b'BEE CC CORNERWho is the "Cooper"REMOVAL in Cooper City? Hello, Cooper City! I trust everyone is staying safe and healthy as we look forward to our lives returning to some semblance of normalcy. OurresidentsattendedCooperCitys62ndan-nual Founders Day parade and celebration in March. Even though we were still in the midst of Covid-re-lated restrictions, we were determined that the show must go on; our Recreation and Public Works departments made sure that it did!(954) 559-0700 The festivities began at 11:30 a.m. with a socially-distanced parade through the Suellen H. Fardelmann Sports Complex.We were fortunate to have former Mayors Fardelmann and Russell Setti participate, and our residents enjoyed the TIP #27 Tropical Apiaries Inc. many floats and colorful pageantry that are a part of this celebration. The fun Plant bee- Free Consultations & Estimates continued at 5:30 p.m. with a concert by Southern Blood, who entertained us friendly plantswith their Salute to Southern Rock. We concluded the festivities under the stars like the FloridaLicensed & Insured#JE164268 with a magnificent fireworks display. It was not a "normal" Founders Day, but our Buttonbush NOBEES.COM residents were thrilled that they were able to gather with family and friends in a safe, comfortable setting and enjoy the beautiful weather and festivities. Some of you may be asking: Why have we been celebrating Founders Day for the past 62 years?Who is Cooper Citys founder?P ianoL essonsLet me introduce everyone to Mr. Morris Cooper, the man who founded Cooper City in 1959. Mr. Cooper was born in Kiev, Russia in 1892. In 1910, Mr. c oMPosition Cooper emigrated to New York City. He quickly found work in a shirt factory. He & t heory t utor worked hard and aspired for greater things, opening the Imperial Shirt Company in Elizabeth, N.J., in 1912. Imperial Shirt prospered, growing to nine factories Serving Cooper City, Davie,during the 1930\'s. Weston & surroundings In 1952, Mr. Cooper purchased 691 acres of land east of what is now SW 100th Ave. and south of Griffin Rd., for $250,000. $362.00/acre! N atioNally In 1958, Mr. Cooper and his wife Clara moved to South Florida, and the fol-lowing year, Cooper City was born. Cooper Colony Golf and Country Club (now C ertified Tin Cup) was built, along with The Cooper City Water & Sewage Company as t eaCher of well as 120 homes. The Country Club was the center of Cooper Citys universe, M usiC hosting dinners, business meetings, card games, and dances.In the 1960\'s, during troubling financial times, Mr. Cooper actually made 954.701.1518 an attempt to sell Cooper City! Fortunately, that didnt happen and he helped to keep Cooper City afloat with his philanthropy.In the early 1970\'s, Mr. Cooper donated land to the city, which later became our City Hall and the American Legion Post 321. Mr. Coopers last public appearance was at the 1974 dedication of City Hall. When, Mr. Cooper passed away in 1975, Cooper City boasted a population of 4,000. As a living testament to Mr. Cooper, SW 90th Ave was co-named Morris Cooper Ave. in 2015. Every Founders Day, a debt of gratitude is paid to our founder and benefactor, Morris Cooper. Thank you for setting the tone, so many years ago, for the won-derful place to live, work, and play that Cooper City has become. www .M att J ohnson M usic s tudio . coM BY COMMISSIONER HOWARD MELTZER20 #385MAY 2021BE SAFE, BE SMART, BE WELL DRWMAG.COM'