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Strawberry Picking Is Back at Tanaka Farms—Sweet Berries Start This Weekend

Issue # 0543

Author

Joshua Tjia
07 Jan

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🚔💡🛋️ Irvine PD Offers Safe E-Commerce Exchange Zone for Online Buyers and Sellers

🚰💧 From Source to Sip: Join IRWD’s Free Water Quality Workshop on Jan. 22

❄️🍦 Midweek Treat Alert: Handel’s Ice Cream Offers $4 Scoops Every Tuesday

🚦 Traffic Signal Shutdown: Alton Pkwy, Jan. 7 (9 AM–3 PM)

🍓🌸🍓Strawberry Picking Is Back at Tanaka Farms—Sweet Berries Start This Weekend

😷 Common Causes of Nausea, Vomiting, and Diarrhea—and Tips for Safe Recovery

🌳🥾 Start Your Week Strong: Join A Scenic Super Trek at Quail Hill on Jan. 12

🩰 Ballet Orange County Hosts 2026 Winter Gala Fundraiser on January 14

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🚙🐈 Pet Travel Safety: Simple Tips to Keep Your Animal Safe on the Road

🏀 UC Irvine Men’s Basketball Guard Jurian Dixon Named Big West Player of the Week

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

⚽️ Former Irvine Valley Midfielder Anthony Ocampo Shines at Concordia in 2025 Season

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚓👜 Two Suspects Arrested After $100K Luxury Handbag Burglary in Irvine

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What did the little champagne bottle call his daddy?

Pop!

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

Irvine PD Offers Safe E-Commerce Exchange Zone for Online Buyers and Sellers

Buying or selling items on OfferUp or Facebook Marketplace? The Irvine Police Department offers a safer option for meetups with its E-Commerce Exchange Zone—a designated, monitored parking area at the police department marked with a special sign and “E-Commerce” painted parking stalls. It’s a simple way to add peace of mind to your online transactions.

Helpful Safety Tips for Online Exchanges:

  • 🤝 Meet at the police department or another well-lit, public place

  • 🏠 Never invite strangers to your home or go to theirs

  • 👥 Bring another adult with you when possible

  • 🚨 Trust your instincts—walk away if something feels off

  • 🔒 Don’t share personal details like your address or financial info

  • 💵 Use cash or secure payment methods and check items carefully before finalizing

From Source to Sip: Join IRWD’s Free Water Quality Workshop on Jan. 22

Irvine Ranch Water District is hosting a free Water Quality Workshop on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 6:15 p.m. at the IRWD Operations Center in Irvine, inviting customers to learn where their tap water comes from and how it’s tested. The evening includes a tour of IRWD’s water quality lab, presentations on water treatment and state and federal standards, a Q&A with experts, and refreshments made with the same water delivered to local homes.

Midweek Treat Alert: Handel’s Ice Cream Offers $4 Scoops Every Tuesday

Don’t miss $4 Tuesdays at Handel’s Ice Cream at the Irvine Spectrum Center. Every Tuesday, you can enjoy a small scoop or cone for just $4, making it a perfect midweek treat for ice cream lovers looking for a sweet break.

Traffic Signal Shutdown: Alton Pkwy, Jan. 7 (9 AM–3 PM)

The City of Irvine City Hall will temporarily shut down the traffic signal at Alton Parkway & Kaiser Permanente/Hoag Irvine today, January 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for signal synchronization work along Alton. Crews will do their best to keep traffic moving, but using alternate routes is recommended if you can.

Strawberry Picking Is Back at Tanaka Farms—Sweet Berries Start This Weekend

Strawberry picking season is starting early at Tanaka Farms, with guided strawberry tours launching this weekend. Guests enjoy a tractor ride around the farm, pick and take home 1 lb of strawberries (plus an extra seasonal veggie), snack on berries straight off the vine, and visit the barn animals.

Common Causes of Nausea, Vomiting, and Diarrhea—and Tips for Safe Recovery

Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can come on fast and feel overwhelming. Understanding the most common causes—and knowing how to recover safely—can help prevent symptoms from getting worse and reduce the risk of dehydration.

Common Causes:

  • Viral infections (stomach flu, norovirus, rotavirus)

  • Food poisoning from contaminated or improperly stored food

  • Traveler’s diarrhea from unsafe food or water

  • Dehydration, which can worsen symptoms and cause dizziness

  • Indigestion or food intolerance

  • Motion sickness or emotional stress

  • Pregnancy, medications, or medical treatments 

Tips for Recovery:

  • Hydrate early and often with water or electrolyte drinks—small sips if needed

  • Rest your stomach and avoid heavy, greasy, or spicy foods

  • Eat bland foods (like crackers, toast, rice, or bananas) once tolerated

  • Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and sugary drinks, which can worsen dehydration

  • Monitor symptoms and note how long they last

  • Seek medical care if symptoms persist beyond 24–48 hours, worsen, or include fever, dizziness, or inability to keep fluids down

  • Get help quickly if signs of severe dehydration or worsening pain appear

Start Your Week Strong: Join A Scenic Super Trek at Quail Hill on Jan. 12

Kick off your week with a challenging Monday Morning Super Trek at Quail Hill on Monday, January 12 from 7:30–11:30 a.m.. This level-4 hike covers 9 miles with 2,000 feet of elevation gain across Quail Hill and Shady Canyon trails, featuring steep climbs, rocky terrain, and scenic views of Irvine’s Open Space Preserve.

Ballet Orange County Hosts 2026 Winter Gala Fundraiser on January 14

Join Ballet Orange County on Wednesday, January 14, at 7:00 p.m. for its Winter Gala, a special fundraising evening supporting Ballet OC’s 2026 season. The event features 16 professional artists with a first look at upcoming repertoire. All proceeds directly benefit future productions and programs.

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

  1. January 8: Northwood Area Concert

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School's Music Calendar

  1. January 14, 7:00 – 10:00 PM: Dance Company: Winter Show, WHS Performing Arts

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

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

No further 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

  1. January 23 - 24: Advanced Choirs Retreat Weekend, Pali Retreat

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

Pet Travel Safety: Simple Tips to Keep Your Animal Safe on the Road

Heading out with your furry friend? Here are a few simple precautions that can make trips safer and less stressful.

Pet-Friendly Travel Tips 🐾

  • Buckle them in: Small pets should ride in a secure carrier, while larger dogs can use a doggy seatbelt in the back seat. Secure crates for extra safety.

  • Leash up first: In unfamiliar places, always put a leash or harness on your pet before opening the car door—surprises can make even calm pets bolt.

  • Never leave pets in the car: Cars heat up fast, even on cooler days, and it can be dangerous or deadly for pets.

  • Offer plenty of water: Bring a travel bowl and offer water during rest stops to keep your pet hydrated.

  • Watch for car sickness: If car rides make your pet queasy, your veterinarian can help with motion sickness options.

UC Irvine Men’s Basketball Guard Jurian Dixon Named Big West Player of the Week

UC Irvine guard Jurian Dixon earned Big West Player of the Week honors after leading the Anteaters to a 2–0 road trip. The redshirt sophomore delivered back-to-back strong performances, highlighted by a career-high 26 points and elite three-point shooting, cementing himself as one of the conference’s top scorers and shooters this season.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Men’s Basketball

  • Thur, Jan 8 – vs Long Beach State, 7:00 PM

Women’s Basketball

  • Sat, Jan 10 – vs Hawai'i, 2:00 PM

Former Irvine Valley Midfielder Anthony Ocampo Shines at Concordia in 2025 Season

Former Irvine Valley men’s soccer standout Anthony Ocampo continued his collegiate career at NCAA Division II Concordia University, appearing in 15 matches with 10 starts and one assist as the team finished 8-7-1. A former Trabuco Hills High player, Ocampo started two seasons at Irvine Valley College, helping IVC to conference success and multiple SoCal Regional Playoff runs, including a 2023 regional final.

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Women’s Basketball

  • Wed, Jan 7 - vs Cypress, 7:00 PM

Men’s Basketball

  • Wed, Jan 7 - vs Cypress, 5:00 PM

  • Wed, Jan 14 - vs Santiago Canyon, 5:00 PM

Baseball

  • Sat, Jan 17 - vs Mt. San Antonio, 11:00 AM

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated With January Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

January 2026

Wednesday, January 7

  • Water Polo, Girls - 4:00 PM vs Rosary Academy

  • Wrestling, Girls - 4:00 PM vs Portola

  • Wrestling, Boys - 4:00 PM vs Portola

Friday, January 9

  • Soccer, Boys - 5:00 PM vs Portola

  • Basketball, Boys - 7:00 PM vs Portola

Two Suspects Arrested After $100K Luxury Handbag Burglary in Irvine

Irvine Police responded to a burglary at a luxury handbag store near Jamboree and Dupont after a security alert flagged two suspects inside the building. With assistance from Costa Mesa Police using a drone, officers located and arrested both suspects hiding inside the store. About $100,000 worth of handbags was recovered and returned. Two men from Los Angeles County were booked into Orange County Jail on multiple felony charges, including burglary and grand theft.

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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