On October 18th, the Antelope Valley TAY Center hosted TAYstock 2025: Voices Unfiltered — Unmask Your Authentic Self, a bold and inspiring event that celebrated the power of authenticity, vulnerability, and community. This year’s theme invited attendees to show up as their truest selves while connecting with others, exploring resources, and enjoying a day full of music, food, and fun.
The event brought together a vibrant mix of community providers, local organizations, and youth for an afternoon dedicated to empowerment and self-expression. From resource booths and wellness activities to free food and lively entertainment, there was something for everyone to enjoy. The atmosphere buzzed with laughter, creativity, and connection—truly embodying what TAYstock is all about.
In partnership with local schools, health clinics, and advocacy groups, the TAY Center once again created a safe and welcoming space for Transitional Age Youth (ages 16–25) and their families to learn, share, and grow together. New participants registered for services, and countless others walked away inspired to embrace their authentic selves and support one another.
Each year, TAYstock continues to remind us that when we show up as we are, we create a stronger, more inclusive community. Penny Lane is proud to stand alongside our youth and partners in celebrating this spirit of openness, courage, and connection.
I recently had the honor of attending the 42nd Annual Gala for Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL). I was graciously invited by Ronnette Ramos, Vice President of Operations and the morning keynote speaker at our Rise Up conference earlier this year.
Before the evening officially began, I was invited to the VIP reception, where the energy was vibrant appetizers were flowing, cameras were flashing, and the room buzzed with connection.
Once inside the ballroom, I found myself seated among lawyers, mayors, and policymakers who work tirelessly to make a difference in our communities. The conversations centered on increasing the visibility and representation of the AAPI community and advocacy for the voices that go unheard—a theme that echoed what Ronnette shared so powerfully during her Rise Up keynote.
The event was emceed by David Ono, Japanese American filmmaker and news anchor for ABC7 Eyewitness News. Throughout the evening, several honorees were recognized for their exceptional service and impact. Among them were Paul Chan, recipient of the Advancing Justice Legend Award, and Chien Yu, who received the Joseph Ileto Courage Award for his selfless service during the devastating Eaton Fire.
Close to 600 guests gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of AJSOCAL in 2025 and to support its mission of promoting justice and equity. The family-style dinner service featured a range of delicious offerings—and with chopsticks in hand, I happily dug in while soaking in the energy of the evening.
Even though Ronnette was understandably busy with her duties, we managed to steal a few moments to reconnect. We both agreed that there are real opportunities for collaboration ahead and look forward to exploring how Penny Lane Centers and AJSOCAL might work together in the future.
The theme for this year’s gala, “United in Action: Advance Together,” captured the heart of the evening perfectly. I left feeling deeply moved and inspired by the unity, courage, and dedication of everyone working to build a more just and inclusive future—for the AAPI community and beyond.
Check out some of Judy's photos from the Gala below!
The stories you are to read are based on true events experienced by Daisy and I during our UMCR night calls.
The first call took place in Chatsworth, an old house, boarded up, our supervisor Bryan informed us, “Be careful it appears to be an abandoned home!”
“Copy that” we reply and drive into the night. Upon arrival we see the house on our right side, dark, a chain-link fence protects it from the outside, so no one enters. Add to the fence, there are boards covering the windows, clearly no one is allowed to enter. I grab my flashlight all 1000 lumens of brightness to keep Daisy and I safe. I light left and right sweep carefully to find out how someone may have entered. While I scanned with my flashlight, we’re interrupted by an individual that appeared out of thin air.
“Come, enter this way…”
Daisy and I follow him, we look at each other and whisper, “Where did he come from?”
“I don’t know”
We heard a loud crack and a door being dragged open. He leads us inside the home, clearly it is abandoned, broken walls, no furniture, trash, complete destruction. I ask him how we can be of service. “I heard someone underneath the house making noises while I was asleep; something is tapping the walls too!”
“Ok sir, I’ll go check outside Daisy if he does anything weird, let me know okay? I’ll be back.”
I walked outside and checked under the house, I saw a chilled bottle of alcohol, but I could not figure out how it got there, I was in the room directly above the bottle, I saw no cracks on the floor. I rushed back to the room where Daisy was having a conversation with him. I had my own Zak Bagans moment when we heard the tapping on the walls, and I demanded whatever it was to show itself. I tone up and continue demanding it show itself, nothing. I noticed there was a room in front of us, it felt as if something was inside looking at us. I took my flashlight and shined in. It was so dark, the light almost disappeared into the darkness as if the dark was swallowing the light. I walked towards the room, heart beating but curious. I entered the room and flashed the ground in front of me. So much destruction at my feet, suddenly my intuition kicks in, I sense something is in the room with me, I try not to panic and recall my martial arts instincts and take up a Krav Maga stance. I hold my flashlight ready to deflect anything, I look down my left foot, I see what I thought was a possum’s tale moving away from me…
“Aghhh! It was a giant mutated 2ft rat that jumped up at me!” I should have kicked it, but I did not. “Hey brother, check it out, those taps and scratches you’re hearing is a giant rat. “Have a good night, everything is clear now!”
“Thank you”
Daisy and I walked away fast then sprinted away, the wildest thing was as we made our way out of the maze-like house the person was gone. I could not see them through the holes in the wall. I could not explain where they had gone, my flashlight deceived me.
Two days after this call we responded to a call that involved two lovers being harassed by an individual wearing all black. We arrived on scene and informed Bryan that we had arrived and conducted a thorough search for the potential recipient. I asked Daisy to drive to the end of the location which appeared to be a parking lot but due to the dense fog it was hard to determine exactly where we were.
From out of nowhere, like a scene from a Dracula movie, a young man appeared from the mist wearing all black. I flash my light and said
“See me, I’m the special one you seek!”
“Yeah, ok buddy, wait right there and have a word with me.”
They sit on the ground and show me identification that I did not ask for. They wear their dark shades, missing one lens and begin speaking in riddles. We hear an owl begin to hoot in the northern part of our location and notice that every time the recipient raised their arm to point to the sky, the light began to flicker, was it coincidence or something else? The owl’s hoot grew louder and louder as if owls were surrounding us. We offer the recipient snacks and water, they take it and provide a white piece of paper with several names written on it, this was their identification. As I’m preparing to leave, they ask me if they can share a riddle. “Sure, go for it.” They begin to squirm in the ground, excited, cracking their knuckles.
“You look smart, so here it goes. What’s the first sign one makes before they start to dig?”
“I have no clue, any hints?”
No hints, they start laughing uncontrollably and I signal to Daisy, “It’s time to leave!” We left. We look back through our side view and rearview mirrors trying to locate the individual but all we see is the fog growing thicker, consuming everything; dense and illuminated by the orange glow of ground lights and city lights. We thought we lost site of them when suddenly we saw what appeared to be the individual running on four limbs up a hill only to disappear into the fog. What do you think this sign is?
Our third call took place in a residential area we’ve explored once before but nothing like this call. A disturbance in the tennis court area of a wealthy neighborhood. Daisy and I arrived on scene, this night we call German that we’re on scene. “The fog is extremely thick, our vehicle lights are being reflected, zero visibility!”
“Ok, be safe.”
We drive to the location, but a resident tells us that the tennis courts are on the southern section, so we make our way there. We see an entrance, but it appears that it is no longer in use. Overgrowth, the trees are filled with Spanish moss almost suffocating from so much of it, we can see the moss and large spider webs gently dancing in the moonlight’s intermittent shine, in rhythm with the night’s soft breeze and silent cadence, so chilly even the stars were shaking. I asked Daisy to enter carefully because we could not see five feet in front of us. We roll down our windows so we can hear any disturbance. I asked her to park because although I could not see anything, I heard footsteps nearby. Daisy drives me closer and I exit the vehicle. Before I made my descent into the fog, I informed Daisy to stand by and lift her windows up, I would call her if I saw anything. I walk towards the sound of a chain-link fence that reverberates as if someone had jumped over, so naturally, I run towards it and grab my flashlight. I point my flashlight in front of me but all I see is a pair of long pale legs dash a few feet in front of me, and I hear a crash. I walk closer and notice there’s a hole in the fence and a 15ft drop into the wash below me, I flash my light, but I do not see anyone injured nor running north. I walk back to Daisy almost ready to call a GOA but something tells us that maybe there’s someone in the parking lot with us and maybe they’re playing games.
“Daisy, drive around one more time along the right side of the lot, let’s see if we see anyone.”
“Hey, I saw someone next to the RV, next to the Porsche!”
“Ok, drive me closer maybe I can engage and offer snacks or a blanket because it’s cold.”
“Hi there, how are you?”
No answer, so I let Daisy know. “You’re right, I see someone leaning on the fence and they’re probably not going to cooperate with us because they did not return my greeting.”
“Daisy, drive me closer, close enough that if something happens, you have eyes on me, and I can sprint back into the vehicle and leave.”
I radio dispatch, “2P11, on scene with one.”
Dispatch: “2p11on scene with one.”
I see the person leaning on the fence and I walk up closer, inching closer trying to absorb as much as I can and project calmness and obtain a response.
“Hi, there, my name is Ricardo, I’m with the city’s unarmed mobile crisis response team. May I offer you some water, a blanket or some snacks?”
I did not receive any response, so I continued walking closer and as I am within 3 feet, I tone up a bit,
“Sir, I’m sorry it appears you’re in private property and you’re causing a noise disturbance. It looks like you’re going to have to leave.”
No response, so I continued walking directly to the person and as I got closer, heart beating, breathing faster, ready for whatever happens but remaining in control. There it was, the rude individual was no person at all, it was a scarecrow! A 6ft scarecrow leaning on the fence, chillin’ like a villain on penicillin, enjoying the crisp night, the dense fog, laughing at me because it tricked me… A baseball cap and a blue jumpsuit ignoring me.
What was I going to do? Call dispatch and say, “2P11 to dispatch, never mind, it was a scarecrow.” It stayed between Daisy and I and now you all know the wild things that can happen at night.
-Ricardo Melendrez, Penny Lane Centers
Check out another Spooky Photo below!
-Naomi Novak, Penny Lane Centers
The LAPD CPAP Granada Hills Disaster Preparedness Street Fair was a huge success, drawing thousands of community members for a day of learning, connection, and fun! The event brought together local organizations, city departments, and first responders to share valuable information and resources about disaster readiness. Visitors explored interactive booths, picked up emergency-preparedness tips, and learned how to keep their families safe in times of crisis.
Penny Lane Centers was proud to host a booth alongside the LAPD CPAP team, helping raise awareness about community safety and the importance of being prepared. Events like this strengthen the bond between neighbors and highlight the power of collaboration in building a safer, more resilient community. A big thank you to everyone who came out to support and participate—it was truly a day of unity, education, and community spirit!
-Erik Ingebrigtsen, Penny Lane Centers
Check out some more photos below!
