Friday, April 16, 1982 --

• Kuhn’s Jewelers in Downtown Salisbury will undergo a significant renovation to its historic building, owner Jack Purnell announced. Purnell said he expects to spend up to $25,000 restoring the Downtown Plaza store’s facade, returning it to the architectural style of the late 1800s. Purnell said he will be among the first applicants for R/UDAT Action Group grants to help pay to restore the building, which was built in 1892. 

• W. Paul Martin Jr. fulfilled what he called “a lifelong ambition” this week when he was sworn in as Salisbury’s Mayor by Clerk of Court A. James Smith. Surprise came a few minutes later Monday night when the City Council selected Norman H. Conway to serve as Council President, a post that many expected to go to longtime Councilman Sam Seidel. Just before being sworn in, Martin submitted his resignation as a council member, which means the council will now select a new member, presumably from one of the recently failed candidates. They are: Martha Graham, Patrick Hannon, Dale Watson, Patricia Banks, Billy Gene Jackson Sr., Charles Flurer and Donald Long.

• A public hearing has been set for discussion on Wicomico County’s 1983 fiscal budget. Totaling $29.2 million, the budget includes no property tax increase but does call for a $10-per-ton “tipping” fee for people who dispose of their garbage at the county landfill. The public schools system would receive the full amount requested by the school board -- $14.1 million. Total county expenses would increase 1 percent.

• Members of the Salisbury Sesqui-Bicentennial Committee are gathering petition signatures to send to residents of Salisbury, England, inviting them to join residents here in the celebration of Salisbury’s 250th birthday. Helping to gain signatures from passers-by on the Downtown Plaza were David F. Rodgers of First Shore Federal, Salisbury Mayor W. Paul Martin Jr., County Councilman Henry S. Parker and local photographer Walter Thurston.

• Salisbury dentist Dr. George A. Graham’s bid to build an electronic games arcade in a building on the Downtown Plaza has won preliminary approval from the City Council. City Police Chief Colbourne Dykes said he is opposed to the amusement center being allowed Downtown, citing an inordinate number of police calls to arcades at the Salisbury Mall and on West Main Street. Downtown business leaders have also aired concerns that an arcade might detract from revitalization efforts.

• Realtor Bill Martin, General Manager of Potter & Dennis Better Homes and Gardens announced that his firm set a record for sales in February. Martin said sales totaled $1.7 million for the month, setting  an all-time record for the firm. Sales were reported at $1.17 million in January. Martin said he and his agents sold 37 homes in the first two months of 1982.