Outstanding

Signet Banking Corp. recently announced the regular fourth-quarter dividend on outstanding shares of common stock amounted to approximately $10 million.The regular dividend of 39 cents will be paid Jan. 25 to stockholders of record at the close of business on Jan. 8.

Comic book lovers, unite! SPX, a huge expo for alternative and small-press comics, takes place tomorrow through Sunday at the Holiday Inn Select in Bethesda. More than 360 comics creators and artists will appear at the show, signing, discussing and selling their comic books. Many will be displaying and selling original artwork, as well. And some may even do quick sketches for visitors. Publishers, including Fantagraphics, Drawn & Quarterly and Top Shelf, will display and sell items. Visitors can attend panels and group discussions on the artistry and business of comics and cartooning.

Hoping the soaps will clean up in prime-time as last year's Daytime Emmy Awards did, NBC (Channel 2) will telecast the eighth annual Soap Opera Digest Awards live for the first time tonight at 9.The awards show, hosted by George Hamilton and Emma Samms features winners voted by the readers of Soap Opera Digest magazine. These winners differ considerably from the Daytime Emmys, which are voted by an actor's peers.Following are the 1992 nominees with our guesses for winners:* Outstanding Daytime Show: "All My Children" (ABC)

They may not have known it, but Columbia theatergoers who caught The Judas Kiss at Rep Stage or Damn Yankees at Toby's Dinner Theatre last year were watching award-winning productions. On Monday night, three of the 23 Helen Hayes awards - given for exceptional theater in Washington, Virginia and Maryland - went to people associated with the local plays. Columbia resident Nigel Reed, who played Oscar Wilde in The Judas Kiss, won for outstanding lead actor in a resident play (one that does not tour)

Maryland Manor Convalescent Center will welcome the community to its Third Annual Spring Fling, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.There will be classic cars, clowns, crafts and entertainment for all ages, including the Victory Gospel Band with the Rev. Jim Thomas and the gospel music of Terry Marsh.Dogs, cats and maybe even a pig will participate in the pet parade at 10 a.m. This activity, featuring animals from the county's Pets on Wheels program, is a favorite of young and old.Ten-by-15-foot spaces are still available for artisans to rent for $15. Crafters receive a free continental breakfast.

The Urban Rural Transportation Alliance has received the 1992 Award of Excellence from the Transportation Association of Maryland. The alliance was honored as the outstanding para-transit system in the state.A private, non-profit organization in Columbia, URTA provides rides for the elderly, the disabled and low-income families in Howard County."Statewide, URTA's operation has become a model for innovative and collaborative effort," said Paul Comfort, president the transportation association.

A statewide children's advocacy group honored six area television stations yesterday for outstanding locally produced programs for children.The winners, chosen by Advocates for Children and Youth (ACY) in its second annual Kids' TV Campaign were:WBFF (Channel 45), for a special called "How I Spent my Summer Vacation."WJZ (Channel 13), for the long-running, regularly scheduled program "It's Academic."WMDT-TV (Channel 47, Salisbury) for the public service announcement "Kids Safety."WDCA (Channel 20, Bethesda)

Thomson to buy Medstat GroupToronto-based newspaper publisher Thomson Corp. plans to buy Medstat Group Inc., a developer of health care software and databases, for about $339 million, the companies said yesterday.Thomson will pay $27 a share for Medstat's outstanding common stock. Ernest G. Ludy, Medstat chairman and chief executive officer, has granted Thomson an option to buy his 1.38 million shares at that price.

WASHINGTON -- Washington Homes Inc. could raise a maximum of about $20 million by selling common shares to the public.The Landover-based company, taken private in a management-led buyout in 1988, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission Tuesday to sell 1.6 million common shares. After the sale, the public would hold almost a 30 percent stake in the company, while company officers and directors would control more than 70 percent of outstanding common shares.A group including PaineWebber; Dean Witter Reynolds and Ferris, Baker Watts will underwrite the sale, according to the SEC filing.

After a dozen seasons and 260 episodes on the air, NYPD Blue will bow out March 1, at the end of February sweeps. ABC, which announced earlier this year that this season would be the last for Blue, will end the venerable cop show with a two-hour episode. The network is also sticking to its promise to air the final season without repeats. After an original episode tonight, Blue will take two weeks off - including one for the broadcast of college football's Orange Bowl on Jan. 4 - then return for a final run of eight episodes starting Jan. 11. Other than the date and its duration, details of the finale are being kept quiet.