THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, August 16, 2019 Page 15 ... Also graduating H ere are the other Saugus firefighters who graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy last Friday with Robert Johnson: Mario Long, 40, of Saugus; originally from Revere and a 1997 graduate of Revere High School. He received his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Niagara University (2001). He previously worked in the facilities department at Boston University for 15 ½ years. His wife, Ashley, is a Revere native. Derek Lanzillo, 31, of Lynn; he is a 2006 Saugus High School graduate. He served with the U.S. Army for five years, part of it in the Middle East. He was discharged as a corporal when he returned home in April of 2017. His wife, Katelyn, is also a Saugus native, and she is a 2008 Saugus High School graduate. They have two children: Layla, 6; and Elliana, 2. Robert Roberto, 23, is a 2014 Saugus High School graduate. He worked security recently. Dario Picozzi, 28, of Saugus, is a 2009 graduate of Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School, of Wakefield – going to be a licensed plumber. At 6-foot-five-inches, he played four years as a center on the Northeast Metro Tech varsity basketball team. ASKS | FROM PAGE 14 and they light different fires in different locations. You have to enter the building wherever they tell you and move the hose through. Most of the time, you can’t really see. You are always crawling on your hands and knees. It’s not exactly real-world training, but it’s as close as you can get with getting it. Q: So, there were stairs and stuff you had to climb? A: Oh yes. It’s a full-fledged building. It’s poured concrete. Q: And they set fire to wooden pallets and other stuff. A: Yes. They stage different things, so they have different scenarios. We’ll do four to six scenarios a day, then you have multiple fires in different rooms that you have to move through and coordinate fire attacks, so we have all different scenarios we’re working on different sides of the building. Q: Where there any kind of scenarios where you had to rescue somebody? A: Yes, we did some civilian rescue and we also do RIT Training, which is Rapid Intervention Team, so that would be to rescue a downed firefighter, and that’s always good stuff to learn. Q: So, what did you do to unwind and relax during a grueling 10 weeks? A: I just tried to stick to a norWE MADE IT: The five Saugus Fire Department recruits who graduated last Friday (Aug. 9) from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. From left to right are Robert Johnson, Robert Roberto, Mario Long, Derek Lanzillo and Dario Picozzi. (Courtesy photo of the state Department of Fire Services to The Saugus Advocate) mal schedule on Saturdays, one day to do what I wanted to do, so during the week nights, I studied and I would be exhausted, then on Saturday I would go out with my girlfriend and friends and just try to put that [academy training] on the back burner for one day, and then get back to it on Sunday. Q: Anything else that you GIRLS & BOYS AGES 2 1/2 - ADULT BEGINNER THROUGH ADVANCED LEVELS CLASSES OFFERED: would like to share about the firefighting academy or your aspirations, looking ahead, in the Saugus Fire Department? A: I think the other guys that I went with, they were a good group of guys, and we helped to support each other and get each other through, so I definitely think it helps to have a good group to go with: guys that you can depend on. And that will probably carry through with my career, hopefully, and we’ll work together for a long time. Q: And you’re a legacy, following in your dad’s footsteps as a firefighter, so if you get married and have children, do you hope to continue that? A: I haven’t even thought about it yet. We’ll see when the time comes, I guess. Q: Anything else? A: I’m thankful to Chief Newbury just for giving me the opportunity to do something that I was trying to do for a while. My name finally came up on the list, and he thought I would be a good fit, and hopefully, I will prove him right along my career. - Gymnastics - Hip Hop - Ballet - Jazz - Lyrical - Contemporary - Tap - Combination Classes GO FOR THE GOLD!! Sheila Rosanio Celebrating 35 Years! Tumbling Classes for Cheerleaders Recreational and Competition Classes School of Dance & Gymnastics National Spirit of Dance Champions 2019 Atlantic City, NJ THURS. AUG 15 / 4 - 8 PM MON. AUG 19 / 4 - 8 PM OPEN HOUSE AND REGISTRATION FRI. AUG 16 / 4 - 8 PM FRI. AUG 23 / 4-8 PM CLASSES START TUESDAY, SEPT. 3RD 233 WASHINGTON AVE., REVERE • Call Now to Register 781-284-4060 Email: sheilarosanio@gmail.com • www.sheilarosanio.com SAT. AUG 17 / 10 AM - 4 PM SAT. AUG 24 / 10 AM - 4 PM
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