++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #80
October 19, 2001
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dear Subscriber:

I am growing weary of being worried. I'm tired of thinking of
white powder and box cutters and rumors.

So I'm going to stop it. I'm not going to worry any more. I
have decided to replace misgiving with determination. I'm
going to put my faith in the people we elected to uphold that
part of our constitution that provides for the common defense
and I will help in any way I can, but I'm going to quit wringing
my hands.

Franklin Roosevelt said, "We have nothing to fear but fear
itself". Up to a few weeks ago I thought that was just an old
quotation we had to memorize in history class. Now I know how
right he was. How true those words ring today.

The terrorists that are determined to bring us to our knees are
poorly equipped, under-manned, enjoy little international
support and, for the most part, are not the brightest crayons
in the box, but they do hold a formidable weapon...fear.

The ironic thing about fear is, it is only formidable if we
allow them to use it against us. Seldom in war does one side
have the prerogative to refuse the effectiveness of a weapon
used against them. Bullets can maim if they find their
mark. Bombs will destroy if dropped in the right place, but
fear has no effect at all if we refuse to let it.

On the other hand, the more effective fear is as a weapon, the
more it will be used against us.

In case there is any doubt, we are at war. Like it or not, we
are all soldiers in this war.

Seldom does war offer choices, but in this case I think we have
one.

It's like the old TV commercial says:
"Don't let them see you sweat".

Don Vanlandingham
Cloudcroft.com

----------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
----------------------------------------------------------------
1. LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
2. VILLAGE NEWS
3. INSIDE THE SHOP -- BUSICH SKI HAUS
4. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- CLOUDCROFT.COM EVENTS
5. Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
6. COMING EVENTS
7. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
8. CONTACT INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------------------------
LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
----------------------------------------------------------------
An unfortunate fact: The most wonderful season in the
Sacramentos is also the shortest.

Fall is in full blaze, but just this past Friday we had our
first snowfall. It snowed only about an hour and melted almost
immediately, but it was fair warning. Winter is not that far
off.

Lows actually dipped below 30 this week. Highs are still
reaching the mid-60s.
----------------------------------------------------------------
VILLAGE NEWS
----------------------------------------------------------------
The Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce has changed their banquet
date. It will be held December 1 in the Middle School. It will
be catered by the Volleyball Girls as a fundraiser for that
group. Mayor Dave Venable will M.C. The price is $10 per
plate. Call the Chamber for more information: (505) 682-2733.
----------------------------------------------------------------
INSIDE THE SHOP -- BUSICH SKI HAUS
----------------------------------------------------------------
Busich Ski Haus offers the newest and best in snow play
equipment and apparel for sale or rent. Open Friday through
Monday 9 to 5 and other times by appointment for sales, 
rentals, and lessons. Featuring N.E.O.S. performance overshoes
for after skiing. They quickly and easily slip on over your
street shoes. Call (505) 682-2284 for more information.
----------------------------------------------------------------
CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- CLOUDCROFT.COM EVENTS
----------------------------------------------------------------
Presented in calendar form, the Cloudcroft Online events page
will bring up up to speed on what is going on in Cloudcroft.
Simply bring up Cloudcroft.com and click on the "events" link
on the front page.

If you have news of upcoming events for this calendar, let us
know. Call (505) 682-3234 or email events@cloudcroft.com.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
----------------------------------------------------------------
Q - We've been hearing about an insect attack on many forest
trees.

A - You're likely referring to the Bark Beetle. The beetles
attack weakened trees of the Pinon and Ponderosa Pine variety
but can also infect healthy trees.

The Forest Service suggests covering fuelwood piles with
plastic (the heat under the cover will kill the beetles) and
to remove infected trees from your property.

Indications that trees have been infected are the faded colors
in the upper part of the tree.
----------------------------------------------------------------
COMING EVENTS
----------------------------------------------------------------
October 19 -- Cloudcroft vs Animas (football) (away).

October 19 -- NM Museum of Space History Banquet.
For more information, call (505) 437-2840.

October 20, 21 -- High Rolls Apple Festival.
Community Center, 9am - 5pm, food, crafts, entertainment.
For more information, call (505) 682-1151.

October 27 -- Harvestfest. Pumpkin carving, hay rides.
For more information call (505) 682-2733.

October 27 -- Pumpkin races, Burro Avenue, 9am-4pm.

October 31 -- Trick or Treat Costume Contest, Burro Ave.
For more information, call (505) 682-2733.

October 31 -- Halloween Carnival. Middle School.

November 2, 3, 4 -- Lodge Murder Mystery.
For more information, call (505) 682-2566.

November 8, 9, 10 -- Santa's Workshop, Elk's Lodge, Alamogordo.

November 10, 11 -- Civic Center Fair, Alamogordo.
For more information, call (505) 439-4142.

November 9, 10, 11 -- Lodge Murder Mystery.
For more information, call (505) 682-2566.

November 30 -- Chamber of Commerce Banquet, Middle School.

Cloudcroft Art Society meets the first Sunday of each month,
2-4pm, in the Old Red Brick School House. The November 4
meeting will present Kathie Mongaraz demonstrating silk
painting. No meeting in December. Call (505) 682-2494 for
more information.

Senior Van from Timberon to Alamogordo leaves the Timberon
Lodge promptly at 8:30 every Tuesday morning.

If you have news of public events in the Cloudcroft area, email
us.

----------------------------------------------------------------
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

----------------------------------------------------------------
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Newsletter:

I am no "softy" but by the time I was done reading your story
of the parade, my eyes were pretty wet. You have a great
ability with your writing style to make a person feel what you
are feeling and to transport us, the reader, into the story you
are telling. I felt like I was at that parade also. God bless
America, and people like you and your Wife!

In closing, I'd like to add, that I really try and understand
why a large group of people over "there" truly hate us
Americans. I can't understand why everyone can't get along. I
know this sounds very bad, but I think for we have the right to
live free of fear, even if it means eliminating all who hate
Americans and want to do Americans harm.

I guess what I'm saying is, people of the world don't have to
like us, they don't have to believe as we do, they don't have
to agree with us, but if they want to cause harm to our good
citizens, then we need to eliminate them, as soon as possible.

Americans are good people who just want to live a peaceful
life, and if people want to harm us because of that, then those
people don't deserve to live, anywhere. Sorry it sounds so
nasty, but I just keep thinking of all the good people who
worked at the WTC and the Pentagon who lost their lives, just
because they were Americans. All the children who lost their
parent(s) that day.

As I said earlier, God bless America! 

Mike Gerrick 
Carlisle, PA

----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Newsletter:

Enjoyed the Whole Enchilada just as much as I always enjoy what
you dish up. Your remarks about the mood of the people at the
parade reminds me of an incident last week.

I made a trip to the Grand Canyon. Whereas NM is lucky to have
Cloudcroft's natural beauty, the state of AZ is fortunate to
have what must surely be the premiere natural attraction in the
continental USA, if not the world. It draws people from every
corner of the globe.

The very first young couple to ask me to take their picture--
with their camera--were visiting from Israel. Now what are you
going to say when someone today says, "We're from Israel." I
guess a natural reply would be, "Oh my, that IS a good place to
'be from'."

After a bit of small talk, and taking care not to get into the
topic of the day--politics--we parted company. I remarked to my
companion how much the young man resembled an Arab--very dark
complexioned and swarthy. Then I reminded myself that many
Israelis ARE Arabs. As are many Americans.

Trying to make some point from the above, maybe it's that we
all need to realize how small this world really is now. We're
one amalgamated mass of humanity and what we need is for
another Mahatma Gandhi to come forth and lead us. Just think
how different the world would be now if Yassar Arafat would
have emulated Gandhi in his dealings with the Israelis.

All the best to you,
Jack Schuller
Ruidoso

PS: Had our first hard freeze here last night, and a bit of
welcome rain preceding that.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Newsletter:

I love the Newsletter. It is great. I love to read all of the
good news for a change.

Here lately about all we have had is bad news. But I'm proud
to be an American. I'm very proud of our President. I think he
is doing a wonderful job.

Thank you,
Shirley

----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Newsletter:

I for one do not think the upcoming meeting in Cloudcroft will
have any impact on the USF&W decision to list the butterfly as
endangered.

They will be there, and will appear to be listening, but in the
end the decision has already been made one way or another. The
meeting is part of the process on their check list of things to
do.

No one will be blown up, or killed, but people may have to seek
a livelihood elsewhere, and that is a form of terrorism from
within. I hope to live long enough to see a change in the way
endangered species are listed, and some logic brought to the
process.

Should it be listed in the future, I can only offer the
following: Will the last person leaving Cloudcroft please turn
out the lights.

Joe Hart
High Rolls, NM

================================================================
CONTACT INFORMATION
================================================================
TO UNSUBSCRIBE
To unsubscribe, email: unsubscribe@cloudcroft.com
----------------------------------------------------------------
TO SUBSCRIBE
To subscribe, go to
http://www.cloudcroft.com/subscribe.htm
----------------------------------------------------------------
BOUNCED EMAILS
If email to an address bounces (returns to us), that email
address is automatically deleted from our mailing list. If you
cease getting this newsletter suddenly, probably your provider
bounced your newsletter. This can happen when a provider is too
busy or is shutdown for some reason. If this happens to you, 
just revisit our site and re-add your email address to our list.
----------------------------------------------------------------
SUGGESTIONS AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
If you have comments or suggestions for this newsletter, please 
direct them to: newsletter@cloudcroft.com
----------------------------------------------------------------
PAST ISSUES
http://www.cloudcroft.com/newsletters.htm
================================================================
Please feel free to pass this newsletter along to your friends.
However, we ask that you keep it intact and forward it in
its entirety.