Youth Advisory Council plans bicentennial time capsule and resumes movie nights after vote

Members of the Fernandina Beach Youth Advisory Council reviewed suggested items for a time capsule tied to the city's 200th anniversary and set tasks for collection and outreach to local schools.

"We went to the high school, and this is what your peers wrote," a council member said while presenting students' suggestions, which included yearbooks, newspapers, solar eclipse glasses and other durable items. Members discussed outreach strategies — including morning announcements and social media through the city's accounts — and agreed each person would bring one or two items to the next meeting.

The council also debated whether to restart community movie nights at Main Beach. Members reviewed permitting requirements (a 60‑day notice for special events), cost estimates for equipment and licensing (a screen setup around $900 plus movie rights typically several hundred dollars) and fundraising approaches. A motion to restart movie nights was made and seconded, and members recorded an "aye" by voice vote indicating approval to proceed with planning and fundraising.

Council members agreed to pursue concrete fundraiser plans to support movie nights and broader programming such as teen nights, rec leagues and community events. They asked Parks and Recreation staff to attend the next meeting to discuss logistics for possible youth rec leagues and to explore field and facility availability. Several members volunteered to take lead roles on follow‑up tasks, including fundraising and outreach to middle and elementary schools for leadership development programming.

The council set its next meeting for Oct. 23 and discussed taking a group photo for a future newspaper column. The time capsule, movie nights and fundraising ideas were assigned as tasks ahead of the next meeting.