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April 21, 2006

'Goodnight Moon' exhibit says hello at RISD

PROVIDENCE -- The Rhode Island School of Design's museum kicks off a 12-week exhibition today featuring the artwork of three famed children's book illustrators: Clement, Edith and Thacher Hurd.

Clement Hurd was best known for illustrating "Goodnight Moon,'' a bedtime story that has sold millions of copies since it was first published in 1947.

A life-size, three-dimensional display of the "great green room" from "Goodnight Moon" greets visitors to the exhibit. That room is the setting of the story. The exhibit also features 70 original illustrations from other Hurd family books including "The Runaway Bunny" and "The World Is Round."

Reading sessions are scheduled every Friday at 11 a.m.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:53 PM | Comment

R.I. Guard helicopter unit named tops in nation

The Rhode Island National Guard's Blackhawk helicopter battalion was the Guard's top aviation unit in the nation last year, according to a statement released today by the adjutant general of Rhode Island.

While deployed in Iraq last year as part of Task Force Dragonwing, the unit flew an average of 226 hours per week, conducting nearly 2,000 air missions while transporting more than 66,000 passengers and 5,100 tons of cargo.

The group of 457 soldiers, led by Col. Christopher Callahan of North Kingstown, flew 46 combat missions, and were subjected to 22 known ground missile attacks, which left seven aircraft damaged.

No members of the unit were killed or seriously injured.

This is the first time an aviation unit from Rhode Island has been named the nation's top National Guard Aviation Unit.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:50 PM | Comment

Photo: Never fear, the "Underdog" stunt man is here

PROVIDENCE -- Part of downtown Providence is closed today as Disney continues to film its movie ``Underdog.''

The city has closed off Westminster Street, between Dorrance Street and Memorial Boulevard along the river from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. today. No cars can get through, and pedestrians will have limited access.

Filming on the live-action remake of the 1960s' cartoon continues tomorrow and through next week with more street closures.

-- With reports from projo.com staff and the Associated Press

City and state officials have welcomed ``Underdog'' with open arms. Steven Feinberg, director of the Rhode Island Film and Television Office, says the multimillion-dollar movie provides 300 jobs and is the most expensive production ever to film in New England.

The same stretch of Westminster between Dorrance Street and Memorial Boulevard will be closed tomorrow and next Tuesday and Wednesday, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. On Monday, Thursday and Friday, the portion of Westminster between Dorrance and Mathewson streets will be closed to traffic with limited pedestrian accesss.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 6:30 PM | Comment

Former Providence School Board member Burns dies

PROVIDENCE -- Gene Burns, an emeritus member of the Providence School Board, died last night after an extended illness. Burns, 77, who was appointed to the school board in 1998, rarely missed an invitation to a school event and was a constant presence in the city's schools.

"Gene brought love and joy wherever he went,'' said School Board President Mary McClure. "He was a true friend, a wonderful colleague and a mentor to me and other school board memnbers. I had hoped for many more years of wisdom and support.''

Burns attended the Providence public schools and graduated from Johnson & Wales University. A longtime advocate for education, he served on the New Jersey Board of Education from 1974 until 1993 before returning to Providence in the early 1990s.

-- Journal education writer Linda Borg

He was the past president of EKB Associates and had recently retired from Shreve, Crump and Low in Boston.

Deputy Supt. Frances Gallo said that Burns lived with "simplicity and confidence .Dr. Burns served as a guidepost for many of us ... I miss him already.''

-- Journal education writer Linda Borg

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:04 PM | Comment

National Grid cuts proposed rate drop in half

National Grid has cut in half its proposed rate decrease for its customers in Rhode Island, citing the rising cost of natural gas and oil over the past two weeks.

This afternoon, the electric company told state regulators that it wants to reduce rates by about 1.9 percent, instead of the 3.9 percent reduction it had proposed on March 31.

The new proposal would lower a typical customer's monthly bill from $80.94 a month to $79.38 a month, a reduction of $1.56.

The company still wants the rate change to be effective on May 1. The Public Utilities Commission is expected to take up the matter at its next open meeting on April 26.

The initial decrease was proposed in light of declining energy prices last month. But over the past two weeks, crude oil prices reached a new record high, and natural gas prices are rising as well.

Electricity rates for National Grid's customers in Rhode Island are directly tied to the market price of crude oil and natural gas. The company's contracts with most of its electricity suppliers contain stipulations that require National Grid to pay more for the power, if energy prices rise above a certain trigger point.

"Despite that increase [in energy prices], there still is a decrease" in rates, said David Graves, a spokesman for National Grid. "Unfortunately, it's not as large as we had originally hoped."

The proposed rate for "standard offer" service, which most customers receive, would be 9.7 cents per kilowatt-hour, down from the current rate of 10 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Posted by Tim Barmann at 4:27 PM | Comment

Laura Bush to give RWU commencement speech

BRISTOL -- The First Lady of the United States will deliver the commencement address at Roger Williams University next month.

University officials this afternoon confirmed that Laura Bush will address the school's 850 graduating seniors on May 20. Bush is scheduled to make remarks on Senior Day at Vanderbilt University, but her visit to Rhode Island will be her only commencement address this year, according to Roger Williams President Roy J. Nirschel.

"We’re just really, really flattered and honored that she chose Roger Williams University," he said in an interview this afternoon.

Nirschel said that efforts to bring the First Lady to Bristol began more than a year ago. Nirschel's wife, Paula, hand-delivered a letter requesting this year's appearance when she brought a group of Afghan women studying at Roger Williams to the White House last year.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:19 PM | Comment

Central Falls Police: Man 'grazed' by bullet

CENTRAL FALLS -- A Central Falls man was grazed by a bullet in a shooting on Sylvian Street last night.

Evaristo Diaz, 34, was taken to Rhode Island Hospital after a bullet nicked his back just past 11 p.m. while he was outside 27 Sylvian St., Central Falls Police Chief Joseph Moran said this afternoon.

The injury was not considered serious.

Moran said that little was known about the shooting. Five or six shots were fired from a passing car. It is unclear what sort of vehicle was involved, or if any of the bullets hit the nearby buildings.

Moran said Diaz "may not have been the target." He would not elaborate.

Those with information about the shooting are encouraged to call Central Falls Police at (401) 727-7411 and ask for the detective division.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:16 PM | Comment

Dolphin dies after rescue from Pawcatuck River

MYSTIC, Conn. -- An Atlantic white-sided dolphin that swam up the Pawcatuck River on the Rhode Island-Connecticut border has died.

Experts at the Mystic Aquarium say the dolphin died overnight, despite intensive treatment from specialists there.

The dolphin was taken to the aquarium last night when it became entangled in brush in the river as it runs behind downtown Westerly, R.I. Crowds had gathered to watch, as the dolphin swam up the river, whose mouth is a few miles away.

Experts say it was sicker than first thought and did not survive through the night.

Noris Bohachevsky, the aquarium's curator for marine mammals and birds, says the dolphin was underweight and bruised. He say it's unusual for an Atlantic white-sided dolphin to travel alone up a river from the ocean, as the animals typically live in large groups.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:30 PM | Comment

Update: 3 rescued off Misquamicut treated, released

WESTERLY -- Three men rescued off Misquamicut by the U.S. Coast Guard this morning have been treated and released from Westerly Hospital, according to Robert Ballou, chief of staff at the state Department of Environmental Management.

The men were all from Connecticut, Ballou said: Windell Walker, 47, of Bridgeport; Joe Hall, 59, of Naugatuck; and Paul St. Germain, 59, of Prospect.

The men were stranded this morning when their boat took on water and capsized. It turns out the drain plug in the 17-foot aluminum boat either came out or was never in place to begin with, Ballou said.

The Coast Guard was alerted at about 9:45 a.m..

When the Coast Guard from Point Judith arrived on scene around 10:20 a.m., rescue crews found all three men – two on top of the capsized boat and one who was in the water and had been for 35 minutes.

“They were all wearing life vests, which undoubtedly saved their lives,” Ballou said. “This is a time of year when the water is still frigid, in the low 50s.”

Had it not been for the quick response by the Coast Guard and those life jackets, the outcome could have been quite different, he said.

The men were taken to Weekapaug Breechway and then on to the hospital.

DEM also responded to the accident, but the Coast Guard arrived on scene first, Ballou said.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:44 PM | Comment

Updated: Castle Cinema auction canceled

PROVIDENCE -- An auction planned this morning for Chalkstone Avenue's Castle Cinema has been canceled.

The restaurant and neighborhood cinema was scheduled for a foreclosure auction at 10 a.m., after its owners, New Concept Entertainment, failed to get the theater up and running since assuming ownership in January.

The auction company, Irving Schechtman & Co., confirmed this morning that the auction has been "completely canceled, not postponed."

The proceedings were canceled because New Concept Entertainment filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection yesterday. By federal law, the filing automatically halts foreclosure auctions, pending a review of the company's assets and liabilities by a judge.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:23 PM | Comment

Ousted Beacon board members consider legal action

The two Beacon board members bounced by Governor Carcieri are considering taking the governor to court.

George H. Nee and Henry Boeniger told The Journal today that they are weighing their options after the governor sent them letters yesterday notifying them of their removal from the board of the Beacon Mutual Insurance Co., Rhode Island’s dominant worker’s compensation insurer.

Nee is the secretary-treasurer of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO. Boeniger is government relations director of the National Education Association Rhode Island.

Carcieri blasted the pair for voting against firing Beacon CEO Joseph A. Solomon for cause at a marathon meeting that ended early Wednesday morning. According to a Carcieri spokesman, Nee and Boeniger advocated that Solomon be fired without cause, or be allowed to resign, preserving his $3 million severance package. But the board voted, 4-2 with one abstention, to fire Solomon and a vice president for cause.

As a result, Carcieri said that he was acting within his powers by removing Nee and Boeniger from the Beacon board for cause.

``I intend to fight,’’ said Nee. ``This is groundless and politically motivated. The governor is creating an irresponsible atmosphere in which to straighten out our problems.’’

If Nee and Boeniger do go to court, they will have to pay their own legal fees. Bill Fischer, a Beacon spokesman, said that the board’s lawyer has informed them that Beacon won’t pay, and that they would have to hire their own lawyers.

``They as individual board members are going to have to decide how to respond to the governor,’’ said Fischer.

Nee said that he is committed to remaining on a board on which he has served since 1994, and helping to fix problems highlighted by a review that the board commissioned by Giuliani Safety & Security.

While that review, overseen by former Gov. Lincoln Almond, was ``constructive,’’ Nee said that Carcieri has been ``destructive.’’

``I’m looking at a company with an overall record of accomplishment, and I’m proud of my service,’’ said Nee. ``I’m not going to sugar-coat the problems, but we initiated the Giuliani review and while the results didn’t come out as we would’ve liked, we’re committed to going forward.’’

Nee said that he found it particularly ``offensive’’ that Carcieri, a Republican up for re-election this year, has removed the Beacon board’s two labor leaders, both of whom had been appointed, and reappointed, by previous governors.

``Beacon may be the best example in Rhode Island of the cooperation between business and labor,’’ said Nee. ``This governor doesn’t get it. Everything is politically motivated, and based on him looking ahead to November.’’

Boeniger said that he is also considering legal action, but weighing that against the cost and the reality that he would only likely remain on the board for another six months, when his term expires.

``The governor’s no friend to working people, so the chances that he would reappoint me are slim,’’ said Boeniger. ``I get a letter from the governor saying that he’s removing me for cause, because I didn’t vote the way he wanted me to? . . . That doesn’t wash.’’

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this item incorrectly reported the title for Boeniger, who is NEA's government relations director.

Posted by Jack Perry at 2:13 PM | Comment

Let the turkey hunt begin

Rhode Islanders will soon have the chance to trim the state's burgeoning wild turkey population.
The spring wild turkey hunting season begins tomorrow, with a special two-day season for youths and paraplegics, according to the state Department of Environmental Management. The regular spring turkey season starts Thursday, running through May 29.
Hunters must have permits and can hunt only from one half hour before sunrise until 1 p.m.

Wild turkeys have "adapted well to Rhode Island habitats," and there are an estimated 6,000 of the birds in the Ocean State, said Brian Tefft, principal wildlife biologist of the DEM's Division of Fish and Wildlife.
Some encounters between man and bird haven't been friendly. Last month, the police in Middletown advised people to steer clear of the birds when a 50-year-old man complained that a wild turkey kicked him after he tried shooing the bird away from his car.
Despite such run-ins, the number of turkey hunters in the state has stayed relatively consistent, with about 1,400 to 1,500 hunters, according to Tefft.
"There's a core group of avid people that like to do this," he said.
Last year, hunters harvested 207 birds.
"They're very tasty," he said.

Posted by Jack Perry at 1:26 PM | Comment

Coast Guard rescues 3 off Misquamicut

Westerly -- The U.S. Coast Guard rescued three people this morning after their small metal boat capsized in the vicinity of Misquamicut beach and stranded one person in the water for about 35 minutes, according to Petty Officer Glenn M. Holt at the command center in Woods Hole, Mass.

The other two people had managed to climb up on top of their overturned 17-foot metal boat, Holt said.

All three people were taken for medical treatment, Holt said. They had been wearing life preservers.

The Coast Guard does not yet have their names, ages or gender, according to Petty Officer James R. Metcalf at the Point Judith station.

The person in the water for 35 minutes had a weak but steady pulse by the time he was rescued and dilated pupils, all basic symptoms of hypothermia, Holt said.

Details of what happened are not yet known.

Holt said an initial cell phone call at 9:51 a.m. to the Coast Guard’s command center reported six people in the water, but rescue crews later confirmed only three people were in the water.

At 9:56 a.m., the Point Judith Coast Guard station launched two boats – 27 and 47-feet-long, Holt said. The Coast Guard also sent a helicopter out to search, but called that off when the 47-foot boat arrived on scene at 10:20 a.m. and rescuers found the three people, Holt said.

By 10:27 a.m., the three were all in the 47-foot rescue boat, Holt said.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 1:20 PM | Comment

Butler offers free mental health check via the Web

Butler Hospital announced today that it plans to hold a free and anonymous public screening for mental health disorders on May 4.

Butler also announced that it offers free online screenings at its Web site, where computer users can determine whether they have depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or alcoholism.

The hospital will hold the confidential screenings from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Care New England Wellness center in Warwick. They will be held on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Online screenings are accessible around the clock.

The hospital warns that the brief screenings are not the same as having a full psychiatric evaulation, and that further evaluation may be necessary for a complete diagnosis.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:53 PM | Comment

New waterfront park planned in Providence

PROVIDENCE _ The city's plans for a new waterfront park will be unveiled on Monday. The three-acre park, on land to be freed up by the Route 195 relocation project, will be located near Eddy and Ship Streets.

Mayor David N. Cicilline, Parks Superintendent Alix Ogden and representatives from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will present the details on Monday at 10 a.m. near the park site.

Mayor Cicilline will also announce a citywide design competition for the park. The Mayor said he considers Providence’s waterfront the next frontier for economic development activity, creating a once in a lifetime opportunity to build an
entirely new Providence neighborhood.

-- Journal staff writer Cathleen F. Crowley

Posted by Kate Bramson at 12:05 PM | Comment

Providence police ID motorcyclist killed in crash

PROVIDENCE – The police this morning identified the man who died in a motorcycle-car collision on Manton Avenue last evening as 46-year-old Robert J. Deshaies of 112 Ortoleva Drive in Providence.

Traveling east at 6:55 p.m., Deshaies collided with a westbound car turning left in front of him to pull into the Stop & Shop parking lot at 850 Manton Ave., Major Paul Fitzgerald said.

Fault has not been determined, and the accident is still under investigation, Fitzgerald said. No charges have been filed.

The driver of the 2003 Volkswagen -- Junel Decena, 25, of 12 Cedar Pond Drive in Warwick -- was not injured, Fitzgerald said. Deshaies was riding a 1999 Honda motorcycle.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:40 AM | Comment

Clear but cooler today; showers over weekend

Today’s outlook: Clear and mostly sunny, but cooler than yesterday, with highs expected in the upper 50s.

Then, much-needed rain is on the horizon every day through Tuesday, with the chance of showers ranging over the next few days from 30 percent to 70 percent.

Read more about worries of a drought in today's Journal.

Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:00 AM | Comment