Hi to all my readers of this exciting and thought provoking issue of this bi-weekly newsletter, The CORNERSTONE TRAVELER. Also available online at www.cornerstonetraveler.com . Hopefully the technicians at Verizon will have worked out the problems with my online newsletter.

mid-Hudson Valley News: There was a Wine and Food festival at the Dutchess County fair ground in Rhinebeck this past weekend. Again I wasn’t able to attend because of the problems with my feet, legs and spine. I have been having so much trouble with my body that I almost wish I was back in the wheel chair I worked so hard to get out of after my motorcycle accident. Please note I wrote “almost wish”!
I have been noting something in New York in regards to road/street construction.
I.e. there was temporary traffic signal installed at the 9W/Rte. 32 intersection in Kingston.
Why this temporary traffic signal? I haven’t a clue. I do know it’s been there over a year and in this year I haven’t seen one construction or lighting technician. It makes me wonder of the construction/lighting outfit is charging the city of Kingston rental on these temporary traffic signals. If it is, it is good money without any labor costs.
I have seen the same on the highway reconstruction of the I-84 up to the Delaware River. There is over four miles of highway barrels and construction equipment that I see seldom used. This has been going on for many years.
And highway equipment? Could they be doing the work at night when there is little traffic? If this is the case, then if is usually a practice to have signs stating when highway reconstruction is being done.
Then there was the reconstruction of the bridge on Rte. 32 south of Rosendale. I joked that the New York Thruway construction was completed faster than the reconstruction of that bridge.

observations: Regarding Kim Davis, the municipal clerk who wouldn’t grant marriage licenses to gay (same sex) couples because of her religious beliefs.
Yet this same religious zealot will not hesitate to grant a marriage license to a divorced man or woman.
Matthew wrote in the New Testament that Jesus taught if a person divorces then remarries he or she is committing adultery. I.e. breaking the sixth commandment.
Kim Davis is so passionate of the laws and commandments of the bible, yet she picks and chooses which laws of God/Jesus she will tolerate. Did she even read the bible? She should read the gospel if Mathew 6:31.
I have to wonder how people like Rush Limbaugh, who has divorced and remarried many times would react if she wouldn’t give him a marriage license because he was breaking the sixth commandment?
I have heard many conservatives insist that committing adultery is only being human. If that is true then I must not be human because in the seventeen years I was married I never committed adultery.

sports: MLB – The Yankees are still struggling in the AL East with a record of 78-64 and are
3 ½ games back. But they still have a chance for a wild card shot in post season.
The Mets are still going strong in the NL East with a record of 82-16 and are 9 ½ games up.
NFL – The Jets won their first game of the season in the Meadowlands against the Browns by a score of 31 – 10.
The Giants played the Cowboys in Dallas, unfortunate play calling by Eli Manning led to a last minute win by the Cowboys. Score 27-23.

other: As with all previous issues of this newsletter, everything written here is either copyright protected or copyright pending.
The history of P&G’s follows this newsletter from the mid 1930’s to almost the present.
And following this history is the sixth part of my short story; Immortals, Vampires and Werewolves.

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 its 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.

Vampires

Constantin, Valkin and a vampire who had been away in Jerusalem were sitting in Constantin’s parlor discussing the new Watcher for the Immortals.
“This new Watcher, Conor Thomas, can prove to be a thorn in our sides unless we are careful and get rid of him.” Constantin said to the other two vampires. “He has an uncanny ability to learn and know what should be unknowable. Isn’t that correct Dredowl?”
Dredowl though just arrived from Jerusalem was known throughout the vampire enclave in Maine. Valkin was jealous of Dredowl because he thought that he should be second in command of the Maine Vampire enclave after Constantin. But Dredowl because he was a thousand years older than Valkin and had far more experience in years than Valkin was always considered a better choice by the other vampires.
“What have you learned Dredowl?” Constantin asked.
Dredowl shook his head. “Not as much as I would have liked because as we all know the immortal archives are very well protected and guarded by ages old immortals. And they know all of our tricks. What I did learn from those watchers who were careless when they talked to other watchers is that this new Watcher is highly regarded by all at the archives because of the way he presents his material for archival storage. They are all impressed at how well he can glean supposedly mundane history and expand upon it after an interview with an immortal. Never in my thousand plus years have I witnessed such a highly regarded Watcher.”
Costantin nodded and waved a hand to Valkin. “Valkin has discovered very painfully how well this new Watcher and his lady friend are protected. Isn’t that correct Valkin?”
Valkin could only nod sheepishly embarrassed that he had been overpowered by a
few immortals. “Yes master.” He said. “This new Watcher is so well protected I cannot find one way in which to penetrate the defense of the immortals.”
Dredowl laughed. “You can’t? Don’t even try. It is known throughout the vampire community of how well he is protected by the immortals. We can only hope that he would have a tragic and unfortunate accident that would render him useless or dead.”
Costantin scolded. ”We must do something to thwart this Watcher from learning more about us. Never in my two thousand plus years have I ever encountered a Watcher so tenacious and intent on learning of our kind. And if he learns enough he could possibly bring about our end by having local inhabitants going Van Helsing on all of us and destroying who and what we are.”
Constantin sat back remembering those two thousand years ago when he was turned. He remembered clearly being a Germanic Warrior defending his homeland against the Roman Conqueror. He was a ruthless warrior and so ruthless he was given command of one thousand Germanic warriors as the first line of defense against the Roman Legions. The first few days of fighting was ferocious. He remembered the glee and happiness he felt when he killed a Roman legionnaire with a mighty swipe of his massive sword. He remembered with a smile how he saw and felt the life leave a Roman Legionnaire when he almost cut the legionnaire in half. Then one night when the fighting was coming to a close, a Roman legionnaire was able to ram him through with a short sword. He knew he was about to die when he dropped to his knees holding his side.
All the warriors had left the field of battle and he was alone to die. And he was near death when another Germanic warrior found him and fed Constantin the warriors blood. He remembered feeling suddenly all powerful like nothing could stop him. The warrior explained that Constantin was a vampire and almost immortal.

The Germanic warrior, Zanchou, showed Constantin how much better human blood was to the blood of beasts. And almost immediately Costantin became a brother of the bad vamps who fed on human blood and enjoyed feeling the last beat of a human heart.
He smiled at this memory then came out of his reverie to the present. “Tell us about when you were turned, Dredowl.” He said.
Dredowl sat back in his chair with his hand on his chin, smiling. He remembered that day a thousand years earlier in the heartland of England. He was part of a group of Vikings led by Eric Red Hair who thought to try and invade the English Island one last time, though he knew the English had become very adept at defending their homeland against invasion.
Eric Red Hair and his band of Viking invaders had just over run a small coastal village of the English Island, raping and pillaging everything in sight when a contingent of English Knights on horseback descended upon the village. Eric Red Hair, Dredowl and the other Vikings were holding their own pretty well. Especially Dredowl with his double sided axe. The curved blades of both sides of the axe were well made and suited for eviscerating a man or taking his head off.
The English armor had little or no affect to withstand the onslaught of his axe. He was gleeful when he sliced an unprotected English warrior in half with one mighty swipe of his Viking axe. He was feeling pretty wall with his self as he fought the English defenders, knowing his Viking band were winning with very little loss of life on their side. Then an English Knight with a ten foot lance atop a horse skewered his unprotected back and Dredowl dropped to the ground, close to death.
It was near dusk when the Vikings and the English Knights retreated with the falling night.
Dredowl remembered laying on the ground very near death when Zanchou came up to him and fed him vampire blood. Dredowl felt himself come back to life feeling stronger and more invincible than at any other time in his life.
Zanchou trained him to feed on human blood. He learned that the blood of beasts did not satisfy his thirst and he became a scourge of human mortals in all of England, Scotland, Ireland and on occasion the European continent. He only moved to the Americas at Constantins urging who wanted to establish the first vampire enclave in the New World.
Constantin turned his attention to Vallkill. “Tell us how and when you were turned Valkill.”
Valkill smiled. “I was known as Vince Killgore when I was mortal. I was a member of Quantrills Raiders whose sole reason for existence was to rid the western lands of the newly formed United States of the native inhabitants and any other non whites. I am proud to say that Quantrills Raiders were quite successful at driving the Indian red man to the reservations mapped out by the American government. Then one day we were driving the Cheyenne and other Indians north into country that had little game and where they could only survive by growing crops. We were driving the Cheyenne further and further north when a Cheyenne warrior turned, notched an arrow to his bow, drew it back, aiming at me and released the arrow. I saw the arrow enter my chest, very close to my heart as if in slow motion. I was near death when Zanchou came to me to feed me vampires blood, turning me into the vampire you see before you.
“And Zanchou taught me to feed on human blood because he taught, that it would make me that much more stronger and invincible. The New World Indian had no idea who or what was killing their people. Never before had they seen their people die completely drained of blood. Then you, Constantin, found me in New York City having a feast on the newly arrived European immigrants. And you Constantin, brought me here to this vampire enclave where I could feed almost indiscriminately.”
Constantin nodded. “Continue Valkill.”
“Zanchou taught me for several years on how to feed on human and mortal blood. I became ravenous for this blood until you found me, Constantin.. I learned from you, how to control my urges for human blood. Zanchou disappeared and I have no idea where he went or where he is.”
Constantin nodded. “Zanchou had to disappear because he was so wanted by the Immortals and the Watchers. To this day, no one knows where he is and I will respect his wishes and not try to find him. Because I fear if I do then it is possible, though remote, that the Immortals will find him and destroy his vampire essence. And he is the oldest vampire to live thus far. He is an important essence for our existence.”
Both Dredowl and Vallkill nodded. “What are we to do about this new Watcher, Conor Thomas?” Vallkill asked.
Constantin thought with his hand to his chin and said. “It is important that we separate him from his lady friend and then we might be able to eliminate both of them.”
Both Dredowl and Valkill nodded their agreement. “How can this be accomplished?” Valkill asked.
Constantin shook his head. “I really don’t know. But it is important to all of us that this Watcher is separated from his woman. And then we can have control of him. Are we agreed?”
Both Valkill and Dredowl nodded their agreement.

Conor and Trizackle had a verbal argument when Conor had decided he needed to go to the village that the vampire nest was sited and learn.
Trizackle was totally against this plan and he explained why. “I will have to separate my most powerful Immortals to protect both you and your love, Melody.”
Conor only smiled. “Protect Melody at all costs. I can defend myself.”
Trizackle shook his head. “No. Not against the vampires you can’t.”
Conor finally won the argument and he went to the village near where the bad vamps lived. He knew of their home near a base of cliffs at a mountain base because Trizackle told him so.
He was all equipped to confront the bad vamps or so he thought, but Trizackle pleaded against his intuitions, because he knew that contrary to Hollywood lore, garlic, Holy Water and crosses have no affect on vampires. Even a stake through the heart would only incapacitate the vampire momentarily, but would come back with full vampiric strength and power.
“How can I protect myself if I confront a vampire?” Conor asked.
Trizackle could only smile. “I told you it will be dangerous.”
“But there must be a way.” Conor insisted.
“Yes there is. But it is not for the faint hearted.” Trizackle explained.
“Show me.” Conor almost demanded.
Trizackle smiled, reached behind his couch and drew out a scabbard that looked as if it held a three foot sword He tossed the scabbard to Conor who caught it expertly. He drew the sword out. Brandishing it with both hands back and forth in front of him.
“Isn’t this a little short?” He asked.
Trizackle smiled. “It was made intentionally that way. So it is easily concealable on your person.”
“How effective is it if I get into a battle with a vampire?” Conor had to ask.
Trizackle only smiled as he instructed. “Slide the lever by the hilt and watch.”
Conor did as he was told, held the three foot sword straight out in front of him and was astonished as the sword blade extended itself to more than five feet in length.
“Wow!” He said as he hefted the five foot blade up and down. “How was this accomplished?”
“We have an Immortal sword smith in Japan who has been making swords for over a thousand years.” Trizackle explained.
“But it is so light. Does it have any strength for cutting?”
Trizackle laughed and reached behind the couch again for a six inch diameter pole two feet in length. “Let’s see how well you can defend yourself and slice this thing in two.” He said as he tossed it into the air at Conor.
Conor immediately measured the object, it’s distance and speed. He deftly swung the
sword at it. Slicing it cleanly in half like a sheet of paper.
“Wow!” He said as the two pieces of wood dropped to the floor. “This sucker is sharp and strong.”
Trizackle could only nod and smile. “Like I explained, it was made by an Immortal a thousand years old and he has been perfecting his trade all those years and has gotten very good at his trade. And he has been crafting swords for we Immortals for almost as long as he has been an Immortal.”
“So I can use this sword to protect myself against a vampire?” Conor had to ask.
Trizackle shook his head. “Not to defend yourself as to defeat and kill the vampire.”
“How?”
“You only have to sever their head from their body, just like an Immortal.”
Conor hefted the sword. “With this extended reach, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.”
“Remember. Vampires have the same supernatural speed as we Immortals.” Trizackle cautioned. “But you can defeat a vampire if you plan your strategy and out think it.”