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October 6, 2006

Cranston post office to be dedicated to Holly Charette

CRANSTON -- The United State Postal Service expects several hundred people, including all the state's senators and congressmen, to attend an elaborate ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 15, dedicating a post office in Cranston to Lance Cpl. Holly A. Charette.

The 21-year-old Marine was killed in June 2005 in a suicide bomb attack in Iraq.

At least 150 Marines are expected to attend Sunday's dedication, including several who served with Charette, according to Christine Dugas, a USPS spokeswoman.

-- Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:58 PM | Comment

Massive search under way for young teen in Coventry

COVENTRY -- A massive search is under way for a Coventry teenager who has been missing from his father's home since this morning.

The boy, 14-year-old Daniel Shields, whose father is Coventry Police Officer John Shields, stayed home from school today because he was sick, according to Coventry Police Lt. John Sullivan.

Around 25 Coventry police officers and fire departments from more than 10 communities are searching the wooded area around the boy's home, 37 Carrs Trail, which is off Route 117. They are using at least two search dogs and all-terrain vehicles, Coventry police dispatcher Anthony Nardolillo said.

The search began at about 1 p.m., soon after Shields' father returned home and discovered that the boy was missing.

While Nardolillo acknowledged that it's not uncommon for teenagers to be missing for short periods of time, he said it is "very out of character for this kid to leave." Shields was a straight-A student at Prout High School, a private school in South Kingstown.

There is no evidence of foul play or forced entry at the scene, Sullivan said. And the police have already checked with family and friends, without success. Sullivan said his department has notified area hospitals and transportation companies of the boy's disappearance.

Shields has brown hair and blue eyes; he's 5' 7" and weighs 120 pounds. He may have been wearing a black shirt, Nardolillo said.

Daniel Shields' mother, Donna Shields, who had been a teacher at Exeter-West Greenwich school department, died in 2001.

Anyone with information as to Shields' whereabouts is encouraged to call Coventry police at (401) 826-1100.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:47 PM | Comment

No shortage of things to do this holiday weekend

Thousands of people will likely leave the Ocean State on this Columbus Day weekend, but for those who stay there's no shortage of things to do.

Here are a few ideas:

- Atumnfest in Woonsocket, Saturday, Sunday and Monday: Annual celebration features live entertainment, giant midway, arts and crafts vendors, food court with more than 20 vendors, kiddie fest, sports events, consumer showcase, talent show. Fireworks Sunday at 9:30 p.m.; giant parade on Monday at 9:30 a.m.

Oktoberfest in Newport, Saturday, Sunday and Monday: This annual festival features authentic Bavarian bands direct from Germany, alongside national orchestras and dance troupes. Enjoy delicious international food and beverage, the Biergarten, harvest marketplace and children's area.

Festa Italiana in Newport, Saturday, Sunday and Monday: Italian cuisine and family activities will be a highlight of the Festa Italiana, celebrating Italian heritage throughout Newport County.

Scituate Art Festival, Saturday, Sunday and Monday on the North Scituate Village Green: 200 artists and craftspeople, 30 antique dealers, arts and crafts raffle, musical entertainment, regional and ethnic foods.

Guy Fawkes Bonfire Night and Fireworks in Misquamicut, Saturday: Trumpets and bagpipes commemorate Britain’s most notorious traitor. Complete with re-enactment of 1605 trial for treason by the Misquamicut Players. Complete with music, Morris Dancers, Fife and Drum and more. Follows day-long Fall Festival. Fireworks finale.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:43 PM | Comment

Another day passes and no verdict in Urciuoli case

PROVIDENCE -- Three days and no verdict.

The jury in the Roger Williams Medical Center corruption case has adjourned for the third consecutive day without reaching a verdict. That means that Rhode Island and the three hospital executives will have to wait at least another three days before learning the final outcome of the high-profile case.

Deliberations will continue on Tuesday morning at 9:30, following the holliday weekend.

Former hospital President Robert A. Urciuoli, Frances P. Driscoll, a former hospital vice president, and Peter J. Sangermano Jr., a partner in the hospital's assisted-living center, are facing conspiracy and mail fraud charges. Prosecutors say the officials conspired to steal the honest services of former state Sen. John A. Celona by hiring him to do the hospital's bidding at the General Assembly.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:16 PM | Comment

Updated: Route 195 travel restriction lifted

PROVIDENCE -- The state Department of Transportation has lifted a travel restriction imposed after a "soft spot" was discovered in the center lane of Route 195 West in Providence.

Transportation officials temporarily restricted vehicles over 5 tons from the center travel lane.

The problem was discovered about 200 yards before the Route 95 split.

Posted by Jack Perry at 2:15 PM | Comment

Chafee to appear on HBO tonight

U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee is scheduled to appear on the HBO program "Real Time with Bill Maher" tonight at 11 p.m., according to an announcement released by the Chafee campaign.

Maher, a political satirist, will interview Chafee from his studio in Washington, D.C. via a satellite feed from Rhode Island.

Maher's show airs each Friday night, featuring an interesting mix of political officials and entertainers.

Other guests on tonight's show will include U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., actor-comedian Robin Williams, U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., and terrorism expert Richard Clarke.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:23 PM | Comment

Pit bull gets inside middle school, nips student

PROVIDENCE -- A young pit bull got inside a Providence middle school this morning and nipped a female student on the hand.

Authorities think that the black and white animal, believed to be about six months old, slipped into the Oliver H. Perry Middle School on Hartford Avenue this morning as a group of students walked in.

Johnston animal control officer, Erin Beal, responded to the scene at about 8:30 a.m. By that time a police officer was waiting outside the school with the dog on a leash. Beal said the dog did not appear to be dangerous.

"It was just running around and followed someone in," she said. "The dog was a mushball, just sweet."

Beal learned that the female student tried to grab the dog's collar while inside the school. The pitbull turned and nipped the girl's hand, a slight wound that didn't break the skin, she said.

The girl remained in school after the incident.

The dog was taken to the Providence Animal Rescue League, where it will remain in quarantine for 10 days -- standard procedures in dog bite cases. Beal was working this afternoon to identify the canine's owner. It was wearing a black collar, but nothing with any identification.

Beal said she believed that she was called to the scene because, when the incident was reported, the Providence animal control officer had yet to report to work. She said the two municipalities often help each other out.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:05 PM | Comment

Tomorrow is the deadline to register to vote

Tomorrow's the last chance to register to vote in this year’s general election.

Rhode Island, unlike a few other states, does not allow voters to register on the day of an election. And the state does not allow people to register to vote online.

However, there’s plenty of information on the Board of Elections Web site and the Secretary of State’s Web site about where you can go to register, what you’ll need to bring with you and what you can do ahead of time to streamline the process.

In order to register and vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of the Rhode Island city or town where you’ll vote and at least 18 years old before the general election on Nov. 7. You cannot vote if you are a convicted felon still serving a sentence (including prison, parole, probation or suspended sentences) or if a court has legally declared you to be mentally incapable.

You can register to vote at the local board of canvassers in your town or city hall, at any Division of Motor Vehicles location, at agencies providing public assistance (such as the Department of Human Services), at state-funded programs that assist people with disabilities and at armed forces recruiting offices.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:27 PM | Comment

Brown to dedicate new biology building tonight / Photo

Journal photo / Kathy Borchers
Brown University tonight will dedicate the new Sidney E. Frank Hall for Life Sciences, a five-story, glass and brick structure dedicated to the study of human biology.

PROVIDENCE -- The largest construction project in the history of Brown University will be dedicated tonight.

Susan Hockfield, president of MIT, will give the keynote address at the dedication of the Sidney E. Frank Hall for Life Sciences.

The Meeting Street complex cost $95 million and is nearly 170,000 square feet. It has 62 offices, 30 labs and 10 conference rooms.

Faculty members in neuroscience, biology and biochemistry will call the new center home.

The building is named after the late Sidney Frank, a Brown graduate and the single largest donor to the university.

Frank also donated $100 million for scholarships and $5 million for the university to help students devastated by hurricane Katrina.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Steve Peoples at 10:00 AM | Comment

Quonset gateway plans to be unveiled

Plans for a new ``gateway'' to the Quonset Business Park in North Kingstown include a mix of retail stores, office space, walking paths and greenspace.

The Quonset Development Corporation that runs the old Navy base and New Boston Development Corp., the company hired to design the entrance, will present the plans this morning at the park.

The proposal includes ``The Shops at Quonset Point,'' an $80 million mix that includes a hotel, visitors' center, restaurants, a bank, a drug store and other shops.

Posted by at 7:38 AM | Comment

Photos / Jurors to try again in hospital corruption case

Robert A. Urciuoli and his wife arrive at federal court this morning.
Journal Photos, Kathy Borchers

PROVIDENCE -- The jury in the Roger Williams Medical Center corruption trial is set to start its third day of deliberations this morning.

The jury deliberated all day yesterday without reaching a verdict. Chief U.S. District Judge Ernest C. Torres dismissed them shortly before 4:30 p.m.

Jurors are trying to decide whether former hospital president Robert A. Urciuoli and two other executives conspired to steal the honest services of former state Sen. John A. Celona, the star witness at trial.

The other defendants are Francis P. Driscoll and Peter J. Sangermano. Driscoll is a former hospital vice president, and Sangermano was a partner in the hospital’s assisted-living center, The Village at Elmhurst.

Driscoll today.
Celona, a longtime senator from North Providence, was hired in 1988 as a consultant to the assisted living center and was paid $257,000 over the next six years.

Sangermano today.
Defense lawyers have argued that Celona’s hiring was done aboveboard.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:01 AM | Comment

A nice day today with even better weather on the way

PROVIDENCE -- The National Weather Service forecasts a nice day today with even better weather over the Columbus Day weekend.

Today should be partly cloudy with a high near 61 degrees and northeast winds of 10 to 15 mph.

The weather service expects sunny weather from Saturday through Monday with the temperature climbing from highs near 63 tomorrow to 68 Sunday and 74 on Monday.

The temperature will drop into the 40s at night.

For more weather and regular updates, see projo.com/weather.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment