East Hudson Valley News

Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino has announced the winners of the "America Recycles Day Art Challenge," an initiative organized by the Division of Solid Waste Management. The challenge aimed to educate local students about recycling and encourage them to reuse items that might otherwise be discarded.

The contest, open to elementary, middle, and high school students in Dutchess County, attracted over 50 participants. Students created art using recyclable and reusable materials, highlighting the significance of recycling and sustainable practices. Winners were chosen in various age categories based on clarity, description, and creativity.

In the Kindergarten to 2nd Grade category, Luke Stouter, a homeschooled first-grader, won with a sculpture made from water bottles and other recyclable materials. In the 3rd Grade to 5th Grade group, Ms. Melissa Cascio's fourth-grade class at Morse Elementary School recreated the Mid-Hudson Bridge using water bottles and tin foil. The runner-up was Ms. Kathleen Orza's fifth-grade class at Warring Elementary School with a butterfly scene crafted from seltzer bottles.

For grades 6 through 8, Ms. Shanon O'Hearn's classes at Tabernacle Christian Academy won with a model town made from cardboard and bottle caps. Mali Harris-Waltking, an eighth-grade homeschooler, was runner-up with a collage depicting a great horned owl.

In the high school category (9th-12th grade), Jace Wilcha won for creating wearable samurai armor out of cardboard and twine. Erika Villa Patino from Dover High School was runner-up with a blender model made from excess cardboard.

The winning artworks will be displayed at the Henry A. Wallace Visitor Center at the FDR Presidential Library & Museum in Hyde Park from November 18 to December 4 and during the County Executive’s State of the State Address in 2025.

County Executive Serino emphasized raising awareness about environmental issues among younger generations. The Division of Solid Waste Management’s Recycling Educator plays a key role in educating public entities on recycling programs through creative communication efforts.

Dutchess County has improved its municipal solid waste recycling rate from 36% in 2012 to 43% in 2023, surpassing both New York State's rate of 19% and the national average of 32%. The county also sponsors Repair Café Hudson Valley events where residents can learn how to repair items instead of discarding them.

"America Recycles Day," observed nationally on November 15, promotes recycling awareness across communities in the United States.