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San Joaquin Marsh Records Orange County’s First Purple Gallinule Sighting

Issue # 0696

Author

Joshua Tjia
26 Aug

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🏊💧 Irvine Hosts Pan Pacific Championships at William Woollett Aquatics Center

🧸🍉 Cast Your Vote in Tanaka Farms’ Watermelon Jam Bear Contest

💛🤝 Irvine 2/11 Marine Committee to Hold Volunteer Meeting September 15

🍼🧴 Crime Survivors Offers Final August Support Distribution on August 28

🚏🚎 OCTA Offers Free Bus Rides for Kids and Teens Ages 6–18

🤒 What to Know About Common Skin Rashes and When to Seek Care

🌾🐦‍⬛ San Joaquin Marsh Records Orange County’s First Purple Gallinule Sighting

🎨 Woodbridge Holiday Arts & Crafts Show Returns November 14

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

☀️🐕 Simple Summer Safety Tips to Help Protect Your Pets

🎾 Chelsey Ruiz Joins UCI Women’s Tennis Coaching Staff

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈 Northwood Football Opens Season With 24-7 Victory Over Irvine

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚓🚨 Irvine Police Arrest Shoplifting Suspect After Theft at Spectrum Market

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What do you call a sleeping bull?

A bulldozer.

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

Irvine Hosts Pan Pacific Championships at William Woollett Aquatics Center

Earlier this month, Irvine’s William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center hosted the Pan Pacific Championships from August 12–15, bringing elite swimmers from across the Pacific Rim to Irvine. The competition marked the first international championship swimming event held in the U.S. since 2010 and saw 14 Championship Records, three American Records, and three World Records broken, including two by Team USA.

Cast Your Vote in Tanaka Farms’ Watermelon Jam Bear Contest

Tanaka Farms is inviting the community to vote for their favorite bear-shaped jar both filled with Tanaka Watermelon Jam made from red and yellow watermelons grown on the farm. Voting is open through Saturday, August 29 at 5 p.m., and participants will be entered for a chance to be one of five winners receiving a jelly sampler box and two summer tour tickets. No purchase is necessary.

Crime Survivors Offers Final August Support Distribution on August 28

Crime Survivors will hold its final August Survivor Support Distribution on Friday, August 28, from 3–4 p.m. Diapers, wipes, socks, snacks, personal-care products, and other essentials will be available first come, first served. For more information, contact [email protected].

Irvine 2/11 Marine Committee to Hold Volunteer Meeting September 15

The Irvine 2/11 Marine Adoption Committee is inviting community members to a volunteer meeting on Tuesday, September 15, from 6–7:30 p.m. at the Lakeview Senior Center in Irvine. The 100% volunteer organization will plan fall and winter events supporting the 2/11 Marine Battalion and 11th Marine Regiment. Questions can be sent to [email protected].

OCTA Offers Free Bus Rides for Kids and Teens Ages 6–18

OCTA’s Youth Ride Free program allows children and teens ages 6–18 to ride OC buses for free with a Wave card. Parents can apply or reapply for their student, as last year’s passes expire September 30, 2026. It’s a convenient transportation option for families, along with other local services such as the Irvine CONNECT bus.

What to Know About Common Skin Rashes and When to Seek Care

Skin rashes are common and can be caused by allergies, irritants, infections, weather changes, or ongoing skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. While many rashes are mild, getting the right diagnosis can help determine the best treatment, especially when symptoms persist or are accompanied by fever or other signs of illness.

Practical care tips:

  • Keep the affected skin clean and dry, avoiding vigorous rubbing.

  • Use lukewarm rather than hot water when bathing or showering.

  • Choose mild, fragrance-free soaps, moisturizers, and laundry products to limit irritation.

  • Apply a fragrance-free moisturizer after bathing to help prevent dry, irritated skin.

  • Try a cool, damp compress for several minutes to soothe itching or discomfort.

  • Avoid scratching the rash as much as possible, as this can further irritate the skin and increase the risk of infection.

  • Wear loose, breathable clothing to reduce rubbing, heat, and sweating.

  • Stop using any new skin or household products that may have triggered the rash.

  • Keep skin folds clean and dry, particularly during hot weather or after exercise.

  • Take note of recent changes in medications, foods, products, travel, or possible insect bites to share with a healthcare provider.

  • Avoid applying antibiotics, antifungals, or steroid creams unless you know what is causing the rash or have been advised to use them.

  • Seek prompt medical care if the rash is rapidly spreading, very painful, blistering, showing signs of infection, or accompanied by fever or swollen glands.

San Joaquin Marsh Records Orange County’s First Purple Gallinule Sighting

A rare juvenile purple gallinule has been spotted at IRWD’s 300-acre San Joaquin Marsh in Irvine, marking the first recorded sighting in Orange County and only the eighth in California. The colorful bird, normally found in warmer regions of the Americas, has attracted birdwatchers and photographers to the Marsh, which is home to more than 300 bird species. It’s a special sighting and a wonderful reminder of the diverse wildlife that calls the San Joaquin Marsh home.

Woodbridge Holiday Arts & Crafts Show Returns November 14

The Woodbridge Village Association will hold its Annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Show and French Artisan Market on Saturday, November 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shoppers can browse local arts, holiday décor, crafts, jewelry, French artisan goods, and treats such as macarons, madeleines, and cannelés. Admission is free, and the event will take place rain or shine. Artist spaces go on sale online September 3 at 9 a.m.

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

No events scheduled for this month.

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

No events scheduled for this month.

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

Upcoming Irvine High Choral’s Music Calendar

No events scheduled for this month.

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

Upcoming Portola High School Music’s Calendar

No events scheduled for this month.

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.phsmusicbooster.org/buy-ticket

Simple Summer Safety Tips to Help Protect Your Pets

Summer brings plenty of outdoor fun, but everyday items at cookouts, parties, and pools can pose unexpected risks to pets.

  • Glow sticks: Keep them away from pets. Chewing can cause drooling and irritation, and some may contain small glass pieces.

  • Corn cobs: Never let pets eat them. They can become stuck in the stomach or intestines and may require emergency treatment.

  • Bones: Avoid giving pets cooked bones, which can splinter, cause choking, damage teeth, or injure the digestive tract.

  • Grills and campfires: Keep pets safely away from flames, hot coals, ashes, and sparks to prevent burns and eye injuries.

  • Peaches, cherries and other pitted fruits: Remove pits before sharing. Pits can cause choking, intestinal blockage, or other serious problems.

  • Moldy or rotten fruit: Throw it away and keep it out of reach, as mold and fermented fruit can make pets ill.

  • Watermelon: Remove the rind and seeds and offer only small pieces of the fruit.

  • Citronella candles: Keep pets away from the flame, fumes, wax, and citronella oil.

  • Balloons and strings: Pick up broken balloons and loose strings, which can cause choking, intestinal problems, or entanglement.

  • Swimming pools: Always supervise pets around water and make sure dogs know how to safely get out of the pool.

Chelsey Ruiz Joins UCI Women’s Tennis Coaching Staff

UC Irvine women’s tennis has hired Chelsey Ruiz as an assistant coach for the 2026–27 season, bringing coaching experience from the junior, high school and college levels. A former player at Cal State LA, Ruiz hopes to use her experience to help develop UCI’s student-athletes and strengthen the program.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Men’s Water Polo

  • Fri, Aug 28 - vs Chapman, 9:00 AM

  • Fri, Aug 28 - vs George Washington University, 2:20 PM

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

No further home games for this month

Northwood Football Opens Season With 24-7 Victory Over Irvine

Northwood football opened the season with a 24-7 win over Irvine, giving new head coach Stephen Barbee a victory in his first game.

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated with August Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

August 2026

Thursday, August 27

  • Flag Football, Girls - 6:30 PM vs Dana Hills

Friday, August 28

  • Football - 7:00 PM vs Portola

Irvine Police Arrest Shoplifting Suspect After Theft at Spectrum Market

The Irvine Police Department arrested 32-year-old Thomas Crockett Hague after he allegedly returned to Village Market & Cafe at Irvine Spectrum and stole groceries and other items. An employee photographed him leaving with the items, helping IPD’s Real-Time Crime Center quickly identify and locate him riding a bicycle away from the area. He was arrested and booked into Orange County Jail on suspicion of shoplifting.

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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