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December 21, 2006

Update: Fire at Pippin Orchard Nurseries in Cranston

CRANSTON -- A fire at the Pippin Orchard Nurseries apparently destroyed a greenhouse early this evening.

Shortly after 7 p.m., white smoke could be seen pouring from the building, which was surrounded by four fire trucks. There were no signs of flames.

A sign indicated that the operation had been closed for the season. The nurseries are located on Pippin Orchard Road, which has been closed a short distance in both directions.

Robin Muksian-Schutt, the mayor's chief of staff, had said earlier that a barn and the greenhouse were on fire.

There were also police-scanner reports of high flames and concerns over various tanks with explosive gases at the location.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Tom Mooney

Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:15 PM | Comment

Providence unveils plans for this year's Bright Night

Journal photo / Andrew Dickerman
Big Nazo puppets accompany Mayor David N. Cicilline at City Hall today as Bright Night festivities are announced. Cicilline said the New Year's Eve event is the perfect opportunity to showcase Providence’s arts and culture, particularly through the use of local artists.

PROVIDENCE — City Hall was invaded today by a legion of costumed who-knows-what’s, singing and dancing and doing magic tricks as they took over the austere government building.

But it was only a taste of the scores of performers, artists, and shows that will descend on Providence on Bright Night, the city’s New Year’s Eve celebration.

The night promises over 160 performers in 24 venues throughout the city’s downtown. But it will be the first Bright Night not to feature WaterFire, which could not find a sponsor for a New Year’s Eve lighting.

The artist-run, arts-oriented festival begins with events starting at noon on Dec. 31. But the evening really kicks into gear at 6 p.m., with the first performances by the Bright Night Circus of Wonders, the Gilday Magic Show, a poetry slam, jazz and dance performances, and more.

There will also be fireworks displays at 5:30 p.m. and midnight.

The main event will be the full circus, held at the Rhode Island Convention Center. The other large new event is the Gilday Magic Show, a 20-person show billed as the largest touring magic show in 25 years. The show will run at 6 and 9 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, the first time Bright Night activities have used that venue.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:57 PM | Comment

Verizon closer to offering cable TV in R.I.

Verizon Communications is a step closer to offering cable television service to about 80,000 households in Rhode Island.

State cable regulators have awarded the company a “compliance certificate” for Service Area 6, following a 10-month review of Verizon’s application to become a cable provider.

That service area is comprised of Coventry, East Greenwich, Exeter, North Kingstown, Warwick, West Warwick and West Greenwich.

The award allows Verizon to own a cable television system in that region. But the company must get two more approvals from the regulators before it can actually begin the service – one allowing it to construct its network, and the other to operate its service.

Those approvals are likely to take just two to four months, according to a Verizon spokeswoman.

Verizon would become the first new cable company to enter the state since 1983, and provide the first land-based competition to Cox Communications in the West Bay area.

Posted by Tim Barmann at 5:44 PM | Comment

Several events to mark Cicilline's 2nd inauguration

PROVIDENCE — Mayor David N. Cicilline has announced plans for his second inauguration, with events starting Wednesday, Jan. 3, and continuing until Saturday, Jan. 6.

Cicilline, who won his second four-year term with over 80 percent of the vote last month, will be officially sworn in at 11 a.m. on the steps of City Hall, followed by his inaugural address.

“My inaugural address will set the stage for my second-term agenda, and emphasize the importance of making youth our first priority in creating a city of our greatest ambitions,” Cicilline said.

Cicilline’s inauguration will be followed by a party on Friday night at the Biltmore Hotel. Proceeds from the events will benefit Providence’s after-school programs and Volunteers in Public Schools.

The inaugural celebrations will also extend to Saturday, when skating at the Bank of America City Center will be free from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., as will admission to the Providence Children’s Museum from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Roger Williams Park Zoo from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the Rhode Island School of Design Museum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

-- Journal staff writer Daniel Barbarisi

The early days of the new year will also witness the arrival of five new members on the City Council, and the change in its leadership from John J. Lombardi to Peter S. Mancini. The council will become entirely Democratic with the loss of David Segal, a member of the Green Party.

The new council will be officially — and briefly — sworn in on Jan. 1, and then hold their full inaugural ceremonies on the night of Wednesday, Jan. 3.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 5:38 PM | Comment

Update: State suspends doctor's license after arrest

The state's health director today suspended the license of a doctor from Barrington, who was charged with multiple counts of lewd behavior following allegations of incidents at the Newman YMCA in Seekonk, Mass.

Dr. Andrew C. Stone, 36, of 53 Martin Ave., was arrested at home last night by the Barrington police. Stone waived extradition in Providence District Court this morning and later appeared at court in Taunton, Mass., where he pleaded not guilty and posted a $5,000 cash bail.

"The director of health has determined that the continued practice of Andrew C. Stone, M.D., would constitute an immediate danger to the public," reads a summary suspension notice from state Director of Health David R. Gifford.

The state Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline reviewed evidence provided by Seekonk and Barrington police following allegations that Stone "exposed himself and touched himself inappropriately in front of young boys" at the Newman YMCA, according to a board filing.

Stone is a critical-care lung specialist on staff at the VA Medical Center in Providence. He also practiced at Roger Williams and Rhode Island hospitals. Stone completed post-graduate training under Brown University's program in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care at Rhode Island Hospital.

Dr. Robert S. Crausman, chief administrative officer of the state Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline, said that the board learned of Stone's arrest about 48 hours ago, when it received a call from the police.

In its summary suspension report, the medical board indicated that "this is not the first incident of this nature." The report did not provide any details.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples with reports from Journal staff writer Felice J. Freyer

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:17 PM | Comment

Update: Body of missing Westerly man found

Rescue officials have found the body of a Westerly man after searching a river and the wooded area along Westerly-Hopkinton line for much of three days.

Authorities confirmed this afternoon that a body found this morning is that of Giorgio Celico, 66, of 23 Bradford Road, whose car was found abandoned Tuesday near a bridge over the Pawcatuck River, which forms the border between the two towns.

Search crews have called off the search the last two nights and resumed it in the mornings around 8 a.m.

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

The Medical Examiner's Office is conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death. An answer is expected later this afternoon.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Maria Armental

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:47 PM | Comment

Judge: Station fire jury transcripts may be released

PROVIDENCE -- A Superior Court judge has ruled that the public may see transcripts from the secret grand jury that investigated The Station nightclub fire.

Judge Joseph F. Rodgers Jr., the presiding judge of the Superior Court, heard legal arguments from the attorney general, a lawyer for the grand jury and other lawyers last week about whether to disclose transcripts of testimony given to the grand jury.

This is believed to be only the second time that a Rhode Island court has allowed the wholesale public release of grand jury testimony. The first was the case of Sgt. Cornel Young Jr., the off-duty Providence police officer shot by fellow officers in 2000.

Rodgers cited the “unique circumstances” of the case in granting Attorney General Patrick Lynch's petition to disclose the testimony. The judge limited the release to the materials sought in the attorney general’s initial petition – the transcripts of the grand jury – and the instructions of law given the grand jury by the attorney general.

Rodgers said he would not expand the scope of the petition beyond the transcripts, and he reserved judgment on disclosure of any additional materials. He specifically denied requests by the Derderians' lawyers to include exhibits presented to the grand jury, as well as other evidence gathered by the attorney general not shown to the panel.

No timetable has been set for the release of the transcripts.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Paul Edward Parker

The Attorney General's Office has recently released other evidence, such as audio and video, gathered during its investigation into the fire.

The Station fire grand jury met on and off for 10 months following the Feb. 20, 2003, West Warwick nightclub fire that killed 100 people. In December of that year, the grand jury approved involuntary manslaughter charges against the brothers who owned the nightclub and the rock band tour manager who started the fire by shooting off fireworks.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Paul Edward Parker

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:38 PM | Comment

Celtics' Pierce expected to miss 3 weeks

The Web site of Sports Illustrated is reporting today that Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce has suffered a stress reaction in his left foot and will miss at least three weeks of action. Pierce apparently hurt himself on Friday against Denver, then aggravated the injury in last night's loss to Golden State.

Pierce is 10th in the NBA with 26.6 points per game.

The Celtics next play tomorrow night at home against Philadelphia. They then leave on a West Coast trip.

Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:09 PM | Comment

Update: Jeep crashes into holiday party store / Video

Journal photo / Sandor Bodo
Cleanup was under way at the Let's Party store today after the crash last night left holiday decorations and displays strewn over the store's front.

CUMBERLAND – Party manager Katie Cournoyer won’t let a little girl’s birthday party tonight at the Let’s Party store be ruined just because a Jeep Grand Cherokee plowed through the store late last night and wiped out the store’s candy, Christmas and New Year’s aisles.

Watch the surveillance video of the crash. (20 sec.)

The party is on – “because there’s no sense having a little girl’s party crushed right before Christmas,” Cournoyer said.

As potential shoppers have been calling this morning to see if the store has certain items, Cournoyer says she has told them, “Yeah, if you jump over the debris, you can come and get it.”

Store owner Russell Scharf said he’s devastated by the damages – which he estimates at $40,000 to $70,000. Oddly, a deer plowed through the plate-glass front window of this same store on Jan. 19, 2003, Scharf said.

“He came in through the ‘in’ door,” Scharf said. “And so did the Jeep.”

A little luck shone on Scharf last night – he had left his prized 1966 Chevy Nova in the parking lot because he was working at a new store location in Chepachet last night and planned to go back over to the Cumberland shop late last night and get the car his father bought when it was brand-new.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

The Jeep collided with a car on Mendon Road around 11:45 p.m. yesterday, left the roadway and traveled through the parking lot before crashing into the party store.

The Jeep driver just missed Scharf's Nova in the lot, driving between a telephone pole and that car before plowing through the front windows and shattering eight panels of glass.

“He threaded like a needle between the telephone pole and my 1966 Nova and didn’t put a scratch on it,” Scharf said. “ … Literally, if you look at the position the car was, you wouldn’t even think you could drive between them. It’s just amazing. It’s nothing but luck that that didn’t even get a nick.”

According to the police accident report, neither driver had any apparent injuries and neither was taken to a hospital.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:29 PM | Comment

Westerly Land Trust closes on river property

WESTERLY – The Westerly Land Trust closed this morning on the purchase of a 1.29-acre parcel by the Pawcatuck River, adjacent to the Potter Hill Bridge and the Flora Whitely Preserve.

The Potter Hill Road property will connect the Flora Whitely Preserve to Potter Hill Road and the bridge, which crosses Route 3 at the Westerly-Hopkinton line. A walking trail may be created.

The parcel’s preservation will facilitate canoeing and kayaking down the river, providing an easy exit from the river to bypass the Potter Hill dam.

The property was acquired through a $270,000 loan, which the Westerly Land Trust is to repay in two years.

The trust previously acquired eight other parcels – totaling more than 700 acres – along the river, between the Westerly town line with Charlestown, and the Potter Hill bridge.

Those interested in making a donation to or joining the Westerly Land Trust, should write to The Westerly Land Trust, P.O. Box 601, Westerly, RI 02891.

-- Journal staff writer Maria Armental

Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:23 PM | Comment

Update: Most students go to school despite threat

WEST GREENWICH -- The majority of the students at Exeter-West Greenwich Senior High School are in school today, despite the the appearance of the second death threat in seven days on a bathroom wall, according to school principal Denise M. Boule.

"Things are going fine. We have attendance as usual," she said this morning. "About 95 percent of our kids are here."

Almost a week after half the students at Exeter-West Greenwich Senior High School skipped school because of rumors about a death threat, Boule used the web yesterday to assure parents and students that there was no real threat.

A message written in the girl’s bathroom yesterday was “similar” to one written last week that prompted the rumors – and, in turn, the decision by many parents to keep their children home, Boule wrote on the school’s Web site.

“After speaking to the chief of police and the Superintendent, James DiPrete, we concluded that this is a ‘copy cat’ attempting to disrupt our school process,” Boule wrote.

While school is in session today, Boule wrote to parents in the open letter on the Web site that an investigation will take place.

Boule encouraged anyone with what she refers to as “valid information leading to a resolution to this situation” to call her at (401) 397-6893, ext. 24.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:08 PM | Comment

Portuguese consultate might close

Some people in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts are concerned that the area's two Portuguese consulates may soon close.

A proposal before the Portuguese Parliament -- if passed -- could close both the Providence and New Bedford consulate offices by July.

If the consulates close, Portuguese citizens seeking help will have to travel to Boston.

A spokesman for Antonio Braga, the Portuguese Parliament's secretary of state, says the issue is still being studied and no decision has been made.

But some people are not so sure. Fernando Garcia, a prominent New Bedford business leader, says unless there is an outcry from the area's Portuguese population, the consulates will definitely close.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:00 AM | Comment

Principal goes online to calm students and parents

WEST GREENWICH -- Almost a week after half the students at Exeter-West Greenwich Senior High School skipped school because of rumors about a death threat, the principal goes on the web to assure parents and students.

A message written in the girl’s bathroom yesterday was “similar” to one written last week that prompted the rumors – and, in turn, the decision by many parents to keep their children home, Principal Denise M. Boule has written on the school’s Web site.

“After speaking to the chief of police and the Superintendent, James DiPrete, we concluded that this is a ‘copy cat’ attempting to disrupt our school process,” Boule wrote.

While school is in session today, Boule wrote to parents in the open letter on the Web site that an investigation will take place.

Boule encouraged anyone with what she refers to as “valid information leading to a resolution to this situation” to call her at (401) 397-6893, ext. 24.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:17 AM | Comment

It was a dark morning in the Capital City and ...

PROVIDENCE – It’s dark, dark, dark this morning.

The shortest day of the year, today is expected to be partly cloudy with a high of 52.

With sunrise at 7:09 a.m. today and sunset at 4:17 p.m., we have just 9 hours and eight minutes of daylight today.

The winter solstice starts at 7:22 p.m. when the sun will be over the Tropic of Capricorn.

There’s a small craft advisory for the region’s waters through this evening, with west winds today expected to be 20 to 25 knots, with a few gusts near 35 knots. Seas should be 4 to 7 feet.

Through the weekend, expect rain Friday night and through Saturday. Sunday should be partly cloudy, with a high around 50. Christmas Day is now predicted to be mostly sunny with a high of 48.

Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com.

Correction: No snow this weekend, as we said earlier. Just rain. We wrote the wrong word after checking to see if there might be a white Christmas. There won't be.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:05 AM | Comment

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Stories on returning soldiers, pensions for the dead and the Narragansetts' latest gambling plan lead today's Journal.
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Posted by Peter Phipps at 7:02 AM | Comment