the college crowd

gameplay note: I'm going to briefly introduce you to my college characters here. Since the college kids get played 4 semesters for each two-year round, they end up getting much more play time, so you'll be seeing plenty of them.

My downtown college, Lake City University, is an absolute work in progress. It is inspired by other base hood universities like Jade's The Academy on The Isle of Thyme. There was once a discussion about this at MATY, but I cannot find that now for the life of me. I'm really still working out the kinks as I go. For now it seems to be working. I'll show pictures of the different buildings at some point, but for now, let's meet the students :)

pretty faces and the noses we inherit

October, 2074, Cabe is 34, Ashlee is 36, and Natalia is turning 5. Pet cat is Sake.

Ashlee Deppiesse has become a dynamic force in the culinary world. Every single cookbook or blender she puts her name on (or is it the pretty face?) sells like hotcakes, no pun intended ;) Ashlee is a restaurateur and owns Deppiesse's Lakefront Bistro in Lakeside Heights.

the grown-up family of Meadow (Thayer) Lind

October, 2074, Brady is 61, Meadow is 60, pet dog is Fifi.

Little Meadow Thayer is all grown-up now, and turning 60 this week. Meadow met Brady Lind her senior year in college, and they’ve been married 31 years now. Brady is a funds manager (investment career) for a local brokerage firm, and Meadow is the principal at Lakeside Heights Public High School and owns a little flower shop called Petals that she opens up on the weekends. They got a great price for the house where the kids grew up and moved into a spacious condo. Aurora and Nathan are both out of college now and doing so well.

making over our alien heritage

October, 2074, Orion is 42 years old, Violet is 41, Dallas is 11, Delphie and Dakota are 5, pet dog is Sheba.

The very complicated Deppiesse family first became complicated when Eliza (Brant) Deppiesse divorced her two-timing crook of a husband Kent. Their marriage resulted in one child, Claire.

Orion Deppiesse is the second Deppiesse child, and though Kent would go on to marry his mistress, Felicia, who would later become Brooke and Cabe's mother, Orion's birth came from more otherworldly means...

meet the Jackson family

October, 2074, Adrian and Aurora are 43 years old, Tyler and Beau are 12.

Meet the Jackson family. Aurora, Adrian, and twins Tyler and Beau. Aurora Miguel and Adrian Jackson were never married, but have always maintained an open sort of "don't ask, don't tell" relationship. It works for them, and they love each other very much.

Lake County Public Pages

The next round of elections will be held November of 2087, and Public Officials will hold their offices through January of 2088.

Madison Riley: Governor of State

Next tax day is April 15th, 2084

(Taxes = 15% net personal worth and investments, $1500 credit for married couples, $1000 credit for each eligible dependent. Taxes are due in April, every two years.)

Full details of the tax process here.


Lake City Metro Business Award:

The Lake City Metro Business Award will be given every four years, and will be worth $50,000. Voters will decide the winner, and they may vote based on anything they wish. The winner may spend the award any way they choose, as long as the money is invested in a qualifying business in Lake City or its surrounding suburbs.

The Lake City Metro Business Award was given to Summer Phoenix for her toy store, Summer's Place, in April of 2081. The next award will be given in the spring of 2085.

Alice Nova: President of the Lake County Board of Education

Secondary and Elementary:

Lake County Public Schools are maintained by the Lake County Board of Education, and pre-K through 12th grade are available free to all students.

Accelerated Program:
Gifted students may enter the accelerated program, which gives them a more demanding and focused curriculum of studies. The AP students meet twice a month, Saturday mornings, for their studies, in addition to their regular course load.

Tuition for the AP program is $200/month.

Student Enrollment Page

Post-Secondary Education:
Lake City University Page


Dr. Berjes Monif: Head of Health Services, Lake City Memorial Hospital

Walk-in Clinic: medical soup, $200

Hospital stays: varies, insurance accepted

Dr. Berjes Monif, Cosmetic Surgery (office in Lakeside Heights): from $1000-$10,000 depending on the procedure

Dr. Jodie Larson, Obstetrics (office in LCMH): home birthing fees $1000

Mariah Buchanan, Junior Resident, Psychiatrics (office in LCMH): sessions $200/hr.



Aurora Miguel: Chief Financial Officer, Lake County Treasury

Home and Business Loans: required 20% down

Closing fees: 10% of loan.

Business Licenses: (to be paid yearly on tax day)

Non-Profit: $200
Food Service: $300
Other Services: $500
Retail: $600
Entertainment: $800





Micah Phoenix: Chief of Police, Lake County Police Department

Things Not Allowed: $fine

-public indecency: $500
-public fighting: $500
-DUI: $1000, and 5-10 years revoked driver's license
-possession or cultivation of money tree plants: $1000
-counterfeiting machine: felony (10-15 years in jail)
-improper keeping of a cow plant: felony manslaughter (10-25 years in jail)





Claire Bradshaw: Lake County Court Justice

Criminal Court Rulings
Family Court/Custody Rulings
Marriage licenses: $200
Divorce Rulings: $2000










General Cabe Deppiesse: Lake County Head of Defense

Lake County Military and Intelligence affairs are confidential. The truth is out there, people. It really is.

time in a bottle

The inner-workings of aging, rounds, and real time seasons in Lakeside Heights:

How they get old:

1 Sim day = 1 year in Lakeside Heights. Most Sims will live an average human lifespan of somewhere between 70-90 years, unless they die earlier of something tragic and unexpected ;)

look at all these kiddies getting smarter!

Lake County Board of Education: Student Enrollment

School Year: 2083/84

Graduate Work:Mariah Buchanan, Masters, Psychology and Therapy (year 3 of 4), LCMH
Post-Secondary:
Beau Jackson, sophomore, LCU
April Hutchins, sophomore, LCU
Tyler Jackson, sophomore (suspended enrollment, military), LCU
Fenton Dyer, sophomore, Takemizu Academy
Iris Barton, sophomore, Takemizu Academy

Summer Phoenix, freshman, LCU
Dallas Deppiesse, freshman, Takemizu Academy
Vicky Garth, freshman, LCU

High School:
Grade 12: Elijah Roberts (LC), Amy Jones (LH), Lucy Harris (LH)
Grade 11: Blair Schehl (LH), Melissa Fortney (LC)
Grade 10: Fiona McCullough (BT), Melody Tinker (BT), Isaiah Gavigan (LH)
Grade 9: Liza Hathe (BT), Sarah Harris (LH), Hazel Monif (LH), Natalia Deppiesse (LH-AP), Charlie Roseland (LH-AP)

Junior High School:
Grade 8: Cecilia Dawson (LC), Delphie Deppiesse (LH-AP), Dakota Deppiesse (LH-AP), Robbie McCullough (BT)
Grade 7: Ryanne Phoenix (LH), Angelo Shaw (LC), Sam Harris (LH)
Grade 6:

Elementary School:
Grade 5: Abby Miller (LC)
Grade 4:
Grade 3:
Grade 2: Devon Shaw (LC)
Grade 1: Bianca Lind (LH), Elliot Miller (LC), Connor McCullough (BT), Shaun Hathe (BT)

Early Childhood:
Kindergarten: Raine Nova (LC), Zachary Harris (LC), Felicity Watts (BT)
Pre-K: Julia Lind (LH), Laney Thompson (LH), Gabby Roseland (LH)

LH = Lakeside Heights; LC = Lake City; BT = Bluewater Township; (AP) = advanced program

Lake County Education Professionals:
President, Lake County Board of Education: Meadow Lind
LCU: April Harris, Aurora Miguel, Aurora Harris, Corbin Gray
Lakeside Heights Public Schools: Adam Thompson, Alice Nova, Cyd Roseland, Hailey Monif
Lake City Public Schools: Sheldon Fortney, Jim Bar
Bluewater Township Public Schools: Brooke McCullough

intro round

This is the intro round. Seeing as how Lakeside Heights began as more of a neighborhood blog than it was an actual story, there was no real story-like beginning. Instead, there was a sort of introduction of all the families that these stories will be about. As un-story-like as this is though, there are roots here, and it might be worth a laugh or two, or at least a skim-read ;)

I'm kind of in the process of slowly redoing these very early pictures. They're too small, and compressed, and honestly pretty bad! So sorry about that! They get better, I promise!

intro round, meet the families:

(season 0): a wing and a prayer
Jackson
Deppiesse (Orion)
Lind
Deppiesse (Cabe)
the LCU crowd
Monif
LCU, spring 2075
Bradshaw (Cody)
Bradshaw (Andy)
Riley
LCU, fall 2075
Centowski
Harris/Phoenix/Shaw
Harris
LCU, spring break 2076
Nova
LCU, spring 2076

to round 2076...

the founding families, very briefly

On April 8th, 2006, six Sims moved to Lakeside Heights. They were David Riley, Charlie Bradshaw, Becca Brant, Eliza Brant (sister to Becca), Jessa Briggs, and Maya Weston. For some reason it didn't occur to me that founding the neighborhood with an almost entirely female population would mean that the founding names wouldn't survive long. But anyway, these six Sims were copies from my previous neighborhood, so though not literally, these families have been with me since the beginning. None of the founding Sims are alive currently, but almost all of them have descendants living in the neighborhood.

obituaries

***

Tessa (Ramirez) Bruty and Luc Bruty, residents of Twikki Island, passed away October of 2080. They both died of natural causes. Tessa was born in Bluewater Township, and also lived in Lakeside Heights, spending her last 14 years abroad with her husband after the death of their only daughter, Danielle. Tessa is survived by her sister, Nina (Ramirez) Shaw-Gothier, and nephew Maxwell. Luc did not have any family in the area. They were both 72 years old.

***

Rhianna Phoenix, resident of Bluewater Township, passed away November of 2079. She was drowned after her van slid on ice into Hunter's Lake in Bluewater Township. Rescue crews were not able to free her in time, and she was pronounced dead on the scene. Rhianna Phoenix was the founder of Summer's Place, a toy store on Main Street in Bluewater Township. She was a devoted wife to Hayden, her husband of thirteen years, and a loving mother to two daughters, Summer and Ryanne. Rhianna was 30 years old.

***

where my Sims live

Lakeside Heights:

Lakeside Heights lies along the southern shores of Lake Michigan, and is the premier suburb of Lake City. The town has grown exponentially from its humble beginnings and now draws families from all over the state for its low crime rates, beautiful landscapes, and excellent school systems. Housing prices are expensive here, and land is at a premium.

(pictured: Deppiesse's Lakefront Bistro, and Lakeside Beach)

Properties along the lakeshore are some of the most sought after in the area. Lakeside Beach is clean and swimmable in all seasons, even the winter if you're brave enough to slosh into the icy waters!

The Lakeside Heights city center is home to fine restaurants, the Lakeside Heights Shopping Center, an open Market Square, and many unique shops. There are condos and townhomes for sale, as well as apartments for rent.

(pictured: Lakeside Heights Memorial Park, and Hazel Park)

Nestled behind Shadow Woods Metropark, and at the foot of the Lakeside Heights Memorial Park is the Hazel Park neighborhood, where relatively more affordable smaller family homes are found. Even here, property values are slightly inflated over average. There is no discount for wandering ghosts.

(pictured: Petals, Jackson Arcade, the Snowflake Lodge, Roller Pit, Lakeside Heights Rec Center, Grace Church, and Lakeside Heights Public Schools.)

There's a good reason residents pay lots of hard-earned tax money to live in Lakeside Heights, besides its ritzy city center and three publicly accessible white sand beaches. It's been rated as one of the best places in the area to raise a family - proof of that being what the locals call "teeny-bopper row."

This small commercial strip includes a state-of-the-art recreational center, arcade, roller rink, ice rink, nationally accredited high school, and metropark.

North Beach is tucked away behind the hills and forest on the Lake County Inlet, and is one of three white sand beaches in Lakeside Heights. This hidden gem is a quiet getaway for those who find it, and on a clear day, residents of the Hazel Park neighborhood can even see its lighthouse!


Lake City:

(pictured: West Washington Avenue neighborhood, the Rhondal Loft Apartments, City Park, City Park Apartments, Riley Estates Company, Lake County Hall, the Governor's Estate, Lake City Memorial Hospital, and the Lake City University Campus.)

Lake City is busy, generally over-priced, and crowded. The heart of Lake City runs along Washington Avenue; trendy townhomes and apartments to the west, the civic and business district in the center, and the Lake City University campus to the east.

Lake City is not actually named after any lakes, since there aren't any lakes in Lake City, unless you count the little pond at City Park, or the man-made "lakes" in Stoneview Court. We suspect Lake City is actually named after Lake Michigan, which lies at least twenty minutes away.

Lake City University is a fully-fuctioning four-year university campus on the east side of the city. Main buildings include Collins Hall Center for Scientific Study, Nova Hall Arts College, Riley Hall College of Business, The Field Sports Facility, LCU Campus Library, and the all-important campus pub. Students live in dormitory and apartment housing in all price ranges, and there is also student family housing available for those who qualify.

The Old West End is the "Nightlife" district, where Sims can visit vintage nightclubs, shops, and bowling alleys, heavily remodeled over the decades.

The South End, while not the prettiest to look at, is a necessary part of any metro area. The South End provides government-subsidized housing and apartments, as well as a thrift store.

City slickers who wish for a little more peace and quiet can live to the far North in the gated community of Stoneview Court (by Kavkid, get them here). Stoneview Court has its own residents-only community center.

And finally,

Bluewater Township:

(pictured: Watts Family Farm, the Bluewater Chapel, and "the field")

Over many years, a mass exodus of people flocking to the nightlife of Lake City, or the glamour of Lakeside Heights has left the village of Bluewater sparse and very rural. But that is exactly what some people have in mind when looking for a place to settle down. Housing prices here are reasonable and there is plenty of land.

Bluewater's main attractions are the Watts Family Farm, the Bluewater Animal Shelter, a large community center and park, and of course, "the field," which is a popular empty field where the locals sometimes gather for community bonfires.

(pictured: Main Street in Bluewater)

Bluewater also boasts a wholesome American Main Street, where shoppers can buy anything from handmade wooden toys to delicious homemade pies. And hard-working Bluewater locals enjoy blowing off some steam at Dante's Pub, or the Gamer's Den.

***

Welcome to Lakeside Heights!

database: notable supporting cast

Expatriates:

Marisa Wilson and Roland Ellis (current pic): Marisa and Roland were married in the winter of 2083, and have one child together, Seth.

Cody and Kendal Bradshaw: Cody and Kendal are enjoying their retirement in Abandia City. Their daughter, Bella, is still living in Lake City, and they have two granddaughters, Delilah and Naomi, whom they visit a couple times a year.

Jason Larson (current pic): Jason met his wife Lynn when he moved to Abandia City. They were married in the summer of 2083, and are expecting their first child in the summer of 2084. Jason is currently working for a local newspaper as a horoscope writer, and Lynn works part-time in the IT field.
Alana Fortney (current pic): Alana Fortney is living with her boyfriend Benjamin, and she sees her daughter Melissa in the summers.


Notable Supporting Cast:

Heather Huffington ("ex"-girlfriend of Maxwell Shaw, and the other club bunny, aka Tyler's cougar). She manages Lucky's Card Bar and lives in the Old West End of Lake City.
Chandler Price and Jane (Hudson) Price, married (friends of Micah/Mariah/Keri/Luke/Jim). They own a modest condo in the city center of Lakeside Heights.

George McCarthy and Blossom (Moonshine) McCarthy, married (George = twice ex-boyfriend of Charlotte Gallagher. Blossom = ex-girfriend of Micah Buchanan.) They live in the city center of Lakeside Heights.

Blair Schehl and Amy Jones, dating. (Blair = the ex-boyfriend of Melissa Fortney). Blair is being fostored by George and Blossom McCarthy, and Amy is working as a live-in nanny for the Thompson family. They both live and attend high school in Lakeside Heights.

Yvette "Evie" Bachman (ex-girlfriend of Beau Jackson). She is currently working as a clerk at City Hall, and has an apartment in Lake City.

Isaiah Gavigan (friend of Charlie Roseland, neighbor/crush on Hazel Monif). Lives with his family in the Hazel Park neighborhood of Lakeside Heights.

Elijah Roberts (dating Melissa Fortney). He is a toymaker working at Summer's Place. He lives with his grandmother in the south end of Lake City. (b-day: Dec. 11, 2065)

Cecilia Dawson (dating Angelo Shaw). Lives with her family in the West Washington neighborhood of Lake City.

Melody Tinker (friend/neighbor of Fiona McCullough). Lives with her family in Bluewater Township.

Bradley Guthrie. ("friend" of Hailey Monif). He has a daughter, Abby, with his ex-girlfriend, Holly Miller. He lives in the city center of Lakeside Heights.

Robert and Cynthia Kim (Justin Kim's parents). They have a condo in the Brant Street neighborhood of Lakeside Heights.

Carly Cook and Joseph Wolosenko, dating/living together (Carly = ex-roomie of Jodie Larson and Piper Wilson, works for Aurora Miguel at Jolie, Jolie. Joseph = friend of Patrick Nova and Cameron Gibson, works for Bryson Riley at Riley Hall). They recently purchased a small townhome together in Lakeside Heights.

Alon Hutchins (ex-boyfriend of Amelia Bradshaw). Currently serving in the military.

Dana Gilmore (dated James Porter and Maxwell Shaw). She performs with Patrick Nova, and teaches voice lessons during the day. She has an apartment in Lake City.

Bill and Holly Miller, married. (Bill = almost affair of Ashlee Deppiesse, dated Piper Wilson. Holly = mistress of Jeremy Nova.) Holly has a daughter, Abby, with ex-boyfriend, Bradley Guthrie. They live in Lake City.

Ana West a.k.a. The Club Bunny (neurotic former stalker "friend" of Maxwell Shaw). She is currently working in IT, and living in Bluewater Township.

database: Thompson (Adam and Heather)

Thompson Family - Adam and Heather
Brant Street - Lakeside Heights

Adam Thompson
life-stage: adult - 30
birthdate: August 31, 2053
personality: virgo (9/2/6/3/7)
aspiration: knowledge/family
LTW: Education Minister
school: LCU class of 2076, magna cum laude (Mathematics)
job: education, college senior professor; teacher, Lakeside Heights Public Schools, high school math and science
family: children Laney, Ian and Ingrid Thompson
BFF: Heather
romantic: married, Heather Thompson (history: dated Charlotte Gallagher, 3 years, engaged 1 year)

Heather (Hurt) Thompson
life-stage: adult - 30
birthdate: September 14, 2053
personality: virgo (9/2/6/3/5)
aspiration: knowledge/fortune
LTW: graduate 2 children
school: LCU class of 2076, magna cum laude (Mathematics)
job: science, theorist
family: children Laney, Ian and Ingrid Thompson
BFF: Adam, Lara Nova
romantic: married, Adam Thompson

Elaina "Laney" Thompson
life-stage: toddler - 4
birthdate: October 2, 2079
personality: libra (7/2/10/3/10)
character traits: simple
family: parents Adam and Heather Thompson, brother Ian Thompson, sister Ingrid Thompson

Ian Thompson
life-stage: baby
birthdate: September 20, 2083
personality: virgo
family: parents Adam and Heather Thompson, sisters Laney and Ingrid Thompson

Ingrid Thompson
life-stage: baby
birthdate: September 20, 2083
personality: virgo
family: parents Adam and Heather Thompson, sister Laney Thompson, brother Ian Thompson

database: Shaw (Max and Valerie)

Shaw Family - Maxwell and Valerie
Stoneview Court - Lake City

Maxwell Shaw
life-stage: adult - 37
birthdate: June 18, 2046
personality: gemini (2/10/9/7/2)
character traits: careless, oversexed, rebellious, brash, greedy
aspiration: popularity/romance
LTW: Criminal Mastermind
OTH: games
job: crime, smuggler; owner, Lucky's Card Bar and After Midnight (aka The Love Shack)
family: parents Toby Shaw and Nina Shaw-Gothier, sister Anjali Shaw, children Angelo and Devon Shaw
BFF: Cameron Gibson
romantic: married, Valerie Shaw; "extra-curricular activities," various, including Heather Huffington, April Hutchins, and Dana Gilmore (history: dated Clarice Miller, 1 year; among others)

Valerie Shaw
life-stage: adult - 42
birthdate: March 22, 2041
personality: aries (5/9/6/6/3)
character traits: loyal, friendly, submissive, somber, perfectionist
aspiration: popularity/family
LTW: 10 best friends
OTH: cuisine
job: slacker, freelance web designer
family: children Angelo and Devon Shaw
BFF: doesn't have one
romantic: married, Maxwell Shaw

Angelo Shaw
life-stage: teen - 13
birthdate: August 16, 2070
personality: leo (6/10/5/6/2)
character traits: oversexed, charming, confident
aspiration: pleasure/romance
LTW: woohoo 30 sims
OTH: sports
school: Lake City, Junior High
job: none
family: parents Maxwell and Valerie Shaw, sister Devon Shaw
romantic: trouble; dating Cecelia Dawson, 1 year

Devon Shaw
life-stage: child - 7
birthdate: December 27, 2076
personality: capricorn (2/10/9/7/3)
character traits: hedonist
school: Lake City, Elementary
family: parents Maxwell and Valerie Shaw, brother Angelo Shaw