Hasbro drops complaint against Scrabulous

Pawtucket-based Hasbro Inc. is dropping its lawsuit against the makers of a popular online version of the board game Scrabble. According to documents filed in U.S. District Court in New York, Hasbro dropped the lawsuit Friday. The maker of Scrabble sued Jayant and Rajat Agarwalla, brothers from Calcutta, India, this summer. The brothers developed the unauthorized version, called Scrabulous, after they couldn’t find an online version they liked. The game was highly popular on Facebook and became one of the online networking site’s most popular activities until it was removed this summer. The court documents don’t specify a reason for the withdrawal of the case. Hasbro and the Agarwalla brothers did not immediately return messages left seeking comment.

Laura Sen named CEO of BJ’s Wholesale Club

Laura Sen, president and chief operating officer at BJ’s Wholesale Club, has been named chief executive officer, replacing Herb Zarkin.

Sen will start on Feb. 1 as part of a planned succession. Zarkin will remain as board chairman and Sen will continue as a director.

Zarkin will stand for reelection to the board when his term expires in May 2010, changing his earlier decision to retire, said BJ’s, the Natick, Mass., company that runs 178 clubs in 15 states, including Rhode Island.

R.I. gas prices at lowest since January 2004

Gasoline prices in Rhode Island have dropped for the 13th straight week and have hit their lowest point in nearly five years, according to AAA Southern New England.

The average price for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline fell 7 cents last week, to $1.689 per gallon, at the self-service pump, according to AAA’s weekly survey.

The price hasn’t been this low since January 2004, AAA says.

Rhode Island drivers are paying an average of $2.42 per gallon less than they were when the price peaked at $4.10 in July.

Work to start on new School for the Deaf

The Rhode Island School for the Deaf and the Rhode Island Department of Administration, Division of Capitol Projects, announced that construction will begin on the new Rhode Island School for the Deaf. The $31.3-million project is expected to create about 100 construction jobs for the next two years in Rhode Island. The low bid came in lower than the estimated probable costs for the total project, therefore saving the state money.

Legislator seeks delay in Cape Wind action

U.S. Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., sent a letter last week to the Coast Guard asking it to delay its final recommendation on a proposal that would put a wind farm off the coast of Cape Cod. In the letter, Oberstar asked that recommendations to the U.S. Department of Interior’s Minerals Management Service be delayed for at least 60 days to allow for public comment on a study of the wind farm’s impact on marine radar and safety. The Coast Guard released the radar study this month. After the release of the study, Coast Guard Capt. Raymond Perry called the wind project “doable.” Oberstar, who chairs the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that oversees the Coast Guard, said he is also considering holding hearings “to ensure that public and marine safety issues are addressed in the process of permitting [the] offshore alternative energy project.” The plan by Cape Wind Associates would build 130 energy-producing wind turbines in Nantucket Sound. It has been under review by various state and federal agencies since 2001.

CVS honored for Beauty 360 enterprise

Woonsocket-based CVS pharmacy has been presented the Retailer of the Year Award by Women’s Wear Daily Beauty Biz in the magazine’s annual Beauty Awards issue. The award recognized the company for its bold strategy in partnering with prestige and niche beauty brands to launch its Beauty 360 concept. The first location opened last month in Washington, D.C., and the second opened this month in Mission Viejo, Calif. Both are adjacent to CVS stores. More locations are being explored across the country for next year in markets where beauty products perform well.

Biodiesel refinery to open in Nashua, N.H.

A biodiesel refinery is opening in Nashua, N.H., this week and another is planned in Keene early next year. Batchelder Biodiesel Refineries is hosting a grand opening of its first refinery tomorrow. The facility will convert yellow and brown waste oil into biofuel, a process that eliminates the “food vs. fuel” controversy like ethanol, which is processed from corn. Keene State College and the City of Keene are collaborating with the company to create one, too. The refinery would convert waste grease from across New England into more than 250,000 gallons of biodiesel per year.

Eight from Fidelity agree to $1-million fine

Federal regulators say eight current and former Fidelity Investments employees in Boston have agreed to pay more than $1 million to settle charges they improperly received gifts from brokers seeking business with the company. None of the eight admitted or denied the Securities and Exchange Commission’s findings. The SEC said last week the are among 13 current and former employees charged with accepting $1.6 million worth of gifts and entertainment in violation of SEC rules. All but two have now settled. The company agreed in March to an $8-million settlement with regulators without admitting any wrongdoing.

Treatment facility ends contract with Conn.

A North Stonington, Conn., facility is ending its contract to treat adolescents in state custody who have drug problems or mental illness. Stonington Institute cited a lack of demand for the inpatient programs, resulting from the state’s increasing preference to send those youths to community-based programs. Last week’s decision comes two months after reports that employees forcibly injected medications into out-of-control teenage boys last spring to restrain them. That news prompted criticism over whether the state Department of Children and Families adequately monitors facilities that care for adolescents in state custody. Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and state Child Advocate Jeanne Milstein called Stonington’s decision “sad, but entirely necessary” as the state overhauls its handling of troubled youths under DCF authority.

Northeast Bancorp reaps $4.2 million

Northeast Bancorp, of Lewiston, Maine, says it has received $4.2 million as part of the Bush administration plan to buy stock in banks. In last week’s announcement, the parent company of Northeast Bank said that in exchange it issued the Treasury shares of Northeast Bancorp preferred stock and warrants to purchase common stock. The government program to take partial ownership in banks is meant to provide the institutions with an injection of capital, and is part of a larger $700-billion rescue package for the banking system. Northeast Bancorp said the $4.2 million in capital represents approximately 1 percent of Northeast’s risk-based assets, the minimum level for participation in the program.

N.H. solar company lays off 25 workers

GT Solar, of Merrimack, N.H., has laid off 25 employees in the state. The company says the number is about 10 percent of its work force there. The company makes solar panels, solar furnaces and related equipment.