By Jenni Schiavone, Friends of the Fox River Lead Educator Batavia residents and Friends of the Fox River members Maureen and Larry Huey recently took a giant leap. These passionate and active environmentalists invested in the conversion of their entire Fox River waterfront property from mowed turf to native plants. Maureen and Larry’s inspiration came from … Read more
What is a “Friend? My research yielded, “Someone who is a true friend stands up for you. When others try to hurt you emotionally or physically, they do everything they can to make sure you stay safe…
It’s July and with COVID easing, summer festival season is here! Many municipalities up and down the Fox River Valley have celebrated Independence Day and the beginning of the summer season with public events centered around good music and refreshing food and drink. However, the musical blues aren’t what I’m referring to in the title … Read more
Whether I’m fishing or hiking, I always keep my eyes open for wildlife either in the woods or along the river. I fish the Fox from a small boat which provides me a comfortable and stable platform for both my fishing and photographic pursuits. Showdown at the Rock Bar I anchored in a spot not … Read more
The Fox River has abundant outdoor play areas. Thanks to visionaries in land preservation and tax dollar support, public open spaces are locally plentiful.
By Tom Schrader I know Mother’s Day had been a day of work and celebration for Friends of the Fox River (FOFR) for several years and, in honor of that, I’ve decided that the theme of this column will be focused on a devoted mother of the forest that I have come to know: a … Read more
By Tom SchraderLifelong Fisherman and Past Friends of the Fox River President Hello fellow citizens of the Fox River watershed! I have lived in the southern part of our watershed (near Aurora) for my entire 60 years here on Earth. I have always loved nature, particularly the water, and the plants and animals that live … Read more
By Gary Swick, FOFR President Returning to familiar but different landscapes is commonplace for life in the natural world. Most bird species migrate in the fall; their return in the spring is both an investment in what was there last fall and a gamble that what is needed for survival will still be accessible. The … Read more
By Jack MacRae The perennial winner for the Longest Life Span Award in the North American Butterfly Category is our old friend the mourning cloak. This is one of the few local butterflies that hibernates as an adult. They have a sweet trick that extends their life span to an impressive 11 months! Sweet, Deep … Read more
By Gary Swick, President Resilience and Hope In nature, winter is a time of conserving resources, relying upon storage, and enduring scarcity and hardship. Surviving winter requires physical resilience and hope. We have just emerged from a natural and cultural winter like none of us have ever experienced. As we travel the long crossover from … Read more
