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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #46
February 9, 2001
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Dear Subscriber:

With the good comes the not-so-good. Last week we could hardly
contain ourselves about the great heaps of snow we received.
Now with the temperatures warming, many of us are up to our
armpits in mud.

The separation of classes around the village becomes evident
at times like these. Those with enough scratch to have garages
and live on paved roads are driving relatively clean cars right
about now. Those of us without sheltered parking and on dirt
roads are riding around in mud-mobiles. It's a give and take.
You can live near the pavement or in the semi-secluded areas
where "pavement" is an 8 letter 4 letter word.

There's still lots of snow in "them thar hills". Still plenty
for kids of all ages to play in. If you have to drive on an 
unpaved road while you're here, you can wash it off later.

-0-

Delta died this week.

It was heart breaking for the 12-year-old cocker's owners, Paul
and Rita, but it was pretty bad on the rest of us, too.

Dog lovers all agree...you may have several four-legged friends
in your life, but there's always one that stands out above the
rest. Delta was that outstanding dog.

We had a birthday party for her several weeks ago. Like a little
kid she tore into the gift wrap on her new toys. She hoarded
them with little growls to warn the others at the party that
those toys were hers and to approach at your own peril.

A friend for those precious dozen years and a source of memories
for a lifetime.

Delta had a favorite spot in the yard. There she is now, where
we can say hi to her when we visit Paul and Rita and where she
can welcome the "hummers" back at the end of the winter.

Some will say Delta had a full life, and I guess she did. I
know for a fact that she was treated like royalty. But I don't
like saying good-by to friends. Not one dang bit.

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 -- ARTISAN ALLEY
4. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- CLOC
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 very pleasant past week with highs in the 50s and lows in the
20s. No new snow since our rather large helping last week. The
snow recreation areas remain open.

The local forecast is calling for the good possibility of 
moisture this weekend. Should we get significant snowfall, you
can read about it on Cloudcroft.com.
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VILLAGE NEWS
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The Timberon Road may finally be paved. Nielson's Construction
of Cortez, Colorado was awarded the bid and they are to begin
work in mid-March. Construction should take a little less than
a year.

Many Timberon residents aren't sure they want a paved road into
their village (roughly 17 miles of unpaved now). They're
afraid Timberon will become another urban sprawl area like
Cloudcroft!
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INSIDE THE SHOP -- ARTISAN ALLEY
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Owned by Gary and Gloria Wood, Artisan Alley is a well-
appointed mall area on the Burro Street boardwalk and is home to
several craftspersons that both work in the facility and have
their items for sale in the same location.

Open 7 days a week.
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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- CLOUDCROFT LIGHT OPERA COMPANY
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The Cloudcroft Light Opera Company (known as CLOC) is the
village's continuous contribution to the performing arts.
Volunteers not only produce regular melodramas (many of them
written by CLOC members), but also stage "Mystery Weekends" 
which draw enthusiasts to the village several times each year.
CLOC members are also largely responsible for the development 
of the Open-air Pavilion located near Zenith Park.

Watch for upcoming CLOC presentations in the "Coming Events"
section of this newsletter.
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Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
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Q - Is anything being done to prevent a near-catastrophe like
the Scott Able Fire last May?

A - The Scott Able Fire, which burned several thousand acres
near Weed in May of last year, was brought about by extremely
dry conditions and an abundance of fuel in the forest.

US Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) has since sponsored a bill
that was passed to make available funding to Cloudcroft and
several other New Mexico areas where communities are adjacent
to forest lands and in the most danger should a forest fire
ignite.

It is called the Happy Forests Program. If you would like more
information on the program, contact Domenici's office in
Washington.
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COMING EVENTS
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February 10 -- Full Moon Skating Party. Village pond. Hwy 82.

February 22 -- Sacramento Mountains Sports Association meeting.
6pm, Middle School.

March 10 -- 2nd Annual Cloudcroft Dance Theatre Dinner & Ball.
6pm.

If you would like to report a public event scheduled for the
Cloudcroft area in the next 30 days, please contact us by email.

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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:

As usual, the Newsletter is a most welcome appearance on my
WebTV screen. I have been thinking snow and by golly you've 
got it. And your 4-by-4 arrived in the nick of time. Now you
are "The Complete Cloudcrofter".... 

We did the 4-by-4 the first year we arrived for good. And 
speaking of snow, I have a contribution to offer.... 

SNOWBALL

I made myself a snowball,
As perfect as it could be.
I thought I'd keep it as a pet,
And let it sleep with me.
I made it some pajamas,
And a pillow for its head.
Then last night it ran away,
But first it wet the bed!

Responsoral:
It's a Classic, suited for a frame.
And with my weak kidneys,
It can take the blame!

Best regards, 
Dayton Blanchard

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Dear Newsletter:

I have just read 45 and homesickness is pervading the air here.
We are currently berthed in Auckland Harbour, New Zealand and
it's warm and sunny, we're not complaining, but we would just 
love to be back home.

Last night we were at the "Circ de soliel" and just before the
interval they blew imitation snow all over the audience and we
felt homesick.

Enjoy,
Ian & Theresa Foster

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Dear Newsletter:

We enjoy getting your newsletter from up the hill. Hope 
everything is OK after your unfortunate incident. There's 
always something different every trip up your way. Being from
this part of New Mexico, we seem to take it for granted that
Cloudcroft is always going to be the same small town it was
25 years ago. Change is good if it is needed. Even so, it's
still the best kept secret in this part of the state. 

I remember many years ago (1972) I had one of the best summers
I've ever had. I worked the summer at Camp Chimney Springs 
Church Camp. Same of the places that were frequented by myself
and others are still there, but have evolved into different
things. It's good to see that at least on the outside they are
the same. The change on the inside is good, too.

Thanks for the newsletter.

Gary & Ester
Down the road a bit,
Artesia, NM

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Dear Newsletter:
My husband and I have been enjoying receiving your newsletter
for several months now. We are both familiar with the Cloudcroft
area having visited there several times in the past. 

My husband's grandmother, Mary Lockhart, used to own a small
cabin in the Aqua Chiquita area near Weed which was destroyed in
the Scott Able Fire in May last year. We had planned on buying
it from her and making it our retirement home. We are now in the
process of buying just the land and are hoping to re-build a log
home on the property sometime in the near future.

Your newsletter has been full of interesting information and
someday when we finally move into the area, we look forward to
taking part in the community activities and getting to know 
personally everyone that we hear about through the newsletter.

Keep up the good work...
Len and Vicki Underwood

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