By Stevie Pignatiello, Age 12, Indian Paintbrush

QUESTION: Have you ever written for the Tajar Times?

YES: 18
  NO: 20

THE MUSICAL

     THE LODGE - by George Murnane, age 10, Chestnut Hollow - The musical for this session is called "The Sleepy Mountains". It includes lots fun music. It will be funny, great and fun to watch.
     The musical is about a princess who falls in love with the son of an enemy king. The show was written by Catie and Debbie and it will be presented by the Discover Drama Kids on Monday night at Campfire.

A TRUE FRIEND

     THE FRONT PORCH - by Daniel Drakeford, Age 9, Raccoon Ridge - A true friend is someone who's there for you, someone who never lets you down. It is someone who plays with you and cares about you.
     If someone doesn't do that stuff with you, you'd be very, very sad. So my advice to you is be nice to your friends!

IMPORTANT TAJAR TIMES NEWS

    RACCOON RIDGE - by Cameron Reid, age 9, Raccoon Ridge - There will be no Tajar Times on Sunday! Thank you.
      What will Duke do?? Will RB lose his job? Read the next issue on Monday and find out!     Remember this: No Tajar Times on Sunday!

THANKS FOR THE SOLSTICE

     SOUND OF MUSIC HILL - Thanks to everyone who made the official start of summer so great!  Our celebration on the Sound of Music Hill was the perfect way to start the summer season.
     And guess what! It didn't rain.
     Now that's a good start to summer!

OLD BLUES

     THE FARM - by Freddy Landess, Age 10, 7th Heaven - Potatoes are popping up everywhere on the Farm, but no one can find the elusive "blue potatoes".
      These strangely colored vegetables live in the Potato Patch and look just like every other plant, until you dig. Then you see how amazing these plants are.
     One day if you find blue mashed potatoes on your plate, you'll know what's going on!

THE POOL TEMPERATURE

     PETER PAN - by Allison Platner, age 8, Peter Pan - Do you know how cold the pool is? It actually comes from the creek. It's actually that cold.
      If you're brave enough . . . happy swimming!

THE SAND CASTLE

     PLAYHOUSE - by Kelsey Supple, Age 7, Playhouse - My cabin made a big sand castle. It had a church and a toyshop and a baseball stadium. It was very cool!
     We made our castle on the volleyball court. it washed away in the rain.

INTERVIEW WITH RB

     RACCOON RIDGE - by Cameron Reid, age 9, Raccoon Ridge - [Our reporter sat with RB at Pioneer I and asked these questions on a beautiful summer day. —Editor]
REPORTER: How long have you been here?
RB: I first came to camp 22 years ago.
REPORTER: Have you been a counselor?
RB: Yes, for many, many years.
REPORTER: Do you have any pets?
RB: Only Duke. How could I have another pet besides that mouse?
REPORTER: What is your favorite place at Gwynn Valley?
RB: There are a lot of them but I'd have to pick the Mill as my top favorite.
REPORTER: Is the Tajar Times hard to do?
RB: No, not really.
REPORTER: How old is the Tajar?
RB: I don't know the answer to that question. I think you'd better ask Debbie because she knows him quite well.

REST HOUR RULES

     PLAYHOUSE - by Olivia Lucas, age 7, Playhouse - In Rest Hour you can't talk. You can't play. You can sleep. But still no talking.
     You can write letters. Only read. But still no talking!!

THAT SMALL MOUSE

     FRONT PORCH - by Sara Gwynn, Age 6, Playhouse - Duke is a small mouse. His house is at the Dining Room. He is never in his house because he might be taking a walk.
     Or he could be eating cheese!

The Woods
by Jack Duffy, Age 9, Raccoon Ridge

The woods are so quiet, 
  always trying to hide its greatness of it all.

It's always going to be the best it can be.
  It works like a creek;
  it never stops its magical things
  that hide underneath the true soul,
  that the forest really has.

Duke Day With The SIT's
by Jane and Duke

     Well, by now, you probably have figured out that Duke is a rather curious mouse. Yesterday, when he was checking his mailbox beside the dining hall, he noticed an odd group of people inside.
      Puzzled, he ran inside, only to bump into me, one of the hard working SIT's. At that moment I happened to be carrying a rather large bowl of chocolate pudding. It promptly splattered all over place.
     Duke quickly fixed the problem by eating everything on the floor!
     While tongue mopping the floor, Duke asked if he could help the SITs for the day. He peered up at me with those big blue eyes. I couldn't say anything but yes. Boy, I wish I knew what I was getting myself into.
     First, Duke helped set up the Dining Room. Halfway through, he fell into a water jug and had to be dried out by Hobart, the dish washing machine.
      After he was nice and dry, Duke wandered down to the horse stables to help with the morning activity. He decided it would be best to ride on top of Magic's ears and help steer, instead of lead, since he is a rather short mouse.
      Exhausted by this point, Duke slept through lunch, even though it was psgetti (spaghetti), his favorite. He woke up just in time for sweeping.
     That afternoon, Duke decided to go kayaking with Lily instead of doing arts and crafts. He was still mildly upset about the soap incident with Laurie the other day.
     After helping in the Dining Room after supper, Duke disappeared. The SITs and I think he went to take a nice, long, hot bubble bath in a coffee cup.
      The next day the SITs received a letter in their mailbox saying Duke wouldn't be able to help us anymore. Although he had had fun learning about a day's work in the world of the SIT's, he was curious about something else. Of course he wouldn't tell us what he was curious about now.
     And that's the way it is with Duke.