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July 23, 2007

It's Monday: Pols on YouTube or jazz at True Brew?

If you don't plan on watching the CNN/YouTube presidential candidates debate beginning at 7 tonight, there's still some jazz and rock out there.

Joe Parillo and Friends play jazz at True Brew Cafe, 213 Robinson St., Wakefield. Call 284-1850. The show is from 6:30-9:30 pm. The cost is $5.

Bruce Jacques will rock at One Pelham East, 270 Thames St., Newport. Call 847-9460.

Or, you can always just stay in and finish reading that Harry Potter book.

For more events around Rhode Island, check projo.com's listing page.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:05 PM | Comment

Warwick joins EPA energy-savings initiative

Warwick is among 30 New England cities and towns -- and the only one in Rhode Island -- to join a federal initiative to assess their energy use, improve energy efficiency and aim to save money in doing so.

Warwick has joined the federal Environmental Protection Agency's Community Energy Challenge, according to an EPA news release today.

“Energy use is the largest source of air pollution in the region and the country. Through the Community Energy Challenge, municipalities can identify simple and cost-effective measures to increase energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources,” Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office, said in the statement.

The New England Community Energy Challenge is part of a campaign to better energy efficiency in commercial and industrial buildings across the United States by 10 percent or more, according to the EPA. The communities are from all six New England states and represent nearly 2 million people.

Up to 30 percent of energy consumed by buildings is wasted, offering program participants a significant opportunity to "strategically reduce unnecessary consumption in buildings, while reducing energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions," the EPA said.

Challenge participants will be measuring building energy use in schools, municipal buildings or wastewater facilities.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:42 PM | Comment

Quaker Fabrics moving to sell property to pay loans

FALL RIVER, Mass. -- The Quaker Fabric Corp. is moving to sell its real estate and all of its equipment to pay back $34.2 million in loans, according to a federal filing submitted this afternoon.

Quaker has hired RAS Management Advisors Inc. to manage “the liquidation of the assets of the company,” according to the filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Cynthia L. Gordan, Quaker’s general counsel, did not return a call for comment. A spokesman for RAS Management was not available.

Earlier today, several federal lawmakers who represent Massachusetts said former Quaker employees might be eligible for back pay and health care coverage as a result, they say, of the company’s failure to warn workers at least 60 days before the plant closed.

The lawmakers -- U.S. Sens. John F. Kerry and Edward M. Kennedy and U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern -- asked Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao to investigate whether Quaker had violated the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act, known as WARN.

"They are out in the cold,” Kerry said in a statement. “I strongly urge Secretary Chao to take a good, hard look at the way this closing was handled.”

-- Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:37 PM | Comment

4-car accident in N. Smithfield leaves 6 hurt / Photo

Journal photo / Andrew Dickerman
One of the photos involved in the crash this afternoon.

NORTH SMITHFIELD -- Six people were sent to the hospital for apparently minor injuries after a four-car accident this afternoon on Route 146A that jammed traffic for about an hour.

The accident, involving a chain of four cars and reported about 1:41 p.m., happened on the stretch of 146A called Eddie Dowling Highway, near the intersection where the Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island and the Dowling Village construction site are located.

According to North Smithfield Fire and Rescue Service, the cars were heading north. Details of how the crash happened were not immediately known. Nine people were in the four cars, Six were taken to Landmark Medical Center in Woonsocket, complaining of pains but not serious injuries.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer John Hill

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:13 PM | Comment

Teen found dead in crashed car in S. Kingstown

SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- An 18-year-old resident of Matunuck Schoolhouse Road was found dead in his car after it apparently left that road and crashed into several trees early Sunday morning.

Matthew Babcock, 18, of 1230 Matunuck Schoolhouse Road, was found after a walker noticed a car in the woods near 990 Matunuck Schoolhouse Road, near the entrance to Trustom National Wildlife Refuge.

Evidence indicated that the 2003 white Pontiac Sunfire, registered to the victim’s father, Jerry Babcock of 1217 Matunuck Schoolhouse Rd., was going west when it left the road on the eastbound side and hit several trees between 2:30 a.m. and 5:24 a.m., according to police.

There was no evidence of braking.

An extrication device was used to remove the body, which was taken to the state medical examiner’s office. Autopsy results were not available.

There was no evidence of alcohol use, police said.

-- Journal staff writer Donita Naylor

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:18 PM | Comment

Update: SBA loans OK'd for Uxbridge mill fire victims

BOSTON, Mass. -- The Small Business Administration today declared a disaster at the site of a massive mill fire in Uxbridge, allowing the 135 business- and homeowners affected to apply for low-interest loans through the federal government.

The declaration came just hours after Gov. Deval Patrick toured the site, pledging to work to find interim assistance between the victims’ applications and the federal government’s delivery of the requested money.

“What you really notice is the devastation on people’s faces,” said Patrick, who returned to Massachusetts after cutting short his visit to a three-day National Governors Association meeting in Michigan.

An eight-alarm fire early Saturday destroyed much of the 400,000 square-foot Bernat Mill complex in Uxbridge, which borders the R.I. communities of Burrillville and North Smithfield.

More than 300 firefighters, including some from Rhode Island, battled the blaze. Seven firefighters were injured — mostly from smoke inhalation and exhaustion.

The mill on Depot Road was built in the 1820s. During World War II, it made fabric for Army uniforms. Most recently, it hosted a variety of businesses, including wood shops and art galleries.

The disaster declaration was cheered by U.S. Sens. Edward M. Kennedy and John Kerry, as well as Rep. Richard E. Neal, after the Democrats requested swift action from the SBA.

-- The Associated Press

“This help and assistance is a first step in rebuilding after this devastating fire destroyed so many businesses, and I’m pleased that the SBA has acted so quickly on behalf of those impacted in the commonwealth,” Kennedy said in a joint statement.

Kerry, who toured the site and spearheaded the federal appeal, added: “I will continue to work with the SBA, state officials, and my colleagues to get these Uxbridge entrepreneurs back in business.”

Kerry is chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and supports the Small Business Disaster Response and Loan Improvements Act. It would increase the size of low-interest loans, provide short-term relief while businesses wait for insurance payments or other assistance and speed the loan-processing process.

“I am certain that with the combined efforts of those in the public and private sector, we can bring this success story in central Massachusetts back to life,” said Neal, who represents the area in Congress.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:14 PM | Comment

Iraq vet demos new ankle-foot prosthesis / Photo

Journal photo / Bill Murphy
Garth Stewart, a 24-year-old Army veteran from Stillwater, Minn., who lost his left leg below the knee in Iraq, demonstrates a new powered ankle-foot prosthesis during a press conference at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Providence this morning.

PROVIDENCE – An Iraq War veteran whose lower leg has been amputated today demonstrated a new ankle-foot prosthesis that uses tendon-like springs powered by an electric motor.

The combination promises to restore an amputee’s natural gait.

The prototype ankle-foot was created by the Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Professor Hugh Herr and a team of researchers at the MIT Media Lab created the prosthesis with funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Find out more about the project, including videos, here.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 3:29 PM | Comment

Congressmen tour proposed LNG tanker route / Photo

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
From right are Rep. Patrick Kennedy; Rep. Elijah A. Cummings, D-Maryland, chairman of the House Transportation Committee's Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation; and Coast Guard Captain of the Port Roy A. Nash, Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England.

Nash was showing the two where the proposed LNG storage facility at Weavers Cove on the Taunton River would be before leaving today for a tour of the area on the Coast Guard boat.

Rhode Island Democrat Kennedy invited Cummings to view the route that LNG tankers would take along Narragansett Bay, Mount Hope Bay and the Taunton River, should the proposed LNG facility in Fall River, Mass., get final approval.

Right now, the proposal rests in the hands of the Coast Guard, which is expected to issue a final recommendation this summer about whether the tankers can safely traverse these waterways.

-- Journal staff writer Timothy C. Barmann

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 3:23 PM | Comment

Update: Woman accused of smothering man / Photo

WARWICK – Heather M. Catterall, 28, of Warwick was arraigned today on a charge of murdering a 76-year-old man in her care.

Catterall is accused of suffocating Albert Dubois with a garbage bag. Dubois, of 41 Overbrook Ave., was found dead in his home Friday.

Catterall is being held without bail. She was also charged with one count of larceny.

Catterall was arrested Friday in connection with the murder.

Michael J. Healey, spokesman for Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch, said Catterall also faces probation and bail violations. She was expected to be brought to Kent County Superior Court to answer those after the murder arraignment in District Court.

In September 2005, Catterall pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor charges: two counts of larceny under $500 and one count of receiving stolen goods under $500, according to the Attorney General's Office.

Catterall received one year's probation on each of those charges, to run consecutively, for a total of three years.

In September 2006, Catterall admitted to being a violator, so the court gave her bail at that point and set a November 2006 date for sentencing on the probation violation. She failed to appear for the sentencing, according to the Attorney General's Office, putting her in violation of her bail.

Warwick Sgt. Robert Bentsen said this morning that the state Medical Examiner’s Office was scheduled to conduct an autopsy this morning on Dubois.

-- Journal staff writer Cynthia Needham and projo.com staff writers Michael P. McKinney and Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 3:05 PM | Comment

Bail hearing under way for drug-ring suspect

PROVIDENCE -- A bail hearing is under way today for one of the defendants accused in an alleged drug ring, which authorities said included ring leaders on welfare who at the same time owned a Porsche, a Cadillac Escalade and a BMW.

Henry Grullon, 36, is charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin and with soliciting another person to commit a felony, according to Michael Healey, a spokesman for Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch.

The bail hearing before Judge Gilbert V. Indeglia in Providence County Superior Court began this morning, broke for lunch and is due to resume.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with Journal archival reports

Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:25 PM | Comment

R.I. preservation group is looking for honorees

Preserve Rhode Island, which honors historic preservation projects, programs and individuals each year, is looking for more to honor.

It's seeking nominations for 2007 preservation merit awards. The organization lauds "individuals and groups who exemplify sound historic preservation practices and support Preserve Rhode Island’s mission to protect Rhode Island’s historic structures and unique places for present and future generations," according to a news release.

The awards will be announced at Preserve Rhode Island’s Oct. 23 annual meeting in four categories:

* Preservation education and advocacy: Recognizes individuals, cities/towns and/or nonprofit groups who have sought to "save historic treasures, educate citizens about heritage preservation, or otherwise helped to further the cause of historic preservation and maintain the beauty and quality of life in Rhode Island."

* Landscape preservation: Recognizes work that restores historic landscapes, creates new landscapes "in keeping with and highlighting the historic character of a place," or efforts to maintain significant historic landscapes.

* Residential restoration and rehabilitation: Recognizes projects by owners of historic houses that make "exceptional efforts" to restore or preserve the house's historic character and contribute to the neighborhood's vitality.

* Commercial restoration and rehabilitation: Recognizes projects that rehabilitate or otherwise improve commercial or public historic sites and structures and "positively impact the surrounding communities."

To get a nomination form and guidelines, call Susanna E. Prull, preservation services coordinator for Preserve Rhode Island, at (401) 272-5101 to request a copy. The nomination deadline is Aug. 31.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:45 PM | Comment

Two survivors of Attleboro crash in fair condition

PROVIDENCE -- Two people involved in a fatal multi-vehicle accident in Attleboro, Mass., Saturday morning were listed in fair condition at Rhode Island Hospital today, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

The five-vehicle crash left two people dead.

Twenty-one-year-old Isaac Souza of Leominster, Mass., slammed his vehicle into another sedan in the breakdown lane on Route 95, before swinging into the traveling lane and triggering the multiple-car collision.

State Police say Souza and 36-year-old Michael Doble of North Attleboro were declared dead on the scene of the pre-dawn crash.

Jose Gouveia, 21, of Somerville, Mass., and Claudia DeLeone, 22, a front-seat passenger in Souza's vehicle, suffered serious injuries, according to the Associated Press report, and were taken to Rhode Island Hospital.

A front-seat passenger in Souza's vehicle suffered serious injuries and were taken to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment.

State Police say there may have been two other vehicles involved in the crash that left the scene.

-- The Associated Press, with reports from projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this report incorrectly spelled the name of Jose Gouveia.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:34 PM | Comment

After 2 weeks of hikes, gas prices down 2 cents

Gasoline prices have dropped 2 cents over last week, after rising the two previous weeks, according to AAA Southern New England.

Today’s AAA survey of prices throughout the state found self-serve, regular unleaded gasoline averaging $2.95 per gallon. That puts Rhode Island prices 5 cents below the national average for regular unleaded gasoline. At this time a year ago, the average local price for gas was $3.08.

Gas prices in the AAA survey range 21 cents for regular unleaded gasoline, from a low of $2.86 to a high of $3.07.

The average price for mid-grade unleaded gasoline in this week’s survey was $3.09, for premium unleaded was $3.21 and for diesel was $2.97.

On AAA’s Gas Savings Tips & Tools Web page, find the most up-to-date gas prices around New England.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:16 AM | Comment

Hasbro prospers with Spider-Man, Transformers

PAWTUCKET – Hasbro Inc., the world’s second-largest toymaker, reported an unexpected profit on sales of Spider-Man and Transformers toys.

Excluding a $36.5 million charge to end part of a contract with Star Wars movie director George Lucas, earnings exceeded analysts’ estimates by 6 cents a share.

Overall, neet income fell 82 percent to $4.8 million, or 3 cents a share, from $27.1 million, or 7 cents, a year earlier, Hasbro said today in a statement.

Sales climbed 31 percent to $691.4 million. Purchases of action figures, games and vehicles tied to the Spider-Man 3 and Transformers films helped lift revenue. Sales of Littlest Pet Shop animals, Nerf sporting goods and board games also boosted profit.

-- Bloomberg News

Shares of Hasbro fell 15 cents to $32.56 on July 20 in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. They have climbed 19 percent this year through last week.

Other Hasbro products include My Little Pony and Monopoly.

Excluding the Lucas costs, analysts projected profit of 18 cents a share, the average of seven estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Five analysts estimated sales of $640 million.

Spider-Man and Transformers toys may account for more than $600 million, or 20 percent, of Hasbro’s revenue this year, estimated Sean McGowan, an analyst at Wedbush Morgan Securities in New York. He rates Hasbro stock “hold” and doesn’t own any.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 8:11 AM | Comment

Download today's front page

Urban birds of prey and hot-air balloons in Sputh County lead today's Journal.
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Posted by Peter Phipps at 7:12 AM | Comment

Rainy Monday; Tuesday will be almost as bad

Expect a rainy Monday in southern New England, according to the National Weather Service.
Showers are likely all day and a thunderstorm is likely between noon and 3 p.m., the weather service says.

Otherwise, it will be cloudy with a high near 88 in the Providence area. There's a 70 percent chance of rain.

Tomorrow, the National Weather Service expects a cloudy day with fog and drizzle in the morning with a 20 percent chance of rain later on.

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

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:10 AM | Comment

Mass. seeks aid for businesses hurt in mill fire

UXBRIDGE, Mass. -- The Patrick administration and Senator John Kerry are pressing the federal government to provide financial assistance to businesses affected by a fire that engulfed an Uxbridge mill complex.

The administration sent a letter to the Small Business Administration, requesting a disaster declaration.

The SBA has begun a disaster assessment to determine the scope of the damage.

Kerry visited the site of the fire late yesterday and he was confident that federal help will be forthcoming because of the number of businesses involved, the magnitute of the destruction and the under-insurance situation.

Investigators continue looking for the cause of the eight-alarm blaze that damaged or destroyed 65 small businesses inside the Bernat Mill complex.

State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan said that there are ``no red flags'' to indicate it's a suspicious fire.

Hot spots were still being extinguished yesterday afternoon.

More than 300 firefighters, including some from Rhode Island, battled the fire on Saturday.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment

Marine report: No day for the beach

With showers moving into the area, today won't be a day for beaching or boating.

As low pressure moves toward southern New England today, seas and winds should approach small craft advisory range, the National Weather Service says.

Rough sea conditions are expected to continue through tonight.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:01 AM | Comment