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Flying Leatherneck Museum Receives AV-8B Harrier That Survived 2012 Camp Bastion Attack

Issue # 0369

Author

Joshua Tjia
21 Mar

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh Of The Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

✈️🚙 Flying Leatherneck Museum Receives AV-8B Harrier That Survived 2012 Camp Bastion Attack

🚗⚡️ Rivian Grand Opening Weekend at Irvine Spectrum – March 21–23

🚧🚜 Overnight I-5 Lane and Ramp Closures for Jeffrey Open Space Trail Bridge Construction

🥐🍞 Rose Bakery Cafe Now Open in Irvine — Grand Opening Event on March 26

🌟🎭 Over 60 IUSD Students Nominated for OC Artist of the Year Awards

👀 Learn About Eye Health and New Lens Technology at UCI Health’s Free Virtual Lecture – April 1

🦅🪶 Meet the Cooper’s Hawk: A Fast and Fearless Forest Predator

🎨 Connect & Create: Free Adult Painting Event at Irvine Heritage Park

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐈🐈‍⬛ How to House Train Your Kitten or Cat: Key Tips for Litter Box Success

🏀 UC Irvine Men’s Basketball Defeats Northern Colorado 82–72 in NIT First Round

🏀🏐🎾⚾ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏐 IVC Men’s Volleyball Defeats Santiago Canyon in Four Sets, Ends Skid

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚔🚨 Irvine Mother Arrested After Allegedly Killing 11-Year-Old Son Amid Custody Dispute

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

Why are mushrooms invited to parties?

Because they are such fungis!

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

Flying Leatherneck Museum Receives AV-8B Harrier That Survived 2012 Camp Bastion Attack

On March 14, the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum at the Great Park welcomed an AV-8B Harrier that survived the 2012 Taliban attack on Camp Bastion. The aircraft, part of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 (the Wake Island Avengers), honors the bravery of Lt. Col. Christopher Raible and Sgt. Bradley Atwell, who lost their lives defending their base. Of eight squadron Harriers, this one survived by being airborne during the attack. Now on display, it stands as a powerful tribute to sacrifice and legacy.

Rivian Grand Opening Weekend at Irvine Spectrum – March 21–23

Rivian has opened its first Southern California retail space at Irvine Spectrum Center and is celebrating with a Grand Opening Weekend March 21–23! Enjoy a full lineup of community-friendly events including food, music, family activities, and fitness. Highlights include Neighborhood Night with drinks and music, a kids' adventure-themed morning, and a free group workout session. RSVP is encouraged.

Event Lineup:

  • Friday, March 21 | 5 PM – 9 PM: Neighborhood Night – Food, drinks, tunes & community fun

  • Saturday, March 22 | 10 AM – 11 AM: Rivian Kids – Outdoor adventure-inspired family activities

  • Sunday, March 23 | 8 AM – 10 AM: Rivian Community Workout – Free fitness class hosted by F45 Training

Overnight I-5 Lane and Ramp Closures for Jeffrey Open Space Trail Bridge Construction

Construction on the Jeffrey Open Space Trail (JOST) Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge will require overnight lane and ramp closures on the I-5 Freeway. Expect partial lane closures on both northbound and southbound I-5 between Culver Dr. and Sand Canyon Ave., as well as full closures of the Jeffrey Rd. off-ramps.

  • Closures are scheduled for Wednesday, March 26, from 9 PM to Thursday, March 27, at 7 AM

  • and again Thursday night, March 27, through Friday morning, March 28.

  • More information

Rose Bakery Cafe Now Open in Irvine — Grand Opening Event on March 26

Rose Bakery Cafe has officially opened in Irvine! Known for its delicious pastries, rich coffee, and friendly service, this beloved cafe is now serving the Irvine community at 4250 Barranca Parkway, Suite L. Open daily from 6 AM to 4 PM, it’s the perfect place to grab breakfast, a midday treat, or a cozy cup of coffee. You're invited to celebrate at their Grand Opening on March 26 at 11 AM.

Over 60 IUSD Students Nominated for OC Artist of the Year Awards

Over 60 talented IUSD juniors and seniors have been nominated for the OC Register’s 2025 Artist of the Year Awards across all categories— including theater, dance, instrumental and vocal music, film/TV, media arts, and fine arts.

View the full list at iusd.org/Artistoftheyear2025.

Learn About Eye Health and New Lens Technology at UCI Health’s Free Virtual Lecture – April 1

Join the UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute for a free virtual community lecture on Tuesday, April 1, from 7–8 p.m.

  • Learn about the importance of annual eye exams and the latest in lens technology, presented by Dr. T. Scott Liegler.

  • This session is part of GHEI's Community Lecture Series, which covers topics like age-related eye diseases, glaucoma, cataracts, and keratoconus treatments.

  • Register here. For questions, contact [email protected] or call 949-824-7243.

Meet the Cooper’s Hawk: A Fast and Fearless Forest Predator

Meet the Cooper’s Hawk, a swift and agile predator that thrives in both forests and suburban neighborhoods. Known for its incredible aerial skills, this raptor is a master at chasing down prey through dense trees with speed and precision. Here are some fun facts about this impressive bird:

Fun Facts about the Cooper’s Hawk:

  • Can maneuver through trees at high speeds to catch prey mid-air

  • Specializes in hunting small birds but will also eat rodents

  • Uses its long tail for steering like a built-in rudder

  • Often seen in suburban neighborhoods, hunting backyard birds

Connect & Create: Free Adult Painting Event at Irvine Heritage Park

Join the Adult Paint Time session on Wednesday, March 26, from 11:15 AM to 12:00 PM at Irvine Heritage Park Library. This free, in-person event invites adults to relax and get creative with pots, canvases, paper, and paints—no registration required, but supplies are limited.

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

  1. March 26, 7:00-8:30 PM: IUSD Wind Ensemble Festival

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. April 17, 7:00 PM: IUSD Honors Concert, Segerstrom Performing Arts Center

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

  1. April 17, 7:00 PM: IUSD Honors Concert, Segerstrom Concert Hall.

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

Upcoming Irvine High School's Music Calendar

  1. March 26, 7:00-9:00 PM: IUSD Wind Ensemble Festival

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

How to House Train Your Kitten or Cat: Key Tips for Litter Box Success

Training your cat to use a litter box is simple with the right setup and a bit of patience. Here are the key tips to ensure success:

  • Use a large, uncovered litter box with fine, clumping clay litter.

  • Place boxes in quiet, easy-to-access locations—avoid food and sleeping areas.

  • Provide one litter box per cat, plus one extra.

  • Scoop daily, refresh litter weekly, wash the box monthly, and replace it yearly.

  • Start kittens or new cats in a small room with all essentials, including a litter box.

  • Supervise until your cat consistently uses the box, then slowly expand access.

  • If your cat eliminates outside the box, don’t punish—clean thoroughly and adjust box setup.

  • Persistent issues may indicate a medical problem—consult your vet if needed.

With a clean environment and positive reinforcement, most cats quickly develop great litter habits.

UC Irvine Men’s Basketball Defeats Northern Colorado 82–72 in NIT First Round

No. 1 seed UC Irvine surged late to defeat Northern Colorado 82–72 in the NIT first round at Bren Events Center, earning their first home NIT win and first since 1986. Devin Tillis led with 24 points and joined UCI’s 1,000-point club, while Bent Leuchten added 17 points and 10 rebounds. The Anteaters dominated the final 10 minutes with a 26–12 run, fueled by key plays from Hohn, Che, and Dixon. UCI shot 55.6% in the second half and held UNC to 32.4%. They now advance to face Jacksonville State on Sunday, March 23 at 6 PM.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Men's Tennis

  • Sat, Mar 22 – vs Dartmouth, 12:00 PM

  • Sun, Mar 23 – vs Harvard, 1:00 PM

Women's Tennis

  • Thu, Mar 27 – vs UC San Diego, 11:00 AM

  • Thu, Mar 27 – vs Stanton, 3:00 PM

Women's Water Polo

  • Tue, Mar 25 – vs Brown, 6:00 PM

  • Fri, Mar 28 – vs UC Santa Barbara, 12:00 PM

Baseball

  • Fri, Mar 28 – vs UC Riverside, 6:00 PM

Men's Track & Field

  • Fri, Mar 28 – vs Vince O'Boyle Track & Field Classic, TBA

Women's Track & Field

  • Fri, Mar 28 – vs Vince O'Boyle Track & Field Classic, TBA

IVC Men’s Volleyball Defeats Santiago Canyon in Four Sets, Ends Skid

Irvine Valley College men’s volleyball snapped a two-match losing streak with a four-set win over Santiago Canyon on the road, improving to 10-5 overall and 4-3 in division play. The Lasers hit .322 overall, highlighted by .577 hitting in the first and fourth sets. Four players recorded nine or more kills, including standout performances from Travis Kaufman (12 kills, .688 hitting) and Lucas Vo (11 kills, .444 hitting). Setter Anthony Diosdado led with 30 assists, while libero Cage Gonzalez had 14 digs.

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Men's Volleyball

  1. Fri, Mar 21 – vs Palomar, 6:00 PM

Women's Beach Volleyball

  1. Sat, Mar 22 – vs El Camino, 10:00 AM

  2. Sat, Mar 22 – vs Concordia University, Irvine, 1:00 PM

Men's Tennis

  1. Wed, Mar 26 – vs Linfield College, 10:00 AMv

Baseball

  1. Tue, Mar 25 – vs Saddleback, 2:00 PM

  2. Sat, Mar 29 – vs Saddleback, 12:00 PM

High School Athletics Calendar

** Updated With March Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

March 2025

Friday, March 21

  • 5:15 PM - Volleyball (Boys, VR) vs St. Margaret’s Episcopal at Irvine High School Game Gym

Irvine Mother Arrested After Allegedly Killing 11-Year-Old Son Amid Custody Dispute

Saritha Ramaraju, 48, of Irvine, was arrested on suspicion of murder, torture, child endangerment, and aggravated mayhem following the death of her 11-year-old son, Yatin Ramaraju, during a spring break visitation at a Santa Ana hotel. Authorities report she called 911 and confessed to the act; the child was found deceased with multiple stab wounds. Ramaraju had been involved in an ongoing custody dispute with the child's father, Prakash Raju, who held primary custody. Court documents detail mutual allegations of neglect, substance abuse, and parenting concerns. Yatin, a student in the Irvine Unified School District, was scheduled to return to his father the same day the incident occurred.

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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