Congratulations to Leeds residents, Zoe’ Champion for being crowned Miss Alabama Outstanding Teen and Emma Terry for being chosen 1st Runner Up in the statewide competition.  Our Miss Leeds Area Coco Green finished in the Top 20. We’re proud of you girls!

Our St. Clair County Culinary Team continues to wow us with awards in each competition.  This culinary team won first place in Management, second place in Culinary and Best Teamwork and Spirit Overall in Huntsville at the 2019 Alabama ProStart Invitational.  They are now headed to Nationals in Washington, DC.  Under the direction of Chef Allphin, our culinary students have won awards and gone to Nationals every year.  These students are very talented and work hard.  Congratulations and keep up the great work!

Leeds Senior Citizens are on the move at Leeds Civic Center each week with exercise class.  Alinda Yarbrough is the Center Manager and exercise classes are led by Paul Zuckerman.  There’s a large senior group, but there’s always room for one more.  For more information about senior activities available, please call 205-699-0942.

There’s still time to register for the next IMPACT Leadership Summit, which is 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 is $125 per person and limited spaces are available.  For more information and to register for this exciting conference, please visit www.JCImpact.org. 

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

The 5^th Annual Miracles in Motion 5k is set for this 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, please call 205-225-9444.

Leeds Community Clean Up is scheduled for this 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.  Leeds High School students in partnership with the City of Leeds and Jefferson County Litter Quitters Committee are spearheading this year’s clean up event in a Litter Quitters competition.  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 this cleanup.  Saturday’s event is open to everyone who desires to donate time for community service projects.  Community service hours will be awarded for your time as a volunteer for litter clean up.  Be sure to wear long pants and no open toed shoes.  For more information, please contact Desmond R. Parker at DParker@LeedsK12.org. 

Dolores Hydock will present Soldiers in Greasepaint: USO Camp Show Performers of World War II at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 9 hosted by Leeds Arts Council.  Admission is free.  The opening act will be The Birmingham Harmony Belles.  From Utah Beach to the Philippines, from wrestlers and tap dancers to the biggest names in show business, from 16,000 servicemen in an amphitheater in southern France to 20 GIs in jeeps in a lonely stateside outpost, USO Camp Shows during WWII were part of a diverse, hilarious, moving and inspiring story of voluntarism and service.  This program shares a small slice of this big-hearted story from a remarkable time in U.S. history. 

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.

Leeds Jane Culbreth Library will host Teen Bad Art Night from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Monday, March 11.  In this world of Pinterest and Etsy, we are bombarded with perfect photos of things that people have made, but that isn’t something everyone can do.  Bad Art Night was developed to allow teens to eat pizza while being creative and an opportunity to give themselves permission to make things that are imperfect.  Teens with the least artistic pieces will win prizes for first, second and third place.

Moody City Council will meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 11 at Moody City Hall.

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

The Central Parliamentary meeting is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 13 at Leeds First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.  For information, please contact Grady Sue Saxon at 205-699-2440.

Moody Area Chamber of Commerce will host their monthly chamber luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 14 at Moody City Hall. 

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.

The Moody Kiwanis Pancake Supper is scheduled for Monday, March 18 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Carpenetti’s Pizzeria.  This fundraiser supports scholarships for local Key Club seniors as well as three Key Clubs, three Builders Clubs and the Moody Aktion Club.  $5 per plate which includes pancakes and sausage.

SAVE THE DATE:  Join Moody Beautification Board for Highway 411 Spring Clean-up on Saturday, April 27.  This event will include debris removal from roadways, pressure washing and painting and landscape added to corner of Park Avenue and Hwy. 411.  For more information, please contact Paul Chewning at 404-423-8203 or email paulachewning@gmail.com.

Thought for the week:  “Live fully in the season you are in.”

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.