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Orange County Music & Dance Secures New Home at Great Park for 2026

Issue # 0161

Author

Joshua Tjia
10 May

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh Of The Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🩰🎶 Orange County Music & Dance Secures New Home at Great Park for 2026

🔭🥼 Local Students Set Records at State Science Competition, Head to Nationals

🌳⛲️ Exciting Expansion: Cultural Terrace Breaks Ground at Irvine's Great Park

☀️🎼 Great Park Gears Up for Summer with New Amphitheater Construction

📖📚🥨 Hit the Books with Snacks at Irvine's Heritage Park Study Session on May 13

🏥✋ Cast Your Vote for Irvine Woodbridge in the Best of Orange County Awards

🩺🚶‍♂️ Irvine Steps Up for Crohn's & Colitis Awareness with UCI Health Fundraiser Walk on June 9th

🌸🌸 From Pink Blossoms to Rust Red: The Transformative Beauty of California Buckwheat

🎨🧑‍🎨 Explore Over 100 Local Artists at Irvine’s Studio Arts Festival This June

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐕🐈 Secure Your Pet’s Safety in Irvine with New Digital ID Tags

🏃🏽‍♀️ Anteaters Ready for Action: UC Irvine Women Compete at 2024 Big West Championships

⚽️ From Woodbridge High to UCI: Milan Heisdorf Excels in Soccer and Beyond

🏀🏐🎾⚾ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

⚽️ Irvine Valley Soccer Player Christopher Camarena Signs with Westcliff University

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

⚾️ Crean Lutheran Advances to Quarterfinals, Defeats Citrus Valley in Extra Innings

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚔🚨 Irvine Hepatologist Faces Felony Charges for Sexual Misconduct

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

Why did the cookie cry?

Because his mother was a wafer so long!

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

Orange County Music & Dance Secures New Home at Great Park for 2026

Orange County Music & Dance, a nonprofit arts-education school in Irvine, will relocate to a new 35-acre campus at the Great Park in 2026, after city leaders approved a lease that will allow the school to double its enrollment. The new campus will include modern classrooms, rehearsal and performance spaces with professional acoustics, and a 450-seat theater to be shared with community groups. Irvine officials have offered the school a symbolic $1 annual lease, with the city having invested $91 million in the site. Construction is set to start in January 2025 and complete by fall 2026.

Local Students Set Records at State Science Competition, Head to Nationals

Sierra Vista's Science Olympiad team, coached by Shaun Evola, was honored at the May 7 Board of Education Meeting after winning the state tournament and advancing to the national competition for the third consecutive year. They will compete at Michigan State University from May 24-25. The team excelled at the state competition, scoring a record 74 points and outpacing rivals by over 50 points. Board members and the Superintendent praised their achievements and wished them success at nationals. More details are available at iusd.org/ScienceOlympiad-CA2024.

Exciting Expansion: Cultural Terrace Breaks Ground at Irvine's Great Park

This week, construction began on the Cultural Terrace at the Great Park in Irvine, aiming to create a 200,000 square foot hub for museums, education, and performing arts. This development is poised to become a major cultural and educational landmark in Southern California, celebrating Irvine's diversity, military heritage, and future. Partnerships include notable organizations like Pretend City Children’s Museum, Orange County Music & Dance, Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, and South Coast Chinese Cultural Center, which is leading the creation of an Asian American History Museum. These collaborators were present at the groundbreaking event, marking a significant milestone in the project. For more details on how the Cultural Terrace will enhance the community with diverse cultural and artistic offerings, visit greatparkframework.org.

Great Park Gears Up for Summer with New Amphitheater Construction

Construction has begun on a temporary amphitheater at Great Park, set to open this summer. Named Great Park Live, it will host live music, community events, and feature food and beverage options. Located in the park's western sector, construction takes place near Corsair and Phantom, and around Parking Lot 2. Operating hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends, running through June 30. This project is expected to minimally impact the nearby neighborhoods and traffic. For more details, visit greatparkframework.org.

#GreatParkLive #YourGreatPark #Irvine

Hit the Books with Snacks at Irvine's Heritage Park Study Session on May 13

A study session is being offered at Irvine Heritage Park for tweens and teens ages 12 and up. This event provides a quiet space for students to focus on their studies, complemented by snacks. Scheduled for Monday, May 13 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, it presents an ideal opportunity for students preparing for exams or seeking a new study environment.

Cast Your Vote for Irvine Woodbridge in the Best of Orange County Awards

Irvine Woodbridge Walk-In Urgent Care has been nominated for the prestigious Best of the Orange County award and needs your daily vote until May 26th to win. To support them,

  • visit (https://ocr.bestinvoting.com/)

  • scroll to the "HEALTH: URGENT CARE*" category

  • type and select "Irvine Woodbridge Walk-In Urgent Care"

  • pick four additional votes, and hit "SUBMIT"

Your participation is greatly valued and helps highlight the community's strength and the urgent care's excellence.

#CastYourVote #CommunitySupport

Irvine Steps Up for Crohn's & Colitis Awareness with UCI Health Fundraiser Walk on June 9th

Save the date for June 9! Join the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Orange County Take Steps Walk, hosted by UCI Health. Support those with IBD by participating in this crucial fundraising event. Every step matters in our collective effort to support IBD patients!

#TakeSteps #IBDAwarenessMonth

From Pink Blossoms to Rust Red: The Transformative Beauty of California Buckwheat

California Buckwheat is a unique and adaptable shrub known for its leathery leaves, which feature woolly undersides and edges that curl under. During early spring, it showcases clusters of flowers ranging from pink to white, which beautifully transition to a striking red rust color as the season progresses.

Explore Over 100 Local Artists at Irvine’s Studio Arts Festival This June

The 30th Annual Studio Arts Festival will be held at Heritage Community Park on Saturday, June 1, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Over 100 local artists will showcase their unique creations including sculptures, jewelry, paintings, and handcrafted furniture. This free event offers an opportunity to meet the artists, purchase unique art pieces, and engage with Irvine's art community. More details at irvinefinearts.org/studioarts.

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

  1. May 11, 2024: Instrumental Music Awards

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

Upcoming University High School's Choirs Calendar

No events scheduled for May.

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.uhschoirs.org/2023-24-season.html

Upcoming Woodbridge High School's Music Calendar

No events scheduled for May.

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.whs-music.org/

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

  1. May 31st, 7 PM: Broadway Rocks Concert

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://woodbridgechoirs.weebly.com/calendar.html

Upcoming Irvine High School's Music Calendar

No events scheduled for May.

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.vimb.info/calendar

Upcoming Irvine High School's Choral Calendar

  1. Tues & Wed, May 28 & 29, 3:30-6:30 PM: Dress rehearsal “Voices” (All Choirs) at IHS Theater.

  2. Thurs.- Sat, May 30-June 1, 7:00 PM: Voices 2024 (All Choirs) at IHS Theater.

  3. Wed, June 5, 7:00 PM: Heritage Awards (Chorale) at IHS Gym.

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

Secure Your Pet’s Safety in Irvine with New Digital ID Tags

In California, dog owners must license their pets at four months old, with dogs wearing a current tag. While cat licenses are suggested, they're not mandatory. The Irvine Animal Care Center offers a PetHub ID tag that anyone can scan with a smartphone to quickly contact the owner if a pet is lost. The tag features essential details like the pet’s medical information and emergency contacts. Licensing can be done online. Learn more at Irvine Animal Care Center's licensing page.

#IrvineAnimalCareCenter #IrvineAnimals #WeAreIrvine

Anteaters Ready for Action: UC Irvine Women Compete at 2024 Big West Track and Field Championships

The UC Irvine women's track and field team is headed to the 2024 Big West Championships on May 10-11 at the Miller & Capriotti Athletics Complex in San Luis Obispo, California. Field events will begin at 10 a.m., with track events starting at 1 p.m. on both days. The championships will be broadcast live on ESPN+, starting at 1 p.m. on Friday and 12 p.m. on Saturday. Notable highlights include Jolie Robinson defending her title in the heptathlon with a season-best score and Jazzmine Davis achieving a personal record in the same event. The team also celebrated several athletes receiving Big West weekly awards, with standout performances in both field and track events. Additionally, the team features a strong mix of returning athletes and newcomers, contributing to its depth and competitiveness.

From Woodbridge High to UCI: Milan Heisdorf Excels in Soccer and Beyond

Milan Heisdorf, UC Irvine women's soccer's latest recruit from Irvine, is a versatile athlete and a standout in multiple sports. Graduating from Woodbridge High School and playing for Slammers FC, Heisdorf earned the title of Defensive MVP and First Team all-league honors in the Pacific Coast League, which her team won. She also excelled in basketball, winning a league title, and played on the inaugural varsity flag football team, winning another league title and MVP honors, leading to her selection for the U.S. Junior National Team. Off the field, she served as President of her high school's Bridge Clothing Company. Coach Scott Juniper praises her high sports IQ and adaptability across sports.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Baseball

  1. Tue, May 14: vs Loyola Marymount, 6:00 PM

  2. Thu, May 23: vs CSUN, 6:00 PM

  3. Fri, May 24: vs CSUN, 6:00 PM

  4. Sat, May 25: vs CSUN, 1:00 PM

Irvine Valley Soccer Player Christopher Camarena Signs with Westcliff University

Christopher Camarena, a sophomore forward from Irvine Valley College (IVC), has signed with Westcliff University. Over two seasons at IVC, he played 42 matches, starting 30, and scored nine goals with five assists. Camarena helped IVC to a 12-4-6 record last season and a second-place finish in the Orange Empire Conference. His new team, Westcliff, ranked 13th nationally in the NAIA, had an 18-2 record last season, won the Cal Pac Championship, and reached the NAIA Soccer Championships' round of 16.

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

No upcoming IVC home games

Crean Lutheran Advances to Quarterfinals, Defeats Citrus Valley in Extra Innings

Crean Lutheran High School's baseball team advanced to the CIF Division 2 quarterfinals after defeating Citrus Valley in a dramatic 3-2 game, marked by a walk-off walk in extra innings. Previously, they stunned second-seeded Paloma Valley 9-8 in the first round. The Saints, who made the finals last year in Division 4, will play Moorpark, which has had a strong season. Key players include Sho Garcia and Jackson Haney, with coach Jake Haney praising the team's underdog spirit and readiness for challenges. The winner of this game will face either Ayala or Canyon in the semifinals.

High School Athletics Calendar -

** Updated With May Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

No upcoming home games.

Irvine Hepatologist Faces Felony Charges for Sexual Misconduct

Dr. John Carl Hoefs, a 79-year-old hepatologist from Irvine, has been charged with seven felony counts of sexual battery after allegedly groping two female patients during medical exams at a Hoag-affiliated medical office in Irvine. He faces up to 10 years in state prison if convicted. The incidents reportedly occurred from 2016 to 2020, involving inappropriate conduct during liver condition assessments. Dr. Hoefs, also affiliated with UC Irvine Medical Center and the Liver Specialty Center, was arrested and released on a $500,000 bond. His arraignment is scheduled for June 13, 2024. Authorities are seeking additional information on potential victims and urge anyone with information to contact Detective Rebecca Steen at (949) 724-7170.

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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