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Irvine Raises Minimum Wage for City Workers to $20–$25 per Hour

Issue # 0424

Author

Joshua Tjia
09 Jun

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh Of The Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🏙️💵 Irvine Raises Minimum Wage for City Workers to $20–$25 per Hour

🚜🚧 City Begins Pavement Improvements in Woodbridge North; Work Scheduled Through November

🫖🍰 Afternoon Tea Returns to Tanaka Farms June 29 with Scenic Views and Treats

🍊🥭🫧 Sip into Summer! 85°C Offers BOGO 50% Off on Fruity Sparkling Sodas

🍨🍧 Free Build-Your-Own Ice Cream Sundae for Kids on Wednesdays at Lazy Dog

🏥🌟 UCI Health Earns National Nursing Honors for Excellence in Patient Care

⚠️🌳 Temporary Trail Closures on Venta Spur Trail Begin June 9 for Tree Work

🩰 Pointeworks Offers Mentorship Program for Aspiring Ballet Dancers in Irvine on June 20

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

☀️🐾 Keep Pets Safe in the Heat: Tips for a Cool, Comfortable Summer

⚾️ UCI Baseball’s Ricky Ojeda Named Finalist for Stopper of the Year Award

🏀🏐🎾⚾ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚓🚨 Lake Forest Man Arrested for Vehicle Burglary in Irvine, Stolen Tools Recovered

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What do flowers say when they apologize?

“I’m sow sorry.”

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

Irvine Raises Minimum Wage for City Workers to $20–$25 per Hour

On June 3, the Irvine City Council approved a living wage ordinance that sets new minimum wages for City employees and certain contract workers.

  • Part-time and seasonal City workers will now earn at least $20 per hour, while full-time workers will earn a minimum of $25 per hour.

  • The ordinance also applies to employees of City contractors with annual contracts over $200,000.

  • The change affects around 80 to 100 workers and is expected to cost the City $200,000 to $300,000 annually.

  • The vote passed 6-1, with Vice Mayor James Mai opposing.

City Begins Pavement Improvements in Woodbridge North; Work Scheduled Through November

The City of Irvine has begun pavement rehabilitation and slurry seal work in the Woodbridge North neighborhood as part of ongoing road quality improvements.

  • Residential street work is scheduled on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and arterial street work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

  • The project will proceed in phases: Quadrants 1 & 2 (June–July), Quadrants 3 & 4 (July–October), and major roads like West Yale Loop, Yale Ave, and Warner Ave (October–November).

  • More information

Afternoon Tea Returns to Tanaka Farms June 29 with Scenic Views and Tre

ats

Afternoon Tea returns to Tanaka Farms on Sunday, June 29, from 11 AM to 1 PM at the Hilltop Venue. Guests will enjoy scones, sandwiches, tea, and a scenic tractor ride.

Find more information here

Sip into Summer! 85°C Offers BOGO 50% Off on Fruity Sparkling Sodas


85°C Bakery Cafe is offering a Buy 1, Get 1 50% OFF deal on their Bubbly Series drinks — Grapefruit, Yuzu Lavender, and Mango Peach. The offer is valid June 1–30, in-store or through the app only. Download the app to redeem and enjoy these refreshing sparkling sodas this summer!

Free Build-Your-Own Ice Cream Sundae for Kids on Wednesdays at Lazy Dog

Until June 25, Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar at The Market Place is offering a free Build Your Own Ice Cream Sundae for kids every Wednesday as part of their Family Nights promotion.

  • To get the free sundae, simply order any Kid’s Entrée (for guests 12 and under). It’s a fun, midweek treat for families looking to enjoy a night out.

  • Offer valid Wednesdays only and for a limited time.

UCI Health Earns National Nursing Honors for Excellence in Patient Care

UCI Health — Orange's emergency department has earned the annual DAISY Team Award, a prestigious recognition for nursing excellence, after a grateful patient praised their compassionate care during a traumatic injury.

  • The facility, Orange County’s only Level I trauma center, is known for handling complex cases and remains the busiest trauma center in the region.

  • In addition to the team award, individual DAISY honors went to nurses across UCI Health locations for exceptional clinical and emotional care: Nick Tumarao, Henry Ursua, Wendy Mai, and Emily Mock.

Temporary Trail Closures on Venta Spur Trail Begin June 9 for Tree Work

The City of Irvine will conduct routine tree maintenance along the Venta Spur Trail from Monday, June 9 to Friday, June 13, requiring partial trail closures between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Closure sections include:

  • June 9–10: Jeffrey Rd to Eastwood

  • June 11: Eastwood to Yale Ave

  • June 12–13: Yale Ave to Culver Dr

Pointeworks Offers Mentorship Program for Aspiring Ballet Dancers in Irvine on June 20

Pointeworks, a nonprofit ballet company, is launching a Mentorship Program for Aspiring Dancers on Friday, June 20, from 1–3 PM at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. Open to ballet students aged 15 and older in Irvine and surrounding areas who aim to pursue dance professionally, the program offers an opportunity to take a company class and engage in a career-focused mentorship lasting beyond the event.

  • Selected participants will receive one-on-one guidance, networking access, and professional insight from current Pointeworks artists.

  • To apply, email your name, age, school affiliation, years of training, a brief career goals statement, and a video (min. 2 minutes) to [email protected].

We will resume with the high school music calendar events when the schedule is available for the fall semester.

Keep Pets Safe in the Heat: Tips for a Cool, Comfortable Summer

With warmer days ahead, it’s important for pet owners to help their animals stay cool and safe. Pets need plenty of fresh water, access to shade, and protection from hot pavement—if the ground feels too hot to the touch, it’s too hot for paws. These small steps can keep pets healthy and happy all summer long.

More seasonal pet care tips are available here.

UCI Baseball’s Ricky Ojeda Named Finalist for Stopper of the Year Award

UC Irvine’s Ricky Ojeda has been named one of 13 finalists for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year award. The sophomore made history as the first reliever to win Big West Pitcher of the Year after a standout season with a 13-1 record, 3.55 ERA, two saves, and 83 strikeouts in 66 innings over 29 appearances. Opponents batted just .210 against him.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

We will resume with UCI’s athletic calendar events when the schedule is available for the fall quarter.

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

We will resume with IVC’s athletic calendar events when the schedule is available for the fall semester.

We will resume with the high school athletic calendar events when the schedule is available for the fall semester.

Lake Forest Man Arrested for Vehicle Burglary in Irvine, Stolen Tools Recovered

Last month, Irvine patrol officers responded to a vehicle burglary in a secured garage on the 2100 block of Scholarship. Several tools were stolen, but officers quickly identified 46-year-old Brandon Louis Whitaker of Lake Forest as the suspect. Thanks to the city’s license plate reader system, officers tracked and arrested him near the city border. Whitaker was booked for burglary and grand theft, and a follow-up search warrant at his home led to the recovery of most of the stolen tools.

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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