Old Fashioned Neighborliness, 2006

Patar, summer, 2006

It was the final week of the Apple Festival and residents have had nothing but praise for this year's lineup of events.

"My favorite was learning how to grow plants with Mr. Grex," Lani gushes as she is lead out the entrance gates.

"I got to water the strawberry plants and Mr. Grex said that I did a great job and should have my own garden. Daddy said no, he said that I have enough pets and I can't have a garden either. But a garden isn't a pet, right?"

Other families couldn't get enough of the cooking contests,

row after row of booths with craft demonstrations

and Susie MacAstral's pop and locking class.

"I don't know how she can do that in heels and a dress, she's amazing."

There were the simyearly fishing contests,

which lead to some interesting conversations

as well as the standard lectures on paranormal activity and crops.

Residents performed songs learned in music class

while other residents browsed the booths looking for fresh produce or new artwork.

The ending ceremony was the highlight of the entire festival, the Apple Awards were given to the winners.

First, Grex Grey accepted the Green Apple Award, which is given to businesses that promote a greener world with thier environmental practices.

"Thank you, Grey Farms & Market is proud to collect local compost from all residences free of charge. We continue to use this compost in our organic farm and look forward to expanding this practice to local apartment complexes as well."

Next, Jesse Kent accepted the Beautiful Apple Award, that is given to homes and businesses that are astechically pleasing in thier landscaping.

"Thank you for this award, we will proudly display this in the garden and can't wait to continue our landscaping plans."

Finally, the crowd waited to see which sim would take home this simyear's Spirit of the Community Award. The Spirit of the Community Award is for sims nominated based on a criteria of community service and good old-fashioned "neighborliness". The award recognize sims because of something unselfish. Not necessarily a local hero, but close to it.

This simyear was the closest race ever bewteen candidates. This simyear's winner would collect $3,000 in simoleans to help with the winner's plan to strengthen the community, a relaxing vacation worth $5,000; a $1,000 certificate to The Herendez Art Gallery, a $500 certificate to The Farmer's Market and a $250 certificate to CupaJava.

"Congratulations to Dr. Julio Wilsonoff!"

Julio grinned as he accepted the award.

"Thank you, wow! This means a lot to me and my family. It's been a rough simyear for us and this means...means so much to me...to us...thank you so much. I can't wait to get the youth fitness program started. Thanks again!"

Finally the moment the crowd had been waiting for, S'Ahmisa moved forward to the edge of her seat as the band entered the stage. She had arrived early to get a front row spot for the concert. Benjamin sighed as he watched the artists take thier places, one day crowds would be screaming for him when he took the court and he would get all the girls...one day.

"Hello Apple Valley!!!" Trevor screamed into the microphone. "Are you ready to rock with Aerial Bionic?!?!"

The crowd screamed in response. This concert was supposed to be the band's last concert for a while as they were headed back to the studio to work on their next album.

As usual, Aerial Bionic wowed the crowd with Gareth's memorizing skills and Trevor's smooth voice.

"Good night, Apple Valley!!!"

Veronika Kent Medical Centre

The Veronika Kent Medical Centre is located on the 39th Street block in Apple Valley Metro.

The 39th Street block us also home to many other local civic buildings

including the police department and a reputable hotel.

The centre was named after Veronika Kent, a successful architect and supporter of medical technology from the TS1 era of Greymount.

The clinic boasts of a recent renovation that added an a second level. The renovation has allowed for additional doctor offices, exam rooms and patient beds to be added.

The first level features several doctors' offices, waiting area, lobby and employee cafeteria.

The second level features exam rooms, surgery room, lab and patients beds.

Patients are greeted with a set of double glass doors that open into a spacious lobby.

Beyond the lobby, patients check in with the nurse on duty

and have a seat until they are called for their appointment.

Patients will either meet with Dr. Julio Wilsonoff, current Medical Centre Director (2005-2009) and General Family Medicine,

Dr. Suzanna McMillian, head of Obstetrics & Gynecology

or Dr. Donna O'Dale, head of Pediatrics.

Patients are seen in either one of two exam rooms,

depending on their age.

For patients that need sugerical care, a state of the art surgery lab is in process,

as well as the famous lab that discovered  the cure to the Plumbbob Virus.

While recovering patients can stay in comfortable beds before returning home.

Adulthood, 2006

Patar, summer, 2006
Bill Carr is 22; Emma Seavey is 21 and a junior at Pierce University

Bill and Emma were settling into a routine. Each morning they would have an argument before Bill went to work and Emma to her summer courses,

then Bill would come home after work, search the papers and online for a better paying job

before Emma returned from her summer classes and checked the mail for the daily influx of bills. Mostly student loans, medical bills, utilities and of course, the rent.

Outsiders would think that the couple hated each other, but that was far from the truth.

They loved each other very much and were not shy with their displays of affection.

It was as if their arguments fueled the flame of their love, igniting a smoldering passion within them for each other.

That didn't stop the gossips from wondering if their flames of passion would burn the couple.

They had big plans, one day Bill would work as an independent inventor, earning money from his many patents, while Emma would be excavating the sea bed for valuable relics, but until then he merely worked as a lab assistant and was constantly looking for a better job. Already Bill had plans for a robot that would do the cleaning for you and he was busy formulating plans in his head for such a machine.

For now, they were looking forward to a simple courthouse ceremony that would legally unite them as a couple before the baby arrived and whenever she wasn't playing her favorite online game, Emma was planning a big winter wedding, thanks to the simoleans promised by her father.

However, Emma's father and Bill's parents had made it very clear that the couple was expected to take care of their own household, which meant that most of Bill's paycheck was going to the bills, which didn't leave much room for other expenses...like a baby. Welcome to adulthood.

Bringing Home Baby Patar 2006

Patar, summer, 2006

Ginger was in a good mood as she chatted with Dr.McMillian. Maybe it had more to do with the fact that the house was empty, all the kids were shipped off to their aunt Giselle's house to spend a few days with their cousins

which meant that Ginger had a few days of peace and quiet filled with catching up on new recipes before today's scheduled induction.

Grex for the most part stayed in the fields, nurturing the crops until Dr. McMillian called him inside to assist with the birth.

It went fairly quickly, after all this was Ginger's fourth delivery and the couple's sixth child.

Dr.McMillian cleaned the child and presented to the proud parents their new baby.

Grex was thrilled, simoleans were tight, but he made sure to send Dr.McMillian home with a big sack of fresh fish and plenty of Ginger's signature lamb roast. They would work out the terms of the payment later, but Suzanna was well aware that money was tight for the couple, how could it not be? Six children were enough to go through any family's income, let alone a family that depending on the seasonal crop yields.

"He's beautiful," Ginger said staring into his grey eyes. "He looks like my brothers."

"He does, do you want to name him after them?"

Ginger shook her head, "No, I don't think I could handle that...how about Richmond?"

"Richmond Grey, I like it."