Irvine lost a true giant and pillar of our community with the passing of Joan Irvine Smith. A member of the family that founded the Irvine Ranch, Smith was the only child of James Irvine Jr. and his wife Athalie Richardson Irvine Clarke. Smith was an environmental activist and philanthropist who was instrumental in the establishment and advancement of UC Irvine. She served as director of the Irvine Co., where she was a strong proponent for the City of Irvine’s master plan and the preservation of animal habitat on the ranch.

The Irvine Police Department (IPD) will conduct a  Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and Driver’s License checkpoint as part of the Department’s continued commitment to reducing injuries and deaths caused by impaired drivers. The checkpoint will be conducted Friday, Dec. 20, from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. in the area of Jamboree Road and Michelson Drive.

Looking for something for your kids to do this winter break? The Orange County Great Park offers winter camps for kids of all ages in tennis, chess, volleyball, soccer, and basketball beginning December 30. Registration is now open at yourirvine.org (Open in new window).

The Irvine Police Department (IPD) will increase DUI enforcement efforts and the amount of officers on patrol beginning Monday, Dec. 16, through Wednesday, Jan. 1, as part of a national campaign to discourage impaired driving during the holiday season.

In addition, IPD will conduct a sobriety checkpoint on Friday, Dec. 20, from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. The location will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 19.