2011 Year End Review

Education Notes: 

New construction is underway for both the upper and lower educational levels.  Starting this year, the old Jr./Sr. High building will be officially closed.  The building was too large for our hood's needs and difficult to navigate.  The building will still be kept intact, for now, and the auditorium and gymnasium will be available for public use.

The secondary students will share a building with the elementary students.  A second floor has already been added to the building with additional classrooms, a teacher's lounge and a state of the art computer lab.

We are short on teaching staff and are looking to hire at least one new teacher, as soon as possible.  If interested, please submit a resume.  We need to fill this position immediately.

The university students were welcomed to a new dormitory this year.  We are still experimenting with the possibility of having student housing in the main hood, but test runs have not gone as planned, therefore student housing will remain on campus, at least for incoming freshmen.

Community Events and Projects:

This summer sims met at the new public pool and beach for some fun in the sun.  Not many dared to get their feet wet, but we hope sims will take time to visit this new community fun spot in the future.

This winter sims gathered at the high school auditorium to recognize three graduating seniors, Violet Cormier, Geneva Rossi, and Owen Rossi.  We wish them the best in their future endeavors.  The students celebrated the end of the school year and graduation with a winter dance.  The dance was a huge success.  Students reported that they had a great time.  We hope this will become a continued tradition that every teen in the hood can experience at least once during their teenage years.

In more somber news, a memorial service was held at the newly created Estates of Serenity Cemetary for Ms. Jessica Ebadi.  Friends, family, neighbors, and students gathered to bid farewell to a beloved mother, dear friend, and devoted teacher.  Jessica will be missed.

Next year the hood will be holding a spring festival at Central Market Square.  Attention will be given to the community garden, lectures will be given on starting home gardens and using fresh produce and fish.  We are also hoping to have a cooking contest.  So all of you aspiring chefs out there who have been wanting to show off your cooking, start planning your entries now!

Also in the spring, a new exhibit will be shown at the Artisan's Museum.  We are delighted to have been invited to showcase the works of Veronica Kent from Apple Valley.  A prodigy artist from a young age, Veronica's art gives a unique insight into the creative mind of a child.  Some residents may remember Veronica's father, Jesse (Carr) Kent, an Eden native.

Renovation is slated to start on an office building this simyear.  The building will include space for administration and other business offices and meeting rooms.  We hope this new space will give residents another reason to get out of the house and interact with other members of the community.

Government Notes:

An official hood council has been established and will have its first meeting this simyear.  The officers and offices are listed and described below.

• Robin Harris will continue in her role as hood president and will be in charge of neighborhood administration as well as overseeing all other officers.
• Winston Crabtree will be the neighborhood treasurer, keeping track of the hood's finances, tax collection and loan repayments.
• Hope Miguel is in charge of the department of education, keeping track of school records, developing school programs, and seeing that educational needs of our students at all levels are met.
• Jane D'Sim is the community events coordinator, in charge of planning our yearly festivals and other events to promote a sense of community among residents.
• James McMillian is the community development officer in charge of building projects and developing and maintaining community lots as well as new housing.

Congratulations to all of our newly appointed officers.  We look forward to seeing what plans you come up with this year and during your term.  Officers will remain in place until the end of 2015, when elections for the 2016-2020 term will be held.

Financial Notes:

The first installment of loan repayments and first tax collection will occur this year.  If you owe money, please remember to make your payment in a timely manner.  If you lost your bill, please check the blog, amounts owed will be posted on a separate page on the sidebar.

Legal / Administration Notes:

Joy London has been granted temporary custody of Bridget and Bryce Ebadi following their mother's death.  A sim has stepped forward claiming to the the father of the two children.  A custody hearing will be held pending the results of the paternity test. Until a permanent arrangement has been made the former Ebadi household will be known as Ebadi/London on the official rotation for 2012.

Alexis Havers has submitted a request to be removed from the official rotation.  The Havers-Rossi household will not be listed on the official rotation for 2012.

The Year in Review:

Congratulations to the Cormier family on the birth of baby girl, Rosalyn Cormier.  Rosalyn is the first child of Tosha and Rich Cormier and first niece for new aunt Violet Cormier.

Congratulations to the Harris family who also welcomed a baby girl into their family this winter.  Savannah Harris is the second daughter for Robin and Gregory Harris and little sister to Melody.

Congratulations to Joy London and Alon Carlson who announced their engagement this fall.  A wedding date has not yet been announced.

Congratulations to the graduates!  This year three of our high school students are moving on to young adulthood. Violet Cormier completed high school with a B average and was awarded the Bain-Gordon Communications Fellowship.  Geneva Rossi finished with a B+ and earned the Will Wright Genius Grant.  Owen Rossi also finished with a B+ and was awarded the Tsang Footwork Award.  All three graduates will be attending New Eden University in the fall.  We wish them well as they continue their studies.

Heartfelt condolences go out to the friends and family of Jessica Ebadi who was tragically killed during a lightening storm.  Jessica leaves behind a young son and daughter, Bryce Ebadi and Bridget Ebadi.  She was a devoted teacher who served as the first headmistress in the Jr./Sr. High boarding school.  She finished her career as the hood's elementary school teacher.  Her loss has been deeply felt through out the community.  May you rest in peace, Jessica.  You are missed.