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Tanaka Farms Hosts Free Open House Weekend with Local Vendors & Family Fun

Issue # 0367

Author

Joshua Tjia
19 Mar

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh Of The Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🌳🧯 Irvine’s Bommer Canyon Undergoes $1M Restoration to Reduce Wildfire Risk

🍓🌱 Tanaka Farms Hosts Free Open House Weekend with Local Vendors & Family Fun

🍃🧤 Free Compost Giveaway at Great Park – March 22

🍓🥥 New Drink Alert: Berry Berry Coconut Now at Jam Jam Tea Lab

🎠 Great Park Carousel Closed for Renovation, Reopening March 28

🤸🏻🩺 Move Better, Feel Better: Expert Neck & Back Pain Treatment in OC

🦉 The Watchful Ghost of the Night: Meet the Barn Owl

🎡🛍️ Urban Decay Pop-Up: Free Eyeliner & Gift Bags

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐈💉 Affordable Pet Vaccines in Irvine – Don’t Miss Out

🌟 Kailah McKenzie Wins Second Consecutive Big West Athlete of the Week Award

🏀🏐🎾⚾ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏐 IVC Women’s Beach Volleyball Splits Matches at Riverside

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🚓🚨 Irvine Police Arrest Suspect in Attempted Murder of Off-Duty Officer

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

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

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

Why didn't the carpenter share a joke?

He couldn’t find one that woodwork!

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

Irvine’s Bommer Canyon Undergoes $1M Restoration to Reduce Wildfire Risk

Nearly 90% of wildfires in the United States are caused by human activity, with power lines and arson being significant factors in California. In response to wildfire risks, Bommer Canyon in Irvine is undergoing a $1 million restoration project, funded by the California Natural Resources Agency and supported by Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris. Since August 2023, efforts have focused on replacing invasive, fire-prone plants such as Black Mustard with 9,000 native species to reduce fire hazards. Managed by the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, the project is set to continue through March 2026, followed by five years of site maintenance. Fire-resistant vegetation and natural fire breaks are being introduced to enhance wildfire resilience. While Orange County has implemented wildfire preparedness measures, OC Fire Authority Captain Greg Barta notes that no area is entirely immune. Public access to Bommer Canyon remains open throughout the restoration process.

Tanaka Farms Hosts Free Open House Weekend with Local Vendors & Family Fun

🌱🎉 Tanaka Farms Open House Weekend (March 22-23) 🎉🌱

Join Tanaka Farms for a FREE Open House Weekend, featuring local vendors, farm activities, and family fun!

  • enjoy fresh-baked goods from Cocoa and Stardust

  • boutique kids' items from Hide and Squeak Kids

  • and custom permanent jewelry from Es Romo.

Experience strawberry picking & tours, delicious strawberry-themed food, $1 carnival games, an Easter egg hunt with the Easter Bunny, and free farm-fresh samples. No reservations needed—come shop, snack, and explore!

Free Compost Giveaway at Great Park – March 22

Free Compost Giveaway – Saturday, March 22, from 9 AM to noon at the Great Park (Lot 8 near Wild Rivers). Get up to 3 free 20-lb bags of compost from Tierra Verde Industries, with crews available to help load. First come, first served!

New Drink Alert: Berry Berry Coconut Now at Jam Jam Tea Lab

Jam Jam Tea Lab introduces Berry Berry Coconut, a refreshing new drink! Featuring a blend of strawberry, cranberry, and coconut with heart-shaped strawberry jelly, it’s light, fruity, and perfectly crisp. One sip, and you’ll be berry in love!

Location: 92 Corporate Park, Suite D, Irvine, CA 92606

Great Park Carousel Closed for Renovation, Reopening March 28

The Great Park Carousel is temporarily closed for deck renovation and will reopen on Friday, March 28. For updates, directions, and maps, visit yourgreatpark.org or call the Visitors Center at 949-724-6247.

Move Better, Feel Better: Expert Neck & Back Pain Treatment in OC

Dealing with neck or back pain? Whether it’s from prolonged sitting, poor posture, or an injury, discomfort can disrupt your daily life.

  • FCCMG Urgent Care in Orange County (Irvine, Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa) provides expert diagnosis and non-surgical treatments to help you find relief. Open 7 days a week, they offer walk-in care and online reservations.

  • Symptoms like persistent pain, numbness, or weakness may require urgent attention, with diagnostic options including physical exams, X-rays, and lab tests.

  • Treatments range from pain relievers to physical therapy, and severe cases may be referred to specialists.

Don’t let pain hold you back—reserve your spot today!

The Watchful Ghost of the Night: Meet the Barn Owl

The Barn Owl is a silent and skilled nocturnal hunter with a heart-shaped face that helps it detect even the faintest sounds. Rarely seen during the day, its soft feathers allow it to fly without a sound, making it a stealthy predator. This raptor can consume up to 1,000 rodents a year, playing a crucial role in pest control.

Fun Facts:

  • A true night owl, rarely seen in daylight

  • Soft feathers make its flight completely silent

  • Uses its heart-shaped face like a satellite dish to detect tiny sounds

  • Eats up to 1,000 rodents in a single year

Urban Decay Pop-Up: Free Eyeliner & Gift Bags

Join Urban Decay at Giant Wheel Court on March 22 (12 PM – 6 PM) for the launch of their 24/7 Glide-On Neutral Eye Pencils! Enjoy a free eyeliner application from a makeup artist and grab a gift bag while supplies last. Don’t miss out!

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

  1. March 20, 7:00-8:30 PM: IUSD Orchestra Festival, Woodbridge HS

  2. March 26, 7:00-8:30 PM: IUSD Wind Ensemble Festival

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

Upcoming University High School's Choirs Calendar

  1. May 1-2, 7:00 PM: Broadway Rocks!, Big Theater

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.uhschoirs.org/2024-25-season.html

Upcoming Woodbridge High School's Music Calendar

  1. March 20, 7:00-9:00 PM: IUSD Orchestra Festival, Woodbridge HS

  2. April 17, 7:00 PM: IUSD Honors Concert, Segerstrom 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. March 21, 7:00 PM: Spring Concert, WHS Performing Arts Center.

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

Upcoming Irvine High School's Music Calendar

  1. March 20, 7:00-9:00 PM: IUSD Orchestra Festival, Woodbridge HS

  2. March 26, 7:00-9:00 PM: IUSD Wind Ensemble Festival

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.vimb.info/calendar

Affordable Pet Vaccines in Irvine – Don’t Miss Out

The Irvine Animal Care Center and HEART are hosting a low-cost vaccine clinic for cats and dogs on Tuesday, March 25, from 5:30–8:30 p.m. at 6443 Oak Canyon, Irvine (mobile clinic in the parking lot). Vaccinations help protect pets from preventable diseases.

Reservations are required. Book your spot at www.heart4pets.org. 

Kailah McKenzie Wins Second Consecutive Big West Athlete of the Week Award

UC Irvine sophomore Kailah McKenzie earned her second consecutive Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Week honor after a standout performance at the Challenge Cup. She won the long jump with a lifetime-best 6.33m (20-9.25), surpassing 20 feet on five straight attempts and recording the best mark in NCAA Division I this season. Her jump ranks No. 2 in UCI program history, the best since 1983. This marks her third career Big West weekly award. The Anteaters return to action on March 22 at the UCR Spring Classic in Riverside.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Men's Basketball

  • Wed, Mar 19 – vs University of Northern Colorado, 7:00 PM

Men's Tennis

  • Sat, Mar 22 – vs Dartmouth, 12:00 PM

  • Sun, Mar 23 – vs Harvard, 1:00 PM

Women's Tennis

  • Thu, Mar 27 – vs UC San Diego, 11:00 AM

  • Thu, Mar 27 – vs Stanton, 3:00 PM

Women's Water Polo

  • Tue, Mar 25 – vs Brown, 6:00 PM

  • Fri, Mar 28 – vs UC Santa Barbara, 12:00 PM

Baseball

  • Fri, Mar 28 – vs UC Riverside, 6:00 PM

Men's Track & Field

  • Fri, Mar 28 – vs Vince O'Boyle Track & Field Classic, TBA

Women's Track & Field

  • Fri, Mar 28 – vs Vince O'Boyle Track & Field Classic, TBA

IVC Women’s Beach Volleyball Splits Matches at Riverside

Irvine Valley College (IVC) women's beach volleyball team split their Orange Empire Conference matches at Riverside, defeating the host team 4-1 but falling to Golden West 4-1. IVC’s record now stands at 4-8 overall and 4-2 in conference play. Golden West finished the day 2-0, IVC went 1-1, and Riverside was 0-2. Against Riverside, IVC secured victories in the first, second, fourth, and fifth courts, with top pair Audrey Fowler and Avery Bennett winning in three sets. Against Golden West, Fowler and Bennett claimed IVC’s only win, as the Rustlers dominated the remaining matches. The Lasers return to action next Friday at Newland Courts in Huntington Beach, facing Cypress and Santa Ana at 10 a.m.

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Baseball

  1. Wed, Mar 19 – vs LA Harbor, 2:00 PM

Men's Volleyball

  1. Fri, Mar 21 – vs Palomar, 6:00 PM

Women's Beach Volleyball

  1. Sat, Mar 22 – vs El Camino, 10:00 AM

  2. Sat, Mar 22 – vs Concordia University, Irvine, 1:00 PM

Men's Tennis

  1. Wed, Mar 26 – vs Linfield College, 10:00 AMv

High School Athletics Calendar

** Updated With March Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

March 2025

Wednesday, March 19

  • 3:30 PM - Swimming & Diving (Boys, VR) vs University at Woolett Pool

  • 3:30 PM - Swimming & Diving (Girls, VR) vs University at Woolett Pool

  • 3:30 PM - Beach Volleyball (Girls, VR) vs Sage Hill at Deerfield Park Beach Courts

  • 4:00 PM - Lacrosse (Boys, VR) vs St. Margaret’s Episcopal at Irvine High School Stadium

Irvine Police Arrest Suspect in Attempted Murder of Off-Duty Officer

Irvine Police arrested Solomon Cottrell for attempted murder of an off-duty officer. Around 2:06 a.m., the officer reported a Nissan Altima driving erratically near Jamboree and Barranca, suspecting the driver was under the influence. As on-duty officers responded, the Nissan confronted the off-duty officer, swerved aggressively, and a gunshot was fired near Irvine Center Drive. Officers later found a shell casing at the scene and identified Cottrell as the suspect. With help from Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, he was arrested at Pechanga Casino, where a firearm matching the shell casing was found. Cottrell was booked into Orange County Jail. Anyone with information can contact Detective Rebecca Steen at 949-724-7170 or [email protected].

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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