New superintendents face fiscal, academic pressures Jan 14, 2008
Of the six superintendents who came on board this school year, two - Georgia Fortunato in Lincoln, and Kenneth Sheehan in West Warwick - are at least familiar with Rhode Island's unique educational and political culture. The other four first-timers have held jobs in other states and are new to Rhode Island this school year. (Boston Globe)
Families: No parole for R.I. club owner Jan 10, 2008
Derderian and his brother, Jeffrey, pleaded no contest to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter for illegally installing highly flammable foam as soundproofing on the walls of their West Warwick club. He has said he did not knowingly put people at risk and apologized for not asking more questions about the foam. (USA Today -- News)
Parole hearing for former Station club owner Jan 9, 2008
The burned remnants of 'The Station' nightclub litters the scene February 23, 2003 in West Warwick, Rhode Island. (Douglas McFadd, Getty Images) PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - There will be a hearing today in Rhode Island for one of the former owners of the nightclub where 100 people died in a fire almost five years ago. (FOX23.com, OK)
Report faults public pension system in Rhode Island Dec 24, 2007
House Speaker William J. Murphy, Democrat of West Warwick, said he plans to form a commission to study whether to change the public pension system, now a defined-benefit plan, toward a 401(k)-like system. Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company. (Boston Globe)
Preview: Westerly High girls' basketball Dec 6, 2007
Dec. 21 at West Warwick 7:00 ... Jan. 18 West Warwick 7:00. (Westerly Sun, RI)
URI to present Rhode Island premiere of 'Little Women' Nov 24, 2007
University of Rhode students, from left, Stephanie Sherman of Marlboro, N.J., Micah Tougas of West Kingston, and Lara Maynard of West Warwick ... The cast includes the following students from Rhode Island and Connecticut: Maria Day of North Kingstown as Marmee; David DeAlmo of Hope Valley, John Brooke; Nile Hawver of Coventry, Laurie Laurence; Lara Maynard of West Warwick, Meg March; Jennifer Michaels of Stonington, Ensemble, U.S. Meg March; JonPaul Rainville of Richmond, Ensemble, U.S. Laurie... (Westerly Sun, RI)
Many city bars, clubs bypass sprinkler law Nov 22, 2007
The situation has left some lawmakers frustrated that more sprinklers have not been installed four years after The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, R.I. A key legislator on the law, Brian P. Lees, said the widespread use of extensions and waivers runs counter to legislators' intent when they passed the Massachusetts law. "All I can tell you is I did my best to make sure there was plenty of time so everyone would have the opportunity to get it done," said Lees, a former state senator who... (Boston Globe)
Some R.I. police violate racial profiling law, ACLU says Nov 19, 2007
The ACLU found six police departments, Foster, Glocester, Richmond, South Kingstown, Tiverton, and West Warwick ignored the statute by posting neither document on their websites. Of the departments that have posted the forms and policies, Brown said, only 11 did not require complainants to submit "unnecessary and potentially intrusive information.". (Boston Globe)
64 bars, clubs get fire law reprieve Nov 16, 2007
Al Gray, whose son died in The Station nightclub blaze in West Warwick, R.I., in 2003, says he is sickened by bar owners' lack of compliance. "One hundred people burned to death," he said. (Boston Globe)
More of this story Nov 16, 2007
When he announced his plans to retire in October, McCarthy said his biggest challenge during his seven years as fire chief was dealing with the stringent fire code and new fire regulations the General Assembly passed after The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick in February 2003 that killed 100 people and injured more than twice that number. Those changes left most of the enforcement to local fire departments. (Newport Daily News, RI)
Woman in crash was from city Nov 6, 2007
The Bristol County District Attorney's Office also identified Michael Groff, 29, of West Warwick as the second victim of Wednesday's double fatality. Groff apparently underwent a double lung transplant six months ago to reverse years of damage caused by cystic fibrosis. (Woonsocket Call, RI)
Settlement In R.I. Nightclub Fire Lawsuit Nov 1, 2007
In this image made from television, flames engulf The Station, a nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island late Thursday, Feb. 20, 2003 during a rock concert pyrotechnics display, causing 100 deaths ... Atlanta-based Home Depot and Polar Industries Inc. join a handful of defendants who have agreed to settle with more than 300 people who sued for the fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick. (CBS News -- US)
Swimming Legend Ed Golden To Be Honored By URI Nov 1, 2007
He worked in both the Cranston and Narragansett school districts, while Judy served as a nurse for over 30 years in the West Warwick school system. She passed away in August, 2006. (Gorhody.com)
Home Depot, insulation company settle for $5 million in Rhode Island nightclub fire Nov 1, 2007
The fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick was caused by pyrotechnics ignited by the rock band Great White. The pyrotechnics set ablaze flammable foam around the stage where the band was performing. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Business)
Men's and Women's Basketball Teams Hold Second Annual Meet the Players Dinner Oct 31, 2007
WEST WARWICK, R.I. -- Tonight, fans of the University of Rhode Island men's and women's basketball team gathered at Valley Country Club in West Warwick, R.I. to celebrate the upcoming 2007-08 seasons at the second annual Meet the Players dinner. Steve McDonald, radio voice of the Rams men's basketball team, served as master of ceremonies for the evening. (Gorhody.com)
Developers promoted casino plans of one tribe while thwarting plans of another Oct 14, 2007
Thomas said the tribe - which proposed its development for a site in the economically depressed town of West Warwick - was not looking for a sympathy vote from the public ... It portrayed the casino proposal, which was to be located in West Warwick, as the work of a cabal of out-of-staters intent on dictating state policy, ignoring the Narragansett's deep local roots. (Boston Globe)
Bond sale brings big bucks to CF Oct 13, 2007
Kuzmiski said the cash received as a result of the bond sales would likely fund improvements that would bring city buildings into compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, as well as fire and building safety requirements introduced in Rhode Island following the infamous fire that destroyed the Station rock club in West Warwick, killing 100 people in 2003. The bond money will also fund improvements at City Hall and the city's community center, as well as renovations to City Hall, where... (Pawtucket Times, RI)
Rhode Island Senator Stephen Alves denies he blocked bill in order to punish city Oct 4, 2007
Alves, of West Warwick, has not been charged and said he has not been questioned by the FBI. The accusations come during a massive investigation into State House corruption, called "Operation Dollar Bill," that federal prosecutors have said involves seven politicians and seven corporations. Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena told the Providence Journal that FBI agents questioned him about Alves's purported decision to kill tax incentive legislation designed to bring a trucking company to the city. (Boston Globe)
Patron charged with assault on trooper Oct 2, 2007
One major goal was to test whether systems that broke down in past emergencies, such as the deadly nightclub fire in West Warwick four years ago, have been fixed. Since the fire, Rhode Island officials have invested millions of dollars in a statewide communication system, and it worked successfully, Assistant Providence Fire Chief Michael Dillon said. (Boston Globe)
Band manager gets parole in Rhode Island nightclub fire Sep 20, 2007
The board cited letters of support for the parole of Daniel M. Biechele, 30, from relatives of some of the 100 people who died in the Feb. 20, 2003, fire at the Station nightclub in West Warwick. "The Board carefully considered the institutional and public input of the victims, both opposed and in favor of his release - the numerous support letters, his progress in the correctional system, his proposed release plan and his low score on our Parole Release Risk Instrument," the board's statement... (Boston Globe)
Band Manager in Rhode Island Nightclub Fire Paroled Sep 20, 2007
Biechele lit pyrotechnics as a stage prop at the start of a Great White concert at The Station nightclub in West Warwick. Sparks from the explosives ignited flammable soundproofing foam around the stage, and the flames quickly spread throughout the one-story roadhouse. (FOX23 News, NY)
Collateral damage Sep 19, 2007
But consider an analysis that came out of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston last year as Rhode Island weighed a destination resort casino in West Warwick. In a memo, Heather Brome, a policy analyst, wrote: "The empirical evidence we reviewed suggests that, in most cases, large casinos in highly populated areas, such as the proposed West Warwick casino, have little secondary economic impact.". (Boston Globe)
CSTV and Cox Partner to Provide Exclusive Game Broadcasts of URI Sports Sep 18, 2007
NEW YORK and WEST WARWICK, R.I. -- CSTV and Cox Communications New England are teaming up to provide fans with the broadest and deepest coverage of college sports, including coverage of University of Rhode Island men's basketball. CSTV has been launched on Cox New England and can be found on digital channel 143. (Gorhody.com)
Tentative deal in Station fire case Sep 6, 2007
Eight law firms representing almost all the victims of the deadliest fire in Rhode Island history have reached agreements in principle with a manufacturer and a vendor of pyrotechnics, a foam insulation maker, an alarm company, and a real estate company that leased the West Warwick roadhouse to club owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian ... Also not involved in the settlements are the state, the Town of West Warwick, members of Great White, and various foam manufacturers. (Boston Globe -- Local)
Several defendants to settle in US nightclub fire Sep 5, 2007
The settlements mark the first in what relatives' lawyers hope will be several agreements with dozens of defendants in the lawsuits stemming from the Feb. 20, 2003, fire at the Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island. In addition to the 100 people killed, 200 people were injured. (International Herald Tribune -- Business)
Montalbano asks court to kill complaint Sep 5, 2007
The most serious ethics charges against Montalbano are that he voted, both in committee and on the floor of the Senate, on a bill to allow a referendum for a Narragansett Indian casino in West Warwick while at the same time doing title work as part of his private legal practice on parcels of land abutting the casino site. Other allegations against the Senate president for which the commission found probable cause include not filing a conflict of interest statement before those votes and failing... (Woonsocket Call, RI)
Roland C. McNeil, Sr., Sep 4, 2007
Catherine A. McNeil of West Warwick, Janice Ruizzo and Jacqueline Ruizzo, both of St. Cloud, Fla. one brother, Richard McNeil of California; ten grandchildren; one great grandson; and several nieces and nephews. (Pawtucket Times, RI)
City gets kudos. cash for recycling successes Sep 1, 2007
Mesolella explained that Pawtucket, along with the communities of West Warwick and New Shoreham (Block Island) is being rewarded for having the most improved recycling rate over the previous year's level. Doyle said that Dennis Leach, the city's recycling coordinator, has worked closely all year with Mesolella to implement new programs designed to extend the life of the state's landfill. (Pawtucket Times, RI)
Upping the ante at Twin River Aug 31, 2007
A referendum for a Narragansett Indian casino in West Warwick was soundly defeated by voters across the state last November. Despite that, San Bento said, if there is a ballot question in November 2008, to allow Twin River to be a full casino, "there is a good shot of it passing. People today realize how much revenue (Twin River and Newport Grand) bring in and how much we depend on it. We've got it, it's not going away, we've got to help them be successful." Even among Lincoln residents - who... (Pawtucket Times, RI)
Ethics panel turns down Montalbano Aug 22, 2007
The principal complaint against Montalbano before the commission is that he voted, once in committee and once on the Senate floor, in favor of a constitutional amendment for a Narragansett Indian casino in West Warwick while also doing title work for the town of West Warwick on land around the proposed casino site. Other charges include failing to file conflict of interest statements before his vote and not listing the work for West Warwick on financial disclosure forms. (Woonsocket Call, RI)
Porino's finds new life in Blackstone Valley Aug 21, 2007
Originally developed in the kitchen of the West Valley Inn in West Warwick, the pasta sauces that proved so popular with customers were spun off into a wholesale business by the restaurant's owners. Since 1985, a line of sauces, peppers and other food products under the label of Porino's Gourmet Foods were sold at local businesses and supermarkets. (Woonsocket Call, RI)
Casino revisited - this time in Massachusetts Aug 16, 2007
By rejecting the West Warwick casino, Rhode Island voters "absolutely" opened themselves up to not only the revenue that facility might have provided, but losing a large percentage of the revenue from Twin River and Newport Grand that the state budget depends upon. If Patrick gives a green light to casinos, a bill to allow as many as three them could come next January and the buildings could open their doors by 2010 or 2011, Barrow said. (Woonsocket Call, RI)
Mass. set to rake in the chips Aug 15, 2007
When Rhode Island voters soundly rejected a proposed Narragansett Indian casino in West Warwick a year ago, it "threw the doors wide open" for Massachusetts to dominate New England's gambling, entertainment, tourism, hospitality and convention industries, according to a local gambling expert ... "Until February of this year, the debate was as dead as it could be in Massachusetts. What you would have been looking at then is talk of a (one) casino in Middleboro that wouldn't have posed a threat to... (Pawtucket Times, RI)
Rose L. (Michaud) Lord Ireland Aug 14, 2007
She was the loving mother of Joan Lussier and her husband Ronald of West Warwick and Robert Lord and his partner F. Drew Hall of Mt. Dora, Fla. She was the grandmother of David Lussier and his wife Paula, Christopher Lussier and his wife Elizabeth, Daniel Lussier and his wife Krista. (Pawtucket Times, RI)
Communities get high marks for recycling Aug 11, 2007
With a 21 percent rate, Central Falls placed 11th and took a check worth $9,533, while Pawtucket tied with West Warwick and New Shoreham (Block Island) for "Most Improved Municipality" on the recycling spectrum. The Call 2007. (Woonsocket Call, RI)
Man convicted in blaze at club asks not to testify Aug 2, 2007
Sparks from Biechele's pyrotechnics ignited flammable foam on the walls of The Station nightclub in West Warwick, fueling a fire that swiftly engulfed the building and trapped concertgoers inside. Lawyers who represent a few hundred victims' relatives and fire survivors want to question Biechele as part of their lawsuits against dozens of defendants, including the State of Rhode Island, the former town fire marshal, members of Great White, and various foam manufacturers. (Boston Globe)
State auditor: Local pension plans at risk Jul 24, 2007
"I don't want to gamble with debt we put on the taxpayers." Officials from Central Falls and West Warwick did not return calls seeking comment for this story. The Call 2007. (Woonsocket Call, RI)
Pension plans hit the skids Jul 24, 2007
Strom said the city will be paying off that bond for the next 25 years 0Officials from Central Falls and West Warwick did not return calls seeking comment for this story. The Pawtucket Times 2007. (Pawtucket Times, RI)
Dionne resigns Jul 19, 2007
Fontaine said he later learned that a worker at City Hall had also received a harassing e-mail from "Leo Fontaine." After Fontaine traced the address of the e-mails through the city's Internet service provider, Kane said he realized the same person was responsible for sending him some "very painful" e-mails regarding the death of his son, Nicky O'Neill, in the 2003 fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick. Kane said the writer basically accused him of causing the death of his son by... (Woonsocket Call, RI)
Latin Mass spoken here Jul 8, 2007
The Rev. Richard Bucci, the pastor of Sacred Heart Church in West Warwick and a priest since 1973, says he s not surprised that the Latin Mass is becoming popular with younger priests. The younger priests are not part of the generation of the 60s, which tended to reject anything that came across as rigid, he said. (Providence Journal (subscription))
Town raises demands on casino Jul 3, 2007
Barrow pointed out that the Narragansett Indian tribe of Rhode Island had agreed to pay the town of West Warwick 2 percent of gross gambling revenue and to pay commercial property taxes on the casino. That proposal, backed by Harrah's Entertainment, was defeated in a state referendum last fall. (Boston Globe)
Even with a bursting bubble, buying a home still out of reach of many Rhode Islanders Jun 23, 2007
In Rhode Island, they can afford a median-priced home in only six communities - Central Falls, Pawtucket See HOUSING - Page A-6 Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence, Warwick, West Warwick, and Woonsocket. They are completely priced out of the other 33 cities and towns in the state. (Pawtucket Times, RI)
Ethics case on hold over legal entanglements Jun 20, 2007
" Had the schedule moved ahead as planned, Wistow, Montalbano's lawyer, would have been exchanging briefs on the jury trial and speech in debate questions with staff attorney Dianne Leyden, who maintains that courts, not the commission must decide constitutional issues, after the commission had already decided whether to go ahead and decide the constitutional question of whether there is a right to a jury trial in the Irons case. Commission staff has acknowledged that the Ethics Commission has... (Pawtucket Times, RI)
Hope Valley student is award-winning poet Jun 19, 2007
Meaghan received her award for the poem "The Power of Change" at an awards dinner in West Warwick last month, sponsored by the National Education Association Rhode Island. She received a plaque and a 100 savings bond and had the opportunity to read her poem. (Westerly Sun, RI)
AMATUER BASEBALL: Peabody Construction still getting into swing of things Jun 19, 2007
Ahead by two with starter Andy Krajewski cruising, a Coventry fielding error gave West Warwick the opening they needed, scoring four runs before Brett Thorton's two-run home run over the center field fence capped off a huge rally ... " West Warwick (2-2) knocked out eight hits through the first seven innings and stranded 10 runners in that span, but hammered out five hits in the eighth to pull out a fantastic come from behind win. "Our bats were slow to come around, but once they did we were... (Coventry Courier, RI)
Calling for a courageous senator to stand up to Montalbano Jun 15, 2007
Operation Clean Government filed a complaint against Montalbano claiming that he surreptitiously received money from the Town of West Warwick to clear title of land in the footprint of the proposed Harrah s casino while he was voting in favor of legislation supporting that proposed casino ... Of equal importance, Montalbano hid the conflict of interest from the people of this state and from the ethics commission by not disclosing his income from the Town of West Warwick on his annual financial... (Woonsocket Call, RI)
Raft of bills on prison issues filed Jun 13, 2007
"These are crimes of poverty,"he declared, "we operate a poor-person's prison." Sully DeBarros, a former prison inmate who lives in West Warwick, said he spent most of his adult life in prison because he could not get treatment for a drug addiction. After being released from prison, he was able to get drug treatment and has now been clean for 7 years. (Pawtucket Times, RI)
BASEBALL: Skips, Hendy to clash Jun 9, 2007
Saturday 09 June, 2007. Which Southern Division baseball team has the best chance to reach McCoy Stadium in the Division I tournament. (North Kingstown Standard Times, RI)
COLLGE BASEBALL: Rhody gets off on right foot at A-10 tourney Jun 6, 2007
Wednesday 06 June, 2007. Which Southern Division baseball team has the best shot of reaching McCoy Stadium in the Division I baseball tournament. (Naragansett Times, RI)
Ethics Commission could get burned trying to hold lawmaker to the fire Jun 4, 2007
Two of the counts brought against Montalbano say he violated the Ethics Code "by voting" a on a proposed constitutional amendment for a casino in West Warwick while he was doing land title work for West Warwick in the neighborhood around the proposed casino site ... The other four are essentially paperwork charges for not listing the West Warwick work on his financial disclosure form several years in a row -- Montalbano acknowledges that, calling it an oversight he corrected as soon as it was... (Woonsocket Call, RI)
R.I. Ethics Commission stymied Jun 1, 2007
s Jan. 24 finding of probable cause, two counts against Montalbano say that he violated ethics laws "by voting" on a proposed constitutional amendment for a Narragansett Indian casino in committee and in the full Senate while at the same time providing legal services in his private law practice to the town of West Warwick, where the casino was to be located. Two other counts say the Senate president violated the ethics code by not preparing a sworn statement in writing of a potential conflict in... (Woonsocket Call, RI)
Bankrupt lawmaker on finance panel? State tuition cuts for illegals? May 24, 2007
Keep an eye on whether legislators let Cumberland and other school districts off the hook or force expenditures that many think is an overreaction to The Station fire tragedy in West Warwick. Roger Bouchard is general manager of Woonsocket radio station WNRI. His column appears every Thursday. (Woonsocket Call, RI)
Senate OKs middle schools bond May 24, 2007
The finance committee voted just last week to approve no more than $67 million in state money for the two schools, a figure Senate Finance Committee Chairman Stephen Alves of West Warwick had been insisting for weeks was the limit the Senate would spend. Originally, the cost of the project was set at just under $80 million. (Woonsocket Call, RI)
GIRLS OUTDOOR TRACK: Avengers run to a strong fifth May 18, 2007
40), East compiled a team total of 28 points, good for fifth place overall behind West Warwick, North Kingstown, Coventry, and the champion South Kingstown Rebels. The results left East Greenwich coach Stan Johnson optimistic entering this weekend's class meets, where the Avs will finally go against schools of similar size in a more level playing field. (East Greenwich Pendulum, RI)
Kenyon Industries makes top five polluter's list in RI May 17, 2007
Stanley Fastening Systems, North Kingstown - 54,861 pounds *Exxon Mobil Oil Corp., East Providence - 51,439 pounds *Pearson Composites, LLC Warren - 44,550 pounds *Soluol Chemical Co. West Warwick - 41,338 pounds *Kenyon Industries - 37,338 pounds. Although Kenyon Industries was ranked fifth highest Rhode Island polluter in 2005, the EPA's Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) doesn't explain what chemical Kenyon's is releasing and how much progress Kenyon Industries has recently made cutting back... (Chariho Times, RI)
Senate chiefs face ethics complaints May 11, 2007
There is a motion to consolidate the two complaints against him for allegedly failing to report money received for legal work done on behalf of the town of West Warwick while Montalbano was participating in debate and voting on legislation connected to a proposed casino project in West Warwick ... Montalbano has acknowledged his failure to list West Warwick on his disclosure forms, but says it was an inadvertent oversight, which he corrected with amended reports as soon as it was brought to his... (Pawtucket Times, RI)
'Bunny' bill prohibits holiday tampering May 9, 2007
" West Warwick Rep. Patricia Serpa deplored the "homogenization and sanitation of religious symbols and religious holidays. It is the absolute opposite of diversity. (Pawtucket Times, RI)
Perception of French culture strong outside Woonsocket Apr 30, 2007
I knew, because I had already seen it -- in West Warwick, another bastion of French Canadians in Rhode Island ... But while there was once a time you couldn t walk down Main Street in Arctic without hearing the peculiar Canadian version of French, now the only place in West Warwick where you ll hear it is in the nursing homes ... It s the heart and soul of places like Woonsocket and West Warwick and it s written into the community s fabric more indelibly than those French words carved into... (Woonsocket Call, RI)
Legislature’s move to freeze school projects surprises all Apr 26, 2007
" says Senator Steve Alves of West Warwick, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. One lawmaker, Rep. Paul Crowley of Newport, was quoted in published reports as saying, "Let s take a year, let s sort this thing out and get it back on track. " Mayor Menard simply asked: "Why us, why now. (Woonsocket Call, RI)
Revaluations getting plenty of attention Apr 24, 2007
Communities pay the entire cost of a full revaluation, but the state pays 60 percent of the cost of the statistical updates, 80 percent for six so-called distressed communities: Pawtucket, Central Falls, Woonsocket, West Warwick, Providence and North Providence ... A measure sponsored by West Warwick Sen. (Pawtucket Times, RI)
Even voting isn’t free anymore in Rhode Island Apr 19, 2007
So what would motivate West Warwick Rep. Tim Williamson, who was the lead supporter of the failed West Warwick casino effort, in sponsoring this legislation. (Woonsocket Call, RI)
BASEBALL: League receives a facelift Apr 14, 2007
In all, 12 former D-II teams made the move up to D-I, including West Warwick, Westerly, East Greenwich and Narragansett in the Southern Division. Those four schools join North Kingstown, South Kingstown and Chariho in D-I-South. (Naragansett Times, RI)
School bond bill clears House Apr 11, 2007
Stephen D. Alves, D-West Warwick, recently told Woonsocket officials as they await another round of obstacles over the funding formula ... Brien, also a freshman representative, noted that in 1982, a governor s study established criteria for five "distressed" communities needing extra funding: Woonsocket, Providence, Pawtucket, West Warwick and Central Falls. (Woonsocket Call, RI)
R.I., fire marshal ask out of lawsuit Apr 10, 2007
Former West Warwick Fire Marshal Denis Larocque has said he never spotted flammable foam lining the walls of The Station nightclub. Sparks from a band's pyrotechnic display ignited the foam on Feb. 20, 2003, triggering a blaze that trapped dozens of people inside the packed roadside bar. (Boston Globe)
BU loses bid to open Qatar media branch Apr 7, 2007
Musicians from Great White are among dozens of defendants sued in federal court after the Feb. 20, 2003, fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, which began when a fireworks display at the start of their show set fire to flammable foam used as soundproofing around the stage. Three of the band members -- Mark Kendall, Eric Powers and David Filice -- maintain in new court papers that they had no managerial duties with the group, had no contact with the owners of the club, and did not... (Boston Globe)
