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We have our stories for the event this Sunday. The 2025 storytellers and their stories in order of appearance:Tracy Fowler – “He’d Rather Run”
Tracy Fowler forged her storytelling skills in the fiery chaos of junior high classrooms, where she survived 40 years armed with only a whiteboard marker, and few good tales. These days, she teaches driver’s ed to nervous 15-year-olds with questionable reflexes, bakes bread like it’s a competitive sport, and tunes up cars just for fun. You can find her telling stories at the Moth or at her monthly open mic storytelling show in Libertyville.
Andrew Hoffman – “Traumatized by a Chipmunk”
Andrew Hoffman is a recently retired Psychologist, who enjoys cycling, walking, and being out in nature. He is an environmental activist and animal advocate.
Sheri Reda – “Training Wheels”
Sheri Reda is a storyteller and poet whose upcoming collection of poems, Diaspora, is forthcoming from Finishing Line Press. Sheri returns this year with another account of a life experience on her bicycle.
Jon Babbin – “Haircut“
Jon is year-round bike commuter from wherever he lives, commuting to the loop starting back in the BBL (Before Bike Lanes) era. He is telling his second Tales from Trails story this year. He also presented creations in the last two Bike Winter Art Show gallery showings and plans to show another this year. Other story worthy adventures include managing punk rock bands, camping and backpacking.
Joey Garfield – “Baba’s Bike Ride“
Joey is a filmmaker, photographer and artist from Evanston who spent many of his adult years in New York City honing his crafts. He is the founder and mayor of Moundtown, a photo series capturing portraits of organic mounds found in their native habitat (@moundtown on Instagram). He told a story at a Moth event once that was aired on the Moth Radio Hour on NPR. The majority of his film work can be seen on his website www.joeyjoeygarfield.com.
Anne Beall – “Training Wheels“
Anne E. Beall, Ph.D., is an award-winning author and social psychologist who writes about the emotional undercurrents that shape our lives. Her writing explores the psychology of relationships—between lovers, family members, friends, and pets who think they’re in charge.
Ralph Banasiak – “Riding the Gap”
A retired math teacher in Chicago’s northwest suburbs, Ralph expanded his bike riding to bike writing during the pandemic with “Along for the Ride,” a twice monthly column in the Daily Herald since August 2020. By covering a broad range of topics, he hopes the column encourages more individuals to bicycle and to do it safely.
Catherine Inserra – “This is My Bike Story”
Catherine was born and raised in Park Ridge where she lives today. She is a delighted mother of two, adult daughters- one of whom has returned to Chicago from Brooklyn, NY and the other lives in Paris, France. She is an active member of Go Green Park Ridge and the First United Methodist Church. She is the Manager of Faith & Community Relations with Kids Above All, a child-serving agency of 130 years building better lives for kids and families. She has fond, childhood memories of riding her bike all around town and feeling on top of the world!
Joyce & Dan Litoff – “A Love Story on Wheels” – Joyce is an award winning communications professional and is currently the editor of The American Baha’i magazine. Joyce sees storytelling as central to all of these efforts. Dan Litoff is a physician in internal medicine, practicing in Chicago who bikes to work as often as he can. The have enjoyed cycling adventures on multiple continents and have bicycled together down the Pacific Coast Highway and through the Canadian Rockies. Last month, they cycled on Wisconsin’s Elroy-Sparta Trail. The Lifoff’s are proud parents of two thirty-somethings and are rediscovering biking together as empty nesters.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Sketchbook Brewing Company (Sketchbook Skokie), 4907 Main St, Skokie, IL 60077-2515, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.