Every year the Green Cup Challenge pits private schools across the country against each other to see which school can reduce energy consumption the most. The challenge is divided into regions, with the Northeast Boarding division by far the largest, with 41 schools participating. More than 100 schools took part across the country.The Berkshire School, The Millbrook School, Salisbury School, South Kent School, The Hotchkiss School and Kent School competed this year, and three of them placed.The challenge is held over a four-week period in February. The schools measure the kilowatt hours they use during that period. At the end of the four weeks, the percentage change in usage from the beginning of the competition to the final week is calculated to see who had the highest reduction. The overall winner of the Northeast Boarding division was The Winchendon School in Winchendon, Mass., with a kilowatt hour reduction of 22.5 percent. The Millbrook School took second place in the competition, with a reduction of 12.8 percent. South Kent School and Hotchkiss tied for third; South Kent had a a 11.5 percent drop and Hotchkiss an 11.4 percent reduction. To reduce their energy usage, students paid attention to the little stuff — things like turning off lights when they were not needed and shutting down computers when they went to sleep. The campuses also have been making campuswide efforts to be more eco-friendly. South Kent School’s success in the Green Cup Challenge was rooted in a larger campus initiative to reduce energy use throughout the entire school year, not just during the month of the competition. Contests were held between students in different dormitories to see which building could reduce their usage the most. Schoolwide assemblies were held to educate the students on the link between energy use and climate change. The Millbrook School organized “blackout” activities and no-lights dodgeball games, boosting student awareness of ways to reduce their energy usage, and making the challenge exciting for everyone.
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Author, educator and environmentalist Nancy Castaldo met with Region One students at Housatonic Valley Regional High School Friday, Nov. 6.
A Chatham, New York, resident who has written about 25 books on environmental subjects for young readers, Castaldo opened her “Good Farms = Good Food” presentation by describing the working farms she passed on her drive to Connecticut.
“I saw one that had animals called alpacas,” she said. “And another one with cows.”
She introduced the children to different kinds of farms, drawing them into the discussion with a series of true-or-false questions about where food comes from.
“People eat most of the corn grown in the U.S. How many think that’s true?” she asked.
A handful of children raised their hands.
“How many think that’s false?”
Most of the children stuck their hands up and waved them enthusiastically.
The answer was false. Most U.S. corn is used for livestock feed and ethanol production.
Sticking with the corn theme, Castaldo offered another statement: “Popcorn is not really made of corn.”
This time, the audience was split, with about half choosing true and half choosing false. The answer: false.
“Popcorn is made of corn, but it’s not the same as the corn on the cob we eat in the summer,” Castaldo said. “It’s a different variety.”
Castaldo also met with students in grades 3-5 and 6-8. A virtual presentation for HVRHS students is scheduled for later this month.
Author, educator and environmentalist Nancy Castaldo.Patrick L. Sullivan
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Kenise Barnes Fine Art presents “Cool & Collected ’26,” its annual exhibition celebrating the joy of collecting, featuring works priced under $2,000.
Part of “Cool & Collected” at Kenise Barnes in Kent.D.H. Callahan
Kenise Barnes, the gallery’s owner, has been gifting art to friends and family for years. Now, many of them have their own personal collections, with works carefully selected for and by them.
It’s not just aspiring collectors who benefit from this kind of show. Smaller price tags can often mean less pressure on the artists, giving them more to experiment.
“This exhibition encourages artists to play and explore while giving visitors the opportunity to acquire original artwork at an approachable scale and price,” Barnes said. “It’s a celebration of creativity, generosity, and the pleasure of living with art.”
Across the border in Millerton, a similar exhibition is up at The Re Institute. Artist and gallery owner Henry Klimowicz has curated a show that features more than 400 original works of art from more than 200 artists, all priced under $750. The exhibition is a continuation of an accessible art show put on by LABspace in Hillsdale, which routinely had more than 300 pieces in its small, two-room gallery. Klimowicz has also hosted an art gift shop at the Re Institute, with moderately priced art as the shop’s inventory.
The Re Institute’s Holiday Show features more than 400 works by over 200 artists through Dec. 6, with a closing party from 1 to 4 p.m. that day.D.H. Callahan
Klimowicz understands that even more moderately priced art isn’t necessarily any more accessible to all audiences. The first hurdle, he said, is that “buying art is a privilege. If you’re worried about buying groceries, you’re not buying art.”
With more and more people worried about groceries, the art market’s growth potential seems at least temporarily stunted.
The second hurdle is finding something that speaks to you.
“You have to decide that you like this unique thing. In America, we buy a lot of stuff. Almost everything we buy, we can count on the fact that we’re not the only person buying it.”
But when it comes to art, especially from emerging artists, there’s no market confirmation that what we’re buying is any good. You have to go out on a limb and trust your own taste to guide you.
“You can come here and you can purchase something truly unique, and that takes guts.”
For more information and gallery hours, visit kbfa.com and thereinstitute.com.
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