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The Department of Homeland Security is adopting powerful new tools to monitor noncitizens. Privacy advocates are worried they erode privacy rights for all Americans.

This week brings new releases from Joy Williams, Simon Winchester and Tracy K. Smith, among other talented writers.

Another time a powerful, slow-moving storm wreaked havoc on a community was with Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

First, a man who worked alongside the U.S. in Afghanistan speaks out after he was detained by ICE this summer. Then, Chula Vista is using artificial intelligence to write police reports. Next, we take you behind-the-scenes of the new Navy Seal Museum and what it offers. Finally, an inclusive dance performance is taking place this weekend.

Two local theater groups are using improv to help educate the community amid increased immigration enforcement.

Thursday–Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. January 9 & 10 (2 Days, 8 total hours of instruction) On location in Balboa Park Outdoor studies are the key to painting successful landscapes in the studio. Plein air painting is an excellent way to observe color, light, and aerial perspective. This workshop focuses on composition and color mixing with a limited palette. Each day will begin with a demo and conclude with a group critique. The historic Spanish Baroque architecture and beautiful gardens of Balboa Park are an inspiring and congenial place to paint outdoors. All levels are welcome in this workshop. We will meet up in the Plaza Panama in front of the Timken Art Museum. Materials: portable easel; four 8” x 10” or 6” x 8”, good quality canvas boards; half-dozen brushes, white bristle flat or filbert, # 2, #4, #6. One medium-size steel palette knife; small, pointed round brush for detail #2–#4. Paper towels; odorless turpentine; small jar for turpentine, wood palette; oil paints: Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red Medium, Cadmium Yellow Medium Cadmium Lemon, Phthalo Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Permalba White, Raw Umber, Cadmium Orange. Sun hat, insect repellent, old shirt, and sturdy shoes are suggested. Max students: 12 Visit: https://www.ljathenaeum.org/classes/10 Athenaeum Music & Arts Library on Instagram and Facebook

On Friday, Dec. 5, Songwriter Sanctuary will ring in the holidays with a season closer featuring original music from some of San Diego’s folkiest and funniest troubadours. Don your gay apparel and join Cara Cormier, Peggy Watson and Dave Beldock, and JT Moring as they swap songs and stories in a Nashville-style round. The event is hosted by the legendary Jeff Berkley in partnership with Normal Heights United. (4650 Mansfield St. Suggested Donation $10. All ages. Doors 6:30 p.m., Music 7 p.m.) All donations collected go directly to artists, and no one is turned away for lack of funds. Community Care: Normal Heights United has a big community fridge and pantry just steps from the venue. Please consider bringing unopened/unexpired items for under-resourced neighbors! If our Songwriter Sanctuary audience can stock it once a month, that would be an incredible gift to the community and support for our venue partners at NHU who actually church like churches should church! (No frozen items please.) About the Artists Cara Cormier flings lyrical spaghetti into the universe to keep herself sane, help people laugh, and create a more just and compassionate society. Drawing from her rural Kansas Mennonite upbringing, Cara uses her love of folk and Americana styles to craft cheeky, heartfelt story-songs using acoustic guitar, harmonica, mandolin, banjo, and spoons. From hysterical dating accounts to mischievous protest songs to tender confessionals, Cara writes the songs you never expected to hear. David Beldock and Peggy Watson started their collaboration as unlikely music partners. While David spent years performing with various bands, honing his rock and blues guitar playing, Peggy was rooted in contemporary folk traditions with occasional detours into jazz and pop. But when they joined forces, they discovered that writing songs together was a fun challenge that they couldn’t resist. The result has been a collection of melodic, thoughtful, funny, and emotional songs that appeal to a wide range of listeners. Their styles span everything from folk to jazz to blues to show tunes. JT Moring is a dynamic entertainer known for incisive songs/stories and audience engagement. He performs solo on guitar or banjo, and in collaboration with a collection of San Diego County’s top musicians. 2024 was a year of recording, performances with Storytellers of San Diego (where they let me sing as long as I tell a story to go with it!), house concerts, backyard parties, Adams Avenue Unplugged, and recording and releasing a new album LINES. Get on the email list for notifications. 2025 has seen a lot of new songs and lots of performances, many of them with Richie Strell (harmonicas and other noisemakers), and Terry Wardell (bass). Event Details Location: Normal Heights United Church: 4650 Mansfield St, San Diego, CA 92116. Thank you to our generous venue partner for sharing this beautiful space with the local music community! Time: Doors 6:30 p.m., Show 7-9 p.m. ish. Suggested Donation: $10 (all ages) but please be generous in your support of these top tier talents whose creative work is their livelihood. 100% donations go to artists. No one turned away for lack of funds. All Ages: Bear in mind we do not censor our artists so please make sure to check out the lineup and make the best decision for your family. Parking: Street parking. Food/Drink: Beverages for small purchase, thanks to our sponsors Babe Beverages and Duck Foot Brewing Company. Guests are welcome to bring their own food into the venue (please eat and dispose of waste respectfully). There are so many delicious restaurants within walking distance - feel free to grab something take-out and bring it in! Accessibility: Normal Heights United is a 120+ year-old building with a non-traditional seating arrangement, but we want every guest to feel safe and supported. Please send any accommodation requests to Molly at mollyrose@nhunited.org at least five (5) business days prior to the event. Entrances & Seating: The venue has an ADA ramp entrance and two rows of reserved seating for guests who use wheelchairs and/or need additional space. Balcony seating (stair access only) is available for those who prefer less noise or stimulation. Our online RSVP form also includes a space to share accessibility preferences. Sensory & Safety: A sensory/safety station in the foyer offers single-use masks, ear plugs, and hand sanitizer. Two Corsi-Rosenthal box fan filters run during the event. Notepads are available at entry and concession for anyone who prefers to communicate in writing. If you’re feeling unwell, please plan to join us another time to help keep our community healthy. Event Enhancements: Whenever possible, we post a QR code with lyrics to featured artists’ songs for enhanced accessibility. Future Goals: We are actively seeking funding partners to provide ASL services for the 2026 season and have long-term goals of offering a livestream ticketing option. Please stay tuned and continue supporting us as we work toward these and other accessibility goals. Photo/Video Consent: Unless artists give blanket consent, please ask for consent before posting the faces and/or prominent features of folks online. While we've previously operated under the assumption that public events imply consent, a thoughtful call-in reminded us that consent must always come first, especially in a time when people’s images can be weaponized. Songwriter Sanctuary is committed to prioritizing consent and will continue to model and encourage this practice in our community. For inquiries, media comps, or further information, please contact: Lindsay White lindsaywhite.music@gmail.com Songwriter Sanctuary San Diego on Instagram

Kick off December at San Diego’s Best Brewery 2025, Pure Project Vista, with a soul-filling spent-grain breadmaking class. Whole grain dough, holiday flavors, award-winning beer, and a VIP experience in their beautiful barrel room. Tis' the Season! At the close of the brewer’s day, we will utilize the brewery's fresh spent grain to craft beautiful, whole-grain artisan bread. Guests will make the Grainbakers Spent Grain Artisan Bread. Once you have mixed your dough, you can customize your bread by adding various flavors from our selection of fruits, inclusions and spices. This class will have many selections, including: Dark Chocolate & Cherry Cheddar, Jalapeño & Bacon UBE Cardamon and Spice (Purple Sweet Potato) Honey Sea Salted Whole Wheat Rosemary and Sea Salt Cinnamon Raisin Holiday Fruit & Nuts Cranberry Orange Walnut** Cardamom & Raisin Cheddar, Jalapño & Bacon Class includes: Lecture and hands-on instruction to make artisan spent grain baked bread Recipe and instruction guide. Super fun mixing session to make your dough One bread in its first rise, in our very unique proofing box, ready to bake at home Extra spent grain for your freezer and recipes to make more bread VIP / FAQ: You will bake your bread at home. You leave with your bread rising in our very unique proofing box. Participants must be 18 or older and have a ticket. Please wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes. You are welcome to invite a friend to wait for you while you’re in class. You can have dinner together before class, and then they can doomscroll some social media over a pint while in class. Please inquire for groups of 6+ if you would like to do this activity as a pre-holiday work outing. We love teambuilders! Allergen Considerations: Almonds and Walnuts will be used. Pecans and Pistachios will not be used. Peanuts will not be used. Visit: https://www.grainbakers.com/event-details-registration/brewery-spent-grain-breadmaking-class-pure-project-vista?utm_source=Vesta&utm_medium=Referral Pure Project on Instagram and Facebook

Do you want to see your writing in magazines? Would you like to receive a check for what you write? If your goal is to write personal essays and get paid for them, this is the class for you. We will go through idea generation, how to find publications that are right for your idea, and how to pitch to editors and locate their e-mail addresses. You will finish the class with several ideas for essays, where to pitch them, and with a list of resources to build those bylines! You will be emailed the Zoom link 24 hours before the start of the class. If you sign up less than 24 hours before the start of the class, please either send us a message or email us at programs@sandiegowriters.org to request your link. Note: We are offering TWO scholarships for writers who self-identify as having financial need. If you are interested, please contact Kristen at programs@sandiegowriters.org. Thank you! San Diego Writers, Ink on Facebook / Instagram

On the eve of San Diego Comic-Con, we take a closer look into the state of the local economy.