We’re all following the trail of Jessica Procter, Miss Alabama and former Miss Leeds area, as she heads to Atlantic City for the Miss America Pageant.  Jessica left Monday and will enjoy all of the festivities and events leading up to the pageant scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 10. 

Jessica said, “And 7 bags later, we’re off!  I have been dreaming of this moment for so long now and I can’t believe it’s finally here! I’m officially headed to MISS AMERICA, ya’ll!!!  God is goooood!”  Be sure to vote every day for America’s Choice by going to http://missamerica.org/vote/.  We love you, Jessica!

Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce High School Diplomats are off to a great start with orientation and their first business tour-history lesson which included the Bass House Museum.  These students will tour a different business each month throughout this school year and learn about career opportunities right here in our area.

The City of Moody plans to provide some upgrades for the fire department. They will expand the bay area for fire trucks and equipment, give a facelift to the entire station and add a new fire engine.  This project should be completed by February or March 2018.

Leeds Masonic Lodge will host their community breakfast at 8 a.m. this Saturday, Sept. 2.  Breakfast is free, but donations are appreciated.  Please contact T.V. Weaver at (205) 699-6742 for more information.

Simplifying Your Life, a 4-part teaching series will be taught by guest speaker, Dr. Chris Crain, at Eden Westside Baptist Church on Sundays, Sept. 3 & 10 at 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.  Topics will include:  Getting Organized – Understanding God’s simple plan for the family, Making Better Decisions – Finding God’s grace to overcome the dysfunction of the past, 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 this special series.  For more information, please visit www.EdenWestside.org.  Eden Westside – a place to heal, help and call home.

Monday is Labor Day which is a holiday set aside to honor the American labor movement and the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country.  As we celebrate with family and friends, let’s be thankful for American workers.  By buying merchandise made in America, we can keep jobs right here in America to continue the prosperity that we enjoy!

Moody Kiwanis Club will meet at noon on Tuesday, Sept. 5 at Moody City Hall.

Leeds Lions Club is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. on Thursday, 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 on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 6 – 8 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 10 from 1:30 – 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 art work, prints, cards, and books will be on display and available for purchase in the theater during the receptions.  Admission is free.  Artists participating in the 2017 LAVA show include Ramey Channell, William Darby, Frank Dawson, Joan Dawson, Cheryl Horncastle, Tina Miller, Gudrun Rominger, Tanna Rose, Grady Sue Saxon, and Linda Stephan.  The exhibit comprises oil, acrylic, watercolor, and mixed media paintings, graphite and pastel drawings, and photographs.  LAVA’s art will be on display through November 3, 2017.  The gallery is open on Fridays from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and during events.  For more information regarding the reception, exhibit, and other Leeds Arts Council events, visit www.leedsartscouncil.org or call (205) 699-1892. 

Leeds City Council will not meet on Monday, Sept. 4, but will meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, September 11, 2017 at the Leeds Civic Center Meeting Room.

Due to the holiday, Moody Kid Quilts Group will meet at 9 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.  These members bring their sewing machines, ironing boards, fabric and supplies to make these beautiful quilts together.  For more information about this wonderful organization, please contact Clydene Dyer at (205) 515-4751 or Barbara Willingham at (205) 400-4560.

The City of Moody’s 2017 Christmas Parade will be held on Saturday, December 9.  This year they would like their parade theme to come from the children!  Last year’s theme was Santa’s workshop.  Any child with a great parade idea can write it down and draw an optional picture.  The winner will be presented with a trophy at the Jan. 8 City Council meeting and given an opportunity to ride on the Santa float.  Please include a parent’s name and contact information with the entry and mail it to City of Moody, Revenue Department, 670 Park Avenue, Moody, AL 35004.  The deadline for submissions is Sept. 25 and a winner will be notified Oct. 2.  The parade committee looks forward to reading all of the wonderful parade ideas!  

Moody Oktoberfest 2017 is right around the corner and scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 7.  We have already confirmed many arts and craft vendors plus great food vendors, including hamburgers, hotdogs, pizza, funnel cakes, nachos, sausage, ice cream and fun for the kids including train rides, tea-cup ride, pony rides, inflatables, slides, petting zoo, games and more.  Live entertain on the stages all day will include Traylor8, Crossing Grass and Black Shirt Monday.  Remember, admission is free.  Please help us spread the word by inviting your family, friends and fellow vendors.  Also, if you would like to volunteer to help with this awesome annual festival, please contact Andrea Machen at chamber@moodyalabama.gov.        

Thought for the Week:  Love is stronger than hate.

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!