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Irvine’s Citywide Serve Day Engages Nearly 700 Volunteers

Issue # 0518

Author

Joshua Tjia
17 Nov

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🏙️💙 Irvine’s Citywide Serve Day Engages Nearly 700 Volunteers

🧸🎁 Healing Hearts: Stuffed Animal Drive to Comfort Child Victims of Crime

🛑🌧️ Stay Dry: San Diego Creek and Peters Canyon Trails Closed for Safety

🚧 💧 Nighttime Lane Closures on Sand Canyon Nov. 18–20 for IRWD Pipeline Work

🥬🫘 IUSD Shares Community Food Resources to Assist Families in Need

🥘🥗 Make-Ahead Holiday Recipes to Simplify Your Festive Feast

🎄 Christmas Tree Lights Up Nightly at Irvine Spectrum

🎁🍪 Great Park Hosts Gingerbread House Workshop on December 10

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🎄🐈‍⬛ Holiday Donation Drive Begins: Help Irvine Pets Find Warmth and Care

⚽️ UC Irvine Men’s Soccer Wins Big West Title, Clinches NCAA Berth

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈 Beckman Football Battles Rain and Fullerton for Playoff Victory

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚓🚧 Drone Helps Irvine Police Nab Construction Site Burglary Suspect

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What is a turkey’s favorite weather?

Fowl weather.

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

Irvine’s Citywide Serve Day Engages Nearly 700 Volunteers

Nearly 700 volunteers participated in Love Irvine’s fifth annual Citywide Serve Day, starting with a community gathering at Woodbridge Village Center before spreading out to 32 service projects across the city. Volunteers of all ages helped with activities such as writing cards for veterans, assembling sandwiches for local shelters, and packing wellness kits. The event highlighted Irvine’s diversity and strong community spirit, bringing residents together to support local needs.

Healing Hearts: Stuffed Animal Drive to Comfort Child Victims of Crime

Crime Survivors Resource Center & Healing Hearts Rooms are collecting new stuffed animals this holiday season to comfort children who have experienced trauma. The nonprofit supports victims and families through emotional care, advocacy, and essential resources that help them heal and rebuild their lives.

To donate or learn more contact (844) 853-HOPE, [email protected], or visit www.crimesurvivors.org.

Stay Dry: San Diego Creek and Peters Canyon Trails Closed for Safety

Due to flooding from recent rain, the City of Irvine has closed several bike trail underpasses for safety. City staff are monitoring conditions and will reopen trails once they’re safe. Stay alert and avoid flooded areas.

🚫 Current Trail Closures:

🌧️ San Diego Creek Trail

  • All underpasses from Campus to Alton

  • Additional closures from Los Olivos to Harvard at:

    • Los Olivos

    • State Route 133

    • Alton

    • Culver

    • Paseo Westpark

    • Harvard

🌧️ Peters Canyon Trail

  • Barranca

  • Warner

  • Walnut

  • Railroad tracks and Como Trail

  • Harvard

  • 5 Freeway

  • El Camino

Nighttime Lane Closures on Sand Canyon Nov. 18–20 for IRWD Pipeline Work

A temporary nighttime lane closure will take place on Sand Canyon Avenue at Marine Way from 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m., November 18–20, to connect new construction to an Irvine Ranch Water District pipeline.

For details, contact [email protected].

IUSD Shares Community Food Resources to Assist Families in Need

IUSD reminds families that free breakfast and lunch will continue to be offered on all campuses, ensuring students have reliable access to nutritious meals. For families who may need a little extra help with food during these times, the following community resources are available:

  • Families Forward – Irvine-based food pantry offering essential groceries and additional supportive services.

  • Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County – Provides countywide food distribution through an extensive partner network.

  • OC Food Bank (Community Action Partnership of Orange County) – Offers food assistance and community support programs.

  • 2-1-1 Orange County – Call to receive personalized information on nearby food banks and distribution centers.

  • OC Free Food Map (ocfoodhelp.org) – An interactive tool to locate local food pantries and distribution sites.

Make-Ahead Holiday Recipes to Simplify Your Festive Feast

With the busy holiday season approaching, these make-ahead recipes offer flavorful, nutritious options that can ease meal prep and keep gatherings festive without the stress. Each dish highlights seasonal ingredients, immune-boosting veggies, and simple steps you can prepare in advance.

  • Baked Artichoke & Spinach Polenta:
    A creamy, comforting casserole made with gluten-free polenta, nutrient-rich artichokes, spinach, and Gruyère. Can be assembled ahead and baked before serving.

  • Roasted Garlic Ratatouille:
    A colorful, veggie-packed dish layered with squash, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, and roasted garlic for a rich, aromatic flavor. Prep the sauce and most veggies in advance for easy assembly.

  • Tiramisu Trifle:
    A lighter take on a holiday classic using silken tofu and cream cheese to create a velvety, protein-rich dessert layered with coffee-soaked ladyfingers. Make up to three days ahead and dust with cocoa just before serving.

Christmas Tree Lights Up Nightly at Irvine Spectrum

Enjoy nightly holiday light shows at the 75-foot tree in the Irvine Spectrum’s Giant Wheel Court from Nov 28 to Jan 4, 2026, with choreographed displays every 30 minutes from 5–11 p.m. Plus, explore more festive lights and holiday fun throughout the Spectrum.

Great Park Hosts Gingerbread House Workshop on December 10

The Great Park is hosting a festive Gingerbread House Workshop on Wednesday, December 10, from 3:30–5:30 p.m. at the Great Park Visitors Center. Families, friends, and creators ages 5+ can design and decorate their own gingerbread house, enjoy seasonal refreshments, and take home their holiday masterpiece.

Registration is open through December 1 at yourirvine.org.

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

  1. December 3, 7 - 8:30 PM: Instrumental Winter Concert, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, NHS Theater

  2. December 4, 7 - 8:30 PM: Instrumental Winter Concert, Guitar, Symphonic Strings, Concert Orchestra, NHS Theater

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School's Music Calendar

  1. December 11 - 12, 6:30 - 8:30 PM: Winter Concerts, WHS 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. December 5, 7 PM: Winter Celebration Concert, WHS Performing Arts Center

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

Upcoming Irvine High Choral’s Music Calendar

No events scheduled for the rest of this month.

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

Upcoming Portola High School Music’s Calendar

No events scheduled for the rest of this month.

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

Holiday Donation Drive Begins: Help Irvine Pets Find Warmth and Care

The Irvine Animal Care Center has launched its Holiday Donation Drive which remains open until January 15, inviting the community to support pets in need. Donations of any size help fund essential programs like Enhanced Care, Foster Care, and Third Chance for Pets, providing medical treatment, safe shelter, and loving support to animals awaiting their forever homes.

Give the gift of comfort and hope this holiday season by donating at cityofirvine.org/holidaydrive.

UC Irvine Men’s Soccer Wins Big West Title, Clinches NCAA Berth

UC Irvine men’s soccer defeated top-seeded UC Santa Barbara 2–1 in the Big West Championship to secure its sixth conference title and eighth NCAA Tournament berth. The Anteaters extended their unbeaten streak to 11 matches.

Travis Babineau scored the opener and assisted Hunny Yoo’s game-winning goal, while Nolan DiCenzo was named Tournament MVP.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Women’s Volleyball

  • Fri, Nov 21 – vs UC Santa Barbara, 6:00 PM

Men’s Water Polo

  • Fri, Nov 21– vs Big West Championship, TBA

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Women's Basketball

  • Wed, Nov 19 – vs El Camino, 7:00 PM

Men's Basketball

  • Fri, Nov 21 - vs Cuyamaca, 5:00 PM

Beckman Football Battles Rain and Fullerton for Playoff Victory

Beckman High’s senior running back Makhi Czaykowski powered through heavy rain to lead the Patriots to a 30–13 CIF Division 8 quarterfinal win over Fullerton. Beckman earned its first semifinal berth since 2011 and eighth straight victory.

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated With November Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

No events scheduled for the rest of this month.

Drone Helps Irvine Police Nab Construction Site Burglary Suspect

On November 11, Irvine Police officers responded to a burglary alarm at a new home construction site near Bosque and Hornet. Utilizing the department’s Drone as First Responder program, officers observed a suspect loading stolen construction materials into a pickup truck. The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Froy Miranda Barrera of Laguna Hills, attempted to flee but was safely apprehended with the assistance of drone surveillance. He was arrested for burglary and resisting arrest.

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 20 - November 22 Shelley Conducts Carmen and Daphnis and Chloe 8 PM

November 22 Lao Tizer Band

November 23 PSYCB: Songs of the Earth 1 PM

November 25 PSYO: Light in Darkness 7 PM

December 4 - 6 Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake 8 PM

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