Beach Gardeners Support Florida Tech Statue Fund

MELBOURNE, FLA.—The Beach Gardeners of Melbourne Beach donated $500 to Florida Tech’s Keuper Statue Fund. The life-size bronze statue will honor Florida Tech visionary founder Jerome P. Keuper as part of 50th anniversary celebrations. The university will be 50 years old in September 2008.

“We think that to remember Jerry Keuper is the right thing to do. Jerry was a fixture in Melbourne Beach and was a frequent guest at our club meetings,” said Julie Watson, club member.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to honor Dr. Keuper for his vision in education and horticulture and for his many contributions,” added member Kathryn Merry. Keuper died in 2002.

Gifts to the Keuper Statue Fund may be made online at https://www.merchantamerica.com/fit/echopay.

The 47-year-old gardening club has about 90 members and meets on third Tuesdays, October through May, at the Melbourne Beach Community Center. The club offers speakers, projects, trips and more to help members learn about landscaping and maintaining plants that can grow in a beach environment.

For more information about the club, call (321) 729-9563.

PHOTO: From left, Keuper statue committee members Melanie Keuper, Gene Fetner, Denton Clark and Joe Brett accept a check from Julie Watson of the Beach Gardeners of Melbourne Beach. Watson is past president of the club (1999-2001).