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Irvine Supports Local Food Needs, Raising 3,300+ Pounds During Operation “Bridge the Gap”

Issue # 0528

Author

Joshua Tjia
03 Dec

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

📦🥬🫘 Irvine Supports Local Food Needs, Raising 3,300+ Pounds During Operation “Bridge the Gap”

🩰❄️ Step Into the Enchanted World of The Nutcracker With ABT and Pacific Symphony

🌲🎶🌲 Celebrate the Season at Crean Lutheran’s Joy of Christmas: The First Noel Concert

🏮🎨 Calling All Creatives: Join the 2026 O.C. Lantern Festival Art Contest

🍬🍭 Join Woodbridge's Gingerbread Workshop for Little Bakers, Dec. 10

🩺 Get Job-Ready with Quick & Easy Pre-Employment Physicals in Irvine

🌱🧤 Grab Free Compost This Saturday: OC Waste & Recycling Reschedules Giveaway

🍰🎊 Discover Festive French Flavors at Irvine’s Holiday Appetizers Workshop, Dec. 9

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🎄🎶 Beachy Carolers Bring Holiday Cheer to Woodbury Town Center, Dec. 12

⚽️ UCI Women’s Soccer: Colombini and de Bakker Earn All-West Region Honors

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏃🏻‍♀️🌟 IUSD Cross Country: Summer Wilson Sets Record, Woodbridge Boys Take D2 Runner-Up

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚔💊 IPD Arrest Woman After Probation Search Reveals Gun and Narcotics

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What do snowmen call their kids?

Chill-dren.

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

Irvine Supports Local Food Needs, Raising 3,300+ Pounds During Operation “Bridge the Gap”

Irvine community members, local businesses, and partner organizations joined the City of Irvine for Operation “Bridge the Gap,” an emergency food drive responding to recent CalFresh/SNAP disruptions. Despite rainy weather, the one-day event collected more than 3,300 pounds of shelf-stable food and raised over $33,000 to support five Irvine food pantries and help purchase fresh items for families experiencing uncertainty. City leaders and partner agencies expressed appreciation for the community’s cooperation and generosity.

Residents interested in continuing to support food security efforts are invited to participate in the City’s monthly Food Box Distribution program.

Step Into the Enchanted World of The Nutcracker With ABT and Pacific Symphony

American Ballet Theatre’s acclaimed production of The Nutcracker returns to Segerstrom Center for its 10th season, featuring Alexei Ratmansky’s choreography, stunning designs by Tony winner Richard Hudson, and live music by Pacific Symphony. This holiday classic follows Clara and her nutcracker prince through a magical dream world filled with dazzling characters and over 100 performers. Multiple cast pairings will take the stage from December 11–21; don’t miss this magical holiday tradition .

Celebrate the Season at Crean Lutheran’s Joy of Christmas: The First Noel Concert

Join Crean Lutheran High School for Joy of Christmas: The First Noel, a festive concert featuring beloved carols and performances by the school’s music and dance programs on Tuesday, December 9, at 7:00 p.m. at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. This uplifting evening celebrates the season’s joy and the message of Luke 2:10.

Tickets are available online at creanlutheran.org/arts/purchase-tickets

Calling All Creatives: Join the 2026 O.C. Lantern Festival Art Contest

The O.C. Lantern Festival is looking for community members to join in as artists, performers, booth participants, and volunteers! The 2026 Art Contest, open to all Southern California residents, invites artwork inspired by the theme “Illuminating the Future.” 

  • Top entries earn $200 and Pacific Symphony tickets, and selected pieces will be displayed at the festival.

  • Submit your artwork online or email it to [email protected] by Monday, January 26 at 5 p.m.

Join Woodbridge's Gingerbread Workshop for Little Bakers, Dec. 10

Get ready for a sweet holiday treat — Woodbridge Village Association is hosting a fun and festive gingerbread house workshop for kids ages 4–11. Little ones can enjoy an afternoon of creativity on Wednesday, December 10, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. at the Woodbridge Community Center, where they’ll decorate their very own gingerbread house to take home.

Get Job-Ready with Quick & Easy Pre-Employment Physicals in Irvine

Irvine Woodbridge Walk-In Urgent Care makes it easy to complete your pre-employment physical with fast, thorough exams tailored to your job needs.

What’s included:

  • Vital signs check

  • Vision & hearing tests

  • Drug and alcohol screening

  • Immunizations, vaccinations, and titers

  • Musculoskeletal and spine review

  • Lab tests + optional TB testing

Start your new job with confidence—walk in anytime for a quick, reliable exam.

Grab Free Compost This Saturday: OC Waste & Recycling Reschedules Giveaway

OC Waste & Recycling has rescheduled its free Compost Giveaway to Saturday, December 6, from 7:30 AM to 12 PM. Residents can pick up nutrient-rich compost at Irvine and San Juan Capistrano—just bring your own shovel and containers. The Brea location will offer bagged compost while supplies last. Arrive early to take advantage of this eco-friendly opportunity and visit OClandfills.com for details.

Discover Festive French Flavors at Irvine’s Holiday Appetizers Workshop, Dec. 9

Join Arts in Irvine for a festive French Holiday Appetizers class where you’ll cook and taste bite-sized French recipes perfect for seasonal parties and easy holiday entertaining. The French Baking: Holiday Appetizers workshop takes place on Tuesday, December 9, with sessions from 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 6–8:30 p.m.

Register online at cityofirvine.org/yourirvine.

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

  3. December 9, 7 - 8:30 PM: Vocal Music Winter Concert, NHS Theater

  4. December 12 , 7 - 8:30 PM: Winter Gala Concert – Jazz Ensemble I, Wind Symphony, Philharmonic, and Vocal Music, 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

  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

  1. December 12, 7 - 9 PM: PHS Choir Concert – SPIRIT OF THE SEASON

  2. December 13, 3 PM: PHS Choir Concert – SPIRIT OF THE SEASON Matinee

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

Beachy Carolers Bring Holiday Cheer to Woodbury Town Center, Dec. 12

Enjoy a festive evening of live carolers with a fun beachy twist at Woodbury Town Center on Saturday, December 12, from 5–7 PM. Soak up the cheerful holiday vibes while you shop for gifts and celebrate the season at one of Irvine’s joyful community spots.

UCI Women’s Soccer: Colombini and de Bakker Earn All-West Region Honors

UC Irvine women’s soccer earned two All-West Region honors from United Soccer Coaches, marking the fifth straight season with multiple Anteaters recognized.

  • Big West scoring leader Mia Colombini earned Second Team honors after posting seven goals—including three game-winners—and 15 points.

  • Defender Suus de Bakker returned from injury to lead all Big West defenders with five goals and helped UCI secure nine clean sheets.

  • The program has now collected 11 All-West Region selections over the last five seasons.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Men’s Basketball

  • Thur, Dec 4 – vs UC Riverside, 7:00 PM

  • Sat, Dec 6 – vs CSUN, 7:00 PM

Women’s Basketball

  • Sat, Dec 13 – vs California Baptist, 2:00 PM

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Women’s Basketball

  • Tue, Dec 9 - vs LA Mission, 5:00 PM

Men's Basketball

  • Sat, Dec 13 - vs San Diego Miramar, 5:00 PM

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

IUSD Cross Country: Summer Wilson Sets Record, Woodbridge Boys Take D2 Runner-Up

IUSD celebrates standout cross-country performances as Irvine High’s Summer Wilson breaks records to win the CIF State title, while Woodbridge High’s Boys Cross Country team and runner Aidan Antonio earn top state and national honors.

🏅 Summer Wilson – Irvine High

  • CIF State Champion

  • All-time state course record: 16:20 (5K)

  • Also won Southern Section CIF with new school, course & state records

🏃‍♂️ Woodbridge Boys Cross Country

  • Finished 2nd in Division 2 at CIF State

⭐ Aidan Antonio – Woodbridge

  • 5th in state

  • Qualified for Nike Cross Country Nationals

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated With December Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

December 2025

Wednesday, December 3

  • Water Polo, Girls - 4:00 PM vs Canyon/Anahiem

  • Wrestling, Girls - 5:00 PM vs Laguna Beach

  • Wrestling, boys - 5:00 PM vs Laguna Beach

Thursday, December 4

  • Soccer, Boys -5:00 PM vs Tustin

Friday, December 5

  • Basketball, Boys - 7:00 PM vs Saddleback

IPD Arrest Woman After Probation Search Reveals Gun and Narcotics

Irvine Police arrested a 35-year-old Mission Viejo woman after a patrol officer noticed a suspicious vehicle parked in a hotel fire lane on Technology Drive. A probation check and search revealed a handgun and narcotics, leading to her arrest on firearm and drug charges.

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 28 - December 30 Santa's Village

November 28 - December 28 Hikari: Festival of Lights

December 4 - 6 Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake 8 PM

December 6 Annual Trout Fishing Derby 6 AM - 1 PM

December 6 Skate with Santa 10 - 11:30 AM

December 6 Illuminate Irvine 3 - 8 PM

December 9 Holiday Organ Spectacular 7:30 PM

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