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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #23
September 1, 2000
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Dear Subscriber:

The next three days will make or break many people living in
Cloudcroft.

The Cloudcroft economy is extremely seasonal. It is based
almost 100 percent on tourism and if the Village has another
mild winter, the snow bunnies will go elsewhere and Cloudcroft
will have it's third summer-only tourist season in three
years.

Labor Day weekend is traditionally the biggest tourist weekend
of the year in terms of revenue for the Village. As much as
15 percent of a business' annual income will be realized in the
next three days. That is how important Labor Day weekend is to
this Village and the other villages in the area. It is not
unusual to see three or four businesses close up shop on the
Tuesday after Labor Day Weekend never to re-open. Labor Day
Weekend is the unofficial end of the fiscal year when many a
local business takes stock to see if it has been worth the
trouble and expense for another year.

Tourism is a hard industry. It has much in common with farming.
So much depends upon the economy and the weather.

That is why when you arrive this weekend the locals will be all
smiles and eager to please, like everyone on TV's "Fantasy
Island." It is like one local told me... "Labor Day weekend is
when even the old soreheads are nice."

Note: Once again the newsletter has been delayed, this time
by hardware problems at our server.

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 -- HIGH MOUNTAIN SIGNS
4. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- THE MOUNTAIN TIMES
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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A rainy week in the Sacramento Mountains. At the risk of
sounding like we're getting a kick-back from the Chamber of
Commerce -- this is the prettiest early fall I can remember in
my 15 years as a part time and full time mountain-dweller. It's
still green and fresh while the temperatures have turned
noticeably cooler. Highs during the day are reaching the low
70s and the over-night lows are dipping occasionally into the
high 30s. The aroma of early morning hearth fires are mixing
with the smell of fresh brewed coffee. It don't get no better
than this.
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VILLAGE POLITICS
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We are becoming a village of TV personalities thanks to the
controversy surrounding the management of forest lands.

Last June, Cloudcroft Mayor David Venable appeared in front of
a congressional committee in Washington to speak of his concerns
about forest management. This past week, Village Administrator
Micheal Nivison also was in DC for a committee hearing. Both
appeared on C-SPAN.
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INSIDE THE SHOP -- HIGH MOUNTAIN SIGNS
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The first impression anyone has of your business is the sign you
have hanging out front. A sign haphazardly painted indicates
a business haphazardly operated. Our signs are hand painted.
Nothing fancy... just neat, clean looking and professional as
well as low cost. High Mountain Signs knows the sign
regulations in Cloudcroft and the surrounding area.
1-888-543-3600 toll free.
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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- THE MOUNTAIN TIMES
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Thanks to huge inroads in the field of computer technology, a
village the size of Timberon can have a newspaper equal in
quality to markets 10 or 20 times its size.

Like a brush in the hand of the artist, however, a newspaper
is no better than the people putting it all together,
irrespective of high technology. J. J. and Kim Duckett are the
publishers and editors of the Mountain Times. To keep the
Sacramento Mountain area informed, they have assembled a staff
of largely volunteer writers who have been doing an admirable
job with the monthly publication for almost three years. To
see their newspaper on line, go to:

www.mountaintimes.net

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Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
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Q - When are the colors of fall the most predominant in the
Sacramento Mountains?

A - The Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce has its annual
Aspencade tours scheduled for October the 7th and 8th. The
moisture of the forest and the changes in temperature affects
when the colors change and how dramatic those changes are.
Since it has been wetter in the late summer this year, the color
changes could come a little later, but chances are the middle of
October is a good time to see Mother Nature put on her show.
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COMING EVENTS
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September 2-3 -- Labor Day Fiesta -- Downtown Cloudcroft.

September 2-3 -- Timberon Labor Day Weekend.

September 3 -- Founder's Day Tea, Church of the Ascension.

September 22-23 -- Star Party II. Call 1-505-437-2840 for
details.

September 29, 30 and October 1 -- Chubby Tire Rendezvous Bike
Rally.

September 30 -- Garden Club Style Show. Middle School.

October 7-8 -- Oktoberfest -- Zenith Park activities. Sales and
special events downtown in Cloudcroft.

October 7-8 -- Aspencade Tours. Call the Cloudcroft Chamber of
Commerce for tour times.

October 7-8 -- CLOC Melodrama. 7:30 pm in the Open Air Pavilion.

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

www.cloudcroft.com/index.html

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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To the people of Cloudcroft:

I had the chance to visit your wonderful little town this past
July. I had a wonderful time and enjoyed myself very much. The
people are all so very friendly. I plan on moving to your little
town this coming July to the 16 Springs area. It will be a big
move for my daughter and myself as we will be coming from Canada,
BC to join my soon to be husband William (Bill) Peter. The three
of us are looking forward to living in our new found home. So to 
Ace & Dave, please shake a leg and get our house up there. See
you all soon in Cloudcroft.

Take care till we meet again.
Irene Lepine in Kelowna BC Canada

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Dear Newsletter:

I really enjoy the newsletter - the openings are always a nice,
personal-touch intro that gives you a feel for the place & time.

Good job!
Scott Jones

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Dear Newsletter:

Hi, Don! I just learned about your website and newsletter, and I
am so glad that you have included the upcoming bond. Please
include me when you are gathering answers to questions or if
YOU have questions/answers that need clarification.

Glena Goodwin, Superintendent
Cloudcroft Schools

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Dear Newsletter:

My wife and I first visited your great little village while on
leave from the Air Force in Tucson, Ariz. in 1967. I had been
driving all night. We were on a trip to Wichita Falls, Texas, to
see my brother and his family, and I had stopped to stretch about
6:00 AM. It had rained over night and the fresh cool air, the
smell of pine and smoke from a fireplace, and the smell of 
breakfast being cooked made me think that I had died and gone to
Heaven.

We did not get back there for 30 years but we never forgot those
precious few minutes that we had spent there so long ago. Three
years ago we decided to go there again on our vacation. We have
been back each year since then and fall more in love with
Cloudcroft and it's citizens every trip.

We are looking forward to retiring there or at least buying a
place and spending our summers there after we retire. We will be
returning in mid October and would like to know what the weather
is like at that time of the year. We have always come in July or
August. 
 
Keep putting out a great newsletter and thank you in advance for
the information. 

Kenneth & Judy Warner
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 

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Dear Newsletter:

I, too, must write and tell you that I appreciate your services.
The first time I came to Cloudcroft was in the late '70's, when
I was about 12 years old. I don't remember much about that trip,
except for the putt-putt golf course and the cabin.

After a long absence, my family and I came to Cloudcroft over
Labor Day weekend of 1999. The weather and people were wonderful.
One of these days, we hope to have a summer home there. When my 
seven-year-old returned to school following the holiday, he drew
a picture of what he had experienced over that weekend. He was
most impressed with the Ski Cloudcroft ski lift, the mountains
surrounding Cloudcroft, and White Sands. Everyone in the picture
has a huge smile on their face. That picture is still displayed
on the refrigerator!

I was excited to see a letter in the #13 installment of the
Newsletter. It was from a friend I went to high school with in
Post, Texas. (It seems there are a LOT of Texans who write to
you!) Just wanted to say that maybe I will see Jim, Nettie, and
their family in Cloudcroft someday.

It looks like we will not be able to travel in your direction
this year. I feel a definite "homesickness" when I read your
newsletter. Thank you for introducing the newsletter to those of
us who cannot be there (but wish we were). 

Sincerely,
Renea (Melton) Thomas
Abilene, TX

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Good day!

We have been receiving the Cloudcroft Online Newsletter for
months now in anticipation of moving to Cloudcroft and have
finally arrived. We are so happy to be a part of this community.

Thanks!
Marian L. Lane

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Dear Newsletter:

You can't imagine how much I appreciate receiving your newsletter.
My family has been frequenting Cloudcroft for as long as I can
remember and that would be 45 or 50 years. I visited 3 times this
summer and each time felt as though I was as close to my late
wife as I could get. Memories of her are very strong and
refreshing in those mountains. We surely had some of the best
times of our marriage camping out in the public campgrounds with
our 3 children. I don't think you can meet nicer people than
campers.

Keep the newsletters coming. I hope you plan to continue through
the winter.

Thanks,
Bill Trice

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Dear Newsletter:

I am fortunate enough to have a a lifelong best friend who owns
a home and spends his summers in Cloudcroft. He has been generous
enough to let me share the Cloudcroft experience annually. I love
the town, the people and the weather. The Newsletter is a
wonderful way to share Cloudcroft with "wannabes," like me.

Also, re football favorites--Texas is my favorite and I, like
you, am for anyone who can beat the Aggies.

Thanks for the Newsletter! You all do a terrific job!

Natalie Chanslor
Houston

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Dear Newsletter:

Obviously if one of your favorite teams is whomever plays the
Texas Aggies, you don't demand success out of the teams you
follow ;)

Jimmy Patterson
Midland, TX

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