Correia Middle School students win awards in documentary competition
Several students from Correia Middle School in Point Loma won awards in C-SPAN’s 2026 national StudentCam documentary competition.
Eighth-graders Helena de la Houssaye and Harper Haden won the $3,000 first prize for their film “This is What Democracy Looks Like,” about the influence of the Declaration of Independence on the “No Kings” movement. Stacey Tinsley served as an adviser and mentor on the project, which will be broadcast on C-SPAN’s networks throughout the day Friday, April 17.
Last year, Harper and Helena took second prize and $1,500 for their video “One Pill Can Kill,” a look at the fentanyl crisis.
This year the annual competition recognized the United States’ 250th anniversary by challenging middle and high school students to examine the Declaration of Independence’s influence on a key moment in American history or how it touches on a contemporary issue.
Also from Correia Middle School, Celeste Stout’s “The Limits of Difference: From the Declaration of Independence to United States v. Virginia” and Josie Connor and Mia Martin’s “The Writer’s Declaration: 148 Days to Save Hollywood,” about the Writers Guild of America’s strike in 2023, are third-prize winners earning $750. Tinsley and Keri Clark were advisers and mentors on the projects.
Correia’s Myla Hannah and Elsa Elkovitch won a $250 honorable mention for their documentary “Gun Violence in America: How Much is Too Much?” Clark served as adviser on the project.
C-SPAN said the competition received more than 1,800 submissions from nearly 4,000 students nationwide.
In all, 150 videos were selected for awards. They can be viewed at studentcam.org.
March 19 Wisteria Patio Party to benefit OB Historical Society
The Ocean Beach Historical Society will present its annual fundraising ode to spring, the Wisteria Patio Party, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 19, at 4791 Niagara Ave.
Admission is a suggested $10 donation. To learn more, visit obhistory.org.
Comedy Night to benefit Point Loma Rotary Club on March 20
The Point Loma Rotary Club will present its 23rd annual Comedy Night and raffle fundraiser beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, March 20, at the United Portuguese S.E.S. Hall, 2818 Avenida de Portugal.
The event will feature tacos, hamburgers, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, a silent auction, and a show from 8 to 9:30 p.m. with comedians Frances Dilorinzo, Chris Angell, Georgia Kelley and Tony Calabrese.
Show tickets are $25 and are available at bit.ly/3NanyE7. Raffle tickets are $5 each or five for $20 and will be available onsite.
‘An Artist @ The Table’ dinner set for March 20-22 at Liberty Station
Vanguard Culture, a nonprofit that works to advance San Diego’s creative industries, will present “An Artist @ The Table,” featuring artist Ben Guerrette and dinner by chef Flor Franco, from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, March 20-22, at Liberty Station Chapel, 2881 Roosevelt Road, Point Loma.
All three evenings, Franco will craft a four-course meal inspired by the artwork of Guerrette, who will transform the chapel into an installation of light, sound and video. Each dish will reflect the themes of earth, fire, air and water.
Tickets are $225 for Friday and Saturday and $175 for Sunday and are available at bit.ly/3NsVTON.
Cygnet Theatre to stage ‘The Lehman Trilogy’ starting March 25
Cygnet Theatre will present the 2022 Tony Award-winning drama “The Lehman Trilogy” from Wednesday, March 25, to Sunday, April 19, in the Dottie Studio Theater at the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center at Liberty Station, 2880 Roosevelt Road, Point Loma.
The play, written by Stefano Massini and directed by Kim Strassburger, follows the rise and fall of the Lehman brothers, tracing their journey from a small family business to a huge financial empire.
Tickets start at $58 and are available at the box office, by phone at 619-337-1525 or online at cygnettheatre.org.
Cygnet production and performers win Craig Noel Awards
Cygnet Theatre, based at the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center at Liberty Station in Point Loma, won several honors as the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle handed out awards for top achievements in 2025 in area theater at its 22nd annual Craig Noel Awards ceremony in February.
Cygnet’s “Follies” won the award for Outstanding Resident Musical, Karole Foreman won for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical for her role in the production and Sean Murray won for Outstanding Direction of a Musical.
Jocorey Mitchell won for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play for Cygnet’s “The Hot Wing King” and Jacob Caltrider took the award for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical for “Oklahoma!”
Actor of the Year Eli Wood appeared in productions at Cygnet along with other area theaters.
The awards, named after National Medal of Arts winner Craig Noel — the founding director of San Diego’s Old Globe theater — are presented to professional theater productions, directors, actors and designers. The winners were chosen by a volunteer group of San Diego County newspaper, magazine and online critics.
OB Community Foundation taking candidates for board election
The Ocean Beach Community Foundation is accepting nominations for its 2026 board election.
At least five seats are available on the board, which meets once a month and organizes community events such as the OB Holiday Parade, Pancake Breakfast, Restaurant Walk, Food & Toy Drive, Holiday Auction and more.
Members are elected to two-year terms and serve on one or more of five committees — Events, Finance, Engagement, Advocacy and Improvement — and typically put in about five hours a month, according to the foundation.
The group is seeking people with strengths in marketing, social media or graphic design, accounting, bookkeeping or financial planning, grant writing or community fundraising, event planning or project management, and local policy, advocacy or civic engagement.
Members must live, work or own property in the 92107 ZIP code.
Application forms are available at bit.ly/4bl98sC and must be submitted by Friday, March 27.
A candidates forum will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 9, at Ocean Beach Elementary School and voting will occur April 9-27.
To learn more, email info@obcommunityfoundation.org.
PLNU’s Dean Nelson to present workshop at San Diego Writers Festival
Dean Nelson, author, director of journalism at Point Loma Nazarene University and founder of the annual Writer’s Symposium by the Sea, will present “Talking to Writers,” a workshop on interviewing, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 28, at the Coronado Public Library as part of the San Diego Writers Festival.
Nelson also will talk with Chris Jennings, author of “End of Days — Ruby Ridge, the Apocalypse and the Unmaking of America,” from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., also at the library.
For more information about the festival, visit sandiegowritersfestival.com.
Point Loma Playhouse presents ‘Ruthless! The Musical’ through March 29
Point Loma Playhouse is presenting the dark comedy “Ruthless! The Musical” through Sunday, March 29, at its Hillcrest location at 3148 Fifth Ave., San Diego.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and on Monday, March 23, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $40-$150.
For tickets and more information, visit zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/ruthless-the-musical.
Ocean Beach Woman’s Club to put on hat contest for sixth year
The Ocean Beach Woman’s Club will presents its sixth annual hat contest with a “Red, White and OB” theme to help celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
The festivities will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 2, at Dirty Birds restaurant, 1929 Cable St.
Awards will be given in the categories of Ode to Mae (for garden theme), Most OBcean, Best Red, White and OB and Best Birthday Hat. Entry is free.
To find out more, email oceanbeachwomansclub@gmail.com or call 619-222-1008.
Good Friday Prayer Walk set for Ocean Beach on April 3
Peninsula Faith Leaders, a clergy coalition from 10 local churches, will present its second annual Good Friday Prayer Walk along Ocean Beach’s church row from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 3.
The approximately 1-mile route starts at St. Peter’s by the Sea Lutheran Church at 1371 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. and ends at Resurrection OB, 2083 Sunset Cliffs. Shuttles will be available for the return trip if desired.
Point Loma High to produce ‘Legally Blonde: The Musical’
Point Loma High School’s Thespian Society and Music Department will present “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” the school’s first Broadway-style musical in six years, Wednesday through Saturday, April 8-11, at the Larry Zeiger Performing Arts Center on campus at 2335 Chatsworth Blvd.
Cast members rehearse for Point Loma High School’s upcoming production of “Legally Blonde: The Musical.” (Alyssa Mroczek)
The production stars sophomore Clara Kelly as Elle.
Shows will begin at 6:30 p.m. April 8-10 and 1 and 6:30 p.m. April 11. Admission is $5-$15. For tickets, visit plhs-theater.square.site.
Step by Step Walk for Parkinson’s Association set for Liberty Station
The Parkinson’s Association of San Diego will present its 24th annual Step by Step Walk at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 11, at Liberty Station in Point Loma.
Participants can walk or run on a 5K (3.1-mile) course or a 2.5K (1.55-mile) course.
Proceeds raised through the event will benefit people with Parkinson’s disease in San Diego County and their caregivers and families, according to the association.
Check-in will begin at 7:30 a.m. To register or for more information, visit parkinsonsassociation.org or call 858-215-2570.
Local UFC Gym relaunches after $500,000 renovation
UFC Gym at 3675 Midway Drive officially relaunched March 7 as UFC Gym Point Loma after a more than $500,000 renovation.
The 34,000-square-foot facility has expanded training areas, new and upgraded equipment and an enhanced Recovery Center.
For more information, visit ufcgym.com.
OB Planning Board member appointed to S.D. arts commission
Ocean Beach Planning Board member Chris Chalupsky has been appointed to the San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, representing City Council District 2, which includes Ocean Beach and Point Loma.
Chalupsky has more than 20 years’ experience in cultural arts and entertainment programming, having overseen the arts program at San Diego International Airport for eight years and sitting on the San Diego Regional Arts and Culture Coalition Steering Committee. He also is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers as well as Songwriters of North America.
Three Point Loma campuses named Purple Star Schools
Three Point Loma schools were among 75 statewide awarded the designation of Purple Star School in February by state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, bringing the total to 202.
The local schools honored are Cabrillo Elementary, Loma Portal Elementary and Point Loma High.
The Purple Star program recognizes schools that demonstrate a commitment to meeting the needs of military-connected students and their families, including by providing easily accessible resources and implementing student-led transition programs to welcome incoming military-connected students.