Marriottsville/ Sykesville /Woodstock

Success in Style, a nonprofit Howard County organization, announces its 2nd annual Pink Bag Lunch Signature Fashion Show and Networking Event Sep.t. 17 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Tickets cost $40 per person, and proceeds will help aid disadvantaged women seeking employment.

The lunch will take place at Maple Lawn Community Center, located at 7600 Maple Lawn Blvd., in Fulton.

To purchase tickets or learn more, e-mail successinstyle@verizon.net, or go to www.successinstyle.org.

If you think back to your youth, what do you remember about school lunches? My memories include lots of tater tots, and packing my lunch as frequently as possible so that I did not have to buy food from the cafeteria.

Schools have made an effort to improve their lunches as nutrition concerns have grown, but the meals have still not found a middle ground between healthy choices and food that kids will actually eat. (Apparently, French fries have replaced tater tots; my daughter proudly claims to have eaten this side for lunch every day in middle school, despite my pleas to choose something healthier.)

As Congress prepares to debate the Child Nutrition Act this month, communities around the country plan to hold “Eat-Ins” on Labor Day as part of the Time for Lunch Campaign, a “National Day of Action to get Real Food in Schools.” Our very own Marriotts Ridge High School proudly announces its involvement in this initiative and invites all community members to participate.

Support the cause for healthier food in schools by bringing your favorite potluck dish to the MRHS cafeteria between noon and 2 p.m. on September 7. Share a meal with your neighbors and kids while you learn about the Time for Lunch Campaign and discover how easy it can be to include healthier foods in schools.

Even if you cannot attend the Eat-In, you can still learn more at www.slowfoodusa.org/index.php/campaign/time_for_lunch, where you can also show your support by signing the online petition.

For more information, contact the MRHS National Honor Society at mrhs.nhs@gmail.com.

Perhaps you were too busy this summer to make it to the Sykesville Apple Butter Market, or maybe you prefer to wait until fall approaches before you think about anything associated with apples. Now, only two more dates remain – Sept. 6 and Oct. 4 – so mark your calendars for this fun Sykesville tradition!

In addition to apple butter, this event also features a farmer’s market, craft artisans, antiques, plants, food, music, and entertainment. It runs from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at South Branch Park, 350 West Friendship Road, in Sykesville. For more information, call 410-795-8959 or e-mail ivy@sykesville.net.

Colleen Konstanzer, Community Outreach Coordinator for Neighbor Ride, would like to remind the community that “Back-to-School Time is a Great Time to Make a Difference.” As schedules once more return to normal, consider offering your services as a driver to help the county’s seniors, age 60 and over, maintain their independence.

Neighbor Ride offers safe, reliable, and friendly transportation to destinations like health care appointments, shopping trips, volunteer activities, religious services, and social gatherings. The good news is that area seniors increasingly rely on Neighbor Ride for their transportation needs, thus necessitating additional drivers.

Volunteers may choose schedules convenient to their daily routines, and many of these opportunities fall during school hours. Neighbor Ride also encourages parents to bring their younger children along for a rewarding intergenerational experience.

For more information, call Volunteer Coordinator Rosemary Noble at 410-884-7433, or e-mail volunteer@neighborride.org.

Join Jim Rose Sept. 12 at 10 a.m. for “Cool Trees,” the Howard County Conservancy’s September Wonder Walk. For more information, call 410-465-8877, or go to www.hcconservancy.org. The Conservancy resides on the site of the old Mt. Pleasant Farm, located at 10520 Old Frederick Road/Route 99, in Woodstock.

On July 30, a large group of concerned neighbors turned out in force to show their support for the “Make Route 32 Safe” cause. This standing-room only crowd filled the training room of the West Friendship Volunteer Fire Station to hear presentations by state and local officials and to voice their frustration about a traffic issue that has gone too long without resolution.

Retired police chief Wayne Livesay facilitated the meeting, which began with a presentation by State Highway Administration engineers Dave Coyne and John Concannon. Their message comprised of two main points: Funds are limited, and SHA hands are tied until the county prioritizes safety issues on the northern stretch of Route 32. The crowd remained respectful throughout the presentation, but they did murmur in disbelief when the SHA representatives described the shoulders of this dangerous section of road as “dedicated bicycle lanes.”

Next, a police representative reported accident data for all of Route 32 in Howard County. He broke these numbers down by intersection between Rt. 99 and the Carroll County line and then further subdivided them by type of accident: property damage, personal injury, and/or loss of life. Looking strictly at the statistics, accidents on the northern stretch of road represent a small percentage of the whole.

Liaisons from various neighborhoods and organizations along Route 32 then spoke about their concerns. These individuals included Livesay, from Day Road, Jay Zumbrun, from Amberwoods, Cathy Lein, from Coventry Meadows, Steve Ryan, from River Road, Phil Respass, from Friendship Baptist Church, Cindy Haller, from the local PTA, and Howard Blackman, developer of the Web site www.makeroute32safe.com.

The community liaisons explained that accident statistics do not capture “close calls” or the 5-10 minute wait times residents often experience when trying to exit their neighborhoods, thus prompting them to make unsafe decisions. They also spoke about the evasive maneuvers they make on a daily basis to avoid accidents. They feel that any loss of life is unacceptable, and neither the county nor state should wait for more incidents to occur before acting.

Suggestions for improvements varied by neighborhood and ranged from relatively simple to more long-term. Many hope for increased police presence to cut down on speeding and illegal passing. Some want more signage and flashing lights, as well as dedicated turn lanes at every intersection. Still others believe that Route 32 will continue to pose a threat until the state widens it to two lanes each way.

Several local politicians attended the meeting – State Senator Allan Kittleman, State Delegate Gail Bates, State Delegate Warren Miller, and County Council Member Greg Fox – and pledged, as neighbors and elected officials, to push for improved safety measures on Rt. 32. Community members voiced their disappointment that County Executive Ken Ulman did not attend the meeting.

Leaders of the “Make Route 32 Safe” effort emphasized to the community the need for unity and strength in numbers. They reminded those in attendance to go to the group’s website to submit their Rt. 32 incidents and register for e-mail updates. Individuals can also become a fan of the cause at www.facebook.com/pages/Makeroute32safecom/109920039673.

Bon Secours Spiritual Center begins September with its monthly “Friend’s Day of Prayer” on Sept. 2, from 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sister Carol Czyzewski guides the program, which costs $30 and includes lunch.

Caregivers once again receive support and comfort during “Care for the Caregiver: A Time of Respite,” now offered twice each month for the remainder of the year. In September, this program takes place on Sept. 5, from 9-11 a.m., and on the 16th, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. BSSC welcomes donations (suggested amount: $15), or a free-will offering for those facing financial difficulty.

On Sept. 12, Bon Secours and the P. Francis Murphy Initiative join forces to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Bishop P. Francis Murphy’s death by “Celebrating Leadership Roles of Women in the Church.” This program, which features keynote speaker Diane M. Caplin, runs from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and costs $35, including lunch.

Facilitators Mary Perschy and Betty Martin present “Group Spiritual Direction – Overview” Sept. 13 from 1-5 p.m. Participants experience being part of a small community that supports contemplative listening. The afternoon costs $15.

Women can learn to enhance their physical and spiritual well-being during “Companions on the Journey: Women’s Wellness Retreat Weekend,” Sept. 18-20. The weekend costs $210, with a $50 deposit.

The first of 10 meetings of “Group Spiritual Direction” also begins Sept. 20, from 2-4:30 p.m. The series costs $185.

On Sept. 23, Rev. Joseph Breighner, a popular radio show host, explores how to face the challenges and uncertainties of our world in “Living Our Best Life,” scheduled for 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The program costs $50 and includes lunch.

The works of deceased Irish poet John O’Donohue serve as the inspiration for “Awakening to the Light Within,” which runs from Sept. 26 and 27. Sister Eileen Quinn guides this retreat, which costs $125 and requires a $50 deposit.

Finally, Brother Michael Laratonda guides “The Passionate Love of God,” a silent retreat that takes place September 27–Oct. 3. The event costs $550, with a $150 deposit.

To register for any of these events, go to www.BonSecoursSpiritualCenter.org, or call 410-442-1320.

Bon Secours also invites the community to hear the Ellicott City Trombone Choir Sept. 20 at 3 p.m. These “Music at Marriottsville” concerts take place in the chapel; the Center welcomes donations. Bon Secours’ address is 1525 Marriottsville Road, in Marriottsville.

Sisters Lisa Meyer and Robyn Zumbrun, owners of Sweet Simplici-Tea in Sykesville, invite you to a Fundraiser Tea Aug. 29 to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. All proceeds will help send kids with MD to camp. Lisa reports that they still have openings for their 4 p.m. seating, and the cost is $30. For more information, call 410-549-7676, or go to www.sweetsimplicitea.com.

Clark’s Elioak Farm, at 10500 Clarksville Pike, in Ellicott City, invites the community to the Enchanted Forest 54th Birthday Party during the Aug. 15-16 weekend. The event will feature special family activities, face painting, story times, and fairy tale characters.

The 2nd Annual Enchanted Forest Employee Reunion also takes place at the farm from Saturday, Aug. 15 from noon to 4 p.m. All former employees may attend for free. For more information, call 410-730-4049 or e-mail ClarksMotherGoose@gmail.com.

If you have not yet attended a Sykesville Concert in the Park, mark your calendars now because only two more shows remain. The Sykesville Middle School student group Crossfire performs Friday, Aug. 14, while Baltimore area band Getting to Goodbye performs Aug. 21. The concerts run from 7-9 p.m. at Millard Cooper Park, with free parking at Sykesville Middle School. For directions, go to www.mdparty.com/sykesvilleconcerts.