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Keep Your Packages Safe: Irvine Police Share Holiday Porch Pirate Prevention Tips

Keep Your Packages Safe: Irvine Police Share Holiday Porch Pirate Prevention Tips

Issue # 0540

Joshua Tjia
19 Dec

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

🎄🦌🎄 Merry Christmas

😁 Fun Fact Friday

🌤️ Irvine Weather

📦🚓 Keep Your Packages Safe: Irvine Police Share Holiday Porch Pirate Prevention Tips

🌊🐋✨ Dream Glow Festival Continues Through Jan. 3 with Upcoming Ugly Sweater Night Dec. 23

❄️🩰❄️ ABT’s “Nutcracker” Marks 10 Years as an Orange County Holiday Tradition

🏫💵 UCI Engineering Receives Major Gift to Support Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

🧒🏻🎄 Keeping Children, Pets, and Households Safe Throughout the Holidays

🎁🍫 Healthy Holiday Treats: Nutritious, Homemade Gifts to Share This Season

🌳🥾 Take on 14 Miles of Steep, Scenic Trails at the Quail Hill Advanced Distance Hike, Dec.21

🖍️✏️🎨Free Coloring Pages For You

❄️⛸️ Don’t Miss the Magic: Holiday Skating at Irvine Spectrum

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🍠🥦 Holiday Pet Safety: What Treats to Avoid and What’s Safe to Share

🔋⚡️ Holiday Reminder: Charge Battery-Powered Gifts Safely

🏀 UCI Women’s Basketball Rolls Past UTEP for Record 10th-Straight Win

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀 IVC Women Keep Rolling With Strong Road Victory Over San Diego Mesa

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚓🚲 Irvine Police Use GPS and Drone to Nab Suspected Bike Thief

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

Thank you so much being a part of the Irvine Insider community this year — your support and input means so much to us. We wish you a Merry Christmas and joyful holiday season filled with rest, peace, and meaningful time with your loved ones. May God bless you and your families with health, hope, and renewal as we step into the new year. We will be taking some time off to rest for the holiday and look forward to reconnecting with you on January 5th of the new year with fresh stories and news!

Sincerely,

Irvine Insider Staff

P.S. Don’t miss your little Christmas gift 🎄🎁 waiting for you further down in the Arts & Craft section

Did you know…?

Reindeer eyes change color with the seasons — and they’re the only mammal known to do this. In summer, their eyes are gold, helping them handle bright Arctic sunlight. In winter, their eyes turn a deep blue, which helps them capture more light during the long, dark months — giving them better night vision in snowy, low-light conditions. Pretty magical!

We hope this fun fact brings a smile to your day! 😁

Keep Your Packages Safe: Irvine Police Share Holiday Porch Pirate Prevention Tips

With holiday deliveries piling up, porch pirates are on the lookout for unattended packages. Irvine Police is sharing easy ways to keep your items safe and what to watch for in your neighborhood.

Package-Protection Tips:

Track your deliveries so you know exactly when they arrive.
Bring packages inside quickly once they hit your doorstep.
Use a lockable delivery box or ship valuable items to your workplace.
Ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on deliveries while you're away.
Make sure doorbell and security cameras are working properly.
Keep porch and exterior lights on to deter hiding spots.

What to Watch For:

Strangers approaching homes and leaving quickly.
Vehicles slowly cruising neighborhoods as if scouting for packages.
Individuals with covered faces or carrying empty bags near doorsteps.

Report Suspicious Activity:
Call Irvine Police at (949) 724-7000 if something looks off.

Source

Dream Glow Festival Continues Through Jan. 3 with Upcoming Ugly Sweater Night Dec. 23

Join the Wild Rivers Dream Glow Festival for Ugly Sweater Night on December 23, featuring festive lights, family fun, and a visit from Santa. The festival continues nightly through January 3, 2026, with themed nights where guests who dress up receive a special gift. Hours are 5–9:30 p.m. and parking is free.

Find tickets at dreamglowfestival.com.

Source

ABT’s “Nutcracker” Marks 10 Years as an Orange County Holiday Tradition

ABT’s “Nutcracker” has become a heartwarming Orange County holiday tradition since arriving at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in 2015, growing into a beloved celebration of dance, music, and community. The story comes alive with Ratmansky’s lively choreography, Pacific Symphony’s beautiful live score, and a cast that blends world-class dancers with talented local children. This season’s shows run until Dec. 21, inviting everyone to experience the joy, wonder, and holiday sparkle of “The Nutcracker” once again.

Find tickets here

Source

UCI Engineering Receives Major Gift to Support Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

The UC Irvine Samueli School of Engineering received a major philanthropic gift from technology entrepreneur Hoang Nhu and his sister, Dr. Thuc Trinh Thi Nhu, to support the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Their donation establishes the Nhu Family Endowed Fund, providing permanent funding for research, innovation, and interdisciplinary projects, and the department will now be named the Hoang Nhu Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
The gift reflects the Nhu family’s journey from refugees to leaders in technology and medicine and aims to create new opportunities for future engineers while helping UCI grow as a leader in AI and engineering advancements.

Source

Keeping Children, Pets, and Households Safe Throughout the Holidays

Keep the holidays joyful and accident-free with a few simple precautions to protect kids, pets, and your home—whether you’re decorating, traveling, or visiting family and friends.

Safety Tips

Assess safety when visiting other homes: Check for hazards like unlocked cabinets, cleaning products, accessible medications, or unfenced pools.
Secure holiday décor: Keep breakable ornaments, lights, and small objects out of young children’s and pets’ reach.
Use proper travel safety: For flights, place young children in an airline-approved car seat and ensure they have the right seat at your destination.
Practice infant safe sleep: Always place infants on their backs for naps and nighttime sleep.
Review water safety: If your travel includes swimming, refresh safety guidelines before you go.
Exercise caution with e-bikes: Carefully evaluate the potential risks before permitting e-bike use.
Watch food and treats: Keep unsafe foods and toxic holiday treats away from pets.

Source

Healthy Holiday Treats: Nutritious, Homemade Gifts to Share This Season

Homemade holiday treats make thoughtful tasty gifts for friends and family. These UCI Health–inspired recipes blend festive flavors with antioxidants, fiber, and heart-healthy nutrients. They’re easy to prepare, fun for families to make together, and offer a healthy twist on seasonal sweets.

Ancho Chili–Cinnamon Chocolate Bark

A sweet-savory dark chocolate bark infused with warming spices and crunchy nuts, offering antioxidants and heart-healthy fats.

Christmas Jam

A vibrant cranberry-based jam rich in antioxidants and vitamins, perfect for toast, cheese boards, or holiday entrées.

Matcha & Black Bean Chocolate Truffles

No-bake truffles blending matcha, black beans, dates, and dark chocolate for a naturally sweet, fiber-rich, heart-healthy treat.

Find recipes here

Take on 14 Miles of Steep, Scenic Trails at the Quail Hill Advanced Distance Hike, Dec.21

Join the Advanced Distance Hike at Quail Hill on Dec. 21 at 6:30 am - 12:30 pm, a tough but beautiful 14-mile adventure with 2,800 ft of climbing for experienced hikers. Expect steep trails, great views, and a 6-hour journey.

Source

Free Coloring Pages For You

Enjoy this free coloring pages as our little Christmas gift to you! 🎄🖍️ It’s available to download and print for some festive, creative fun. We’d love to hear what you think—feel free to share your thoughts or let us know how you enjoyed it. Your feedback truly means a lot to us this holiday season! 🎁✨

Don’t Miss the Magic: Holiday Skating at Irvine Spectrum

The Irvine Spectrum Center Ice Rink is open with daily skating sessions from afternoon through evening, plus late-night sessions on Fridays and Saturdays. Holiday hours on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day provide extra chances to celebrate on the ice—so don’t miss your opportunity to enjoy winter skating all season long.

More information

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar