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- Over 600 IUSD Students Showcase Talent at 40th Donald Bren Honors Concert
Over 600 IUSD Students Showcase Talent at 40th Donald Bren Honors Concert
Issue # 0145

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .
😁 Laugh Of The Day
🌤️ Irvine Weather
🎶🎻🎼 Over 600 IUSD Students Showcase Talent at 40th Donald Bren Honors Concert
👮🚔 Join the Irvine Police Department for an Open House This Saturday
🏓🌳 Join the Discussion: Help Design Irvine’s Future Pickleball Courts
🏙️ 🙌 Irvine Ranked Fifth as One of America's Happiest Cities
🔫🎉🥳 Meet the Irvine Business Revolutionizing Parties: Nerf Party OC’s Story of Fun and Philanthropy
👶🧸 Explore Early Learning with Your Little Ones Every Thursday
😷🩻 Effective Asthma Management: Prevention Strategies and Tips
🪴🧑🌾 Discover Sustainable Gardening Techniques at Your Great Park's Farm + Food Lab
🎺🎶 Exciting Weekend Alert: Final Jazz Performance at Great Park
🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar
♻️🌱 Enhance Your Garden for Free: Get Compost and Mulch at OC Landfills
🤽♀️ UC Irvine Women’s Water Polo Takes On Long Beach State in Season-Ending Showdown
🏌🏻⛳️ UC Irvine Places 13th at Western Intercollegiate Golf Tournament
🏀🏐🎾⚾ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games
🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS
⚾️ Northwood Baseball Coaches Rally Timberwolves for Strong League Finish
🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar
🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets
🌟🏪🎉Irvine’s Best Kept Secrets: Is Your Business One of Them?
📅📅 Lots of Local Events
📞💡 Useful Contact Information

Why did the pelican get kicked out of the restaurant?
Because he had a very big bill!
We hope this joke brings some laughter to your day! 😁



Over 600 IUSD Students Showcase Talent at 40th Donald Bren Honors Concert
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Over 600 IUSD students from grades 5-12 performed in the 40th annual Donald Bren Honors Concert at the Segerstrom Concert Hall. The event celebrated student achievements in the honors ensemble chorus and orchestra. IUSD Board President Cyril Yu emceed, acknowledging students' hard work and family support. The concert also highlighted the Board's focus on arts education. A significant $2 million donation was accepted from the Irvine Company and the Donald Bren Foundation, contributing to a near $50 million total over 20 years, aimed at enhancing arts, music, and science education. The Irvine Public Schools Foundation's commitment to primary music education was also recognized.
Join the Irvine Police Department for an Open House This Saturday

Irvine Police Department Open House is happening this Saturday. Limited parking at Irvine Civic Center; alternative free parking with shuttle service available at Creekside High School (3387 Barranca Parkway), Bill Barber Park (San Juan & Harvard Ave), and Free Chapel (2777 McGaw Ave).
#irvine #cityofirvine #irvinepolice #irvinepd
Join the Discussion: Help Design Irvine’s Future Pickleball Courts

Join the City of Irvine for a town hall on April 30, from 6-8 p.m. at Great Park Hangar 244, to discuss the introduction of pickleball courts at the Great Park. The event will gather public input on various aspects like design, layout, and amenities to influence future park planning. For further details, visit the city’s event page.
Irvine Ranked Fifth as One of America's Happiest Cities

Irvine ranks fifth in WalletHub's "Happiest Cities in America," standing out as the top city in Southern California. The ranking is based on 29 factors, including income growth and leisure time, with Irvine scoring high in emotional and physical well-being and having one of the lowest divorce rates in the nation. California cities generally performed well in these rankings.
Local Business Spotlight Feature
Meet the Irvine Business Revolutionizing Parties: Nerf Party OC’s Story of Fun and Philanthropy

Welcome to this edition of Irvine Insider, where we shine a spotlight on a unique business that make our community vibrant and exciting.
In the heart of Irvine, a unique business thrives, offering a blend of excitement, entertainment, and community service that stands out distinctly. Nerf Party OC, established in 2016, has quickly become a go-to source for unforgettable party experiences. Catering to birthdays, summer camps, youth groups, and special events, Nerf Party OC provides mobile Nerf parties, laser tag, gel blasters, and dodgeball events that promise fun without the mess and bruises typically associated with paintball.
A Journey from Idea to Success
The story of Nerf Party OC is as heartwarming as it is inspiring. The idea was born out of a young boy’s desire to earn money for science camp in 6th grade, blossoming into a business that was nominated for "Orange Coast Magazine’s" Top 10 New Businesses of the Year in 2018. With over 300 events held annually across Orange County, Nerf Party OC has become synonymous with quality, fun, and community spirit.

What Sets Nerf Party OC Apart?
At its core, Nerf Party OC values honesty and customer satisfaction above all, establishing itself as a reputable local business that consistently puts its customers first. This dedication to service and quality has endeared Nerf Party OC to the hearts of its clients and the wider Irvine community.
Community First: A Commitment to Giving Back
True to its community-focused ethos, Nerf Party OC donates 10% of its proceeds to local charities and community organizations, underscoring a deep commitment to giving back and fostering a sense of unity and support within Irvine.
Looking Ahead: Expanding the Fun
With seven and a half years of successful operations behind it, Nerf Party OC is not resting on its laurels. The business is exploring opportunities for a permanent location, aiming to expand its offerings and continue bringing joy and excitement to its clientele.

Connect with Nerf Party OC
To learn more about Nerf Party OC or to book your next event, visit their website at www.NerfPartyOC.com. You can also follow them on Facebook at NerfPartyOC to stay updated on their latest offerings and events.
For a limited time use Promo Code “Business Insider 10% off” to receive 10% off your next Nerf, Laser Tag, or Gel Blaster Event.
In Irvine, where community and innovation go hand in hand, Nerf Party OC stands out as a beacon of fun, service, and dedication. Whether you’re planning a birthday bash or looking for a unique way to celebrate with friends and family, Nerf Party OC is ready to make your event unforgettable. Join the hundreds of satisfied customers and experience the excitement that only Nerf Party OC can provide.

Explore Early Learning with Your Little Ones Every Thursday

Every Thursday morning from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Irvine University Park hosts a play date for babies, toddlers, and their caregivers. During these sessions, children have the opportunity to engage with various toys in a dedicated children's area. Simultaneously, caregivers can connect with peers, sharing resources and experiences.

Effective Asthma Management: Prevention Strategies and Tips

Symptom Awareness: Recognize symptoms such as trouble breathing, wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing. Pay special attention to severe signs like anxiety, bluish skin, and difficulty speaking to detect exacerbations.
Prevention Tips:
Avoid Allergens: Use allergen-proof covers and wash bedding in hot water to minimize exposure to pet dander, pollen, and dust mites.
Improve Indoor Air Quality: Use HEPA air purifiers and vacuum cleaners to reduce indoor allergens.
Quit Smoking: Avoid smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke.
Regular Exercise: Engage in activities like cycling and swimming to boost lung function.
Healthy Diet and Weight: Eat a diet rich in vegetables and fruits and maintain a healthy weight to support lung function and reduce inflammation.
Manage Stress: Incorporate stress reduction techniques such as meditation and yoga.
Vaccinations: Stay updated with respiratory vaccines to lower infection risks.
Medical Support: Regular visits to healthcare providers are crucial for monitoring and adjusting asthma treatments. Personalized action plans can be developed to manage symptoms and prevent severe attacks.
Family Care Centers Medical Group: For tailored asthma treatment and care plans, visit their locations in Fountain Valley, Woodbridge, or Costa Mesa.

Discover Sustainable Gardening Techniques at Your Great Park's Farm + Food Lab

Visit the Great Park Farm + Food Lab to learn about sustainable urban gardening, including composting, soil, crop rotation, permaculture, and pest management. The site serves as an outdoor classroom and working organic horticultural area, complete with Farm + Food Lab Chickens. Weekend Garden Workshops are available throughout the year. For more details, check out yourirvine.org.
#YourGreatPark #FarmFoodLab #WeAreIrvine #UrbanGardening

Exciting Weekend Alert: Final Jazz Performance at Great Park

Experience live jazz and art this Saturday, April 20th, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Great Park Palm Court Arts Complex, during the final "Jazz in the Palm Court" performance. Enjoy the music alongside the "Natural Language: Contemporary Book Art" exhibition at the Great Park Gallery. Bring folding chairs and blankets for seating. No registration needed. More info: bit.ly/3ORsa03.
#YourGreatPark #JazzInThePalmCourt #WeAreIrvine
Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

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

May 2 & 3: Broadway Rocks! at 7:00 PM.
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 April.
For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.whs-music.org/
Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

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 April.
For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.vimb.info/calendar
Upcoming Irvine High School's Choral Calendar
Wed, April 26, 6:00 PM: SPUR Awards (Chordinated Chaos) at IHS Theater.
Tues & Wed, May 28 & 29, 3:30-6:30 PM: Dress rehearsal “Voices” (All Choirs) at IHS Theater.
Thurs.- Sat, May 30-June 1, 7:00 PM: Voices 2024 (All Choirs) at IHS Theater.
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

Enhance Your Garden for Free: Get Compost and Mulch at OC Landfills

Orange County residents and commercial entities can access free STA Certified compost and mulch at two locations: Bee Canyon Greenery at Frank R. Bowerman Landfill in Irvine and Capistrano Greenery at Prima Deshecha Landfill in San Juan Capistrano. To obtain these materials, schedule a pickup appointment online and follow the given instructions for self-service pickup, including bringing your own tools and containers.
Key Details:
Pickup Locations: Irvine and San Juan Capistrano.
Availability: Subject to stock levels at each landfill.
Self-Service: Bring your own shovels and containers.
Bulk Orders: For orders over 5 cubic yards, contact [email protected].

UC Irvine Women’s Water Polo Takes On Long Beach State in Season-Ending Showdown

UC Irvine, ranked eighth, is set to face seventh-ranked Long Beach State in a crucial Black and Blue rivalry water polo match. The game will take place on Thursday, April 18, at 7:00 PM at the Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center. This match marks the end of the regular season for both teams. UC Irvine comes off a strong 15-4 win against Cal State Fullerton, with significant contributions from multiple players. Long Beach State, with a 20-7 overall record and an impressive home pool performance, narrowly defeated UC San Diego in their last game. Key players to watch include Lara Luka from Long Beach State, who leads her team with 77 goals, and UC Irvine's Airian Grisham, who had a standout performance in their last game.
UC Irvine Places 13th at Western Intercollegiate Golf Tournament

At the 77th Western Intercollegiate in Santa Cruz, the UC Irvine men's golf team placed 13th with a final score of 1,123 after their best round score of 365. Stanford, ranked 38th, secured the team title at 8-over 1,058, while Filip Jakubcik from Arizona claimed the individual medalist honors with a 4-under 206. UC Irvine's top performer, Rei Harashima, tied for 25th at 4-over 214. Darien Zhao, improving by 16 spots, tied for 50th with a score of 219. The team looks forward to the 2024 Big West Championships at the end of April.
UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Baseball
Fri, Apr 19: vs San Diego State, 6:00 PM
Sun, Apr 21: vs San Diego State, 1:00 PM
Fri, Apr 26: vs Steve Scott Invitational, All Day
Sat, Apr 27: vs Steve Scott Invitational, All Day
Men's Tennis
Sat, Apr 20: vs Hawai'i, 12:00 PM
Men's & Women's Track & Field
Fri, Apr 26: vs Steve Scott Invitational, All Day
Sat, Apr 27: vs Steve Scott Invitational, All Day
🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS
Baseball
Sat, Apr 20: vs Golden West, 12:00 PM
Thu, Apr 25: vs Saddleback, 2:00 PM
Women’s Beach Volleyball
Fri, Apr 19: vs Riverside, 12:00 PM
Wed, Apr 24: vs OEC Pairs Tournament, 12:00 PM
Fri, Apr 26: vs OEC Pairs Tournament, 10:00 AM
Northwood Baseball Coaches Rally Timberwolves for Strong League Finish

Northwood High School's baseball team, coached by Josh Keithly, is leading the Pacific Coast League standings, tied with Beckman, as the regular season nears its end. The team's success is built on strong pitching, defense, and timely hitting. They're entering a crucial three-game series against Sage Hill, with six games left in the season. Star pitchers include USC commit Paul Grossman, who holds a 5-1 record, and Casey Euper, a recent UC Santa Barbara commit, with a 4-1 record and impressive stats. The team also benefits from consistent hitting, notably from junior outfielder Carter Liu. With upcoming games against Sage Hill and Portola, Northwood aims to maintain its top league position.
High School Athletics Calendar -
** Updated With April Schedule
Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:
April 2024
Thursday, April 18
07:00 PM: Lacrosse, Boys VR vs. Canyon/Anaheim at Irvine High School Stadium
Monday, April 22
05:00 PM: Lacrosse, Girls VR vs. Portola at Irvine High School Stadium
Tuesday, April 23
03:15 PM: Tennis, Boys VR vs. Northwood High School at Irvine High School Heritage Park
03:30 PM: Golf, Boys VR vs. Portola
03:30 PM: Baseball VR vs. Beckman, Arnold at Irvine High School Baseball Field
Wednesday, April 24
03:30 PM: Softball VR vs. Beckman, Arnold at Irvine High School Softball Field
05:00 PM: Lacrosse, Girls VR vs. Northwood High School at Irvine High School Stadium
Thursday, April 25
03:30 PM: Golf, Boys VR vs. Northwood High School
03:30 PM: Baseball VR vs. Beckman, Arnold at Irvine High School Baseball Field
05:00 PM: Lacrosse, Girls VR vs. Sage Hill at Irvine High School Stadium

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
When: Wednesday, 9 AM - 1:00 PM
Where: 6670 Alton Pkwy, in front of the Medical Office Building
More Info: 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
When: Sunday, 10 AM - 2 PM
Where: 8000 Great Park Blvd., Irvine, CA 92618
More Info: 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

April 16-21 Irvine Tech Week

April 25 - 27 Tchaikovsky's Sixth 8 PM

April 27 Woodbridge Intermediate Tennis Mixer 2 - 4 PM
April 27 FOCUS Dance Build a Home Showcase

May 7-12 Disney's Aladdin


Emergency: Dial 911
For immediate police, fire department, or ambulance assistance.
Be ready to provide the emergency location and street address.
Irvine Ranch Water District
Customer Service: 949-453-5300 or email [email protected]
Water Emergency: 949-453-5500
Online Services: IRWD Customer Service
Southern California Edison
Customer Service: 1-800-655-4555
For Hearing Impaired: TTY 1-800-352-8580
Report an Outage: 1-800-611-1911 or Online Outage Reporting
Report Street Light Outage: Street Light Outage Form
Other Inquiries: Contact SCE | Request Support
Southern California Gas
General Customer Service: 1-877-238-0092
Gas Emergencies/Safety Issues: 911 or 1-877-238-0092 (24/7)
Hearing Impaired (TDD/TTY): 1-800-252-0259
Call Before You Dig: 811 DigAlert
Waste Management
Customer Service: 949-345-1546
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