Retired Brunswick firefighter visits new station as part of wish

BRUNSWICK — A former Brunswick firefighter walked down memory lane by touring the city's new fire station to make his wish come true on Friday. John Caroniti served at the Brunswick Division of Fire from the 1990s to the 2010s. He is now retired and a resident at Broadway Creek Estates. Broadway Creek Resident Experience Director Abigail Crow said there is a new companywide initiative called "Dreams Come True" where someone can put a resident's dream, big or small, on a bulletin board for the chance of being fulfilled. "He left before the new station was built, so ever since he heard it was built, he was like 'Oh man, I really want to see that,'" she said. "He's always wanted to get a tour and see what it looks like now." Caroniti's adventure started with lunch with Brunswick-area firefighters at Mission BBQ in Brunswick. He later toured the new fire station with a smile on his face. "I'm amazed at the progression," he said. "We didn't have power cots at all, and then the stair chairs, we didn't have that. It was all manual. We didn't have dorms or training rooms. It was all bare bones." As soon as someone sees the joy on residents' faces from having their dream come true, it is easy to see just how important the initiative is, Crow said. "It just brings back memories," Caroniti said. "I wanted to see the guys, reminisce about the calls and bond. It's hard on the body, but it's a great profession." Crow said she is already working to accomplish something like this for other residents. If anyone is interested in being part of making a resident's dream come true, call Broadway Creek at (330) 764-3877. "Sometimes there's just that one thing that you didn't get to do, that you always wanted to do," she said. "Why not do it? There's still time left." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.