The stage gleamed with talent as Flagler County celebrated its rising stars during the 17th annual Spotlight on Flagler Youth Talent Show. Hosted by the Flagler County Youth Center, the highly anticipated community showcase took place on Thursday, May 28, at the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center, culminating in the crowning of the 2025 Entertainers of the Year.

Judges and audience members alike were captivated by the incredible creativity, hard work, and showmanship displayed by the contestants. The top performers across the three age categories include:

Junior Division

• 1st Place: Laurel Duffy – Delivered a powerful rendition of “Defying Gravity”
• 2nd Place: Sara Duncan – Wowed the crowd with the theatrical classic “Don’t Rain on My Parade”
• 3rd Place: Aniah Furtado – Brought high energy to the stage with a dance routine set to “Gnarly”

Middle Division

• 1st Place: Emma Duncan – Took the top spot performing “They Just Keep Moving the Line”
• 2nd Place: Anniston Goetsch – Charmed the audience with “In My Dreams”
• 3rd Place: Aliyah Coito – Delivered a memorable performance of “Roses.”

Senior Division

• 1st Place: K’imani Gervin McCoy – Claimed first prize with a stunning vocal performance of Beyoncé’s powerhouse ballad “Listen.”
• 2nd Place: Briana Fune – Impressed the judges with the timeless classic “Break It to Me Gently”
• 3rd Place: Sophia Paige – Rounded out the division with a moving rendition of Adele’s “All I Ask.”

The event would not have been possible without the dedication of our esteemed panel of judges: Cheryl Massaro, former Flagler County School Board member; Andy Dance, Flagler County Commissioner; John Fanelli; and Christy Butler. Their commitment to evaluating the performances and making the difficult decisions is deeply appreciated.

We are thrilled to announce that this year’s summer camp has officially started, and we are operating at full capacity! Camp kicked off this past Monday and will run through July 24, with daily hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Our campers have an action-packed summer ahead of them! Some of the exciting field trips lined up for this year include:

• Daytona Lagoon
• Bowling
• Sky Zone Trampoline Park
• The Movies
• Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon

If you missed the opportunity to register your child for this summer’s program, don’t worry! To secure a spot for next summer, please keep an eye out in March 2027 when the 2027 registration forms will officially be released.

Currently, the G.W. Carver Center is open daily, Monday through Friday, with special events on Saturdays.

Summer Open Gym Hours:
Monday – Friday: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Yolanda Williams Outreach – Hosted by Flagler Cares
If you are interested in services provided by YWO, please visit us at the Carver Center to schedule an appointment.

Our most recent Senior Social Hour featured a festive Ice Cream Social. Participants enjoyed both eating and painting ice cream treats, with the Arts Corner, led by Ms. Andrea Davis, hosting the paint party for the group.

The Senior Social Hour meets from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM on Fridays.

June Dates: 06/12, 06/19, 06/26

The event on Friday, May 29th was a huge success, where a dozen community youth came in to enjoy pizza and learn from Marshawn Gilyard, who shared his inspiring journey from the neighborhood to the NFL and discussed the importance of education, teamwork, and giving back.

Designed for students in grades K-5, the Great Minds Summer Literacy Camp works to combat summer learning loss through a curriculum centered on Florida standards for literacy, math, and science. To ensure an engaging and interactive experience, the program incorporates various activities, including art projects and field trips. This summer session is scheduled to run from June 10 through July 16.

Our G.W. Carver kids spent several days making popup cards for their mothers. This heartwarming creative project allowed the children to express their gratitude through art, dedicating significant time to designing and constructing personalized, three-dimensional cards to celebrate Mother’s Day.