Friday, March 12, 2010
PRINCESS ANNE, MD-A local business developer, in an act of good will, is not only investing in a retail and hotel development project, but in the communities surrounding it.
Alex Karavasilis, president of First American Development Corporation, gleaned the idea of creating and dedicating a brick wall similar to the entrance sign to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, as a welcome sign to both the town and the university.
“As the project is located on the corner of UMES Boulevard and Rt. 13, the major entrance into the Town of Princess Anne and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, it became a pivotal project uniting the two communities,” said Karavasilis, who is in the process of building the Princess Anne Village Shopping Center. “It is more than just a wall; it is a symbol of unity between two great institutions. The bricks and mortar represent the bond that has developed and continues to develop between the town and university.”
“We’ve been working for years to strengthen the “town/gown” relationship, which has been mostly words up until now,” said Garland Hayward, vice president, Princess Anne Town Commissioners. “Now we feel some action is taking place, benefiting both the town and the university.”
Karavasilis said the company will continue to invest in Princess Anne and Somerset County. “This is the beginning of things to come,” he said.
His vision of the wall, dedicated today, includes the potential for future fundraising opportunities to benefit the town and the university.
“The university is appreciative of Mr. Karavasilis’ gesture. This altruistic gift will serve as a highly visible symbol of the harmonious spirit of cooperation that exists, and we hope will continue to flourish, between the town of Princess Anne and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore,” said Dr. Thelma B. Thompson, president, UMES. “I have always wanted UMES to be recognized from Route 13, this is the beginning of that recognition.”
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Gail Stephens, assistant director, UMES Office of Public Relations, 410-651-7580, gcstephens@umes.edu.
