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Irvine Modifies Great Park Plan, Pauses Consideration of Columbarium

Issue # 0537

Author

Joshua Tjia
16 Dec

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🎙️🎶 An Evening of Holiday Classics with Linda Eder and Billy Stritch, Dec. 18

🏞️🎈 Irvine Modifies Great Park Plan, Pauses Consideration of Columbarium

🚦 Traffic Signal Shutdown Today at Alton Pkwy & Technology West

🍓🍰 Sweet Deal: 15% Off All 85°C Bakery Holiday Cake Pre-Orders Through Dec. 18

👦🧸 Bring the Little Ones for a Morning of Play & Smiles at Heritage Park Library, Dec. 16–18

🚒❤️ OCFA Elevates Emergency Care with Advanced LIFEPAK 35 Heart Monitors

🐺🚲 Enjoy the Outdoors Safely: Know Irvine’s E-Bike Rules

🧣🎁 Holiday Shopping Party with Giveaways at Westpark Plaza, Dec. 20

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐕🐈 Weekly Irvine Animal Care Update: 18 Pets Adopted, 6 Reunited with Owners

🏀 UCI's Hunter Hernandez Repeats as Big West Women’s Basketball Player of the Week

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈 Woodbridge Football Finishes Season with CIF Titles and State Final Appearance

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚙🚓 Irvine Police Arrest Driver for Reckless Speeding on Portola Parkway

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What does the Christmas tree say to the light bulb when it’s sad?

Lighten up!

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

An Evening of Holiday Classics with Linda Eder and Billy Stritch, Dec. 18

Join Linda Eder on December 18, at 8 PM for Christmas Stays the Same, a holiday concert featuring music director Billy Stritch. The performance includes classic seasonal songs like “O Holy Night” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” along with Broadway favorites and selections from Eder’s wide-ranging repertoire in pop, jazz, and inspirational music. Known for her powerful, expressive voice and performances at major venues such as Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center, Eder offers an evening of diverse holiday and theatrical music.

Irvine Modifies Great Park Plan, Pauses Consideration of Columbarium

Irvine approved a land swap creating space for 1,300 new homes and bringing $15 million for Great Park development. The city council split on how the land should be used, ultimately voting 4–3 to remove plans for a possible columbarium while continuing broader planning discussions.

  • The debated land includes old El Toro base structures and has long been tied to past veterans cemetery proposals.

  • Although the area is zoned for cemetery use under a 2020 voter initiative, the city attorney said zoning does not restrict the city on its own property.

  • Mayor Agran argued any change should go back to voters, while others maintained the city can move forward without a ballot measure.

  • The decision delays any commitment to a columbarium while other uses continue to be explored.

Traffic Signal Shutdown Today at Alton Pkwy & Technology West

The City of Irvine is performing a traffic signal shutdown today at the intersection of Alton Parkway and Technology West from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as part of a synchronization project. While crews work to improve traffic flow along Alton, drivers can expect delays and use alternate routes when possible.

Sweet Deal: 15% Off All 85°C Bakery Holiday Cake Pre-Orders Through Dec. 18

85°C Bakery Café is offering 15% off all Holiday Cake pre-orders now through December 18, both in-store and online. This year’s festive lineup includes favorites like:

  • 🍓 Deluxe Strawberry Cream

  • 🍠 Ube Cream Cake

  • 🍫 Deluxe Chocolate Mousse

  • 🥭 Mango Crème Brûlée

  • ☕️ Classic Tiramisu

Bring the Little Ones for a Morning of Play & Smiles at Heritage Park Library, Dec. 16–18

Stay & Play invites families to enjoy relaxed, fun playtime together while helping little ones build early social and literacy skills. This free, all-ages drop-in program runs Tuesday through Thursday, December 16–18, from 10:30–11:30 a.m. at Heritage Park Library. No registration is needed—just stop by and join the fun!

OCFA Elevates Emergency Care with Advanced LIFEPAK 35 Heart Monitors


OCFA crews are now equipped with the new LIFEPAK 35 heart monitors, offering brighter touchscreens, improved CPR support, seamless compatibility with existing tools, and earlier detection of heart attack symptoms.

  • These monitors also send real-time patient data to hospitals, helping medical teams prepare faster and deliver safer, more coordinated care.

  • Building on a strong 2024—where OCFA exceeded the national average for restoring pulses after cardiac arrest—this advanced technology will further strengthen their lifesaving efforts.

Enjoy the Outdoors Safely: Know Irvine’s E-Bike Rules

To help protect wildlife, sensitive habitats, and lower fire risks, E-bikes are not allowed in the Irvine Open Space Preserve. Mayor Larry Agran shared a friendly reminder that spots like Quail Hill Loop Trail and Bommer Canyon Preserve are e-bike-free to help keep Irvine’s beautiful open spaces wild. Visitors are encouraged to take a moment to review the trail rules and check the city’s official trail map before heading out to enjoy the outdoors.

Holiday Shopping Party with Giveaways at Westpark Plaza, Dec. 20

The Let’s Get Jolly Holiday Event at Westpark Plaza on December 20, 11 AM–8 PM is a festive shopping party with refreshments, curated racks, giveaways, and prizes. Sell items for a chance to win a $1,000 Crossroads gift card (first 25 sellers get a free tote), and anyone who makes a purchase gets to spin the prize wheel.

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. December 16, 7 PM: Jazz the Halls, TBD

  2. December 18, 7 PM: Holiday Concert, IHS PAC

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

Weekly Irvine Animal Care Update: 18 Pets Adopted, 6 Reunited with Owners

From December 8–14, the Irvine Animal Care Center celebrated the adoption of 5 dogs, 12 cats, and 1 hamster, with pets like Butter, Cole, Ducky, Earl, Peanut, Boq, Pumpkin, and Cookie all finding new homes. Additionally, 4 dogs and 2 cats were happily reunited with their owners.

For adoption details and hours, visit cityofirvine.org/animals.

UCI's Hunter Hernandez Repeats as Big West Women’s Basketball Player of the Week

UC Irvine senior guard Hunter Hernandez repeated as the Big West Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after scoring 27 points and surpassing 1,000 career points in UCI’s win over California Baptist. She led efficiently on both ends, boosted her season average to 16.7 points, and helped extend the Anteaters’ winning streak to eight, improving to 9–2 on the season.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Men’s Basketball

  • Fri, Dec 19 – vs Belmont, 6:00 PM

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Men's Basketball

  • Tue, Dec 30 - vs LA Valley, 5:00 PM

Woodbridge Football Finishes Season with CIF Titles and State Final Appearance

Woodbridge High School Football wrapped up a historic season:

  • Earning the CIF-SS Division 13 title

  • Winning the CIF Division 7-AA Regional Championship

  • And competing in the CIF 7-AA State Final

Their comeback-run was powered by hardworking players, dedicated coaches, and incredible community support. Congratulations to the Warriors on an unforgettable year!

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated With December Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

December 2025

Tuesday, December 16

  • Soccer, Girls - 5:00 PM vs Corona Del Mar

  • Basketball, Boys - 6:30 PM vs Savanna

Friday, December 19

  • Basketball, Girls - 5:00 PM vs Laguna Hills

  • Soccer, Boys - 5:00 PM vs St. Margarets Episcopal

Irvine Police Arrest Driver for Reckless Speeding on Portola Parkway

Irvine Police arrested a 22-year-old Mission Viejo man for reckless driving after he was seen going over 110 mph on Portola Parkway and lost control of his BMW. The vehicle was impounded for 30 days as the department continues efforts to reduce dangerous driving in the community.

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 14 - December 30 Dream Glow Festival 4:30 - 10 PM

November 28 - December 28 Hikari: Festival of Lights

November 28 - December 30 Santa's Village

December 19 The Rinks: Ugly Sweater Skate 6 - 9 PM

December 21 Tis the Season!

December 21 Tribute to Mikhael Tariverdiev 6 - 7 PM

December 23 Fiesta Navidad 8 PM

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