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Share Your Ideas for the 2026–2029 Library Strategic Plan

Issue # 0500

Author

Joshua Tjia
21 Oct

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

📚✍🏻 Share Your Ideas for the 2026–2029 Library Strategic Plan

🏙️📄 City Leaders Split on Need for Irvine Whippet Ban Amid Countywide Crackdowns

🌴🎃 Spooky Nights & Lights Illuminate the Spectrum

🌸🧋🌸 Sunright Tea Studio Launches Honkai Impact 3rd Collab Cups This October

🍁🧑‍🍳 Celebrate the Season with Harvest Fun at Pretend City

😷 Stay Strong, Stay Healthy: Easy Ways to Beat the Flu Season

🦇 Learn About the Bats of Orange County — October 23 at Heritage Park Library

🛍️🎨 Support Local Makers and Find One-of-a-Kind Gifts at Woodbridge Village Center

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🌳🚶🏻‍♀️🌳 Built for Wellness: Irvine’s Parks Keep Residents Fit and Happy

⚽️ Anteater Men’s Soccer Goalie Secures Sixth Clean Sheet, Wins Weekly Award

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

⚽️ IVC Women’s Soccer Surges Past Fullerton, 4-1

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈 Portola Powers Past University, 32–3, to Stay Atop Omicron League

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚓💊 Man Arrested at Crossroads Shopping Center Following Drug Discovery

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What is the first thing bats learn in school?

The alphabat.

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

Share Your Ideas for the 2026–2029 Library Strategic Plan

The City of Irvine is inviting residents to help shape the future of the Irvine Public Library by sharing feedback on library services, programs, collections, and spaces.

📖 Now through November 16, community members can take an online or printed survey to guide the 2026–2029 Library Strategic Plan. Suggestions will help set priorities for upcoming library improvements.

✍🏻 Learn more or email input to [email protected].

City Leaders Split on Need for Irvine Whippet Ban Amid Countywide Crackdowns

As more Orange County cities move to restrict nitrous oxide sales for recreational use, the Irvine City Council voted 4-3 against pursuing its own ban.

  • Councilmembers opposing the measure said state law already makes recreational use and sale illegal, while supporters, led by Councilmember Melinda Liu, argued that Irvine should act proactively like neighboring cities.

  • Meanwhile, Newport Beach and others have passed ordinances to close loopholes and address rising misuse.

  • Irvine officials said they trust existing laws and local enforcement to manage the issue.

Spooky Nights & Lights Illuminate the Spectrum

Spooky Nights & Lights at the Irvine Spectrum
Through Oct 31 • 5:30–9:30 PM
📍 Near Dave & Buster’s

✨ Enjoy a dazzling light and sound show every half hour outside Old Navy and Dave & Buster’s! Watch the palm trees come alive with Halloween colors and music.

Sunright Tea Studio Launches Honkai Impact 3rd Collab Cups This October

Starting October 25, Sunright Tea Studio is launching a collaboration with Honkai Impact 3rd featuring three exclusive cup designs starring Elysia, Mei, and Kiana.

  • ❄️ Order any cold drink to get a random collab cup (designs vary by location).

  • ☕️ For 16oz drinks, hot menu items, or kids’ drinks, ask a team member to receive a collab cup.

Celebrate the Season with Harvest Fun at Pretend City

Join Pretend City Children’s Museum for a spooktacular Halloween celebration filled with healthy, hands-on fun!

  • 📚 Enjoy glow bands, spooky storytime (11 a.m.), cooking with Rady Children’s Health (12–1 p.m.), a dance party (1:30 p.m.), and a mad scientist show (2:30 p.m.).

  • 🍎 Kids can whip up pumpkin soup and apple donuts with Rady’s Culinary Medicine Program, learning about nutritious fall flavors.

  • 🎃 Costumes encouraged—come for treats, play, and family fun on October 31, at 29 Hubble, Irvine.

Stay Strong, Stay Healthy: Easy Ways to Beat the Flu Season

As flu season approaches, Family Care Centers reminds the community that small daily habits can make a big difference in staying healthy. Their medical team encourages everyone to practice simple, effective steps to reduce the spread of illness and maintain overall wellness.

  • 🧼 Wash hands frequently

  • 😷 Cover coughs and sneezes

  • 🏠 Stay home when feeling unwell

  • 🥗 Maintain a healthy diet and consistent sleep routine

  • 💉 Consider potentially getting a flu shot

Preventive care services are available at Family Care Centers in Costa Mesa (714-668-2505) and Irvine (949-857-1248).

Learn About the Bats of Orange County — October 23 at Heritage Park Library

🦇 Learn all about the amazing bats of Orange County at Irvine Public Library’s Bats of Orange County class on Thursday, October 23, from 6–7:30 p.m. at Heritage Park Library. Presented by the Sea & Sage Audubon Society, this fun, educational evening explores how bats help our ecosystem, busts common myths, and teaches you how to spot them in your neighborhood — a perfect mix of spooky and smart for all ages.

Support Local Makers and Find One-of-a-Kind Gifts at Woodbridge Village Center

🛍️ Explore the Woodbridge Village Center Artisan Market on October 25 & 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Discover one-of-a-kind gifts, art, and locally made goods from talented artisans while supporting small businesses. A perfect weekend outing for unique finds and community spirit!

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

  1. November 5, 5-9 PM: Band Spectacular, Irvine HS

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School's Music Calendar

No events scheduled for the rest of this month.

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

No events scheduled for the rest of this month.

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

Upcoming Irvine High Choral’s Music Calendar

  1. October 30, 7 PM: Vaquero JR Voices Concert

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

Built for Wellness: Irvine’s Parks Keep Residents Fit and Happy

More than 50 years ago, Irvine’s founders designed the city with nature as a built-in prescription for health — setting aside one-third of its land for parks, trails, and open space.

🌳Today, that foresight pays off: Irvine consistently ranks among the nation’s fittest cities, with over 90% of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park.

💚 Experts say the city’s green spaces promote longevity and well-being by reducing stress, boosting heart health, and even lowering rates of chronic disease and childhood obesity. In Irvine, parks aren’t just amenities — they’re medicine for mind and body.

Anteater Men’s Soccer Goalie Secures Sixth Clean Sheet, Wins Weekly Award

UC Irvine sophomore goalkeeper Patrick O’Shaughnessy earned his second Big West Defensive Player of the Week award after recording shutouts in wins over CSUN and Sacramento State. He made two saves across both matches, bringing his season total to six clean sheets and 25 saves with a 0.83 goals-against average. The honor is the fifth weekly award for the Anteaters this season.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Women’s Volleyball

  • Tue, Oct 21 – vs Hawai’i, 6:00 PM

Men’s Soccer

  • Wed, Oct 22– vs UC Davis, 6:00 PM

IVC Women’s Soccer Surges Past Fullerton, 4-1

Irvine Valley College women’s soccer powered past Fullerton, 4-1, after breaking a 1-1 halftime tie with three second-half goals. Kuuipo Laumatia, Haley Flores, and Aleeza Tapia all scored, with Flores netting twice to seal the win. The Lasers improved to 8-4 overall and 2-3 in the OEC.

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Women’s Soccer

  • Fri, Oct 24 – vs Orange Coast, 3:00 PM

  • Fri, Oct 31 – vs Santa Ana, 1:00 PM

Women’s Soccer

  • Tue, Oct 21 – vs Golden West, 3:00 PM

  • Tue, Oct 28 – vs Saddleback, 3:00 PM

Men’s Basketball

  • Thu, Oct 23 – vs Chaffey (Scrimmage), 5:30 PM

Portola Powers Past University, 32–3, to Stay Atop Omicron League

Portola High stayed tied for first in the Omicron League with a 32–3 win over University. Orion Suttle threw for 170 yards and two touchdowns, while Malachi Moore’s 98-yard kickoff return and Timmy Grettenberg’s rushing score powered the Bulldogs.

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated With October Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

October 2025

Wednesday, October 22

  • Girls Tennis – 3:30 PM vs. St. Margaret’s Episcopal

Man Arrested at Crossroads Shopping Center Following Drug Discovery

Irvine police arrested Gerardo Pineda, 33, of Anaheim after he caused a disturbance at the Crossroads shopping center. Officers discovered methamphetamine in a bag he left behind and learned he was already on probation for a prior gun charge. Pineda was arrested for drug sales and booked at Orange County Jail.

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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