VERRECCHIA

•Companies

Carmine’s at Twin River closes: A slow economy has taken another bite out of the operations at the Twin River slot parlor in Lincoln. On Saturday, the 581-seat Carmine’s Family Style Restaurant closed its doors, said Patti Doyle, Twin River’s spokeswoman. The eatery, known for its large portions, had been operating on reduced hours since March when Twin River began revamping its food operations. Carmine’s opened in March 2007 as part of the $225-million project that transformed the aging Lincoln Park dog track into the Twin River slot parlor. The work brought new dining facilities, an event arena and more than 1,000 additional slot machines to the facility. But gamblers apparently didn’t take to the New York-based chain’s offerings and the venue closed over the weekend. Carmine’s closed just a short time after Twin River shut down the buffet it offers gamblers at the end of June. The changeover comes as Twin River’s owner, UTGR Inc., struggles to pay off $577 million in debt its parent company accumulated to purchase the Lincoln facility and four others in Colorado, and then renovate the Rhode Island location. (Staff)

Verrecchia donates $250,000 to URI: The chairman of Pawtucket-based toymaker Hasbro Inc. has pledged $250,000 to fund scholarships for the University of Rhode Island’s College of Business Administration. Alfred J. Verrecchia, and his wife, Gerrie, made the pledge as part of URI’s $100-million capital campaign. The gift will fund a challenge grant that will match donations from other people joining an effort to establish an endowed scholarship. The smaller donations can be made in tandem with employer-matched grants, potentially halving the amount a donor would give the scholarship fund. Additionally, money pledged to the scholarship fund can be donated over five years. So far, five other donors have pledged money to match the Verrecchia challenge grant. Verrecchia received an undergraduate degree in 1971, a master’s of business administration in 1974 and a honorary doctorate in 2004, all from URI. He regularly participates in university programs and is a frequent speaker at the institution. (Staff)

•Markets

Dollar advances: The dollar rose against major currencies yesterday in New York, ending at 107.93 Japanese yen, up from Tuesday’s close of 107.21 yen. The euro closed at 3:30 p.m. at $1.5681, down from $1.5788.

Metals decline: Gold for current delivery closed at $922.40 a troy ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange, down from Tuesday’s close of $948.00. Silver closed at $17.400 an ounce, down from $17.945.

Fuels drop: September light, sweet crude oil fell $3.98 to $124.44 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. August heating oil fell 12.8 cents to $3.5501 a gallon. August gasoline fell 11.26 cents to $3.0344 a gallon. August natural gas fell 27.9 cents to $9.788 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Associated Press