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Human Trafficking Sting in Orange County Leads to Rescue and Arrest

Issue # 0148

Author

Joshua Tjia
23 Apr

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh Of The Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🏥💡 UCI Health Innovates with All-Electric Plant at Irvine Campus

🍊🎠 This Week in Great Park: Art Exhibits, Farmers Markets, and More

🌸🌕🌸 Look Up: The Full Pink Moon Shines Bright in the Northern Hemisphere

🏫🏆 Four Irvine Unified School District Schools Earn California Distinguished School Title for 2024

📝📖 Irvine Heritage Park Library Offers Free Homework Help for Grades 2-8

🕷️😷 How to Quickly Treat Bug Bites and Bee Stings at Family Care Centers

🌳🚶‍♂️ Discover Hiking, Biking, and More at Black Star Canyon’s Wilderness Access Day

🌹🌺🌹 Spring Blooms at South Coast Plaza: Fleurs de Villes ARTISTE Showcases Floral Masterpieces

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐇🐈 Meet the 33 Lucky Pets Who Found Their Forever Families This Week in Irvine

⚾️ UC Irvine Baseball Set to Challenge UCLA Bruins and UC Riverside Highlanders in Key Midweek Clashes

🎾 UC Irvine Men’s Tennis Wrap Regular Season with a Solid Win, Head to Big West Semifinals

🏀🏐🎾⚾ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

✍🏻📄 Three Crean Lutheran High School Athletes Commit to College Teams

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚔👮 Human Trafficking Sting in Orange County Leads to Rescue and Arrest

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What did the lion say before he went out hunting?

“Let us prey.'“

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

UCI Health Innovates with All-Electric Plant at Irvine Campus

UCI Health has completed a new central utilities plant (CUP) at its Irvine medical campus, marking a significant advancement in their sustainability goals. This innovative facility, the first of its kind to be all-electric in powering a medical center, uses no natural gas or carbon combustion, aligning with their pledge to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The plant features advanced systems like localized boilers, state-of-the-art chillers, and supplemental solar panels. This effort is part of UCI Health's broader commitment to reducing healthcare's environmental impact and enhancing patient care across Orange County. The new campus, expanding UCI Health's services, includes specialized facilities for cancer care, neurodevelopment disorders, and urgent care, aiming to fully operate by 2025.

This Week in Great Park: Art Exhibits, Farmers Markets, and More


This Week at Great Park, April 22-28:

  • Exhibition: Visit the Great Park Gallery for the “Natural Language: Contemporary Book Art” exhibit, open Thursdays to Sundays.

  • Farmers Market: Stop by the Great Park Certified Farmers Market on Sunday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Parking Lot 2.

  • Carousel Rides: Available Thursdays to Sundays; sign up required.

  • Activities: Explore various classes and activities for all ages at yourirvine.org.

Look Up: The Full Pink Moon Shines Bright in the Northern Hemisphere

Don't miss the Full Pink Moon on April 23, named after the Phlox subulata flower. While it won't appear vibrantly pink, it promises a spectacular view for a cozy evening in the Northern Hemisphere. 🌕🌸

Four Irvine Unified School District Schools Earn California Distinguished School Title for 2024

Four schools from Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) were awarded the prestigious title of 2024 California Distinguished Schools. These schools include Jeffrey Trail Middle School, South Lake Middle School, Venado Middle School, and Northwood High School. This recognition is part of a statewide program that honors schools for their outstanding achievements in student performance, well-being, and test scores. Out of the 293 schools recognized this year, 38 are in Orange County. The program, run by the California Department of Education, has been highlighting exemplary schools since 1985. IUSD's Board of Education President praised the efforts of students, staff, and parents in achieving this high standard of educational excellence.

Irvine Heritage Park Library Offers Free Homework Help for Grades 2-8

Free homework assistance is available for students in grades 2 through 8 at the Irvine Heritage Park Library. Volunteer teen homework helpers will be offering support on Thursday, April 25, from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM. Participants are reminded to bring all necessary supplies and materials.

How to Quickly Treat Bug Bites and Bee Stings at Family Care Centers

Bug bites and bee stings are common during outdoor activities and can usually be treated with over-the-counter remedies like anti-itch creams and antihistamines. However, if symptoms such as increased redness, swelling, or skin hardening worsen over 24-72 hours, urgent medical care may be required. Family Care Centers offer walk-in treatment seven days a week at their facilities in Irvine, Fountain Valley, and Costa Mesa, equipped with certified providers and modern amenities like on-site x-rays and labs. Emergency symptoms, particularly severe allergic reactions or signs of infection, should be addressed immediately by visiting an urgent care or calling emergency services.

Discover Hiking, Biking, and More at Black Star Canyon’s Wilderness Access Day

On May 4th from 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Black Star Canyon in the Irvine Ranch Open Space will host a Wilderness Access Day, offering self-guided hikes, biking, and equestrian activities along designated trails suitable for all skill levels. Participants can register online to receive driving directions and a map, though registration is not mandatory. The event promotes safety and environmental respect, requiring all visitors to stay on marked trails, adhere to trail etiquette, and come prepared with appropriate gear. Parking is limited, carpooling is recommended.

Spring Blooms at South Coast Plaza: Fleurs de Villes ARTISTE Showcases Floral Masterpieces

Fleurs de Villes ARTISTE is set to enchant visitors at South Coast Plaza this spring, from April 24-28. This free event features over 15 fresh floral installations by Southern California's top florists, celebrating notable artists from various disciplines. The showcase includes world-renowned floral mannequins and other pieces inspired by everything from contemporary artists to historical masters. Notable installations range from comic book themes to Impressionism, with specific setups like Kat’s Floral Design inspired by Culinary Arts and others paying homage to Mikimoto Pearls. The event is open to the public, starting at 1 PM on April 24, with the main exhibit in Jewel Court. For more details, visit fleursdevilles.com.

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

  1. May 11, 2024: Instrumental Music Awards

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

Upcoming University High School's Choirs Calendar

  1. May 2 & 3: Broadway Rocks! at 7:00 PM.

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.uhschoirs.org/2023-24-season.html

Upcoming Woodbridge High School's Music Calendar

No events scheduled for April.

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

  1. May 31st, 7 PM: Broadway Rocks Concert

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

Upcoming Irvine High School's Music Calendar

No events scheduled for April.

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

Upcoming Irvine High School's Choral Calendar

  1. Wed, April 26, 6:00 PM: SPUR Awards (Chordinated Chaos) at IHS Theater.

  2. Tues & Wed, May 28 & 29, 3:30-6:30 PM: Dress rehearsal “Voices” (All Choirs) at IHS Theater.

  3. Thurs.- Sat, May 30-June 1, 7:00 PM: Voices 2024 (All Choirs) at IHS Theater.

  4. Wed, June 5, 7:00 PM: Heritage Awards (Chorale) at IHS Gym.

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

Meet the 33 Lucky Pets Who Found Their Forever Families This Week in Irvine

From April 15-21, a total of 33 animals found new homes, including 8 dogs (Banner, Gia, Hazel, Jesus, Lucy, Marcus, Phoenix, Thor), 22 cats (Ashley, Aspen, Chris, Dewey, Dodger, Easter, Ethan, Francis, Jill, Leon, Lucy, Malcolm, Mia, Miami, Monica, Oliver, Penelope, Petri, Seattle, Tatum, Twinkie, Yankee), 1 rabbit (Babs), and 1 guinea pig (Cream). Additionally, 3 cats were sent to rescue and 5 pets were reunited with their owners. For more details on adopting, visit here.

UC Irvine Baseball Set to Challenge UCLA Bruins and UC Riverside Highlanders in Key Midweek Clashes

The UC Irvine Anteaters are set to play midweek baseball games against the UCLA Bruins and the UC Riverside Highlanders. They will face the Bruins at Jackie Robinson Stadium and then travel to Riverside for a three-game series against the Highlanders. The Anteaters, who have an impressive season record of 28-8 and are ranked 12th nationally, will start RHP Tim Grack against UCLA's RHP Luke Rodriguez. The weekend series will feature UCI pitchers Nick Pinto, Trevor Hansen, and Brandon Luu. UC Irvine is performing strongly this season, leading in multiple statistical categories and boasting players who rank among the nation's best. The team also celebrated key achievements, including Coach Ben Orloff surpassing a historic coaching milestone. Meanwhile, UCLA is struggling this season, and UC Riverside shows signs of improvement, making the upcoming games crucial for all teams involved.

UC Irvine Men’s Tennis Wrap Regular Season with a Solid Win, Head to Big West Semifinals

UC Irvine's men's tennis team concluded their regular season with a 4-1 victory over Hawai'i, securing a 15-6 overall record and a 5-1 in the Big West conference, boasting a strong 12-1 record at home. The team celebrated five seniors in their last home match. Despite losing the initial doubles point, UC Irvine dominated in singles, winning the necessary matches to clinch the victory. With this win, they secured the No. 2 seed for the Big West Championships, where they will start in the semifinals against either [3] Cal Poly or [6] UC Riverside on April 27, 2024, at 10:00 AM at Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego. The finals will occur the following day at the same time.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Baseball

  1. Fri, Apr 26: vs Steve Scott Invitational, All Day

  2. Sat, Apr 27: vs Steve Scott Invitational, All Day

Men's & Women's Track & Field

  1. Fri, Apr 26: vs Steve Scott Invitational, All Day

  2. Sat, Apr 27: vs Steve Scott Invitational, All Day

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

Baseball

  1. Thu, Apr 25: vs Saddleback, 2:00 PM

Women’s Beach Volleyball

  1. Wed, Apr 24: vs OEC Pairs Tournament, 12:00 PM

  2. Fri, Apr 26: vs OEC Pairs Tournament, 10:00 AM

Three Crean Lutheran High School Athletes Commit to College Teams

Three athletes from Crean Lutheran High School signed their national letters of intent to play sports in college:

  • Kylie Sarton will join UC Santa Cruz's girls beach volleyball team.

  • Parker Vigue will play lacrosse at Arizona Christian University.

  • Brody Champion will also play lacrosse, but at Concordia University in Irvine.

High School Athletics Calendar -

** Updated With April Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

April 2024

Tuesday, April 23

  • 03:15 PM: Tennis, Boys VR vs. Northwood High School at Irvine High School Heritage Park

  • 03:30 PM: Golf, Boys VR vs. Portola

  • 03:30 PM: Baseball VR vs. Beckman, Arnold at Irvine High School Baseball Field

Wednesday, April 24

  • 03:30 PM: Softball VR vs. Beckman, Arnold at Irvine High School Softball Field

  • 05:00 PM: Lacrosse, Girls VR vs. Northwood High School at Irvine High School Stadium

Thursday, April 25

  • 03:30 PM: Golf, Boys VR vs. Northwood High School

  • 03:30 PM: Baseball VR vs. Beckman, Arnold at Irvine High School Baseball Field

  • 05:00 PM: Lacrosse, Girls VR vs. Sage Hill at Irvine High School Stadium

Human Trafficking Sting in Orange County Leads to Rescue and Arrest

Last week, the IPD Special Investigations Unit and the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force conducted a sting operation at a local hotel, targeting a potential human trafficking case involving an adult female. The woman was rescued, and a 33-year-old Los Angeles man named Winston Jones was arrested on several charges related to human trafficking, including pimping and pandering. This operation underscores the ongoing efforts of local agencies to combat human trafficking and support victims. For more details on the task force's work, visit ochumantrafficking.com.

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 55% - 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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