I know I talk a lot about business expansion in the Leeds and Moody area, but there’s something happening all of the time and it is very exciting to see the growth that only continues to stabilize our local economy!

Area Business Growth

Leeds Family Chiropractic is expanding! Drs. Rick and Jill Palma are still in the same location, but doubling their office space and are looking forward to being able to serve you better. For more information about Leeds Family Chiropractic, please visit their website at leedsfamilychiropractic.com.

A Ribbon Cutting by the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Leeds was conducted last week for the new Brookwood Clinic located at 1115 Payton Way. They have a beautiful new office and Dr. Christopher Carter specializes in Sports Medicine and Family Practice. We would like to welcome Dr. Carter and his staff to Leeds!

Community News

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to develop a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same. Also, it’s always a good idea to get a second opinion with any recommendations for treatment. For more information, please visit the National Breast Cancer website at nationalbreastcancer.org.

Believe it or not, Christmas is just around the corner, and Leeds Outreach is currently taking applications for Christmas for Children. These are the children, ages 2-14, of their clients that would not have Christmas without their assistance. They need over 100 sponsors to buy for these children. Leeds Outreach also needs volunteers to work in several areas about three hours a week. Please consider how you might be able to assist them and those citizens of Leeds who struggle weekly to keep food on the table for their families. For more information, please contact Leeds Outreach at (205) 699-7291 or leedswelfare@yahoo.com.

Bethel Baptist Church is accepting registrations for Upward Basketball and Cheer. Basketball is open to all boys and girls in K4-6th grade. Cheerleading is open to all girls in K4-6th grade. You may register online by going to registration.upward.org/UPW60327.

The Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for Citizen of the Year, Business of the Year and Non-Profit Club/Organization of the Year. All applicant nominations are due by November 16. Award recipients will be recognized at the December Chamber Awards Luncheon. Please visit the website at, LeedsAreaChamber.com for more information or contact Sandra McGuire, Executive Director, at (205) 699-5001.

Oktoberfest Highlights Video and photos are now available for viewing on the Moody Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook page. Please feel free to view, like and share. Also, please mark your calendars for next year’s festival.

Job openings this week: Bass Pro Shops will be having a Job Fair today, October 15, from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. at their store. Chevron on Hwy 78 near Bass Pro, Old Smokey Bar-B-Que and Little Caesars Pizza are hiring.

Community Events

The Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce will host their monthly Chamber Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. today, October 15, in the Leeds First Methodist Church Family Life Center. Guest Speaker will be Representative Dickie Drake and Senator Slade Blackwell. Menu will be roast beef with sides. Lunch is $12 with RSVP ($15 without). RSVP to Sandra McGuire, Executive Director, at (205) 699-5001.

The Leeds Arts Council will present “Five Tellers in the Rain”, directed by Cliff Keen, Jr., at the Leeds Theatre and Arts Center on Friday, October 16, at 7 p.m. and subsequent performances October 17-25 at various times. Friday and Saturday tickets are $20 and include Hors Devours. Sunday tickets are $15 and dessert will be served. For reservations, please call (205) 699-1892.

Also, this Saturday, October 17, is one of the three Saturdays in October left to participate with the Leeds/Moody Realtor Caravan First Annual Turkey Shoot beginning at 7 a.m. at 1000 Park Avenue, Leeds (turn next to Leeds Fire Department). You may register at the event, bring your shotgun and shells provided – $5 per shot and special rounds for kids ages 12 and under. October 31 will be the Winners Competition with first prize – shotgun and second prize – $100. The Caravan will also accept donations from businesses and individuals along with door prizes for this Charity Event to support the Leeds Outreach and the St. Clair Children’s Place. For more information, please contact Larry Golden at (205) 283-6430 or larrywgolden@yahoo.com.

This Saturday, October 17, ABC Birmingham will host a giant yard sale, which is an annual event, from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. and is open to the public. ABC Birmingham is located at 1046 A. E. Moore Drive, Moody.

The Leeds Historical Society will meet at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 18, at the Leeds Historic Depot. James Lowery, president of the Mid-South Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society (R&LHS), will speak about that organization and the work it is doing to restore many of the operating features of the depot. For example, the chapter is installing a working telegraph and telephone system in the agent-operator’s office. In addition, an adjoining waiting room houses a permanent exhibit that features displays of railroad artifacts and photographs from Birmingham and Leeds. The public is invited, admission is free, and refreshments will be served.

The City of Leeds and the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce will conduct a Ribbon Cutting at the new UAB Clinic at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 20, (across from Bass Pro).

The Moody Kiwanis Club will meet at noon on Tuesday, October 20, at Moody City Hall.

Relay for Life of Greater St. Clair will host their Relay 2016 Kick off with a Spirit Night at Zaxby’s on Tuesday, October 20. Relay will also be putting together cookbooks to sell as a fundraiser to benefit the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Please submit any recipes that you would like included in the cookbook before November 15, for the books to be delivered by Christmas. These would make a great gift and a great way to help fight back against cancer. Cookbooks will sell for $15 each. Ads may also be purchased to go in the cookbook. For more information, please contact Becky Hogan at (205) 567-7621. Let’s PAINT YOUR WORLD PURPLE for 2016!

The Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce Corporate Ambassadors will host their monthly Ambassador Luncheon Meeting at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 21, in the Leeds First Methodist Church Family Life Center. Main topic of discussion will be plans for Downtown Trick or Treat event. Lunch is $10 and RSVP to Sandra McGuire, Executive Director, at (205) 699-5001.

Save the Date for Leeds Downtown Trick or Treat scheduled for Friday, October 30, from 2-4 p.m. and sponsored by the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce. Downtown Trick or Treat provides safe and fun event for all children in our area to participate in each year and all businesses in the greater Leeds area are encouraged to participate. You do not have to be a Chamber Member to participate in this event and there is no fee to participate – just plan to bring LOTS OF CANDY. If your company is not located in the designated downtown area, you may sign up to participate and be issued a designated space to set up. Please contact Sandra McGuire, Executive Director, at (205) 699-5001 to sign up your business to participate!

Here’s a thought for the week: “Life is much brighter when we focus on what truly matters…” ~ Unknown

I truly appreciate each of you who read my column and I really love sharing news so please remember to send your Leeds and Moody news to me at dona@adrbms.com. See you next week!