THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUly 14, 2023 Page 7 Make a difference by throwing away less W e talk a lot about keeping our discarded items out of the waste stream by recycling them, but a better place to start is by throwing less away in the first place. How do we do that? Here’s a few ideas shared by SAVE members who make a conscious effort to reduce their waste: When you’re buying products, be conscious of their containers. It’s particularly important to avoid plastic packaging. Even with responsible recycling, most plastic can only be recycled twice. Instead of buying hand soap in a plastic pump bottle, buy bar soap. It’s better for the environment, it’s just as effective and it’s cheaper, too. Shampoos can also be purchased in bar form. ASKS | FROM PAGE 3 pened to hit this car perfectly and I fell in love with it and I bought it. It was Long Beach Red and had the tan interior, and the sun was just hitting it perfectly. I fell in love with it, I bought it and that was the beginning. Q: You’ve had this one since? Al: No, this is my second one – the 2019 convertible. I never had a convertible before, but it had the same combination as my 2016. And the body shape is a little different; it’s a little wider than the 2016, which for me makes it more attractive. I just fell in love with it, and that’s where I am going to stay, with this one here. Q: Why did you get rid of the first one? Al: Because I fell in love with this one here. One of the previous members had this car I just fell in love with, and I just went to the dealership and I said I want my friend Billy McGlaughlan’s Corvette and said that’s the one I want. Q: If you could afford a Corvette, when would you first buy one? But I understand it’s tough when you have kids and you’re paying for college and stuff. Al: Yeah, that was kind of out of the question. My wife used to get me toy Corvettes for Christmas, and she would say, “This is as close as you are going to come to one right now.” And, naturally, my heart would break, but I had to do what I had to do. But then when I got a little older and I was in my mid-60’s and, hopefully, getting ready to retire – which I never did until I was in my midA company called Earth Breeze sells laundry detergent in the form of liquid-less sheets. These sheets come in a heavy paper envelope instead of a big plastic jug. Publicgoods.com makes a line of products with minimal packaging. Bring your own travel mug when you go to your local coffee shop for a takeout coffee. Bring your own container to 60’s – all the kids were out, all the braces were done, all the college was paid for, the mortgage was gone – and I found an opening to it, and the wife says, “Go ahead, get your Corvette!” And it was like giving me a blind check. And that’s what I did. It was the greatest feeling in the world – going to the dealer and saying, “This is what I want, here’s your money.” Done deal! Q: How old were you when it first crossed your mind? Al: Oh, God – 15 or 16 years old. Yeah, when I used to see them, I just fell in love with them. Q; What draws you? What’s the allure? Al: The car itself: the styling of the car. It’s not so much the speed part of it. It’s just the style of the car, because the early Corvettes were pretty, but not very comfortable – if you have ridden in one of them. But I still loved them. Again, it just wasn’t part of my life at that stage. I had other commitments. I had other obligations I had to meet: obligations before I could even think about owning a Corvette. And then I kind of put it on the back burner. I would see them on the road. Every time I saw a Corvette, there was a silver-haired guy who could hardly fit in there. And I would say, “What is this guy doing in this Corvette? I’m young. I’m the one who is pursuing the chicks. I should have the Corvette.” And needless to say, that wasn’t part of the plan. Q: Are you the first member of your family to get a Corvette? a restaurant to bring home leftovers. In the grocery store, buy fruits and vegetables from bulk bins rather than prepackaged in hard plastic containers. If you take one of the store’s plastic bags to carry your produce home, you can reuse these bags to buy more produce the next time you go to the market. Whenever possible, buy milk and juices in glass bottles rather than the plasticized cardboard cartons that can’t be recycled. One SAVE member brings cotton mesh bags to the store for her produce or just puts fruits and vegetables right into her reusable grocery bag. Try making some basic cleaning products yourself. Goodhousekeeping.com has some simple yet effective recAl: Yes – as a matter of fact I am. But I do have a cousin who won a Corvette, and it had money in the trunk. It had a million dollars in the trunk. He hit the lottery or something. He won a Corvette in Massachusetts. It was a lottery thing. Q: How many years ago was that? Al: It had to be 10 or 15 years ago. Q: Let me ask you, what do you get out of the club? Why did you join the club? Al: I joined the club for the camaraderie. I would never belong to any other club. I’ve been a member since 2016. We develop relationships. It ASKS | SEE PAGE 9 J& • Reliable Mowing Service • Spring & Fall Cleanups • Mulch & Edging • Sod or Seed Lawns • Shrub Planting & Trimming • Water & Sewer Repairs Joe Pierotti, Jr. S LANDSCAPE & MASONRY CO. Masonry - Asphalt • Brick or Block Steps • Brick or Block Walls • Concrete or Brick Paver Patios & Walkways • Brick Re-Pointing • Asphalt Paving www.JandSlandscape-masonry.com • Senior Discount • Free Estimates • Licensed & Insured 617-389-1490 Designing and Constructing Ideas that are “Grounds for Success” Landscaping ipes for all-purpose cleaners and stain removers using basic household ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, salt, rubbing alcohol and lemons. You will save money and make your home less toxic by cutting back on the purchase of commercial cleaning products – many of which contain hazardous chemicals that can harm small children and pets. Other helpful websites: Litterless.com and Zerowastestore.com SAVE, the “Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment,” is a nonprofit organization with the goal to promote a better quality of life in Saugus through environmental action. Incorporated in 1973, SAVE has had an eventful history supporting the preservation of the wildlife, water bodies, open spaces and other natural resources throughout Saugus. Together, SAVE members engage in events and programs throughout town, contributing to a caring and engaged community. Aiming to support the long-term wellbeing of our dynamically and diverse ecosystems, SAVE also seeks to reduce/eliminate pollution and spread awareness about environmental topics. Learn more about SAVE at https://saugussave.wordpress.com. SAVE will have a regular column every few weeks; we will do our best to answer questions we are often asked. If you have a question for us to answer, please send your question to Co Presidents Ann Devlin at adevlin@aisle10.net or Stephanie Shalkoski at stephaniems@gmail.com JOHN MACKEY & ASSOCIATES ~ Attorneys at Law ~ * PERSONAL INJURY * REAL ESTATE * FAMILY LAW * PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY * LANDLORD/TENANT DISPUTES 14 Norwood Street Everett, MA 02149 Phone: (617) 387-4900 Fax: (617) 381-1755 WWW.JMACKEYLAW.COM
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