
The county approved a $7.59 million design contract to carry Livingston Road over Immokalee Road, one of North Naples' most reliable backups. Construction waits until the I-75 diverging-diamond work wraps, so file it under relief with a long fuse.
Cars on 5th may stay in Collier after all
County commissioners are working with organizers to find the show a new venue after its split with the city over Fifth Avenue South restrictions. A 23-year tradition that fills restaurants and charity coffers is worth the county playing matchmaker.
Food & Drink
Michelbob's is bringing its ribs north
The longtime rib joint opens an 80-seat location at 14700 Tamiami Trail N. this summer — meaning North Naples no longer has to drive to the East Naples original or settle for Marco takeout for a slab.
Sizzle Dining signs up a record crowd
September's prix-fixe fundraiser topped last year's 127 restaurants in its 10th year, with $1 from every meal going to Blessings in a Backpack. Consider it locals' season's best excuse to try the places you can't get into come February.