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October 22, 2007

Tonight: Rock, blues and the Papelbon jig

It's a Monday night, so unless you're a pro football fan, the choice of things to do is not so plentiful.

If you're a Sox fan awaiting the World Series, you can stay in and watch last night's Papelbon victory dance over and over again on YouTube.

Otherwise, here are some of the night's music selections:

Audionom, Freedom Cage, Always and Sexy Prison play rock at AS220, 115 Empire St., Providence. Call (401) 831-9327. 9 p.m. $6. All ages.

Big Band Swing plays at Cornerstone Playhouse, 213 Robinson St., Wakefield. Call (401) 284-1850, www.thetruebrewcafe.com. 7:30 pm.

Mark Taber plays blues at The Hi-Hat, 3 Davol Square, Providence. Call (401) 453-6500. 7 to 11 p.m.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:04 PM | Comment

Veteran bank robber gets 15 years for latest heist

A North Kingstown man with seven prior convictions was sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison today by a judge in Connecticut for robbing a Mystic bank of $71,750.

Joseph E. Lambert Jr., 49, was sentenced to 188 months' imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Christopher F. Droney in Hartford, according to a news release from Kevin J. O’Connor, the U.S. Attorney in Connecticut

Lambert pleaded guilty on March 5 to one count of armed bank robbery, the release said.

On Oct. 26 last year, Lambert robbed the People’s Bank on Roosevelt Avenue in Mystic, Conn., and shortly after the robbery, Stonington police found Lambert and and recovered the stolen money.

Lambert was sentenced as a career offender because of seven past convictions, five for bank robbery. Since 1981, Lambert has committed 19 bank robberies, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. He was in federal prison from August 1986 through November 2004 after bank robbery convictions in New Jersey and New Hampshire. When he robbed the Mystic bank in October 2006, Lambert was on federal parole.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:00 PM | Comment

Hasbro ends down in wake of soaring 3Q profit

PROVIDENCE -- Shares of Pawtucket-based Hasbro ended the day down one cent in trading today after the toymaker announced its third-quarter profit climbed 62 percent.

Hasbro officials attributed the increase to higher sales led by Transformers and Spider-Man toys and a favorable tax adjustment.

The firm is the world's second-largest toymaker.

Company officials say its business hasn't been hurt by high-profile recalls for lead paint by several other toy companies, including rival Mattel.

The company's earnings beat Wall Street expectations. Excluding a one-time tax adjustment, Hasbro stock earned 78 cents per share. That's 7 cents more than analysts had expected.

Check a quick quote for Hasbro on its stock performance.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:50 PM | Comment

Update: Groups scold Carcieri for interpreter comments

A group of more than 20 advocacy organizations said Governor Carcieri’s comments about the state’s employment of language interpreters feed into "the xenophobic atmosphere" surrounding debates about immigration.

Last Wednesday on WHJJ, Carcieri said he didn’t know “why in God’s name” the state should provide English-language interpreters at taxpayer expense, “for people who want benefits from us.” He did not distinguish between citizens, legal or illegal immigrants.

His comments were met with vocal calls for a retraction and apology.

“As organizations representing, and advocating for, a diverse array of the immigrant community in Rhode Island,” the letter reads, “we are appalled by the glib nature of your negative sentiments about the rights of new immigrants in the state to access the court system and other state services.”

The letter was signed by 22 organizations, including the directors of the Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, the Poverty Institute and Center for Hispanic Policy and Advocacy.

Late this afternoon, Governor Carcieri said in a statement that he stands by his comments on the Helen Glover program.

In a response to a listener's question, the statement said the governor "simply noted that he was surprised to see the large number of language interpreters employed by state government."

As a descendant of immigrants, the governor "recognizes and appreciates the important role that legal immigrants" play in Rhode Island and America, the statement said.

"It is unfortunate that the ACLU is once again attempting to censor the governor's ability to express his opinion publicly," the statement added. "While the ACLU may disagree with the governor's point of view, they should uphold his right to express it -- not send press releases demanding a retraction.

"Sadly, it appears that the ACLU is only interested in protecting the speech of people who agree with their point of view."

For a complete list of signatories and the full text of the letter, click below.

The Hon. Donald Carcieri
Governor
State House
Providence, RI 02903

Dear Governor Carcieri:

We write to express our deep distress at comments attributed to you in a news story in the October 18, 2007 Providence Journal. The entire relevant text is included as a footnote to this letter, but in essence, you are quoted as criticizing the availability
of state-employed language interpreters in the courts and other state agencies to help individuals who have difficulty speaking or comprehending English.* As organizations representing, and advocating for, a diverse array of the immigrant community in Rhode Island, we are appalled by the glib nature of your negative sentiments about the rights of new immigrants in the state to access the court system and other state services.

The immigrants coming to Rhode Island are, on the whole, no different from those who have come here in the past. They are eager to learn English and assimilate into society, as demonstrated by the enormous waiting lists for English as a second language courses at our community organizations. Your comments – which suggest both that immigrants in Rhode Island have no interest in learning English and that those who do not speak English somehow bear special responsibility for the state’s fiscal crisis – are insulting and only feed into the xenophobic atmosphere that permeates the immigration debate in our state and has encouraged a palpable discriminatory attitude towards people of certain ethnicities and races.

In fact, some of the interpreter services that you have criticized are constitutionally mandated. For example, we have decided as a society that a non-English-speaking person should not have to fend for him- or herself in a courtroom when facing the loss of liberty and possible imprisonment. Of course, other interpreter services provided by the state – such as in medical care situations – also benefit all of us by making us safer.

We strongly urge you to retract these unfortunate and insensitive comments. At a time when immigrants in our state already face a mean-spirited environment, we would hope that the state’s chief executive would not lend credence to that attitude.

However unintentionally, your comments can only encourage further discrimination and poisoning of the public debate on the legitimate issues surrounding the presence of immigrants in Rhode Island and the important and positive role that these residents play in our society.
_____________
* Providence Journal excerpt:
“Until yesterday, the governor would only say that his staff reduction plans would target ‘back office’ workers, like those who work in ‘finance, accounting and a few lawyers.’ But Carcieri provided an insight yesterday into the jobs he thinks the state can do without during an interview on WHJJ’s Helen Glover morning radio talk show.
Asked by a caller why the state needs interpreters in the courts and other state agencies, Carcieri said: ‘Amen to you, buddy.’
In the hunt for expendable jobs, Carcieri said he found one department with eight Spanish-speaking interpreters, and ‘I said why are we, at taxpayer expense, providing interpreters for people who want benefits from us? It seems completely illogical to me because you’re right,’ he told the caller. ‘My grandparents immigrated from Italy. My grandmother didn’t speak English. She learned it…’
“But the point is if they needed somebody … they got somebody, a friend or relative who spoke English, right? So why in God’s name [are] we providing, at taxpayer expense, staff whose sole job is to interpret English for people who apparently have no friend and no relative that can speak English. I don’t think we should be doing that.’”

Matt McLaren
African Alliance of Rhode Island

Miguel Sanchez-Hartwein, Executive Director
Center for Hispanic Policy and Advocacy

Juan Garcia
Comite de Inmigrantes en Accion

John Prince, Chairperson
Direct Action for Rights and Equality

Pheamo Witcher, Director
The Genesis Center

Viviana Knowles
Immigrant Students in Action

Julie Nora, Director
International Charter School

William Shuey, Executive Director
International Institute of Rhode Island

Rachel Miller, Director
Jobs with Justice RI

Karen Malcolm, Executive Director
Ocean State Action

Shannah Kurland
Olneyville Neighborhood Association

Kate Brewster, Executive Director
The Poverty Institute

Ramon Martinez, Executive Director
Progreso Latino

Melba Depena, Executive Director
Providence Human Relations Commission

Kohei Ishihara, Co-Founder
PrYSM

Jim Vincent, President
RI Affirmative Action Professionals

Steven Brown, Executive Director
RI Affiliate, American Civil Liberties Union

Donna Fishman, Chairperson
RI Coalition for Affirmative Action

Sabina Matos
RILPAC/RILCF

Dr. Antonia Barajas, President
RI Mexican-American Association

Vivian Weisman, Executive Director
RI Parents Information Network

Dennis Langley, Executive Director
Urban League of Rhode Island

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 5:54 PM | Comment

Photo: Shopping for Sox

Journal photo / Kathy Borchers
The Red Sox won the ALCS last night, T-shirts adorned with the championship logo were being made into the wee hours, and this afternoon, Chrissa Houlihan, Coventry, and her son Michael, 4, were shopping for Rex Sox shirts, hats and other items. They were deciding on purchases at Modell's Sporting Goods, Warwick, where they said they had been busy all day selling Red Sox gear.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 4:45 PM | Comment

Coventry man awarded Silver Star / Photo

Journal photo / Bob Thayer
Hospital Corpsman Third Class Joshua T. Chiarini, right, receives the Silver Star from Brigadier Gen. David H. Berger, Assistant Division Commander, 2nd Marine Division, during ceremonies in the chamber of the House of Representatives at the State House in Providence this afternoon

A local Navy corpsman was awarded the Silver Star at a ceremony this afternoon.

Hospital Corpsman Third Class Joshua T. Chiarini, of Coventry, received the nation’s third-highest military honor for "conspicuous gallantry" in action in Al Anbar, Iraq in February 2006.

The Coventry High School graduate also served in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from January to June 2002.

The ceremony began at 2 p.m. in the Chamber of the House of Representatives.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 4:28 PM | Comment

Update: Detectives testify in child-murder trial

Journal photos / Kathy Borchers
Kimberly Mawson reacts to the showing in court today of the one-piece pajamas worn by her 19-month-old daughter before her fatal injuries.

WARWICK -- The prosecution in the trial of a former Warwick woman accused of murdering her child took testimony today from two Warwick police detectives and another Warwick officer.

They reviewed items seized and put into evidence, and went over transcripts from cell phone calls made by Kimberly W. Mawson, who is accused of killing her 19-month-old son Jade, and Mawson's then-boyfriend Daniel Fusco.

Jurors were shown the same evidence that police inspected during their investigation.

Among the objects: A pair of one-piece pajamas that Jade was wearing before her fatal injuries and a jewelry box that Kimberly Mawson told the police had fallen on the girl’s head and shattered.

Warwick Police Detective Eric Johnson took the stand today. Johnson, who began testimony Friday, arrived at Hasbro Children’s Hospital on the evening of Dec. 2, 2002, two days before Jade Mawson died of blunt force trauma to her head and body.

Walter Williams, a member of the Warwick Police Department Bureau of Criminal Investigation, also took the witness stand today, as did police Detectice Barbara Frazier.

The state said it expects to finish its case, in Superior Court, Warwick, this week.

-- projo.com staff writers Michael P. McKinney and Brandie Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writer Talia Buford

Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:48 PM | Comment

No disaster declaration for Rhode Island fishermen

Fishermen in Rhode Island, Maine and Massachusetts may think their industry is in turmoil, but the federal government disagrees.

Responding to the request of those states’ governors for a declaration of disaster, Bill Hogarth, director of the the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration’s Marine Fisheries Service, told a telephone news conference this afternoon that “after a lot of review … there is no commercial fishery failure” in New England.

“NOAA believes the New England fisheries are turning the corner,” Hogarth said.

In fact, Hogarth said, “fishing ports in these states are among the nation’s most productive.” And groundfish revenue in Rhode Island ports increased 73 percent from 2005 to 2006, he said.

So when will the restrictions on fishing be eased? Patricia Kunkel, the agency’s Northeast regional administrator, said it is in the middle of a 10-year rebuilding program.

When will fishermen see increased days at sea? Kunkel said that at least initially, they won’t see increased days at sea, but will at some point be allowed to catch increased amounts on those days they’re already allowed to be at sea.

Read the Journal's series on challenges facing the Rhode Island fishing industry.

-- Journal staff writer Paul Davis

Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:50 PM | Comment

A Colorado series: Fastballs and snowballs?/ Photo

AP Photo/The Aspen Times, Paul Conrad
Abe Avila, 7, of Aspen, Colo., and Mercy Saldana, of Ixtapa, Mexico, walk during a snow storm in Aspen, Colo., Sunday.

The Red Sox caught fire against Cleveland in unseasonably warm October weather at Fenway, but what should card-carrying Red Sox Nation members expect when the World Series opens this week?

The first two games are to be played in Boston on Wednesday and Thursday. The five-day forecast says the highs in the 70s today and tomorrow will drop to 61 degrees on Wednesday, Game 1, with a low of 43 degrees. Thursday's high is forecast to be 54 with a low of 44 degrees. Then there's a travel day on Friday, with game at Coors Field in Denver slated for Saturday.

The weather in Denver lately has been better for skiing than baseball. Snow forced the Colorado Rockies to practice inside yesterday. The storm has moved out, and it's turning warmer and sunny.

Saturday's high should reach the 60s in Denver, but the low should be in the 30s. The game doesn't start until 8 p.m. in the Eastern time zone.

Here's the Denver forecast for Oct. 27, 28 and 29 -- Games 3, 4 and 5, if necessary, in the best of seven series.

If needed, the series would resume in Boston on Oct. 31, with a Game 7 on Nov. 1.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:00 PM | Comment

Peta2: Brown U. vying for most vegetarian friendly

PROVIDENCE -- Brown University is among 30 American colleges in the running this year in an animal-rights advocacy group's contest for the nation's most vegetarian-friendly college.

Students selected Brown for the list of nominees, according to a news release today from Peta2, a youth-geared part of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
Some of the "smart dishes" at Brown include spicy dal, vegetarian chili and nachos, and vegan hot dogs, Peta2 said.

Other nominees include Indiana University, the University of Califonia-Los Angeles and the University of Puget Sound.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

According to the Peta2 news release, colleges were chosen according to student nominations, feedback through MySpace and Facebook, and communication with the schools. Winners will be announced in November.

Those who vote at peta2.com/college will automatically be entered to win a student prize pack that includes a $50 iTunes gift card, peta2 gear, and vegan snacks.

When someone goes to the page to vote, he or she is asked to submit first and last name, country, zip code, e-mail address, and school name. Optionally, a person can give birth date and gender.

Below that are the nominated universities, each with a bubble next to three vegetarian or vegan meals the schools offer. The lists do not outline all of the foods served on each campus menu.

"Brown University is meeting its students' demand for smart food choices in the most delicious ways imaginable—and educating them in the process," Dan Shannon, of PETA2, said. "After all, what more valuable lessons can students learn than how to help stop animal suffering and protect their own health at the same time?"

"Why are so many students giving meat, eggs, and dairy products failing grades?," the PETA2 news release said. "Vegetarians are on average fitter and trimmer than meat-eaters, so being vegan is the way to go if you want to avoid putting on the 'freshman 15.'"

Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:31 PM | Comment

Minority-owned businesses recognized this week

A week dedicated to minority-owned small businesses is taking off across the country.

Along with the U.S. Small Business Administration, in Rhode Island, Minority Enterprise Development Week is sponsored by the Rhode Island Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce.

Highlights of MED Week include tomorrow’s identity theft protection workshop and Wednesday’s Minority Business Expo.

Small minority businesses throughout the state will be recognized at an awards dinner Wednesday night. And the 2007 Rhode Island Minority Small Business Person of the Year, Cheryl W. Snead, president and CEO of Banneker Industries in North Smithfield, will be honored.

For more information on the events, workshops and networking opportunities, visit the Rhode Island Small Business Association’s Web site.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 1:11 PM | Comment

Portion of Iway will open to cars and trucks Sunday

Journal photo/ Bill Murphy
An aerial view shows the Providence River Bridge and a new section of the highway that will open Sunday.

The first section of the Route 195 relocation project known as the Iway will open to drivers on Sunday afternoon, weather permitting, the state transportation director said this morning.

The section that will open is from Route 95 north to Route 195 east, and the new Providence River bridge will open as well, Jerome F. Williams, the state Department of Transportation director, said in a news release.

“This opening marks a major milestone for the largest construction project in the state’s history," Williams said in the statement.

Thousands of people recently had the chance to walk the new Providence River bridge of the Iway.

Governor Carcieri, Federal Highway Administrator J. Richard Capka and other officials will join DOT representatives at the Providence River Bridge for a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday at 10 a.m.

The DOT said the Iway is designed to improve safety on Route 195. And it will open up "significant real estate in Providence for future development and new parks," the news release said.

--- Photo upload: Show us your favorite pix, view others'

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Iway construction started in 2003. Other projected Iway developments:

* The ramp from Route 95 South to Route 195 East is scheduled to open in 2008.

* The westbound movements are scheduled to open in 2009.

* The whole Iway project is scheduled to be finished in 2012.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:34 AM | Comment

Gas prices jump 4 cents

Driven by higher crude oil prices, gasoline prices in Rhode Island have increased four cents per gallon, according to AAA Southern New England.

The average price for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline is $2.719 at the self-service pump, according to AAA's weekly survey.

Rhode Island is still 10 cents below the national average.

The price locally was just $2.189 a year ago.

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:30 AM | Comment

Photo: The look of a champion in Pawtucket

Journal photo / Bill Murphy
John Sheridan, of Attleboro, a worker at Mirror Image Printing in Pawtucket, was hard at work all night printing Red Sox American League Champion shirts following Boston's victory over Cleveland. Sheridan started his shift at 9 p.m. and was photographed about 12 hours later.

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:05 AM | Comment

Transformers drive Hasbro's 3Q profit rise

PAWTUCKET -- Hasbro Inc., the nation's second biggest toymaker, said today its third-quarter profit climbed 62 percent on higher sales led by its Transformers and Marvel brands and a favorable tax adjustment.

The company easily beat analysts' expectations for the quarter.

Earnings surged to $161.6 million, or 95 cents per share, in the three months ended Sept. 30 compared with $99.6 million, or 58 cents per share, in the year-ago period.

Hasbro's shares were up 13 cents to $28.54 in early trading.

-- The Associated Press

The current period's results included a tax adjustment of $29.6 million, or 17 cents per share.

Excluding the adjustment, earnings were $132 million, or 78 cents per share.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial expected a profit of 71 cents per share. The estimates typically exclude one-time items.

Quarterly revenue rose 17 percent to $1.22 billion from $1.04 billion in the prior year.

Analysts expected sales of $1.14 billion, according to Thomson.

Revenue climbed on shipments of its Transformers and Marvel product lines as well as growth in brands including Furreal Friends and Littlest Pet Shop.

Hasbro reported international segment net revenues of $374 million, an increase of $93.6 million from 2006.

The earnings report was the company's first since the July 3 release of "Transformers," a live-action film based on the popular 1980s cartoon. The movie has made about $700 million worldwide since it was released this summer and about $316 million domestically.

Hasbro is second to Mattel Inc. among U.S. toymakers. Last week, Mattel reported a 1 percent drop in fiscal third-quarter profit, due to the impact of charges, costs and supply chain delays related to multiple product recalls.

Posted by Jack Perry at 9:45 AM | Comment

Boston police arrest few fans after Sox win / Video

BOSTON -- For the most part, Red Sox Nation was well-behaved last night, after their heroes won another trip to the World Series.

But police in Boston reported about a dozen arrests after the Red Sox whipped Cleveland 11-2 in game seven of the American League championship series.

Most of the arrests were for disorderly conduct.

Officers were out in full force, some in riot gear, others on horseback. They were trying to avoid the mayhem that followed the 2004 playoffs, when a young woman was killed by a pepper-pellet shot by police.

City officials asked bars not to admit patrons after the seventh inning, and local college students were warned they could also face disciplinary action from their schools if they were arrested.

Video: Watch a report on preparations for the victory celebration, and fans after the game.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 9:32 AM | Comment

School canceled at Smithfield High today

Smithfield High schoolers are getting the day off.

Superintendent Robert O’Brien says a blown out electrical panel is to blame.

Students who are bussed to the school are being supervised in the cafeteria right now, O’Brien said. Buses will return at about 9 a.m. to take them back home.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:45 AM | Comment

Road work to affect Newport traffic

The Newport police are suggesting that drivers avoid the area of Bellevue Ave. and Memorial Boulevard because of road work.

Travel through the intersection will be limited, the police say.

The work is scheduled to continue until Oct. 28.

Parking is also restricted in the area.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment

A summery day in late October

How's this for late October? The National Weather Service is forecasting high temperatures approaching 80 degrees with clear, sunny skies.

Tonight should be foggy and cloudy with a low temperature just on the cooler side of 60.

We'll probably see some rain tomorrow after 3 p.m. Otherwise, Tuesday should be cloudy and cooler, with a high temperature of 69, degrees.

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

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment

Today's front page

Today's front page features a photograph of Red Sox' pitcher Jonathan Papelbon jumping in the air and celebrating the Red Sox' victory over the Cleveland Indians, which won Papelbon and his teammates a trip to the World Series.

Download today's front page in .pdf format.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment