By Greg Bassett

-- Monday, Feb. 17, 1992

• About 50 people attended a Democratic Club of Wicomico County forum for Salisbury City Council candidates. Held at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Emerson Avenue, the forum began with Doug Hampshire’s announcement that he was withdrawing from the race, leaving five Democratic contenders: Jill Barbon, Robert Gladden, Tom McLaughlin, Jack Powell and Tim Sakemiller. The most-discussed issues were rising TV cable rates and a recent ordinance that imposed new regulations on the city’s only adult bookstore and resulted in a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against the city.
• Area builders are pleading with Wicomico County Council members to withdraw legislation that was forwarded to Annapolis that will give the county the authority to tax real estate transfers that they say will cripple an already struggling housing industry. Council members said the legislation will merely allow them to impose up to a 1 percent tax, but they will wait for the market to turn around before formally considering implementing it. The legislation would also allow the county to charge impact fees to help pay for new homes that burden infrastructure.
• Maryland State Police officers 1st Sgt. Edwin Lashley, Lt. Larry Taylor, Trooper B.J. Collins and Capt. Ernest Leatherbury officially kicked off “Operation S.T.O.P. – State Troopers On Patrol.” As part of the campaign to increase seat-belt use, encourage child-restraint seat use and reduce speeding on local highways, State Police have parked a wrecked vehicle in the median at the Wicomico-Somerset county line on Route 13.
• About 75 people marched up East Main Street in Salisbury, calling for the community to heal itself in the wake of recent incidents that have damaged local race relations. Sponsored by the Wicomico NAACP, the march began outside the District Courthouse and ended in front of the Government Office Building. Marchers carried candles and sang “We Shall Overcome” in an attempt to show that if area citizens cooperate, racial tensions can be eased.
• More than 60 employees of the Wicomico County Board of Education have completed a two-session in-house training course called “Sexual Harassment in the Workplace,” offered by Wor-Wic Tech Community College and held in the school board auditorium. Robin R. Cocky, a partner with Banks, Nason, Hickman and Sullivan in Salisbury was the instructor. Principals, Vice Principals, supervisors, middle managers and specialists were required to participate.
• Movies playing this week in Salisbury include “My Girl,” “Cape Fear,” “Addams Family” and “Star Trek VI” at Hoyts Movies 6 Downtown, “Wayne’s World” at the Fox Mall Cinema and “J.F.K.,” “Grand Canyon,” “Medicine Man,” “Father of the Bride” and “Fried Green Tomatoes” at the Hoyts Centre at Salisbury Mall.
• At the invitation of First District Congressman Wayne T. Gilchrest, U.S. House Republican Whip Newt Gingrich and his wife, Marianne Gingrich, attended the Wicomico Republican Central Committee’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner, held at the Sheraton Salisbury Inn. Calling the freshman Gilchrest a “team player” among House Republicans, Gingrich predicted Gilchrest will win the GOP primary and defeat Democratic Congressman Tom McMillen in November’s general election.
• The 1992 Richard A. Henson Award for Excellence was presented to Coastal Hospice. In just its third year, the Henson Award recognizes a charitable organization that contributes to the community’s well-being. Community Foundation Director Lucy Mohler joined Henson in formally presenting the award to Hospice President Marion Keenan.