Avalon Park Fourth of July Celebration to Honor Timber Creek High School Grad killed in Afghanistan

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Avalon Park’s 9th annual Fourth of July celebration, which is expected to draw record crowd to Downtown Avalon Park for fireworks, games, exhibitions and family-friendly entertainment, will include a solemn memorial to honor the memory of U.S. Army Corporal Patrick D. Deans, who was killed in Afghanistan on Dec. 12, 2010.

Deans, a graduate of Timber Creek High School in Avalon Park, who served in the high school’s junior ROTC program, was a member of the United States Army, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, headquartered at Ft. Campbell, Ky.

Stephanie Hodson, marketing director at Avalon Park Group, said Deans was killed along with five of his fellow soldiers when a minibus loaded with an estimated 1,000 pounds of explosives got past an Afghan security point near a joint NATO-Afghan outpost in the Kandahar province, exploded just outside of a building where the soldiers were gathered. The blast collapsed the building, killed six American soldiers and wounded 11.

Hodson said the memorial service, which will begin at 8:45 p.m. just before the fireworks exhibition, will include presentation of colors, the presentation of a special plaque in the Avalon Park Community Garden honoring the Dean family’s sacrifice, a speech by Orange County Commissioner Jennifer Thompson and a moment of silence.

Corporal Dean had already fulfilled his enlistment obligation in the Army when he volunteered to extend his enlistment to deploy with younger soldiers who were inexperienced in combat so he could guide them with the knowledge he had gained from his deployment to Iraq in 2008.

“Corporal Deans was one of our own and we want to take just a moment to honor his service, his sacrifice, and his family,” said Beat Kahli, developer of Avalon Park.

Avalon Park Expects Record Crowds at Annual July 4th Celebration with Apple Pie Bake-Off, Hot Dog Eating Contest, and Fireworks

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Avalon Park in east Orlando is bracing for record crowds at its 9th annual Fourth of July celebration, slated for 5 to 9 p.m. in Downtown Avalon Park, located off Alafaya Trail south of Colonial Drive.

Stephanie Hodson, marketing director at Avalon Park Group, said family friendly activities will include more than 100 vendors, an apple pie bake-off sponsored by Davis Bakery and a bike parade sponsored by Eastside Cycling and the Avalon Park YMCA; live community performances, a hot dog eating contest sponsored by Pop Pop’s Ice Cream & More , a special ceremony honoring fallen Soldier Cpl. Patrick Deans, a home run derby sponsored by Brianto’s Original Hoagies and Avalon Park Baseball, and fireworks with special 3D glasses sponsored by Avalon Town Center Realty.

Admission to the event is free and there is ample parking, Hodson said. Guests are advised to arrive early and bring blankets and folding chairs.

“We anticipate a big crowd,” Hodson said.

Parent Company of Avalon Park Group Acquires Major Share of Swiss Beverage Producer Thurella A.G.

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Kahli A.G., the parent company of Avalon Park Group in East Orlando, recently acquired a 6.5 percent stake in Thurella A.G. (BRN:TRLN), a Swiss beverage producer that specializes in fruit and vegetable juices.

Beat Kahli, who heads Avalon Park Group, said the 6.5 percent stake makes Kahli A.G. one of the three largest shareholders in Thurella A.G., a traditional, 100-year-old company.
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For more information contact: Stephanie Hodson, Marketing Director, Avalon Park Group, 407-658-6565; Beat Kahli, Owner/Founder, Avalon Park Group, 407-658-6565; Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Avalon Park Group Acquires 69 Single and Multi-Family Homes in Kaiserslautern, Germany

ORLANDO - Avalon Bauprojekte GmbH, the Swiss subsidiary of Florida based Avalon Park Group recently acquired 69 single and multi family homes in Kaiserslautern, Germany near Ramstein Airbase, 80 miles south of Frankfurt.

Beat Kahli, who heads Avalon Park Group, said all of the homes are currently leased to U.S. Air Force personnel and their families.

The nearby Kaiserslautern Military community is the largest U.S. military community outside the U.S.

Kahli said Avalon Bauprojekte GmbH paid $16 million for the property.
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For more information contact: Beat Kahli, Owner/Founder, Avalon Park Group, 407-658-6565; Stephanie Hodson, Marketing Director, Avalon Park Group, 407-658-6565

Avalonpark Texas LP lands $2.2 million development loan from Urban Trust Bank to develop 109 home sites in North Austin

AUSTIN, Texas --- Avalonpark Texas LP, a joint venture that includes Florida-based Avalon Park Group, was recently awarded a $2.2 million development loan from Urban Trust Bank in Lake Mary, Fla. To fund development of 109 home sites at The Springs of Walnut Creek in North Austin.

Beat Kahli, who heads Avalon Park Group in Orlando, said David Weekley Homes has contracted to acquire 109 of the 151 home sites, and construction of the home sites will get underway this month.

Richard Kunz, principal and project director who heads Avalonpark Texas LP, said David Weekly Homes plans to start construction of new single family homes priced from the high $100s to the low $200s in the next 90 to 120 days.

The Springs of Walnut Creek is located near I-35 and Yager Lane in North Austin.

Avalon Park Group developed the 1,860 acre Avalon Park, an award-winning community of more than 1,500 homes in east Orlando and New River Township, an 1,800 acre master planned community north of Tampa in Pasco County.
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For more information contact: Beat Kahli, CEO Avalon Park Group / Avalonpark Texas, L.P. 407-658-6565; Richard Kunz, Principal Avalonpark Texas, L.P. 512-695 3356 rkavalonaustin@aol.com; Eric Marks, Vice President, Avalon Park Group 407-658-6565, ericm@avalonparkgroup.com; Stephanie Hodson, Marketing Director, Avalon Park Group 407-658-6565

New River Township Wants SportPlex USA Facility, Will Finance Entire Project, Offers Pasco County Range of Options

Wesley Chapel, Fla. --- New River Township on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel wants to host the new Pasco County SportsPlex county commissioners plan to develop and New River Partners, LP has offered to partner with Pasco County to finance the project.

“We propose to develop a new Pasco County SportsPlex at New River Township,” said Eric Marks, senior vice president at New River Partners. “We have offered Pasco County Commissioners a wide range of partnership proposals to choose from, up to and including full financing of the project,” he explained.

“We wanted to give Pasco County the best range of options to consider. We believe a public-private partnership will give Pasco County the opportunity to leverage its tourist tax dollars to benefit the entire county,” Marks said.

New River is an 1,800 acre community that will include 4,800 traditional-style homes, condominiums and town homes, a pedestrian-friendly Town Center Park that will be home to a variety of commercial, retail and service opportunities along with stores, restaurants, daycare and a medical center.

Marks said the New River Township site offers Pasco County its best SportsPlex location, with easy access to State Road 54, Interstate 75, and State Road 301 and US 41.

“New River Township is centrally located with frontage on State Road 54 and access to all major roads in Pasco County,” said Marks.

New River Partners LP is part of Avalon Park Group of Orlando.

In East Orlando, Avalon Park Group has financed and built everything from football bleachers to road projects to entire schools.

“We are a soundly financed, conservatively run development company that takes the long view to community development,” Marks said. “New River Township is planned as a community that will raise generations, not just families,” he said.

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For more information contact:
Eric Marks, Senior Vice President, New River Partners LC/Avalon Park Group 407-658-6565; ericm@avalonparkgroup.com

Stephanie Hodson, Marketing Coordinator, New River Partners LC /Avalon Park Group, 407-658-6565; Stephanie@avalonparkgroup.com

Beat Kahli, Owner/Founder, New River Partners LC/ Avalon Park Group, 407-658-6565

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142