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Free Food Box Giveaway at Irvine Great Park on November 12

Issue # 0726

Author

Joshua Tjia
02 Nov

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🗳️ Before You Vote: Reform California’s "Plain English" Guide Highlights Ballot Measures, Candidates, and Potential Hidden Taxes

📦🥬🫘 Free Food Box Giveaway at Irvine Great Park on November 12

🦃🍁 Help Make Thanksgiving Special for Local Families: Join the Families Forward Thanksgiving Food Drive

📚🍔 Read Books, Earn Burgers: Irvine Kids Can Enjoy Free In-N-Out Through November 14

🍂🍽️Ways to Eat Healthier, Stay Active, and Feel Your Best as the Holiday Season Approaches

🌳🖌️ Get Creative in Nature: Join a Morning of Sketching and Painting at Bommer Canyon, Nov. 14

🍁🎨 Shop, Sip & Celebrate Fall at Woodbury Town Center’s Modern Makers Mart, Nov. 14–15

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🍌♻️ Freeze Now, Compost Later: Recycling Shares Tips for Composting Food Scraps

🎾 UC Irvine Men’s Tennis Defeats Cal Poly 4–2

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈 Portola Football Edges Esperanza 26-25, Clinches CIF Playoff Berth

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚔💳 Irvine Police Ask for Public’s Help Identifying Three Suspects in Debit Card Theft

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What’s a fire's least favorite month?

No-ember.

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

Before You Vote: Reform California’s "Plain English" Guide Highlights Ballot Measures, Candidates, and Potential Hidden Taxes

Carl DeMaio and Reform California have released their “Plain English” voter guide to give you an easy-to-understand explanation of the ballot measures and to grade candidates.

Check out Reform California's “Plain English” Voter Guide below so you know what you are actually voting on – complete with ratings for all candidates on your ballot (including school board and judges) along with red flags on any measures with hidden tax hikes.

Free Food Box Giveaway at Irvine Great Park on November 12

The City of Irvine is offering free 30-pound food boxes to eligible residents on Thursday, November 12, from 9 a.m. to noon at Great Park, Parking Lot 2. Each box includes a variety of groceries such as fresh produce, beans, vegetables, dairy products, and proteins when available. Boxes are available first-come, first-served.

Help Make Thanksgiving Special for Local Families: Join Families Forward’s Thanksgiving Food Drive

Families Forward is collecting Thanksgiving food donations to help nearly 800 local families in need enjoy a warm holiday meal. Community members can donate items such as stuffing, rice, beans, boxed potatoes, canned vegetables, cranberry sauce, gravy, baking mixes, and Thanksgiving greeting cards. Donations can be dropped off at the Woodbridge Community Center through Monday, November 9. Every contribution helps bring a little extra joy to families this Thanksgiving!

Read Books, Earn Burgers: Irvine Kids Can Enjoy Free In-N-Out Through November 14

Irvine Public Library is inviting children ages 4–12 to participate in the In-N-Out Cover to Cover Club Reading Challenge through November 14. Kids who read five books or 300 minutes can earn an Achievement Award card redeemable for a free hamburger, cheeseburger, or grilled cheese at any In-N-Out location. Families can track reading through the Irvine Public Library Beanstack app or at irvine.beanstack.org, then pick up their award card at an Irvine Public Library children’s service desk.

Ways to Eat Healthier, Stay Active, and Feel Your Best as the Holiday Season Approaches

The holiday season is a time to enjoy delicious food and celebrate with loved ones, but it’s also important to maintain healthy habits. Registered dietitian Tamal Hampton shares simple tips to help you stay active, eat well, and maintain a healthy weight during the holidays and beyond.

  • 🚶 Stay Active: Make time for regular exercise, take walks with family and friends, or add extra steps while shopping.

  • 🥑 Choose Healthy Foods: Include fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and heart-healthy fats like olive oil, avocados, and nuts.

  • 🥗 Balance Your Plate: Fill half your plate with fruits and non-starchy vegetables, aiming for 3–5 servings daily.

  • 🍽️ Eat Mindfully: Slow down, enjoy your meals without distractions, and pay attention to when you feel full.

  • 💧 Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water and choose unsweetened beverages.

  • 🍰 Enjoy Treats in Moderation: Choose smaller dessert portions, limit fried foods, and avoid excessive alcohol.

  • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Make Healthy Habits a Family Goal: Share your wellness goals with loved ones and encourage each other to stay healthy.

Get Creative in Nature: Join a Morning of Sketching and Painting at Bommer Canyon, Nov. 14

Join the City of Irvine for Art on the Landmarks: Native Animals in the Wild on Saturday, November 14, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Bommer Canyon Preserve. Enjoy a relaxing morning sketching or painting mounted native animals, scenic landscapes, and historic landmarks. Artist Jessica Beck will provide drawing demonstrations and guidance.

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Shop, Sip & Celebrate Fall at Woodbury Town Center’s Modern Makers Mart, Nov. 14–15

Celebrate fall at Modern Makers Mart’s “Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice” event on November 14–15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Woodbury Town Center. Shop from 55+ local makers, enjoy hands-on crafts, and listen to live music. Admission is free, and pets are welcome.

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

  • November 4 - Irvine Band Spectacular, 7:00 PM

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

  • November 3 - Concordia Treble Chorus Festival, 6:30 PM

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

Upcoming Irvine High Choral’s Music Calendar

  • November 4 - Band Spectacular, 7:00 PM

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

Upcoming Portola High School Music’s Calendar

No upcoming events

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

Freeze Now, Compost Later: Recycling Shares Tips for Composting Food Scraps

Make composting easier with this simple tip from OC Waste & Recycling. Freezing your kitchen scraps until collection day can help reduce odors and keep things clean. Here's how:

  • 🥕 Place food scraps in a resealable bag.

  • 🧊 Seal the bag and store it in the freezer until pickup day.

  • 🪣 On collection day, transfer the frozen scraps into your kitchen compost bucket.

  • 🌱 Empty the bucket into your curbside organics cart.

UC Irvine Men’s Tennis Defeats Cal Poly 4–2

UC Irvine men’s tennis defeated Cal Poly 4–2, led by singles victories from Dev Mangat, Mason Bui, and Nathaniel Suh. Suh also teamed up with Yashwin Krishnakumar for a 7–5 doubles win.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Men’s Basketball

  • Tue, Nov 3 - vs Chapman, 7:00 PM

  • Sat, Nov 7 - vs San José State, 7:00 PM

Baseball

  • Sat, Nov 7 - vs UCLA, 1:00 PM

Men’s Soccer

  • Sat, Nov 7 -vs UC Santa Barbara, 6:00 PM

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Women’s Soccer

  • Tue, Nov 3 - vs Cypress, 3:00 PM

  • Tue, Nov 10 - vs Golden West, 2:30 PM

Women’s Volleyball

  • Wed, Nov 4 - vs Orange Coast, 6:00 PM

  • Tue, Nov 10 - vs Cypress, 6:00 PM

  • Thu, Nov 12 - vs Saddleback, 6:00 PM

Women’s Basketball

  • Sat, Nov 7 - vs El Camino , 1:00 PM

Men’s Basketball

  • Thu, Nov 5 - vs Ventura, 7:00 PM

  • Fri, Nov 6 - vs IVC Classic, TBA

Men’s Soccer

  • Fri, Nov 6 - vs Saddleback, 2:30 PM

  • Fri, Nov 13 - vs Orange Coast, 2:30 PM

Portola Football Edges Esperanza 26-25, Clinches CIF Playoff Berth

Portola High School football secured second place in the Kappa League and an automatic CIF playoff berth with a 26-25 comeback victory over Esperanza. Gavin Morrell led the Bulldogs with 135 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated with November Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

November 2026

Monday, November 9

  • Water Polo, Girls - vs Tesoro, 4:00 PM

Tuesday, November 10

  • Water Polo, Girls - vs Canyon/Anaheim, 4:30 PM

Irvine Police Ask for Public’s Help Identifying Three Suspects in Debit Card Theft

The Irvine Police Department is asking for the public’s help identifying three suspects involved in a distraction fraud scheme in early September. One suspect allegedly used sleight of hand to steal a debit card from a Walmart shopper’s wallet after they left the store. The other two suspects were later seen withdrawing nearly $4,000 from an ATM in Tustin and a bank in Hacienda Heights before the card was canceled. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Dave Etlinger at 949-724-7188 or [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

November 6 - 7 Idina Menzel 8 PM

November 7 Love Irvine: Citywide Serve Day 8 AM - 12 PM

November 7 Holiday Faire 10 AM - 4 PM

November 8 Barber, Beach & More 3 PM

November 11 Veterans Day Ceremony 11 AM - 12:30 PM

November 12 Free Grocery Food Box 9 AM - 12 PM

November 13 IRWD Green Dome Community Tour 10 AM - 2 PM

November 14 – 15 Modern Makers Mart: Woodbury Town Center 10 AM - 4 PM

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