Writer’s Symposium by the Sea runs Feb. 25-27 at Point Loma Nazarene
The 31st annual Writer’s Symposium by the Sea will come to Point Loma Nazarene University Feb. 25-27, highlighted by appearances by broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff and writers Jamaica Kincaid and George Saunders.
The festival, titled “Writing Across the Divide,” will be hosted as usual by its founder, PLNU journalism director Dean Nelson, who will interview the guests about their inspirations and practices.
Past guests have included Amy Tan, David Brooks, Alice Walker, Philip Yancey, Anne Lamott, Bill Moyers and more.
Here is the schedule for this year’s symposium. All interviews will begin at 7 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene, 3900 Lomaland Drive. Tickets are $20 per event.
• Wednesday, Feb. 25, in Brown Chapel: Judy Woodruff, longtime television journalist who has served as a White House correspondent for NBC, co-anchor of CNN’s “Inside Politics” and anchor and managing editor of “PBS News Hour,” along with writing the book “This is Judy Woodruff at the White House.” Brown Chapel.
• Thursday, Feb. 26, in Crill Performance Hall: Jamaica Kincaid, Antiguan-American writer for The New Yorker and author of “Annie John,” “Lucy,” “A Small Place” and “The Autobiography of My Mother.” $20.
• Friday, Feb. 27, in Brown Chapel: George Saunders, contributor to The New Yorker, creative-writing professor at Syracuse University and author of “Lincoln in the Bardo,” “CivilWarLand in Bad Decline,” “Pastoralia,” “Tenth of December” and “Vigil.”
For tickets and more information, visit pointloma.edu/events/31st-annual-writers-symposium-sea.
In addition, the Lomaland Student Short Film Festival will return at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, in the Crill Performance Hall.
The fifth annual festival will feature four short films by PLNU students, followed by a conversation with guest filmmaker John Puckett.
The student films to be screened are “To Sit With You,” “Rooms,” “Called to the Caribbean” and “In Good Hands.”
No tickets are required for the film festival, and admission is free.
Tet Festival at NTC Park will mark Vietnamese Lunar New Year
The San Diego Tet Festival celebrating Vietnamese Lunar New Year will include a carnival, dance battles, food vendors and performances Friday through Sunday, Feb. 20-22, at NTC Park at Liberty Station, 2640 Cushing Road, Point Loma.
The event also will feature Miss Vietnam San Diego, lion dancing and a trading card show. Activities will run from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is free. For more information, visit sdtet.com.
Cygnet Theatre opens musical ‘Somewhere Over the Border’
Cygnet Theatre will present the musical “Somewhere Over the Border” by playwright Brian Quijada from Wednesday, Feb. 18, to Sunday, March 15, in the Joseph Clayes III Theater at the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center at Liberty Station, 2880 Roosevelt Road, Point Loma.
The production is directed and choreographed by Carlos Mendoza, with musical direction by Lyndon Pugeda.
Tickets start at $44 and are available at the theater box office, by phone at 619-337-1525 or online at cygnettheatre.org/show/season25-26/somewhere-over-the-border.
Josh Coyne extends fundraising lead in race for San Diego City Council District 2 seat
Campaign contribution disclosures filed this month show former City Hall staff member Josh Coyne widening his fundraising lead during the second half of 2025 in the race for the San Diego City Council’s District 2 seat, which covers Ocean Beach and Point Loma, less than four months ahead of the June 2 primary election.
The seat currently is held by Councilwoman Jennifer Campbell, who is termed out and unable to run again.
Three candidates have raised $30,000 or more. But Coyne, who now works for the Downtown San Diego Partnership, raised nearly $24,000 in the second half of last year, while Deputy City Attorney Nicole Crosby raised nearly $13,000 and Point Loma community leader Mandy Havlik about $8,200. For the year, Coyne raised $93,000, Crosby $35,000 and Havlik $30,000.
No other District 2 candidates reported any fundraising. But former Coronado Mayor Richard Bailey has been widely expected to enter the race by the March 5 deadline.
Bailey, who moved from Coronado to the Fleetridge area of Point Loma, spent roughly $50,000 on two recent mailers criticizing San Diego leaders for what the mailers said is a variety of mismanagement.
The two candidates who get the most votes in the primary will go on to a November runoff election, even if the top candidate gets more than 50% of the vote in June. — The San Diego Union-Tribune
Dewey Elementary is a finalist for 2026 America’s Best Schools Award
Dewey Elementary School in Point Loma has been named a finalist for the 2026 America’s Best Schools Award, placing it among 17 schools nationwide selected by the San Diego State University-based National Center for Urban School Transformation.
Winners in gold, silver and bronze levels will be announced in May following visits to each campus.
Dewey is one of four elementary campuses in the San Diego Unified School District chosen as a finalist. The others are Garfield Elementary in North Park, Nye Elementary in Valencia Park and Sequoia Elementary in Clairemont.
The schools met the center’s award criteria, including that every racial, ethnic and income group in the school exceeds statewide proficiency averages, attendance rates are above 92%, suspension rates are low across all demographic groups, and outcomes are strong for English-learners and students with disabilities.
OB MainStreet Association awards honor businesses, volunteers and leaders
The Ocean Beach MainStreet Association honored local businesses, volunteers and community leaders during its annual awards celebration Jan. 22.
Guests gather at the Ocean Beach MainStreet Association’s annual awards celebration Jan. 22 at St. Peter’s by the Sea Lutheran Church. (Ocean Beach MainStreet Association)
Guests were treated to food, drinks and live music at St. Peter’s by the Sea Lutheran Church as honorees were recognized for contributions in business development, design, promotion, community engagement and volunteer service.
The Clean, Safe and Beautification Committee honored Phil Cenedella for his leadership with the OB Task Force on Homelessness and Gordon McLachlan for his efforts to keep Ocean Beach clean. Love Thy Neighborhood received the People’s Choice Award in that category.
The Design Committee recognized businesses and property owners for helping to enhance the look and feel of Ocean Beach, including 1851 Bacon St., An’s Electronic Repair, Art Up Your Life, Details Salon & Spa, Dirty Birds, OB Smoothie, The Template, US Bank, The Collective Jiu Jitsu and Lighthouse Ice Cream.
The Economic Vitality Committee honored Bluebird Play, Creations Boutique, Excelsa Cafe, Jones Barbershop, Mortarless Bricks and Spill the Beans Coffee & Bagel for innovation, expansion and investment. Spill the Beans also received the People’s Choice Award in the category.
The Promotion Committee recognized An’s Electronic Repair, Indie Yoga, Official Ocean Beach, Scoops Ocean Beach, Wonderland Ocean Pub and Sourdough & Moore for marketing, promotion and community presence.
Additional awards honored businesses and organizations that held events promoting Ocean Beach, including Punk Rock Rodeo, Santa Experience, Sunset Plaza Makers Markets and Top Floor Trick or Treat.
OBMA also presented Milestone and Community Partner Awards to CC Summerfield, Christie Romano, Daisy Santana, Mike Fahey, Nancy Vaughn and Raquel Freischlag, and Ken Moss was named Volunteer of the Year.
Community Engagement People’s Choice Awards were presented to Catrina Russel, Creations Boutique and Carter Moss of Submerge Church.
The Like a Boss Award was presented to Craig Gerwig for his commitment, leadership and service to the community.
MADCAPS Benefit Show for philanthropies coming in March
The Mothers and Daughters Club Assisting Philanthropies, or MADCAPS, will hold its 66th annual Benefit Show for San Diego-area nonprofits at 7 p.m. Friday, March 13, and 5 p.m. Saturday, March 14, in Brown Chapel at Point Loma Nazarene University, 3900 Lomaland Drive.
The show, called “Salute to Service,” will honor members of the military, firefighters, lifeguards and other first responders through music, dance and other performances.
Tickets are $10-$40 and are available at sdmadcaps.org/the-show/benefit-show.