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Step Into a Fairy Tale: Cinderella Musical Comes to Woodbridge High School

Issue # 0571

Author

Joshua Tjia
18 Feb

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🚆🚲 Irvine Approves $1.5 Million to Plan Mobility Hub and Bike Improvements at Train Station

🎶🪈 Blending East and West, Maestro Bin He Brings Chinese Music to Irvine Audiences

🧵🪡 Local Families and Volunteers Team Up to Create Quilts for 2/11 Marines

🐐🌧️ Tiny Hooves, Big Hearts: Celebrate Spring at Tanaka Farms’ Adorable Goat Baby Shower

🛏️💤 Top Tips for Better Sleep and Healthier Sleep Habits

🌧️⚠️ San Diego Creek and Peters Canyon Trail Underpasses Closed Due to Rain

🪄✨ Step Into a Fairy Tale: Cinderella Musical Comes to Woodbridge High School

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐾 Weekly Pet Update: Adoptions and Owner Reunifications at Irvine Animal Care Center

🏐UCI Men’s Volleyball Freshman Andrej Jokanovic Earns Fourth Big West Weekly Honor

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

⚽️ Portola Girls Soccer Shuts Out Crean Lutheran, Advances to CIF Division 2 Quarterfinals

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚔💵 Irvine Police Warn of Bank Impersonation Scam Following $40,000 Loss

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What did the raindrop say as it ran off the road?

This is a grate day.

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

Irvine Approves $1.5 Million to Plan Mobility Hub and Bike Improvements at Train Station

Irvine officials voted 5–2 to allocate $1.5 million toward planning, design, and construction of a proposed “mobility hub” at the Irvine train station, aimed at improving bike access and encouraging public transit use.

  • The early-stage project could include secure bicycle storage, repair services, safety classes, and potentially retail or food options to make the station more inviting for commuters, especially ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

  • Funding will come from repayments on a $7.5 million loan the city previously made to the Orange County Power Authority.

  • Supporters say the project aligns with sustainability goals by reducing transportation-related emissions, while opponents raised concerns about spending funds before full repayment and suggested the proposal should undergo further review.

Blending East and West, Maestro Bin He Brings Chinese Music to Irvine Audiences

Since taking the podium of the South Coast Chinese Orchestra in 2017, Maestro Bin He has played a key role in shaping Irvine’s cultural music scene through his work as a conductor and composer. Born in Anhui, China, and trained at the China Conservatory of Music, He’s journey took him from early challenges after immigrating to the U.S. to composing for major films like Skyfall and Disney projects. Known for blending traditional Chinese instruments with Western orchestral sounds, He aims to connect cultures through music, whether on major stages like Segerstrom Hall or in outdoor community settings where new audiences can discover and appreciate Chinese music.

Local Families and Volunteers Team Up to Create Quilts for 2/11 Marines

Big community love!🧵🪡 Irvine 2/11 Marine Adoption Committee gave a heartfelt thank-you to the Okino family for donating fabric to the longtime Tustin CutUps nonprofit, which has been handcrafting quilts for 2/11 Marines and their babies for more than 20 years. The group is always happy to accept donations of 100% cotton fabric, needles, thread, and sewing supplies to help continue this meaningful tradition of supporting local Marines and their families.

Tiny Hooves, Big Hearts: Celebrate Spring at Tanaka Farms’ Adorable Goat Baby Shower

Tanaka Farms is celebrating spring with a Goat Baby Shower on February 28 in Irvine, welcoming new baby goats to the Barnyard. This $15 fundraising event (free for kids 2 and under) includes light refreshments, games, 30 minutes of up-close goat time, and access to all barnyard animals afterward. Proceeds support Legacy Barn, a nonprofit that helps provide feed, medical care, and enrichment for Tanaka Farms’ rescued animals.

Top Tips for Better Sleep and Healthier Sleep Habits

A good night’s sleep makes a big difference in how you feel, think, and function each day. If you’re waking up tired, feeling irritable, or hitting an afternoon energy crash, a few simple habit changes can help you sleep better and feel more refreshed.

Easy Tips for Better Sleep:

  • Stick to a schedule: Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day—even weekends.

  • Wind down before bed: Do something relaxing and put phones and tablets away.

  • Create a cozy sleep space: Keep your room cool, dark, and quiet.

  • Get comfortable: Use a mattress and pillows that support good rest.

  • Limit screens at night: Aim to unplug at least an hour before bedtime.

  • Skip late stimulants: Avoid caffeine and nicotine in the afternoon and evening.

  • Get daylight during the day: Natural light helps set your body clock.

  • Watch late meals: Avoid heavy eating right before bed.

  • Exercise earlier: Stay active, but finish workouts a few hours before sleep.

  • Relax your mind: Try deep breathing or a short meditation before bed.

San Diego Creek and Peters Canyon Trail Underpasses Closed Due to Rain

Due to ongoing rain, all underpasses along the San Diego Creek and Peters Canyon bike trails are temporarily closed for safety. The City of Irvine will share updates once conditions improve and the underpasses reopen.

Step Into a Fairy Tale: Cinderella Musical Comes to Woodbridge High School

Woodbridge High School’s Performing Arts Department brings Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella to the stage Feb. 26–28 at the WHS Performing Arts Center.

  • Showtimes are Thursday at 6 p.m., Friday at 7 p.m., and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

  • Tickets range from $20–$25, including a $25 VIP Experience with character interaction, refreshments, and a keepsake.

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

No further events scheduled for this month.

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School's Music Calendar

  1. February 26-28: Cinderella Musical, WHS Performing Arts Center

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

  1. February 26-28, TBD: Cinderella, WHS Performing Arts Center

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

Upcoming Irvine High Choral’s Music Calendar

  1. February 21: CSUF SSAA Festival, CSU-Fullerton

  2. February 25-28, 7:00 PM: Seussical, IHS PAC

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

Upcoming Portola High School Music’s Calendar

No further events scheduled for this month.

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

Weekly Pet Update: Adoptions and Owner Reunifications at Irvine Animal Care Center

From February 9–15, Irvine Animal Care Center celebrated several happy endings, with 3 dogs, 4 cats, and 1 hamster adopted into new homes.

  • Adopted pets included dogs Axel, Big Bear, and Rosie; cats Ilia, Munji, Twilight, and Winter; and hamster Felix.

  • During the same week, 6 dogs and 3 cats were reunited with their owners.

  • For adoption details and hours, visit cityofirvine.org/animals.

UCI Men’s Volleyball Freshman Andrej Jokanovic Earns Fourth Big West Weekly Honor

UC Irvine men’s volleyball freshman outside hitter Andrej Jokanovic earned his fourth Big West Freshman of the Week honor after strong performances against USC, averaging 3.50 kills and helping the Anteaters hand the Trojans their first loss of the season. UC Irvine improved to 12-1 and moved up to No. 4 nationally.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Baseball

  • Fri, Feb 20 – vs California, 6:00 PM

Women’s Basketball

  • Thu, Feb 19 – vs Long Beach State, 6:00 PM

Women’s Water Polo

  • Fri, Feb 20 – vs UC San Diego, 6:00 PM

Women’s Tennis

  • Fri, Feb 20 – vs Portland, 6:00 PM

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Men’s Tennis

  • Thu, Feb 19 – vs Mt. San Antonio, 2:00 PM

Men’s Volleyball

  • Fri, Feb 20 – vs Long Beach, 6:00 PM

Baseball

  • Tue, Feb 24 – vs LA Valley, 1:00 PM

Women’s Flag Football

  • Wed, Feb 18 – vs Southwestern, 3:00 PM

Women’s Beach Volleyball

  • Fri, Feb 20 – vs Cerritos, 10:00 AM

  • Fri, Feb 20 – vs Cal State Los Angeles, 12:00 PM

Portola Girls Soccer Shuts Out Crean Lutheran, Advances to CIF Division 2 Quarterfinals

Portola’s girls soccer team continued its strong defensive run, edging Crean Lutheran 1–0 in a CIF Division 2 second-round playoff match. Sophomore goalkeeper Keleila Brannan anchored a shutout, while Taylor Strickland scored the game’s only goal.

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated With February Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

February 2026

Thursday, February 19

  • Tennis, Boys - 3:15 PM vs El Toro

  • Beach Volleyball, Girls - 3:30 PM vs Mission Viejo

Saturday, February 21

  • Baseball - 11:00 AM vs Capistrano Valley

Irvine Police Warn of Bank Impersonation Scam Following $40,000 Loss

An Irvine resident was recently defrauded of $40,000 after receiving a text message that appeared to be a bank fraud alert, followed by a phone call from an individual impersonating a bank representative. The victim was instructed to withdraw their savings so the funds could be “secured” and later handed the cash to a courier arranged by the suspect. Shortly after, the victim realized the incident was likely a scam.

  • Irvine Police remind the public that banks will never ask customers to withdraw cash or send someone to collect money, and that urgency and secrecy are common scam tactics.

  • Residents are encouraged to speak with senior family members about these schemes and to contact their bank directly using the number on their card if suspicious activity is suspected.

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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