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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #18
July 28, 2000
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Dear Subscriber:

July into August is always a significant transition in Cloudcroft.
Many of the summer's major events have already taken place and it
is a time when many of the visitors are here mainly for the peace
and quiet. It seems schools start earlier each year and most
families have taken their vacations. As for the merchants of the 
Village, they're gearing up for what is normally their biggest
weekend of the year: Labor Day.

Around this house, we have been doing a lot of fixing up, things
we haven't had the time to do during the early summer. We're
repairing our driveway after the mini-floods of July, and we've
invested in a few cans of paint and a few nails and have cut up
several sticks of wood for the fireplace this winter. I have
answered several emails concerning my noteworthy stand opposing
pedal pushers and we have been to the store to stock up on
popcorn in preparation for the Republican National Convention on
television next week. We know how to have a good time!

NEW - We have added an online Events Calendar. To check this out,
just click on the Events Calendar link in the left column of our
home page.

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

Don Vanlandingham

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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
2. VILLAGE POLITICS
3. INSIDE THE SHOP -- THE TURQUOISE SHOP
4. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- CLOUDCROFT.COM
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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Thunderstorms are becoming fewer and further between, but the air
is still moist and a heavy dew is predominant every morning.

Many people here are complaining of actually breaking a sweat
while working outside, due to the high humidity more than to the 
high temperatures. The highs are still below the mid-80s and 
usually around the upper-70s. Lows are usually in the mid-40s.
In Alamogordo, just a half hour down the mountain in the 
Tularosa Basin, the highs have topped the 100 mark regularly 
during the month of July. If you miss the high temperatures 
while in Cloudcroft, you don't have to go far to feel right at 
home!
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VILLAGE POLITICS
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To AC or not to AC. Besides being the Village mayor, David
Venable also owns Dave's Pine Stump Mall. I talked to him as he
was leaving First National Bank this past week and he was
lamenting as to whether or not he should install air conditioning
in his mall. He was probably half kidding. Most full timers in
Cloudcroft pride themselves in getting along the entire summer
season with little more than a box fan to keep comfortable, but
the humidity has been rather high lately, adding to the overall
relative discomfort. Not to worry. Most of the natives are
sissies when it comes to warm weather. If you're from the warmer
parts of the country, bring a sweater! Don't look for Dave or
anyone else to install AC. It is not needed in the cool pines
of Cloudcroft. Most merchants will tell you one of their best
selling items in the summer are sweatshirts and windbreakers.
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INSIDE THE SHOP -- THE TURQUOISE SHOP
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One of Cloudcroft's older businesses, the Turquoise Shop is
entering the new millennium with a new web site soon to be posted.
Meanwhile, for information, email elkins@pvtnetworks.net.
The Turquoise Shop features the finest in original Indian jewelry 
and the rare White Turquoise. The shop is located across Burro 
Avenue from Emerald Forest Real Estate.
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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- CLOUDCROFT.COM
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Few communications entities serve Cloudcroft exclusively. When
Cloudcroft.com went on-line on the Internet over two years ago, 
it was introduced as a linking service to steer visitors to
businesses and services in the Village. Then came the Scott Able
Fire. With that fire near Weed, Cloudcroft.com became a source of
up-to-date information to those interested in the welfare of the
Cloudcroft area. Since then Cloudcroft.com has become an
important communications arm between the Village and those
interested in Village happenings. Cloudcroft.com is the easiest
Cloudcroft-oriented web site to find on the Internet. Just type
in "Cloudcroft" on your web browser's address line, or type in
"Cloudcroft" in the search line of your favorite search engine.
Cloudcroft.com is the Internet parent of The Cloudcroft Online
Newsletter.
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Q and A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
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Q - Are there any poisonous snakes in the Cloudcroft area?

A - One of the remarkable things about Cloudcroft. It is a 
wilderness area but is relatively free of poisonous snakes. The 
snake most common to the area is the Bull Snake, which feeds on 
field mice and other small rodents.

We do have the usual poisonous Black Widow and Brown Recluse
spider common to higher altitudes, but bites are rare. The rule
of thumb in the area is to be careful around wood piles and
brushy areas.
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COMING EVENTS
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August 3 thru 6 -- Gathering of Circles. For more information
see http://www.jps.net/trvlnell/goc/

August 13 thru 16 -- Otero County Fair. Alamogordo.

August 18 thru 20 -- Singing in the Clouds. High School
Cafeteria.

August 20 -- Governor's 10k Run.

September 2-3 -- Labor Day Fiesta. Downtown Cloudcroft.

September 2 -- James Canyon Fire Department Barbeque and Auction,
in the Red Barn at Cloud Country Estates. Serving of dinner begins
at 5:00 pm sharp.
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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:

You're doing an outstanding job with your newsletter, just keep
up the good work. Try staying alive in the chili cook off.

Have a great weekend.

HAWK

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Dear Newsletter:

I am a new resident of Cloudcroft. To keep my family and 
friends abreast of the events and news of this beautiful village,
I forward the Newsletter to each of them from Utah to Texas. 
Thanks and PLEASE keep the Newsletter coming.

Bernita Williams

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Dear Newsletter:

Such a treat to receive the Newsletter each Friday! In reading 
through the July 21st Newsletter, the letter from Amanda Kemp of 
El Paso really struck a chord. Each month when we open the 
newspaper and see the ads for the new subdivisions and others, we 
shudder! How many lots in there -- with how many people!!!!
Each time we get up to our house in Cloudcroft, there are always 
lots of existing places for sale -- in and out of town as Ms. 
Kemp observed in her letter. We come to "escape" as do many 
others. We too hope that what draws us to this beautiful place 
is not destroyed by all the new developments.

Sharon and C. A. Swanson
Harlingen, Texas

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Dear Newsletter:

Hello, I am from the Houston, Texas area and we are sweltering 
down here.... Would you please put me on your list for the 
Newsletter? I have a friend who recently moved to Cloudcroft 
from Dallas, and I sure do envy her.

Thanks,
Marilyn Diedrich

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Dear Newsletter:

Thank you for expressing an opinion. My initial reaction was that 
it was not a very profound opinion. However, in conducting my 
research on the subject of pedal pushers, I have found that people
do, indeed, have very strong opinions on the matter. You have 
apparently brought to light a very important issue.

I conducted an extensive survey. Following are sample responses 
from my survey. One woman said, "When you wear them, you're 
wanting to either pull them down or push them up; they don't 
feel right." Another said, "Even women with shapely legs don't 
look good in them; what you see are a couple of stumps hanging 
out below. They're not at all flattering." A male respondent said,
"The only thing they're good for is covering up the knees; but a 
pair of slacks accomplishes the same purpose." A lady I talked 
with had been shopping in El Paso at Dillards last week. She 
reported that the racks are loaded with Capri pants (the current
buzz word for pedal pushers). She said, "They're just not selling."

I have had personal experience with the things. A few months 
ago I was asked to model at a style show at the Woman's Club in 
El Paso. One of the outfits that I wore was a pair of Capri pants
with a loose-fitting blouse. After the show, the models were 
invited to purchase their outfits at a small discount. I bought
the blouse; I didn't buy the Capri pants.

So, Don, there you have it. Based on the results of my survey, 
it appears that your opinion is right on! 

I'll send an opinion for you to publish in your next Newsletter.
Thanks for the publication. I read it from cover to cover.

Bonnie Whalen
Cloudcroft, New Mexico

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Dear Newsletter:

I just returned today from Cloudcroft. My son lives in Ponderosa 
Pines and I thoroughly enjoy visiting there. The people are 
friendly and make you feel so very welcome. I enjoy the cool 
weather and the fresh air. And also the beautiful mountains.
It is the most beautiful place I have ever visited and can't wait
for my next visit there. Your newsletter is the greatest and I 
can hardly wait for the next one. Keep up the good work. Thank 
you Cloudcroft for being so very friendly. I will return as often 
as I can.

Nina Fess
Sugarland Tx

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