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August 22, 2007

Still time to catch some art in Providence tonight

There's everything from politics to self-exploration and fulfillment in the artwork on display tonight at the new AS220 Project Space in Providence, as The Journal describes the work of South County artist Claudia Flynn.

The exhibit ends Saturday at the AS220 Project Space, 93 Mathewson St. Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 1 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Call (401) 831-9327.

For more of what's going on tonight and later this week, see projo.com's calendar listings -- already updated with the listings from The Journal's LIVE section, published on Thursdays.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:55 PM | Comment

Intoxicated driver in fatal 2001 crash denied parole

CRANSTON -- The state Parole Board refused today to release the intoxicated driver responsible for stealing a van and killing college student Brigid Kelly in a fatal car crash in South County six years ago.

The board found that it would be a disservice to the Kelly family to release Wayne P. Winslow, 55, formerly of Providence, after serving slightly more than five years of a 17-year sentence for ending Kelly’s life on Dec. 1, 2001.

"To parole Mr. Winslow would depreciate the seriousness of the offense’’ that led to Kelly’s death and injuries to a mother and two young children in another van that he struck, the board ruled.

Today was the first time Winslow had been eligible for parole. He had been sentenced in 25 years, 17 years to serve -- the longest sentence for driving under the influence in Rhode Island ever meted out at that time.

The decision to deny Winslow parole was unanimous among the three parole board members: Bennett Gallo, Victoria Almeida and Thomas A. Verdi. The board also ruled that Winslow will not be eligible for parole again until August 2012.

Chris Kelly, Brigid’s father, appeared before the parole board today and read an eight-page letter asking the board to keep Winslow behind bars. Kelly was pleased with the board's decision.

"I’m very, very happy with the outcome today,’’ he said. "As far as I’m concerned, (Winslow) can die in prison.’’

Kelly vowed to return to the Adult Correctional Institutions in five years to oppose Winslow’s release.

-- Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski

Extra: Read Malinowski's report on how he gained access to 911 tapes to find out what happened in the last hours of Brigid Kelly's life.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:04 PM | Comment

Providence set to send off American Idol hopeful

PROVIDENCE -- Before Providence native and regional American Idol winner Alexis Brown goes before the sharp tongues of Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson to try to make it to the Idol finals, she'll get a warm city send-off tomorrow.

Brown heads to Philadelphia Sunday to get ready for an audition in front of the Idol judges early next week. She must clear that in order to make it to the finals in Los Angeles for the popular television show.

Brown won the New England Idol competition, and Mayor David N. Cicilline and Providence Black Repertory Company executive artistic director Donald W. King will host a send-off news conference at 1 p.m. at the Black Rep, 276 Westminster St.

Brown, a Classical High School graduate, "has been singing, dancing and acting most of her life," according to an afternoon news release from the mayor's office. She's also been involved in productions at Black Rep where her stepfather, Michael S. Van Leesten, is the board chairman.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:00 PM | Comment

In the heart of the big city, an afternoon dog rescue

PROVIDENCE -- Sometimes, even in the big city, where blazes or other calamities claim ownership of the rescue headlines, firefighters come to the aid of a dog.

It happened downtown this afternoon. Maybe you were out there watching or just saw the police cars and the Fire Department's special hazards truck, lights flashing, as you passed by in your car and wondered what was up.

A brown dog, breed not known, had apparently been swimming for some time in the Providence River.

The dog did several "laps" back and forth between the direction of the Providence Place mall and WaterPlace Park, and there was concern the dog was tired but had no way of getting onto land. One estimate was a 200-yard distance -- for just one lap.

That's where the police, animal control and firefighters came in around 4:30 p.m.

Firefighters Al Sousa and Chris Brown set out on the waters of WaterPlace Park in an inflatable gray raft, wending past the braziers that become ethereal lanterns on WaterFire nights but looked as cold as gray charcoal this afternoon.

The dog eluded them, as the firefighters followed a brown head around the water park. Finally, with one of the firefighters reaching over the front of the raft, making clapping motions with his hands, the dog was pulled in and brought ashore.

Pockets of people who'd been watching applauded.

Do firefighters get calls like this much?

"Occasionally," said Fire Department Lt. Tom Walden, as Sousa and Brown prepared to carry the raft back to the truck.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:59 PM | Comment

Police name 2nd suspect in Quintal murder / Photo

PROVIDENCE -- An arrest warrant has been obtained for a second suspect in connection with the murder of a 20-year-old Fall River man in South Providence last week.

The police said today the warrant is for Sylvester Moses, 20, with a last known address of 519A Dexter St., Providence. He is described as being 6 feet, 1 inch tall, black, weighing 200 pounds and having tattoos on both forearms.

Last Friday, the police named David Mello, a 20-year-old with a criminal history, tattoos on his eyelids and a tattoo on his neck that says "Loyalty," as a suspect in either shooting Quintal, or being an accomplice of the second suspect who may have pulled the trigger.

Police allege Quintal had come to Providence to buy drugs from Mello. As Quintal pulled into a driveway, police say Mello and another man tried to rob him at gunpoint, and he was shot.

Police described both suspects as armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call police detectives at (401) 243-6406. All inquiries will be kept confidential, police said.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:24 PM | Comment

Gang member sentenced in triple Fall River shooting

FALL RIVER, Mass. -- Mafioso gang member Nigel Vaughn, 21, has been sentenced to serve 18 to 20 years in prison in connection with an April 2005 triple shooting at the former Larry's Sports Pub.

A jury had convicted him of three counts of mayhem, three counts of armed assault to murder and one count of unlawful possession of ammunition. All of his victims survived. A fourth person was grazed in the incident.

District Attorney Sam Sutter said Vaughn will be on probation for 10 years once he is released from state prison, and the sentence should "serve as a warning to drug dealers and gang members about the kinds of sentences we are going to be asking for when they use their illegal firearms."

Police said Vaughn had attacked four suspected rival crack cocaine dealers.

-- Journal staff writer C. Eugene Emery Jr.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:59 PM | Comment

PowerBall jackpot tonight weighs in at $245 million

The PowerBall jackpot tonight bulks up to $245 million -- if someone draws the magic number, it would be the sixth heftiest jackpot in PowerBall history.

A PowerBall news release says there have been 15 consecutive drawings with no winner and tonight is the 16th.

The $235 million would be paid in 30 installments over 29 years. But if the winner goes for the lump sum option, that payment is estimated at $114.7 million.

The drawing will be televised on Channel 12 WPRI tonight at 10:59 p.m. The winning numbers will also be available online at the PowerBall Web site.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:52 PM | Comment

5 more Providence police officers sworn in / Photo

Journal photo / Andrew Dickerman
One of the new officers, Christopher Kennedy, left, comes from a family with a long history of law enforcement. He is the nephew of Deputy Chief Paul Kennedy, at right.

PROVIDENCE -- Five new police officers were sworn in by Mayor David N. Cicilline and Police Chief Dean M. Esserman in a tradition-laden ceremony at the Public Safety Complex today.

Esserman told the recruits that they have entered a special fraternity, one that will change their lives in ways they can’t imagine.

“Today, you join the oldest police department in Rhode Islands and the second-oldest in the United States,” he told the five patrolmen. “You join that long, blue line that includes those who came before you and those who will come after you. Your job involves putting your life on the line. It is a noble job, a proud job. We welcome you and salute your families.”

The five recruits are the last graduates of the Police Department’s 64th training academy to join the department; 18 recruits were hired in January and six were appointed last month. As vacancies open, appointments are made to the $823-a-week jobs according to each graduate’s class rank.

The Providence Police Department, Cicilline said, has been “one of the city’s great success stories of the last five years.”

“For many visitors and newcomers to Rhode Island, you are their first contact,” Cicilline said. “You are the face of the city of Providence, the ambassadors of goodwill.”

-- Journal staff writer Linda Borg

Then, Esserman removed each man’s badge from a velvet display, attached it to his blue uniform shirt, exchanged salutes and shook his hand. The recruits saluted the mayor before resuming their place in line. As a crowd of some 50 visitors looked on, Kennedy asked each man to step forward while he read a brief biography of the officer’s educational and family background:

* Taylor Britto, 25, of Warwick, a graduate of Veterans Memorial High School, who earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice form Norwich University in 2004.

* Ludwig Castro, 30, of Providence, a graduate of Mount Pleasant High School who holds a bachelor's degree in aviation management from Bridgewater State College in 2005.

* Alberto DaCruz, 27, of Fall River, Mass., a graduate of Mount Hope High School in Bristol who has a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Rhode Island.

* Kennedy, 21, of Cranston, a graduate of Pilgrim High School in Warwick who has an associate's degree in law enforcement from the Community College of Rhode Island.

* Ivan Tavarez, 29, of Providence, a graduate of Central High School in Providence who attended Roger Williams University.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:47 PM | Comment

Providence man in serious condition after shooting

PROVIDENCE -- A 34-year-old city man was in serious condition today after being shot in the face last night.

Alexander Reigosa, of 51 Wayne St., was hospitalized at Rhode Island Hospital this afternoon.

At about 9 p.m. last night, police went to 49 Wayne St. for the report of a shooting and met with Reigosa, who said a Hispanic male shot him in the face, according to the police report. Police saw that Reigosa had an injury to his face's left side.

The police report said a witness stated there was an argument between an unknown suspect and Reigosa. The report said that the suspect, described as being in his teens, about 5 feet, 8 inches tall, and wearing a hoodie, pulled out a gun and shot Reigosa.

Police said they located a .22-caliber round in the driveway of nearby 442 Chalkstone Ave. and a spent .22-caliber casing at the rear porch.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:24 PM | Comment

URI ushers in 3 new dorms and a dining hall

The University of Rhode Island today dedicated a new dining hall and three new dormitories named after former Gov. J. Joseph Garrahy, retired Judge Alton Wiley and late university President Ted Eddy.

The university is opening its first new dining hall in 45 years. The original Hope Dining Hall, which was the oldest campus dining hall, closed in spring 2005, razed to make way for the new Hope Commons, according to a news release.

That's a 600-seat main dining hall and a 110-seat coffee/pizza/ice cream shop with a four-sided gas fireplace and a mini-market.

"The official opening of Hope Commons marks another momentous step in our efforts to create robust residential communities at the University," university President Robert L. Carothers said in a statement. "Indeed, students can gather here to eat, to study in groups, to enjoy a late-night snack while watching a big game or to meet with a professor in comfortable surroundings."

The 47,000-square-foot Hope Commons replaces the original Hope (10,600 square feet) and Roger Williams Dining Center (17,500 square feet).

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

The new dining area includes several choices.

There's Fusion, which has two salad bars offering 48 different items and cook-to-order Asian and pasta stations. Each station has choices such as beef, chicken, tofu and shrimp that are prepared in front of the student. On Saturdays and Sundays, the stations will offer cooked-to-order omelets all day.

Astro's Grill, which the university says is meant to evoke a1950s diner, has burgers, hot dogs, soy burgers, soy hot dogs, French fries and "humongous" onion rings.

Home Style has dishes "one might eat with his or her family:" meatloaf, roast chicken and turkey, macaroni and cheese, and swordfish among them.

Deli Creations includes grilled sandwiches, wraps and subs, and soups.

Roger Williams Dining Center closed in the spring, but the plan is to convert it to a student wellness center.

Butterfield Dining Hall, which is part of the freshman village, remains open.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:04 PM | Comment

Protest at State House over utilities-aid cut / Photo

Journal photo / Mary Murphy

Lela Coons, left, of the Warwick chapter of the Campaign to Eliminate Childhood Poverty, talks to Steve Kass, the Governor's representative, during a protest outside the Governor's office today. With her is Kathy Whipple of Central Falls, who has had problems with her electricity being shut off. Coons, Whipple and others were protesting because the state cut some $15 million that would have helped low-income and disabled people pay their utilities. The money was diverted to help close the state budget deficit.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:51 PM | Comment

ACLU backs system of juvenile hearing boards

BARRINGTON -- The Rhode Island affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union has asked the Barrington Town Council to reject Family Court Chief Judge Jeremiah S. Jeremiah's request to have all cases of underage alcohol and drug abuse sent directly to Family Court instead of the town's Juvenile Hearing Board.

The ACLU request is in a two-page letter to the council from Executive Director Steven Brown, who also happens to be a resident.

Brown said similar letters are being mailed out today to all police chiefs and municipalities that have local hearing boards that mete out punishment to young offenders who have, in effect, pled guilty to a misdemeanor.

Jeremiah, who made the request in response to underage drinking incidents in Barrington, has said he will ask the General Assembly to turn his request into law next year.

The Town Council will be weighing the issue at its next meeting, on Sept. 4.

Brown's letter does not raise Constitutional questions, just issues of policy and practicality.

It notes that the Juvenile Hearing Board system saves on the expense of hiring a lawyer and the long waits involved in having a case heard in Family Court, often during school. Hearing boards usually meet at night.

"Juvenile hearing boards have been established in communities across the state for a number of good reasons," said Brown, urging the Town Council to maintain its current system of allowing misdemeanor cases to be heard in town.

-- Journal staff writer C. Eugene Emery Jr.

Jeremiah's action came in the wake of the death of Barrington teenager Patrick Murphy, who was killed while skimboarding. The 17-year-old operator of the boat faces several charges, including reckless boating, death resulting; refusing to take a breath test; and underage possession of alcohol.

Hours after Murphy's memorial service, four teens were charged with underage drinking and the Barrington police broke up a house party with 35 to 40 teens.

After that, Jeremiah sent letters to police chiefs throughout the state, saying, "As of Aug. 1, 2007, I am respectfully requesting that all wayward alcohol and drug charges be referred to the Rhode Island Family Court instead of your local juvenile hearing board."

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 1:02 PM | Comment

Coast Guard derails fishing trip for drinking

The crew of a New Bedford fishing boat was allowed to re-board this morning, a day after the Coast Guard ordered the boat into port, because two crew members tested positive for alcohol consumption.

A Coast Guard team from the Woods Hole station boarded the Competition in Vineyard Sound at about 5:30 p.m. yesterday. The boat was escorted to Great Harbor in Woods Hole.

One crew member registered 0.15 on a breath alcohol test, the other 0.12, according to the Coast Guard. The legal alcohol limit for anyone aboard a fishing vessel is .04.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Commercial vessels are boarded “from time to time,” spokeswoman Petty Officer 2nd Class Lauren Downs. “We’re always on the lookout for people who are operating under unsafe conditions.”

This morning the New Bedford Marine Safety Office inspected the vessel for safety.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 12:25 PM | Comment

Court wants Mollicone to speed up restitution

PROVIDENCE -- The state's most notorious embezzler was back in Superior Court yesterday because a judge wants to speed up his restitution payments.

At the rate he's paying now, Joseph Mollicone Jr. needs 13,000 years to make good his debt to the court. He's paying $75 a month toward a $12 million restitution bill.

Mollicone was convicted of embezzling in 1993, sent to prison and ordered to make payments for his role in triggering a statewide banking crisis.

The former president of the Heritage Loan and Investment Company, Mollicone stole roughly $12 million from his own firm, a move that caused financial turmoil across the state after it came to light on New Year's Day in 1991.

Mollicone was also vice president of Rhode Island Share and Deposit Indemnity Corporation -- known as RISDIC --which was declared insolvent.

The resulting financial crisis closed 35 credit unions and 10 banks. Hundreds of thousands of Rhode Islanders couldn't access their money for more than a year.

In 1993, Mollicone was tried and convicted. He was sentenced to serve 30 years in prison, ordered to repay the $12 million and fined $420,000.

Mollicone was released from prison in 2002, but is on parole until 2023.

-- The Associated Press, with Journal archival reports

Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:45 AM | Comment

New trail to connect Harrisville and Pascoag

An old railroad track in Burrillville will again give residents a way to get back and forth between the Harrisville and Pascoag villages.

The rail is being revived not for trains, but for pedestrians, bikers or cross country skiers as a trail.

W. Michael Sullivan, the director of the Department of Environmental Management tomorrow will announce the awarding of a grant to help fund the Harrisville-Pascoag RailTrail project.

The design is based on smart-growth, and will allow access to undeveloped open space in the town.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 11:33 AM | Comment

Providence patrolman pleads not guilty in alleged rape

PROVIDENCE – At Patrolman Marcus Huffman's arraignment this morning, prosecutors said they found his semen on the boxer shorts of a teenage female that he is accused of raping.

The 13-year veteran of the police force pleaded not guilty to first-degree sexual assault in Superior Court this morning.

“I’m confident we will successfully refute the charges,” his lawyer, Raymond Angell, said.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

Prosecutors say Huffman encountered the 19-year-old outside of Platforms Dance Club where a bouncer had denied her entrance because she seemed intoxicated.

Special Assistant Attorney General Erik B. Wallin said a video shows them entering the District Two police substation on Gordon Avenue together, and shows him exiting alone. She is seen leaving later, alone.

In what Wallin called “a cruel irony,” when the alleged victim went to a relative's home and called the police to report that she had been raped, Huffman was the responding officer.

Prosecutors asked for bail to be set at $30,000 with surety, however Judge Daniel A. Procaccini set it at $50,000 with surety.

Huffman faces first-degree sexual assault, which carries a minimum sentence 10 years in prison. (Correction: The initial version of this report described this as the maximum sentence.)

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 11:02 AM | Comment

India Point bridge work to close lanes on 195

PROVIDENCE -- Some lanes on Route 195 in Providence will be closed starting Sunday night for construction of the India Point Park Pedestrian Bridge, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Crews will be installing 24 concrete beams to carry the bridge over the highway.

On Sunday, Aug. 26, construction will begin between Gano Street and Exit 1 on the west side of the highway. One lane will be closed on each side of the highway starting at 8 p.m.

Starting at 11 p.m., crews will begin installing beams on the west side of the highway. Drivers will be shifted to the highway's east side with one lane traveling in each direction, according to the DOT.

Motorists looking for an alternate route can use the Henderson Bridge.

The work could be postponed because of bad weather. But as of now, crews are scheduled to work for two nights, Sunday and Monday, on the west side of the highway, then switch to the east side for Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 28 and Aug. 29.

Installation could continue for the night of Thursday, Aug. 30.

No work is scheduled for Labor Day weekend.

Five more weeks of construction will follow beginning Sept. 9.

All lanes are scheduled to reopen by 5:30 a.m.

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:29 AM | Comment

Coast Guard plans oil spill recovery exercise

NEWPORT -- The Newport-based Coast Guard cutter Juniper takes part in an oil spill recovery exercise today in Narragansett Bay.

The vessel will deploy an oil recovery system, which includes a containment boom, outrigger arm, inflatable storage device and floating oil-skimming device.

The equipment would be used by the Juniper in the event of maritime oil spill in Rhode Island's water.

Members of the Coast Guard's Atlantic Strike Team will also participate in this morning's exercise that will deploy from Naval Station Newport.

The Juniper's area of responsibility stretches from New Jersey to Cape Cod.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Jack Perry at 8:12 AM | Comment

City seeking proposals for after-school activities

PROVIDENCE -- The city is looking for proposals from community-based youth program providers to create an after-school learning activity program for high school students.

The proposal that wins would get a $100,000 grant from the city to start a multi-year effort to build a network of after-school programs around the city’s high schools, Mayor David Cicilline's office said in a news release.

The team would also need to identify and meet the needs of students going from eighth to ninth grade. And it would track student achievement through graduation from high school.

Written roposals must be submitted by Oct. 2 to: Garry Bliss, director of policy and legislative affairs, Providence City Hall, 25 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 02903.

For more information, go to www.providenceri.com or call Bliss at 421-2489, extension 734.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:55 AM | Comment

Governor to sign bill okaying smaller school buses

BRISTOL -- Governor Carcieri today will ceremonially sign a school bus bill that his office said is "expected to result in thousands of dollars of savings for local school districts."

School districts will be allowed to use small-size buses, vans and SUVs to take students to and from school as of Sept. 1.

The signing is slated for noon at the Bristol-Warren Regional School Department Building, 151 State Street, Bristol.

The bill, H-6371, was sponsored by Rep. Douglas W. Gablinske, who represents Bristol and Warren, and co-sponsored by Rep. Roger A. Picard of Woonsocket.

Examples of the new buses will be at the ceremony.

According to records on the General Assembly Web site, the bill was officially signed into law on July 2.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:03 AM | Comment

More cool weather on tap

Relatively cool weather will continue today with the temperature expected to reach only 68 degrees in the Providence area, according to the National Weather Service.

It should be mostly cloudy today with wind from the east between 7 and 9 mph.

There's a slight chance of showers tonight after 9 p.m. The temperature should drop to about 57 degrees.

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

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment

Today's front page

Today's front page features a story about a ban on religious events at the State House that has been ignored for years.

Download a copy of today's front page in .pdf format.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment