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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #13
JUNE 23, 2000
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Dear Subscriber:

Things are beginning to return to normal around the Sacramento
Mountains for this time of year. Frequent rain showers have
brought down the fire danger. The forest service is relaxing some
of its restrictions (although there has been no change for the
from last week). Discussions on the boardwalk and in the cafes
still center around what the Forest Service and the Federal
Government intend to do to improve forest conditions and prevent a
recurrence of the devastating fires of last month. Village and
county officials are beginning the feel the frustration of a slow-
to-respond Federal government and the power and tenacity of special
interest groups who, some say, are misguided in an attempt to
save every last stick and bush from the saw and the back-hoe.

As I write, the Cloudcroft area is enjoying a refreshing shower
(Thursday afternoon). The frequent rains have washed out some of
the gravel in my drive, though. The right of every American: to
complain even when things are improving!

Don Vanlandingham
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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
2. VILLAGE POLITICS
3. SPECIAL REPORT -- MORE SCOTT ABLE PHOTOS
4. INSIDE THE SHOP -- TWO BEARS
5. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- TULAROSA
6. Q AND A (BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
7. COMING EVENTS
8. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
9. CONTACT INFORMATION
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LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
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Cool temperatures and almost daily afternoon showers have been
the pattern this past week in the Cloudcroft area. Daily high
temperatures are down from May, usually around 70 for the high
and the low 40s over night. The "Monsoon Season" got a two week
head start this year (compared to recent years). Forecasters say
this doesn't mean the rainy season should end early. The wettest
month of the year in terms of rainfall in the Cloudcroft area is
usually July.
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VILLAGE POLITICS
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Some good news and bad news. First the bad news. The Cloudcroft
Independent School District decided to close the Timberon
Elementary school because of declining attendance. The good news
is the computers and any other equipment from the school deemed
important for the kids of Timberon will be transferred to the
Timberon Library for the use of the whole community. The phone
company in Timberon has agreed to hook the computers up to the
Internet. Timberon kids will attend school in Cloudcroft.
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SPECIAL REPORT -- MORE SCOTT ABLE PHOTOS
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Immediately following the Scott Able Fire, Diane Bazar and her 
family visited the burn area and took some very nice pictures of 
the fire damage. She has kindly allowed us to post these photos 
on Cloudcroft.Com. Her son, Michael, has written an interesting 
account of his evacuation from Bonita Vista at the start of the 
fire. These photos and Michael's recollections are available here:

http://www.cloudcroft.com/special.htm

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INSIDE THE SHOP -- TWO BEARS
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One of Cloudcroft's vintage businesses, Two Bears, is a women's
fashion shop located on Burro Street on the Boardwalk. Fashion-
conscious ladies love to shop Two Bears for both clothing and
accessories. It is co-owned and operated by Sissy Lane. If
there's a guy standing behind the counter in work clothes when
you go in, that's David, Sissy's husband. He owns Cloudcroft
Plumbing and offices out of Two Bears. Plumbing and high fashion
under one roof? Why not?
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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- TULAROSA
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The area residents call it "Tulie". It's one of Southern New
Mexico's older communities and is a favorite stop for visitors
to the area. Tularosa is only a 45 minute drive from Cloudcroft
and features much of the old Mexican cultural charm it was born
with in 1862. The town still uses an irrigation system built in
the 1800s which provides the oasis like atmosphere of the desert
village.
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Q AND A (BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW)
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Q - What does the term "Cloudcroft" mean? How did the Village
come by its name?

A - It is said the Village was named by the surveyors sent to the
top of the mountain from Alamogordo to plan the railroad line to
the area. The men were struck by the way clouds hugged the
ground in the area (due to its altitude of around 9,000 feet),
creating a tranquil foggy condition. The name "Cloudcroft" is
a term derived from an old English expression. Loosely
translated it means "a clearing covered in clouds". Cloudcroft
was founded for the expressed purpose of being a mountain resort
area, although it also has had a forest products economic base
over the years.
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COMING EVENTS
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June 23 thru 25 -- Bluegrass Festival. Open Air Pavilion, Zenith
Park.

June 24 -- Sacramento Mountains annual Old Timer's Reunion
(re-scheduled from May 13th).

July 1 -- Timberon 4th of July Parade, 10 am.

July 4 -- Fireworks display. Space Center in Alamogordo (Note:
fireworks are not allowed in the mountain areas).

July 13, 14 and July 21, 22 -- Melodrama. Cloudcroft Light Opera
Company. Open Air Pavilion. Zenith Park.

July 15, 16 -- July Jamboree. Crafts fair, horseshoe tourney,
food and drinks. Zenith Park.

July 15 thru 17 -- Cloudcroft School Reunion. Call 682 2098 for
details.

July 22 -- Chili Cook-off. Call 682-2733.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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Dear Newsletter:

I lived in Cloudcroft and worked at The Lodge for about 3 years 
while my ex-husband was in the Air Force. Your newsletter brings 
back great memories of the community! I'll be back for a visit 
this summer and am looking forward to seeing the new additions 
to the town. Thanks for the smiles!

Wendi Rae Hewes

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Dear Newsletter:

Did you ever think that you would be reaching a Cloudcroft fan 
all the way out in New Jersey???!!! I grew up in El Paso, and as 
a Girlscout spent many summers at Camp Tall Pines in Mayhill!! 
Your newsletter has been a wonderful way to keep up with all the 
happenings in my favorite part of the Southwest - I can't put 
into words how much I miss the mountain air! I only wish I could 
send all the New Jersey moisture to New Mexico as I read about 
how dry things have been. It does sound like June has been a 
little more gracious. Continue the good work, and I'm so glad I 
found you!

Kathy Hester
Columbia, New Jersey

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Dear Newsletter:

We just wanted to thank you for this wonderful on-line newsletter. 
We just discovered it during the fire, and enjoy it. We have 
subscribed to the Mountain Monthly for a few years and enjoy it 
immensely, but it's very nice to get updates more than monthly. 
We own property in Timberon (no cabin yet) and stay in Cloudcroft 
whenever we are out there to clear brush, etc., and love the 
Sacramentos!!! I have been visiting the Cloudcroft area since my 
childhood, and look forward to now introducing my grandsons to 
the beauty and wonders of the area. Again, thanks for a great 
job! Connie and I will be out for a few days in a couple of weeks, 
and can hardly wait!

Terry & Connie Neel
Perryton, TX

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Dear Newsletter:

I enjoy receiving your newsletter every week and every time I read 
it I picture myself being there in Cloudcroft. I love that little 
community and I go there when time permits (at least once a year), 
it is our secret getaway for my wife and I. Thank God for the 
rains and the quenching of fires, we certainly don't need that. 
Keep up your good work and we'll see ya soon!

J. Rodriguez
Laredo, Texas

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Dear Newsletter:    

I would like to take a minute of your time to let you know that 
the Cloudcroft area along with Ruidoso gained a very special place 
in my heart. You see in 1998 I was working in Odessa, TX and was 
told of this place where there was good cool mountain air even in 
the hot summer by people that I was working with and from people 
of the area. On Memorial Day weekend my wife and four kids along 
with her sister and her two kids drove over from the Texas coast 
were we live and I told them of what I had heard of this area on
our way to Carlsbad Caverns the next morning. After leaving the 
Caverns that Saturday I told everyone we were going see what all 
the talk was about of this area. In doing so it was an experience 
that I had never experienced in my life other than on TV and the 
movies. I had never been exposed to the mountains before and now 
I have found a new love along with my family who all agree as well. 
The only bad thing about the whole experience was we had to leave 
Sunday as the weekend was over and go back to work and my family
back to our home on the coast. It was also the most depressing 
experience I had ever had as I left Cloudcroft towards Artesia, 
having to leave such a beautiful place that I would drop everything 
I own and do to live and raise my kids in for the rest of my life 
was tough to do.

Well then time rolled around and when I got a one or two days off 
I would take off to the new place I had grown so attached to, 
Cloudcroft and Ruidoso. Now don't get me wrong, going home was the 
top of the list, but one or two days was not enough as it takes a 
whole day to drive home. In July I had the opportunity to fly my 
wife into Odessa for a trip I had planed for the two of us on our 
18th anniversary to a cabin in these same beautiful cool mountains 
where we had a perfect trip.

So I just wanted to take this time to say thank you to everyone up 
there for having created such a beautiful place along with the 
Creator himself that is to where people like myself can go to in our 
memories and dream of being at all times. This little information 
every week tends to help keep this dream a reality, One day some 
how I will find a way to relocate myself and family to a place that 
I have grown so attached to. Hope to visit soon.

Thank You
K. Grable
Brazoria, TX 

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Dear Newsletter:

Thanks for your newsletter! I'm so glad you created it and that it 
has been so well received so that you'll continue to do it! We are 
new part-time residents in the Cloudcroft area having purchased a 
cabin late last summer.
Like many others have written, your newsletter is a welcome 
opportunity for me and my family to keep up with upcoming events, 
weather, and learn a little bit about our "new" community.
We really enjoy coming to Cloudcroft and have found it to be a warm 
and inviting place (that's why we decided to purchase a place there). 
Your newsletter just makes us feel more at home. Thanks for coming 
up with such a great idea and keep those newsletters coming!

Jim and Nettie Ticer and boys
Lubbock, TX

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