The History of
SAVE

1973

SAVE organized and incorporated "to promote a better quality of life in Saugus through environmental concern and action".

1974

SAVE intervenes after the Selectmen approve the 57-acre DeMatteo Dump expansion into Saugus marshes; SAVE wins its appeal, stopping dump expansion.

1976

SAVE involved in Town study committee and adoption of present Town sign by-law.

1980

Beginning of annual "Family Day at Pranker's Pond", held by SAVE each summer for all Saugus residents, to familiarize them with Town's largest recreation area.

1987

SAVE joins with the League of Women Voters and the Golden Hills Association to start monthly paper recycling in Saugus. This continued, benefiting local groups, until the Town took over in late 1989, ultimately culminating in our current Town-wide curbside pick-up.

1990

SAVE and RESCUE start "Earth Day 90" in Saugus, involving many people and organizations in a celebration of the 20^th anniversary of the first Earth Day.

1994

SAVE establishes an ""Environmental Scholarship" for graduating Saugus residents who are pursuing environmental careers.

1996

SAVE appeals to Rite-Media, who owns the billboard located across from the High School, to remove the cigarette advertisement, which they did.

1997

SAVE sponsors Article 33 on the annual Warrant to see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money to purchase land on Vinegar Hill. Article 33 passed with a unanimous vote of Town Meeting. Article 38, also sponsored by SAVE, won approval of a one year moratorium on the sale or swap of any Town owned land.

1998

SAVE sponsors Article 1 on January 12 special Warrant "to see if Town Meeting will appropriate a sum of money for the purchase of land on Vinegar Hill." Article 33 passed unanimously. Article 38, also sponsored by SAVE , won approval of a 1 year moratorium on the sale of any Town-owned land.

2000

After obtaining the signatures necessary to call for a Special Town meeting on preventing the expansion of RESCO, SAVE's Article, though non-binding, passed. SAVE members appeared on "This is Saugus" to discuss the negative environmental and health issues involved. In July, SAVE members coordinated the informational meeting held at Town Hall by the DEP on the Solid Waste Master Plan. In November, SAVE 's nomination of RESCO for Toxic Action's Dirty Dozen Award 2000 was accepted. RESCO chose not to accept this award at the press conference in December.

2001

SAVE sponsored 2 bills in the Massachusetts House regarding mercury-containing products, and health warnings for mercury in fish, and a forum for Clean Water Action on Extended Producer Resposibility, held at Town Hall. Also, SAVE was awarded "The Make It Happen" award from Clean Water Action as well as a certificate of recognition from the Massachusetts House of Representatives for "it's work on issues of public policy to keep our environment clean and healthy."

2003

SAVE forms a coalition with several other groups including the Saugus River Watershed Council and Clean Water Action. SAVE sponsors articles 30, 31, and 32 at town meeting to give residents a greater voice concerning solid waste in Saugus. All three articles are approved.

In these years and since, SAVE has held many public forums on topics such as oil refineries, recycling, earth removal laws, RESCO, the Bottle Bill, apartments, hazardous waste, water conservation, land use planning, tree farming and planting, and many other subjects of current interest, with panels of state and local experts on each topic.

Speaking of History

Don't forget that SAVE works to protect sites of historical interest in addition to working to protect our environment. Saugus contains several such sites of which the Saugus Iron Works and Boardman House are perhaps two of the best known.

The Saugus Iron Works off of Central St.

The Boardman House on Howard St.

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