The absolute best part of this solar panel installation – which should be completed in the next two weeks – is its source: Students for Solar, a group founded by Madison Munroe ’22, Wirth Munroe ’22, Julian Stancioff ’22 and Daniel Stancioff ’23, confidently appeared before our board of trustees two years ago. The Munroe twins are descendants of Commodore Ralph Munroe, who built the historic Barnacle that is just up the street from RE. They also share the same surname as another Coconut Grove pioneer, conservationist and author, Kirk Munroe. Kirk made his home at Scrububs, now known as La Brisa, and he sold the adjoining swath of land to his contemporary, Paul Ransom. That land became The Adirondack-Florida School, and now the two properties are again one. Kirk Munroe was remembered as "an adventurer in the highways and byways of life."

 

The Students for Solar dynamic power-point presentation, made in the La Brisa House just prior to renovation, and their promise of financial backing elicited a resounding call to action from the trustees that led directly to this installation. These four young adults are part of a generation energized to combat the global climate crisis. They are also the kind of kids that Paul Ransom brought to his school: that third class of individuals who will put more into the world than they will take from it. And they, too, are adventurers in the highways and byways of life.

 

Enjoy these glorious pictures, and I will write more next month.

 
Penny Townsend
Head of School
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