By Miriam Raftery

April 21, 2014 (Washington D.C.) --The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, is on the verge of approving the first-ever drug treatment for a severe form of muscular dystrophy.  Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a deadly disease that typically  leaves its victims in wheelchairs by their teens and dead in their 20s, according to the U.S. Human Genome Institute.  This disease strikes one in every 3500 boys worldwide.

April 21, 2014 (La Mesa) - On Saturday, May 31, beginning at 9:00AM, downtown La Mesa Village will dress up in red, white and blue to celebrate “A Salute to Old Glory!” at the La Mesa Flag Day Parade.

By Nadin Abbott; photos Tom Abbott

April 20, 2014 (Lemon Grove)--Assembly Member Shirley Weber (79^th-D) held a coffee day with constituents at the Lemon Grove Library on April 19. Weber explained that the issues that face the district are as diverse as the area she represents, adding that the issues of Lemon Grove are ever present in her mind.

April 19, 2014 (Ramona) – The Medical Examiner has not yet released the identity of a 29-year-old active duty sailor and Ramona resident who died April 11 following a head-on collision in Julian.

By Miriam Raftery

April 19, 2014 (El Cajon ) – More than $45,000 was raised at this year’s Morning Glory Brunch, held on  April 12 at St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center in El Cajon to benefit the center’s innovative programs helping the developmentally disabled. 

A highlight of the occasion included the ever-popular frog race, which had more than 500 entries this year vying for prizes. St. Madeleine’s swim team helped the plastic frog “contestants” along, kicking and splashing at the edge of the pool, while a “frog princess” at the opposite end declared the official winners. 

View a video of the frog race: http://youtu.be/o6kFCc-V2Uk

Click "read more" and scroll down for more photos and details from this event.

April 19, 2014 (La Mesa) – A 71-year-old La Mesa man, Michael James Bliss, died at the scene of a three-car collision on I-8 west of 70^th Street that occurred last night at 10:42 p.m.

April 19, 2014 (San Diego's East County) --Listen to a tape of the fire whistleblower interview here, which originally aired on the East County Magazine Radio Show on KNSJ 89.1 FM on April 18, 2014: 

https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

Just how effective is the new County Fire Authority at fire protection?  While some areas have improved since the 2003 and 2007 wildfires,Craig Williams, an information technology specialist with Campo Fire Department shares shocking details on fire stations unmanned across our backcountry—and what could be done to keep rural residents safe. 

April 19, 2014 (Lemon Grove) - Continuing this season's theme, "immigrant history alive right now," the Lemon Grove Historical Society will present Warda Yonan on the "History Alive" lecture series on May 1 at 7 p.m. in the H. Lee House Cultural Center, 3205 Olive, Lemon Grove.

April 18, 2014 (La Mesa) – Kristin Kjaero sent in this appetizing photo of  Kumquat Salad, crowned by home-grown kumquats. The tart citrus fruits, thinly sliced, are served atop Napa cabbage along with red, yellow and green bell peppers all sliced cole-slaw style.  This creative salad served up at a Passover feast was topped by a honey-mustard vinaigrette dressing.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

April 18 2014 (San Diego)--Stress, like water, seems to seep into every level of our life.  “What makes it worse, it’s very unhealthy says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.  In fact it’s so dangerous stress needs to be addressed and reduced.”  No worries here as April is “National Stress Awareness month.”  You may be surprised by the number of stressors in your life that you can eliminate!

Alexandra Suarez and Ainsleigh Douglas

April 16, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--Members of the San Diego SeaStars Synchronized Swimming Team, which practices in Spring Valley, earned 9^th place in the duet event at the 2014 U.S. National Championships.

April 17, 2014 (Alpine)--The 21st Annual Alpine Woman's Club Victorian Tea - Saturday, May 17, 2014 at the Alpine Woman's Club. The club is located at 2156 Alpine Blvd in the historic Town Hall.  Mark your calendar for this very special occasion! As momentum builds for the Club's Centennial Celebration coming up in October, this year's Tea promises to be extra special!  This year's entertainment will be "Fashion Through Time," a show spanning a century of fashionable attire presented by members of the San Diego Costumer's Guild.

By Miriam Raftery

April 17, 2014 (Jamul) – Superior Court Judge Ronald Prager heard arguments today in a lawsuit by family members alleging that a contractor for Jamul Indians removed and dumped human remains.  The families seek an injunction to halt construction of a casino that the  tribe is building at the Jamul Indian Village site.

Plaintiffs contend that a contractor for the tribe, C.W. Driver, dug up the families’ remains from the historical cemetery at the casino site and dumped the human remains, with Caltrans permission on the state’s construction site for a new freeway interchange in Otay.

By Jessica Richmond

Listen to our radio interview with Fotios “Frank” Tsimboukakis here:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

April 12, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) - The race for California’s 38^th State Senate district seat has been heating up since the arrival of Fotios “Frank” Tsimboukakis.  He has made it a point to challenge incumbent Joel Anderson on many key issues—including taking a stand against environmentally harmful energy projects in East County. Tsimboukakis has testified in public hearings against industrial solar and wind projects, as well as the Quail Brush gas-fired power plant, while Anderson has been largely silent on these controversial plans, critics have pointed out.

Tsimboukakis has also proposed plans to make college tuition free, cut wasteful spending, and convene public hearings on funding firefighting, with an eye toward possibly repealing or amending state fire fees.  He has also pledged to hold regular town hall meetings in the district to hear from voters, faulting Anderson for not hosting town halls for constituents to share their views.

Listen online here from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wed. April 16: http://knsj.org/knsjpopup.html

Hot topics:

• ECM special investigative report on Sheriff response times. How safe is your community?

• Solar leader Daniel Sullivan says "absolutely" industrial wind/solar projects in our backcountry are not needed. We can produce more clean power for less money AND save our scenic areas. Find out what must change to stop this senseless devastation.

• Frank Tsimboukakis, candidate challenging State Senator Joel Anderson, takes stand against big energy projects in our region and shares his plan to eliminate tuitions at public universities and colleges in California.

• Ariele Johannsen’s Destination East County tells you about the hottest events coming up—from a glow-in-the-dark egg hunt to Lakeside's Western Days, a wine-and-rails ride through our backcountry and many others.

All this and more on this Wednesday's East County Magazine show!

You can listen online at the link above (it may take a few moments to load, after you click the play button) or on KNSJ 89.1 FM at 5 p.m. Wednesday.