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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #41
January 5, 2001
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Dear Subscriber:

The controlled insanity of the holiday season has passed and we
are returning to our routines. Here on the mountain we have
had just enough snowfall to give us an appetite for more. Our
holiday guests from the flatter parts of the Southwest have
gone home happier for their winter Cloudcroft experience.

I heard on the news a couple days ago that only about 30%
of the American public over the age of 50 bother to make New
Year's resolutions as compared to as many as 60% of those
between 30 and 50. Why do you suppose the more senior of our
population blows off the resolution idea? Could it be they have
realized the futility of the practice over the years?

I did make one resolution for the new year. My wife says I cuss
other drivers too much when I'm behind the wheel. Not when
driving around the Cloudcroft area, mind you. You don't cuss
people you know and we all know each other around here. In
Cloudcroft we wave at each other with all five fingers. I save
my choice words for other drivers in the larger towns I visit
from time to time and I never use selected hand gestures. That
kind of behavior could bring you heavy-duty trouble.

Take El Paso for example. I think you have to be suicidal to
qualify for a driver's license in that city. While El Paso is a
great town, she has outgrown her road system. Too many vehicles
on too few roads. It makes for a real mess. Every time I go
to El Paso I swear I'll never go back. Yet I find myself there
regularly...trading fender paint with all the other road
warriors.

Anyway, Peg says I suffer from varying degrees of road rage. I
therefore resolve not to cuss other drivers when my wife is in
the car.

Don Vanlandingham
Cloudcroft.com

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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
2. VILLAGE NEWS
3. INSIDE THE SHOP -- FOR SALE: CLOUDCROFT GETAWAY
4. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- THE OPEN AIR PAVILION
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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Mother Nature is teasing us unmercifully with doses of snow
interspersed with long periods of sunshine and mild conditions.

While there are still patches of the white stuff here and there
for the sledders and tubers, it's getting increasingly difficult
to find a good hill. The snow play areas are trying to keep up
with snow making equipment, but everyone agrees it would be nice
to have some more of the natural. There have been some 40+ days
this past week. Lows are around the 10-degree mark.

No new snow in the past week.
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VILLAGE NEWS
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Most everyone is in agreement...it is a lot more fun to put up
Christmas decorations than it is to take them down.

Ed Haselloff really hated to take his home decorations down.
He had every reason to be proud of them. Ed won the traveling
grand prize trophy for the job he did on his home on Geronimo
Street. The trophy is awarded by the Cloudcroft Chamber of
Commerce each year.
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INSIDE THE SHOP -- FOR SALE: CLOUDCROFT GETAWAY
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Winter/summer wonderland, ski, hike, hunt, four-wheel. This 
property is next to National Forest and hundreds of miles of
trails and roads. Enjoy a cold brew and a hot grilled steak
under the pine trees and under some of the clearest skies
you´ll find anywhere. Located in Cloud Country West RV Park.
Two lots, 30 ft. fifth-wheel trailer, snow roof, deck, storage,
utilities. Only $34,950 and owner will finance. Contact
Bob Eslinger, Gary Mack Real Estate, (866) 427-9622 toll free.
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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- THE OPEN AIR PAVILION
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The Cloudcroft Open Air Pavilion has been undergoing a series
of improvements over the past several years, including stage
and lighting and partition work to make the pavilion more
comfortable during winter performances of the Cloudcroft Light
Opera Company and other events.

For information on the scheduling of events at the pavilion,
contact the Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce.
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Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
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Q - Is there a chance the railroad will ever return to
Cloudcroft?

A - According to historians, the company that owned the
switch-back line from Alamogordo to Cloudcroft offered to sell
the whole system to the village of Cloudcroft in the 40s when
they realized they would eventually have to discontinue
operation. They were willing to sell it at a very low price
but the village leaders turned down the offer. Why, we may
never know. One reason might be that Cloudcroft residents in
those days (as many do today) valued their seclusion and they
thought the operation of a tourist attraction such as an
excursion railroad might bring more people to town than they
wanted.

Meanwhile the "Rails to Trails" project has taken the old
railroad beds and turned them into impressive hiking trails.

The last locomotive left Cloudcroft in 1947.

Because of the overwhelming costs involved, the chances of the
railroad to Cloudcroft being resurrected are very small indeed.
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COMING EVENTS
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January 8 -- Sacramento Mountains Sports Association Youth
Basketball League Sign-ups. 7pm - 9pm. Middle School

January 10 -- Sacramento Regional Tree Farm Group Meeting. 1pm.
16 Springs Community Center.

January 10 -- Family, Community and Education Club Meeting.
Mayhill Community Center. 10am.

January 25 -- Sacramento Mountains Sports Association Meeting.
6pm - Middle School.

February 10 -- Full Moon Skating party. Outdoor Skating Pond.

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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:

For the last 25 years, my family and I have visited Cloudcroft
and I have bragged to anyone who would listen about what a great
getaway it is. My children learned to ice skate at the rink and
we've spent many pleasant summer and winter vacations there. I
finally made up my mind to purchase some retirement property
there, so I'll be looking soon. I can't think of a better place
to spend my retirement years. I only worry about too many people 
learning about our "best kept secret".

Roy Ortega
El Paso, Texas

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Dear Newsletter:

There seems to be a problem with people in Cloudcroft who think
St. Nick's more familiar name is spelled "Clause", as you used
it in your newsletter. I argued this with the Mountain Monthly
people in 1997. His name is Santa Claus (no "e"), and the only
time it was used with an "e" was in the Disney film, "The Santa
Claus(e)" with Tim Allen. Please--I am sure you hate having 
your name misspelled, so leave the "e" off of dear old Santa's
name. 

Thank you! 
Leslie Parish 
Houston, TX

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Dear Newsletter:

I just found out about your newsletter from my in-laws, Don and
Joanne Wood, who reside at Ponderosa Pines. You know the place,
it is the "Best Kept Secret" in Cloudcroft! We try to get up
there at least a couple of times a year. Don and Joanne were
good enough to send me a copy of your newsletter, via the net,
where I now can enjoy and keep up with all the happenings in
Cloudcroft.

We just returned from there after a wonderful Christmas with
our family. We were fortunate enough to experience the beautiful
snow that fell on the 26th, something that living here in
Fort Worth, Texas we don't see to much of (mainly ICE this far
south). I would appreciate it, if you would also pass along to
the Minister of the First United Methodist Church, how much we
enjoyed their Christmas Candlelight Service. It really made
the Christmas experience in Cloudcroft even more special and
memorable.

Well, again I thank you for the opportunity to stay in touch.
There is nothing better than New Mexico, the Mountains, the
Snow, and of course the Chile!

Michael and Lori Hester

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Dear Newsletter:

Thanks for your newsletters. We are bikers from Dallas - I am
so busy at work right now, I won't have time to read. Ruidoso
& Cloudcroft are beautiful retreats for those of us who have
not been lucky enough to retire yet. We've enjoyed coming there
for years. 

Martha Brock

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