Hasbro’s Galoob Toys to pay $400,000 over injuries
Washington (Bloomberg) — Hasbro Inc.’s unit Galoob Toys Inc. has agreed to pay $400,000 to settle allegations it failed to report defects and injuries associated with its Sky Dancer doll, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. Galoob, which was purchased by Hasbro in November 1998, failed to timely report 150 injuries involving the Sky Dancer, a hard plastic doll that can fly rapidly in unpredictable directions after being launched into the air, the commission said. The injuries included eye damage such as scratched corneas and incidents of temporary blindness, a mild concussion, a broken rib, broken teeth and facial lacerations that required stitches, the commission said. Hasbro spokesman Wayne Charness said the company became aware of the issue while acquiring Galoob Toys. “Once we acquired the company we promptly notified the commission,” Charness said. Almost 9 million dolls were recalled by Galoob in June 2000. The dolls were sold nationwide from 1994 through June 2000 for between $8 and $25, the commission said. In agreeing to the civil penalty, the company denies it violated any law administered by the commission, Charness said. Consumers should stop using the dolls immediately and can call 1-877-598-5599 to receive a free replacement toy, the commission said.
Senate OKs $4 million for R.I. projects
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate has approved $4.27 million for various Rhode Island water-related projects including repair of the Providence Hurricane Barrier, $1.9 million; and completion of the Providence Harbor dredging project, $584,000. The Senate bill was attached to the spending bill for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development. Other appropriations included in the bill are $1 million to finance an Environmental Impact Statement by the Corps of Engineers to determine the feasibility of a permanent offshore dredge sediment disposal site for the state, in either Rhode Island or Block Island Sound; $500,000 for repair of the Sakonnet Harbor Breakwater; $191,000 for studies and restoration of the state’s wetlands and salt marsh created ecosystems; and $54,000 for feasibility studies of potential coastal protection projects. The bill has been sent to President Clinton for his signature.
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Providence, Pawtucket projects included in Senate bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Included in a Senate bill funding the Department of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development is $1 million for the Providence-based sewage treatment project under the direction of the Narragansett Bay Commission. Rhode Island is committed to spending $24 million on the project and the General Assembly has been asked to approve a referendum for another $30 million. Ratepayers in the Providence area are expected to make up the difference in the $389 million project. Pawtucket is the beneficiary of a $750,000 allocation to bring the city’s aging water system up to speed. And for the development of the former Citizens Bank building on Empire Street in Providence into a satellite theater building for the Trinity Repertory Company, $1,150,000 has been appropriated. The theater space that will be developed at the former bank will b called the Pell Chafee Performance Center.
International trade workshop set at Bryant
SMITHFIELD – The Rhode Island Export Assistance Center and the World Trade Center Rhode Island at Bryant College are presenting an international trade training workshop on Wednesday and Thursday, November 1 and 2. The workshop at the John H. Chafee Center for International Business here includes a variety of topics, from legal issues to logistical problems. Researching international trade and developing international marketing strategies will be explained. The programs run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration fees are $225 a person for both days and $125 for one day.
Dow Chemical buying former Alpha-Beta plant
SMITHFIELD – In a joint announcement, the Collaborative Group, based in Stony Brook, Long Island, N.Y., and Dow Chemical Co. announced that Dow, based in Midland, Mich., was buying the former Alpha-Beta plant for an undisclosed sum. Collaborative acquired the plant in 1999 after the failure of Alpha-Beta when its chief product, an anti-infection drug, failed in testing. In an announcement from the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, Joseph P. Hammang, RIEDC vice president for science technology and business development, said Dow planned to integrate Collaborative’s Biotechnology Services Division into its industrial biotechnology business. He added that Dow was assuming all obligations of Collaborative BioAlliance under the bond. RIEDC issued $25 million in bonds in July 1999 to assist Collaborative in the purchase of the Alpha-Beta property. Collaborative makes drugs and does research for other companies. The plant originally was built for Alpha-Beta in 1993 with the assistance of $30 million loan from RIEDC. Alpha-Beta had been in Worcester. A Dow Chemical spokesman said that company had been drawn to the site at least partially because surrounding land made expansion possible.
California company buys Tiverton, Dighton plants
TIVERTON – Calpine Corp., one of the leading power-plant developers in this country, announced that it is buying a recently completed energy plant in Tiverton, along with one in Dighton, Mass. and a third in Rum ford, Maine. Calpine, based in San Jose, Calif., said it is paying $145 million in cash and stock to Energy Management, Inc. of North Dartmouth, Mass., for the three plants. Previously Energy Management had sold two of its then five plants, located in Pawtucket and North Dartmouth, to El Paso Energy Corp. Calpine previously held about a 50 percent interest in the three plants it acquired from Energy management. Calpine is also building energy plants in Westbrook, Maine and Oxford, Conn.
