05/13/2003

Donations to The Station Nightclub Fire Relief Fund should be sent to the Rhode Island Foundation. Checks should be made payable to The Station Nightclub Fire Relief Fund, c/o Rhode Island Foundation, 1 Union Station, Providence, RI 02903. Please mark "Station Nightclub Fund" on the envelope.

Victims and families seeking assistance should call (877) 748-3700.

Counseling, medical support

The American Lung Association of Rhode Island's Call Center has registered nurses and respiratory therapists available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. to answer questions about lung damage from all sources, including fire. The center's number is (800) 548-8252.

The Rhode Island Victims' Advocacy & Support Center (RIVASC) and the Diocese of Providence will sponsor bimonthly informational support sessions for families and friends directly affected by The Station fire. The sessions are designed to provide information about practical issues that arise in the aftermath of violent death, as well as group support offering coping tips and linkage with others who share a similar loss. Sessions will be facilitated by counselors and victim advocates with expertise in dealing with violent loss. May sessions will be held in the cafeteria of St. John the Baptist School, 17 St. John St., West Warwick, at 7 p.m. today and on Tuesday, May 27. For more information, call 943-9266.

St. Francis Cares Wellness Center, along with the Rhode Island Blood Center, is asking the community to help the victims of The Station fire by donating blood on Sunday in Meeting Rooms 5 and 6 (2nd floor) of the St. Francis Chapel, 58 Weybosset St., Providence, following the 8 a.m. Mass and until 12:30 p.m.

Other fundraisers

A Block Island Music Fest will be held Saturday from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the historic Spring House. Featured performers will be Sweeter Than Wine, Dave Howard and the High Rollers and Freerange. Amy Hagan, of WHJY, will be the emcee. Tickets are $20 and will be available at the door and in advance at Esta's Too, 257 Thayer St., Providence. All proceeds will benefit victims and their families and will be distributed through the Catholic Charity Fund of Providence. Checks should be notated: West Warwick Fire Emergency Fund.

Oasis Salon and Spa, 1037 Aquidneck Ave., Middletown, will hold a cut-a-thon Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Haircuts, mini-facials and manicures, children's manicures, facial waxing and massages will be offered. The first $1,000 raised will go toward the Gina Marie Andreozzi Scholarship Fund, named for a founding member of the salon who was killed in a 1996 car accident. All remaining money raised will go to The Station Nightclub Fire Relief Fund. For information, call 846-4444.

The West Warwick FOP Lodge 6 presents Power League Wrestling's Power-Fest 2003 on Sunday at 4 p.m. at the West Warwick Civic Center, Factory Street, West Warwick. Admission is free, but donations to WHJY's Doc Fund can be made at the door. Featured matches include the World Title match between champion Dr. Heresy vs. West Warwick's own Gary Apollo.

The Rhode Island Civic Chorale & Orchestra will perform The Mozart Requiem at a concert dedicated to The Station nightclub fire victims on Saturday, May 31, at 8 p.m. at the Cathedral of SS. Peter & Paul, Cathedral Square, Providence. Tickets are $15, but victims and family members may call the Family Resource Center at (877) 748-3700 to request free tickets.

The Station Memorial Park Fundraiser Show will be held at Club Jogues, Boston Street, Coventry, on Saturday, May 24, at 7 p.m. "The Legends Live" performers include Kevin White as Garth Brooks, Kevin Bond as Elvis Presley, Bill Connors as Elton John, and Doug MacIntyre as Roy Orbison. Country singer Patty Berg will also perform. Tickets are $15 and will not be sold the night of the show. For more information, call Club Jogues at 821-9730 or Dan at 828-4135.

The Continental B & T Softball Club will sponsor the First Keith Mancini Memorial Softball Tournament to benefit The Station Victims Fund, Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26. There will be men's, women's and co-ed divisions with trophies and T-shirts (provided by area businesses) to the winners in each divisions, plus other giveaways and events. The entrance fee for each team will be $100. All proceeds will go to The Station Fire Victims Fund. For more information and team registration, call Ralph Tedeschi at 258-5219.