October was filled with laughter, creativity, friendly competition, and plenty of Penny Lane spirit! From our Facilities Department's spooktacular Halloween celebration, complete with creative costumes and delicious food, to the Antelope Valley Fall Festival's chili cook-off, festive games, and unforgettable costume contest winners, our teams found wonderful ways to come together, celebrate, and create lasting memories. Beyond our offices, CFRC joined thousands of community members at the Granada Hills Street Fair, connecting with local families and sharing the joy of one of the Valley's favorite traditions.
Whether we were cheering on coworkers, sharing a homemade meal, showing off our Halloween creativity, or engaging with the communities we serve, October reminded us that some of the strongest connections are built through shared experiences and a little fun! These celebrations highlight the incredible teamwork, enthusiasm, and sense of community that make Penny Lane Centers so special. As we look back on another memorable month, let's celebrate the people, partnerships, and moments that continue to bring us together!
Halloween came to life in the Penny Lane Centers Facilities Department, where creativity, laughter, and team spirit took center stage! The festivities kicked off with a spooky transformation of the Padin Conference Room, complete with vampires, skeletons, pumpkins, and plenty of Halloween decorations that set the stage for a fun-filled celebration.
On October 21, the team gathered for a delicious potluck featuring an impressive spread of homemade favorites, including ceviche, mole, salads, pizza, sandwiches, and irresistible desserts. And because there was even more to celebrate, the team topped things off with a traditional birthday cake honoring October birthdays! It was the perfect opportunity to enjoy great food, share some laughs, and spend quality time together.
But the real stars of the celebration were the costumes! The Maintenance team brought the world of Mario Bros. to life, sporting their signature caps, suspenders, gloves, glasses, and, of course, those unforgettable mustaches! Not to be outdone, the Cleaning Technicians transformed into the Powerpuff Girls, complete with capes and masks, while the AV team showed off their creativity with hilarious costumes inspired by office supplies. Individual costumes were just as entertaining, including Lily as Delia Deetz from Beetlejuice (with an added mustache in solidarity with Maintenance!), Elvira as Black Widow, Rosana dressed as a Diet Coke can (because why not? 😂), and Lupe as an adorable penguin!
The fun continued with a lively game of lotería (Mexican bingo), where four lucky participants completed their cards and walked away as winners. Between the friendly competition, creative costumes, and delicious food, there was no shortage of smiles and memorable moments.
Beyond the Halloween festivities, the celebration was a wonderful reminder of the friendships and connections that make our Facilities Department so special. A big thank you to everyone who helped decorate, contributed food, dressed up, and joined in the fun. At Facilities, we don't just work as a team, we celebrate as one, too!
Check out some more photos below!
Fall was in full swing in the Antelope Valley as Penny Lane Centers staff came together for the Annual AV Fall Festival, a celebration filled with laughter, delicious food, friendly competition, and plenty of autumn spirit! From creative costumes and festive games to a mouthwatering chili cook-off, the event was a wonderful opportunity for colleagues to step away from their busy schedules, connect with one another, and enjoy some well-deserved fun.
The festivities featured a variety of entertaining activities that brought out everyone's playful and competitive sides! Staff participated in hilarious mummy-wrapping and donut-eating contests, filling the celebration with laughter and plenty of memorable moments. The costume parade was another highlight, as employees showed off their creativity, humor, and Halloween spirit. Whether competing for a prize or cheering on their coworkers, everyone helped make the festival a lively and joyful celebration.
Of course, no fall festival would be complete without some delicious chili! The highly anticipated Chili Cook-Off brought out the culinary talents of our Penny Lane staff, with participants serving up their favorite recipes and competing for the ultimate bragging rights. After some tasty competition, three talented cooks earned their places at the top!
Congratulations to our chili champions for bringing the flavor and earning this year's bragging rights!
The costume competition brought just as much excitement, with staff going all out to showcase their imagination and Halloween creativity!
Individual Costume Contest Winner: Carrie Ditzler!
And taking home the title for Best Group Costume was none other than our fabulous CFRC team, "The Twerking Grannys!" This unforgettable group brought plenty of personality, humor, and team spirit to the celebration!
A huge congratulations to our winning grannies:
Their hilarious group costume was a perfect example of the creativity and fun that make events like this so memorable!
Beyond the costumes, contests, and delicious food, the Annual AV Fall Festival was a wonderful reminder of the importance of coming together as a team. These moments of connection help strengthen relationships across departments, build camaraderie, and remind us that while our work at Penny Lane Centers is incredibly meaningful, there's always room for a little laughter and fun along the way.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped organize the festival, prepared food, participated in the contests, and brought their energy and enthusiasm to the celebration! Congratulations once again to all our winners, and a special shout-out to everyone who helped make this year's event such a success.
Here's to another year of fall festivities, unforgettable costumes, friendly competition, and the amazing Penny Lane team spirit that brings us all together. We can't wait to see what next year's festival has in store! 🍁
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It was a beautiful day for community, connection, and celebration as Penny Lane Centers' Community and Family Resource Center (CFRC) joined the festivities at the Granada Hills Street Fair on Saturday, October 18! With thousands of community members filling the streets, the event provided a wonderful opportunity for our CFRC team to connect with local families, share information about Penny Lane's programs and services, and enjoy one of the San Fernando Valley's most beloved community traditions.
Representing Penny Lane Centers were our very own Theresa and Daisy, who did a fantastic job welcoming visitors to the CFRC booth! Throughout the day, families and community members stopped by to participate in the fun games and activities our team had prepared. The booth was filled with smiles, laughter, and friendly interactions, creating a welcoming space for people of all ages to connect with our staff and learn more about the resources available through CFRC.
What began years ago as a small neighborhood gathering has grown into one of the Valley's largest and most anticipated annual celebrations, drawing more than 35,000 attendees this year! The streets of Granada Hills were buzzing with excitement as visitors enjoyed live music, dancing, a classic car show, delicious food from local vendors, and activities for the entire family. The festival truly captured the spirit of community, bringing together neighbors, businesses, organizations, and families for a day of celebration.
For Penny Lane Centers, participating in events like the Granada Hills Street Fair is about more than simply having a booth. It's an opportunity to strengthen community relationships, increase awareness of the services we provide, and connect families with resources that can make a meaningful difference in their lives. Sometimes, those important connections begin with something as simple as a friendly conversation or a fun game shared with a child.
A special thank you to Dave Brown for his hard work and dedication in organizing the event and helping make the day such a success! We also want to recognize Theresa and Daisy for their enthusiasm, teamwork, and commitment to representing Penny Lane Centers and CFRC so wonderfully.
Here's to another successful Granada Hills Street Fair and to the many community connections, smiles, and memories made along the way! We look forward to continuing to show up, engage, and celebrate alongside the incredible communities we serve.
Check out some more photos below!
