Even if you live in town, you and your house may be at risk. The Ponil fire, which burned a lot of the Philmont ranch, also came within feet of taking a subdivision of Cimarron.

Our own local coalition of fire-wise communities have volunteers that will come out and walk around your place with you to look for hazards. They specialize in quick wins – what can help the most that will use the least of your time.

Number One Tip: Get the pine needles off your roof and at least fifty feet away from the foundations of your house.

Contributed by Scott Jones…Thank you!

Article that appeared in the Sangre de Cristo Chronicle regarding the Public Improvement District with a schedule of proposed construction.

Crews busy to get sewer in before winter

Angel Fire — Marshall Vickers, project manager for AUI, the company who won the $24 million bid to install infrastructure to over 800 lots included in the public improvement district in Angel Fire, is hoping to have all of the sewer lines installed before winter sets in. At least on the country club side of the project.
The company had to delay ground breaking due to law suits and motions filed by 19 homeowners against the improvement district board, but when a district judge threw the suits out due to jurisdiction, the project began to move forward. Currently the board has filed a suit against the property owners who have been against the project for damages and attorney’s fees.
The project broke ground Friday (Aug. 21).
“We got a lousy start on construction this summer, but we’ll get the sewer lines installed in Angel Fire Village West, Country Club 1 and 2 and the Angel Fire North subdivisions,” Vickers said. “Our goal is to keep working as long as it doesn’t snow or the ground doesn’t freeze .”
Vickers said they currently have three crews working on installing sewer lines and will bring in three more crews by next week to start the work hooking up the lots to the main sewer line which run down the middle of the roads. By next week, Vickers said they should have about 42 construction workers in the area working on the project.
Currently one crew is busy on San Andres, one crew is working on San Juan and a third crew is busy on Valle Grande Trail South. Next week Vickers said they will begin work on San Pedro.
“We will do everything to stay on track with our construction schedule, but as issues arise we have to solve them,” Vickers said.
He said, along with installing lines, lift stations have to be built along the way. Since those are custom to the job, they need some lead time to complete. Vickers said if they don’t get the lift stations in by this fall, they will have them in first thing when construction begins again next Spring.
With all the heavy equipment and trench work in the area, Vickers is quick to stress safety needs. He said in areas where they are working it’s not a good place for people to walk their dogs or for children to play.
“Any place a trench is dug is unsafe for people,” he said. “We really want people, especially children to keep their distance from places we’re working
for safety.”
Vickers said all sewer lines are eight inches and when done, his crews will have installed close to 38,000 feet
of line.
Vickers has planned several ways to communicate project updates and construction schedules to the public and property owners. Through advertising, town hall meetings, door hangers and web updates, everyone should know what is happening on the project.
According to Vickers, the first town hall meeting is scheduled for Wednesday (Sept. 30) at the Community Center in Angel Fire from 5 to 6 p.m. He said they will also keep the Angel Fire Village Council informed by attending meetings and giving updated reports.
Published by permission of Joe Warren Editor/publisher

The PID project, which will make a huge impact on property owners, as well as, the community, has been bogged down in legal motions by 19 homeowners who do not believe thier properties should be included, and counter motions by the PID Board seeking damages from the 19 homeowners. It was speculated that the finance authority could walk away; however, with the release of the first installment, the project will move forward.

News that’s fit to print

In an extensive article, The New York Times this week described in detail the many charms of Angel Fire. The article, in The Times’ Thursday, March 12 edition, includes extensive commentary from local real estate guru Don Borgeson and part-timer Jack Fuehr.

According to The Times, “Second-home owners are drawn by the beauty of the Moreno Valley, its weather–300 days of sunshine annually, 210 inches of snow and cool, dry summers–and price: some describe it as a poor man’s Aspen, where a 3,500 square foot home like the Fuehrs’, within striking distance of ski slopes, can easily be had for less than $500,000. Brian Curtis, a news anchor from Dallas, calls it ‘the last affordable ski town in America–a real undiscovered jewel.’ He bought a three bedroom, two bath home here in 2003 for less than $250,000 after giving up on pricier Taos and Santa Fe.”

The article also notes the town’s supposed shortcomings, including its lesser architectural and cultural charms–and its lack of nightlife. “If nature ceases to amuse, Angel Fire offers little else in winter, something Mr. Borgeson bemoans. ‘We need more entertainment for the folks after hours,’ he said, and Mr. Fuehr said that an unofficial curfew of 9 o’closk reigned.”

“Mr. Borgeson said, ‘It’s the kind of place you get to meet your state senator in a grocery store.’ Indeed, Mayor Larry Leahy doubles as a real estate agent and fills in as a ski instructor during high season.”

To read the complete article, see http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/13/greathomesanddestinations/13haven.html?emc=etal