My contribution this month is a very brief summary of an exhibit of cyanotypes (a type of printing process) that my nephew, Mariano Chavez will be showing at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago in the exhibit entitled “In Blue” beginning on January 24, 2026. The link to their website describes the exhibits and Mariano’s … Read more
2025 began with concern over federal-level assaults on environmental protections. Although those assaults have resulted in program funding and staffing cuts, we have worked locally to stay positive and productive. If you read my last article on 12/3, you may recall that I reported that Friends of the Fox River (FOTFR) maintained all our regular … Read more
Season’s Greetings! The cold and snow that has infiltrated the Fox River Valley is a timely reminder that the holiday season is upon us. The holidays also coincide with the season when the Bald Eagles in the area return to their nesting areas to repair and rebuild their nests in preparation for another breeding season. … Read more
“Our nation may be divided on a lot of issues, but one thing we can all agree upon is that clean water is a human right and a basic need. No matter who you are or where you live, we all need clean, safe, reliable drinking water. And most of our water comes from rivers.” … Read more
For 25 years, Friends of the Fox River (FOTFR) has relied upon a 15-passenger van for several facets of our operations. It has carried many students to participate in various events. It has been the workhorse for hauling equipment for restoration activities and has been essential for our canoe trips. Last year, the second-generation van … Read more
Human-generated chaos vibrates through our world every day now. It seems inescapable and crosses global stages and our neighborhoods. I even feel it in increasing grocery prices. Now it has become an escalating issue of humanity. How can we achieve some calm amidst these storms? Getting grounded may provide some helpful medicine. Underneath and Unseen … Read more
Often, we discover something that was a mainstream behavior that should be discontinued. This can be based upon research that drives legislation, like the banning of DDT that helped Bald Eagles recover from decline, and the reduction in CFC use and the recovery of the ozone layer. Sometimes it is also based upon a change in personal responsibility … Read more
As I write this, the leaves are slowly drifting down from the trees and the sun is shining at a different angle than it was a month ago. The seasonal shift is readily apparent; the wheel of the year is turning. In our busy lives, sometimes it can seem like we’re on a never ending … Read more
but a very real and very neat raptor! In my outdoor outings in our beautiful Fox River watershed, I occasionally come across a common, but not commonly seen, little falcon along the Fox River: the Merlin. The Merlin did not get its name from the magician of King Arthur’s court or the wizard of Harry … Read more
Kayak Raffle The annual Canoe Raffle has again been a solid fundraiser for Friends of the Fox River (FOTFR). In the past, with generous donations, FOTFR has presented premier canoes for the benefit. Kayaks are clearly more popular than canoes these days, so this year we shifted to offer a pair of lightly-used kayaks. We … Read more