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Coyote Season Is Here: Simple Ways to Keep Pets and Families Safe in Irvine

Issue # 0549

Author

Joshua Tjia
15 Jan

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🎹🎶 Beethoven, Chopin, and More: Seong-Jin Cho Brings a Night of Classical Piano, Jan 28

🏙️📄 Irvine City Council Votes to Indefinitely Table Veterans Columbarium Proposal

⚠️🐺 Coyote Season Is Here: Simple Ways to Keep Pets and Families Safe in Irvine

🐐🚶🏻‍♀️🍓 Games, Goats, and Giving: Walk to Feed OC Returns to Tanaka Farms

🎨📚 Learn, Play, and Grow This Summer at Crean Lutheran Youth Camps

🧠🥗 Eat Smart, Feel Sharp: Flavorful Recipes That Support Brain Health

🌳🥾 Get Moving This Sunday: Fitness Hike at Hicks Haul in Limestone Canyon

💧🖌️ Calling Young Artists: Enter IRWD’s 2026 Water Awareness Poster Contest

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🌱🐈‍⬛ Keeping Pets Safe: Common Houseplants That Can Be Toxic to Dogs and Cats

🏐 UC Irvine Men's Volleyball Sweeps Princeton in Home Opener to Stay Unbeaten

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚔📦 Irvine Police Seek Suspect in Alexandria Package Theft

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

Why was the cantaloupe sad?

He was feeling a little melon-choly.

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

Beethoven, Chopin, and More: Seong-Jin Cho Brings a Night of Classical Piano, Jan 28

World-renowned pianist Seong-Jin Cho will perform on January 28 at 8:00 PM at Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, featuring a richly layered program spanning Liszt, Beethoven, Bartók, and an extensive selection of Chopin waltzes. Celebrated for his poetic depth and technical brilliance, Cho—winner of the 2015 Chopin International Competition—continues to shape the global classical scene, with recent honors including the 2023 Samsung Ho-Am Prize and a 2024–25 Artist-in-Residence role with the Berliner Philharmoniker, alongside appearances at the world’s leading orchestras and festivals.

Irvine City Council Votes to Indefinitely Table Veterans Columbarium Proposal

The Irvine City Council voted 4–3 to set aside a proposal to study building a municipal columbarium, effectively stopping plans to create a local place to store veterans’ ashes.

  • Supporters argued a columbarium could offer a lower-cost, space-efficient alternative to a full veterans cemetery and address long-standing community interest.

  • Opponents cited budget concerns, unclear scope, and conflicts over location—particularly whether it should be at the Great Park’s ARDA site.

  • The decision reflects continued division among city leaders after more than a decade of debate over how and where Irvine should honor its veterans.

Coyote Season Is Here: Simple Ways to Keep Pets and Families Safe in Irvine

With coyote mating season underway from January through March, residents may notice a bit more coyote activity around Irvine. Coyotes are a natural part of our local environment and generally avoid people, but small pets can be vulnerable. A few simple, everyday steps can help keep pets and families safe.

Safety Tips:

  • Keep cats and small dogs indoors or close by, especially in the evening and early morning

  • Stay nearby when pets are outside, even in fenced yards

  • Feed pets indoors and avoid leaving food outside

  • Secure trash cans with tight lids and put trash out the morning of pickup

  • Keep yards tidy by clearing brush, debris, and fallen fruit

  • Remove standing water and other potential food or water sources

  • Add lighting to outdoor areas; motion lights or sprinklers can be helpful

  • Enclose the bottoms of decks and porches where wildlife might shelter

  • Do not approach or feed them

  • If you see a coyote acting protective, calmly create space and move away

For additional information, visit cityofirvine.org/coyote-bulletin or contact Irvine Animal Services Field Patrol at 949-724-7092.

Games, Goats, and Giving: Walk to Feed OC Returns to Tanaka Farms

Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County invites the community to the Walk to Feed OC 2026 on Saturday, April 18, at Tanaka Farms in Irvine. This family-friendly event features a scenic walk through the farm’s strawberry fields, plus fun activities like a petting zoo, carnival games, and chances to win prizes—all in support of fighting hunger in Orange County.

Register here

Learn, Play, and Grow This Summer at Crean Lutheran Youth Camps

Crean Lutheran High School is bringing back its Summer Youth Camps for 2026, offering students entering Grades 1–12 a chance to learn, play, and grow in a faith-based environment. The camps feature a wide range of programs including arts, leadership, technology, sports, and more, with daycare available for families.

Find more information here

Eat Smart, Feel Sharp: Flavorful Recipes That Support Brain Health

Research shows that heart-healthy eating patterns, such as the Mediterranean and DASH diets, are also linked to better brain health. Diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and anti-inflammatory ingredients may support memory, focus, mood, and long-term cognitive health while reducing the risk of stroke and neurodegenerative disease.

Try these recipes shared by UCI Health which are designed to support brain health.

🥗 Roasted Beet & Sweet Potato Salad

  • Antioxidant-rich beets support brain signaling and mood

  • Leafy greens and walnuts reduce inflammation and support cognition

🥘 Quinoa Vegetable Paella

  • Quinoa provides steady energy and focus

  • Beans and vegetables deliver B vitamins and potassium

  • Turmeric helps fight inflammation and support mood

🍫 Crispy Dark Chocolate Banana Rolls

  • Dark chocolate improves blood flow and boosts mood

  • Bananas support serotonin production and sustained energy

Get Moving This Sunday: Fitness Hike at Hicks Haul in Limestone Canyon

Join a Sunday Fitness Hike on January 18, from 7:00–10:00 a.m. at Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve, with the hike starting at the Hicks Haul Road staging area. This fitness-focused hike covers about 8.5 miles with 1,200 feet of elevation gain. Combining paved roads and trails, this hike offers sweeping views of Orange County and moves at a brisk 3.5 mph pace.

Free Coloring Pages

Enjoy these complementary coloring pages as our gift to you! It’s available to download and print for creative fun

Calling Young Artists: Enter IRWD’s 2026 Water Awareness Poster Contest

IRWD is inviting students in grades K–12 to enter its 2026 Water Awareness Poster Contest, themed “Water Connects Us All.” Young artists are encouraged to creatively show how water links people, communities, and nature.

  • Entries will be judged by age group on originality, artistic skill, and how well they follow the theme and rules.

  • Finalists receive recognition and move on to county and regional contests, with top prizes including an iPad and a chance to be featured in a regional water awareness calendar.

  • Entries are due Feb. 26—details and guidelines are available at IRWD.com/postercontest

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

No further events scheduled for this month.

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School's Music Calendar

No further events scheduled for this month.

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

No further events scheduled for this month.

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

Upcoming Irvine High Choral’s Music Calendar

  1. January 23 - 24: Advanced Choirs Retreat Weekend, Pali Retreat

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.ihschoralmusic.org/calendar.html 

Upcoming Portola High School Music’s Calendar

No further events scheduled for this month.

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.phsmusicbooster.org/buy-ticket

Keeping Pets Safe: Common Houseplants That Can Be Toxic to Dogs and Cats

Houseplants can make your home feel fresh and inviting, but some popular varieties can pose serious risks to pets. Being aware of which plants are toxic can help pet parents create a safer, pet-friendly home and know when to seek veterinary care.

Toxic Houseplants for Pets:

  • Jade plant

  • Daffodil

  • Hyacinth

  • Chrysanthemum

  • Asparagus fern (foxtail fern / emerald fern)

  • Philodendron

  • Tulips

  • Sago palm

  • Oleander (Nerium)

  • Lilies

  • Aloe

UC Irvine Men's Volleyball Sweeps Princeton in Home Opener to Stay Unbeaten

UC Irvine swept Princeton 3–0 in its home opener at the Bren Events Center to improve to 4–0 on the season. UCI has now won 12 straight sets to start the year and will next travel to Pepperdine on Friday.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Women’s Tennis

  • Fri, Jan 16– vs Houston, 2:00 PM

  • Sun, Jan 18– vs Nevada, 11:00 AM

Women’s Basketball

  • Sat, Jan 17– vs UC Davis, 2:00 PM

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Baseball

  • Sat, Jan 17 - vs Mt. San Antonio, 11:00 AM

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated With January Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

January 2026

Friday, January 16

  • Water Polo, Girls - 4:15 PM vs Northwood

  • Basketball, Girls - 5:30 PM vs University

  • Soccer, Boys - 6:00 PM vs Laguna Beach

Irvine Police Seek Suspect in Alexandria Package Theft

Irvine Police are seeking help identifying a woman involved in a recent package theft from a home on Alexandria. The suspect reportedly stole a delivered package, left a Bible in its place, and fled in a vehicle believed to have flame decals on the side. Anyone who recognizes the woman is asked to contact Detective Baskin at [email protected].

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

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