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IVC Honored as One of America’s Top 200 Community Colleges by Aspen Institute

Issue # 0506

Author

Joshua Tjia
29 Oct

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

✈️🏗️ Irvine Celebrates Groundbreaking for Future Marine Corps Aviation Museum

📚🌟 IVC Honored as One of America’s Top 200 Community Colleges by Aspen Institute

🛒🎉 Celebrate the Grand Opening of Super Irvine International Market This Friday

🍎🍸🍁 Celebrate the Season at Hello Kitty Cafe Irvine with a Sparkling Fall Sip

🎺🥁 IUSD Band Spectacular Returns Nov. 5 at Irvine High School

🚑 🩺 Rady Children’s Urgent Care Now Open in Irvine — Compassionate Care Close to Home

🍄🍂 Join Irvine’s Spooky 3-Mile Plant Adventure at Bommer Canyon

🪡🧵 Hands-On Fashion Fun: Join Holiday Apron Workshops at U Design School of Art

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐈🐇 Heartwarming Week of Adoptions: 16 Irvine Pets Find Forever Homes

🎾 UC Irvine Women’s Tennis Promotes Hermont Legaspi to Assistant Coach

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

⚖️💧 Concordia to to Reinstate Women’s Athletic Programs Following Court Ruling

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈 Crean Lutheran Boys Water Polo Wins First Crestview League Title

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚓💄 Teamwork Pays Off: Irvine & Costa Mesa Police Nab Ulta Theft 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 vampire's favorite fruit?

A neck-tarine!

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

Irvine Celebrates Groundbreaking for Future Marine Corps Aviation Museum

The City of Irvine and the community marked the start of construction for the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum at the Great Park, set to open in 2027.

  • The museum will showcase over 40 historic military aircraft, many once stationed at MCAS El Toro, and feature STEAM education programs and a research library dedicated to Marine Corps aviation history.

  • The groundbreaking included remarks from city and Marine Corps leaders and a flyover by two T-6 Texans, one formerly based at El Toro.

IVC Honored as One of America’s Top 200 Community Colleges by Aspen Institute

Irvine Valley College has been named one of the Top 200 U.S. Community Colleges eligible for the 2027 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, recognizing exceptional student success, access, and career outcomes. President Dr. John Hernandez said the honor reflects IVC’s dedication to transforming lives through quality education. The 200 selected colleges will now undergo a detailed review leading to the 2027 prize announcement.

Read more here

Celebrate the Grand Opening of Super Irvine International Market This Friday

Join the celebration for the Grand Opening of Super Irvine International Market this Friday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Parkview Center!

  • Enjoy a live DJ, fresh kabobs, tasting stations, and grab one of 100 $10 gift cards for the first guests in line.

  • Discover Irvine’s newest global specialty market hall, featuring international goods, a bakery, and farm-to-table produce from the owners’ local farm.

Celebrate the Season at Hello Kitty Cafe Irvine with a Sparkling Fall Sip

Hello Kitty Cafe Irvine is shaking up something special this season — a festive fall cocktail made with bourbon, apple brandy, apple cider, lemon, cinnamon, and prosecco. It’s available only during Cocktail Hour for guests 21+.

IUSD Band Spectacular Returns Nov. 5 at Irvine High School

Don’t miss the Annual IUSD Band Spectacular on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. at Irvine High School! Marching bands from all five IUSD high schools and local middle school musicians will light up the field with an evening of music and community spirit. Everyone’s invited to cheer on Irvine’s talented student performers!

Rady Children’s Urgent Care Now Open in Irvine — Compassionate Care Close to Home

Rady Children’s Urgent Care is now open at 5665 Alton Parkway, Suite 300, in the Oak Creek Shopping Center near Woodbridge.

🩺 The clinic offers pediatric care for infants through teens — from sore throats and ear infections to mild injuries, allergies, and more. Parents can save their spot in line online and wait comfortably from home.

🗓️ Open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., including holidays, this welcoming new center—made possible by the Tsao Family Foundation—provides expert, compassionate care right in your neighborhood.

📞 Phone: 949-868-0402
🌐 Learn more: choc.org/urgent-care

Join Irvine’s Spooky 3-Mile Plant Adventure at Bommer Canyon

Join the City of Irvine on Friday, Oct. 31, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. for a spooky 3-mile hike at Bommer Canyon Preserve to explore native and non-native plants and their impact on our ecosystem. Come for the hike, stay for the nature discoveries, and enjoy a morning of fresh air and fall fun in Irvine’s wildlands!

Hands-On Fashion Fun: Join Holiday Apron Workshops at U Design School of Art

U Design School of Art invites young creatives (grades 3–8) to its Fashion Design Workshop for Kids at Woodbridge Village Center. Kids will design, cut, and sew their own holiday aprons, learning basic stitching and fabric selection.

🪡 Upcoming sessions are on Saturdays, November 1 and November 8, from 11:15 AM to 12:45 PM.

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

  1. November 5, 5-9 PM: Band Spectacular, Irvine HS

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School's Music Calendar

No events scheduled for the rest of 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 events scheduled for the rest of 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. October 30, 7 PM: Vaquero JR Voices Concert

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

Heartwarming Week of Adoptions: 16 Irvine Pets Find Forever Homes

From October 20–26, Irvine Animal Care Center celebrated 16 adoptions — including:

  • 2 dogs (Chester, Qtip)

  • 12 cats (Acorn, Billy, Flapjack, Gary, Geek, Ghost, Jakob, Keanu, Mira, Nyx, Rikard, Rumi),

  • 1 bird (Bingo)

  • 1 rabbit (Willow)

  • Additionally, 5 dogs were reunited with their owners.

Congratulations to all the pets and families! Learn more at cityofirvine.org/animals.

UC Irvine Women’s Tennis Promotes Hermont Legaspi to Assistant Coach

UC Irvine women’s tennis promoted Hermont Legaspi to assistant coach after serving as a volunteer last season. Head coach Elizabeth Ferris Smith praised his energy, experience, and leadership. A former Sacramento State standout and three-time Big Sky Player of the Week, Legaspi now coaches at the Racquet Club of Irvine and continues to compete locally. He’s eager to help guide the Anteaters through a successful season.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Women’s Tennis

  • Thu, Oct 30 – vs UCI Fall Invitational, TBA

  • Fri, Oct 31 – vs UCI Fall Invitational, TBA

Men’s Water Polo

  • Thu, Oct 30 – vs Long Beach State, 6:00 PM

Concordia to to Reinstate Women’s Athletic Programs Following Court Ruling

Following a recent court ruling, Concordia University Irvine has been directed to reinstate its women’s swimming, diving, and tennis teams after a judge determined the planned cuts may not align with Title IX requirements.

  • The injunction prevents the university from discontinuing any women’s varsity sports in 2025–26 and calls for full restoration of support for the affected programs.

  • The case was brought forward by nine student-athletes seeking fair athletic opportunities.

  • Concordia, which cited financial and strategic considerations for the decision, has expressed its intent to comply with the court’s order as the process continues.

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Women’s Soccer

  • Fri, Oct 31 – vs Santa Ana, 1:00 PM

Crean Lutheran Boys Water Polo Wins First Crestview League Title

Crean Lutheran’s Boys Water Polo team made history by winning their first Crestview League Championship, finishing undefeated in league play. The Saints showed incredible dedication and teamwork throughout the season.

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated With October Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

October 2025

Friday, October 31

  • Football – 7:00 PM vs. Sonora – Irvine High School Stadium

Teamwork Pays Off: Irvine & Costa Mesa Police Nab Ulta Theft Suspect

A woman was caught on surveillance stealing from Ulta in Irvine and later arrested thanks to teamwork between Irvine Police and Costa Mesa Police. Officers located her car at South Coast Plaza, where they detained Carisma Thomas, 41, of Georgia, and booked her at Orange County Jail for burglary and possession of burglary 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

Now - November 2 Tanaka Farm Pumpkin Patch

November 1 Caity Gyorgy 7 PM

November 5 Takács Quartet 7 PM

November 8 Love Irvine: Citywide Serve Day 7:30 AM - 12 PM

November 8 Holiday Faire 10 AM - 4 PM

November 13 Phaeton Piano Trio 7 PM

November 15 - 16 Woodbridge Village Center: Makers Markets 10 AM - 4 PM

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