« December 18, 2007 | Today | December 20, 2007 »

December 19, 2007

Photo: A wedding for the young at heart

Journal photo / Kris Craig
Serena Cole, center, and Paul Arbour, at her right, met earlier this year at the Eastgate Nursing and Recovery Center in East Providence, where they are residents. This afternoon they were married, with Cole's roommate Joanna Fortes as the matron of honor and Melvin "Doc" Goldenberg, far left, who did double duty giving the bride away and serving as best man.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:57 PM | Comment

What's happening plus traffic and weather updates

PROVIDENCE -- For the second night in a row about this time, downtown is packed with cars moving at a snail's pace, according to the same observer.

State Department of Transportation "jam factor" reports concur that congestion is heaving on major routes around the city, especially Route 95 south from the Massachusetts state line and Route 195 West, also from the Mass. state line.

It may be the confluence of people coming in for tonight's Providence College basketball game at the Dunk and the Van Morrison concert at PPAC. And once again, we shouldn't forget those holiday shoppers.

The DOT Web site also reports a disabled vehicle on Route 95 south at the Smithfield Avenue exit (exit 25) north of downtown.

But whatever the reasons, it's busy out there on the roadways. Check the latest DOT reports, including accident alerts and live Web cam views, here.

And you can also expect the roads to be wet.

The National Weather Service has just sent out this advisory:

"Any precipitation that enters eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island this evening will be in the form of rain...except possibly mixing with wet snow later this evening in the Boston to Providence corridor and points northwest.

"Therefore...roads should remain wet...although if traveling after midnight rain will begin to mix with and change to snow towards Boston and especially the Route 128 corridor."

Get the latest weather conditions and forecasts at: projo.com/weather

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:47 PM | Comment

Plow driver who fatally struck Blackstone woman sought

Journal photo / Bill Murphy
Flowers have been placed on the windshield of Rita Plante's car on Blackstone Street, where she had parked after being unable to do so closer to her home. She then walked from there.

BLACKSTONE, Mass. -- Police are looking for the driver of a snow plow after a fatal accident that killed a 50-year-old woman walking near her home here.

Rita Plante - a mother of five who worked as a teller at a local bank - was hit from behind as she approached her home on Blackstone Street late yesterday afternoon.

Police and neighbors say Plante was forced to walk in the street because the sidewalks in the area were still covered in snow.

Investigators say Plante may have been struck by a white Ford pick-up with a snow plow.
A car behind the truck hit the woman, but that vehicle stopped and the driver will not face charges.

Det. Wayne Mowry says witnesses have told the police that the truck may have hit Plante and driven away. The police want to talk to the driver, but hadn't found the truck as of 2 p.m. today.

-- Journal, projo.com and Associated Press reports

Posted by Jack Perry at 5:50 PM | Comment

Update: Woonsocket man killed by snow plow ID'd / Photo

Journal photo / Frieda Squires
Woonsocket Police Officer Christopher Demers stops traffic for Woonsocket Middle School students to let them cross Cumberland Street near the spot where a local man was killed this morning. The route, now bounded by snow banks, is a common one for the students walking to and from their Park Place school.

WOONSOCKET -- When Raymond Boucher came home from work, he would go check on his father. He’d do the same before he went to sleep.

“He was an angel,” his father, Raymond Boucher Sr. said.

This morning, 48-year-old Raymond Boucher died after being struck by a snow plow driven by a private contractor on Cumberland Street near Cass Avenue.

Boucher was on his way to work at the nearby CVS warehouse, walking in the streets because the sidewalks were icy.

According to Maj. Richard Dubios of the Woonsocket police, sidewalks near schools take priority for plowing over other areas. Woonsocket Middle School is located a short distance to the west on Park Place.

The driver and owner of the truck, Krrzysztof Mirga, called the police and cooperated fully, Dubios said. He was cited for violations including violations of plow blade length and weight restrictions. He was not being contracted by the city.

Boucher, who ran track in the Special Olympics, lived in the same apartment building with his father and had worked at the CVS distribution center for nearly 30 years.

A statement from the company said Boucher was “a valued member of the CVS team and he was respected and well-liked by his colleagues. We extend our sincere condolences to Raymond’s family.”

Mayor Susan Menard was not available for comment.

-- with reports from Journal staff writer Tatiana Pina

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 5:36 PM | Comment

Teen gets 2 years at training school in friend's DUI death

Jonathan C. Converse, 16, was killed Nov. 5 in a drunken-driving accident. His best friend, Michael J. Silveira, pleaded no contest in Family Court today to a charge of driving under the influence, death resulting. Photo courtesy of the Converse family

PROVIDENCE — A Barrington teenager entered a plea agreement this morning and was sentenced to serve two years in the state Training School for driving while intoxicated and slamming a car into a tree, killing his best friend.

Michael J. Silveira, 17, of 91 Sowams Rd., entered a no-contest plea, admitting that he and a small group of teens spent the evening of Nov. 5 drinking Busch Light, and that just before 11 p.m., with his blood alcohol level above the legal limit, Silveira lost control of the car and crashed, killing one of his passengers, 16-year-old Jonathan C. Converse.

Family Court Chief Judge Jeremiah S. Jeremiah Jr. said he thinks Silveira should be waived out of Family Court to an adult court and sent to the Adult Correctional Institutions.

But since the attorney general’s office, the Barrington Police Department and the victim’s parents support the plea agreement, Jeremiah said he would honor it. He gave Silveira a seven-year sentence, with five years suspended and two years to be served at the Training School. Silveira also must perform 300 hours of community service and receive alcohol counseling.

State prosecutors changed the charge to driving under the influence, death resulting, from driving to endanger, death resulting. Also, rather than asking that Silveira be waived out of Family Court to an adult court, prosecutors asked that he be “certified” under a section of law that provides a half step between keeping someone in Family Court and waiving them to an adult court.

Converse’s parents were asked why they did not want Silveira to go to the ACI.

“He’s a kid, and I don’t feel he should be in an adult facility,” Daniel Converse said. But he said he did want Silveira to be held accountable. “Actions have consequences,” he said. “It’s meaningless without them.”

PDF: Read the Family Court transcript
The Journal has redacted from this document the names of juveniles other than the deceased and the defendant.

-- Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick

The sentencing followed an emotional Family Court hearing in which Converse’s parents and Silveira addressed the court.

Daniel Converse read a statement that his wife, Teresa Converse, had written. “Our lives are shattered, forever altered," he began. "And we are left with broken hearts and spirits due to his unnecessary and untimely death."

Converse said his son was "a beautiful, happy kid who has been adored from the day he was born. In all of the condolences we have received, and the letters from friends and family, we have had only validation that Jonathan was a person who spread joy and smiles to all he encountered."

Converse said his wife finds it difficult to get through an hour without crying and he finds it tough to get through each day. Converse said some of his son’s friends don’t want to be alone. Some cry and ask them for answers. But, he said, “We have none.”

Converse said he and his wife will never get to see their son go to a prom, graduate from high school or “meet the girl of his dreams.” He said, “We can only wish that no one — no one — will ever go through this unbearable pain.”

Converse said there is no doubt his son made some poor decisions, and he and his wife question their decision to let him stay out later that night because there was no school that day. But he said it’s important that those involved in the fatal crash be held accountable.

“Accountability is an invaluable tool,” Converse said. But he said did not want Silveira to end up in the ACI.

Dressed in a dark suit, blue shirt and tie, Silveira then stood before the judge. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “I miss Jon every day. My best friend is gone.”

Silveira said, “I just want to apologize for all the pain I’ve caused to all the people around me.”

With that, Jeremiah imposed the sentence, and a deputy sheriff took Silveira away to the Training School in handcuffs as members of his family wept.

After the hearing, Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch said, “What happened in Family Court today shows how well the juvenile-justice system can work. Certifying this young offender — giving him an adult sentence but keeping him in the custody of the juvenile system for the next two years — is a creative, proportional and appropriate outcome to this case. Our hearts go out to the Converse family for the indescribable loss they have suffered.”

Assistant Attorney General Jay Sullivan said, “We felt this was the appropriate disposition because of his age, because Family Court didn’t have sufficient time to deal with him.” He noted the General Assembly recently lowered Family Court jurisdiction from age 21 to 19. Also, he said Converse’s family “was adamant the he not go to the ACI.”

One of Silveira’s lawyers, William J. Murphy, said, “My client and his family are broken up over what happened. It was my client’s good friend that passed away. We are very saddened about the loss of life of Jon Converse. My client is very remorseful for what happened on Nov. 5.”

Murphy, who is speaker of the state House of Representatives, said, “I think it’s a lesson for all of us to learn. The lesson is, kids should realize they should not drink and drive. There is no good ending to a case like this, with two families that have been devastated.”

Also after the hearing, Silveira’s father, who is also named Michael Silveira said, “I’m very sorry for the Converse family and for what happened.”

The Converses said they would like to see some laws changed. For example, Teresa Converse noted the owner of the S&M Liquors, a Providence liquor store, was fined $250 for selling alcohol to minors in a sting operation, which came after two Barrington teens said they went to that store to buy some of the alcohol that played a role in the fatal crash.

By comparison, a motorist can be fined $500 for littering, Teresa Converse said, calling for stiffer penalties for those who sell alcohol to minors.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 3:41 PM | Comment

Geeks and robots: They go together

Who doesn't like robots?

Learn how you can help high school students in Rhode Island build their own robots and compete in the FIRST Robotics Challenge.

The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) program supplies high schools with robotics kits and instruction on how to bring them online.

Team members from RI FIRST will address the Providence Geeks at AS220 tonight at 5:30, giving background on robotics programs, the kids involved, and geeks and robot-lovers know how they can sign up to help.

Providence Geeks meets monthly, usually at AS220.

The group’s mission, according to its Web site, is to help Rhode Island’s digital innovators connect, collaborate, and ultimately make the City-State and its geeks leaders in information technology.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 3:35 PM | Comment

Former chief Prignano's says he's 'ashamed'

PROVIDENCE – Former police chief Urbano Prignano Jr. told a radio talk show host that he was ashamed of having helped subordinate officers cheat on promotion tests.

A transcript of his April interview with WPRO’s Dan Yorke was read into the record at the Providence retirement board's meeting this morning, the last day of its evidentiary hearing concerning Prignano’s pension.

“What I did was inappropriate,” Prignano tells Yorke. “I’m ashamed of it … I (was) ashamed the day I did it … I’ve been regretting it for years.”

The board has voted to consider reducing or revoking Prignano’s pension under an ordinance that requires “honorable service” as a prerequisite to receiving a pension.

Prignano has testified in different forums, under oath and otherwise, that he had helped subordinate police officers cheat on promotional tests.

The audio recording was one of the last documents entered into the hearing record by Vincent F. Ragosta, Jr., the lawyer overseeing the hearings.

Prignano, who retired in January 2001, has been receiving an annual pension of $64,620. Ragosta said he will complete a findings report by the end of January.

-- with reports from Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 2:27 PM | Comment

Cicilline to announce storm review findings tomorrow

Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline tomorrow afternoon will announce the results of a review of the city's response to last Thursday's snow storm, his office says.

Cicilline ordered Police Chief Dean Esserman and Chief of Administration John Simmons to conduct a review after about 100 schoolchildren were stuck for hours on stranded city school buses.

During the 1 p.m. news conference, Cicilline will also announce steps the city plans to take to ensure that schoolchildren make it home safely under any circumstances, his office says.

Cicilline's news conference comes before the City Council hold its own review. The Council has scheduled a special meeting for 6 p.m. tomorrow to question department directors about the city's response to the storm.

Posted by Jack Perry at 12:28 PM | Comment

DOT: Blocked Frenchtown Road a 'one-time' problem

Commuters expecting to take Frenchtown Road (Route 402) in East Greenwich and North Kingstown this morning may have been confused when they found the section closed east of Route 4.

But Deputy Chief Engineer Frank Corrao at the Department of Transportation says it was a one-time problem that shouldn’t happen again.

The DOT is working on setting steel for a new bridge. Work is being done from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. through Friday. But this morning, the work hadn’t completed on time, and Frenchtown Road remained closed through some people’s morning commute.

“The first night is usually the most difficult night,” Corrao said. The project requires eight steel beams in all; but at least two must be completed before cars can pass safely.

Now that two beams have been set, Corrao said, even if another problem should arise, the work can be put on hold until after the morning commute.

See a map of the bridge project at the DOT's Web site.

Corrao said the East Greenwich and North Kingstown school districts were notified and school buses were rerouted, and that ample signage helped with commuters going to work at Quonset.

The work should be finished by Saturday morning. In the meantime, the initial closures remain in effect: 9 p.m. through 5 a.m.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 12:11 PM | Comment

Providence DPW clerk charged with embezzlement

PROVIDENCE -- A clerk for the Providence Department of Public Works faces arraignment Jan. 9 in Superior Court on an embezzlement charge following her indictment yesterday by the Providence County Grand Jury.

Maria F. Medeiros, 46, of 267 Massachusetts Ave., Washington Park, was arrested September 18 and is accused of stealing money collected from the sale of replacement recycling bins, according to the Providence police.

She was indicted yesterday on one count of embezzlement over $100 between March 21 and Sept. 13.

Medeiros, a 19-year employee, was suspended from her $42,596-a-year job without pay pending resolution of the case.

Posted by Jack Perry at 11:44 AM | Comment

Iway moves forward with ramp opening Friday

PROVIDENCE -- Another Iway development: the state Department of Transportation is planning to open the South Main Street on-ramp to Route 195 east on Friday.

If the weather permits, the DOT will effectively close the Wickenden Street ramp although it may be used when construction crews need access to the Main Street ramp to finish construction.

And additional construction should happen during the day during off-peak hours.

When the ramp opens on Friday, the DOT will have signs directing drivers past the old Wickenden Street exit, under the Iway overpass, and left onto the new ramp.

Map: See what the new route looks like.

The IWay project is creating a new interchange connecting Routes 95 and 195 in Providence.

When the DOT opened the first part of the project last month, unanticipated traffic congestion led to confused and irate motorists, especially during the evening commute. In response, the DOT improved signs and opened a temporary ramp to ease traffic pressure.

DOT Director Jerome Williams also took part in an online chat with projo.com, answering questions about the situation directly. Read the transcript here.

For more information on the project, visit the DOT Web site or call the customer service line at 401-222-2450.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 11:33 AM | Comment

Salvation Army partners with bank to raise money

When you hear the ring of a bell during the holidays, the red Salvation Army bucket can’t be far.

This year, there’s a new addition in Rhode Island: green buckets.

Citizens Bank is working with the Rhode Island Salvation Army to help raise money for the emergency services that the organization provides during the holidays.

Salvation Army representatives will collect money in green buckets at Stop & Shop locations across the state.

The bank will match those donations up to $25,000 until Dec. 24.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 11:26 AM | Comment

Harvard dean to speak at health care forum

The dean of social sciences at Harvard University and health care specialist will be in Rhode Island Friday to discuss group economics of health care.

David Cutler, author of Your Money or Your Life: Strong Medicine for America’s Health Care System, will be the featured speaker at Mission: Healthy RI, an advisory group of representatives from the health care and business industries, patients and other stakeholders.

Cutler plans to discuss ways to increase quality and efficiency in health care as well as improving patients’ access to treatment choices and health care cost information as well as to health insurance choices and costs.

The work group is the creation of Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, who has said she will use information from the sessions to form a health care package to be introduced next year.

The group will meet from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at the Business Innovation Factory, which is located at the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation's headquarters on Valley Street, Providence.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 10:24 AM | Comment

Update: Narragansett fire knocked down

Firefighters have knocked down a fire that left a Narragansett home with heavy damage this morning.

A call came in at about 8 a.m.for a fire at the house at 8 Wilson Dr. There was one person living at the house according to Narragansett Fire Chief Jim Cotter. Neither the resident nor the firefighters were injured.

Cotter said it took about a half hour to get the fire under control. Responders are still at the house, he said. The fire is under investigation.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 8:51 AM | Comment

Nurses credited for quick reaction to nursing home fire

Thanks to the quick thinking of two nurses at a nursing home in Johnston, there were no injuries after an early morning fire.

A call came into the fire station just after 2:30 this morning for a fire at Cherry Hill Manor, 2 Cherry Hill Road. The building’s sprinkler system contained the fire, which involved a wall heater on a second floor unit, according to Battalion Chief Charles Cavallaro.

He said two nurses woke the resident whose room was on fire and brought him to safety. There were no serious injuries, Cavallaro said. Two nurses were treated for minor smoke inhalation.

“The staff at Cherry Hill did a fantastic job containing the fire and removing the victim,” he said. “It should definitely be noted that thanks to the initial responder – the staff – there were no injuries.

About two dozen residents were evacuated to other parts of the building, Cavallaro said; and the affected wing was closed down. Fire damage did not extend beyond the room where the fire began, although there is water damage to adjoining rooms.

The fire is still under investigation.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 8:24 AM | Comment

Emergency registry to help those with special needs

Rhode Islanders with special health needs, chronic illnesses or other disabilities can add their names to a registry that state officials say will help them prepare for emergencies.

The Special Needs Emergency Registry is scheduled to launch today with Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts and officials from the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency and the state Department of Health.

Residents who feel they may require special consideration in an emergency can sign up.

DOH and RIEMA will have access to the full database of information; information about specific individuals will be given to local emergency responders such as police or fire departments, said DOH spokeswoman Andrea Bagnall Degos.

The Registry’s launch takes place 10:15 a.m. today at Meeting Street, 1000 Eddy Street, Providence.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:37 AM | Comment

TJX, banks settle litigation over massive data breach

BOSTON -- TJX Cos. and nearly all the banks and bank associations that sued the discount retailer over a massive credit card data breach said Tuesday they have settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed amount.

Although both sides said the settlement total would remain confidential, TJX said the costs were covered by a $107 million reserve that it set aside against its second-quarter earnings.

TJX also has said that $107 million would cover the costs of another breach agreement: a Nov. 30 deal with Visa Inc. to help pay a maximum $40.9 million to help the network's card-issuing banks recover expenses to replace customers' Visa cards.

Between the two agreements and costs of about $125 million to boost security, TJX appears in good position to financially manage breach-related expenses, said Avivah Litan, a security analyst with Gartner Inc.

"This was a big thorn in their side," Litan said. "It was costly, but in the end, it's just one blip on their balance sheet."

Framingham, Mass.-based TJX, with $18 billion in annual revenue and 2,500 stores including T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, also faces pending state and federal investigations into the breach, which could result in fines.

And one of the small banks that sued TJX last spring didn't agree to sign onto Tuesday's settlement, filed in U.S. District Court in Boston.

Alabama-based Amerifirst Bank declined to take part in a deal that included state associations representing hundreds of banks in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maine, as well as Massachusetts-based Eagle Bank and Saugusbank, and Connecticut-based Collinsville Savings Society.

"Those parties obviously felt they did what was in their best interests, but we feel that TJX caused a grave injustice to banks across the country, and many of those banks are small community banks like Amerifirst," said Inge Johnstone, a lawyer for the bank. "We have a duty to continue representing our clients, and this case continues for Amerifirst."

The banks sought unspecified damages for costs including expenses to reissue customers' credit cards and monitor for fraud.

After initially disclosing the data heist in January, TJX said in March that at least 45.7 million cards were exposed to possible fraud in a breach of its computer systems that began in July 2005. But the breach wasn't detected until December 2006.

Recent court filings by the banks that sued TJX put the number of cards affected at more than 100 million, based on estimates by officials with Visa and MasterCard, who were deposed in the lawsuit. It's believed to be the largest data breach ever, based on the number of customer records involved.

-- The Associated Press

Tuesday's settlement reimburses the banks for a negotiated portion of the costs and expenses the banks incurred, but doesn't include attorney fees.

Bruce Spitzer, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Bankers Association, said the banks settled "because we believe we already achieved many of the objectives of the litigating...The public is now aware that the banks were not the source of the data breach."

The settlement comes three weeks after the banks suffered a setback. U.S. District Judge William Young ruled that the banks could not pursue their claims as a class, and instead must individually seek to recover costs.

The associations that agreed to settle - which also includes the Connecticut Bankers Association and Maine Association of Community Banks - are recommending that their member banks accept TJX's separate agreement with Visa.

That deal hinges on banks agreeing to participate, and doesn't include other card networks like MasterCard. By taking part, the banks agree to waive rights to sue, in exchange for being paid for their breach-related costs by Dec. 27. Issuers of at least 80 percent of eligible Visa cards must accept the offer by Wednesday for the settlemcent to take effect.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment

Rain, sleet, snow ... repeat

Guess what's in store for us this afternoon? Not just snow, but rain too.

We'll have cloudy skies and the National Weather Service is forecasting a high temperature near 40 degrees. The rain is expected after noon.

Rain should continue into the night then turn to sleet and snow. The temperature should drop to near 30 degrees. No snow accumulation is expected.

The precipitation should continue through tomorrow when rain and sleet are expected to continue throughout the day. The temperature should rise to about 40 degrees.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment

Today's front page

Today's front page features a story about Governor Carcieri's firing Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency Executive Director Robert Warren following last week's snow storm, which led to gridlock on the state's roads.

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

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment