Leeds High School Students lead Community Cleanup Efforts

Leeds High School students lead community cleanup efforts this year in partnership with the City of Leeds and Jefferson County Litter Quitters Committee.  Leeds Community Clean Up is scheduled for Saturday, March 9 from 10 a.m. until Noon with registration beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Moton Center at 1721 Moton Street.  LHS students are spearheading this year’s clean up event in a Litter Quitters competition with other schools in the Cahaba Watershed.  LHS students will work this event and also capture video footage during cleanup efforts to create a video that promotes environmentally friendly activities such as the city cleanup.  Other schools in this competition include Trussville, Homewood, Hoover, Vestavia and Mountain Brook.  Prizes will be awarded for the best video with first prize being $1000 to the winning school.  Litter negatively affects our drinking water and marine life when it gets into our rivers and streams.  The video will be a great tool to promote the value of taking care of our environment.  This is a great event for area clubs or individuals wanting to donate time for community service projects.  Community service hours will be awarded for your time as a volunteer for litter clean up.  Wear long pants and no open toed shoes.  For more information, please contact Desmond R. Parker at DParker@LeedsK12.org.

The City of Leeds and the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce conducted a ribbon cutting at the new Three Earred Rabbit restaurant on Tuesday as part of their grand opening.  The restaurant opened last week as their second location and is located in historic downtown Leeds.  Be sure to stop in for lunch and pick up some fresh baked goods.

The Miss Leeds Area Committee had a Send-Off Party for Miss Leeds Area’s Outstanding Teen, Coco Green, this past Sunday afternoon at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church Parish Life Center.  Coco will be competing in the Miss Alabama’s Outstanding teen this weekend, March 2 and 3 at Thompson High School.  The winner will go on to compete in Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageant in Orlando in August.

Our famous Leeds Elementary School (LES) Jump Rope Team performed at the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce meeting last week.  They are getting invitations all over the state to perform at half-time shows and other events.  Be sure to follow them on Facebook to see where they are performing next.

The next Alabama Bicentennial event at Leeds Jane Culbreth Library is scheduled for 11 a.m., Feb. 28 with the topic of “Rocky in a Weary Land:  The Black Church in 19^th Century Alabama.”  This event is sponsored by Leeds Redevelopment Authority, the City of Leeds and the library.

Leeds Masonic Lodge Community Breakfast will be at 8 a.m. this Saturday, March 2.  Breakfast is free, but donations would be appreciated.  Please contact T.V. Weaver at 205-699-6742 for more information.

Moody Elementary School will host their Spring Color Run this Saturday, March 2 which will include a 5k and Fun Run at Moody Park.  All proceeds will benefit Moody Elementary School to help replace and repair playground equipment.  Sponsorships are available.  For more information, please email Lance Cisco, Assistant Principal, at lance.cisco@sccboe.org.

The Martini Shakers will perform at Leeds Arts Council on Saturday, March 2.  These performers, Jory Lee, Billy Long, Ford Boswell and Ron Dometrovich rekindle the raw and unrestrained swing of Memphis rockabilly the way it sounded in 1955.  You’ll hear songs by a host of great heritage artists such as Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins, Hank Williams, Sr., Eddie Cochran, Roy Orbison and many others.  Tickets are $15.

Early Bird registration ends March 3 for the next IMPACT Leadership Summit scheduled for May 10-11 at Barbers Vintage Motorsports Museum.  This conference is open to anyone desiring to develop or improve leadership skills and abilities. Designed for emerging leaders, this event will consist of sessions with a concentration on Integrity, Promptness, Attitude and more as you learn from experienced successful leaders. This may very well be one of the most important events you can attend!  Registration until March 3 is $110 with limited spaces available.  After March 3, registration is $125.  For more information and to register for this exciting conference, please visit www.JCImpact.org.

Moody Kid Quilts group will meet at 10 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday, March 4-5, at Moody City Hall.  This group meets each month to make kid quilts for Children’s Hospital to distribute to sick children.  For more information, please contact Clydene Dyer at 205-515-4751 or Barbara Willingham at 205-400-4560.

The Leeds City Council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, March 4 at Leeds Civic Center meeting room.

Moody Lions Club will meet at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 4 at White’s Chapel.

Moody Kiwanis Club is scheduled to meet at Noon on Tuesday, March 5 at Moody City Hall.

Leeds Lions Club will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 7 at Leeds Masonic Lodge Building.

The 5^th Annual Miracles in Motion 5k is set for Saturday, March 9 to benefit Moody Miracle League.  Proceeds will be used toward a much-needed field replacement.  This year, their race course has been certified with USA Track & Field which should help increase the number of individuals who will participate in the race.  Register as a participant in the 5k, 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk/Roll and Sleep In at https://bit.ly/2CxV4M6.  For more information and to be a corporate sponsor, please call 205-225-9444.

Scholarship Opportunities are available through Distinguished Young Women of St. Clair County.  Scholarship.  Leadership.  Talent.  Eleventh grade girls graduating in May 2020 and interested in earning college scholarships through Distinguished Young Women are invited to go www.stclair.al.distinguishedyw.org and click on “Apply Now.”  An informational meeting for potential participants and parents will be held from 3-4:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 10 at Springville Middle School auditorium.  For more information, contact stclair@DistinguishedYW.org or 205-915-1780.

The next meeting of Mid-South Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 16 at historic Leeds Depot.  This event will include a program and speaker.

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.