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August 7, 2007

Police name 2 shot at memorial service

PROVIDENCE – The police have identified the two men who were shot last night at a memorial service near the Chad Brown housing complex.

Keywion A. Brown, of 90 Fillmore St. F in Providence, and Matthew Harvey, of 364 Curtis Corner Rd., Apt. C5, Wakefield, were both taken to Rhode Island Hospital. They are both listed in good condition.

Brown was shot in the left biceps, and Harvey was shot in the right elbow, according to the police report.

Witnesses of the shooting have told the police that about 30 people were conducting a memorial service in front of the Berkshire Street residence when a green Chrysler Caravan carrying perhaps four people drove east on Berkshire Street.

They were remembering Kyle Johnson, a 17-year-old Providence youth who was killed in a motorcycle accident at that site on Aug. 6, 2004, Det. Capt. Hugh T. Clements Jr. said today.

Johnson, who was not wearing a helmet, was "popping wheelies" -- driving on the back wheel -- when he hit a speed bump and the motorcycle bounced off the curb several times and flew 69 feet before striking a fire hydrant, the police said at the time.

The memorial shrine to Johnson adorns a telephone pole near the front of 57 Berkshire St.

-- projo.com staff writers Kate Bramson and Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

A small brown teddy bear is lashed to the pole, at perhaps eye level. A few necklaces – a silver beaded chain, one with a National Guard pin on it and one bearing a cross – hang from the teddy bear.

Religious candles in tall glass holders surround the pole. This morning, the candles with pictures of saints and Jesus on them were not lit.

As the Chrysler Caravan passed 57 Berkshire St. last night, a male in the back seat who was wearing a dark-color full ski mask began discharging a firearm into the crowd, witnesses told the police. The vehicle then fled on Berkshire Street toward Admiral Street.

The shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. in the city's north end.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 6:35 PM | Comment

Foes to rally against Smithfield council president

SMITHFIELD – A “resignation rally” calling to replace Town Council President Stephen G. Tocco, who was dismissed last month as chief of the Rhode Island Capitol Police, is scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight – a half hour before the council’s meeting.

The council then plans to take up two motions. One would reorganize the council (translation: replace Tocco as president) and the other would strip him of his office altogether.

Tocco was dismissed as chief of the Rhode Island Capitol Police on July 20 and was transferred to a civilian state job after The Providence Journal disclosed that years ago he had negotiated bribes and carried thousands of dollars in bribes on a number of occasions both to Gary Garafano, deputy public works director in Providence, and to Louis S. Simon, public works director in Pawtucket during the administration of Mayor Brian J. Sarault.

Simon and Sarault pleaded guilty and served jail terms. Garafano was convicted after a trial in 1993 and was sentenced to prison. Tocco testified for the prosecution in a deal that allowed him to escape criminal charges.

He committed these acts while he was also an officer of the Capitol Police, he testified.

-- Journal staff writer Thomas J. Morgan

Posted by Kate Bramson at 6:18 PM | Comment

New park: State moves to buy Rocky Point shoreline

PROVIDENCE -- The State Properties Committee today endorsed a plan to purchase 41 acres along the Warwick Neck waterfront – including a one-mile stretch of undeveloped coastline, believed to be the only property of its kind left on Narragansett Bay.

Officials hope to transform the dilapidated property into a place where Rhode Islanders can jog, fish and picnic.

The land is expected to cost $4.4 million.

“Having the ability to protect that for the State of Rhode Island is a once in a lifetime chance we have right now,” said Lisa Primiano, head of the land conservation program for the state Department of Environmental Management.

The plan has already received the preliminary blessing of the City Council and City Planning Director Mark Carruolo says the purchase and sales agreement could be signed in the next “few days.” Ultimately, the deal must be approved by a federal bankruptcy court.

Under the terms of the agreement presented to the properties committee today, the City of Warwick would maintain ownership of the 41-acre property. But the state would own a “conservation and public access easement,” which would give the DEM strict control over use of the property.

Development would likely be limited to two parking lots on either end of the property, walking paths along the 5,000-plus feet of coastline, a handful of benches and a picnic area, according to Primiano. And a crumbling pier that remains on the property may be restored for fishing or ferry access, DEM director W. Michael Sullivan said.

“There will be unconditional statewide access,” Sullivan told the properties commission. “It is a phenomenal opportunity for what is, to someone my age, a very memorable property.”

-- Steve Peoples, Journal State House Bureau

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:37 PM | Comment

Cranston softball team not going to World Series

A Cranston girls fast-pitch softball team isn’t moving on to the Junior League Softball World Series in Kirkland, Washington.

The Cranston National Budlong Little League Junior Division lost its regional match in Syracuse, N.Y., this afternoon, and the girls then headed to a mall in Syracuse to get something to eat and to do some shopping, said one of their coaches, Bill Lavey.

“Unfortunately, we lost 2 to nothing to Connecticut, which was one of the better teams in the tournament,” Lavey said from the car as his wife and the team manager, Betsy Lavey, drove to the mall. “They were a little bit stronger than us.”

The Cranston team was recently profiled in the Journal.

-- projo.com staff writers Kate Bramson and Michael P. McKinney

Heading into this afternoon’s game against Connecticut, the Cranston team of 13- and 14-year-olds had a 1-2 record in its quest to reach the regional semifinals. To get to Thursday's regional seminfinal, the Cranston team would have had to beat Connecticut and then Connecticut would have had to lose tomorrow to the New York team, Betsy Lavey said this morning.

“Maybe next year,” Bill Lavey said following this afternoon’s defeat. “The kids are over it,” he said. “Kids get over these things very quickly.”

The team has mostly 13-year-olds, so many can come back and compete again next year, he said. The regional matches included 12 teams from 11 states (from Maine to Maryland) – New York had two teams, since host Syracuse played in addition to another New York team, he said.

Tonight, the Cranston softball players are just going to enjoy themselves in Syracuse, Bill Lavey said. They’re staying overnight since they had already reserved the hotel in case a win today meant another game tomorrow. They’ll be back in Cranston tomorrow, he said.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 5:26 PM | Comment

EEE found for 2nd time this year in Massachusetts

SEEKONK – The Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus has been detected for the second time this year in mosquitoes in Massachusetts.

The state Department of Health announced today that the rare but serious illness has been detected in mosquitoes collected from Seekonk.

The first mosquito pool that tested positive for EEE in Massachusetts this year was detected early last month in the town of Raynham in Bristol County.

The EEE virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Although it can infect people of all ages, children under age 15 and adults over age 50 are at the greatest risk for serious illness.

For more information about the virus, check out the state Department of Public Health’s web site.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson, with reports from Journal staff writer Meaghan Wims

EEE virus activity has been “very intense” since 2004, according to the state health department. In 2006, five human cases of EEE in Massachusetts resulted in two fatalities.

Last month, Massachusetts detected West Nile Virus, another mosquito-borne illness, in a mosquito and in a bird for the first time this year in Berkeley and Marlboro, Mass., respectively. There were three cases of that virus in 2006, with no fatalities.

Last year, Rhode Island reported that three mosquito pools in Westerly tested positive for EEE. Statewide, 10 mosquito pools also tested positive for West Nile virus.

No cases of human infection were reported in the state.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 4:58 PM | Comment

Bus driver sentenced to life plus for sexual assaults

A bus driver was sentenced today to two concurrent life sentences plus 16 years to serve for sexually assaulting three developmentally disabled passengers during his route to and from an adult rehabilitation center in South Kingstown.

A jury found Jose R. Rivera, of 12 Kent St., Pawtucket, guilty in June of two counts of first-degree and four counts of second-degree sexual assault, as well as simple assault for incidents that took place in the woods and other places along the route he drove two years ago as a RIPTA bus driver, according to the attorney general’s office.

In Washington County Superior Court today, Judge Stephen P. Nugent said Rivera had no potential for rehabilitation because he isn’t accepting responsibility, showed no remorse and is arrogant.

“The bottom line is: Society in general, and the most vulnerable in particular, need to be protected,” Nugent said.

Rivera was accused in August 2005 of assaulting three women during his route to and from the Adeline LaPlante Center, an adult rehabilitation center in Peace Dale. Police investigated after learning special-needs clients had revealed independently the driver had “touched them in private places,” according to court records.

Nugent sentenced Rivera, 48, to the two concurrent life sentences for each of the two first-degree sexual assaults.

For two of the second-degree sexual assaults, Nugent sentenced Rivera to 15 years to serve concurrently with the life sentences.

For the other two second-degree counts, Nugent sentenced Rivera to 15 years to serve, concurrently with each other but consecutive to the life sentences.

For the simple assault conviction, Nugent sentenced Rivera to serve one year consecutively after the other terms.

In all, that’s one life term plus 16 years to serve.

CORRECTION: An earlier item incorrectly stated which of the sentences were to be served concurrently and which were to be served consecutively.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson, with reports from Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney

The women, ages 22, 37 and 39 at the time of the assaults, testified during the two-week trial.

Rivera’s sister, Laura James, said in court today that he had been railroaded. She accused the court of discriminating against Rivera because he’s a native of Puerto Rico and the victims were Caucasian. The judge rebuffed that idea.

“To say that Mr. Rivera was railroaded … is, frankly, an insult,” Nugent said. He had a fair trial, the judge said.

Rivera, too, addressed the court.

“I hope in the end , I know in the end, justice will be served,” he said.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 3:23 PM | Comment

Report: RI beaches closed more often last year

Rhode Island's beaches were closed more often last year than in 2005 for elevated bacteria levels, in part because the state soaked in twice the rainfall, says a national report released today by an environmental group.

Warren Town Beach exceeded the state's daily maximum bacterial standards last year more than any other beach by percentage, says the "Testing the Waters" report.

Warren Town Beach exceeded the limit 29 percent of the time. Following it were Plum Beach Club at 25 percent, Saunderstown Yacht Club at 23 percent, and Third Beach in Newport at 17 percent. To see the full list, go here.
Washington County, at 67 percent, had the largest percentage of beaches that did not exceed the bacterial limits, followed by Newport County at 58 percent, acording to the report.

Kent County had the most beach closings, accounting for more than a third of the state's beach closing days.

In one category, the report said Rhode Island and four other states were worst in the country. It's for beaches that most often failed to meet federal healtjh standards and are highly popular with beachgoers, close to a pollution source, or both. The report examined more closely what it labels these "high-risk" beaches -- ones with high use or proximity to pollution sources, known as "tier one" in the report.

Besides Rhode Island, the others deemed worst in the high-risk catergory were Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Minnesota.

Over all, the report asserts the following:

"There are national health standards ... and those five states were the worst in failing to meet the national standards," Hamlet Paoletti, a senior media associate with the council, said in an interview.

But amount of rainfall, and where, is a factor in deeming the tier-one beaches' results and, therefore, the states, he said.

"Every time it rains, the rain carries more pollutants to the seas," said Paoletti, noting that in Hawaii, for instance, high-than normal rainfall caused its results to shoot up.

The report does offer positives about Rhode Island's beaches, too. For instance, 59 percent of all monitored beaches in the state did not exceed limits.

Rhode Island "has a strong source identification emphasis" in its monitoring program of water and potential pollutants, the report found. "Because of the monitoring program, problems with storm drains, sewer lines, and septic systems have been revealed and corrected or are in the process of being corrected."

And none of Rhode Island's beaches made the "beach bums" list in the report for beaches that don't meet federal standards more than half of the time. Those that did make the list were in California, Maryland, New Jersey, and Illinois.

The report gave a statistical breakdown of the state's individual beaches, including ones that are not in tier one. For the full list, go here.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 2:17 PM | Comment

Alexion appoints accounting officer

SMITHFIELD -- Alexion Pharmaceuticals has appointed Scott Phillips, 30, as its principal accounting officer.

The Connecticut company is building a $47-million biomanufacturing facility in Smithfield, at the former Dow Chemical plant.

Phillips previously served as Alexion's corporate controller and chief accounting officer. He was hired in April, after he left the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. He has also worked for Ernst & Young LLP.

At Alexion, Phillips will take over for Vikas Sinha, who will retain the roles of chief financial officer and principal financial officer.

-- Journal Staff Writer Benjamin N. Gedan

Posted by Kate Bramson at 1:08 PM | Comment

Actor Chevy Chase to host Newport jazz fest

NEWPORT -- Comedian Chevy Chase will host this week's JVC Jazz Festival in Newport, the organizers have announced.

Chase, described as a jazz fan, will host the festival Saturday and Sunday, introducing segments of programming on the main JVC stage, where musicians such as Dave Brubeck, Branford Marsalis, Marcus Miller, B.B. King, and Al Green are set to perform.

Chase initially gained fame as a cast member on Saturday Night Live.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:00 PM | Comment

Big day for R.I. softball team eyeing national tourney

A Cranston girls fast-pitch softball team has to win its regional match in Syracuse, N.Y., this afternoon, if it hopes to keep alive its dream of reaching the Junior League Softball World Series in Kirkland, Washington.

The Cranston National Budlong Little League Junior Division team, consisting of 13- and 14-year-olds, is scheduled to play a Connecticut team at 2:30 p.m.

Cranston has a 1-2 record and is trying to reach the regional semifinals. To get to Thursday's regional seminfinal, the Cranston team must beat Connecticut and then Connecticut must lose tomorrow to the New York team, said Cranston team manager Betsy Lavey

"You just try to stay with what got us here: Right now, we are not hitting the ball as well," said Lavey, but she added the team's defense has been good.

And people have gotten on base -- it's just a matter of getting them home.

The team was recently profiled in the Journal.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:47 AM | Comment

Ex-employee admits stealing $981,794 from RISD

PROVIDENCE -- A former fire safety chief at the Rhode Island School of Design pleaded guilty today to stealing nearly $1 million from the East Side college through a fraudulent billing scheme.

Patrick ``Berney’’ Clyne, 65, of Providence, appeared before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi and admitted that he engaged in mail fraud and filed a false tax return. Clyne, who had been living in Ireland with his wife, Ibtisama Bradley, 58, surrendered to the authorities last spring at Logan International Airport in Boston.

As part of the plea agreement, Clyne also agreed to forfeit the couple’s home and property that they bought through their ill-gotten gains in Ballinamore, Ireland. Thomas Connell, spokesman for U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente, said that the government will move to have the criminal charges dropped against his wife.

Andrew J. Reich, an assistant U.S. attorney, said that Clyne falsely billed RISD $981,794 between June 1997 and November 2005. He also failed to declare $162,743 of that money in his 2003 federal income tax return.

Clyne, who is out on bail with an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle, is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 2. He faces a maximum of 23 years in prison and fines of $500,000.

-- Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski

Posted by Jack Perry at 11:08 AM | Comment

Photo: Morning mist

Journal photo / Bill Murphy
The sunrise is obscured by haze and fog this morning. The National Weather Service says there could be patches of fog before 9 a.m. The weather service says drivers should expect potentially rapid changes in driving visibility, and should keep a safe distance behind each other.

Posted by Jack Perry at 8:23 AM | Comment

A morning with patchy fog and storms possible later

As you head out this morning, there could be patches of fog before 9 a.m.

Expect potentially rapid changes in driving visibility, with the weather service reminding motorists to keep a safe distance behind each other.

The temperature is forecast to hit a high of 87 degrees on a partly cloudy day. And humidity -- air you can wear -- will continue: 88 percent humidity is forecast.

Tonight there's a chance of showers and thunderstorms, and some of the storms could bring gusty winds and heavy rain, according to the National Weather Service.
There's a 40 percent chance of rain.

And that patchy fog? Some is forecast after 9 p.m., ending the day as it began.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:02 AM | Comment

Today's front page

Today's front page features a story and photographs on the state Department of Transportation's decision to review and reinspect bridges in Rhode Island in the wake of the bridge collapse in Minnesota.

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

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment

Route 95 overnight work goes as planned again

PROVIDENCE – The second set of teal-colored steel beams of the Route 95-Route 195 interchange project are moving into place, over Route 95, as motorists traveling the highway can see for themselves.

Last night's closure of the highway to accommodate the work went as planned, with both northbound and southbound lanes of Route 95, between exits 18 and 20, shutting down just before 11 p.m. and re-opening before the state Department of Transportation's self-imposed 5:30 a.m. deadline.

The northbound and southbound lanes opened at 4:55 a.m., according to the DOT's Transportation Management Center.

We're into the second week of this second round of closures for the highway project.

Both directions of the highway are expected to close by 11 p.m. tonight – with individual lane closures starting at 8 p.m. -- for the third time this week. The lanes are expected to reopen by 5:30 a.m. tomorrow in time for morning commuters.

Then, just the northbound lanes are expected to close tomorrow night and the next. More work will take place after a weekend (Friday-Saturday night) break from the overnight closures.

Check out the road-closure schedule on the DOT’s site.

For a look back at the earlier closures this year, see projo.com’s special reports section.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 5:40 AM | Comment