Berkshire Green Drinks: Second Chance Composting in The Berkshires

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The first Berkshire Green Drinks of 2024 will feature John Pitroff, the owner of Second Chance Composting. 
 
This free hybrid event is taking place on Wednesday, January 10, online via Zoom and in person at The Barn of Williams Inn, located at 103 Spring Street in Williamstown. The in-person social gathering begins at 5:00 PM; the presentation and Zoom meeting start at 6:00 PM.
 
According to a press release: 
 
Delve into the comprehensive world of composting as John illuminates both residential and commercial aspects, addressing what materials can or cannot be composted and the underlying reasons. Engage in a thoughtful exploration of common concerns surrounding composting, gaining insights into the intricacies of the composting process and the importance of composting on a localized and broader scale. John will also share how Second Chance Composting contributes to community building and endeavors to make composting accessible to all. Don't miss this enlightening discussion at the intersection of environmental awareness and sustainable practices.
 
John Pitroff started Second Chance Composting in June 2022 and has worked to make composting available and a top priority in the Berkshires. In 16 months, his company has diverted 377,329 pounds of material from the landfill, including 124,686 pounds of food scraps. John is also the alternative commissioner for the Town of Adams Northern Berkshire Solid Waste Management District, a 2022 Graduate of the Vermont Compost Operator Certification Program, and the 2023 Massachusetts MassRecycle Individual Award winner.
 
 
Berkshire Green Drinks (formerly Pittsfield Green Drinks) is an informal gathering that takes place once a month. A guest speaker talks for about 30 minutes beginning at 6 PM, and the presentation is followed by a discussion and Q&A. These nights are free and open to everyone with any environmental interest. 
 
Berkshire Green Drinks is sponsored and organized by the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT). 
 

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Williams Grads Reminded of Community that Got Them to Graduation

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff

The graduates heard from two speakers — Phi Betta Kappa speaker Milo Chang and class speaker Jahnavi Nayar Kirtane. The keynote speaker, Lonnie Bunch, the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, was unable to attend and recorded his speech for playback. See more photos here.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Williams College said goodbye Sunday to its graduating seniors.
 
And a representative of the class of 2024 took the time to say goodbye to everyone in the community who made students' journey possible.
 
Milo Chang, the Phi Beta Kappa speaker for the class and one of two students to speak at Sunday's 235th commencement exercises, explained that the term "Williams community" applies to more than those who get to list the school on their resumes.
 
"It includes everyone who has shaped our experiences here, from loved ones back home to the dedicated staff members who make campus their second home," Chang told his classmates. "During my time at Williams, we've seen this community step up in remarkable ways to support us."
 
Chang talked about the faculty and staff who gave their time to operate the COVID-19 testing centers and who greeted students before they could take their first classroom tests in the fall of 2020, and the dining services personnel who kept the students fed and somehow understood their orders through the masks everyone was wearing when this class arrived on campus.
 
And he shared a personal story that brought the message home.
 
"We often underestimate the power of community until we experience a taste of its absence," Chang said. "I remember staying on campus after our first Thanksgiving at Williams, after most students went home to finish the semester remotely. I remember the long hours sitting in empty common rooms. I remember the days you could walk through campus without seeing another student.
 
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