INC NEWS - Fw: Lakewood YMCA may close

[Mary Wible-Brennan]

Thought this would be of interest to surrounding neighborhoods.
Regards,
Mary Wible-Brennan 


-----Forwarded Message-----
>From: Frances Kerr <frances at duke.edu>
>Sent: May 22, 2007 2:49 PM
>To: frances at duke.edu
>Subject: Lakewood YMCA may close
>
>Dear TLNA Members:
>
>Last week on the TLNA listserv, there was discussion about the Lakewood 
>YMCA’s possibility of closing. Many residents in T-L and Long Meadow 
>have been discussing what might be done to communicate to the Y the 
>importance of having it remain in our community. (Besides the valuable 
>services the Y provides to the area, we have to wonder what would happen 
>if it were left vacant. What would replace it?)
>
>The YMCA’s Advisory Board is holding three meetings today (May 22) to 
>hear opinions (7:00 am, noon, and 6:30 pm). As far as Myers Sugg has 
>been able to determine, these meetings are not limited to Y members 
>only. A number of area residents are planning to attend one of the 
>meetings to express strong support for the Lakewood Y and its importance 
>to the stability and quality of life in our community. Two of these 
>meetings have obviously already happened, and it’s short notice to ask 
>you to attend the 6:30 p.m. meeting. But if you can attend and would 
>like to support the Y's continued presence on Chapel Hill Road, please 
>consider attending.
>
>One Durham resident suggested that perhaps the neighborhood associations 
>around the Y could volunteer to help do the “footwork” to consider ways 
>for the Y to stay open. This person wrote that she “consider[s] the Y 
>one of my important communities for connecting with a diverse group of 
>people. This is one of the places that I visit regularly to interact and 
>to find that continuity of relationship with other people of Durham. 
>This Lakewood Y experience is about feeling that I have local, friendly 
>community with my neighbors as we share this common activity of keeping 
>our bodies healthy.” Others have expressed similar sentiments.
>
>I hope to have an update for you about the meetings today. If you would 
>like to be involved with organized actions to advocate for the Y to keep 
>its center on Chapel Hill Road, let me know.
>
>Thanks-
>Frances
>
>
>


Mary Wible-Brennan

Development Consultant
Durham, NC 
Cell phone: 919/815-6628
E-mail:  ForChange at earthlink.net