Wednesday, July 30, 1975 --

• Salisbury City Council President W. Paul Martin Jr. is promising “prompt action” on a proposal to build a $1.8 million, 550-space, four-level parking garage in Downtown Salisbury. The Central City Business District Commission is pushing for the new garage, citing constant parking woes that might be affecting retail business. The council has been leery of raising parking rates and implementing a special parking district tax to help finance the project.

• Bob Berczik had two hits for two RBIs and pitcher Scott Brittingham turned in a fine two-hit performance as East Salisbury won the District 6 Little League title, 5-2, over Easton. Salisbury exploded for three runs in the fourth inning, with hits coming from Berczik, Matt Willey and Steve Robinson.

• A survey by the Wicomico County Parks and Recreation Department shows that more than 2,000 youngsters are currently using the county’s 22 playgrounds. According to Program Director Gary Mackes, the most popular activities at the parks are basketball, softball, box hockey, tetherball and four-square. The county currently has 15 full-time playgrounds and seven that are operated on part-time hours.

• At the risk of making some taxpayers angry because of decisions in the past, the City Council has decided it will take a more liberal view of claims for refunds on complaints of excessive water use. The new attitude arose from a meeting this week in which Public Works Director Philip C. Cooper admitted the city might have been too tough in the past. Previously the city has rejected every claim brought before it. Cooper said the city will now investigate each claim individually.

• A Wicomico County grand jury has found a lot of things it didn’t like in a review of conditions at the Poplar Hill Correctional Camp. A large number of walk-away escapes have alarmed residents who live in the area. The grand jury suggested that inmates who might be prone to escaping attempts should not be assigned there. The grand jury also found that a large number of inmates were found to be either in bed or sitting idly in the middle of the day, instead of being put to work at the farm-like facility. State’s Attorney Richard D. Warren directed the investigation.

• Progress on the new multi-million-dollar 340-bed Peninsula General Hospital Medical Center is continuing and the first round of construction bids are expected to be awarded next month. Construction should begin in either late fall or early winter. A cadre of experts in the fields of health demography, architecture, construction management fund-raising and financing have participated in the planning and development of the facility, which is expected to change Lower Shore health care for at least 50 years. 

• In local business news, Dave Maull has been named manager of Decor Lighting, a subsidiary of Central Supply Co. Patrick Lemley has been named manager of the Prudential Insurance Co.’s Salisbury District, located at 900 East Main St. Betty D. Andrews was elected Assistant Treasurer of Union Trust Bank of Maryland in Downtown Salisbury.