The Suburban Newspaper for Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County
OVER THE MOUNTAIN
JOU RNAL otmj.com
th
ursd ay, Jan uar y 23, 2014
V ol. 23 #2
inside
Mall Mystery: Levine draws on Eastwood memories to write first novel
people page 6
Mardi Gras Merriment: Beaux Arts Krewe Ball set for Feb. 28
social page 14
Zoe Foreman sits in her newly renovated bedroom in her Hoover home. The 8-year-old recently won a room makeover from Kids Wish Network. Journal photo by Lee Walls Jr.
Agents
of Change
Young Volunteers Work for Better Communities part II begins on page 10
Journal photo by Marsha Perry
The Room of Her Dreams After Diabetes Diagnosis, Zoe Forman Gets a Zippy New Space
By Keysha Drexel Journal editor
Zenobia and Keith Forman of Hoover said tucking their daughter into bed every night has always been a blessing--but the family ritual has taken on new meaning since the 8-year-old received a diagnosis that changed her life. After suffering from chronic headaches, unexplained weight loss and extreme fatigue, Zoe was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and now requires daily insulin injections and constant monitoring of her blood sugar levels. When Zoe’s struggle with diabetes was brought
Weddings page 24
See ZOE, page 22
Festive Presentation
Sweet Success at Savage’s: Daughter joins dad at award-winning bakery
Poinsettia Debs Honored at Annual Ball
The Ballet Women’s Committee and Poinsettia Men’s Club hosted the 46th annual Poinsettia Debutante Ball on Dec. 28. At the event, 33 young women were presented on the arms of their fathers at the festive holiday event at Vestavia Country Club. The Ballet Women’s Committee was founded in 1960 to foster and promote fine arts in the greater Birmingham area. The Poinsettia Men’s Club was formed in 1969 to support, promote and cultivate goals and activities of the Ballet Women’s Committee. All proceeds of the Poinsettia Debutante
A Perfect Palette: Couple chooses museum for a creative wedding backdrop
Ball support the Alabama Ballet. Vestavia Country Club was decorated with Christmas greenery, gold ribbon, ornaments and red poinsettias provided by Carole Sullivan of Lagniappe Designs. Sullivan suspended festive red spheres in the ballroom over the seated debutantes using thin, red sheer ribbon. The debutantes, dressed in white ball gowns, carried bouquets of red poinsettias and juniper greenery. The evening began with the debutantes’ presentation at the Benefactor’s Dinner sponSee Poinsettia Ball, page 15
business page 26
Jeff Pierce with his daughter Michelle at the 46th annual Poinsettia Debutante Ball. Journal photo by Emil Wald
Sibling Success: Spain Park twins get perfect ACT scores
schools page 28
sue murphy gets political p. 2 • creature feature P. 3 • Hearts and harmony p. 4 • grand bohemian breaks ground p. 8 • all otm team p. 32