Hood Council Meeting: Patar 2001

Hood Council Meeting
Patar 2001
Attendees: Fiona Kent, Carmela Herendez, Rebecca Wilsonoff, Johan Shazad, Julio Wilsonoff

Agenda
Tax Collection
Hood Council Salary Saving Methods

The hood council meeting comes to a start with Rebecca Wilsonoff noting the collection from the recent tax day.

"§61,000 was collected from registered Apple Valley residents while §150,000 was collected from tourist fees and usage fees. A grand total of §211,000 is available until 2004 when another tax collection will be due."

"I have some somber news. The economy isn't getting any better anytime soon. I know it's tempting to look at raising salaries for the hood council, but we will not be doing that. Already we cut one position and we trying to save the other position, but we can not afford to increase the salaries of hood employees."

"We still need to cut salaries after we agreed to publish the newspaper solely online?"

"Yes, even so. I think that a fixed rate, the same amount as the other council members, would help the situation, but this position does a lot of work and §1,000 every term, or seven years, will not be enough. If you have any other ideas about reducing our salary expenses, please notify the council."

"Will we still have money left for the Spirit of the Community awards in 2002?" Carmela asked.

"We will, however we will need to cut corners as much as possible."

Fiona opens the floor for proposals from each council member.

"Personally, I would love to see a theater for the children and residents. We need more culture options in the hood. Let's start with Carmela."



Carmela agrees. "My proposal does include a theater. Two in fact. An amphitheater at the Alisa Crawston Park for casual outdoor performances and another formal theater on Apple Valley Metro for more classical performances like ballet and violin concerts."

Fiona nods, "This would go very well with the musuem you proposed the other day, Rebecca. Perhaps you and Carmela can meet and combine your proposals. Let's see if we can save some money by combining them."

"We won't need to even spend money on this proposal." Julio interjected.

"Excuse me?"

"Apple Valley Metro confirmed that they are doing some intense construction over the next 16 months. The metro center would include musuems, theaters and other cultural buildings."

Johan nods. "I hope to see both buildings soon. The children need more exposure to culture and life. I can provide them with the basics such as algebra and simlish history, but I would like to start increasing the field trips for the children beyond the school yard."

"Before we can even think about more field trips," Julio interrupts. "We need to give parents the tools they need for raising thier children. I see so many children in the clinic for simple reasons that education of our parents could have avoided...dehydration, lack of exercise and the all too common 'sitting in front of the tv-itis'."

Carmela agrees. "My last report on the aging and health of the hood reflected the same thing. I agree that money should be spent on parent education as well as ensuring that our children are exposed to healthy alternatives besides sugary snacks and TV shows."

"Didn't we just install vending machines in the school?" Fiona asked Rebecca and Johan. "Are we contributing to the problem?"

Rebecca nodded. "We still can't justify hiring a full time cook for the school lunches and encourage students to bring thier lunch. However, if a student forgets thier lunch, we need to provide some form of substance even if it is a sugary drink. The extra simoleans are going towards the school as well. Correct, Johan?"

Johan nodded. "The money does help with minor repairs and school supplies. Speaking of repairs, Lyndon couldn't make it to the meeting and asked me to present his proposal. If that's ok?"

"Continue."

"The church is in desperate need of a renovation. The space is too small for weddings and Lyndon proposes adding a second floor for wedding celebrations and a small banquet hall. Also, the graveyard is in need of more landscaping and better lighting."

Fiona nodded.

"Any one else would like to add anything to the meeting?"

"Yes," Carmela spoke up. "We still need a place where pet owners can take thier animals."

"We could simply add pet facilities to the existing parks instead of creating another park." Johan added.

"Especially since we are building the Children's Park."

"I agree to that," Carmela sighed, "but we need to get the pets registered. Especially since we're overlooking a big money maker in pet fees."

"Let's be realistic, there are not many pets in the hood...maybe three. How much could we earn from them?"

"§3,000 each tax collection year from the pet tax, as well as §500 a pet for registration fees."

"Honestly, I don't think that would even begin to help our budget, the expenses would be too great and the income too little."

"Let's table that proposal until the number of pets increase."

"Any other proposals, please submit them before the next meeting."

---------------------------------------------------

Results of the meeting

Church renovation=§15,000

Adapting existing parks with pet facilities=§2,000

Alisa Crawston Amphitheater=§5,000

Apple Valley Children's Park=§100,000

Outstanding Loans-Jonagold Shoppes I and Jonagold Shoppes II=§110,000

Spirit of the Community Award=§8,000

Hood Council Salaries=§8,000

Total Budgeted For=§242,000

Remaining= -§31,000

Loan, 2001-2004,=§100,000

Remaining=§69,000

Summer Vacation

Patar, Summer, 2001
Sazo is 42, Sandy is 39, S'Ahmisa is 14 , Si'Enya is 8


The Warwicks have decided to try something new. Usually, they retreat Schatazweitzier Mountains for vacations, but this year, they decide to surprise the girls. Even when Si'Enya volunteered to research the best brand of tents, they remained mum.
It was still chilly when the shuttle for the ferry picked them up. It was as if summer didn't realize that it was supposed to be here and the temperatures were supposed to be warm. The family didn't think much of the weather during thier forty minute ferry ride and five hour plane ride.
Instead, Sandy and Sazo fielded questions from thier daughters.
"If we're not going camping, then where are we going?"
"Will there be snow there? I didn't pack many sweaters?"
"I hope there are exotic bugs where ever it is. I want to add to my bug collection." This last statement coming from bug loving Si'Enya.

Finally they arrived at thier first stop. The girls gasped as they took in the exotic sight of Jah Sal Bazaar. The noise of the merchants, the smell of the spicy food, the ocean breeze and the dusty sand in thier toes. It was love at first sight.
As soon as thier feet hit the sand, the girls took off running. It had been hours since they were allowed to move thier cramped joints and it felt so good to run about the bazaar. Finally Sandy and Sazo were able to get S'Ahmisa to stop swinging Si'Enya around long enough for a family photo.
They found a merchant willing to let them pose with the exotic rugs and pottery, in exchange for a significant purchase of a hand woven rug and few pieces of pottery. Sandy didn't mind, she knew that the items would look great in thier living room, after all they were a traveling family and collected so many items from each place.

One more photo of just the parents.

While Sazo finalized the details on thier sleeping tents, Sandy took the girls to a clothing stand to find more weather appropiate clothing. Most of the things in thier suitcase were for the chilly mountains, not the heated environment of Jah Sal.

After showering and changing the family met for an exotic lunch of Keema Naans, and Punj ratani dal. Over the lunch they discussed the tour that Sazo signed them up for. A helicopter tour to see the city from above. The girls had never been in a helicopter before, but they had a blast...except when S'Ahmisa spotted a bee inside the cockpit. Si'Enya wanted to catch it and save it for her collection, but S'Ahmisa only wanted to squish it. Thankfully the pilot opened a window and the bee flew out, much to the disappointment of the girls, but for different reasons.
After the tour, the family split into thier own activities. Sazo found the wonderful server from lunch and gave him a substantial tip in hopes that they would get a better table for dinner and faster service. He was rewarded. Not only did the family get the best table, but had two servers at thier beck and call and the chef even made a point to see the 'wonderful big spending foreign family'.
Si'Enya didn't really know how to spend her afternoon. She really wanted to find some exotic bugs, but it seemed like bugs didn't like the dry heat of Jah Sal.
"In the mountains, you often found the bugs near water." Her mother told her, "Why don't you try that?"
Si'Enya found that trying to find open water in the desert was harder than looking for the bugs. Finally she resorted to badgering the merchants. Many of which simply stared at the strange foriegn girl looking for bugs. Finally the DJ gave her some advice.
"Bugs do not like the heat, try looking near the trees once the sun goes down."
S'Ahmisa was badgering the DJ for another reason. She wanted to know what there was to do in the bazaar, besides shop.
"There's a dance contest in one hour." He said. "Foreigners and locals participate for prize money."
Money? S'Ahmisa would do just about anything for money and slight fame. The money would be good once she decided to open her chain of businesses in Apple Valley, but until then, she only had one hour to prepare.
An hour later, S'Ahmisa tried not to lose her confidence when she saw Chad Vanderburg, the Chad Vanderburg of Pahala Shore, join the competition.
"He's only a famous actor that's super cute and has great dance moves, you can beat him." She tried to tell herself.
Thankfully, the pep talk worked and S'Ahmisa gave it her all only to discover that she did indeed win the contest! Dancing was so much fun, not quite as fun as soccer, but definately a second choice if she couldn't play soccer anymore...maybe she could become a professional dancer. There are job openings for those slots as opposed to female soccer stars. Unfortunately all the professional soccer teams were male only at the moment...maybe she could start her own pro team...is that considered a business?
How wise the DJ is, Si'Enya thought, as she happily captured bugs later that evening. True to his word, millions upon millions of bugs descended on the bazaar once dusk settled and Si'Enya found plenty of exotic insects for her collection.

S'Ahmisa sneaked off a few moments of texting her boyfriend, Verde, about her trip. Well, he wasn't her boyfriend to be honest. Her parents still said she was too young to go steady and commit herself to one guy. She was headed to the eighth grade once school started this fall and she couldn't wait. She was one year closer to being 16 and being able to have a steady boyfriend.

Soon, the fireflies indicated that it was time to go to sleep and the family watched as merchants packed up and shops closed. The tents they rented were very comfortable. Fluffy pillows lined the floor and the exotic tent walls allowed plenty of air to circulate.

Two days later, the family found themselves in Tiki Island. Early that morning, S'Ahmisa left the hotel for her morning jog and found a small beach. After changing into her swimsuit, she found a small kiosk where she ate a breakfast of spiced pickled fruit. It had the oddest flavor, but gave her energy for her early morning swim.

The swim made her muscles want to scream with joy. The feel of the warm salt water, the strength of the waves and seeing all the sea life beneath her was almost too much for S'Ahmisa to bear. She was grinning like a lottery winner when she laid her towel down on the beach for quick nap afterwards.

Perhaps the nap was a little too long or perhaps she should have used sunscreen, for S'Ahmisa was awaken from her nap with burning pain through her skin. Ouch! So this is what a sunburn is like!

Sandy and Sazo signed thier family up for an all day excursion to The Ruins of Ti'Japki. The guided tour was more than a bit boring for the two lovebirds, so instead they snuck off to steal a few kisses by the ancient wall of the city. No doubt that these bricks have seen thier fair share of stolen kisses.

Only Sandy and Si'Enya had the courage to hike to the top of the crumbling temple to pay homage to the monkey god, Hanuman. Sandy thought it would be funny to roast marshmallows in the flames placed at the top of the tourist attraction.

After the climb to the temple, the family did some souvenior shopping in the tourist gift shop. S'Ahmisa finally found the pair of coral earrings she saw in the brochure and not a moment too soon, since it was time for the Glass Bottom Boat portion of the tour. The tour was a big hit for the family, especially since they survived! After an encounter with some jagged rocks, the scratched glass started to leak and the tourists were a bit scared until thier feet were on dry ground again.

Once back at The Ruins of Ti'Japki, the tour allowed from some freetime. Si'Enya in her quest for exotic insects ran into some none exotic bees. Poor little girl, she always tends to find bees when she's hunting for bugs. Sandy and Sazo decided to do a bit of illegal digging to see if they could uncover some of the gold rumored to be buried under the temple. Meanwhile, S'Ahmisa snuck in a phone call.

"I miss you, too...it's really cool here...we need to come back one day...maybe for our honeymoon."

So much for not being committed.

The final surprise was Pirate Night at The Sur Boardwalk. Unfortunately, it really was a surprise as Pirate Night had been cancelled due to flight of Captain Peg Leg's parrot. Everyone knows you can't have a pirate without a parrot. So the family managed to get tickets on the abandoned ship, but it was so dark and it's not much fun playing pirates with your little sister.

To avoid the trek to Sur Boardwalk being a total waste, the family decided some night swimming was in order. However, after the sighting of several sharks and recalling the fact that sharks are night hunters, they promptly left the waters for the safer sandy shore.

A family castle building tradition was started that night. Sandy and Si'Enya were in charge of the castle's sandy base and architecture, while Sazo and S'Ahmisa were in charge of finding shells and other trinkets to decorate the castle.

As S'Ahmisa dug through the sand, looking for shells, she vowed that she would return to this beach.

---

How do your simmies spend thier summer vacation?

Streching the Simolean

Lovar, spring, 2001
Tobi is 29, Li is 29, Ping, Aaron and Simora are 2

Simoleans were tight in the Sweeny household. Simoleans were counted and squezzed until every last bit was saved, but still the family found themselves struggling to make ends meet. They were in the cheapest housing available and ate all thier meals at home. However, paying back the loan for fertility treatments and caring for three growing toddlers without any extended family nearby was difficult.

All of the changes they knew how to make were being made, but things kept getting worse it seemed. Tobi's position as Security Director was cut from the council budget, now he was considered a consultant that the council would confer with whenever they needed to.

Tobi took it in stride, his dream of becoming the hood's jailor would not be fulfilled since there wasn't a jail in Apple Valley, but he joined the SUN force as a detective, which in and of itself was a miracle. Thankfully they viewed his time as Security Director as top notch work, almost equivalent to a police chief, but with the economy in the state that it was, Tobi had to be content with detective.


"Then daddy jumped over the fence into the deserted junkyard to find the car in question. Do you want to know what daddy found?"

Aaron stared up at Tobi with a glazed look, "da-da?"

"Li!!!! Aaron said his first words!!!! Da-da!!!" Tobi swooped the little boy up. "Yep, say it again, da-da!!"

Aaron looked at the funny screaming man that was his father and giggled.

Shortly after Tobi's position was cut from the council buget, Li's position as Archives/Technology Director was no longer a full-time position and her salary was cut by over half. After weeks of searching and fruitless interviews, Li finally got a position with the SUN newspaper as an Obituary Writer. At least she still had the small salary as Archives/Technology Director.

But life had a way of throwing a wrench in your plans.


"The the Brown Paper Bag Princess said to the dragon, I bet-"

"Li!!! Telephone!" Tobi called from below. "It's Fiona."

Li knew that if Fiona was calling at this hour, then it had to be about hood council business.

"Li? It's Fiona."

"Hi, Fiona."

"We were reviewing the budget and we still need to make cuts. The hood council members threw out a couple of ideas, but the ones that we're seriously considering concern you."

"I'm listening."

"We're considering paring down the newspaper and the website."

"What...what about my salary...my job?"

"We're still discussing that. Obviously you would still function as the Technology Director, as well as the Archives Director, but no longer as editor of the newspaper and webmistress."

"I...I..."

"It's still in the planning pages, we're trying to explore other avenues, but I wanted to give you a heads up. Don't worry, we'll try to find a way to save your job."

"Thanks..."

"Ok, give those little ones a kiss from me, enjoy the rest of your evening."

"You too."

Many nights the couple tossed and turned in bed, both anxious over thier finances, but not willing to speak about such issues in the bedroom, in an effort to maintain an area of peace. Peace was very rare in the Sweeny household. If the triplets were not whining, then the neighbors were making racket.


"I wish they would turn down that music!" Li said banging on the wall in the kitchen. She was making bacon turkey cheeseburgers for Valentine's Day. It is Tobi's favorite meal and since the holiday of love wouldn't be filled with roses and cards, Li decided to try and make the best of things with a nicer dinner.

Tobi was doing his part by handling the triplets. For the last hour, he moved non-stop bewteen the bottle warmer, to a toddler's waiting mouth, to changing a stinky diaper and placing a kiss on thier forehead. Finally things were slowing down and either toddlers wished to spend thier dinner time in the playroom to chew on wooden dolls all night, or at least during dinner, (that would be Aaron)

or putting them in thier cribs for bed (that would be Ping and Simora).

At last, the house was quiet, the neighbors turned thier music down, the triplets were asleep either in thier cribs or the playroom floor and the couple was enjoying thier burgers.

"Happy Valentine's Day, sweetheart."

"Happy Valentine's Day."

-----
With the economic downturn, the hood council hasn't been collecting a lot of taxes. Any ideas on what they should do? What should they do about Li's job?

Ringing in the New Year in Palatial Heights

Hapar, spring, 2001
Jesse is 35, Fiona is 32, Bill is 17, Veronika is 3


Hapar started off with the Kents visiting Palatial Heights to ring in the new year. With the new dimension seperating Fiona and her twin brother, Fredic, the siblings decided on last hurrah was in order.

It also helped that they wanted to have the new cousins meet for the first time. Veronika was now an active toddler, her birthday party being a small hood event. When the first born child of the hood council president turns 1, it's an event. Members of the press and hood council were in attendence. Presents overflowed the tables and the adults mingled with the happy giggling toddler. The neccessary family photos were taken and it was all over before midnight. That was two years ago and time has flown by.

A long flight and long line in customs finally ends for the Kents and Jesse, Fiona and Veronika find themselves in Palatial Heights. Fredic and his girlfriend, Gin, quickly show off thier twin baby boys and the couples take some time to relax in the backyard. Needless to say, Veronika enjoys the snow and literally must be pulled inside once the temperature gets too much for the young girl to handle.
Of course, no trip can be all pleasure for the young mover and shaker. Fiona meets with Palatial Heights mayor, Liz Niven, to discuss the changes affecting SimNation.
"Quite a few hoods have lodged offical complaints against the new dimension."
"I know, however each hood has the choice to accept or reject the new dimension. We've chosen to accept the challenge."
"This new revolution is so unlike the last revolution. From the historical records, hoods converted in record numbers, now...not so much."
The women nodded.
---
Finally, the party and part of the reason for the Kent's trip to Palatial Heights started.
There were plenty of celebrities and political movers and shakers in attendence.
Each refusing to discuss "business" but each making it thier business to discuss business.

Finally, midnight came and the fireworks lit the evening sky. The party raged on for another respectful hour before the sleepy parents retired upstairs.
---

To recover from the party, Gin and Fiona decided a trip to a spa would be in order. So they packed thier bags, gave the men careful detailed instructions about caring for the kids (which were not needed since Fredic and Jesse are often better parents than the women are) and hopped on a plane to Gin's favorite exclusive spa.
Thier days were filled with exotic foods such as noddle bowls,

luxury massages that made your body turn into butter,

soaks in natural hot springs,

and tending to the meditation garden.

Or course, the women did spoil themselves with midnight room service of lobster, coconut creme cake, chocolate covered strawberries and champagne.

"I wonder what the boys are doing?"

"Probably mopping up vomit, changing dirty diapers and trying to entertain a whiny toddler."

However, all too soon, thier spa getaway was over and the women were saying goodbye to thier zen paradise.

"We'll have to do this again." Gin said over a quick dinner as the women waited for the shuttle to pick them up and take them to the airport.

"Yes, maybe we'll get the chance before the transformation occurs."

One last photo op before boarding the shuttle!

---

Jesse and Fiona returned to Apple Valley to find thier home intact. Bill hadn't caused any scandals, thank goodness.

 

 

Now the most pressing thing on the president's mind was of course the economy and it's slow climb upward. Every resident has been effected, even the Kents. Thankfully not as much as other households. Jesse works at Apple Valley Academy as the Junior High Teacher, so his salary and position are secure. Fiona's salary as hood council president was surprisingly minimal, less than $1000 a simyear, especially considering that many other hoods supplied thier president with housing, hefty salary and other benefits. However, Apple Valley is a tiny hood with only a few taxpayers, so any suggestion of a raise or other benefits to support such an extravagent liftstyle would be murder on any hood president's career. Instead, Fiona called a few contacts and managed to reach her former boss at Stern & Clerks.

After a few hours of catching up, Fiona went for the kill.

"How are things at the office?"

"The same, I wish you were not the hood council president right now."

"Why?"

"I have an opening for a Family Law Attorney and you were the only sim I could think of that would be perfect for the job."

"Really?"

"Yes, but I understand that your position as hood council president takes up a lot of time-"

"It does, but I wouldn't mind rejoining the law field."

"Really? If you're available, the job is yours."

And with that, Fiona found herself employed with Stern & Clerks as a Family Law Attorney with a much better, and stable, salary.

----

• This is an example of the greatness of sim-to-sim hoods. You can send your sim to another hood for a nice vacation. Sometimes thier actions-or inactions-in that hood can change the direction of thier life in your hood.
• So what do you think of the new format? Do you perfer 3rd person or 1st person?