*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AUGUST 4, 2005 ***

Friends of the Fox River
FALL 2005 Fox Rescue
Saturday, Sept. 17

Help Clean Up the Fox River and its Tributaries

Friends of the Fox River and partners are sponsoring a Fall Fox Rescue River Cleanup Saturday, September 17, 2005. Join us at a river cleanup on the Fox River or one of its tributaries. Volunteers should wear long pants and sturdy shoes or boots.

The clean-up locations and contact information are as follows:

Carpentersville

The Carpentersville Area Fox River Cleanup will be centered at the Fox River Shores Forest Preserve, located along the east side of the river on Williams Road between Lake Marian Road and Bolz Road. The cleanup crew will meet at 9:00 a.m. for a shoreline cleanup. Bandito Barney's of East Dundee will provide lunch following the cleanup at the forest preserve shelter at 11:00 a.m. If you would like to join the canoe team that will paddle and pick from Algonquin downstream, please contact Gary Swick at 847-426-1322 to reserve a spot. For more information and to sign up, also contact Gary Swick. Sponsored by Friends of the Fox River.

St. Charles

Please join us to help clean up the shoreline of the Fox River at Norris Woods Nature Preserve in St. Charles. The cleanup will run from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Please wear old clothes, shoes/boots that can get wet, and bring a pair of work gloves. Norris Woods is located on North Third Avenue, directly behind Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Rt. 25. This is a great project for community groups, families, and scout troops. Afterwards, enjoy a naturalist-led nature hike and refreshments. Three prizes will be awarded at noon for the volunteer who collects: the most garbage, the most unusual object, and the largest object. Please contact Renae Frigo at (630) 584-1885 ext. 435 for more information and to sign up. Sponsored by St. Charles Park District and Friends of the Fox River.

A Fox River Rescue at Fox River Bluff West Forest Preserve will be held in St. Charles from 9-11 a.m. Please bring work gloves and meet at Fox River Bluff West Forest Preserve, Rt. 31 and Red Gate Rd. Garbage bags plus treats for four-legged helpers will be provided. For more information contact Angelique Dunning, Volunteer Coordinator at (847) 741-9798. Sponsored by Kane County Forest Preserve District and Friends of the Fox River.

Batavia

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn has declared Sept. 17th as “It’s Our River Day.” In honor of this statewide event, the Friends of the Fox River and Batavians for a Healthy River are hosting a cleanup event on Mahoney Creek in Batavia. Volunteers, please meet at the Batavia Apartments located at 1259 E. Wilson just west of Farnsworth Ave. Parking is located at the far west side of the complex. The cleanup will take place from 9:00 a.m.-noon, and will be followed by a picnic graciously provided by Batavia Apartments/ Franciscan Ministries. Wear clothes that can take the dirt, waterproof boots or old sneakers, and bring some gloves if you have them. Come be a part of the energy that feeds the Fox River! For more info, contact Jessi DeMartini, 630-988-7724 or 630-871-7548.

Batavia/North Aurora

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn has declared September 17 as "It's Our River Day." And our river -- the Fox -- is ready and waiting to be celebrated. Come on out to the Lippold Outdoor Recreation Center for an afternoon of cleanup and camaraderie as we reclaim the banks from the litter that has accumulated there over the summer. Bring work gloves and wear boots -- waterproof boots, if you have them. Refreshments will be served. Time 3-5 p.m. Lippold Outdoor Recreation Center is located at 2001 River Road in Batavia/North Aurora (1/2 mile north of Red Oak Nature Center on Rt. 25). For more info, directions and to sign up, call Pam Otto at 630-897-1808. Sponsored by Fox Valley Park District and Friends of the Fox River.

Aurora

Help clean up Oakhurst Forest Preserve. Garbage bags and treats will be provided. Please bring a pair of work gloves. Oakhurst Forest Preserve is located at 1680 Fifth Ave. in Aurora. For more information contact Angelique Dunning, Volunteer Coordinator at (847) 741-9798. Sponsored by Kane County Forest Preserve District and Friends of the Fox River.

Yorkville

The Yorkville Fox Rescue team will meet at the Riverside Park in Yorkville (just below the dam on the south side of the river). Sign-in will begin at 8:30 AM, and the clean up will run from 9-12 AM. This is an adult-only cleanup, wet work with heavy lifting. We will be cleaning up the river by canoe from Yorkville to Silver Springs State Park. To volunteer, contact Chuck Roberts at 630-553-1912. Sponsored by Friends of the Fox River.