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Nature’s Fireworks: How Plants Use Explosions, Wind, and Animals to Spread Seeds

Issue # 0442

Author

Joshua Tjia
14 Jul

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh Of The Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🩰 New Ballet Works to Debut at NCI Discovery 2025 on July 26

🍇🛒🥒 Super Irvine Persian Grocery Reopens at Expanded Location in Parkview Center

🚦 Traffic Signal Work This Week on Bake Parkway: Expect Delays

🍵🌸 Lagu Cafe Adds Matcha Gelato, Merch, and Upgraded Chicken Karaage

☀️🤝 Stay Close This Summer: Easy Ways Tips to Stay Connected Over Summer

🌳🏃🏻‍♀️Daily Movement Shown to Improve Brain Health in New Study

🌼🌸🌼 Nature’s Fireworks: How Plants Use Explosions, Wind, and Animals to Spread Seeds

🏖️🎨 Craft Resin Coasters at Irvine’s Deerfield Community Center on July 14

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐕💦 Keep Your Dog Cool This Summer with Safe Splash Time Tips

🎾 UC Irvine Grad Noah Zamora Advances to Semifinals at LA Pro Tennis Tournament

🏀🏐🎾⚾ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏐 Kari Hemmerling Named Director of Volleyball at Irvine Valley College

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚓💰 Three Arrested for Bank-Jugging and Vehicle Burglary in Irvine and Seal Beach

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What did the impatient frog say to the slow frog as he opened his package?

“Just ribbit open!”

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

New Ballet Works to Debut at NCI Discovery 2025 on July 26

The National Choreographers Initiative (NCI) will present NCI Discovery 2025 on Saturday, July 26, at 8 PM, featuring the debut of four new ballets developed during a three-week creative process.

  • Led by Artistic Director Molly Lynch, the program brings together four choreographers—Natasha Adorlee, Glenn Edgerton, Morgan Sicklick, and Makino Hayashi—and 16 professional dancers from ballet companies across the U.S.

  • Founded in 2004, NCI has involved 80 choreographers, 177 dancers, and produced 35 works that have gone on to be premiered by professional companies.

Find more information here

Super Irvine Persian Grocery Reopens at Expanded Location in Parkview Center

Super Irvine, a community favorite Persian grocery, has reopened in an expanded location at 5331 University Drive in Parkview Center. The new location features expanded aisles, a larger deli, and an increased selection of specialty items. The market is known for its variety of fresh produce and international ingredients.

Traffic Signal Work This Week on Bake Parkway: Expect Delays

Traffic signal work is scheduled this week as part of a regional signal synchronization project. Signals will be off or in red flash mode from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the following Bake Parkway intersections:

  • July 14: Research Drive

  • July 15: Cromwell/Calle Entrada

  • July 16: Rockfield Boulevard

Lagu Cafe Adds Matcha Gelato, Merch, and Upgraded Chicken Karaage

Lagu Cafe in Irvine has some exciting new arrivals! Enjoy creamy matcha gelato from Mr. Matcha, pick up exclusive Lagu hats and tote bags while supplies last, and try the upgraded chicken karaage — now bigger and better. Visit at 17779 Main St J, Irvine, CA 92614.

Stay Close This Summer: Easy Ways Tips to Stay Connected Over Summer

July is Social Wellness Month—a reminder of how important it is to stay connected, especially during summer break when students might feel isolated. Families are encouraged to maintain social ties by:

  • enrolling in classes or camps

  • staying active with loved ones

  • organizing game or movie nights

  • keeping in touch with friends and relatives

  • planning playdates

Learn more ways to support emotional well-being at iusd.org/SocialWellnessMonth2025.

Daily Movement Shown to Improve Brain Health in New Study

Staying active doesn’t just benefit your body — it can help keep your brain sharp, too. A recent study reveals that even brief daily bursts of movement, as little as five minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity, can enhance brain function in older adults who are typically sedentary.

  • UCI Health neurologist Dr. S. Ahmad Sajjadi, an expert in memory disorders, weighed in on the findings, noting that exercise boosts circulation and releases brain-beneficial chemicals.

  • Participants in the study showed improvements in short-term memory, processing speed, and executive function.

  • The study adds to a growing body of research supporting regular movement as a powerful defense against age-related cognitive decline.

Nature’s Fireworks: How Plants Use Explosions, Wind, and Animals to Spread Seeds

While fireworks light up our skies during celebrations, nature has its own fascinating version of pyrotechnics happening year-round—through seed dispersal.

  • Some native plants like the California poppy and lupine use internal pressure to explosively launch their seeds, sometimes creating a chain reaction of popping pods.

  • Even some invasive plants, like castor bean and wild cucumber, use this method to spread quickly and extensively.

  • Others take a gentler route—riding the wind like California aster, clinging to animal fur like burrs, or traveling via animal digestion like buckwheat, sage, and toyon.

Craft Resin Coasters at Irvine’s Deerfield Community Center on July 14

Pair your next great read with a handmade resin coaster! Adults are invited to join a beach-inspired coaster crafting workshop on Monday, July 14, from 4–7 p.m. at Deerfield Community Center (55 Deerwood West, Irvine). Part of their Adult Programming series, this hands-on Create It Yourself class offers a fun and creative way to unwind.

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

Keep Your Dog Cool This Summer with Safe Splash Time Tips

A doggie pool can be a safe and fun way to help your pup beat the heat, especially when pavement is too hot for their paws.

  • Keep things cool by:

  • supervising splash time

  • using clean and shallow water

  • offering shade and rest breaks

  • drying ears and paws afterward.

Not every pup loves to swim — and that’s perfectly okay. Let them set the pace so you both can enjoy a safe and relaxing summer together. For more pet care tips, visit cityofirvine.org/resources.

UC Irvine Grad Noah Zamora Advances to Semifinals at LA Pro Tennis Tournament

UC Irvine tennis standout Noah Zamora continues his rise on the ITF Men’s World Tennis Tour after reaching the semifinals at the M15 Los Angeles tournament (June 30–July 6), winning five matches, including victories over two seeded players. Earlier in June, he also reached the quarterfinals at M15 Rancho Santa Fe.

A recent UCI graduate with a degree in business economics, Zamora was the 2025 Big West Player of the Year and a four-time All-Big West selection, helping lead UCI to back-to-back conference titles and competing in the NCAA Singles Championships.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

We will resume with UCI’s athletic calendar events when the schedule is available for the fall quarter.

Kari Hemmerling Named Director of Volleyball at Irvine Valley College

Kari Hemmerling has been named Director of Volleyball at Irvine Valley College, marking a full-circle moment in her life and career.

  • A former AVCA All-American at UC Irvine and assistant coach at IVC, Hemmerling returns to lead the program her father, Hall of Famer Tom Pestolesi, founded. She’ll oversee women’s indoor and beach volleyball and men's volleyball, and serve as head coach for the women’s teams.

  • Hemmerling joins IVC after a successful tenure at Cerritos College, where she led both indoor and beach programs to state championship appearances and earned the school’s first conference title in decades.

  • She holds degrees from UC Irvine and Concordia, and lives with her husband and two daughters in Southern California.

🏐⚽🏀 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.

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

Three Arrested for Bank-Jugging and Vehicle Burglary in Irvine and Seal Beach

Three men from Texas were arrested after allegedly committing a vehicle burglary tied to “bank-jugging,” a growing crime trend where suspects follow people from banks to steal withdrawn cash.

  • Irvine Police identified a suspect vehicle involved in July 2 Irvine burglaries and tracked it to Seal Beach, where the suspects broke into a car and stole a banker’s bag.

  • Officers arrested them soon after and found cash, a fake license plate, burglary tools, and the stolen bag.

  • The suspects — Maurice James, Samuel Marcus Polite, and Ja Vion Marcell La Shang Mathews — face multiple felony charges.

  • Police urge the public to be discreet with cash withdrawals and stay alert.

  • Contact Detective Mahmood at [email protected] with tips.

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

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