The Shops of Grand River Car Show on Saturday proved to be a huge hit with over 200 cars attending.  This car show was organized by Miss Leeds Area Braidyn Lazenby to benefit the American Heart Association, which is her Social Impact Initiative or platform this year. Braidyn was so excited that so many people came out and supported this event and proud to have raised over $2,000.  The winning trophy went to April Murray.  Second place, third place and Top 10 awards were also given.  Thank you to Miss Leeds Area and the Shops of Grand River for hosting this charity event.

Darren J. Mott, Supervisory Special Agent for the Counterintelligence Program for the Birmingham Division of the FBI, educated the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce group about cyber threats in North Alabama and ways to keep companies from falling victim with these costly crimes. 

“Cyber criminals are looking for information so they can steal your money.  When you get that email that says you’ve won the lotto for $100m in Spain, that’s someone in another country like Eastern Europe or Africa trying to get you to send them money,” said Mott.  “When you get emails with attachments, do not click on the attachments unless you are sure the email is legitimate.”

Mott said PDFs now are being sent with computer coding in the background that will give the hacker access to your computer.  Smart TVs and other devices in your home without good passwords and security can enable hackers to go through these devices to get to your computer data.  With all of the cyber hacking, everyone’s information is out there somewhere on the Internet.  Ways you can reduce your risks are multifactor authentication, use of VPNs and have good passwords.  Don’t use free Wi-Fi without the use of a VPN.  The longer the password, the harder it is to decode.  Utilizing these three safeguards, your data will be safer.

Wintzell’s Oyster House opened this week.  People are already talking about it on Facebook.  One individual commented that the new Wintzell’s is awesome and the line was long, but worth it.  This is the second new sit-down restaurant to open this year in Leeds and we are all very excited.

Tomorrow, March 29 is National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day.  These individuals spend countless hours growing their enterprises.  The workload demands and lack of a hired staff often translate into long hours and missed family or personal events.  These businesses have always been a vital part of our economy and make our communities unique.  No two cities have the same network of these small companies and local Mom and Pop retailers bring different and unique products to the marketplace.  They provide stellar and personal service support.  You are more likely to get a real live person when you call.  This group knows their products and are outstanding performers in niche markets.  Local manufacturers create new products from their ideas and concepts.  Locally owned businesses support our community and give back.  Many times, the business is generational.   Let’s celebrate this special holiday and show our support by shopping their stores.

The Moody Kid Quilts Group is schedule to meet on Monday and Tuesday, April 1-2 at Moody City Hall.  This group meets each month to make kid quilts to distribute to sick children at Children’s Hospital.  For more information, 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, April 1 at Leeds Civic Center meeting room.

Moody Lions Club is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 1 at White’s Chapel.

Moody Kiwanis Club will meet at Noon on Tuesday, April 2 at Moody City Hall.

Be sure and mark your calendar for Leeds Downtown First Thursday Street Fest next Thursday, April 4 from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the corner of Parkway Drive and 6th Street with street entertainers, street vendors, food trucks, downtown shopping and Porsche night car cruise-in.  Porsche night is sponsored by Eurasian Auto Services and there will be a racing Porsche, a vintage 1957 Porsche and more to admire.  Three Earred Rabbit restaurant, Rails and Ales, Pants Store and Mum & Me Mercantile are downtown retailers staying open later.  Food trucks will include Pazzo Pizza and Chick-fil-A.  It’s also Rails and Ales Trivia Night which will begin at 7 p.m.  Everyone is invited to come out and enjoy the evening together.  For more information, please visit www.LeedsAreaChamber.com.

Leeds Masonic Lodge Community Breakfast is scheduled for 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 6.  Breakfast is free, but donations are appreciated which go to Leeds community involvement programs.  For more information, please contact T.V. Weaver at 205-699-6742.

Remember each Saturday, you can enjoy Moody Miracle League games beginning at 9 a.m. to watch these awesome special needs players at the Moody Miracle League field on Park Avenue.  Come out to support these players and join in on the fun.  For more information about this sports league, please visit www.moodymiracleleague.org.

Leeds Downtown Carnival is scheduled for April 10-14 in the open field between Lehigh Cement and Windstream.  Arm bands can be purchased for unlimited rides for the kids.  For more information, please visit www.LeedsAreaChamber.com.

Have you purchased your ticket yet for the annual LadyBUGS Fashion Show Luncheon scheduled for Noon Tuesday, April 9 at Cedar Grove Baptist Church?  LadyBUGS is the Leeds/Moody Professional Women’s Group hosts this event each year as their main fundraiser to provide scholarship money for four Leeds and Moody high school students.  Funds are raised through this fashion show by ticket sales and donations.  Tickets, which include lunch and fashion show, are $25 each and may be obtained by calling Jan Morace at 205-966-5935 or pick up at Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce or Mum & Me Mercantile. 

Thought for the week:  “The past cannot be changed.  The future is yet in your power”. ~Unknown

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.