4th of July convention called productive
PROVIDENCE – Apart from its spiritual and organizational benefits to its members and others, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ produced about $1.7 million in revenue for area hotels, restaurants, retailers and other businesses during its five-day gathering at the Rhode Island Convention Center over the Fourth of July weekend, the authority reported. The authority announced that more than 3,000 people attended the Synod, the first time it had been held in New England. The Synod was booked by the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Jack Reed consolidates offices
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. Jack Reed, D-RI, announced that because of scheduled renovations at the U.S. Courthouse in Providence, he is temporarily consolidating his offices at his Garden City location in Cranston. Senator Reed’s Cranston office is at 201 Hillside Road, Suite 200 in the Garden City Shopping Center.
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RI unemployment rises slightly; jobs increase
PROVIDENCE — Although the rate of unemployment in Rhode Island rose slightly from May to June, from 3.7 percent to 3.9 percent, the rate was still a full percentage point below the rate of a year ago, 4.9 percent. Over the last year the number of jobs in the state rose by 4,800, a full percentage point since June 1998. Increases were recorded in trade, services, government, contract construction, and finance. Only transportation, public utilities, and manufacturing showed a reduction, according to a report from the state Department of Labor and Training. Leonard Lardaro, University of Rhode Island economics professor, interpreted the figures through the Current Conditions Index as indicating continuing growth of the state’s economy but at a slower rate than indicated in March and April. Lardaro cited as positive developments the fact that unemployment remained below the 4.2 percent level which he called the economic estimate of full employment for the state, and the 1.2 percent increase in the last year for the resident labor force. From the darker side of the ledger, Lardaro sees the increasing imbalance between resident employment and payroll employment as an indication of the number of Rhode Islanders finding jobs out of state.
Venda Ravioli hailed by Yankee Magazine
PROVIDENCE – Venda Ravioli, a fixture on Atwell’s Avenue here, with more than 70 years experience preparing pasta in the Old World tradition, has been chosen to be featured by Yankee Magazine in its 1999 Yankee Magazine’s Travel Guide to New England. Owned and operated by Albert Cosentino, Venda Ravioli sells a full line of Italian food and specialty products. The Yankee’s Travel Guide has been identifying the best in food and service for travelers in New England for almost 30 years. Venda was praised by the magazine for its high quality service, as well as its own fresh mozzarella, sausage and pasta.
URI launches Forensic Science Partnership
KINGSTON – The University of Rhode Island has established a Forensic Science Partnership based on collaboration among the Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory at the URI College of Pharmacy, other colleges at URI, the state Department of Health, the state’s law enforcement community and the insurance industry. The Forensic partnership is one of three established at URI following the announcement four years ago by President Robert L. Carothers of the need to organize such partnerships to increase interdisciplinary research efforts in areas critical to societal needs. The Forensic Partnership is receiving $150,000 in its first year. The money will finance course development, faculty seminars, and research projects that will create a regional center of excellence to assist law enforcement agencies. The created courses could become the basis of a master’s program in forensics at URI, the announcement stated.
Citizens goes on line
PROVIDENCE – Citizens Financial Group has joined its two largest competitors, Fleet Financial Group and BankBoston in offering on-line banking through the Internet. Through what is called Citizens Bank Online, customers have access to their accounts, checking, savings, etc., and can transfer funds, pay bills, or view balances through any Internet connected computer system. Citizens executives dismissed suggestions that Citizens has moved on line because of the impending merger of Fleet and BankBoston. The action was delayed, a spokesman said, because of the Y2K distraction and a major system conversion.
Cox addition of MediaOne segment approved
WEST WARWICK – Cox Communications will increase its coverage of Cable TV subscribers in Rhode Island to 96 percent, as the result of a decision by the state Division of Public Utilities and Carriers. As the result of a transfer of properties between Cox and MediaOne, 17,000 customers in Westerly, Hopkinton, Charlestown and Richmond, formerly served by MediaOne, will be served by Cox. The transfer is expected to be completed by the end of next month, a MediaOne spokesman said. The swap between the companies also involves Cox properties in nearby Connecticut and Massachusetts. The addition will bring Cox’s total count to 267,000 customers in Rhode Island. Nationwide, Cox, the fifth largest cable company in the country, will have about 5.5 million customers when all the swaps and sales are completed, a spokesperson said.
Bank of Newport buys insurance agency
NEWPORT – The Bank of Newport has purchased Braman & White, a Middletown insurance agency. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed. According to the report, Braman & White will operate as a subsidiary of the bank and continue to sell a full range of personal and commercial insurance.
Train station cleared for takeoff in Warwick
WARWICK – Informed by the Federal Highway Administration that the proposed train station near T.F.Green State Airport posed no significant environmental problems, state and city officials last week celebrated the progress of their plans for building the intermodal terminal. Those plans include purchasing land off Jefferson Boulevard and designing the terminal. William Ankner, Department of Transportation, said that work on the $30 million terminal and a people mover link with the air terminal should begin next summer and be completed in 2001.
