Part XXV: RiverWatch

Published by Larry Baumer

I graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and earned a Master of Science degree in Education also from NIU in 1973. I taught in the Harlem School District (5 years), a Chicago suburb (1 year), and the Rockford, IL School District for 27 years (26 at East High School). I culminated my teaching career at Kishwaukee College (8 years) Two important events occurred in 1988: I married my wife Angie and I received a summer teacher's research fellowship through the University of Illinois School of Medicine at Rockford. My primary responsibility was light microscopy and Scanning electron miscroscopy of rabbit renal arteries (effect of high cholesterol diet). For 14 years I was a citizen scientist for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in their RiverWatch program (monitoring water quality) My hobbies and activities include gardening, golfing, bowling, downhill and cross country skiing, photography, including photomicroscopy and time lapse photography, spending time with my wife and our dog, and in the winter playing around in my small home biology & chemistry lab. Beyond what I have written in past profiles, in the early 1980’s I was an EMT with the Boone Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Squad (BVARS) which fit in nicely with my science training and teaching. I also enjoy public speaking and made frequent scholarship presentations to graduating seniors and outstanding middle school students through the former Belvidere Y’ Men’s Club. I also made power point presentations of the RiverWatch program. But I most enjoyed making presentations at my high school reunions. Thanks guys for allowing me to do this. I have submitted four poems and one short story (bittersweet) to the editors of Chicken Soup for the Soul of a previous beloved dog but I am still waiting…. View more posts