Terry Vaassen stood holding a framed portrait of his daughter, Katie, inside the Platteville Chamber of Commerce Saturday afternoon next to Katie's Garden, smiling as he hugged and greeted friends and family as they entered the room.

More than 80 people gathered outside the chamber to celebrate the Katie's Garden Party Fund-raiser, held as a part of the Platteville Hometowne Festival to raise money for the upkeep of the garden.

Katie Vaassen, for whom the garden is named, died in May 2004 at age 23 of a long-term heart condition.

Chamber staff explained that Katie spent more than 800 hours volunteering at the chamber throughout high school and college, and so after she passed away the idea ...