Leeds Downtown Trick or Treating was a huge success again this year. Families lined the streets of downtown Leeds to trick or treat with the local business community. Many businesses set up on the sidewalks to greet and give out candy. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect and I heard several local merchants talking about it being a record crowd. We would like to thank each company and their staff that participated and thank each family who came out to enjoy the festivities. I took photos of kids and people on the streets dressed up in their Halloween costumes. There is a link to these photos on the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook Page. Please like, comment and share. Also, be sure to mark your calendar for next year!

It’s hard to believe that it’s already November. Where did 2016 go? Numerous fall festival events are provided by local churches, organizations and businesses throughout the Leeds/Moody community to provide safe fun for our kids. Thanksgiving is almost here and time for us to reflect on being thankful. We have so much to be thankful for. Let us not grow weary of giving thanks.

The Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce, the Leeds Redevelopment Authority and the Leeds Historical Preservation Committee are partnering with local business owners to LIGHT THE NIGHT throughout the holiday season from now until New Year’s Day. All businesses are encouraged to light the tops of your buildings. Everyone is encouraged to shop and window-shop downtown Leeds throughout the holiday season and beyond. For more information, please contact Sandra McGuire at (205) 699-5001.

Leeds Lions Club will meet at 1 p.m., Nov. 3, in the Leeds Masonic Lodge building. Contact T.V. Weaver, President, at (205) 699-6742 for more information.

The Leeds Masonic Lodge Community Breakfast is scheduled for 8 a.m. this Saturday, Nov. 5. Breakfast is free, but donations would be appreciated. All donations stay in the City of Leeds community involvement programs. Contact T. V. Weaver for more information at (205) 699-6742.

The Second Annual Lakeside Hospice Drumstick Dart 5k and One Mile Gobble Wobble Fun Run will be held at the Outlet Shops of Grand River this Saturday, Nov. 5. This is an event for the entire family. The Drumstick Dart 5k is for the running enthusiast. The Gobble Wobble Run is for the rest of the family. Please make plans to register, have fun and support a great cause. Lakeside Hospice is a faith-based, community supported not-for-profit ministry committed to caring for the terminally ill and serves Blount, Calhoun, Coosa, Etowah, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair and Talladega counties. Please direct questions to Susan Cook at (205) 884-1111 or email scook@lakesidehospice.org.

Remember to set your clock this Saturday night, Nov. 5 because Daylight Savings Time ends. Fall back and get that extra hour of sleep that you lost in the spring.

Community of Moody Call for Prayer will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6 at Moody Park Pavilion. Pastors from around the Moody area will lead the group together in prayer for our nation. There will be no campaigning for any candidate.

Leeds City Council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7 at Leeds Civic Center meeting room.

Moody Lions Club will meet at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7 at White’s Chapel.

LadyBUGS, the Leeds/Moody Professional Women’s Organization, will meet at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at the Livery Event Center.

The ERA Ribbon Cutting will be conducted at noon this Tuesday, Nov. 8 with the City of Moody and the Moody Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information, please contact Andrea Machen at (205) 640-6262.

Tuesday, Nov. 8 is also Election Day so please remember to go out to the polls and vote. Many consider this election the most important election in recent history and I tend to agree. No matter which political candidate you prefer to vote for, it is about more than the person you are voting for. It is a lifestyle and economy. Do you prefer capitalism and free enterprise or socialism where the economy is distributed? There are also many amendments to consider as well as the presidential candidates.

Coffee with a Cop is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 9 at Common Grounds Coffee Shop from 8 – 10 a.m. Join your neighbors, police officers and city leaders for coffee and conversation. No agenda or speeches, just a chance to ask questions, voice concerns and get to know the officers in your city.

The Central Parliamentary Meeting is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at Leeds First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.

The Moody Area Chamber of Commerce will host their monthly luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10 at Moody City Hall. Guest Speaker will be David Bowers with Trussville Tax and Accounting who will provide information to help local business owners plan for year end. Menu will be pasta salad, fried chicken breast, mash potatoes with gravy, green beans and your choice of dessert: million dollar pie or lemon ice box. RSVP to Andrea Machen at (205) 640-6262.

The Village at Cook Springs will host a three Chamber Business After Hours on Thursday, Nov. 10 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. This event is for all local business owners and business professionals in the greater St. Clair County area including Moody, Leeds and Pell City. The Moody Area Chamber of Commerce, the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce and Pell City Chamber of Commerce are participating. Please bring business cards and plan to drop in for food and fellowship. For more information, please contact Randell Pickering at (205) 814-3199.

Just wanted to give you an update and thank Love’s Truck Stop in Moody. I mentioned the Love’s Truck Stop car show event in September to benefit Children’s Miracle Network (CMN). Through this car show event, selling paper balloons for donations and a few other things, the Moody Love’s raised approximately $14,000 for Children’s Hospital of Alabama, the local CMN Hospital. Nine stores combined raised nearly $109,000 for Children’s. Nationwide, more than 390 Love’s stores raised a record $2.53 million for children in their communities – way to go, Love’s!

The holidays are just around the corner and Leeds Outreach is currently taking applications for children to provide Christmas. They are close to 100 children so far and expect to have nearly 200 by the time they finish applications. The children are ages 2-14. If you are able to sponsor one of these children, please contact Leeds Outreach at (205) 699-7291 or leedswelfare@yahoo.com.

Save the date: Annual Toys for Kids Christmas Luncheon is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 2 at Moody Civic Center. More information coming soon.

Quote for the Week: “Doing right is never wrong.” – Unknown.

I truly appreciate each of you who read my column and I really love sharing news, so please remember to send your Leeds and Moody news to me at leedsmoodynews@gmail.com. See you next week!