Rec centers to close soon

DURHAM -- Three Durham Parks and Recreation Centers will close to undergo renovations this winter.

The Weaver Street Recreation Center will close beginning Dec. 11, W.D. Hill Dec. 19 and the Edison Johnson Recreation Center & Aquatics Center on Dec. 20.

Renovations will be funded by a November 2005 bond issue and will include making the facilities ADA compliant. The centers are scheduled to reopen in June.

The programs, activities and events held at the centers will be relocated to the following facilities:

n I.R. Holmes, Sr. Recreation Center at Campus Hills, 2000 S. Alston Ave.

n Center for Senior Life, 406 Rigsbee St.

n Holton Career and Resource Center, 401 N. Driver St.

n Priess-Steele Place, a low-income public housing facility for seniors, 500 Pickwick Trail.

For more information, visit www.DPRPlayMore.org or call (919) 560-4355.

Perdue names Durham woman

RALEIGH -- Gov. Bev Perdue has appointed Janeen Gingrich of Durham to the state Domestic Violence Commission.

Gingrich is director of development for Legal Aid of North Carolina. She is a volunteer with the Durham Crisis Response Center and co-director of the Survivor-to-Survivor Project for the Southern Documentary Fund. Gingrich co-authored the Best Practices Manual for North Carolina Domestic Violence Programs in 2006, while serving as director of programming at the N.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence. She received her bachelor's degree in family and child development from Virginia Tech and her master's degree in clinical social work from Virginia Commonwealth University.

The commission assesses statewide needs related to domestic violence and assures that necessary services, policies, and programs are provided to those in need. The council also coordinates and collaborates with the N.C. Council for Women in strengthening existing domestic violence programs and establishing new domestic violence programs.

Duke chorale visits mission

DURHAM -- Some 45 members of the Duke University Chorale on Friday will continue a tradition of performing special Christmas concerts for men receiving help at the Durham Rescue Mission.

The performance in the mission's men's campus chapel, 1201 E. Main St., will run from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

According to the mission, it is now home to record breaking numbers of homeless men, many battling the affliction of addiction. In a statement, the mission said most of its clients have destroyed all ties with family and the holidays are a particularly difficult time for them since they do not have the comfort of celebrating Christmas with loved ones.

Contact Mark Donovan at mdonovan@heraldsun.com or (919) 419-6655. E-mail news of interest to our readers to news@heraldsun.com.