Celebrating a sober New Year's Eve

L. Norton of Bowie, Ernie Kalinowski of Lexington Park, Ray Norman of Waterloo, Iowa and James Toon Jr. of Lexington Park are having fun playing a ‘friendly’ card game of Spades on New Year’s Eve at the Beacon of Hope

Lexington Park, MD – It is very common for Americans to celebrate the holiday season with food and alcohol. This New Year’s Eve, local residents proved that you can have fun without indulging in alcohol. A community New Year’s Eve party was hosted by the Beacon of Hope Recovery and Wellness Center for individuals in the recovery community, family and friends.

“We wanted to help support the people in recovery from alcohol and drugs,” said Recovery Support Director Laura Webb. The Beacon of Hope Recovery and Wellness is located in Lexington Park inside the Millison Plaza shopping center. In 2016, the Beacon of Hope was a resource many people in the community found to be extremely helpful.

Beacon of Hope is a free public recovery community center for adults and families seeking support related to substance use, mental health or other behavioral health-related issues.

One of the missions of the Beacon of Hope is to provide wellness services, which includes organizing enhancing community social events. Webb said, “This is a way to show people in the recovery community they can still have fun without the use of a substance.” Regardless of age, race or gender, if you were looking to spend your evening meeting new friends playing games, eating good food, dancing and having good clean fun–Beacon of Hope was the place.

Four gentleman, L. Norton of Bowie, Ernie Kalinowski of Lexington Park, Ray Norman of Waterloo, Iowa and James Toon Jr. of Lexington Park came together at the party for a ‘friendly’ card game of Spades. The two undefeated winners had no problem speaking with TheBayNet.com to gloat on their status. “Well, we beat the first time with a Boston – 35 to 0, then it was a tie,” said Norton as he shuffled the cards confidently. Kalinowski, his partner said, “It’s amazing, I just learned how to play last week.”

Children were also welcome at the party and could be found playing games and blowing noise makers. Samara Jordan, 5 and Daejon Jordan, 3, both of Leonardtown, had fun playing Jenga.

2-year old Zorizontaz Smith had a great time and had the winner count of the wasabi beans in the jar.

One interesting game was called “The Cookie Circle.” A hat was filled with Chinese fortune cookies and passed around from person to person. “When you get the hat, take a fortune cookie and read it aloud to the group. Then tell us something positive that happened to you in 2016,” said Webb.

Recovery and wellness support services offered at the Beacon of Hope include peer-led support groups offering a wide variety of approaches that help individuals and families initiate and maintain positive change.

The staff of the Beacon did a wonderful job providing a safe atmosphere which generated hope for the New Year in the hearts and minds of many. Hope is also offered throughout the year, and can be found in services such as SMART Recovery, All Recovery, Meditation, Emotions Anonymous, Codependents Anonymous, AA, NA, Dual Recovery Anonymous, Family & Friends Support, MARS (Medication Assisted Recovery Support), Fit for Recovery, and Adult Children of Addiction groups held at the Beacon of Hope.

“I come here for recovery meetings on a regular basis, so it just seemed natural to come here to celebrate New Year’s Eve,” said Farrah Cecilio of Lexington Park. Cecilio has been coming to the Beacon of Hope for awhile and has taken advantage of the many supportive services they offer.