If you haven’t stopped by the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce office and Visitor Center lately, you are missing a treat.  The old Stage Coach Stop bench is now on display.  This historical relic was acquired from Beverly Riddlesperger.  It is absolutely beautiful and in excellent condition.  The bench is constructed of wood, fabric and cushions are stuffed with horsehair.   

If you are continuing to follow Miss Alabama Jessica Procter, she is having a fabulous time in Atlantic City.  The Miss America Pageant is this Sunday evening at 8 p.m. CST on ABC.  You will not want to miss Jessica competing for that Miss America crown.  Keep casting your vote daily for America’s Choice by going to http://missamerica.org/vote/.  There are several Miss America Watch Parties scheduled for Sunday night around the greater Leeds area with Jessica Procter t-shirts, buttons and fans ready to cheer Jessica on to victory.  

Sandra McGuire, Anne Glidewell and the Miss Leeds Area Committee left earlier this week to join Jessica in Atlantic City and will be there through the pageant this weekend.  Remember that we also have another Miss Leeds Area girl, Briana Kinsey- Miss District of Columbia, who will be on the Miss America stage.  It will be so exciting to see two Miss Leeds area girls competing in the same Miss America pageant.  Leeds and Alabama are well represented this year! 

Leeds Lions Club is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. today, Sept. 7 in the Leeds Masonic Lodge Building.  Please contact T. V. Weaver, President, at 205-699-6742 for more information. 

The Leeds Arts Council will honor the Leeds Area Visual Artists (LAVA) with opening receptions this Saturday, Sept. 9 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 10 from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the Leeds Theatre and Arts Center.  The public is invited to meet the artists and enjoy their beautiful and varied works.  Additional artwork, prints, cards, and books will be on display and available for purchase in the theater during the receptions.  Admission is free.  For more information regarding the reception, exhibit, and other Leeds Arts Council events, visit www.leedsartscouncil.org or call 205-699-1892.  

Sunday, Sept. 10 is Grandparent’s Day.  Grandparents play a very important role in the lives of children.  I have such fond memories of all four of my grandparents.  They taught me so much and I think of them often.  If you are a grandparent, I wish you a very Happy Grandparent’s Day! 

Sept. 10 is also National Pet Memorial Day.  Most of us have experienced how much a pet adds to our lives.  The unconditional love abounds from a pet and it is so sad to have to say goodbye when their little life is over.    

“Simplifying Your Life” will be taught by Dr. Chris Crain at Eden Westside Baptist Church this Sunday, Sept. 10 at 8:10 a.m. (Eden campus), 11 a.m. (both campuses) and 6 p.m. (Eden campus).  Topics will include:  “Communicating Effectively – Resolving conflict and speaking truth in love” and “Continuing Your Legacy – Passing the baton to the next generation.”  You will not want to miss the remainder of this special series.  For more information, please visit www.EdenWestside.org.  Eden Westside – a place to heal, help and call home. 

Sept. 11 is a day of remembrance in the life of our nation so that we will never forget those who innocently lost their lives as the result of the tragic terrorist attacks in 2001.   

Moody Kid Quilts Group will meet at 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 11 and Tuesday, Sept. 12 at Moody City Hall.  This group meets each month to make quilts for Children’s Hospital to distribute to sick children.  They made over 75 quilts for families whose homes were destroyed by the tornado that destroyed the Shoal Creek community.  The fidget lap quilt was made for the Alzheimer’s and dementia patients at the Veterans Home in Pell City.   They also make dresses for sick children in Haiti and give to Real Hope for Haiti.   These members bring their sewing machines, ironing boards, fabric and supplies to make these beautiful quilts together.  This organization began at Doris Stanley Library in 2010 as Moody Crazy Quilters.  Their name changed to Moody Kids Quilts in 2015.   Their Facebook page, Moody Crazy Quilters / Moody Kids Quilts, gives their history.  Moody Kids Quilts group has some junior members and anyone is invited.  Even if you don’t sew, you can cut quilt kits, iron and assist in any way you can.  This group has two sewing machines that were donated and are available to use at the meetings for anyone who does not own a machine.  Donations are also accepted for 100% cotton, thread and any other sewing accessories to help in the making of quilts.  For more information about this wonderful organization, please contact Clydene Dyer at 205-515-4751 or Barbara Willingham at 205-400-4560. 

Leeds City Council will meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 11 at the Leeds Civic Center Meeting Room. 

Moody City Council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 11 at Moody City Hall. 

The Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Leeds will conduct a ribbon cutting at Wal-Mart to celebrate their online grocery shopping on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 9 a.m. 

LadyBUGS, the Leeds/Moody Professional Women’s Organization, will meet at Noon on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at the Livery.  Lunch is $10 and RSVP to anneglidewell@yahoo.com.  

 The Central Parliamentary Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 13 in Leeds First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.  Please contact Grady Sue Saxon at 205-699-2440 for more information. 

Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Leeds will conduct a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14 at the new Mum & Me Mercantile, LLC to celebrate their grand opening.  Mum & Me Mercantile is now open and located on Parkway Drive across from the Pants Store.   

The Moody Area Chamber of Commerce will host their monthly chamber luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14 at Moody City Hall.  Guest speaker will be Judge Phil Seay.  Lunch is $10 with RSVP and $15 without RSVP (and non-members).  Make reservations with Andrea Machen, Executive Director, at 205-640-6262 or chamber@moodyalabama.gov. 

Thought for the Week:  A lie does not become the truth, wrong doesn’t become right and evil does not become good, just because it’s accepted by a majority. 

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