A hearty welcome to all my readers of this exciting and thought provoking bi-weekly newsletter The CORNERSTONE TRAVELER. Also available online at www.cornerstonetraveler.com.
Hopefully my connection with my internet provider, Verizon, will be better because it took me over a week before I could get Verizon to get my internet connection fixed.

mid-Hudson Valley news: As is the norm there is more happening in the mid-Hudson Valley
August 21-23 there will be World War II planes for tour and flights in Poughkeepsie. The war planes include the bombers B-17G, the Flying Fortress, B24J, Liberator and the P51C, Mustang. Unfortunately the cost for flights in the bombers is $350- $450 for half hour flights. A one hour flight training for the P51 is $2200 to $3200 for a two hour flight training.
The first weekend of September is the annual New Paltz and Woodstock Arts and Crafts Fair at the Ulster County fair grounds on Libertyville Road, here in New Paltz. I have been to this fair almost yearly and the arts and crafts of the Hudson Valley is to be appreciated.
The Dutchess County Fair will be from August 25 to August 30 at the Orange County Fair grounds in Rhinebeck.
observations: Donald Trump is leading for all the Republican candidates for the presidency. I have to ask the people of the Republican Party, can you really trust a person like Trump to negotiate with foreign heads of state when he will mouth off at these people thinking he is smarter than who he negotiating. Trump firmly believes he is so much smarter than everyone else when in reality he is not.
How much can the American people trust Trump to provide good leadership in regards to the American economy considering Trump Enterprises had file for bankruptcy four times?
Someone should ask Trump if he downgraded his pay when his company was granted bankruptcy protection.
Another question I think should be asked of Trump is how many small businesses lost money and failed because Trump Enterprises was granted bankruptcy protection four times?
Two good questions that should be asked of Trump. Don’t you think?

sports: MLB – Though the Yankees had a five game losing streak, they are still in first place in the AL East with a record of 64-52 and are 1 ½ games up.
The Mets are in first in the NL East with a record of 63-53 and are 4 ½ games up.
NFL- The Jets lost to the Lions in the preseason by a score 3-23. The Giants lost to the Bengals by a score of 10-23.

Other: s with all previous issues of this newsletter, everything printed here is either copyright protected or copyright pending.
The history of P&G’s follows this newsletter from about the mid 1930’s to almost the present.
And following this history is part three of my short story; Immortals, Vampires and Werewolves. I hope you like it.

Thank-you – Rik McGuire

History of P&G’s continued to the present

From 1925 – 1945 a number of diverse businesses occupied the building. These included Carols Clothing Store, Atkins Drug Store, Schaffert Real Estate Office, Marie Shop and Dicks Bar and Grill among others.
In 1947 Dicks Bar and Grill was purchased by two Lake Mohonk employees, Pat Cafferty and George Jayne. Legend has it that neither told their wives of their intention to purchase the business. They immediately changed the Grills name to Pat and Georges. Among it’s loyal customers it was simply P&G’s.
One of the best things to happen to P&G’s occurred in 1961. An ex Dodger player named Stormer Nickerson became a bartender. Stormy as he was affectionately known became something of a legend. His heart, quiet good humor and generous spirit made P&G’s the one place that welcomed all from the harsher outside world into a refuge for college students, business people, local characters and even for a while, in the 1960’s, bikers. According to one source. “They weren’t as rowdy a crew as you might expect because although he was quiet, Stormy commanded and got respect.” His professional baseball background made him a natural to pitch batting practice for the New Paltz College teams and he did so for a number of seasons. One college fraternity considered P&G’s their private domain. The scene of everything important, news, views, camaraderie and especially humor was always evident at P&G’s.
After the St. Helens volcano erupted and news reports discussed the possibility of ash fall out across the U.S., Stormy came to work to find the staff dressed in garbage bags and metal kitchen colanders on their heads. Since no ash was reported on anyone, Stormy reasoned the attire had been affective by making everyone laugh their ash off.

In June 1991, after 30 years, Stormy retired from P&G’s. He died in June of 1994. From his casual humor that lingers, to his Chile recipe that is still served and the kind memories often repeated by his many friends, Stormy is still here.
In 1969 Edwin Beck bought P&G’s. His first weekend as owner was completely successful. The following weekend, however, the place was deserted. A disheartened Beck couldn’t understand what he had done to alienate everyone so quickly. He was relieved to learn it was simply a matter of poor timing. Everyone was away and wallowing in a farm in Bethel NY. A music festival or something.
Ed Beck never spent time worrying. He looked across Main Street and up Platekill Avenue, seeing thousands of thirsty college students who, for the most part remained on campus. Taking a good supply of liquid refreshment, Beck went to the campus and gave the students (all legal in those days) a new place to call home. He transformed P&G’s from a neighborhood bar into a local institution.
The face of Beck’s personality had much to do with the continued success of P&G’s, the place was fun. One oft quoted story about Beck concerns a young P&G’s enthusiast who wanted to be just like Beck when he grew up. It is reported that Beck in all humility replied. “Well you can’t do both.”
The name Pat and Georges was officially changed to P&G’s in the 1980’s by Ed Beck and his son Mike. In 1985, Mike bought out his fathers interest. In 1994, he undertook extensive renovations, making the building exterior appear as it did in 1900, when it was the Casino.

Peter Holmes

Connor woke at six the next morning with a smile on his face as he remembered the love making with Melody. He hoped she enjoyed it as much as he did. And last night she gave every indication that she did.
He slipped out of bed quietly so as not to disturb her sleeping form. He went silently to the bathroom, closed the door silently and did his regular morning absolutions. He took a quick lite shower so as not awaken Melody.
He lightly sat on the bed to pull on his underwear, jeans and t-shirt. He didn’t bother
with socks because he knew it would be another hot day.
He then walked down the stairs lightly and went to the kitchen for some much needed
caffeine. He debated between the harsh Arabian iced coffee in the refrigerator or a cup of steaming hot coffee. He decided on the hot coffee and save the harsh Arabian iced coffee for later in the day when it was hot.
He grabbed the legal pad from his backpack along with a pen and started to write an outline of how he was going to tackle his new job as the Watcher for the Immortals.
He scribbled notes of the outline for close to an hour and had three pages of hand scrawled notes when Melody came into the kitchen wearing only a bathrobe that covered her female anatomy, but only barely. He naturally stopped his scribbling looked up and smiled. “Good morning.”
She smiled back. “I rolled over to cuddle with you and found you gone. I saw your jeans and t-shirt gone and assumed you had already awakened and gone downstairs. So I naturally had to follow.”
Connor nodded. “I am usually awake by six, or seven at the latest in the morning so I can do what writing I need to do before the day really starts.”
“Is there any coffee for me?” Melody asked.
Connor rose from his chair, walked to the kitchen counter. “I just brewed my second pot.” He said as he poured a mug of coffee. He handed it to her and pointed to the frig and explained where the bottle for cream and the sugar was.
She shook her head. “I think I will try drinking coffee as my love likes it.” She said as
she took her first sip of black coffee.
“What’s on your agenda for today?” She asked.
Connor looked up from his legal pad. “I’m going to do what the previous Watcher had already done and interview all the immortals in this enclave.”
“How long will that take?” She asked.
He shook his head. “I really don’t know. Considering there is not more than ten homes in this enclave. Two, three days, maybe more.”
“And then?”
“I really don’t know.”

They sat opposite each other at the kitchen table, drinking their coffee. Connor smiled at Melody then went to scribbling notes on his legal pad. They finished their coffees when Melody stood up and offered to make them breakfast.

Connor declined, saying he really didn’t eat breakfast. Though he knew he would have
liked to see Melody preparing breakfast in her robe that barely covered her butt, he still declined.
By ten that morning he thought he had to interview the other immortals in their enclave. He strapped on his backpack and headed out the door, kissing Melody saying he would be back by dinner time.
She smiled. “I have already decided on the menu. It will be Lobsters, with corn and
oysters as an appetizer.
“It’s going to be one of those nights?” He leered.
“Of course.” She smiled.
The first immortal home he came to was a relatively small home and when he knocked
on the door, a man who looked not more than twenty answered. “You are the new Watcher.” He said knowingly.
Connor could only nod. “Yes I am and as I get acclimated to my new position I thought to interview the immortals in your village. Only if you are willing.”
“Of course.” The immortal said. “Trizackle said you prefer that Arabian iced coffee.”
“Yes I do.” Connor said.
“Good. I have a carafe of it in my refrigerator and you can drink from it as we talk.
They sat at his kitchen table after Connor had removed his backpack from his shoulders and took out a legal pad and pen.
“Okay.” Connor said. “What can you tell me about yourself?”
The man thought briefly before he spoke. “I was born Peter Holmes on January 7th, 1925
in Joplin Missouri.” He stopped speaking to let Connor finish writing.
“Go on.” Connor said as he sipped his Arabian iced coffee.
“I enlisted into the Army immediately out of high school in 1943. I was part of the D-Day invasion in 1945 and on June 6th of that year was my first death at Omaha Beach.”
Connor tool another sip of his iced coffee then looked up to Peter. “Your first death
was at Omaha Beach?”
Peter nodded. “Yes. Before we landed, the lieutenant split our squad into three groups
of five soldiers each. I was to lead my group in first to give cover fire for the others. Which was impossible because we couldn’t see who to shoot at. We just fired our rifles at flashes on the hill over the beach. Before the other two squads got to the beach, a Kraut machine gun stitched my chest with over five slugs and I fell immediately to my death or so I thought and assumed because I saw and felt the bullets pierce my chest. Then ten minutes later, I rolled over with no pain and I was surprised I was still alive. Even the bullet wounds had healed. Needless to say I was very surprised and stunned. I knew I should have died, but I didn’t. Those who saw me go down didn’t see me rise from the dead because they were already dead.”
Connor had been scribbling furiously into his legal pad. “What happened next?”
Peter smiled. “We did what we were ordered to do and stormed the Nazi bunkers. There was a lot of death that day and on both sides. But I guess that should have been expected because we turned the tide of the war.”
Connor stopped writing. “I know.” He thought then asked. “When did you realize you were immortal?”
Peter shook his head. “I didn’t really know that I was immortal until about five years later. Both of my parents had passed and I became crazy with doing everything, thinking I could not die. Then I met Trizackle who explained to me my immortality.”
“And you found your way here?” Connor said.
Peter nodded. “Yes. Trizackle told me I was to be a protector of mortals from those vampires who drain and kill mortals for the fun of it.”
Connor sipped the last of his iced coffee and Peter immediately refilled his glass.
Brandon scribbled furiously into his legal pad before he said. “Tell me about your upbringing in Joplin Missouri.”
Peter could only nod and smile. “I remember the evil of the Ku Klux Klan . They seemed to hate everyone, but themselves, who they thought were chosen by God to deliver the white man and drive away those of other races or religions.”
Brandon smiled. “Yes. I have met some of those assholes and they still think they can prevail against others they so hate.”
Peter spoke up. “I know of one man who owned a local newspaper. He was a Jew in a nearby town and he found the cave where the local Klan held their meetings. And on the cave walls were all the names of Klan members carved into the walls. He copied all the names then went to the head Klansman and promised to publish the names of the local KKK into his newspaper if the Klan did anything to any inhabitant of the local town. Any inhabitant, black, white, Christian, Catholic or Jew. The head Klansman knew if he did publish the names they would all be most likely arrested and imprisoned because at the time the state of Missouri made it a crime to be involved with the KKK or any other hate supremist group. The Klan knew they risked imprisonment if they didn’t keep their noses clean. So they were silenced by the promise of his pen. And it probably infuriated the Klan that they were being silenced by a Jew.”
“Yeah. I bet that bit down hard of those pricks.” Brandon smirked.
“You have no idea.” Peter said. “I was home on leave after I had enlisted and just happen to be driving down the road near where this newspaper man lived and I saw five robed Klansmen beating on him unmercifully. I immediately stopped, jumped out to come to his aid. Those five assholes were shocked to see a service man come to his aid. They just didn’t know what to do. They certainly couldn’t beat on an American serviceman so they all fled to their nearby cars and roared away.
“He must have been relieved.” Brandon said..
“You can’t believe, but I didn’t want my name mentioned anywhere and we just shook hands and went our separate ways. A month later I died on Omaha Beach.”
“Quite the story.” Brandon said as he finished his furious scribbling.
“Yes. It was . I met that man a year later and learned he was still a constant thorn in the Klans side. I had already been given the Bronze star, the Silver Star and the Purple Heart for wounds everyone thought they saw me receive.. My name and photo were in all the local newspapers”
“Then you met Trizackle?” Brandon asked.
“Yes. About five years later. I had no idea what I was going to do with the rest of my life. Then Trizackle came to me and explained who and what I was. I then knew that God had greater plans for me and my kind. And that is how I came to be here in this enclave.”
They talked for another forty-five minutes when Connor decided he had worn out his welcome and asked to leave.
As he walked through the parlor and front door of Peter’s home he heard Peter say. “You
are welcome back at any time.”
Connor waved back to signal he understood. He went directly to the home he shared
with Melody. She was there waiting for him when he entered the front door. “Would you like something to eat?” She asked.
He only nodded. “Yeah. I could use something right now.”
“I haven’t even thought of what I should make for you. What would you like?”
“Don’t worry about it. I can make a sandwich.”
“Are you sure?”
“As I have known for some time. I can make a sandwich. My fingers are not broken and I can use my hands without any trouble.”
“I feel useless that you don’t need me.” Melody complained.
Connor smiled. “Don’t you have a dinner planned for tonight?”
“Of course.” She agreed.
“Then you are all set for the day. You can just sit back and watch T.V. until I get back from more interviews.” He explained.
“Who did you just interview and what did you learn?”

Connor explained his talk with Peter Holmes and what he learned of the man before his first death. And more importantly how he came to be in the enclave of immortals.
Melody sat at the kitchen table as she watched Connor make a grilled cheese sandwich with a slice of tomato with mayo on both slices of bread. When he finished cooking the grilled cheese he took a large glass and poured the Arabian iced coffee.
He sat at the table with Melody explaining more precisely what Peter had told him and his own impressions of Peter himself. He told Melody that he believed that Peter was one of the youngest immortals in the enclave and that Trizackle was the de facto leader of all of them because of his two thousand years and his wisdom.
“So. Who are you to interview next?” Melody asked.
“There is a home next to Peters and I thought I saw some movement behind one of the window blinds. I think I will go there to see if someone is home and talk to that person. I am not afraid of being sent away because I got the impression from Peter that I am to be expected. At least that is the impression I got and maybe Trizackle has told the others to accommodate me and my questions.”
When he finished his sandwich, he stood up, took the small dish to the sink and washed
It. Then he took a wash cloth and wiped down the table and counter.
“I could have done that?” Melody protested.
shook his head. “I made the mess. So it is my obligation to clean up.”
He left Melody at the door of their home and walked to the house next to Peter Holmes. The house where he saw movement behind the blinds. He didn’t take his backpack because it was so hot and all he really needed was the legal pad he carried in his right hand and the pens in his left hand.