9/18 PRESS RELEASE

Redman House Progress Notes
Contact: Dale Skillicorn
President
Redman Foundation

We've done it! Except for a recently revealed pre-1988 fuel tank leak issue, final revisions to the Purchase Agreement for our acquisition of the Redman House property have been approved, and we are scheduled to open Escrow by September 24th. Now the real work begins.
Since some of our project supporters want their donations to go only to restoration of the house, we will be setting up separate funds for different parts of the project. Supporters who have a preference can designate where their donations will be used. There will be one fund for paying off the five-years note which is part of our purchase contract, another for restoration of the house, a third for development of the Information Center, demonstration farm and related support activities such as a gift shop and restaurant, plus a fourth fund set up for administrative operations. Now that the Redman -Hirahara House has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, we have identified additional grant sources to help with portions of each of these categories, but fundraising and continuing to build public support will be major on-going activities. We intend to announce an event in early October to celebrate the signing of the Purchase Agreement and re-opening of the produce stand. On November 30th we will hold another fundraiser at Shadowbrook Restaurant. Details of these and other Redman House activities will be in our next Progress Report and posted on our website.

While working on the Purchase Agreement, we've also been moving forward on the farming operation plus a bit of historical detective work regarding the property. Members of the Treasure Hunters Society, Santa Clara Valley, made a preliminary search with their metal detectors near the house on Saturday, August 28th. Among other things, they found a 1907 Indian Head penny, a small buckle from a child's or lady's belt, a pre-WWII naval button, a 1942 "wheat sheaf" penny, a "Scotty dog" shield charm, a bullet and a 1950s cast iron toy car. All items the group finds will become part of a display of artifacts reflecting the lives of those who lived and worked on the property. Additional hunts will take place as the Redman House restoration project progresses.

We've had a number of inquiries and donations for the sponsored garden and landscaping plants. A donation for a garden fountain was received from Ed and Lynn Furtado in memory of Domingos and Earldine (Mello) Furtado, Mildred Bogisich Meyers and former State Senator Henry Mello. Except for the trees in our demonstration apple orchard, sponsored plants will not be installed until next year after the house's foundation is repaired and basic exterior restoration has taken place. A landscaping plan will be developed and plant sponsors will be kept informed as to the placement, color and variety of plants they sponsored. A certificate will be issued in addition to the on-site marker identifying sponsored plants. Garden plant sponsorships are available for rose bushes at $35 each, garden shrubs at $25, bulbs and miscellaneous plants at $10 each. Trees in the demonstration apple orchard are at $500 each, and sponsorship of the palm trees which will line the driveway to the house are available at $1,000 each. The first two of the planned twenty-two palm trees have been sponsored by Bertil Bergman and Maureen O'Hara. We thank them and note "only twenty more to go." We appreciate the growing support and help for our project to save the Redman-Hirahar House, including establishment of an ex-officio advisory committee made up of virtually all local elected representatives, from Congressman Sam Farr and our State Assemblymen and State Senator to County Supervisors.
Once we close Escrow we plan on having events allowing artists and photographers to help record the house before, during and after restoration. Be sure to follow our progress and schedule of events by checking our website on a regular basis. It's at www.redmanhouse.com If you'd like to provide financial or other support for the project, you can send donations and inquiries to:

The Redman Foundation P.O. Box 2526 Watsonville, CA 95077-2526 831-768-1867

Thank you, The Redman Foundation Board ID #770509782