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Light Up the Sky, Not the ER: A Message from the OC Fire Chiefs Association and UCI Regional Medical Center

Issue # 0198

Author

Joshua Tjia
03 Jul

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh Of The Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

❤️🤍💙 4th of July Celebration: Where to Celebrate Safely in OC This Fourth of July

🎆✋🏥 Light Up the Sky, Not the ER: A Message from the OC Fire Chiefs Association and UCI Regional Medical Center

🔍📊🌏 UCI Health Spearheads Pioneering Research into Cancer Risks Among Asian Ethnic Groups

🎓📈🏆 UC Irvine Ranks High in 2024 College Evaluations: A Beacon for First-Generation and Pell Grant Students

🎆🚔 Record-Breaking Raid: 150,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks Seized in Gardena

👮‍💊⚖️ OC Deputy DA Trains Irvine and La Habra Police on handling Fentanyl Cases

🎬👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🎟️ Reel in the Summer fun at Regal Irvine Spectrum Center

🩸❤️🏥 Save Lives in Irvine: Donate Blood at Civic Center Thursday, July 11

🧘🌄🥾Explore and Relax: Bommer Canyon Hosts Gentle Yoga and Hiking Evening, July 17

🎬🍿🌙 Movie Mondays at Segerstrom Center for the Arts

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐹❤️Adopt a Furry Friend: Pinto and More Guinea Pigs Await at Irvine Animal Care Center

⚽🎟️📅 2024 Season Schedule Released: Get Your Tickets Today

🏀🏐🎾⚾ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

💎🔍🚔 DNA Leads to Arrest of Last Year's High-Profile Jewelry Heist

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

Why do bananas use sunscreen?

Because they peel.

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

4th of July Celebration: Where to Celebrate Safely in OC This Fourth of July

As the extended Fourth of July weekend approaches, the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs (AOCDS) reminds residents that "safe and sane" fireworks are permitted in only 10 OC cities: Anaheim, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Stanton, Westminster, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, and Villa Park.

In Irvine, personal fireworks are prohibited, but the community still celebrates with various activities scheduled on July 4th. These include parades, 5K/10K runs, and a 9 PM fireworks display by the Woodbridge Village Association and another at 10 PM at the Great Park.

The Woodbridge Village Association hosts a days worth of activities which includes an 5K/10K/Kids Run and a neighborhood parade open to anyone, an afternoon of activities at the South Lake Beach Club for association members, ending with fireworks in the evening.

Schedule

North Lake Gazebo, 4615 Barranca Parkway, Irvine (starting location)

Barranca Parkway between Lake Road and Creek Road, Irvine

  • 10 a.m. Wheels on Parade.

South Lake Beach Club, 2 Blue Lake South, Irvine

Wristbands required for Beach Club activities.

  • 11 a.m. DJ starts

  • Noon – 4:30 p.m. Beach Club activities.

  • 9 p.m. FIREWORKS 

  • 10 p.m. Beach club closes

FREE VAN SHUTTLE

The van route will travel clockwise and pick up people who are on East or West Yale Loop, at the North Lake Beach Club, or at the South Lake Beach Club. There is only one shuttle and it can take up to a minimum of 30 minutes to make it around the loop.

COSTS

Ralph J. Redington 5K/10K and Kids Run | 5K/10K registration, $40; Kids run, $10. Sign up online by noon on July 3. All registration is available online only.

Wheels on Parade | Free

Wristband | $12 per wristband sold online through June 30. For purchase in person after June 30 for $14 at the Woodbridge Community Center. $15 on the day of the event. NOTE: There are 3,000 wristbands available for purchase. Children 2 and under are free. Wristbands are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis to adult WVA members with a proper facility ID only.

For a detailed list of Fourth of July activities, please refer to our previous issue of the Irvine Insider (Issue #194): Orange County's Ultimate Independence Day Guide.

Light Up the Sky, Not the ER: A Message from the OC Fire Chiefs Association and UCI Regional Medical Center

  • Leave it to the pros: It’s highly recommended to leave firework displays to professionals. Remember, no fireworks are completely safe. But If you’re going to use safe and sane fireworks in a city where they're approved, here are their fireworks safety tips:

  • Abstain from Impairment: Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol.

  • Handle with Care: Do not hold fireworks in your hands.

  • Check Fuse Length: Be cautious of fireworks with short fuses which may explode unexpectedly.

  • Light One at a Time: Only ignite one firework device at a time.

  • Maintain Distance: Keep a safe distance after lighting fireworks.

  • Safety Equipment: Have a bucket of water or a garden hose nearby in case of a fire or mishap.

  • Avoid Relighting: Do not try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks.

  • Set Safety Boundaries: Designate a safe perimeter to keep spectators at a distance.

  • Child Safety: Be extra cautious with fireworks around children and never allow them to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers.

  • Follow Legal Guidelines: Never use illegal fireworks. Check local laws regarding "safe and sane" fireworks.

    Illegal fireworks in the state of California include any that rise in the air during discharge, Roman candles, or firecrackers.

  • Proper Disposal: Unused fireworks should be turned into the Orange County Sheriff's Hazardous Device Section for proper disposal.

UCI Health Spearheads Pioneering Research into Cancer Risks Among Asian Ethnic Groups

The first large-scale clinical trial focused on AAPI cancer disparities, funded with $12.5 million by the National Cancer Institute, launches to explore why Asian Americans, historically underrepresented in research, face varied cancer risks by ethnicity. UCI Health's Sora Tanjasiri leads the study, targeting nuances like higher cervical cancer rates in Vietnamese and liver/stomach cancer in Koreans. The study aims to inform future research and leave a legacy for upcoming researchers. Eligible participants aged 40-75 without a cancer diagnosis can enroll by contacting [email protected] at UCI.

UC Irvine Shines in Latest College Rankings, Secures Top Spots Across Major Reviews

UC Irvine has been highly rated by prominent ranking services as one of the top universities in the U.S. The Princeton Review ranked it fifth for best value among public colleges for 2024, considering factors like academic quality, cost, and alumni success. Money magazine awarded UC Irvine a five-star rating in its Best Colleges in America list for 2023-24, recognizing the university's education quality, affordability, and diverse high-value offerings. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks it among the top 10 public universities nationwide and highlights its role in promoting social mobility. Notably, a significant portion of its 2024 graduates, including 49% who are first-generation students and 3,736 Pell Grant recipients, demonstrate the university's strong student outcomes.

Record-Breaking Raid: 150,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks Seized in Gardena

In Gardena, California, authorities seized 150,000 pounds of illegal fireworks in the largest such operation in state history. The bust occurred at a commercial warehouse and involved the CAL FIRE Arson and Bomb Unit and Gardena Police. Three individuals were arrested and could face significant fines and jail time. Additional finds included 2,000 illegal destructive devices and homemade explosives, with the fireworks valued between $7-10 million. This operation surpasses the previous record of 32 tons (64,000 pounds) of fireworks seized in L.A. in 2021.

OC Deputy DA Trains Irvine and La Habra Police on handling Fentanyl Cases

Last week, Orange County Deputy DA L.J. Berger conducted a training session for law enforcement from La Habra and Irvine on handling fentanyl cases. The training aimed at enhancing collaboration between officers and prosecutors to improve safety in Orange County. This initiative follows the cross-designation of an OCDA prosecutor as a Special U.S. Attorney to federally prosecute local fentanyl cases, in response to the drug being the top threat in the U.S.

Fentanyl is currently the most significant drug threat in the United States, having caused nearly 38,000 deaths in the first half of 2023. This year, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has seized a record 79.5 million fentanyl pills, surpassing the 58 million pills confiscated in 2022. DEA forensic laboratory findings indicate that approximately 7 out of 10 counterfeit pills contain lethal doses of fentanyl, up from 4 out of 10 pills in 2021. The average purity of fentanyl powder samples is 19.2 percent, marking a 33 percent increase since 2021.

Fentanyl Flow to the United States

According to DEA’s Intelligence Report, China remains the primary source country for fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances trafficked directly into the United States

Reel in the Summer fun at Regal Irvine Spectrum Center

$1 Family Movies for Summer Break: $1 tickets every Tuesdays and Wednesday at 11 AM. $5 Snack Pack

$7 Tuesday Tickets: every Tuesday, all movies, all day, all showtimes for just $7

$7 Weekend Mornings: $7 tickets on Saturdays and Sundays before noon.
Early bird gets the popcorn!

Save Lives in Irvine: Donate Blood at Civic Center Thursday, July 11

Join the Irvine Blood Drive at Irvine Civic Center on Thursday, July 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., hosted by the City of Irvine and UCI Health. Donate blood to potentially save three lives and support critical patient care at UCI Medical Center. Schedule your appointment and find eligibility details at cityofirvine.org/blooddrive. Let's meet the urgent need for blood in Orange County!

Explore and Relax: Bommer Canyon Hosts Gentle Yoga and Hiking Evening, July 17

Summer Evening Yoga Hike at Bommer Canyon's Cattle Camp. The event includes an easy two-mile hike followed by gentle, beginner-friendly yoga on an outdoor stage, offering stunning canyon views. Focused on calming breathwork, it's designed to enhance mental, emotional, and physical health. Essentials to bring include water, a yoga mat, a large beach towel, and hiking-appropriate shoes. Find out more here

Pack Your Popcorn: Free Movie Mondays start next week at the Argyros Plaza

Movie Mondays 🎬 at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts start next week at Argyros Plaza.

Bring your own popcorn🍿 , lawn chair and picnic baskets. Arrive early for preshow events. Admission is free, no RSVP needed.

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

Adopt a Furry Friend: Pinto and More Guinea Pigs Await at Irvine Animal Care Center

Brighten your day with Pinto the guinea pig!

These sociable animals love human companionship, come in a variety of colors and patterns, and communicate with adorable wheeks. They enjoy a diet of hay and veggies. Interested in adopting? Meet Pinto and friends at the Irvine Animal Care Center. More details at cityofirvine.org/irvine-animal-care-center/adopt-pet. Happy wheeks!

#ThirdChanceForPets #AdoptDontShop #IrvineAnimals #WeAreIrvine

2024 Season Schedule Released: Get Your Tickets Today

The 2024 season schedule for UCI's Men's and Women's soccer is out! Secure your tickets now:

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.

High School Athletics Calendar

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

DNA Leads to Arrest of Last Year's High-Profile Jewelry Heist

Last July's smash-and-grab robbery at the jewelry store at Jamboree Rd. and Michelson Drive saw a breakthrough, when blood left on a display case led to the identification of 21-year-old Jaylon Amori Strickland from Long Beach as a suspect. He was arrested today at the Compton Parole Office and now faces robbery charges. Authorities are nearing identification of his accomplices and urge them or anyone with information to contact [email protected].

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 55% - 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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