February 7, 2025 Edition
GREAT PARK CHAIRMAN ANNOUNCEMENT
On Tuesday, we planted two 30-foot-tall Heritage oak trees and commenced our plan for natural shade at the Great Park. These beautiful shade trees are a hybrid between the English oak and the Bur oak and can grow to be 60 feet tall and 50 feet wide. Irvine has more than 550,000 trees and we are proud to be designated as a “Tree City USA” community for over 30 years. Our trees remove millions of pounds of pollutants from the air and create over 70,000 tons of oxygen each year. As we work to build out new Great Park amenities, we are doing so with a focus on keeping Irvine clean, safe, and enjoyable for residents and their families. An estimated 17,000 trees will be added to the park as the next 300 acres are built out as part of the Great Park Framework Plan. To read more about the tree planting event and my comments, click here.
HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR!
Last week we celebrated the Lunar New Year at City Hall. We experienced a wonderful performance by Irvine 3rd and 4th graders, as well as many other celebrations throughout the City. We are fortunate to have a community that shares and enjoys each other's rich culture and traditions. Special thank you to South Coast Chinese Cultural Center Executive Director Yulan Chung, Commissioner Mike Chen, and Director of Performing Arts Karmia Chan for your dedication and contribution in the Irvine community.
COUNCILMEMBER CARROLL ANNOUNCES THAT FREE TAX PREPARATION IS BACK
In partnership with Orange County United Way, Irvine is offering free tax preparation services to taxpayers who earned less than $67,000 in 2024. Qualifying individuals who live, work, or attend school in Irvine can receive help filing their taxes from IRS-trained and certified volunteers. The OC Free Tax Prep service is available at Harvard Community Center, located at 14701 Harvard Avenue, from January 28 through April 8 on Tuesdays from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information on how to make an appointment, click here.
NORTHWOOD HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONS
Congratulations to the Northwood High School Girls Flag Football Team on their outstanding achievement as the CIF-SS Division 2 Champions! The team's competitive spirit, tireless hard work, and perseverance have brought immense pride to Northwood High School, and the Irvine community. We look forward to celebrating more wins and championships in the future. Go Timberwolves! To read about their big win in the Orange County Register, click here.
LOVE IRVINE FUNDRAISER AT SESSIONS
Join Love Irvine at Sessions West Coast Deli on Barranca Parkway, as they partner to make a positive impact in our community! 20% of all proceeds will be donated to Love Irvine when you show the flyer above between 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 8. This is a great opportunity to connect with Love Irvine, an organization dedicated to fostering goodwill and volunteerism within our city. At this event, you can also volunteer to write “Welcome Home” cards for our servicemembers returning from deployment, with the Irvine 2/11 Marine Adoption Committee. To learn more about this event, click here.
Thank you for reading this edition of my Community Update. I hope you enjoyed it.
Mike Carroll