Hello Dear Riverbank Friends,
We did it! A high powered crew of 16 spread the small mountain of smoking wood chips Sunday, laying a lovely soft layer of new chips over the paths from (south of) Berteau all the way north of Hutchinson.  We had a cheerful fire going all the time, weeded and seeded, talked to folks and ended with pizza, pumpkin pie, and …. cole slaw. Delicious. 

Who Ate that Log??
A couple weeks ago, old friend Jeff S, the well known birder, emailed me a photo of a big willow branch that came down, blocking the lower path by Cullom.  I went over with the chainsaw and took it apart. I ended up with two bigger logs, too big for me to lift. So I nestled them next to the split rail fence. At the next workday, I asked David and Stenn to haul them up to use as path borders on the upper path. They hauled the first and said they didn’t see another. I figured someone else had taken it for some reason. We walked down, and I spotted it. It had been dragged some 20 yards towards the river, and rested there. It was all chewed up like a pretzel, big chunks chewed out of it. The beaver had apparently hauled it away for some construction purpose, or to ease a toothache. Willow’s genus name is Salix, and its cambium is rich in salicylic acid, the working ingredient of aspirin. The funny thing is that it looked as though the log didn’t fit under the lower rail of the split rail fence, so the beaver cut the fence! Such industriousness. We left it there for her.

Take a Break and Donate!
We have been working every week for the past few months and we are in good shape for the Winter. I suggest we take a break until the Winter Solstice, when we meet at Berteau with fires to celebrate the “beginning of the end” of Winter, with food, beverage, songs,  orations, and donations to support our work!
We have been fueled by pizza for the past few months. You can pitch in, in cash, at the event, or send a tax deductible donation to Friends of the Chicago River / Riverbank Neighbors. 
https://www.riverbankneighbors.org/donations/


5th Wave Collective: Leonarda Remix
This from Rebecca:

I’m writing to invite you (I discussed it with Pete, but all are welcome!) to an upcoming concert that I’m part of. I am a member of an ensemble called 5th Wave Collective, who performs music by women and gender-nonconforming people from throughout history. On Saturday, November 19, at Heaven Gallery, we will share our latest program, titled Leonarda Remix. We’ll be presenting brand new arrangements of Isabella Leonarda’s Twelve Sonatas (composed in 1683), arranged by one of our members. The piece was originally written for violin, cello, and harpsichord; our new arrangements will be for many different instruments, and one arrangement will be chosen by the audience! I think it’s going to be a really fun show. 


More information is in the newsletter below, and at this link: https://www.5thwavecollective.com/event-details/leonarda-remix
RSVP is encouraged
$10 suggested donations at the door will benefit both 5th Wave and our host, Heaven Gallery. 
We would love to see you there! 
Take care and thanks for considering,
Rebecca McDaniel

Prescribed Burn Training : If you’ve never been involved, check it out. It is an amazing learning experience, and a spiritual journey, helping to sustain the native plant community. This will happen early in 2023.

Riverbank Stewards