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November 6, 2007

Tonight: Acoustic rock in Providence, jazz in Newport

Rudy D'Agostino (of The Rock) plays acoustic rock at McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon, 52 Pine St., Providence. Call 861-1782 or go to www.mcfaddensprovidence.com. 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. No cover.

Dancing Nancy plays a tribute to Dave Matthews, Gillary's Tavern, 198 Thames St., Bristol. Call 253-2012. 9:30 p.m.

Bobby Ferreira plays jazz at Hotel Viking, 1 Bellevue Ave., Newport. Call 847-3300. 6 to 8 p.m.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 7:00 PM | Comment

One highway commute tonight: 5.8 miles in 58 minutes

It took our reporter about 58 minutes to do 5.8 miles this evening from a Route 95 exit in Pawtucket, merging onto Route 195 and ending at the Washington Bridge in East Providence.

Earlier, while in the midst of the journey, she offered this advice:

Go have dinner somewhere.

Traffic on Route 95 south was bumper to bumper from the School Street exit in Pawtucket to downtown Providence where a new traffic pattern resulting from the Iway project was in its second week-night of use.

It took about 12 minutes to travel one mile through Pawtucket on Route 95 south.

Route 95 south of the merge, however, looks beautiful this evening for travel.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Alisha Pina and projo.com staff

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:44 PM | Comment

Richmond's Charbert fabrics to close in early '08

RICHMOND -- Charbert, a division of Narrow Fabrics of America, will close early next year, the company said today.

“It’s pretty much a straightforward business decision,” said Phillip G. Loscoe Jr., a spokesman for the company, citing foreign competition and cost of labor.

The company started notifying Monday the approximately 100 affected employees at Charbert’s Alton and Peace Dale manufacturing facilities, Loscoe said.

The Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation ranked NFA Corp., of Chestnut Hill, Mass., among the state’s top employers in 2006.

According to that report, Charbert accounted for 180 of NFA Corp.’s 440 jobs in the state.

In addition to Charbert, the other divisions of NFA Corp. are Hope Global and Novelty Bias Binding/Plastics Company, both of Cumberland. They will not be affected by the layoffs, Loscoe said.

Charbert -- named after its previous owners, Charles and Albert Cunliffe -- started operations in Alton (Richmond), its headquarters, in 1962.

It knits, dyes and finishes wide elastic fabrics for swimwear, intimate apparel, active wear, athletic, medical and non-apparel applications, according to the company’s web site (www.charbert.com).

NFA Corp. of Massachusetts is tentatively planning to close Charbert in February, when the last shipment is scheduled, Loscoe said.

The actual closing date, he said, “will be very much determined by customer need.”

-- Journal staff writer Maria Armental

No decision has been made on what will happen to the company’s property, Loscoe said.

“Charbert has and will explore all possible dispositions of assets,” he said.

The Alton facility, located at 299 Church St. in Richmond, includes a 95,305-square-foot two-story mill building and two sheds, according to town records.

The approximately 113.9-acre lot, zoned industrial, is currently assessed at $1.2 million.

The Peace Dale facility, located at 1425 Kingstown Rd in South Kingstown, consists of a 64,429-square-foot, three-story mill building. The 7.08-acre site, also zoned industrial, was last assessed at $4.1 million.

Charbert’s downsizing follows a general pattern in the textile industry.

This summer, Quaker Fabric Corp. of Fall River, laid off its 900 employees.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:35 PM | Comment

The traffic is bumper to bumper from School Street

Our reporter, who is at this moment trying out Route 95 south heading toward the new merge onto Route 195, offers this advice:

Go have dinner somewhere.

Traffic on Route 95 south is bumper to bumper from the School Street exit in Pawtucket to downtown Providence where the new Iway merge is in its second full week-night of use.

It took about 12 minutes to travel one mile through Pawtucket on Route 95 south.

Route 95 south of the merge, however, looks beautiful this evening for travel.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Alisha Pina and projo.com staff

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:22 PM | Comment

Carcieri nominates Sasse to head Dept. of Revenue

Governor Carcieri intends to nominate Gary S. Sasse -- who recently announced retirement from leading the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council -- to be director of the newly-created state Department of Revenue.

Sasse, of East Greenwich, will step down from the public expenditure council -- RIPEC -- at year's end.

“As the longtime chief of the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, Gary Sasse is the perfect person to head up the new Department of Revenue,” Carcieri said in a statement today. He added: "Like me, Gary is devoted to making sure that state government is operated on a sustainable basis, and that it is a benefit, not a burden, to Rhode Island taxpayers.”

Carcieri stated that Sasse's "experience, knowledge and dedication" will be an asset in dealing with the state's budget deficit.

The General Assembly established the Department of Revenue in 2005. Department of Administration Director Beverly Najarian has served as the interim Director of the Department of Revenue, which oversees such things as the Division of Taxation, the Division of Lottery, the Division of Motor Vehicles, the Division of Property Valuation, and the Office of Revenue Analysis.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKInney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:57 PM | Comment

DeWolf descendant documentary screening tonight

Traces of the Trade, A Story from the Deep North, a documentary by DeWolf descendant and filmmaker Katrina Browne, will be screened tonight at 6:30 at Roger Williams University School of Law in Bristol.

The screening is open to the public.

Future screenings include:

•Nov. 13 at 4:30 p.m. at the Rhode Island College Student Union in Providence.

•Jan. 15 at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence.

•Jan. 25 at the Slater Mill Museum in Pawtucket.

Rhode Island groups who want to see the film should call Ann Clanton at Rhode Island for Community & Justice, at (401) 467-1717.

Read a story about the film

Posted by maria caporizzo at 3:47 PM | Comment

FM Global plans new headquarters in Johnston

One of Rhode Island largest private employers said this afternoon that it wants to build a new, $60-million headquarters adjacent to its offices in Johnston.

Executives from commercial-property insurer FM Global expect this evening to present their proposal for a four-story building off Central Avenue to the city’s planning officials.

FM Global employs about 800 people at its current headquarters, located on more than 300 acres it owns off the intersection of Central and Atwood Avenues. The company built its headquarters there in 1973 and has since grown to become one of the world’s largest commercial-property insurers. The company employs 4,700 people worldwide and ranks 578 on Fortune magazine’s list of the country’s largest companies.

“We are seeking a new location that will be scalable and grow with our company in the future,” said Shivan S. Subramaniam, FM Global’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Renovating our existing headquarters doesn’t make economic sense so, accordingly, we are exploring all our options.

Saul Kaplan, an economic advisor to Governor Carcieri, applauded FM Global’s stated preference for building its new headquarters in Rhode Island

"The signs are good that they'll continue to be an important part of this landscape," Kaplan said during a speech in Providence.

-- Paul Grimaldi, Journal staff writer

Posted by Jack Perry at 2:34 PM | Comment

Update: Barrington teen dies in crash tied to alcohol

BARRINGTON -- A Barrington High School student was killed and three other male students injured in a car crash last night in which the driver has been charged with driving under the influence, the police said late this morning.

The victim is Jon Converse, a 17-year-old junior, according to Barrington High School Principal John Gray, who stood outside the Converse home at 2 Old River Road to address reporters early this afternoon.

“The family is devastated … only someone who has experienced the loss of a child can know what this means,” Gray said.

Jon's father, Dan Converse, called his son's death "another needless tragedy," in an interview with EastBayRI.com.

"I really can't embellish or elaborate at this point. And I don't want to get on a soapbox," Converse said.

Converse was a front-seat passenger, according to the police. He was not wearing a seatbelt. He had been thrown partly out of the passenger-side window.

A preliminary investigation reveals that underage drinking was involved in evening before the crash, police said in a statement released just before noon.

The driver, a 16-year-old Barrington male, was charged with driving under the influence, death resulting. He was also charged with refusing to submit for chemical test for a person under age 18.

The car was carrying four teenage males from Barrington, according to the police. None of the names were released by the police.

The driver was taken to Rhode Island Hospital with minor injuries. Two rear-seat passengers -- one 16 and one 17 -- also received minor injuries, police said.

Police said a 911 call was received at 10:51 p.m. reporting a bad crash in the area of 200 New Meadow Road, a narrow road featuring sharp curves in the Hampden Meadows section of town.

Police said an investigation has found that the driver was traveling south high rate of speed, over the 25 mph limit.

He apparently lost control of car, crossed the double yellow lines into the northbound lane, and struck a tree on the east side of road.

There is no school in Barrington today because of professional development training.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Meaghan Wims, projo.com staff writers Michael McKinney, Jack Perry and Brandie Jefferson

At midday on this gray and wet day, a group of about eight teens stood under umbrellas at the crash site. They looked at the tree where the car had hit, and bouquets of flowers that have since been placed there.

"All you need to know is he always had a smile on his face," said a classmate, who wouldn't give his name.

The community recently was faced with another alcohol-related death of a Barrington High teen, Patrick Murphy, 17, in a skimboarding accident this past July on Barrington River.

In that case, the 17-year-old driver of the boat was charged with one felony count of reckless operation, death resulting, and a misdemeanor count of refusing to submit to a chemical test sought the state Department of Environmental Management.

Two years ago, two other male teens died in a high-speed car crash on a local road.

Several in this well-to-do suburb of Providence have recently decried the incidence of alcohol and substance abuse among its teens.

Counselors will be available when the students return to the classroom tomorrow.

"I have my crisis team here," Gray said. "We are developing a strategy for how to embrace the kids when they return to schools."

Gray said counselors would first try to help the students cope with the emotional impact of a classmate's death.

"The next step," he said, "is trying to respond to whatever the details are that may be revealed in terms of helping kids to make decisions that will lead to safer lives."

Posted by Jack Perry at 2:13 PM | Comment

Financial services sector a leading employer in R.I.

PROVIDENCE -- The financial services sector employs more than 26,000 Rhode Islanders and generates an average salary of $58,417, far above the state's median wage, according to a new report by the state Economic Development Corporation.

The industry, led by companies such as Citizens Financial Group and Bank of America, is expected to grow by 4,000 jobs over the next seven years, according to the report.

"This is one of our success stories," Saul Kaplan, the executive director of the EDC, said this morning during the 2007 Financial Services Symposium at the Rhode Island Convention Center. "We need to shine a big light on it."

Other panelists, however, were less confident about the future of the industry, saying the state's chronic budget deficits could threaten job growth.

--Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 2:09 PM | Comment

DOT hopes to solve Iway problems with signs

The state Department of Transportation has a low-tech solution to the traffic problems that coincided with the first weekday traffic on the IWay bridge.

Take a different route.

The jam was not on the new bridge, it was a result of traffic from Route 95 south merging with Route 195 east. Frank Corrao III, DOT deputy chief engineer, wants commuters coming from the city to merge using 95 northbound, so they can drive over the IWay bridge, where traffic was light.

One lane was closed feeding into 195 eastbound so that when they merged with the lanes coming off the new bridge, they were equal to the lanes on 195 westbound.

“A lot of individuals who work in the jewelry district, Davol Square and the Rhode Island Hospital complex, they all try to go down Point Street to Wickenden Street and get on the highway there,” according to Corrao.

But they could take side streets to the Allens or Thurbers Avenues entrances, bypassing the old merge and using the new bridge, instead.

Drivers often need some help adjusting to a new traffic pattern, Corrao said, so the state will try to help by putting signs up pointing to alternate routes before tonight’s commute.

“Whenever you do a major traffic pattern change, we do expect and anticipate that there’s going to be some congestion,” Corrao said. “As people see what’s going on, they begin to change their routes or driving behavior. That plus us providing some signage, will go a long way.”

Longer term fixes include lengthening acceleration lanes on 195 East.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 12:07 PM | Comment

Some students get a vote today, too

Their teachers may have to slip out during the day to vote today, but thousands of high school and middle school students will just have to walk down the hall.

It's not an election scandal, it's a mock election, and more than 3,600 high school and middle school students in Pawtucket are deciding ballot questions about health care, school supplies and other issues.

Throughout the day, during social studies class, students will cast ballots on official voting machines. The votes will be tallied and results available to the students this afternoon.

Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis voted with students at Shea High School this morning.

The mock election is a town initiative, according to Chris Barnett, spokesman for Mollis. "But it fits hand in glove with the Secretary's own initiative for reaching out to young Rhode Islanders. We cant begin to get them thinking about voting and electing too young."

Later this evening, Mollis plans to meet with student groups at Providence College to discuss a year-long voter registration drive that targets freshmen.
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Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 10:40 AM | Comment

Whitehouse to vote against Mukasey

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse believes Judge Michael Mukasey is great lawyer and judge, and an all around good person and a good appointment to the position of Attorney General.

“He is not a political hack,” Whitehouse said in a floor speech last week. “He is not a partisan ideologue. He is not an incompetent crony. We’ve had our share of those.

“No, he is a brilliant lawyer, a distinguished jurist, and by all accounts a good man.”

But Whitehouse voted against Mukasey in committee because of his refusal to call so-called water boarding "torture."

The Judiciary Committee voted to advance the nomination of Attorney General-designate Michael Mukasey to the Senate floor today.

Mukasey’s refusal to label water boarding as torture was cited by several Senate members as a reason they will not support the nomination.

Watch the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings live on C-Span.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 10:37 AM | Comment

R.I. has poor record with public document requests

Rhode Island gets a “D” when it comes to responsiveness of officials to requests for public records and, unfortunately, according to a recently released study, we’ve got plenty of company.

In a study of Freedom of Information Act requests conducted by the Better Government Association and the National Freedom of Information Coalition, nearly 40 states were given a failing grade – less than 50 percent – when judged by five criteria:

- Amount of time an agency has to respond to a request.

- The process a citizen must go through to appeal a decision to deny a request.

- Whether an appeal is expedited in court.

- Whether the complaining party is awarded attorney fees after winning an appeal.

- Whether an agency that wrongfully withholds records is subject to civil or criminal punishment.

Rhode Island scored 66 percent, with only eight states rated more favorably. Alabama and South Dakota came in last with zero percent. Nebraska and New Jersey had the highest ratings -- 87 percent.

See the full report here.

An analysis of the report calls the tools available to citizens nationwide to help enforce their FOIA rights are “endemically weak.”

"Although several states posted respectable numbers in our survey of their Freedom of Information Acts, it is clear that most states still have a lot of work to do in making their governments more accessible and transparent," Jay Stewart, executive director of BGA said in the analysis.

"Even a low score of 66 percent" -- Rhode Island's score "puts a state in the top ten of the rankings."

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 10:32 AM | Comment

Pataki to give Brown lecture

Former New York Governor George Pataki will deliver this year’s Noah Krieger Lecture on “A House Divided: An Insider’s View of the State of National Politics” at 4 p.m. tomorrow in Brown's Salomon Center, room 101.

The lecture is free and open to the public.

Governor Pataki served as New York's governor from 1995 to 2006.

No backpacks, posters, or banners of any kind will be allowed into the venue.

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:27 AM | Comment

Accident last night in Barrington

A car accident in Barrington last night caused injuries, but officials are not saying how many or how severe.

The accident was on New Meadow Road at about 10:50 last night. Fire officials said there were injuries, but would not elaborate.

The police department says it intends to release more information today.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:22 AM | Comment

Election day for several cities and towns

A handful of elections and referenda are taking place across the state today.

In the Chariho School district, voters will decide if they want to fund a $26 million plan to bring the main school campus into compliance with new fire and accessibility requirements and eliminate the $300,000-a-year trailers that the district has been using.

In Jamestown, two Democrats and a Republican are vying for two spots on the School Committee. A first-time candidate, a 4-year incumbent and a 22-year veteran of the school system are competing.

Three candidates for city council positions in Central Falls will move into their positions unopposed, and two people are vying for a seat on the council in Wards 5 and 3.

Woonsocket Mayor Susan Menard is running for a seventh term, facing a nonpartisan election against retired police officer Todd Brien. In addition, fourteen candidates are competing for seven spots on the City Council. All but one of the current members are running for reelection.

In Portsmouth, the Town Council vice president has been asking residents to approve a $4 million open space and recreation bond, and a $3 million bond for a wind tower.

And in Scituate, voters will be asked whether to approve a $9.2-million bond for school renovations.

For more information about local elections and referenda, visit the Secretary of State's Web site.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:21 AM | Comment

State to discuss Iway successes, problems

State Transportation officials are scheduled to meet this morning to discuss problems with yesterday afternoon's commute after the opening of the Iway.

The morning commute went well, but drivers traveling south on Route 95 to Route 195 east last evening hit a huge traffic jam because of the lane modifications made for the new, $610-million project. Some drivers told the state police they were stuck in traffic for hours.

The new section of highway connects Route 95 north to Route 195 east, but drivers heading east on Route 195 from Route 95 south still use the previously existing exit and must merge into fewer lanes.

Frank Corrao III, deputy chief engineer at the state Department of Transportation said state officials will put necessary improvements in place as soon as possible.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:02 AM | Comment

Periods of rain, falling temps

You may have felt a drop or two already; there's more to come. The National Weather Service is forecasting periods of rain on and off until mid-afternoon and a high temperature of 53 degrees, falling to 46 by 5 p.m. We may also see wind gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tonight the temperature should drop to the mid 30s.

Tomorrow's looking chilly, with mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the high 40s.

For more weather and regular updates, see projo.com/weather.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment

Today's front page

Today's front page features a story about the high price of heating oil as winter approaches.

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

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment