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December 20, 2006

Roof problems force Brown to close swim center

PROVIDENCE -- Brown University announced today that it has closed its swim center indefinitely after engineers discovered structural problems in the building's roof.

"The University decided to close the swim center because we want to ensure the safety of Brown's athletes and members of the local community who use the facility," said Michael Chapman, vice president for public affair and university relations. "Every effort will be made to expedite the inspection and repair process so that the center can reopen as soon as possible."

Potential problems were discovered in the fall as construction crews worked on unrelated locker rooms renovations. Two teams of engineers were called in to inspect the roof. A report released last month identified "potential problems with the roof's structure in the event of heavy snow," according to an announcement released by the university today.

None of the engineers indicated that the swimming facility may be unsafe before snowfall, according to the university. But the swim center's original architect reviewed the engineers' report and "expressed concerns."

The swim center is now closed indefinitely, according to Brown, pending the release of an engineering report early next month.

Fourteen athletic teams, various campus organizations and community groups use Brown pool, according to university officials, who won't make any decisions about schedule changes until the engineers' report is released.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:08 PM | Comment

Sentencing set for Celona, Urciuoli and Driscoll

The stars of Rhode Island's latest high-profile corruption case will learn their fate at the end of next month.

The U.S. Attorney's Office today announced the sentencing dates for former North Providence state senator John A. Celona, and former Roger Williams Hospital leaders Robert A. Urciuoli and Frances P. Driscoll.

U.S. District Court Judge Ernest C. Torres is scheduled to sentence each person in the same courtroom, back-to-back-to-back, on Jan. 31.

Former Roger Williams' president Robert Urciuoli was convicted in October for attempting to steal the honest services of Celona -- who was the prosecution's star witness in the trial. Urciuoli was found guilty of 1 count of conspiracy and 35 counts of mail fraud.

Urciuoli potentially faces more than 100 years in prison and millions of dollars in fines.

Driscoll, a former hospital vice president, was convicted of one count of mail fraud, involving a check to Celona.

Celona pleaded guilty last summer to various charges of influence peddling. Federal prosecutors promised to seek a reduced sentence in exchange for his cooperation.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:01 PM | Comment

Seymour Pats' only Pro Bowl selection

FOXBORO -- The Patriots have only one Pro Bowl player for the first time in six years. Even two-time Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady was left out despite his strong season and his team's 10-4 record that leads the AFC East.

New England's quarterback doesn't mind, especially if he can spend the day of the game reveling in more Super Bowl accomplishments from the previous weekend while the stars get some exercise in the Feb. 10 exhibition in Honolulu.

"I think this team cares about one bowl," Brady said Wednesday, "and it certainly isn't the Pro Bowl."

The only Patriot chosen for the AFC team announced Tuesday is defensive end Richard Seymour. He was picked for the fifth consecutive season, while Brady's two-year streak ended.

The Patriots have the fewest Pro Bowl selections of the seven teams with records of 9-5 or better. Even Oakland (2-12) had one player chosen.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:49 PM | Comment

Day 2 of search ends with man still missing

WESTERLY – Rhode Island and Connecticut emergency personnel and volunteers unsuccessfully searched for the second day for a missing Bradford man.

The search was called off today at dusk. It will resume tomorrow morning.

Giorgio Celico, 66, of 23 Bradford Road, was last seen Monday night. He was reported missing early Tuesday morning.

Police said Celico was depressed and may have had a gun when he left his house Monday night. Police could not confirm today if Celico was armed.

His Mercedes was found abandoned near Route 91, on the Westerly-Hopkinton border. The keys were still in the ignition.

Rescue personnel searched for the man’s body in the river, after search dogs traced the man’s scent to a bridge near the Bradford Dyeing Association.

-- Journal staff writer Maria Armental

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:17 PM | Comment

Photo/Bishop says Mass at Zambarano; greets Frank

Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, bishop of Providence gives the homily at Zambarano hospital.
Journal photo / Mary Murphy

BURRILLVILLE -- With Advent winding down and Christmas less than a week away, the Most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin, Bishop of Providence, this afternoon visited Zambarano Hospital to say Mass and meet patients at the chronic-disease facility. It was the first time a bishop had visited in nearly 15 years.

In his homily, Bishop Tobin reflected on the lessons of ``patience and trust'' exemplified by many of Zambarano's patients, some of whom have been hospitalized for decades.

The bishop said he had new appreciation for these qualities after his own recent hospitalization for treatement of lower back pain. After a week in Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in North Providence, the bishop has resumed most of his normal activities.

Fllowing Mass for about 100 patients, relatives, family and staff in the Zambarano chapel, Bishop Tobin greeted the hospital community during a reception in the auditorium, decorated for the holiday. He posed for photographs, chatted, and gave his blessing to all who desired. He met Frank Beazley, longtime hospital resident and patient advocate, and subject of the recent Journal series, The Growing Season.

``You're obviously the star attraction!'' the bishop said. Beazley presented the bishop with a gift from Patients For Progress, the advocacy group that he chairs.

Posted by Peter Phipps at 4:15 PM | Comment

Woman charged with DUI in fatal crash

A Coventry woman was charged with driving under the influence, death resulting, in Kent County District Court today, five days after she was involved in a Johnston car crash that killed 17-year-old Warwick boy, Anthony Gemma.

Dawn Simas, 29, of 60 Read Ave., Coventry, was driving her 1998 Ford Explorer west on Hartford Avenue when she crossed into oncoming traffic, colliding with Gemma's 1993 Buick Century, according to Johnston police. Gemma was pronounced dead shortly after the 7:40 p.m. accident.

The boy was headed to his mother's house after a shift working as a cashier at Brigido's Fresh Market in North Scituate.

Police found a joint in Simas' car and several roaches. She had been charged originally with possession of a controlled substance, operating a motor vehicle in possession of a controlled substance and refusing to submit to a chemical blood test.

At today's court appearance, Simas' bail was set at $30,000 with surety, or $3,000 cash, which she posted.

Her next court hearing is scheduled for Feb. 21, 2007, according to Michael Healey, a spokesman for the Attorney General's Office.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:19 PM | Comment

Smithfield accountant filed false tax returns

PROVIDENCE -- A Smithfield accountant pleaded guilty today to filing false tax returns to avoid paying taxes on about $313,000 in personal income over four years.

Irwin Kalmer, 60, now faces three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. His is out on bond, pending a May 2007 sentencing.

In pleading guilty, Kalmer admitted today that he avoided paying some income taxes on revenue generated in personal accounting fees. When paid by check, he set up a system in which he deposited 30 percent of the money into his business bank account, while converting the rest into cash.

Using this system, Kalmer omitted $41,874 income from his 1999 return; $77,085 from his 2000 return; $89,448 from his 2001 return; and $105,473 from his 2002 return, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The criminal investigation arm of the Internal Revenue Service investigated the case.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:10 PM | Comment

Feinstein offers 100K match challenge for charity

Alan Shawn Feinstein was moved after reading a story in today's Journal about declining holiday donations across the state this year.

He decided to help.

The Cranston philanthropist today announced a "$100,000 challenge grant" to all Rhode Islanders. Feinstein will match any and all donations up to $100,000 made out to the Salvation Army, Rhode Island Food Bank, or Crossroads Rhode Island in the next 11 days.

The checks must be sent to him and postmarked before Jan. 1. And the matching challenge only applies to new donations, he said. Funds should be sent to Feinstein at 37 Alhamba Circle, Cranston 02905.

Relief agencies in Rhode Island report being tens of thousands of dollars below where they typically are during the holiday season. Some blame the lack of charity on unseasonably warm weather.

“It’s so mild; people are not in the Christmas spirit,” Maj. Robert Pfeiffer, state coordinator for the Salvation Army, said recently.

Feinstein, who made his fortune writing investment newsletters and selling mail-order collectibles, such as coins, stamps and baseball cards, underwrites a number of philanthropic efforts.

In addition to giving money to schools to support their community service projects and giving millions to local colleges for scholarships, he estimates he has donated about $50 million to anti-hunger initiatives over the last 25 years.

Several schools and programs at local colleges bear his name, as do theaters, such as the Feinstein IMAX Theater at the Providence Place mall.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:28 PM | Comment

Fogarty praised for military fund

The Rhode Island National Guard is planning to honor Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty today for establishing a special fund to help military families while their loved ones are away.

The Rhode Island Military Family Relief Fund, which Fogarty and his office have administered since 2002, has given out grants in excess of $107,000. Grants to families are based on need and capped at $2,500.

Today's ceremony is set for 1:30 p.m. at the National Guard's Command Readiness Center in Cranston. The Guard will also recognize several Rhode Island businesses for supporting their Guard employees while deployed.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:04 PM | Comment

Narragansetts want to build slot parlor in Charlestown

The Narragansett Indian tribe is pursuing plans to build a slot parlor on its lands in Charlestown and has approached Rhode Island’s Congressional leaders about reversing a federal law that would block their efforts.

“We don’t want table games. We don’t want roulette. We want what the state has,” Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas said.

Thomas has requested a meeting with members of the state delegation about the Chafee amendment, a 1996 law introduced by U.S. Senator John Chafee that bars the tribe from federal Indian gaming privileges on its 1,800 acres.

Posted by Jack Perry at 12:16 PM | Comment

Middletown man struck by car, in critical condition

A 72-year-old Middletown man is in critical condition this morning after being struck by a car on West Main Road in Middletown yesterday afternoon.

Robert L. Tannert, of 73 Oak St., was crossing West Main Road about 20 feet south of Chase’s Lane, according to Lt. Robert S. Nutt. He was not in a crosswalk.

The accident remains under investigation, Nutt said. The police do not know yet whether they will be filing charges against the driver or how fast he was traveling, Nutt said.

The driver, 25-year-old Christopher M. Heup, of 11 Newport Ave. in Newport, had turned left out of the entryway to the Chili’s restaurant on the east side of the road and was heading south on West Main Road, according to the police accident report.

He was changing lanes – from the right lane to the left lane – when he struck Tannert straight-on with his 1986 Pontiac Grand Am.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

With the impact of the crash, Tannert went up onto the hood and then bounced off the car and onto the ground, according to the accident report.

The man was taken to Newport Hospital with multiple injuries and was later transported to Rhode Island Hospital, according to the police. His vehicle was seized and held for investigation at the Middletown Police Station.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:30 AM | Comment

Traffic: Police clearing accident on 95 in Providence

The state police are working to clear a two-car accident on Route 95 north, just before the Thurbers Avenue curve in Providence.

No one was injured in the early morning accident, and it didn’t appear to cause any unusual traffic tie-ups, according to Lt. Steven Lefebvre.

For other traffic needs, check out the state roadways, via the Department of Transportation's online traffic offerings.

You can find any traffic alerts describing accidents here, browse traffic cams to see real-time photos of the highways and check out the DOT’s road construction schedule here.

Also, check out congestion mapping -- i.e., how heavy the traffic is -- here.

To report a traffic incident, call the Transportation Management Center at (401) 222-5826 and choose option #2.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:53 AM | Comment

A morning to scrape the windshield

PROVIDENCE – If you’re driving to work this morning – and aren’t lucky enough to have a garage – leave a few extra minutes to scrape the frost off your car windshield.

It’s a crisp 23 degrees out this morning. It should warm up to about 46 degrees later today, with partly sunny skies.

It now looks like we’ll be back in the low 50s tomorrow and then low- to upper-40s through the weekend.

Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:04 AM | Comment

Today's front page

Today's front page includes stories about President Bush's plans to increase the size of the nation's armed forces and a local story about how the warm December weather has hurt Salvation Army fund raising.

Download today's front page in .pdf format.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment