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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #35
November 24, 2000
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Dear Subscriber:

It is an interesting time to be alive. We are witnessing events
with regard to the presidential election that have no historical
equal. No matter what side of the political spectrum you are on,
you are likely disturbed by the happenings in Florida.

So, what happened? Why are we two weeks after the election and
still no President-Elect? It is really quite simple, and it is
really no fault of one group of voters or another. For the
first time in this country's history, we are divided almost
right down the middle ideologically. Half of us are pro-choice.
Half of us are pro-life. Half the voters in this country believe
our Federal government should take a big role in our lives. The
other half believes the government should keep their nose out of
it, and so on. Throw into that mix the campaigns of third party
candidates and you have an election that will eventually be
settled by a fraction of one percent of the vote. That means
virtually no room for error in the voting process. As we all
know, there have been plenty of errors in Florida.

Outside of the funny commercials that have been popping up as a
result of "The Deadlock", is there anything positive that can
come from all this? Maybe so.

Historians are telling us that our country tends to prosper the
most when the Federal government is ham-strung. The fewer laws
our leaders are able to pass, the healthier our country tends to
be. While the Republicans and Democrats squabble in Washington,
Wall Street tends to thrive. The chances of our government
saddling us with another wimpy toilet (or something equally as
asinine) in the next four years is nil. It will be all they
can do to agree on who sits where and who chairs what in the
House and the Senate.

I'm not a political genius. The only time I managed someone's
campaign for elective office I was a dismal failure.

Let's leave it at this...the last two weeks are just a preview
of the circus we will see in Washington in the next four years
no matter who sits in that over-stuffed chair in the Oval
Office.

Maybe...just maybe, it will be four years we can look back on
with fondness because our leaders were too busy in-fighting to
involve themselves in our lives.

Don Vanlandingham
Cloudcroft.com

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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
2. VILLAGE POLITICS
3. INSIDE THE SHOP -- CLOUDCROFT PLUMBING
4. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- FLICKINGER CENTER
5. Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
6. COMING EVENTS
7. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
8. CONTACT INFORMATION
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LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
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We are re-visiting Autumn in the Sacramentos. Much to the
dismay of winter-related business in the area, the snow of two
weeks ago is melting into a slushy mud. Area car washes are
rejoicing. We have seen highs in the low 50s and lows around
20. I was asked by one emailer to keep readers abreast of the
snow levels around Cloudcroft. I'll do that beginning with our
next snow fall. Right now the snow in the area is marginal.
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VILLAGE POLITICS
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This topic would normally belong under "Inside the Shop" but
because it holds local social significance we're addressing it
under "Village Politics".

The announcement that Mountaintop Mercantile would soon close
its doors has been a little premature. The new owners of the
store, who at first had decided to convert the building into
office space, have now decided to keep the grocery store open.

Mountaintop Mercantile has built quite a reputation over the
years for their country store atmosphere and fresh breads and
pastries.
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INSIDE THE SHOP -- CLOUDCROFT PLUMBING
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When you need a plumber...you REALLY need a plumber! David
Lane and Cloudcroft Plumbing have been mainstays of the
Cloudcroft area for many years. David understands the problems
inherent with mountain home plumbing problems and is also expert
in new construction. Call him with your plumbing questions
BEFORE your floor is covered in water! (505) 682-2454.
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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- THE FLICKINGER CENTER
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The Flickenger Center for the Performing Arts is the cultural
center of Otero County. Established in 1983, the group obtained
a 700 seat movie auditorium in Alamogordo and after extensive
remodeling was open as Flickenger's base of operations in 1988.

The theater is home of regular dramatic and musical performances
and is available free of charge for use by school groups.
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Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
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Q - I was told Cloudcroft had a replica of the Eiffel Tower.
Where is it located?

A - Cloudcroft doesn't have a replica of the Eiffel Tower.
What you are probably referring to is the large tower near the
village used for wireless communications. Kindly put, it doesn't
blend well with the natural beauty of the area. It has been
dubbed by locals as "The Awful Tower".
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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November 24, 25 -- CLOC Melodrama. Thanksgiving performance.
Zenith Park Pavilion.

December 2, 3 and 9, 10 -- Town of Bethlehem reenactment.
Sacramento Methodist Assembly.

December 12 -- Cloudcroft School District bond election.

December 16 -- Santa Town. Zenith Park.

December 23 -- Caroling in the Clouds. Lantern-lit caroling
from Burro Avenue to the museum beginning at 4 pm.

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For an online calendar of area events, click the Events Calendar
link in the left column of our home page:

http://www.cloudcroft.com/index.html

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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Dear Newsletter:

We live in Denver City, Texas and visit your village as often
as possible. We ride Harleys and think the country around
Cloudcroft is as good as anywhere in the country for enjoying
a nice bike ride. Keep the newsletter coming as we enjoy reading
about your town.

Thanks
Tirey Patterson

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Dear Newsletter:

Thank you for the first Cloudcroft newsletter. I read several
of the back issues before subscribing and they were great. I
especially enjoyed the calendar.

My wife and I may vacation in your area next October so I have
searched the internet for all the information that I could find.
So far I can find nothing, except a brief calendar mention of
local churches. I found some for Timberon, but nothing on the
excellent Cloudcroft web site about which churches and times
of service. Have I missed something or are churches not listed
anywhere?

Again thank you for the newsletter and we look forward to
enjoying them from now on.

Peace and love
Frank and Sue Melohn

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Dear Newsletter:

We went to an pipe organ recital in Austin tonight and got to
talking to people seated next to us. Sure enough, they have a
cabin near Cloudcroft, too, and did not know about your most
helpful, informative newsletter. So, I am submitting their name
for a subscription.

Keith Family

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Dear Newsletter:

My husband and I are former residents of Robin Hood Park and
Estates. We had to leave due to my health and now reside in
Woodway (Waco) Texas. We really miss the Cloudcroft area and
all the wonderful people there. We would like to subscribe to
your newsletter just to keep up with what is happening there.

Thank you
Myrna & George Yun

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CONTACT INFORMATION
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http://www.cloudcroft.com/subscribe.htm
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direct them to: newsletter@cloudcroft.com
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