As my fellow neighborhood columnists can attest, some weeks provide a bounty of local news items; others, a mere trickle. Happily, I had much about which to write last week, but the drawback was that I could give only a cursory mention of Success in Style and its second annual Pink Bag Lunch. This week I would like to provide a little more detail about this worthy organization and its upcoming fundraiser.

Success in Style, an Ellicott City-based nonprofit organization, encourages self-sufficiency and self-confidence in disadvantaged women by providing them with the tools they need to present a professional image in the workplace.

Clients receive two or three business outfits, a coupon for a free haircut and style and a consultation with a trained fashion consultant. They learn tips about applying makeup, mixing and matching wardrobe items, making appropriate clothing choices and gaining the most value for their money when shopping.

Since Success in Style depends solely on the generosity of the community, the organization seeks both material goods (clothing, accessories and cosmetics) and financial donations. On Sept. 17, the group is presenting its second annual Pink Bag Lunch networking event and fashion show at the Maple Lawn Community Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The address is 7600 Maple Lawn Blvd., in Fulton.

Tickets cost $40 and include a bag lunch and a complimentary bag of goodies from sponsors; all proceeds will benefit Success in Style.

To purchase tickets, e-mail successinstyle@verizon.net. Go to www.successinstyle.org to learn more or discover other ways to donate.

St. James United Methodist Church announces its second annual Fall Treasure Sale Sept. 18, 4-8 p.m., and Sept. 19, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the youth team's Camp Hope mission project.

St. James also seeks crafters for its Nov. 14 Craft Show. Call the office at 410-442-2020 for more information. The church address is 12470 Old Frederick Road (Route 99), in Marriottsville.

Elizabeth Blough, the youth leader at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, invites the extended community to a yard sale fundraiser Saturday, Sept. 12, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the youth fellowship at Mt. Zion. The yard sale will take place in the church parking lot, located at 12430 Scaggsville Road (Route 216) in Highland. For more information, e-mail Eblough@comcast.net, or call 301-604-6769. In case of rain, the event will move to Sept. 19.

The Howard County Conservancy has added an additional event to its calendar. On Sept. 20 at 1 p.m., geologist Ned Tillman will guide a Watershed Hike exploring storm water issues and solutions. Participants will observe some of the Conservancy's demonstration areas, such as rain gardens and stream bank remediation, and they will discuss how human actions impact the Chesapeake Bay.

Participants will also receive a copy of Tillman's book, The Chesapeake Watershed, and will be entered for a chance to win a rain barrel. This free program has been funded through a grant from the Howard County Government, Bureau of Environmental Services, but registration is required.

Call 410-465-8877, or go to www.hcconservancy.org for more information. The Conservancy resides on Mt. Pleasant Farm, located at 10520 Old Frederick Road (Route 99), in Woodstock.

School has officially begun, and now it's time to kick off the year with Back-to-School Night at our local elementary schools. Come meet your children's teachers, take a peek at their classrooms, and learn about the year's curriculum during this annual event.

Waverly Elementary offers three different Back-to-School Nights: Monday, Sept. 14 at 6:30 p.m. for kindergarten and 1st grade, Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. for second and third grades and Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. for G/T and 7 p.m. for fourth and fifth grades. Call the school at 410-313-2819 for more information.

The West Friendship Elementary Back-to-School Night is Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 5 p.m. with a band presentation, followed by a G/T presentation at 5:45, and presentations for all other classes at 6:30. Call the school at 410-313-5512 with any questions.

Back-to-school time also provides a number of opportunities to help our local students raise money for their organizations. The Marriotts Ridge High School Dance Company invites you to stop by their car wash fundraiser Saturday, Sept. 12 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. They will be stationed at the West Friendship Fire Department, located at the intersection of Routes 99 and 32, and will gratefully accept donations.

Amy Bejm, band director for both West Friendship and Dayton Oaks elementary schools, frequently updates me on her students' progress and enjoys celebrating their achievements. Now, however, comes her turn to shine. Her mother, Cathy Bejm, wrote to share that Amy recently became engaged to Eric Syversen, an import/export/quarantine manager for Johns Hopkins University. The couple plans to marry in Disney World this coming January.

Amy's students may enjoy checking out her new engagement ring, which Cathy describes as "the perfect choice for her." As the students well know, their band teacher's favorite color is green -- I myself have seen her sporting green fingernail polish and green highlights in her hair -- and her ring holds a diamond flanked by emeralds.

Congratulations, Amy and Eric, on your upcoming nuptials! May your life together be filled with music, dogs, camping trips and everything else that you hold dear.

Glenelg United Methodist Church invites the community to a free concert Sunday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. featuring Robert L. Jefferson, a renowned gospel artist. Jefferson, who has performed in concert halls including Strathmore, Meyerhoff and Carnegie Hall, is a gifted songwriter, composer and arranger, soloist, recording artist, and jazz pianist. He also conducts workshops both nationally and internationally and has published a series of books about the art of gospel performance.

Glenelg United Methodist is at 13900 Burntwoods Road, in Glenelg.

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