THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, July 3, 2020 Page 5 Foundation Trust grant allows for 34 trees By Tara Vocino T hirty-fi ve trees were planted in 22 locations on 10 different streets, resulting from a $20,000 grant from the Foundation Trust awarded to Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE). According to Dr. Joseph Spinazzola, Executive Director of the Foundation Trust, SAVE submitted a grant application to the Foundation Trust during the Foundation Trust’s 2019 grant cycle to help them preserve and enhance the natural beauty of the Saugus community by replacing dead and damaged trees throughout the town and by adding new trees, both large and small, to barren areas with insuffi cient scenery and shade. Trees are planted along 10 different streets throughout the town, including along Main, Central, Saville, Elm, Parker, Zito, Gilway, Richard, Ballard and Winter Streets. Saugus Tree Committee Chairwoman Nancy Prag wrote on Wednesday that she is so excited to have so many new trees planted around town. She added that it’s a joint eff ort between the DPW/Forestry departments, Rocky Hill Farm for mulch donations and Capone Landscaping of Wakefi eld. SAVE President Ann Devlin wrote that SAVE pursued the grant from the Foundation Trust for street tree replacement because hazard tree removal had outpaced replacement. On Wednesday night as she knocked on doors of neighbor’s who had trees planted in front of their properties, she introduced their mission and asked them if they could help regularly water the trees with their hoses. Parker Street resident Bruce McCarrier, Jr. as well as Central Street residents Alisa and Joe DiMare agreed to. While walking, Devlin commented on why tree planting is important, especially on Ballard Street near Wheelabrator. “Our urban canopy is important for so many reasons, including aesthetics, shade, air pollution reduction, storm water control and so much more,” Devlin continued. “SAVE and the Saugus Tree Committee are so appreciative of this award from the Foundation Trust, because it allowed us to double the number of street trees that the town was able to plant this year.” Devlin added that she, like Prag, also appreciates the support that they received for this project from the Town Manager and the DPW and could not have accomplished this goal without them. In a teleAlisa and Joseph DiMare, who have a Japanese ‘Ivory Silk’ tree in front of their 203 Central St. home, said they’re going to water the tree regularly when they mow the lawn. Bruce McCarrier Jr., who has a Redpoint® tree planted in front of his home at 19 Parker St. in central Saugus, is shown on Wednesday night. phone interview, Devlin continued that trees needed approval by every abutter and need to avoid touching telephone wires when they grow. The entire planning was undertaken and completed in May and June by Capone Landscaping, with the project overseen for the Foundation Trust by the trust’s Senior Field Associate, Domenic Arangio. SAVE volunteers assisted with adding gator bags to all the trees – and with neighbors’ help – will take responsibility for watering them and ensuring that they root in and thrive this summer and fall, according to Spinazzola. Although the project took more than a year to complete, those involved say that the wait was worth it. “Many people and organizations came together to make this initiative possible in addition to SAVE and the Foundation Trust,” Spinazzola wrote. “This project would not have been possible without the active assistance, planning and ongoing support of Nancy Prag and the Saugus Tree Committee, the Town Manager, DPW, the Forestry Department and DigSafe, Capone Landscaping, Richard Magnan and Domenic Arangio.” As she walked around town to monitor the trees’ growth, Devlin said that it’s so enjoyable to see new trees in so many locations around town. Spinazzola explained why tree preservation is vital to communities on so many levels. “They actively protect the environment and improve air quality by releasing oxygen and storing carbon,” Spinazzola wrote. “They provide shade, homes for birds, and places for people to rest and gather.” Perhaps above all, he continued, through their beauty, color and structure, they bring shape to the natural environment, and in doing so transform what can otherwise feel like desolate concrete and tarmac streets into comforting and inviting neighborhoods. The Spinazzola family has a decade’s long history with the town of Saugus, including being the persons responsible in the 1980’s for creating the original rotary plantings throughout the town through their former business, Green Thumb Landscaping and Nursery. Coming full circle as Trustees of the Foundation Trust, Joseph and Anthony Spinazzola found SAVE’s application to be particularly compelling and worthy of their support. “The project took over a year from its initial inception to completion, but what’s meant to last a long time often takes a long time,” Spinazzola wrote. “Our collective goal here was to create something that lasts and that will benefi t the great town of Saugus for decades and generations to come.” Tara Vocino may be reached at printjournalist1@gmail.com. AUTOTECH 1989 SINCE Is your vehicle ready for the Summer Season?!! Recharge your vehicle's AC for the warm weather! Includes up to 1 LB. of Refrigerant* (*Most Vehicles/Some Restrictions May Apply) AC SPECIAL Only $69.95 DRIVE IT - PUSH IT - TOW IT! CASH FOR YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR SUV! 2012 FORD FUSION SEL 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA 6 Cylinder, Auto., 1 Previous Owner, Most Pwr., Options incl. Keyless Entry, & Pwr. Sunroof. Only 110K Miles! 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