Digital Extra: The Station Fire

The state will bestow two Hope Awards, there will be a memorial service, and a play written by Nicholas O'Neill -- who had just turned 18 when he died in the fire -- will be televised.

01:00 AM EST on Monday, February 13, 2006

BY EDWARD FITZPATRICK
Journal Staff Writer

An awards ceremony, a memorial service and a televised play written by a young victim are among the events scheduled to coincide with the third anniversary of The Station nightclub fire.

James Paolucci, owner of the Cowesett Inn, in West Warwick, and Victoria Potvin Eagan, cofounder and former president of The Station Family Fund, will receive Rhode Island Hope Awards from Governor Carcieri and his wife on Sunday.

Paolucci and Eagan will be the first recipients of the awards, which were created as an annual remembrance of those affected by the blaze on Feb. 20, 2003, that left 100 people dead and more than 200 injured.

The awards will be presented in two categories. Paolucci will receive the Outstanding First Responder award. He opened his restaurant to survivors and first responders as the fire broke out across the street at the nightclub. And he kept the restaurant open that weekend for first responders, providing food, beverages and anything else they needed.

Eagan will receive the Outstanding Support Toward Recovery award. She was able to escape from the club the night of the fire, but she lost a close friend. And through her grief, she helped lead the effort to establish the Station Family Fund, which provides financial and emotional support for survivors and victims' families.

The ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. Sunday, at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, in Cranston. It is open to the public.

Earlier that day, at 2 p.m., The Station Fire Memorial Foundation will hold its annual memorial service at the site of the fire.

Anne Marie D'Alessio, director of the Rhode Island Victims' Advocacy & Support Center, will offer a reflection at the service.

"Anne Marie has been an incredible advocate for all of the victims and families of The Station fire and a great supporter of The Station Fire Memorial Foundation's efforts," said Kimberly Jalette, president of the foundation. "She was the perfect choice to deliver the reflection, as she has shown there is 'Strength in Unity,' the theme of this year's service."

The foundation's mission is to procure the site of the fire and ensure that a proper memorial is erected and maintained there.

On Sunday, Cox Cable Channel 70 will air a play written by Nicholas O'Neill, who had just turned 18 when he died in the fire, making him the youngest victim.

O'Neill was 16 when he wrote the one-act play, They Walk Among Us, which is about teenagers who die and return as guardian angels.

The play was performed for the first time in February 2004 at the Stadium Theatre, in Woonsocket. About 30 of O'Neill's relatives and friends worked to bring the play to the stage, and more than 800 people attended, according to a statement from O'Neill's father, Dave Kane, and other family members.

"This year we would like to increase the impact and exposure of this beautiful play in a very unique way," the statement said. So O'Neill's family produced the "teleplay," which will be shown at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, on Channel 70. "This will allow us to use Nicky's powerful message of hope to solicit donations for The Station Family Fund."

efitzpat@projo.com / (401) 277-7368