The Plunge

Will take the plunge and quit my job at SC Financial. I will work as the bank manager at The Centre, which will basically mean I get paid for the work I already do and now I can focus on it more. I will have an office and manage Sage and other future tellers we will have. I will meet with residents to decide on loans and banking accounts. I am very excited! I have so much more responsibility than I did with SC Financial anyway!

Dating

I called Marilyn up and asked her out. I decided to see if she would be fun to hang with. I'm thinking of taking her to get pizza or maybe rollar skating. That would be fun.

Hood Council Note: Hood Employees

The hood has several employees-most are paid according to a basic salary and fee, but others (like the pastor and teacher) are paid differently:

The Centre
Bank Teller (fair salary scaled based on skill/badges)
Newspaper Editor (fair salary scaled based on skill/badges)
Welcome Center Cashier/ Travel Guide (fair salary scaled based on skill/badges)

The Medical Centre
Medical Center Director (fair salary scaled based on skill/badges)
Nurse (fair salary scaled based on skill/badges)

AV Historical Church
Pastor (flat salary + benefits)

AV Secondary Academy
Principal/Administrator (flat salary + benefits)

The hood has numerous job openings-thinking about giving talks and assesment tests to the teenagers and university students to help them realize where they would fit into the hood's economy. Will talk to Rayne about this venture since it falls under her duties.

Should I...

I've been considering quitting my job downtown with SC Financial Investments and working full-time at the hood's bank. Right now Sage has been "promoted" to the task as teller-he basically rings up purchases, but I think customers need to be better educated. We sell investment gold, piggy banks and this is where loans and mortgages are discussed. I think I would need to be there full-time, but how would that work with Ayanna managing The Centre. I seem to be at a plateau here at SCFI so perhaps quitting isn't such a bad idea.

Winners!

We won a trip! YEA!!! The entire family will be going on an all expense paid vacation. We won the Kimikura Island vacation-so here we come! Yahoo!!! I need to work out and buy luggage for the family and everything!

Hood Council Note: New Lot

The Garden Association met with me today. They presented a proposal for a botonical garden. The garden would reside on a lot as small as 2x2 to as large as 3x3. In addition to the numerous flowers, plants and walking paths, there would be a greenhouse (with a space for weddings), stage for performances.


The club even had a mock-up design of the garden with a japenese garden, country cottage garden, space for the stage, and coffee shop.


They emphasized that this would not duplicate the purpose of Celebration Park in that the botanical gardens would be mostly educational, an area for beautiful weddings and special events such as concerts. Which Apple Valley does need.


I reviewed thier proposal and looked at some numbers. Also I have determined a suitable location for the site-and the site is now nearing final construction.

Family History

Our family history was posted by the Historical Society. It was nice reading a little about the family, there's more of course, but I suppose that's for the family to know. Stories for my to share with the children. Things are going much better-I had gained a little-ok a lot-of weight during the break from Pahala Shore and I had to spend some marathon sessions working out. My character hasn't been appearing much, thankfully his storyline is going to get meatier.

Hood Council Note: Financial Director Update

Update on Plans-need to start thinking about new set of plans now that the new deal is signed.

Local businesses and associated laws

• Establish a program for New Small Business Owners:
  Give new business owners $1000-$3000 credit towards purchase of a community lot.
  Help business owners network with other small business owners in other hoods, perhaps the resurgance of the Small Business Conference.

Implement taxes and welfare support

• Establish a program for Mortgage Loans:
  Borrower must provide at least 10% down paymentLoans must be paid off within 42 simdays (six simweeks) Payments will be daily.


• Increase rental fees:
  Increase rental fees on the Starr Grey Townhomes (two-2 unit townhomes on McIntosh) due to promixity to main strip.


• Change tax structure:
  Instead of $750/simweek per residental lot, increase it to $750/simweek per family. Removes loophole where families in multi-family housing paid less in taxes than other residents.

Manage the local real estates and architectural planning of the hood

• Decrease number of multi-family units from 10 to 4


• Build mixed income housing area:


• Renovate Pavilion


• Build Celebration Park II


• Revamp Celebration Park I


• Combine Celebration Park I and II


• Expand Modern Sculpture Park


• Renovate The Core

Searching

Well, I figure if I want to find a girlfriend I need to start looking. Mom wonders why I took out a townie and not a "nice girl from the hood", but the truth is...there's only one girl for me and our love is forbidden. O Fiona! How I wish I could change for you! Her family refuses to allow her to date a man who's not dark like her...I would be a good husband...sigh...I guess it isn't meant to be...besides...she wouldn't be able to move into the jail's apartment with me when I take over security for the hood.

Hood Council Note: Mortgages II

After much complaint, the mortgage system has been altered.

After investigating the options and noting current technology Apple Valley will use the following system for mortgages.

Residents will use the Monique Payer/Payee Bills/Book for mortgages.

Mortgages will have a daily payment and must be paid within 42 simdays.

Families must have a minimum of 10% downpayment for thier home.

Current interest rate for all loans is 5%

The total amount of the mortgage will be calculated as:
( Amount of house - downpayment ) * (1 + interest rate)
(§20,000-§2,000)*1.05=§22,500 mortgage

The daily payment is calculated as:
mortgage amount/42 (rounded to nearest §10)
§22,500/42=§540 daily payment

The mortgage amount, interest rate and number of days remaining for the mortgage will be noted in each household's "bio" screen and maintained by the Financial Director.

All families that have mortgages less than five simdays old, their mortgages will automatically be recalculated using the new system.

Families are encouraged to meet with the Financial Director at the bank in order to discuss affordability based on daily salary and current debts.

Alone

I hate Apple Valley, it's too small and too...I don't know...small. Make Me a Model is preparing for thier next season, I will audition. I haven't told Hazel Starr...we're supposed to leave Apple Valley together and persue our careers in showbusiness but...she's not all there anymore...she's gaining weight-not good for a model or actress-her career is basically over and mine is just beginning. I think I would be the best model evah!

Meetings

Rayne and I went to Tati's to discuss hood council business. It's a nice place to have a good meal and relax. I looked over her proposal for the Musik Festival...it seems like a large undertaking for our hood, not to mention the cost of having such an event. We'd have to pay performers, renovate the venue, maintain security, etc.

Stuff

I've been on cooking duty at home, mom and dad think that we should learn how to cook basic meals, but Etta Leigh burns everything she touches-except for salads of course, so we eat a lot of salads when it's Etta Leigh's turn to cook.

I have been thinking about university, I'm not sure that I will go, I want to be a police officer and you don't need a degree for that. Besides, what could I learn at college that I couldn't learn from the sims on the force.

Hood Council Note: Mortgages

A Mortgage system has been approved. After investigating the options and noting current technology Apple Valley will use the following system for mortgages.


Residents will use the Monique Payer/Payee Bills/Book for mortgages. Mortgages will have a daily payment and must be paid within 21 simdays. Families must have a minimum of 10% downpayment for thier home.


The total amount of the mortgage will be calculated as: ( Amount of house - downpayment ) * (1 + interest rate). The daily payment is calculated as: mortgage amount/# simdays. The mortgage amount, interest rate and number of days remaining for the mortgage will be noted in each household's "bio" screen and maintained by the Financial Director.


Families are encouraged to meet with the Financial Director at the bank in order to discuss affordability based on daily salary and current debts. Interest rates are based on your financial history and ability to pay.

School Daze

With the new public school opening soon, all the teens in the hood can't stop talking about it-including Tobi. He and Etta Leigh both attend private school, but it seems like he wants to go to the public school. Etta Leigh turned up her nose at the "mere mortals". I wonder if I should allow Tobi to attend?

Hood Council Note: Bank

Finally, the bank is complete...well, at least the construction is. There's the main lobby, ATM, and a small cubicle/office to meetings regarding financial discussions (college funding, mortgages, etc). In the lobby residents can also pick up bill payment invoices and books to keep track of regular payments, such as taxes, tithes, etc. Checkbooks and investment silver and gold will also be sold.

The bank offers these services:

Savings/Checking Accounts

Checkbooks (available for small fee, can send a check to sims in the neighborhood)

Mortgages***

Loans***

Credit Cards***

ATMs and Online Banking

Automatic Payments

***more information later***

We will open the doors soon, but we need to find a banker to manage it. I suppose I could do it, but...I'm not sure if I'm ready to leave my job yet.

I'm too sexy

Hihi, I was named Mr. Teen Scream at the Apple Dumpling Ball. Hihi, that's cool. I'm trying to find a job as a school crossing guard. I love the law and fighting to make sure that it's obeyed. I wonder if I will ever be able to become the jailor for the hood. The stipend is free housing (no mortgage or rent payments) and I'd work at the force downtown and keeping the streets of Apple Valley safe...hmmm, one day.

Hood Council Note: I'm the Financial Director

Since I have an anti-aging wavier, I now have the lifetime (or as soon as my wavier expires or I chose not to) position of Financial Director.

This term I plan to:

Local businesses and associated laws
Establish a program for New Small Business Owners:
Give new business owners $1000-$3000 credit towards purchase of a community lot.
Help business owners network with other small business owners in other hoods, perhaps the resurgance of the Small Business Conference.

Implement taxes and welfare support
Establish a program for Mortgage Loans:
Borrower must provide at least 10% down payment
Loans must be paid off within 21 simdays (three simweeks)
Payments will be twice a week (simTuesday and simThursday)

Increase rental fees:
Increase rental fees on the Starr Grey Townhomes (two-2 unit townhomes on McIntosh) due to promixity to main strip.

Change tax structure
Instead of $750/simweek per residental lot, increase it to $750/simweek per family. Removes loophole where families in multi-family housing paid less in taxes than other residents.

Manage the local real estates and architectural planning of the hood
Decrease number of multi-family units from 10 to 4:
Condemn and bulldoze the Fuji Flats (three two unit multi-family units)
One lot is ready for demolition, give other families 3 simdays (until simMonday) and $1000 for inconvience to find new housing (total $4,000)
Would decrease rental income for the hood, however would promote home ownership
Still maintain the Starr Grey Townhomes (two-2 unit townhomes on McIntosh) and AVBH (4 rooms available for rent)

Build mixed income housing area:
Build three small lot homes on Fuji Court. At least two homes must be at least two bedroom and one bath, less than $15,000, other must be bewteen $15,000 and $30,000. At least two homes one story, one home two story.

Renovate Pavilion
Renovate skating rink so more sims can enter rink to skate.

Build Celebration Park II
Small grill area, playground, bathroom on 2x3 lot

Revamp Celebration Park I
Demolish grill and playground area to create more open space. Add chess set, focus more on the lake and fishing activities

Expand Modern Sculpture Park
Demolish small 1x3 lot and build on larger 2x3 lot
Buy Euphoria from Tatiana Garris, use additional land space for the new park
Will increase value of new homes on Fuji Court


Renovate The Core
The Core is too bulky and hinders views of main street (McIntosh)
Demolish 2nd level.
Create 5-9x8 office spaces for the following retailors: The Green Paw Pet Shop; Gears & Beyond; Snips; Wearable Art; I-Scream Icecream & Pizza
Retailors are paying for renovation-no funding needed from hood council, only approval on final design.

Musik

I'm doing better on the bass, maybe I can start taking private lessons soon. Soon I'll have to enter university and then what? I don't want any kiddos, I want to model. Maybe I can apply for Carla Niven's fashion line. I think I'd be a great model. Maybe I'll move...hmm, so many opportunities!

My Son

My son has these big dreams and hopes. He wants to become a police officer. He wants to start a family and he's thinking about skipping out on university to get his dreams and goals. O dear, doesn't he realize that a degree is very important?
I've been voted as a permenant Hood Council member, depending on how well my terms go, since A'ron and I have an anti-aging wavier due to his work with Pahala Shore. So they figured that it's best for me to be a stable fixture to the council. I don't mind, I love it.

Baby Sister

I have a baby sister, Anika Rose.

I love taking care of her, good practice for when I have my own family.

She likes me, she doesn't drool on me or anything.

I'm trying to find a job, maybe I could be a crossing guard at school. That's fun.

Expanding

Our little family is expanding and I'm not sure that I can keep up with it. I worry that I won't bring in enough simoleans to support the family. Etta Leigh wants private dance lessons and singing lessons, and she'll be going to university soon which all cost plenty of simoleans. My little girl has big dreams...not sure about her talent. Pahala Shore is done for the season and we have an hiatus, thankfully I have a job next season. There have been some casting calls for other projects on the boards-not sure if I should/can audition for them. As long as they don't interfer with Pahala Shore.

Hood Council Note: Hood Council Report

The new term will begin soon and Ayanna asked us all to submit a council report of our tasks and recommendations.



My goals for the term:

• Build upon the current business laws: done, a very intensive law has been drafted and approved



• Revisit taxes and find an easy system to deduct taxes and fees: done, taxes are now taken every simMonday. Residents must obtain thier payment invoices by this simFriday and set-up the payments to the hood council. This makes the payments automatic, need to determine where the payments will go.



• Establish a program for Small Business Loans: not done



• Build a Community Memorial Gardens: done and successful



• Revamp Celebration Park: done, but a bit crowded with the new features, may have to build a second park

Recommendations:

• Might need to divide tasks a bit more. It is difficult to manage the real estate of the hood, especially things like parks, however do not see a clear way to divide the tasks as of yet, except to have more resident input or maybe hire a part-time consultant to control the real estate issues of the hood since this isn't a full time issue.



• Financial Director Tasks: Oversee hood finances, implement taxes and welfare support. Coordinate local trades and import based on needs of the community, oversee local businesses and associated laws, collect taxes and fees from residents.



• Real Estate Consultant Tasks:Manage community lots, construction of new homes and destruction of homes. Manage the local real estates and architectural planning of the hood, including any community lots, general beautifying and landscape community gardens, recreation areas and health of animals and native plants.

Pregnant

I'm pregnant with our third child. I barely show, thank goodness. Unfortunately the doctor said that I will need to stay at home. Thankfully I draw maternity leave from work otherwise we'd have to depend on A'ron's income from his projects and at the moment, they are drying up on him. He has another season with Pahala Shore and his paycheck from the Arrendale Heights bit will come soon. Etta Leigh has decided that she will pursue a music career. Thankfully I used my position on the hood council to get her a job tuning the piano at The Centre and she spends evenings practicing the bass guitar...badly.

Career

My stint with Arrendale Heights is almost over...I think I put a little too much into my character. I am bored. I finished my scenes with Pahala Shore ages ago, I only have one more scene to film for the finale. Ka'obi and I are trying to have a child and Etta Leigh is...well, goodness that child gives us a bit of trouble every now and again. Thankfully she's not as bad as her counterpart-Hazel Starr. I need more work.

I went to Amata's house to talk about the industry along with Tatiana. Amata's having better luck than I am, she has a callback for a new soap and she might be the first face of Apple Valley on the new news channel...maybe if she gets the call back for the soap, I could audition for the news. *sigh* I desperately need more work.

Like...Moi!

The hood council is letting us host the Apple Dumpling Ball, it's just for teens. Hazel Starr and I are on the planning committee. I think we should invite some hot celebrity guys. I need a great dress, especially since I'm way hotter than every other girl in this hood-even Hazel Starr isn't hotter than me. She's my BFF, but not hotter than moi! Maybe I should go to Francia for university-the guys there are sooo hott. The guys in the hood are not my type-not cool enough. I need to find a date, maybe I'll be hotter if I go solo-yea, hotter solo.

Changes in the House

A'ron-adult
Ka'obi-adult
Etta Leigh-teen
Tobi-teen

Mother and father are moving to the boarding house. Ka'obi and I are trying for another child. I don't have many scenes for Pahala Shore this season and my bit part in Arrendale Heights is almost over. You may have seen me in the latest episode as the prosecutor for the Hector case. Thankfully, my contract renewed for Pahala Shore so I have a job for the remainder of the year, Ka'obi is doing well with work. She's now selling insurance and is due for a promotion...hopefully. Etta Leigh is signed for another A.Pentragnani campaign and Tobi...well, Tobi is well. I hope he finds some interests soon.