The Mayors of Ellis Valley - Year of the Monkey stamps are here!

[Shadow Assassin 336]

So, the square's actually octagonal?

I can see yet more jokes about the whole system, just be glad it's not sections in the middle of nowhere. I bet you we'll see some "bribes" as a result of Benedict's hassling of the water companies. Win/win situation - Benedict gets the money he needs, the companies still gouge the city.

[giorgos69 53]

Wow, excellent suburbs.

[Darmok 34]

Forgot how to make right turns.... ROTFL 

Well perhaps he was right being paranoiac!

Man I like your stories! 

**munching popcorn waiting for more**

[Benedict 3,119]

Wow, I think this is the most comments I have ever had to reply to...thanks everyone.

Hi, Jacqulina. I'm glad you want to read more... the simcitizens certainly do have more to tell.

Hi, sc4portugal. I'm glad you like the story as well as the towns.

Hi, Ayaren. I'm glad you stopped by. How on earth do you have no perforations on your mac????? Pity about the nightlights, I do at least have those.

Hi, Explodingsims. Oh, I hope the driver doesn't throw up... nobody likes to clean up piles of sick, especially when they are inside a car.

Hi, Schulmanator. (Part 1) Your comment made me think of these song lyrics... "Around and around she goes, where she stops, nobody knows. Abra abracadabra. I wanna reach out and grab ya."

Hi, Zipme17. Well, some parts of town are looking good. Hopefully benedict can get his transit network sorted out soon.

Hi, Schulmanator. (Part 2) Aha! I knew there was some outside influence. Although they may have bribed you, they didn't do much about keeping you quiet!!

Hi, Shadow_Assassin. Actually that octagon is a circle... Commerce Circle, the center of Eloff. Of course, it is impossible to have a real circle in vanilla SC4. The square in question is somewhere else... you'll have to stay tuned to find out.

Hi, Giorgos. Thanks for making your first visit! Yes, I suppose the small towns do look like suburbs of a bigger city. You'll have to follow the story to see if any of the towns ever grow into anything of importance.

Hi, Darmok. I'm glad my CJ can still make you smile.

[Benedict 3,119]

Season 2: Episode 3

The next town in our journey down the coast is Kidden. It is hard to know exactly where Omalle starts, and Kidden ends, and most simcitizens don't really worry about it. Kidden and Hafbe share the same postal code, so as long as letters are addressed correctly, it really doesn't matter if they are sent to Kidden or Omalle, they will still be delivered. There is, of course, the exception. In this case it is Mayor Eric Hafbe. He is obsessed with the border of the two towns, and has fiercely tried to prevent them from merging, without much success.

Most of the town limits are easy to see. Kidden encompasses the farmland and school west of the square.

But it is here, at the Kidden-Omalle Square (or Omalle-Kidden Square, depending on whether you are standing in Kidden or Omalle) that causes Eric to twitch angrily.

As you can see, there is a house that is built right on top of the border between the towns.

Not only does this annoy Eric, but the owners, Mick and Mary Flannigan, don't pay any taxes. So far neither Omalle nor Kidden has been able to agree which town the Flannigan residence belongs to.

It is just this sort of thing that keeps Eric awake at night...

Next: City Hall.

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Oooooooh! That angry twitching means someone is about to go off like a roman candle!!

They'd better send in a check to both towns, just in case. He may be by there later tonight with bricks for the windows and a 2x4 for the residents!

[Shadow Assassin 336]

Hmm, shouldn't the border be slightly narrower?

Or you could make that house its own suburb.

[NoMercyx2k3 1]

i like it.

[Darmok 34]

There is such a house on the Canadian/US border! Where you eat in Canada and watch TV in the US!

I wonder where they pay their taxes!!!

[Benedict 3,119]

Hi, Schulmanator. You're right, angry twitching rarely leads to anything good...

Hi, Shadow_Assassin. Well, this is really just a diagrammatic representation of a line... and since a line has only 1 dimension (length) the technical line of boundary does run right through the middle of that house. As to the fate of the tax-dodgers, you'll just have to stay tuned to see if there is ever a return to Kidden.

Hi, NoMercyx2k3. Thanks for stopping by.

Hi, Darmok. I hope that those people aren't forced to pay taxes in both countries, that would be miserable..

[penguin007 27]

nice rural areas and small towns. Great as no grid at all

Will

[Zipme17 18]

wow, i wish i lived in a house where i didn't pay taxes

[Benedict 3,119]

Hi, penguin007. Welcome to an Ellis Valley Special Update! Thanks for your comment, I do try really hard to get my rural and townscapes looking somewhat natural and non-griddy, especially when it comes to the edges of the map tiles. Glad you approve!

Hi, Zipme17. Not only did you win the contest, you're part of the Special Update! Thanks for your comment - yeah, I could do with a tax-break, too!

And now, the reason for the special update... I am proud to announce that Ellis Valley is now the home to over 100 000 simcitizens!

Normal programming will return as soon as possible. Do not adjust your television.

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Cool! You hit the C-note! 100 grand!

Let's paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrty!!!!!!!!!

[Benedict 3,119]

 

Season 2: Episode 4

By now regular viewers should recognize this bustling community - this is Eloff. Here you can see the central plaza, surrounded by Commerce Circle. Just to the north of the plaza is Eloff City Hall. You can also see the unfinished north branch of the Eloff El just to the west of the City Hall station... but that's a story for another time.

 

Here's a closer view of City Hall (with the unsightly unfinished El track out of view).

Here Mayor Benedict Tiles is presenting his case for the closure of several local water companies and the establishment of a government controlled entity in order to cut costs.

 

Benedict negotiates all day...

...and long into the night, discussing the pros and cons of closing some water companies. "Yes, there'll be a few job losses, but think of the projects that can be finished that will create work... all of the proposed branches of the El... expansion of the town of Eloff outside Station Circle... a new University... a radio station..." 

Finally the city council agrees, and the new water company comes into being.

After a long day and night of negotiating, everyone has gone home. Well, almost everyone. Benedict makes his way to a room on the top floor. A single lighted window betrays his presence, but at 3am nobody is watching.

What nobody knows is that if anyone had been watching from City Hall Plaza they would have also heard something. Between the metallic screeches of the late night el trains, there is a noise that sounds like someone screaming...

Next: Dining in Redbar.

[AceofSpades 1]

Cool I like it. Sorry i've never really popped up here before. So I'll keep posted.

[Benedict 3,119]

Hi, Schulmanator. Thank you. Once I find a suitable nightclub I'll let you know and we can go out on the town to celebrate!

Hi, AceofSpades. Thanks for stopping by, I'm glad you liked the update! At the moment, as long as those Sims keep the storylines coming, there'll be an update once a week, so stay tuned.

[Benedict 3,119]

 

Season 2: Episode 5

The next stop on our tour of the Shipwreck Coast is Redbar.

 

The mayor of Redbar, John Deppy is a famous simcitizen. Or at least he would be if people knew that he was the founder of the Depiesse's Diner chain of restaurants.

 

That's right, the very same Depiesse's Diner that Melissa Bennett had lunch in way back in episode 1.20.

 

Interestingly enough the Double D chain has not opened a restaurant in Redbar. John Deppy always tells his management that there isn't enough of a market in town.

What nobody knows is that John Deppy hates the food served in his diners. He much prefers Cecilia's Greasy Tacos. In fact, there is a Taco stand just down the street from the mayor's mansion.

 

John Deppy doesn't think anyone knows about his passion for Tacos.

What he doesn't know is that the local clinic staff is on to him. For John Deppy is no small man, and overweight + greasy fast food = possible heart attack. Fortunately the clinic is located between Cecilia's and the mansion. Every day the doctors and nurses hold their breath as the mayor walks back from his lunchtime trip to Cecilia's. So far nothing has happened, but they all feel it is just a matter of time.

 

Next: Welcome to Port Sinclair!

[Schulmanator 5,815]

John needs to switch to fajitas-- much lower in fat and chock full o' flava!

[suplado! 23]

very interesting character...hehe! need to know more secrets

[Benedict 3,119]

Hi, Schulmanator. Mmmmm.... fajitas!!

Hi, suplado!. Thanks for commenting. Like the title says "...every sim has a secret...". There are still many towns, mayors, simcitizens and secrets to come.

[penguin007 27]

Wow I really underestimated this cj I love the town of Eloff espcailly the town sqaure

Will

[Benedict 3,119]

Season 2: Episode 6

Welcome to Port Sinclair!

The town is named after the busy port around which it developed. Currently Port Sinclair is the industrial heart of Ellis Valley, shipping manufactured goods all over the region as well as Simnation.

The mayor of Port Sinclair lives in lovely Lakepoint, just off the Greenway, which surrounds the main urban area with a ring of trees and parks.

Unfortunately, aside from the Greenway, there isn't all that much of Port Sinclair that is actually green, and the mayor has recently been criticized for his poor record on environmental issues. And he has been having trouble cracking down on an illicit publication that portrays his office in a very unflattering light...

Next: Something fishy in Wexlin.

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Awesome poster!!!! I love it!!!!!!!!!

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Awesome poster!!!! I love it!!!!!!!!!

[SpecialEddie 3]

Wow! Inspired by me...? Wh-what can I say? *takes a bow* *applause*

I really like the black and white theme going on, and the monologue is top-notch. However, when I saw "Port Sin" in your sig, I actually thought it was more influenced by the Sin City Chronicles...

Either way, it looks great, and it's a good feeling to know that my work has inspired at least one person.

[penguin007 27]

Great poster I can't wait for pics of the area

keep up the great work

Will

[Benedict 3,119]

Hi, Penguin007. (Part 1) Now that's an interesting comment - what made you underestimate this CJ? And I like Eloff's central area, too. That was the first part that I laid out when I started the region - the 'circle' with 8 roads leading from it.

Hi, Schumanator. Thanks for the double The rest of your reply is over at Port Sin.

Hi, SpecialEddie. Welcome to Ellis Valley! Thanks for your comment on the dialogue - I spent some time thinking of exactly how to set up the opening chapter of Port Sin. The rest of your reply is over at Port Sin (and funnily, I keep on wanting to type Sin City instead of Port Sin - bad benedict).

Hi, Pengui007. (Part 2) Thanks for popping back so soon, Will. Now head over to Port Sin for your reply.

[Benedict 3,119]

 

Season 2: Episode 7

For a long time concerned simcitizens in Wexlin have had the feeling that something isn't quite right in their town. There's nothing obviously wrong, in fact it looks idyllic from the air.

 

Those concerned haven't managed to put their fingers on it, but they are quite right. Something stinks in Wexlin, and it isn't Fish Island.

 

Fortunately for Jean Reichle, the town mayor, the citizens haven't been paying all that much attention to her. She has always managed to do just enough in the town to keep her sims averagely happy.

But Jean has a problem. She's addicted to shopping. And even worse, there isn't an item of clothing in the local stores that she doesn't own.

 

Unfortunately for the mayor, an investigative reporter for a large regional newspaper is gradually putting the pieces together.

Fortunately for Jean, the reporter has to pass through this busy junction to get into town.

 

Who can say what twist of fate resulted in the journalist's car being involved in an accident?

 

Was the journalist distracted by the fact that she was closing in on her big story?

Could the mayor have had something to do with it? After all, there are rumors flying around that the traffic signal seemed awfully erratic just prior to the accident...

Or is it just a random twist of fate, due mainly to the fact that the road is overloaded with traffic?

 

Looking at the evidence it doesn't seem very likely that it was the mayor. She wasn't even in town when it happened... her car was parked in a poorer neighborhood, where she was supposedly on a 'fact-finding mission'.

 

Interesting how the street she chose is very close to the Wexlin Ferryport.

And the ferry goes straight to Port Sinclair.

And Port Sinclair has much better stores than Wexlin...

Next: A makeover in Eloff

[jacqulina 162]

hiya im sorry my friend i seem to have missed your updates,wow you sure have come a long way,awesome work you have done,everything is looking so realistic,awesome work and pics