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 YOUR CITY. YOUR MORNING. Hello, Naples.CITYAPOLLO DAILY · FL | ||||||||
City view · Naples  Naples FL pier as seen at sunset. Viewed from 8th Avenue beach. · P,TO 19104 · License | ||||||||
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Hello, Naples. A new sand contract comes with specific beach-access and work-hour plans. Then choose a small creative outing, a downtown exhibition or a practical class, and keep two school-calendar dates and library service changes handy. | ||||||||
Coast / Local change Today’s big storyA beach-day guide to the new sand projectNaples Beach is set for another major sand placement, but the county’s plan keeps the beach open while work moves through small fenced areas. Collier commissioners awarded Earth Tech Enterprises the hauling and placement contract October 13. The project calls for more than 208,000 tons of beach-quality sand along 3.5 miles, from Doctors Pass to just south of 21st Avenue South, all inside the City of Naples. Mobilization and staging are expected in late October, followed by sand placement. The contractor is expected to finish before the end of 2026. Those are the announced plans, rather than a report that trucks are already operating on a particular beach today. Work is scheduled Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., with a Thanksgiving pause November 26–29. For a beach visit, the important distinction is between an open shoreline and an active work area. The county says small areas will be fenced where renourishment is taking place, and spotters will monitor trucks traveling along the beach. A familiar access point may therefore lead toward a nearby work zone as the project progresses. Check any newly posted access or staging notices before settling on your usual spot, and keep clear of the marked areas. The estimated overall project cost is about $8 million, including roughly $5 million for the contractor and $2.4 million for sand, plus engineering, permitting, inspection and shorebird monitoring. Tourist Development taxes fund the work. The county intends to seek FEMA reimbursement for eligible hurricane-related costs and possible state cost-sharing; the release does not announce those reimbursements as awarded. For residents, the next useful milestone is a specific mobilization or access update. The county project notice is the place to start, and Coastal Zone Management lists 239-252-2922 for questions.
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EventsThursday, Oct 15Fall Storytime | 10:00 AM–10:30 AM | Naples Regional Rees Room, 650 Central Avenue Naples, FL 34102, Naples Regional Branch, Naples | Fee not specified on official detail; confirm with the library Naples Regional’s Rees Room hosts themed books and rhymes, music, movement and hands-on activities for little readers. The current page explicitly lists this Thursday’s 10–10:30 a.m. session. Parents are invited alongside children; this is a family storytime rather than a drop-off activity. Taste of Cultures: Latin Flavors | 2:00 PM–3:00 PM | 2432 Lucerne Road Naples, FL 34116, Golden Gate Branch, Collier County / Naples postal area | Fee not specified on official detail; confirm with the library Explore herbs, spices and citrus as flavor-building ingredients in Latin cooking at Golden Gate Branch, 2432 Lucerne Road. The adult workshop offers a way to consider different ingredients for familiar dishes. Call the branch to register and confirm a place before traveling to this Collier County program. Friday, Oct 16Caregiver craft: a yarn ghost garland | 2:00 PM–3:00 PM | South Regional Meeting Room, 8065 Lely Cultural Parkway Naples, FL 34113, South Regional Branch, Collier County / Naples postal area | Fee not specified on official detail; confirm with the library Yarn, ribbons, beads and playful decorations become a seasonal ghost garland at South Regional. This Friday-afternoon craft provides a concrete project for caregivers who want a creative break. Contact the branch before attending; its official detail specifies phone registration rather than open walk-in admission. Saturday, Oct 17Pups ’n’ Books | 1:30 PM–3:30 PM | 2385 Orange Blossom Dr, Naples, FL 34109, Headquarters Regional Branch, Collier County / Naples postal area | Fee not specified on official detail; confirm with the library Golden Paws Assistance Dogs visit Headquarters Regional Library for an all-ages afternoon. The official calendar confirms the October 17 session from 1:30–3:30 p.m. Use that actual dated occurrence when planning; later visits need their own listing rather than an assumed monthly repeat. Teen Pumpkin Decorating | 2:00 PM–3:00 PM | 2385 Orange Blossom Dr., Naples, FL 34109, Headquarters Regional Branch, Collier County / Naples postal area | Fee not specified on official detail; confirm with the library Paint and decorate a mini pumpkin with colors, spooky designs and seasonal decorations. Headquarters supplies the materials for this teen-focused session, sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Its 2–3 p.m. time overlaps part of Pups ’n’ Books, so choose the activity that best fits your group. Monday, Oct 19iPhone Basics | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM | South Regional Meeting Room, 8065 Lely Cultural Parkway Naples, FL 34113, South Regional Branch, Collier County / Naples postal area | Fee not specified on official detail; confirm with the library South Regional’s introductory class covers Apple IDs, the App Store, settings and other everyday iPhone basics. The two-hour Monday session is the starting-point option. Ask the branch about participation details when registering, and bring the specific questions that would make your phone more useful day to day. iPhone Advanced | 3:00 PM–4:00 PM | South Regional Meeting Room, 8065 Lely Cultural Parkway, South Regional Branch, Collier County / Naples postal area | Fee not specified on official detail; confirm with the library A separate afternoon class goes farther into settings and Apple Wallet. The organizer requires an iPhone model 12 through 16, so check your device before registering. This one-hour advanced session has different content from the morning basics class; use the model requirement and your comfort level to choose.
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News NotesRoads Check the ramp before a late drive FDOT expects the southbound I-75 entrance from northbound Collier Boulevard to close for paving 8 p.m.–6 a.m., excluding Friday and Saturday nights, over the coming weeks. Its posted detour sends northbound drivers through a U-turn to use the southbound approach’s new loop ramp. Work may change with weather or underground conditions. Check the current project notice for your route; its conflicting project-completion estimates are not a reliable planning deadline. Schools Two school-calendar dates to save Collier County Public Schools lists report cards published Monday, October 19. Thursday, October 29, is an early-dismissal day with professional learning for teachers. The district calendar gives no single dismissal time for every campus, so use your child’s school instructions for pickup. The district also asks families to complete a separate Emergency Information Form for each child through the parent CCPS Portal and FOCUS. Services Library visits during early voting Headquarters, South Regional and Marco Island libraries will host early voting October 22–31. The library system warns that extra visitor traffic may affect services and suggests using other branches for holds pickup or returns. Headquarters also suspends material donations until November 5 because of building improvements and voting. Other locations continue to welcome donations. This is a library-service notice; check election officials for voting hours and rules. Pets / County Fee-waived dog adoptions this weekend Collier Domestic Animal Services lists fee-waived dog adoptions October 17–18 at 7610 Davis Boulevard, with weekend hours 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Applicants must be 18+, bring valid photo ID and complete an Adoption Survey. Household dogs and cats need current rabies vaccinations and county tags. Available animals are first come, with no holds; an animal awaiting sterilization stays until surgery. Noncounty adopters must follow home-jurisdiction licensing rules. Ask staff about current dogs and any additional microchip registration. Civic A public-input date for the county’s floodplain plan Collier County invites comment on its draft Floodplain Management Plan October 28, 5:30–7:30 p.m., in Conference Rooms 609/610 at 2800 Horseshoe Drive N. A registered Webex option is also offered. The draft considers hazards, vulnerability and mitigation actions; this meeting notice does not adopt a new flood rule or promise a new insurance discount. Review the draft and meeting instructions, including accommodation requests at least 48 hours ahead. Eat Three service windows on Third Street South Campiello at 1177 Third Street South posts lunch 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m., a 3–5 p.m. bar menu and Sunday–Thursday dinner 5–9 p.m. Friday and Saturday dinner extends to 9:30 p.m. These are the restaurant’s operating windows; its separate Club Room is marked closed for the season and available for private events. Use the menu and reservation links to plan a meal around the service you want. | ||||||||
Arts Worth a closer lookA printmaker’s range, with Thursday evening hoursRembrandt: Masterpieces in Black and White brings prints from the Rembrandt House Museum to Naples Art Institute through January 24, 2027. The exhibition spans Biblical narratives, portraits, landscapes and everyday scenes, showing how Rembrandt used line, texture and light to create character and drama. Works by contemporaries, pupils and later artists put that experimentation in context. For a downtown visit, the institute at 585 Park Street lists Thursday gallery hours 10 a.m.–8 p.m. The current ticket form lists $15 general admission. Children under 18 and members of Naples Art Institute, NARM or ROAM receive complimentary admission, and general admission needs no advance reservation. Docent-led tours are a separate reserved activity with limited capacity; the current October schedule lists Tuesdays, so do not expect a Thursday guided tour this month. This is a self-paced gallery option for tonight, with the exhibition continuing well beyond the weekend.
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Plan aheadWednesday, Oct 21Halloween Owl Craft | 2:00 PM–3:00 PM | Naples Regional Rees Room, 650 Central Avenue Naples, FL 34102, Naples Regional Branch, Naples | Fee not specified on official detail; confirm with the library Decorate a ceramic owl bowl for Halloween at Naples Regional’s Rees Room. All ages can join the afternoon craft, and the library supplies the materials while they last. The explicit October 21 listing gives a useful midweek option for people who prefer a smaller creative outing. | ||||||||
The WrapA good local plan can leave room for both the familiar shoreline and a new discovery downtown. The sand project’s next access update will matter more than a guessed start day; the Rembrandt exhibition offers a longer visiting window tonight. For the smaller outings, check the exact branch, registration step and age or device requirement before heading out. Send a local tip or correction through Naples’ form to help shape the next edition.
CityApollo’s editorial team is responsible for research, publication and corrections. | ||||||||
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