Contact: Gary Heurich 202/365-3131

DC FY'07 budget was unanimously approved May 9 by the City Council, in which budget is the $500,000 line item for The Brewmaster's Castle

Folks...I am so very pleased, and because of you all and your extraordinary support so very proud, to let you know that the city's FY'07 budget was unanimously approved yesterday by the City Council, in which budget is the $500,000 line item for The Brewmaster's Castle that would not have been there if it were not for our Councilmember, Jack Evans, for the Mayor, for the Council, and for YOU!

Now, PLEASE thank Jack, the Mayor, and the Council (see more below re this.)

The fiscal year begins on 1 October, but the timing of the availability of these funds will be determined by the Congressional review process...it is typically a month or more after the commencement of the fiscal year that Congress acts, thus allowing the District to expend its budget funds. Nevertheless, this is a done deal, and represents an extraordinary show of support for what former Commission of Fine Arts Secretary Charles Atherton called one of Washington's most important local historic sites.

These funds were requested of the Mayor by Jack Evans in order to help save The Castle by paying down part of the debt incurred 3 years ago to save the site from being turned into a restaurant...therefore, as soon as the funds are received, the Foundation is obligated to and will honor Jack's commitment by applying 100% of these funds to that paydown of debt...paying down the debt in turn reduces the interest cost, which brings The Castle that much closer to self-sustainability and to ensuring The Castle's preservation in perpetuity.

I would now like to ask you to do 2 things:

(1) The Mayor and the Council heard from literally hundreds of you requesting that they support this line item, they listened, and they responded favorably...so please send the Mayor, the Council, and particularly Councilmember Evans and his Chief of Staff Schannette Grant an email of thanks for their wonderful support of The Brewmaster's Castle (the contact information is below).

(2) Please accept my sincere thanks for making this one of the most extraordinary experiences I have had...though one of 3 founders of the Heurich House Foundation that was formed 3 years ago to save the site, and though Chairman and President until the end of last year, in many real ways the past few months have been so much more gratifying than the previous 2-1/2 years because of working as a concerned private citizen with you on what has been an inspirational grass roots campaign...it has been an honor to have been a part of it, and so very gratifying to work with so many who genuinely believe in The Castle, and then who back up those words with action.

As I prepare to move to the Adirondacks of upstate New York 2 weeks from today, I can leave town with the comfort of knowing that The Brewmaster's Castle is secure and everything points to the great likelihood that it will continue to be secure for generations to come...we still have to raise in 5 years the remaining $5,000,000 to retire the rest of the debt, but there is every reason to believe that now it will be done!

Also, a very special thanks to all the many new volunteers who have come to the fore to help staff and run The Castle and undertake fundraising events to save The Castle...talk about inspirational, the crisis always gets the attention, but those folks who keep the momentum going deserve every bit as much!

And lest ye forget what it is that you accomplished...we: Raised $101,000 from 1,978 persons in 44 days which prevented a forced sale or possible foreclosure Secured $500,000 of support from the city Earned The Castle far more public awareness and support than it has ever enjoyed in its 50 years in public service Generated far more tour visitation than The Castle has ever enjoyed Put The Castle front and center with the media, without whose interest and support we could not have accomplished all this Not bad for 3-1/2 months work! :-)

So THANK YOU...you humble me with what you have done and by letting me be a part of it...I thank you all so very much, and I wish you all the very best...

And remember, thank Jack, his Chief of Staff Schannette Grant, the Mayor, and the Council...and keep talking up and encouraging folks to visit The Brewmaster's Castle and www.BrewmastersCastle.com...!

Bless you all...Gary F. Heurich, Friends of The Castle

MAYOR & COUNCIL CONTACT INFO: Mayor's Office (Mayor, City Administrator, Chief of Staff) mayor@dc.gov; robert.bobb@dc.gov; alfreda.davis@dc.gov

City Council Chiefs of Staff sreich@dccouncil.us; jabbot@dccouncil.us; lbumbalo@dccouncil.us; brwheeler@dccouncil.us; abonds@dccouncil.us; tloza@dccouncil.us; sgrant@dccouncil.us; ppagano@dccouncil.us; tpozen@dccouncil.us; elloyd@dccouncil.us; mfrancese@dccouncil.us; dslonneger@dccouncil.us; lgreene@dccouncil.us

BUDGET VOTE DETAILS: Legislation #B16-0673 Title: "FISCAL YEAR 2007 BUDGET REQUEST ACT". Date Introduced: 3/20/2006 Place of Introduction: Office of the Secretary Date Circulated: 3/22/2006 Committee Referral: COW Public Notice of Introduction: 3/31/2006 Date of Vote: 5/9/2006 Unanimously Approved (13 of 13 members)

More information about the Brewmaster’s Castle can be found at www.brewmasterscastle.com

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