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City of Hope Expands Cancer Care in Irvine with $1.5 Billion Investment

Issue # 0389

Author

Joshua Tjia
18 Apr

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh Of The Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🎻🎹 Violinist Alina Ibragimova and Pianist Cédric Tiberghien Perform at Irvine Barclay Theatre on April 25

🌷⛪️🌷 Celebrate Easter Sunday at Free Chapel OC: Worship, Message & Family Fun

🏞️🛝 Irvine to Host “State of the Great Park” Celebration on May 6

🌸👴🏼 Celebrate Older Americans Month with Free Activities All May in Irvine

🧩 Come Play & Learn! Family-Friendly Fun at Heritage Park on April 22

🏥 City of Hope Expands Cancer Care in Irvine with $1.5 Billion Investment

🦇 Why Bats Matter: Pollinators, Pest Controllers, and Nature’s Only Flying Mammals

🎺🎶 Free Art & Jazz Event at Great Park This Saturday, April 19

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🥕🐇🥕 Smart Feeding for Rabbits: Essentials and Foods to Avoid

🌟 Jolie Robinson Named Anteater of the Week After Record Heptathlon

🏀🏐🎾⚾ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀 Saiki and Barnett Earn All-Conference Honors for IVC Women's Basketball

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

⚾️ Baseball Roundup: Irvine Rolls Past Portola, Woodbridge Shuts Out University

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

🌟🏪🎉Irvine’s Best Kept Secrets: Is Your Business One of Them?

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What do rabbits say before eating?

Lettuce pray.

We hope this joke brings some laughter to your day! 😁

Violinist Alina Ibragimova and Pianist Cédric Tiberghien Perform at Irvine Barclay Theatre on April 25

Catch world-renowned violinist Alina Ibragimova and pianist Cédric Tiberghien in concert on Friday, April 25, at 8 PM. Their program includes Janáček’s Violin Sonata, Enescu’s Violin Sonata No. 3, Gerald Barry’s Triorchic Blues, and Beethoven’s iconic Violin Sonata No. 9, Kreutzer. Known for their extraordinary partnership since meeting in 2005 through the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists program, the duo has captivated audiences in top venues across Europe and North America, including Carnegie Hall and the Concertgebouw Amsterdam.

Celebrate Easter Sunday at Free Chapel OC: Worship, Message & Family Fun

Celebrate Easter Sunday at Free Chapel OC on Sunday, April 20 with worship and a message during services at 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, and 12:30 PM. Childcare is available for infants through 5th grade. Come together with loved ones to honor the resurrection of Jesus Christ and experience a day of hope and joy.

Irvine to Host “State of the Great Park” Celebration on May 6

The City of Irvine will host the State of the Great Park on Tuesday, May 6, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Great Park Live, located at 8000 Great Park Boulevard (Parking Lot 2). The event, led by Great Park Chairman Mike Carroll, is free and open to the public.

  • It will include keynote presentations from city officials, immersive exhibits, virtual reality experiences, live musical performances, airplane demonstrations, and a variety of recreational activities for all ages.

  • Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the park’s development history, current initiatives, and future plans. Food vendors, giveaways, and family-friendly programming will also be available.

  • For more information, visit stateofthegreatpark.org.

Celebrate Older Americans Month with Free Activities All May in Irvine

Celebrate Older Americans Month this May (May 1–31) at Lakeview, Rancho Senior Centers, and Trabuco Center with a month of free activities, community connection, and prize opportunities.

  • Earn raffle tickets by participating in events, with winners drawn the week of June 2.

  • Visit cityofirvine.org/yourirvine to learn more and sign up.

Come Play & Learn! Family-Friendly Fun at Heritage Park on April 22

On Tuesday, April 22, , from 11:50 AM to 12:10 PM, Irvine Heritage Park Library will host an in-person Play & Learn event for children. This early learning session encourages development through interactive play and is open to families, kids ages 0–11, and caregivers.

City of Hope Expands Cancer Care in Irvine with $1.5 Billion Investment

City of Hope Orange County, under the leadership of Annette Walker, is implementing a $1.5 billion initiative to expand access to advanced cancer care in the region.

  • This includes the establishment of the Lennar Foundation Cancer Center in Irvine and a forthcoming 73-bed hospital dedicated exclusively to cancer treatment, expected to open by the end of the year.

  • The institution is also preparing to launch clinical trials focused on early cancer detection through blood testing.

  • Irvine’s infrastructure, safety, educational resources, and cultural diversity have contributed to the recruitment of specialized medical professionals.

  • Walker attributes the organization’s progress to a culture that encourages innovation, adaptability, and strategic resource utilization.

Why Bats Matter: Pollinators, Pest Controllers, and Nature’s Only Flying Mammals

Yesterday was International Bat Appreciation Day, a time to recognize the essential role bats play in our ecosystems. With over 1,200 species globally—48 of which are found in the U.S.—bats are emerging from hibernation and resuming their work as pollinators, pest controllers, and the only mammals capable of true flight. Their contributions are especially important for plant health and agricultural balance.

Free Art & Jazz Event at Great Park This Saturday, April 19

Head to the Great Park Palm Court Arts Complex on Saturday, April 19, from 1–3 p.m. for a free Arts in Irvine event featuring Jazz in the Palm Court and a self-guided origami workshop called Origami for Breakfast.

  • Attendees can fold paper breakfast-themed art and enjoy live jazz music.

  • The event is family-friendly, open to all skill levels, and no registration is required.

  • Bring your own seating.

  • Held in support of the “More Than You Can Chew” exhibition at the Great Park Gallery.

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

  1. May 10th, 4-7:00 PM: Instrumental Music Awards and Reception, NHS Theater

  2. May 16th, 5:30 PM: Jazz at the Oak, NHS Oak

  3. May 21st - 22nd, 7:00 PM: POPS Concerts, NHS Theater

  4. May 30th, 7:00 PM: POPS Gala, NHS Theater

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://timbmusic.org/events/

Upcoming University High School's Choirs Calendar

  1. May 1-2, 7:00 PM: Broadway Rocks!, Big Theater

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.uhschoirs.org/2024-25-season.html

Upcoming Woodbridge High School's Music Calendar

  1. May 2, 7:00-10:00 PM: WHS Warrior Dance Company Spring Show

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.whs-music.org/

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

  1. May 10, 7:00 PM: Open Mic Night, Black Box.

  2. May 30, 7:00 PM: Broadway Rocks Concert, WHS Performing Arts Center

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://woodbridgechoirs.weebly.com/calendar.html

Upcoming Irvine High School's Music Calendar

  1. May 2, 7:30 PM: Music Under the Stars (MUTS), Irvine Amphitheater

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.vimb.info/calendar

Smart Feeding for Rabbits: Essentials and Foods to Avoid

While cartoons may have popularized the idea that bunnies munch on carrots all day, rabbits actually eat a wide variety of vegetables. Here are some rabbit diet tips:

  • Hay first – Main part of their diet for digestion and dental health.

  • Fresh veggies daily – Variety is key for nutrients.

  • Carrots = treat only – Too much sugar can cause GI issues.

  • Pellets in small amounts – Choose quality, give sparingly.

  • Best veggies include: romaine, bok choy, mustard greens, carrot tops, cilantro, watercress, broccoli leaves, beet greens, basil.

Stick to fiber-rich foods and mix things up for a happy, healthy bunny!

Jolie Robinson Named Anteater of the Week After Record Heptathlon

UC Irvine senior Jolie Robinson was named Sgt. Pepperoni’s Anteater of the Week after a standout heptathlon performance at the Bryan Clay Multis. Robinson scored a personal-best 5,489 points, ranking 2nd all-time at UCI, 1st in the Big West, 5th in the West Region, and 10th nationally this year. She set lifetime bests in the 100H, 200m, and 800m, and recorded strong marks in the high jump, long jump, shot put, and javelin.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Women's Tennis

  • Fri, Apr 18 – vs Long Beach State, 2:00 PM

  • Sat, Apr 19 – vs Hawai'i, 2:00 PM

Men's Tennis

  • Sat, Apr 19 – vs UC Davis, 10:00 AM

Saiki and Barnett Earn All-Conference Honors for IVC Women's Basketball

Irvine Valley College women's basketball players Moka Saiki and Samantha Barnett were honored with All-Orange Empire Conference selections after helping lead the team to a 16-14 season.

  • Saiki, a Portola High alum, made the first team and also earned WBCA Two-Year College All-American Honorable Mention. She started all 30 games, averaging 12.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, with 109 career three-pointers.

  • Barnett, from Downey High, earned second-team honors and also started all 30 games, averaging 11.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game, highlighted by a 27-point game vs. Saddleback.

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Women's Flag Football

  • Fri, Apr 18 Saddleback 2:00 PM

Women's Beach Volleyball

  • Wed, Apr 23 OEC Pairs Play-Ins (Round of 32's and 16's)

  • Fri, Apr 25 Orange Empire Conference Pairs (Quarterfinals through Consolations and Finals)

Baseball

  • Thu, Apr 24 – vs Orange Coast*, 2:00 PM

Baseball Roundup: Irvine Rolls Past Portola, Woodbridge Shuts Out University

Pacific Coast League

  • Irvine 6, Portola 2: Irvine (11-11, 6-3) moved into second place. Drake Brito struck out 6 over 4 innings; Roshan Patel pitched 3 scoreless innings and went 2-for-3 with a run.

  • Woodbridge 3, University 0: Vince DeMarco struck out 10 over 5 scoreless innings and went 3-for-3; Dylan Mutuc earned the save.

  • Laguna Beach 7, Northwood 0: The Breakers stayed undefeated in league play.

High School Athletics Calendar

** Updated With April Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

April 2025

Friday, April 18

  • Baseball (VR) – 3:30 PM vs. Portola at Irvine High School Baseball Field

  • Boys' Volleyball (VR) – 5:15 PM vs. Laguna Beach at Irvine High School Game Gym

Tuesday, April 22

  • Boys' Golf (VR) – 3:30 PM vs. Portola at TBD

Irvine’s Best Kept Secrets: Is Your Business One of Them?

We know our community is brimming with businesses that have fascinating stories and big hearts. If you’re a local business owner making waves, crafting unique experiences, or simply putting a smile on our faces, we want to chat with you! “Irvine Insider” is eager to shine a light on the unsung heroes of our city. Let’s collaborate and let the community know what makes your business special.

Click the link below and fill out the Local Business Spotlight Application Form to be featured and let’s celebrate the spirit of Irvine together!

Irvine Insider is sent to a local audience of Irvine residence Monday through Friday with 50% - 60% open rate. Our newsletter is a great way to reach Irvine residents.

  • Kaiser Permanente Irvine Farmers Market

  • Saturday Farmers Market at Mariners Church Irvine

    • When: Saturday, 8 AM - 12 PM

    • Where: 5428 Bonita Canyon Dr, Irvine, CA 92603

  • Great Park Certified Farmers Market

  • Manassero Farmers

    • When: Daily, 9 AM - 4:30 PM

    • Where: 33 Irvine Valley, Irvine, CA 92604

  • Tanaka Farms

    • When: Daily, 9 AM - 5 PM

    • Where: 5380 3/4 University Dr, Irvine, CA 92612

    • More Info:Tanaka Farms

April 15-19 Shen Yun 2025

April 19 Helicopter Egg Drop 10 -11 AM

April 24 Hiromi's Sonicwonder 8 PM

April 25 Irvine Community Bike Tour 2:30 to 4:30 PM

April 26 Used Oil Filter Exchange 8 am - 2PM

April 26 Spectrum Silent Disco 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

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