Drunken driver in Torrey Highlands accident faces trial A motorist who allegedly drove the wrong way on a freeway while intoxicated in the Torrey Highlands area has been ordered to stand trial for driving under the influence of alcohol and causing serious injuries to another driver in a head-on crash. Jennifer K. Sase, 38, of Santee remains free on $25,000 bond on the condition she abstain from alcohol. She will get a trial date Sept. 28 in San Diego Superior Court. The crash occurred April 18 when Sase allegedly drove the wrong way on State Route 56 and Camino del Sur at 11:25 p.m. and hit a Scion driven by a 60-year-old woman. The Scion overturned and the woman suffered a fractured neck, bleeding on the brain and multiple fractures in the knee and hand, according to court records. The blood/alcohol level of Sase was 0.18, more than twice the legal limit for felony drunk driving. She admitted to a California Highway Patrol officer she had been drinking. A judge ordered a trial at an Aug. 28 preliminary hearing. —Neal Putnam

Restaurant community shows outpouring of support for Friscia family After a tragic accident left Stacy Friscia — mother of two teenage sons and wife of executive chef Antonio Friscia — with life-threatening, third-degree burns on nearly half her body, the Friscia family has been right by her side during her recovery from a medically induced coma and multiple surgeries at UCSD’s Burn Center. In support of one of their own, top chefs from some of San Diego’s best restaurants will pitch in for “An Evening of Aloha” at Stingaree on Sept. 16 from 4 to 8 p.m. The benefit dinner and auction, hosted by James Brennan and Brian Malarkey of Enlightened Hospitality Group, will feature dishes created with love by more than 20 of San Diego’s top chefs, including Trey Foshee of George’s California Modern, Jason Kniff of Nine-Ten and Herringbone’s Amanda Baumgarten. A minimum $20 donation is suggested at the door. All proceeds from the event will benefit the UCSD Burn Center to provide training, purchase specialized equipment, fund research to discover new therapies, educate the community and provide comfort for patients at the center. Stingaree is located at 454 Sixth Ave. For more information, call (619) 544-1847. — Mariko Lamb

Symposium aids youths with learning disabilities The San Diego Branch of the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) will host its first annual Empower Youth Symposium — A Day for Those Who Learn Differently at the David & Dorothea Garfield Theater on Oct. 6. The event is aimed at empowering pre-teen and teen students who struggle with learning differences. The symposium, geared toward children ages 10 to 18, is designed to help build students’ confidence and self-esteem. It will feature motivational speakers who share some of the kids’ challenges. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, 4126 Executive Drive. Tickets are on sale though the JCC box office or by calling (858) 362-1348 for $25 for IDA members and $35 for non-members. Scholarships for students in need of financial assistance are available and can be applied for by filling out the online application. For more information and to register, please visit: www.empoweryouthsd.org Rotary toy drive comes to a close The annual Torrey Pines (La Jolla) Rotary Care N Share toy drive concluded with the delivery of the last of 4,000 new and gently used stuffed animals to Rady Children’s Hospital, Tijuana’s Hospital Infantil and Children’s Lifeline. The toys were collected from private donations, as well as from donation receptacles around the county and from a table at the San Diego County Fair. More than 16,500 stuffed animals have been distributed since the club started the project. Project chairwoman Nancy Stoke and the Torrey Pines Rotary Club are already looking forward to next year’s toy drive. For information or to volunteer for next year, contact Nancy Stoke at [email protected].