A Bear at the Zoo, Big Changes Around Town & a Busy Start to September

September is starting with plenty to talk about. A young black bear made its way into the Naples Zoo, businesses around town are opening, closing and changing, and a major I-75 widening project is raising concerns among nearby neighborhoods. Meanwhile, plans are moving forward for a new Catholic church and K-12 school on 41 acres in Golden Gate Estates, new research is raising questions about dengue and Gulf Coast mosquitoes, and one Naples beachfront condo may have found a new way to fight back against hurricane flooding. Add in a nearly $6 million piece of Naples history, this week’s events and a few other stories you’ll want to know — and September is off to a busy start.

👉 Here's everything you need to know before the weekend.

🔗 What's Happening in Naples This Week: September 3–9, 2026

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