The Moody Area Chamber of Commerce High School Ambassadors toured The Red Barn last week.  From left: Grace Butler , Red Barn director, Ambassadors Anna Wilkes, Henley Higgins, Rebecca Magama, Jackie Dang, Kaleigh Rhoades, Lilly Crowe, Abby Moseley and a member of Red Barn staff. Photo courtesy of MACC

Leeds is getting a new traffic light.  An approval was received from ALDOT to the request for a traffic signal at the intersection of Hwy 119 and President Street. The City of Leeds paid for a traffic survey which revealed that a traffic signal was warranted at this location. Talks are now in process with ALDOT to determine when work will start on this project.  New traffic signals cost approximately $200,000.  The City is working on a cost sharing arrangement so that Leeds does not have to fund the entire project.

We had a lot of excitement last week with the Leeds Police Department in the USA TODAY Lip Sync Contest with press releases and social media encouraging everyone to vote for Leeds Police Department as the only Alabama PD in the contest.  People all over St. Clair County and beyond voted and we received over 5900 votes, but Savannah stayed in the lead and went on to the next round.  A special thank you to each person who voted.  It was great to see everyone pull together for a common cause!

The Moody Area Chamber of Commerce High School Ambassadors toured The Red Barn last week.  This group learned about the work of this awesome non-profit organization located in Leeds and had the opportunity to tour the facility.

Leeds Lions Club will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6 at Leeds Masonic Lodge Building.  Please contact T.V. Weaver at 205-699-6742 for more information.

Cedar Grove Baptist Church is celebrating 175 years on Sunday, Sept. 9 with a tour of the building and memorabilia, celebration service and refreshments.  The festivities begin at 9 a.m. and the celebration service begins at 10:30 a.m.  For more information, please call 205-699-8446.

The Leeds Arts Council will honor the Leeds Area Visual Artists with an opening reception on Sunday, Sept. 9 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Leeds Theatre & Arts Center.  Admission is free and everyone is invited to meet these talented local 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 reception.  Participating artists include Ramey Channell, Nancy Cole, Nelda Faulkner, John Gregory, Jonathan Harris, Scott Harvey, Tina Miller, Grady Sue Saxon, and Sherry Whisenhunt, William Darby, Tanna Rose, and Cindy Schmidt.  These local artists work in a variety of mediums and styles.  LAVA’s art will be on display through November 3.  For more information regarding the reception, exhibit, and other Leeds Arts Council events, please visit www.leedsartscouncil.org. 

Moody Kid Quilts Group is scheduled to meet on Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 10-11 at Moody City Hall to make kid quilts for distribution to sick children at Children’s Hospital.  Bring your sewing machine, ironing board, fabric and supplies to make beautiful quilts together.  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, Sept. 10 at Leeds Civic Center Meeting Room.

Moody City Council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 10 at Moody City Hall.

The Leeds/Moody Professional Women’s Organization, LadyBUGS, will host their monthly luncheon at Noon on Tuesday, Sept. 11 at The Livery.  Lunch is $10 and this event includes lunch, great speaker and networking.  RSVP to anneglidewell@yahoo.com.

The Central Parliamentary Unit will meet at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 12 in Leeds First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.  Please contact Grady Sue Saxon at 205-699-2440 for more information.

Moody Area Chamber of Commerce will host their monthly luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13 at Moody City Hall.  Lunch is $12 with RSVP ($15 without RSVP & Non-Members).  Make your reservation with Andrea Machen at 205-640-6262 or chamber@moodyalabama.gov.

The Step into Fall Fashion Show hosted by the Leeds Arts Council is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13.  Tickets are $25 each and may be obtained by calling 205-699-1892.

The Alzheimer’s Dementia Support Group at Leeds Episcopal Church of the Epiphany is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13.  Please contact Elizabeth “Bit” Thomaston with Lakeside Hospice at 205-884-1111 for more information.

The Fall Blessing Swap at Cedar Grove Baptist Church is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 15 from 9 a.m. until Noon.  Early donation drop-off is Thursday, Sept. 13 from Noon until 6 p.m. and Friday, Sept. 14 from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m.  How does a blessing swap work?  Bring the items you wish to swap either during early drop-off or the day of the swap.  Your donation will be processed according to size, gender or category and place your items on the “sales floor”.  Arrive on swap day ready to shop and take as much as you need.  Everything is free.  You don’t have to donate to participate and you do not have to take anything if you gave.  It’s just a fun way of sharing God’s blessings with others.

Ann’s New Life Center for Women will host their Annual Fundraising Banquet at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 18 at St. Theresa Catholic Church.  Ann’s New Life is a resource center dedicated to supporting and empowering women facing unplanned pregnancies.  Services include free pregnancy tests, pregnancy classes and parenting classes.  Families who take classes have access to their baby boutique to help them get any baby supplies that they need including diapers, baby clothes, maternity clothes, cribs, car seats and more.  This is a great cause and this event is a great opportunity to learn more about what this new center is all about.   For ticket information and to RSVP, please call 205-702-6500.

Thought for the Week:  Be humble and never think that you are better than anyone else.

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.