« February 1, 2007 | Today | February 5, 2007 »

February 2, 2007

Johnston detective facing B&E charge

JOHNSTON — A Johnston police detective faces a felony count of breaking and entering in the aftermath of an incident in Johnston, the state police said today.

The officer was identified as Marc Zaccagnini, 35, of North Providence.

Zaccagnini also was charged with domestic disorderly conduct and domestic malicious damage after he turned himself over to detectives at state police headquarters in Scituate, according to state police Capt. Stephen J. Lynch, who declined to provide any additional information on the allegations against Zaccagnini.

A criminal complaint on file in District Court, Warwick, accuses Zaccagnini of breaking into a woman’s home on Jan. 25; maliciously damaging her front door, and engaging in “fighting, threatening, violent and tumultuous behavior.”

The court has issued a restraining order, which makes it illegal for Zaccagnini to have any contact with the 35-year-old woman.

Zaccanini was arraigned before a justice of the peace, Richard Finnegan, and released on $1,000 personal recognizance.

He pleaded not guilty to the two domestic charges, according to the complaint. No plea has been entered for the felony count.

Johnston Deputy Police Chief Gary L. Maddocks Jr. acknowledged that a Johnston police officer was arrested recently, but he declined to identify the person by name.
The officer has been suspended without pay, he said.

Zaccagnini is scheduled to appear for his court arraignment April 6 in District Court, Providence.

-- Journal staff writer Mark Reynolds

Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:11 PM | Comment

Update: Coast Guard halts search for Mass. fishing boat

The Coast Guard has suspended the search of a 52-foot fishing vessel that disappeared off the Maine coast early yesterday morning.

The crew of the Newburyport, Mass.-based Lady Luck are believed to be dead. They are identified asas Sean Cone, 24, of North Andover, Mass., and Dan Miller, 21, of North Hampton N.H.

"We grieve with the families of the Lady Luck's crew and with New England's fishing community," Coast Guard Commander Tim Sullivan said in a statement. "This second tragic loss in so short a time renews our commitment to work with the fishing community and our federal and state partners to identify and remove the hazards that imperil our fishermen."

The Coast Guard decided to suspend the search at 5:34 p.m.

It's the second area fishing boat to go missing this week. The New Bedford-based Lady of Grace was found Sunday in Nantucket Sound. One crew member's body was found, while the other three men are missing and presumed dead.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:00 PM | Comment

Providence may seek millions in terrorism aid

PROVIDENCE -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has made cities like Providence eligible for $336 million in aid for the current federal fiscal year by redefining, after lobbying by Rhode Island government leaders, which areas of the nation face a higher threat of terrorism.

Today, providence city officials had a chance to lobby a top government official about why the Providence metropolitan area needs more federal funding. They are considering asking for funding to acquire a large fire boat, to improve local and regional communications systems and to equip and train first responders to emergencies, among other possibilities.

George Foresman, undersecretary for preparedness at the Department of Homeland Security, appeared at a news conference today called by U.S. Sen. Jack Reed outside City Hall to discuss the change in the funding formula that allowed cities to apply for more aid.

The redefinition, announced four weeks ago, means Providence may vie for money with 39 other urban areas, including Boston, Miami, Las Vegas and Seattle.

Among the factors that make Providence stand out, Foresman said, is its population density and the proximity of a liquefied natural gas tank to downtown.

Should Providence apply, it would be doing so on behalf of itself, East Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, North Providence, Johnston, Cranston and Warwick, according to Providence Assistant Fire Chief Michael J. Dillon.

-- Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:57 PM | Comment

Chow mein sandwiches getting harder to find

FALL RIVER -- The chow mein sandwich is quickly becoming a rarity in New England.

Mark You Restaurant, which has served thousands of the sloppy Asian sandwiches to generations of Fall River residents over the past 70 years, is closing for good.

The restaurant, located at 1237 Pleasant St. in the city's Flint section, will close this weekend because of the high cost required to bring the building up to the fire code, according to a sign on the longtime business's wall noted today by two Journal staff members.

What is a chow mein sandwich?

The chow mein -- a mixture of minced meat, celery, onions, and bean sprouts in gravy over deep fried noodles -- is placed between a hamburger bun and covered with brown gravy.

Sound appetizing?

Although Mark You closes Sunday night, the chow mein sandwich is on the menu at a few Rhode Island restaurants, including the Woonsocket's Chinese Chan's.

-- Journal staff reports

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:27 PM | Comment

Providence executive to head Mass. museum

STURBRIDGE, Mass. -- Old Sturbridge Village is hiring a top executive from a Rhode Island-based education institute.

Jim Donahue is currently the CEO of the Bradford Dunn Institute for Learning Differences in Providence.

He replaces Beverly Sheppard as the museum's president. Sheppard resigned last March after running into a conflict with the board of directors over how the museum should be run.

The Bradford Dunn Institute operates the Hasbro Center for Teaching Excellence, RI Tutorial and Educational Services and the CVS Highlander Charter School.

Donahue says his first focus will be to bring more money into Old Sturbridge Village so the museum can boost its educational offerings.

In the mid 1980s, Sturbridge Village averaged 600,000 visitors; in 2005, they received 268,000.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:22 PM | Comment

2 Woonsocket levees get low marks for maintenance

Two Rhode Island levees -- both in Woonsocket -- are among 146 levees nationwide that are in “fair, poor, or unacceptable” condition, according to a list released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The levees include the Single Street Dike, located below the Singleton Street bridge, and the Lower Mill River Dike, which is near the entrance to the World War II Memorial Park.

Acknowledging that the city has lagged in maintaining its flood control system, City Engineer Alan Brodd said today that the situation is not life threatening for residents.

“In my opinion, no one’s in imminent danger and I stand by that,” he said.

The city has a year to complete the improvements specified by the Army Corps. After that, the levees could become de-certified, which would require residents living behind the levees to obtain flood insurance at a higher cost than what they would have to pay now, said Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman Marty Bahamonde.

“What it should tell people is we have an issue here and we should think about protecting ourselves,” he said.

Brodd estimates that the repairs will cost $1.5 million, and noted that the city is seeking financial assistance from FEMA. Another option is turning ownership and responsibility for the levees back over to the Army Corps, which built the structures.

-- Journal staff writer Kia Hall Hayes

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:01 PM | Comment

Mass. man gets 8 months for lying about assets

PROVIDENCE -- A Massachusetts man who lied in bankruptcy filings has been sentenced to eight months in federal prison followed by eight months of home confinement.

Richard M. Cecca, 53, of Plymouth, Mass., pleaded guilty to six counts of bankruptcy fraud in October after federal authorities discovered that he had concealed real estate assets in connection with his bankruptcy filing five years ago, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Providence, which announced the sentence today.

Cecca admitted to repeatedly lying under oath about his or his company's assets during a 2001 bankruptcy hearing. He failed to reveal he had an ownership interest in about 20 parcels of real estate in Providence and other locations, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Each count of bankruptcy fraud carried a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi imposed the sentence. Cecca must report to federal prison on March 30.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:53 PM | Comment

Sports this weekend: Super Bowl and a lot of other stuff

Your sports weekend begins tonight at TD Banknorth Garden, where the Boston Celtics have the chance to make history by losing their 14th straight game, which would eclipse the franchise record from 10 years ago. Tonight's opponent: the Los Angeles Clippers (23-22). Funny, I remember the days when this matchup seemed like a sure win for Boston. Catch the game, if you dare, beginning at 7:30 on Fox Sports New England.

Here in Providence, the P-Bruins are hosting the Portland Pirates at The Dunk at 7. And at the Brown men's basketball team (1-3 Ivy League; 6-13 overall) hosts former coach Glen Miller and the Penn Quakers (2-0, 11-7). The game begins at 7 at the Pizzitola Center.

Sticking to the men's college hoops theme: URI and Fordham are in a three-way tie (with George Washington) for first place in the Atlantic 10, and Cox Sports Network will show their matchup tomorrow in New York, beginning at 12 noon. The PC Friars (4-3 Big East; 14-6 overall) will be in Milwaukee to take on Marquette (6-2; 19-4) at 2 p.m. tomorrow. The game is not on TV. But Cox Sports will show the Friars men's hockey team in action at Vermont beginning at 7. Projo.com's College Hoops Blog will post the results of the URI and PC basketball games as soon as they end.

The fightin' Boston Bruins return to the road on Saturday night to face the Carolina Hurricanes at 8:30.

Oh yeah, I think there's a football game on Sunday night too. Supe XLI begins at 6:25 on Channel 12. The pregame shows have probably already started. NFL.com promises us that anything can happen.

Posted by Mike McDermott at 3:51 PM | Comment

Controversial professor speaks on MLK at Brown today

PROVIDENCE -- Cornel West, the controversial professor of African-American studies and religion who has bounced back and forth from Princeton to Harvard to Princeton, will land at Brown University today, just long enough to deliver the annual Martin Luther King Jr. lecture.

Read a Journal story advancing West's appearance.

West’s lecture, “The Life and Legacy of Martin Luther King,” will be at 4 p.m. today in Room 101, Salomon Center for Teaching on the College Green. It is free and open to the public.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:56 PM | Comment

Sunday's Home and Garden stories are up

The Sunday Journal's feature stories publish in advance, and we get them here on projo.com first.

Garden stories for a wintry day:

Hope grows in improbable gardens, about " 'defiant gardens,' places created in extreme and difficult conditions that also assert and affirm that, yes, despite everything, life and dignity exist here."

A bit of paradise for city gardeners is my second story this week about the new Roger Williams Park Botanical Center. (Here's Wednesday's news story and a slideshow shot inside the greenhouses.)

Hydroponics is a fun hobby you can start small. Those are chinese cabbage seedlings growing hydroponically at right.

Lucky break — get rid of pesky Bradford pear

More stories on our Garden index.

On the Home front, Mixing it up in style introduces the piece of furniture known as a bar cabinet.

You'll also find,

A good doormat is hard to find

Papier-mâché furnishings may be valuable

and next week's Home & Garden Calendar

More stories are always available on the Home index.

.

Posted by Sheila Lennon at 2:42 PM | Comment

Beach cleanup planned to address trash problem

SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- Outraged by decades-old trash washing up on South County beaches and frustrated by what they view as an inadequate response, the Rhode Island Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation and concerned citizens plan to do something about it tomorrow.

A beach cleanup is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Deep Hole fishing area, off Matunuck Beach Road.

Since mid-January, reams of fishing lines, rubber boots, hoses and thousands of pop-top beer cans have washed up on beaches spanning from the Charlestown Breachway to Snug Harbor. The debris is linked to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredging operation to clear sand and silt from channels in the Point Judith Harbor of Refuge.

Under local pressure to help renourish storm-stripped beaches, the Army Corps agreed to dump the dredged material in about 15 feet of water off Matunuck. And while sediment is washing in, with it comes trash, some dating to the last dredging 30 years ago.

By contract, the contractor, Newborn Construction Inc., of Center Moriches, N.Y., is required to remove the debris, Walsh said. Three workers have been assigned to pick up the trash, which some fear will be washing in with the waves for years to come.

Frustrated by the pace and thoroughness of the work, the Surfrider Foundation initiated tomorrow's beach cleanup at a community forum Thursday night.

The Surfrider Foundation plans to charge Newborn Construction Inc. for trash bags, gloves, a Dumpster and tipping fees.

-- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney

Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:10 PM | Comment

Sunday's book reviews are online now

Hot off the virtual press, Sunday's Books section.

Sam Coale reviews AMERICAN BLOOMSBURY: Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry David Thoreau: Their Lives, Their Loves, Their Work, by Susan Cheever.

Jon Land explores Islamic radicals, the new thriller villains.

Reviews are also up for:

THE VIEW FROM CASTLE ROCK, by Alice Munro.

UNION 1812: The Americans Who Fought the Second War of Independence, by A.J. Langguth.

STRONG IS YOUR HOLD, by Galway Kinnell.

These and other recent books stories can be found on projo.com's Books index anytime.

Posted by Sheila Lennon at 1:51 PM | Comment

DOT: Designate a sober Super Bowl driver

In case you hadn’t forgotten, what with the Patriots’ disheartening loss in the playoffs, the Super Bowl XLI is on Sunday.

As you gear up to the watch the game – will you do so, here in New England? – the state Department of Transportation is urging you to plan ahead, celebrate wisely and designate a sober driver to get you home after the game.

The DOT is teaming up with the National Football League and a coalition called Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management to urge safety for Sunday’s game pitting the Indianapolis Colts against the Chicago Bears.

“We’re reminding everyone this weekend that Super Bowl Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk,” DOT Director Jerome F. Williams said in a statement issued today. “If your game plan includes celebrating with alcohol, whether it’s this weekend or any other, make sure you have a designated driver on your team.”

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 12:11 PM | Comment

Coast Guard warns mariners of looming storm

The Coast Guard is warning New England mariners today of a looming weekend storm expected to generate 17-foot seas and 40-knot winds.

The warning -- which officials are broadcasting via VHF/FM radio and using Falcon jets -- comes as a Coast Guard search is under way for a 52-foot fishing vessel that disappeared off the Maine coast.

It's the second fishing boat to go missing this week. The New Bedford-based Lady of Grace was found Sunday. One crew member's body was found, while the other three men are missing and presumed dead.

The weekend storm is expected to bring dangerous conditions for mariners by tomorrow. Numerous Coast Guard units throughout New England are preparing crews and equipment to respond to any further incidents in what has been a busy season for them already.

For more detailed information on the mariners' forecast for Rhode Island and Massachusetts waters, check here.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:47 AM | Comment

Update: Fire extinguished at Pawtucket plant / Photo

Journal photo / Andrew Dickerman
Smoke billows from a food-oil processing plant operated by Bunge North America on Colfax Street in Pawtucket.

PAWTUCKET – A morning fire at a food-oil processing plant at 38 Colfax St. was knocked down nine minutes after the first fire crew arrived on scene.

Firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to drums of sulphuric acid 10 feet inside the building, according to James Taylor, chief of communications for the Providence Fire Department, whose crews arrived on scene at 9:57 a.m., one minute after they were called to the blaze. Those drums were a concern, Taylor said. Had they caught, it would have “turned into a haz-mat incident,” he said.

Within nine minutes, though, the bulk of the fire was out and there was no danger of it spreading, Taylor said. There could have still been hot spots for a short time after that, but they no longer posed a concern, he said.

Pawtucket fire crews arrived right behind the Providence crews, Taylor said.

The fire sparked at Bunge North America, in what’s known as the Colfax Building, as a crane was lowering some kind of panel onto the roof, Taylor said. The panel somehow caught fire, he said.

Because of the fire department activity in the area, the state Department of Transportation closed the off-ramp to Exit 25 (Smithfield Avenue) around 10:30 a.m. Although the DOT anticipated the exit would remain closed for about two hours, it re-opened by about 11:20 a.m., according to a traffic report.

The state Department of Environmental Management has been called to the scene as well and has sent its emergency response personnel, spokeswoman Gail Mastrati said around 10:30 a.m. Clean Harbors, an environmental cleanup company, was also called to the scene, according to Taylor.

Bunge North America distributes and processes edible oils made from vegetables, Mastrati said. The DEM issued a permit for a boiler at the plant about two years ago.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson, with reports from Journal photographer Andrew Dickerman

Heavy smoke could be seen before 10 a.m. from Route 146. By about 10:20 a.m., smoke was still visible but it had lightened.

Last January, a potentially hazardous ammonia leak at Bunge led to the partial shutdown of the plant and the temporary evacuation of several nearby homes. The head of DEM’s Emergency Response Team said later that day that the ammonia that was released quickly dissipated. The gas that got out of the plant never posed an immediate danger to life or health, according to a Journal story at the time.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:44 AM | Comment

TBS apologizes for Boston security scare

BOSTON -- Turner Broadcasting System apologized to Boston-area residents today for a security scare that had bomb squads checking out electronic signs that were part of a nationwide marketing campaign for its subsidiary Cartoon Network.

Phil Kent, Turner's chairman and CEO, made the apology in full-page ads in Boston newspapers for "the confusion and inconvenience" caused as highways, bridges and river traffic were shut down in several areas while police checked out the signs, some of which had protruding wires.

"We never intended this outcome and certainly did not set out to perpetrate a hoax. What we did is inadvertently cause a great American city to deal with the unintended impact of this marketing campaign. For this, we are deeply sorry," Kent said.

"Our focus today and in the days ahead is on demonstrating to you the sincerity of our desire to do what is right. What happened in Boston is a humbling reminder that reputation is something we earn every day. We are working to regain your respect," the letter said.

Turner spokeswoman Shirley Powell told The Associated Press that the company is in discussions with Boston city officials on how to best make amends.

More ...

-- Associated Press

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 11:31 AM | Comment

Photos: A wintry jaunt in Jamestown and more

Journal photo / Bill Murphy
Diane Herron walks her dog, Paisley, on Bow Street In Jamestown after this morning's snow. The National Weather Service forecasts periods of rain and snow showers, mainly before noon, in Jamestown.

Gallery: View more photos of today's snow and Groundhog Day observance in Little Compton.

Posted by Jack Perry at 9:44 AM | Comment

Photo: Waiting for the bus in snowy Narragansett

Journal photo / John Freidah
Deveron Gordon, 12, left, and Uriah Hazard, of Narragansett Pier Middle School, wait for their bus, which is running late due to the first snow fall of the season. The National Weather Service forecast accumulation of one to three inches, mostly to the south and east of Providence.

Posted by Jack Perry at 9:35 AM | Comment

House burns in West Warwick

WEST WARWICK – Firefighters have responded to a house fire at 23 Robinson Way.

The fire was reported at 8:30 a.m., according to a dispatcher.

More details are not yet available.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 9:00 AM | Comment

Photo: Shoveling snow in Warwick

Journal photo / Bill Murphy
Art Daniels shovels his driveway during this morning's snow at his Potowomut Road home in Warwick. The National Weather Service forecasts light to moderate snow for most of the morning from Providence southward and into southeastern Massachusetts. Accumulation of one to three inches is expected.

Posted by Jack Perry at 8:48 AM | Comment

Coast Guard searching for missing Mass. fishing boat

BOSTON -- The Coast Guard continued an air-and-sea search this morning for a 52-foot fishing vessel with two crew members that disappeared off the Maine coast after sending an automated distress signal.

Three Coast Guard vessels including a 270-foot cutter were searching along with a Jayhawk helicopter and Falcon jet.

It's the second missing vessel inside a week in New England waters.

The wreckage of the New Bedford-based fishing vessel Lady of Grace was found Sunday on the bottom of Nantucket Sound. One crew member's body has been recovered, while the other three remain missing and are presumed dead.

The Coast Guard planned to re-evaluate the search this afternoon, taking into account an oncoming coastal storm as well as prospects for success after saturating the area, said Kenneth Stuart, a search coordinator.

Read the full Associated Press story.

Posted by Jack Perry at 8:11 AM | Comment

Groundhog Adamsville Phil doesn't see a long winter

LITTLE COMPTON -- Groundhog Adamsville Phil didn't see his shadow this morning. Nor did his colleague, Punxsutawney Phil, in Pennsylvania.

That means spring is right around the corner, we hope. According to German folklore, if the groundhog sees his shadow today, six more weeks of winter are in store. If he doesn't see it, spring is just around the corner.

Here in Little Compton, big snowflakes are falling steadily, and perhaps three inches of snow have accumulated.

About 20 friends of the Little Compton couple, Polly and Lee Gardner, who rescued theabandoned groundhog last spring arrived this morning, a little before 7 a.m., for Adamsville Phil’s big moment.

The couple took him into their home and nursed him to health last spring. Now, he plays with their two Siamese cats, Bounce and Bump, and hides under dressers as he romps through the house.

A bluegrass song called “Groundhog” kicked off the morning celebration at the Gardner home, before the local Phil was summoned out of his basement cage.

-- with reports from Journal staff writer Richard Salit

Musician friends of the Gardners gathered to play the fiddle, guitar and banjo. After they played several renditions of “Groundhog,” Polly Gardner announced, “It’s time. Let’s get Phil.”

And down to the basement she went, sporting her black top hat and tuxedo coat with tails, just like the officials in Punxsutawney, Penn., wear. Lee Gardner was sporting a full-length fur coat.

Polly walked outside with Phil in her arms, and everyone gathered around. Fairly calm, Phil sat in her hand the whole time outside, as the snow fell. He looked around.

“What do you say, Phil?” Polly asked him.

“Considering the day,” she replied for him, “I don’t think he’s seen his shadow.”

And then it was back inside to the comforts of home, and Phil was ushered back to his cage downstairs.

The friends are lingering at the Gardner home, eating muffins. Phil, who has taken a liking to certain people foods, had no refreshments with the crowd gathered in his honor.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 8:05 AM | Comment

A snowy morning

PROVIDENCE – Looks like parts of Providence got a dusting overnight and parts didn’t, but by 6:30 a.m., snow was falling ever so slightly.

South of the capital city, though, it’s “snowing pretty good,” National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Nocera said this morning. Westerly and Newport have a good, healthy downfall, Nocera said, as does Little Compton, according to a Journal reporter waiting over there for news from the little groundhog.

Here in Providence, expect snow for the balance of the morning, with maybe an inch or two of accumulation, Nocera said. But the higher accumulation amounts will be south of the city, with Barrington, Newport and Westerly perhaps picking up as much as 3 inches.

Over on Block Island, it will be warm enough for the morning’s precipitation to be a mix of rain and snow, with little accumulation, Nocera said.

The further north we go in Rhode Island, the less snow we’ll see today. Over in the state’s northwest corner, in Burrillville, we might see an inch or so, Nocera said.

Check projo.com for snow-related closings and for weather updates throughout the day.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:10 AM | Comment

Traffic: Snow affecting travel in some parts of R.I.

Although there are just a few scattered snow flakes falling in Providence early this morning, some Rhode Island roads are getting a coating of snow.

The snow is falling fairly heavily in Tiverton and Little Compton, coating the roads and evergreen trees.

Snow was also falling heavily along Route 195 in southeastern Massachusetts around 6 a.m., leaving a light coating in some areas.

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.

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

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Richard Salit.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment

Download today's front page.

Corruption at the State House and The Station fire evidence lead today's Journal.

Download file

Posted by Peter Phipps at 6:57 AM | Comment