Saturday, March 4, 1972

• Gov. Marvin Mandel and dignitaries from all over the state were in town for the groundbreaking of the Holly Center, just over the city limits south of Salisbury. The $5.9 million facility will have beds for 250 people from the Shore and will employ some 300 people. The governor, who flew in for the event aboard a state helicopter, said the “home-like atmosphere” planned for the complex will greatly improve the lives of people suffering from mental retardation.
• Congressman William O. Mills, who won a special election to complete the term of Rogers C.B. Morton, announced he would seek re-election. The Republican is expected to have no party challenge and is expected to face off against one of two possible Democrats: Delegate John Hargreaves or state Sen. Elroy Boyer.
• A group of Downtown Salisbury property owners has filed a lawsuit against the city government over a new Parking Tax District assessment on businesses, designed to pay for public parking lots. The lawsuit also challenges the manner in which the city has decided to use surplus funds to pay for parking improvements. The special parking tax is set at 70 cents per $100 of assessed property value; the city plans to raise $70,400 through the tax. Leading the lawsuit are lawyers Robert P. Cannon, Victor Laws Jr. and W. Edgar Porter.
• About 150 people, including Congressman William O. Mills, state Sen. Mary Nock, Delegates Joseph J. Long and Richard M. Laws, participated in a massive cleanup project of Coulbourne Pond. Robert C. Hamill, who is directing the cleanup project, said the pond has been filling in because of aquatic plants growing along the shoreline and those plants required removal. The pond is owned by Wicomico County, who workers were expected to haul away the cuttings.
• The Community Players named the directors for its upcoming production of “Hello Dolly.” They are: Paul Armstrong, James McWilliam, Shirley Meeks and Denise Oberholtzer. Opening night is April 19.