St. Raphael’s Hospital welcomes new president

The Hospital of St. Raphael, on 1450 Chapel St. will be welcoming Christopher M. O’Conner as its new president on Oct. 1. O’Conner, who previously worked at the hospital as an emergency room technician, will be rejoining St. Raphael’s at a financially difficult time for the hospital, the New Haven Register reported. Fiscal projections for 2009 as of Sept. 30 estimate a $10 million operating deficit. St. Raphael’s spokeswoman Christine More told the Register on Tuesday that projections for 2010 are indicating some relief: The hospital is expected to be profitable by 2011.

—Amir Sharif

Rell visits Navy base this week

Gov. M. Jodi Rell visited the U.S. Navy Submarine Base in Groton, Conn., on Thursday to announce that the Navy has formally accepted the state’s $7.65 million investment to improve the base’s infrastructure. The funds will be used to modernize the diver support facility built in 1918 and to construct a boiler to replace the current ones from the 1960s. The base had twice recently been targeted for closure.

—Carol Hsin

Out of bankruptcy, the New Haven Register increases circulation

Nearly half a year after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February, the New Haven Register’s parent company — the Journal Register Company —has recovered from its financial issues. When asked about its specific financial situation, New Haven Register Editor Jack Kramer declined to comment. But the newspaper’s circulation manager did confirm Wednesday that it has not cut back on its circulation. To the contrary, he said, the Register’s Sunday circulation has recently increased.

—Rachel Wang

A ‘spicier’ Thai restaurant opens on Whalley Avenue

Sweet Jasmine Rice, a Thai restaurant on 47 Whalley Ave., opened its doors to customers Monday, replacing sushi restaurant Dozo, which went out of business months after opening. Manager Yanyong Saramano said that while the new eatery has so far hosted few guests — one waitress estimated approximately 10 patrons had eaten at Jasmine as of Thursday — he believes it will avoid the fate of the building’s previous tenant. “We have a food cart on Prospect Street,” Saramano explained, adding, “We serve authentic Thai food — spicy, spicy, not like other Thai places here with American vegetables.”

—Amir Sharif

Court date today for local man who impersonated military officer on train

Jacqui Williams, a 20-year-old man from New Haven, will face several charges in court today after an incident on a Metro-North train earlier this month in which he allegedly impersonated a military officer in order to solicit sexual favors, the New Haven Register reported yesterday. The man allegedly told investigators at the time that he was an officer assigned to follow four suspects, and he was charged with criminal impersonation, patronizing a prostitute and issuing a false report to police, the Register reported.

—Yale Daily News